Authors Note: So here is chapter 7! I'm really sorry it's taken me this long to update. I had writer's block. Anyways, I have two announcements. 1: I'm not going to update until I have a total of 20

reviews on this story. Right now I have 14. So I'm only asking for six guys! :) 2: My PMs are on so if you have a question about the story that you think might be a spoiler, PM me, don't use it as a

comment because it might ruin the story for others. BUT NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE END OF THE CHAPTER! Anyways, R&R!

Secret Rose

Chapter Seven

A Winter Wonderland

"So did you find anything about that… thing?" Ron asked Hermione.

"No. I haven't been able to find anything remotely close to what we're looking for." Hermione said with a sigh.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing in the middle of a mass of Gryffindors. McGonagall had them all gathered here in the Great Hall but they weren't quite sure why yet. It was almost holiday break and they were looking forward to being able to take a break.

Everybody turned their heads towards the door when she walked in. "Everybody settle down. Mr. Hampton, please quit playing with Ms. Abbott's pigtails. Thank you. Now, I imagine that you all are wondering why you're here." She paused and was answered with some silent nods.

"Anyways, the entire staff has come up with an idea. Once again this year, we will be having a ball an-" she tried to continue but was interrupted by excited whispering.

"Quiet down. This break we will be having another ball. Fourth years and up once again. Now, as we have had a ball before, you should know how to behave."

A couple of guys groaned but Ron was by far the loudest.

"What's wrong with a ball?" Saya asked after Ron's mini outburst.

"Nothing. Ron's just not looking forward to wearing dress robes again." Harry said, slightly chuckling.

"It wasn't funny! You would feel the exact same way if you would have had to wear them."

"Alright. You win."

A couple days after the ball announcement, it was time to sign up to leave or stay at Hogwarts. Not a single person signed up to leave. Now was the time people were beginning to look for partners.

"Ugh… this is just like last time. You can never find one on their own to ask. They just have to travel in groups don't they?" Ron asked. Harry nodded in agreement.

"What's wrong you two?" Hermione asked.

"Just trying to find someone to go with," Ron began and then suddenly realized something. "Hermione! Do you have anyone you're going with?"

Hermione blushed and then said, "N-No. Why do you ask?"

Ron looked a little like he had just won the lottery. "Do you want to go with me?"

"Sure." she replied, smiling a little.

"Great!" Ron exclaimed while Harry smiled a little to himself.

'Finally, he's asked her.' he thought.

"Oh, hey Saya. Hey Haji. Do you guys have any partners yet?" Hermione asked.

At that point, every person, male and female, listened in. Saya and Hagi had gotten a bit of a… fan club… in their stay at Hogwarts. Many people had tried to ask them out, to the ball or otherwise. But every single time, they were politely rejected.

"Actually, Hagi and I decided to go together." she said, blushing. At that point, every person who had heard were glaring daggers at either Hagi or Saya.

"Really? That's great!"

Saya blushed and slightly nodded. "How about you guys?"

"Actually, I'm going with Ron and Harry is going with Ginny. It should be a lot of fun."

"Yeah. I bet it will be." Saya said, not wanting to remember the last ball she had been to.

Sooner than expected, the day of the ball was upon the school. Harry, Ron, and Haji were waiting for Ginny, Hermione, and Saya outside of the Great Hall. The doors weren't opened yet so nobody had been inside.

"Hey Harry!" someone yelled.

All three boys, (and the rest of the school) turned to see three girls walking down the stairs towards them. First was Ginny. Her hair was in long red curls and she was wearing a light green silk dress that crossed in the back.* Then was Hermione. Her hair was in a bun except for two pieces that were curled. These two were framing her face. Hermione was wearing a strapless purple dress. The dress was light purple on the top until a black sash with a purple/black flower on it. Under the sash it was a darker purple.** Finally was Saya. Her hair was simply straight with a pink clip in it. She was wearing a light pink dress that clung to her waist and then poofed out. Her dress reached the floor.***

It was clear that everyone was jealous. Either the girls were jealous of the girls themselves or the guys were jealous of their dates.

"Wow. You three look great." Ron said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Thanks Ron." Ginny said and smiled.

At that moment the doors to the Great Hall opened. Haji turned to Saya and held out his arm for her to take. She took it and they walked into the Great Hall.

The Great Hall looked amazing. At the far end of the hall was a stage with a band and a microphone. There were many tables with white candles on them, covered in a white table cloth. A little fog was resting on the floor and twinkling white lights danced around the room.

"Wow, this looks beautiful." Saya said.

"You're right! It looks amazing!" Hermione exclaimed.

Soon enough the fun started. They didn't dance very much, they just found a table and sat down to talk. After awhile though, they all got up and headed to the dance floor. They danced to a couple of fast songs and then even a slow song. The entire hall quieted when Professor McGonagall stood up to the mic.

"Now, this ball we will be having something new. At this time, we will be holding a karaoke contest. Anyone can come up and sing. The winner of the karaoke contest gets nothing except for bragging rights. Anyone who would like to come up, do so now."

Well, it's safe to say that a lot of people went up there. First was a group of sixth year guys rapping "I Like Big Butts". But, of course, the teachers ruined their fun and took them off stage. Next were two fifth year girls singing a duet of "My Heart Will Go On".

There were some Lady Gaga songs and even some instrumental solos. Haji was forced up to the stage to play his cello, making the guys radiate jealousy and the girls to cry from its beauty.

"Saya, why don't you go up and sing something. You know, something from Japan. Something in Japanese." Hermione suggested.

"Oh, um… I'm not really that good of a singer." Saya tried to reason, blushing.

"You should do it Saya." Haji said.

"See? Haji even agrees. Now get up there!" Ginny said, pushing Saya onto the stage.

Saya looked at the crowd wide-eyed. Then she figured that she had to do something or suffer the wrath of Ginny. She tried to figure out a song that she knew the lyrics to and then thought of one. She borrowed a cello from one of the band members and sat down center stage in front of the mic in one of the chairs.

She adjusted the mic stand height and then began:

"Sotto nagareru shiroi

Kawaita kumo ga tooru

Haiiro na watashi wa

Tada chitte kieteiku no

Miteta

Hoshi wo atsumete

Tsukuru suna no oshiro ni

Watashi no sasayaka na inori

Koborete ochiru sono ashimoto wo

Machibusete nami ga semaru

*cello solo*

A world of darkness...

A world of silence...

Kie kakaru inori

Kaze ni aorare nagara

Soredemo tomori tsuzukete

Watashi ga ikudomo motsure nagara

Kieyuku te deru

Tsukuru suna no oshiro wo

machibusete nami ga semaru

Aa anata e

Ohh~…"

She finished and the end to her song was greeted by a loud applause. Professor McGonagall stepped up to the mic and said, "Well, it seems that we have a winner. The winner of the karaoke contest is Saya Oton-" but she was cut off by something

There was some sort of explosion at the Great Hall doors. All of the students ran towards the stage away from the dust which was now clearing. The dust began to disperse showing the outline of four figures.

Saya raised her finger and pointed at it, clearly horror-struck. "You…"

Author's Note: Ooh... It's a cliffy! I'm sorry, but I just had to do it. It was a good part to stop. The reason I stopped there was because I want everyone to guess who it is. The first person who

guesses it right will get a treat of their choosing, and a chapter dedicated to them. Also, the song that Saya sang was Suna no Oshiro by Kanon Wakeshima. Some of you might know her for doing both

ending songs for Vampire Knight. Either way, she's extremely talented as a singer and cellist. So please go look at her music! Oh, and to follow the links, you have to copy and paste them into a blank

url.

*- Here is the link for Ginny's dress- .?v=1195366083000

**-Here is the link for Hermione's dress-

***-Here is the link for Saya's dress- .