Author's note: I am so sorry that I didn't update sooner. :0

Thank you for all the comments, story alerts and favourite stories.

Also, a special thank you to my LJ friend, Desirae1985 for the idea.

The next two chapters will be dedicated to the Yule ball, due to the Author being on crack.

Sorry! 

Potions lessons did not prove to be satisfactory. Professor Snape had passed by her cauldron twice, commenting on how poor Thalia's potion work was.

The potion that was supposed to be a shade of vibrant yellow had changed into a shade of beetroot red, and Thalia was feverishly throwing in random ingredients to turn her potion yellow.

"Stupid potion. Stupid teacher. Stupid stupid-" With every word, Thalia threw in a random ingredient, and her potion was bubbling faster, threatening to spill out.

It was only when she stopped cursing, when she realised her potion was bubbling extremely quickly and it was overflowing. "Oh crap." She muttered under her breath and glanced into her cauldron to access the situation.

As she glanced into the pot, she gulped. The potion was now a dirty shade of black, bubbling quickly in her cauldron. "Hermione. I need some help here!" She hissed as she tugged on Hermione's dress robes.

"What?" She snapped as she glanced into Thalia's cauldron. "What did you put in there?" She said, poking her wooden spoon in and scooping up a sample of the black liquid.

"Urm… No idea?" Thalia said weakly. "Time's up." Professor Snape's voice echoed around the room as he sat on the chair behind his desk. "Hand in your potions." With a sinking heart. Thalia scooped a portion of the black liquid and poured it into the bottle.

"Very poor, Miss Jones. Tut, tut, this doesn't even look like the dream potion I had requested. P for your work." He said dryly before proceeding to look at Hermione's potion, which was a nice shade of yellow.

Thalia rolled her eyes and waited for Harry and Ron to hand in their potions before all of them proceeded down the steps to the great hall for lunch.

"What grade did you get for potions?" Hermione asked eagerly. Thalia ignored her question and instead, tried to focus her attention on walking down the steps.

"I got an A. It isn't too good but Professor Snape-" "Shut it will you?" Ron snarled and Hermione fell silent. Thalia had a hunch that Ron didn't do too well for his potions either and proceeded down to the Great hall in silence.

As they walked into the Great hall, they were greeted by the smell of roast beef and boiled potatoes. Thalia took a large serving of potatoes and plopped herself onto her seat and ate hastily.

But at that moment, Dumbledore walked in, and a hushed silence fell over the room. He sat down on his chair and cleared his throat. "As you all know, on certain years, there is a ball." He glanced around the hall and began again, "This tradition was stopped after a period of time. But this year, the ministry has agreed to continue the Yule ball, hence there will be a ball this year."

"You are allowed to come with a dance partner. You will also be allowed to wear your dress and dress robes there. It will be held on the sixteen of November, which is exactly a week from now." He scanned the room once again, and spoke. "For more details, please approach the head of your house." He said, and departed from the great hall.

The minute he left, everyone started whispering and discussing about the Yule ball. "Great, I don't have a dress." Thalia moaned, as she poked her boiled potatoes with her fork.

"Are guys supposed to ask girls?" Hermione asked and Harry shrugged, too busy looking at Cho Chang, who was sitting at the Ravenclaw table.

"Earth to Harry." Thalia teased as she nudged him playfully, resulting him to spit out his boiled potato. "Watch it!" He yelped. "Who are you planning to ask, mate?" Ron asked, stuffing his face with the roast beef.

"I don't know." Harry mumbled. "Yeah right. It's Cho Chang you want to ask right?" Thalia said as she took another bite of her potato.

Harry dropped his spoon with a clatter, and she could vaguely see him blushing under the table as she groped for the spoon.

"Seriously, all of you. We are going to be late for classes!" Hermione exclaimed as she grabbed her bag and prepared to leave. "Alright, alright. Give it a rest." Thalia mumbled as she threw her green duffel bag over her shoulder and they left to their classes hastily.

After dinner in the girls dormitory.

Screams and squeals could be heard in the girl's dormitory as dozens of girls tried on many sorts of dresses, ranging from colourful to dull. Thalia did not participate in that activity, preferring to just watch as Hermione traded and changed outfits repeatedly.

"Honestly, I have no idea what to wear. How can you be so relaxed?" Hermione babbled on and Thalia pretended to listen. "I already know what to wear anyway." She said flatly. "Really? Could I see?" Hermione asked while attempting to squeeze into a pale lavender dress.

"I'm wearing my hoodie and jeans." She said, shrugging as she watched Hermione try on a lime green dress next.

"What? You can't wear that!" She shrieked as she pulled on an elegant black dress next. "You have to wear a dress." She said. "Sheesh, could I just wear a skirt? Dresses make me itch."

Hermione sighed as she sat on the pile of ever growing clothes. Thalia grinned and pulled out a hot pink dress from the pile. "I think this looks nice on you. I think you should wear this." She proclaimed. Hermione gave a fleeting look at it before smiling faintly and putting it over her head.

The dress fell nicely over her knees. "Wow." She gasped softly. "I told you." Thalia said as she looked at Hermione.

Hermione grinned and took off the dress. "Thanks." She said and folded it neatly into her trunk.

"Anytime." Thalia said as she watched an ecstatic Hermione leave the tiny bathroom, whistling happily.

Her smile faded of her face and Thalia knew that this was going to be her biggest dilemma yet.