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A/N: Hey people. Just wanted to say thanks again for the reviews and everything. Glad you guys enjoy!

Fourth Year

"You look absolutely magnificent," my mirror told me as I studied myself and my dress robes.

"Yes, I suppose I do, don't I," I said, smirking at my reflection. Checking myself over again, I headed up the stairs to the common room where I was supposed to be meeting Pansy for the Yule Ball. Oh joy.

Of course, the Ball in general should be fun, though I'm still not sure how that foul Pothead got to be a Triwizard Champion. Always the one to grab the attention, isn't he?

The common room was hilariously empty . . . except for one person. She sat curled up in a chair near the green fireplace reading a book, her hair pulled up on top of her head in a messy ponytail. I watched, slightly entranced, as a strand of hair fell slowly down the side of her face, landing over her shoulder. Her fingers brushed gently across her cheek as she tucked the strand behind her ear.

Grinning slightly, I snuck up behind her chair and plucked the book from her hands. "You'll ruin your eyes if you keep reading in the dark," I said, leaning against her chair.

"There's nothing better to do," Cree said, looking up at me.

"You haven't seen Pansy have you?"

"Last I heard, she was still upstairs getting ready for the dance."

"Why aren't you down at the dance?"

"You're kidding right? I'm only a second year."

"Oh, right." We both stared into the fire for a moment, caught in different thoughts I suppose. My eyes drifted down to her, admiring the light against her skin. It always amazed me how mature she was. Nothing like normal second years. "Would you like to go to the dance?"

"I can't unless a fourth year takes me," she said, shaking her head.

"Then I'll take you." She looked up at me, her dark eyes wide and her brow slightly furrowed. "Aren't you going with Pansy?"

I rolled my eyes. "Pansy's a fourth year, she can take herself. You, as you stated, can only go if a fourth year takes you. So, I'll take you."

Cree looked away from but I could see her cheeks get slightly flushed, a small smile appearing on her face. "I don't even have a dress robe to wear."

"Oh come off it. Your mom's just as popular at the Ministry as my dad. I have no doubt that she heard about the Tournament and bought you dress robes just in case."

"I don't know –"

"Do you want to go with me or not?"

She bit her lip slightly, trying to hide her wide grin. "Fine . . . but only because you won't stop bugging me about it."

She jumped up and rushed down the stairs to her dormitory. I chuckled, sitting down in her now occupied chair. It was then that I asked myself if this technically constituted as a date, since it was technically still at our school. And plus that, wasn't I just doing her a favor, getting her in? I mean, I didn't have to dance with her or nothing, did it?

Ten minutes or so later I heard her footfalls on the stairs as she called out, "Okay, I'm ready."

I stood saying, "That was –"

The word froze in my throat as she approached me. She was unnaturally gorgeous for a twelve-year-old. She wore a midnight blue medieval style dress, her hair pulled up into a half bun with the rest cascading down her back, a string of pearls in her hair. No makeup or anything else. Just the dress and her hair and I don't believe I've ever seen anyone more beautiful.

"—quick," I finished, feeling slightly breathless.

"Yeah, well, the benefits of having magic, you know?" she said. "I don't believe that Pansy has grasped that concept yet."

"What concept?" Pansy said, appearing behind her.

"The concept of taking less than a millennium to get ready for a four hour ball," Cree said, smiling sweetly. "Don't worry, Pansy, darling, you'll get the hang of it soon enough."

Pansy smirked at her. "Well, if you'll excuse us, Draco and I are running fashionably late for the Yule Ball. Don't worry, Cree, darling, I'll be sure to leave your night light on when I pass your room."

"You don't have to trouble yourself with that, Parkinson."

"And why is that?"

"I've invited her to attend the ball with us," I replied quickly.

For the first time since Pansy entered the common room, she realized how Cree was dressed. She grimaced slightly. "I hope that's not a problem," I continued, smirking slightly.

Pansy turned to me, a forced smile on her face. "No, not at all, Draco dear."

I held out my arms to both girls. "Ready, ladies?"

Cree elegantly took my right arm while Pansy possessively took my left. Cree cocked her head slightly and gave me a sly smile before looking straight forward. I suppose Pansy noticed because her grip on my arm became tighter.

Holding back my grin, I escorted the girls down to the ball.

I smiled slightly at the girl sitting across from me on a small couch, a book in her hands, her feet curled underneath her, and her hair tied up on top of her head in a mess ponytail. Pansy had had a good reason to be jealous.

It had been a couple of weeks now and every so often, Cree and I ended up in the same room with out an argument or biting glares. In fact, we had been quite civil to each other and she never locked herself in her room again.

"I don't believe I ever asked you," I said, breaking the silence. "Did you have fun at the Yule Ball that year?"

She looked up at me, slightly surprised. A small smirk appeared on her face as she closed her book. "I suppose I did. I had a rather good time . . . making Pansy squirm that is."

I couldn't hide the smile on my face as I said, "She wasn't all bad, you know?"

"You only put up with her because she always did anything you wanted her to do. . . . But as I was saying, I did have fun. . . . Do you regret asking me?"

I hesitated, thinking of all we'd been through up to that point in my fourth year. I looked into her dark eyes and she stared back at me and I said, "No."

She nodded, going back to her book. I smiled to myself this time, turning back to my own book. No matter how much I didn't like her at the moment, I don't think I'd ever regret any of our time together.