Sorry, but the chapter upload wasn't working too well, and by now I've already finished the 11th chapter and am on the 12th. Anyway, for those who expect updates on my Avatar story, it might take a while. Writer's block for that particular story has struck. Anyway, here comes the Christmas ball. Huzzah!!!

The Christmas ball. It was always the subject that came up in every student's muttered sentence, and excitement ran through the school as it neared.

With the occasion only two days away, most were pretty much stressing on finding a partner.

"Hey Prongs, did you hear? Evans is going with Matthew Peterson! That prat weasel in Ravenclaw, remember him?" Sirius said, grinning to himself.

James' face somewhat resembled a tomato; bloated and red with anger after the news, and he said, "Not for long she's not."

"Oh no you don't, James. If you get in that much trouble again for attempted murder, I'm not bailing you out again." Said a serious Remus.

"Fine, fine. Anyway, Sirius, when are we going to meet your date, huh?" James pried with a grin.

"At the ball. You know James, you're the only one who hasn't got a partner for the dance." Sirius said mainly out of malice.

"Well, that's what Wormtail is for: making me feel better about not having a date." James said cheerily.

Peter squirmed in his seat and turned an odd shade of pink.

"Even he's got a date, you know, James." Remus said smugly.

"WHAT? Who is it?" Both Sirius and James demanded.

Peter looked to Remus pleadingly for support, and Remus sighed.

"Belle Levi. He had the courage to ask her just two days ago." He said.

The other two looked both dumbfounded and impressed.

"But why her of all people? She practically had me spending two days smelling like peppermint ice-cream." James said.

Peter shrugged helplessly and returned to his notes.

"He was so sweet! Sure I've turned some down, but I couldn't resist Peter." Belle said, partly squealing, making Rose jump.

"Some is an understatement. I counted six today and five yesterday." Rose muttered.

Both girls were struggling to get mistletoe up on doors, at the same time they had to keep Peeves away from the Christmas balls, which he planned to stuff down boys' pants for a joke.

(A/N: Yes, I mean that. Peeves is evil)

Because of the shielding spell they'd put around their décor, Peeves compromised by singing horrible Christmas songs at the top of his voice.

"Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny-" "Alright, THAT"S IT!!!" Belle lashed out at the poltergeist while Rose sighed, allowing Belle to maul him with mixed hexes.

"Remind me why we're even helping with this anyway." Rose said dully.

"Because Flitwick asked for help, and we said we'd help." Belle said simply.

Just then, the flustered little charms teacher rushed into the entrance hall where they were and looked up at the enchanted ladder (Catches you when in risk of falling) where Rose was.

"Ah, I'm glad I found you Miss Harper! Hurry down now, you have a special role for the Christmas Ball!" He called out shrilly.

"Hmm?" Rose looked at him questioningly as she came down from the ladder.

"Yes, come now, I need you to come to my office." He said cheerily.

She did follow and when she got there, Flitwick handed her a parchment, and she took a look at it.

"What? Is this some kind of poem or song?" Rose wondered.

"A song. It's something we'd like you to sing during the Christmas ball."

"Why is it Swedish?" Rose asked.

"You see, we have a visitor for this Ball, and he's a very well known wizard and alchemist.He was the one who created Skele-grow.

"Now I believe he loves this song, and plans for it to be taught to a muggle girl when she's old enough to spread it to the rest of the world. But for now, he'd like to hear a girl from Hogwarts sing it for everyone. We'll put a spell so that when you sing it, everyone will know what it means."

Professor Flitwick handed her the parchment and winked, and she looked at it, scrutinizing her situation.

"Umm, okay? But the pronunciations, the tune…" She started, but he shushed her.

"I'll give you a simple spell to let it play in your head so you can listen, but under no circumstances are you going to use it against anyone or your lessons." He said strictly.

"Right. Okay." Rose replied, feeling very tense, knowing the responsibility she had at the moment.

"You're going to sing?" Belle looked at her incredulously.

"Sadly, yes. I couldn't say no, but the problem is that if I do this, Sirius might get suspicious as to who I- who MARE is." Rose said, her hair turning a tense purple.

"Firstly, purple is not your color. And second, I'll help you. Just a change of clothes and a quick morph after the song and you're set." Belle said cheerily.

"The song is supposed to be a 'get your spirits high' partner dance, and Padfoot's going to lack a partner." Rose sighed, her hair turning a sad blue. (No pun intended)

"Anyway, how are you supposed to understand it?" Belle asked.

"I have it in my head. Professor Flitwick gave me the translation and a spell for the song." Rose explained.

"Can I hear it?" Belle burst out excitedly, jumping on Rose's bed.

"Nope, only I can. You'll have to be surprised like the rest of them." Rose said haughtily, grinning.

"Darn you. Well, it doesn't really matter. Hey, do you hear that?" Belle muttered, looking around.

"Someone's calling me from downstairs." Rose straightened up.

"Yes, Mr. Prefect?" Rose said in a highly exasperated voice.

"Hello, Rose. Listen, I need a favor." Remus said almost too nicely.

"Yes, Mr. Prefect?" Rose repeated.

"You told me that you're spending Christmas by yourself, right?" Remus stated.

"Oh yeah, I tell you a lot of things, I guess. I'm just visiting my mother a bit, but other than that, no actual plans. Why?" Rose wondered.

"Because someone needs help. Dumbledore's closing up Hogwarts awhile and he doesn't have a place to stay."

"In other words, since Black was disowned and the school's on lockdown, he needs somewhere to go." Rose said.

"I never said it was Sirius." Remus said innocently.

"The lack of mentioning the name and the scary kindness and persuasion made me guess." Rose mumbled.

"Is there even a chance that you'll help?" Remus pleaded.

"Why ask me?" Rose asked suspiciously.

"You're the last Gryffindor I asked. McGonagall said it couldn't be anyone out of the house, and even though a lot of student's would love to, including me, nobody can have him along." Remus said, adding a little pity in his voice.

"Right. Well, sorry, but I downright refuse." Rose said stiffly.

"Are you sure? You know as well as I do how his- family (Remus gave a sour look) is. Pure-blood manic and would be ready to kill any muggle related others." Remus said darkly.

Rose did know, and now she was having second thoughts. If Sirius really didn't have anywhere, Hogwarts would send him back to the house of Black, and it would be like sending a pig to a slaughterhouse.

"Well, you'll have to double-check on the students. If there's really absolutely no way, I guess he can come along." She muttered, half hoping nobody heard her say it.

"That's wonderful. Thank you." Remus said.

Rose somehow got the idea that she kept on getting herself into situations that she absolutely went against, but did anyway.

"Well, I think I found someone, but she still needs to mull it over." Remus said.

"Anything's better than going back to that madhouse." Sirius said.

Hello.

Hi.

…

So, are you ready for tomorrow night?

Probably. Free day, right?

Yeah, me and the others are going off in the snow today.

So am I.

I'll try looking for you.

Just try; you won't succeed.

:p

Gee, how mature. I'll just watch whatever wonderful thing you'll be doing.

"Oh no, watch out, Remus." Rose muttered under her breath, and as she did so, a snowball hit Remus squarely in the face.

Rose and Belle sat in a tree's branches, watching the oh-so-wonderful snowball fight being accomplished by James and Sirius, and other students joined in as well, turning it into a full-scale snowball war.

James against Sirius and students took sides; passers-by and by-standers were usually hit by snowballs in the flurry.

Remus, as soon as it got too rowdy, had to try and bring a little calm. Instead, he ended up with a snow-cake crusting his face.

The two girls had found a safe place up on the tree, when a certain red-haired prefect decided to join them.

"Hello, Evans. I thought you'd be doing homework or prefect duties or something." Belle said.

"No way would I miss this. It's not that bad anyway; I'll step in when they start using spells that involve pain and/or humiliation." Lily Evans said, apparently enjoying the spectacle.

"Incoming." Rose said, leaning back and nearly falling as a snowball hit Lily's face.

Rose DID fall, and landed in deep snow, and the other two looked down in worry.

"Are you alright?" Lily asked.

Rose spat out a mouthful of snow and sighed.

"Wonderful, just bloody beautiful. I think I sprained my wrist." Rose spat.

"Madam Pomfrey-?" Belle suggested, getting off the branch to help her.

"Nah, I'm fine." Rose said, tapping her wrist with her wand.

She twisted it around a bit, and it was fine.

"You know, I think we should go and get ready for the dance, now." Belle said, looking at the time.

"Right. I'll go check with Professor Flitwick." Rose said, running off into the castle.

Her dress was gold and her hair dark-brown, tied in an elegant braid. Her dress had a sash around the waist and was sparkling in the light, and she breathed deeply, sighing nervously.

Even if Belle said it was a foolproof plan, Rose was doubtful.

FLASHBACK

"I have the spell. When you're done with the song, just change the color of your dress and fix your sash a different way. That way, nobody will be the wiser." Belle said with her 'scheming face'.

END FLASHBACK

Belle herself wore a dusty-red slightly frilled dress with gold trimmings, a gift from her mother. She wore a matching-colored ribbon with her wild hair tied up in an elegant ponytail draped on her shoulder.

"This is exciting, don't you think, Heathis?" Belle said to the Hufflepuff prefect, who herself was in a dark blue dress.

"I'm sure it will be. Don't break the line until we get down to the hall!" She agreed, then called out to the other Hufflepuffs.

"Who are you with?" Heathis then asked.

"You'll see. You're going with O'Brien, right?" Belle said.

"Yes, but what about you? Don't keep secrets!" Heathis whined.

"What secrets?" Belle said innocently.

My secret… I wonder what will happen? Rose wondered, stepping to the front.

She sighed as she heard Professor Flitwick announce her, and she could also spot the special guest sitting near the back.

And then she cast a spell, pointing at her throat.

"Sonorus." She muttered, and with the signal, she heard the music start up.

Sirius felt absolutely strange for wearing dress-robes, but was anticipative of Mare's reaction.

Remus had gray ones on, James' were red and gold, and Peter's were gray and yellow.

He, on the other hand, was wearing black dress robes with his long black hair in a ponytail. (A/N: I mean no offense to anyone, but I hate the way they portrayed Sirius in the movie. I like the common anime version better: Sirius with long black hair)

To his disappointment, though, he couldn't see her anywhere, when Flitwick suddenly gave an announcement.

"Our opening dance is to lift your spirits up for the next few hours, and this is a couple's dance, so feel free to grab your special someone!" He said in an enhanced voice.

"We shall dance to a wonderful song, one very special to our special guest, who, as I have explained to you earlier, is from Sweden and created a wonderful thing for our society."

Everyone clapped for the very (And I mean VERY) old man sitting there with the other faculty members.

"And now, to start our wonderful celebration of the birth of Merlin, magic himself! I present Rose Harper to honor this occasion." The crowd turned to face Rose now, who was standing in the front nervously, as Professor Flitwick said, "Quietus."

And a strange, strong and loud music cut through the air.

Att vår värld behöver ha, mera kärlek varje dag.

Det vet både jag och du, låt oss börja här och nu

(That our world needs more love every day)
(Both you and I know, so lets start here and now)

Sirius was surprised that he could understand it, and it made him feel slightly bad thinking that Mare wasn't there.


Så håll om mej, släpp inte taget om mej
Är som förhäxad av dig, ah jag vill ha dig
Kom och håll om mig nu

(So hold me, don't let go of me)
(I'm enchanted by you, oh, I want you)
(Come and hold me)

That's what he wanted. He wanted her. Mare. Sirius looked at the feeling in Rose's eyes. Maybe there's someone she wants as well. He thought.

Ja, kom närmare ett slag, hör du mina andetag
Blodet rusar vilt och hett, på så många skilda sätt

(Yes, come closer for a while, hear my breaths)
(The blood runs wild and hot, in many different ways)

Så kom och håll om mej, släpp inte taget om mej
Är som förhäxad av dig, ah jag vill ha dig
Kom och håll om mig nu

(So hold me, don't let go of me)
(I'm enchanted by you, oh, I want you)
(Come and hold me)

Now the atmosphere was getting strangely… bold. The music seemed to get them into the mood of the night.

The music was stronger and now, people somehow felt more confident and danced with their partners in the faster beat.

Pulsen slår jag ser din blick, jag är i ett hjälplöst skick
Jag kan bli räddad först om du, ger mun-mot-mun-metoden nu

(The pulse is beating, I'm seeing your looks, I'm in a helpless mode)
(And can be saved only if you do the mouth-to-mouth trick now)

"Whoa, the atmosphere's getting interesting." James said, his eyes traveling over the crowd.

Så håll om mej, släpp inte taget om mej
Är som förhäxad av dig, ah jag vill ha dig
Kom och håll om mig nu

(So hold me, don't let go of me)
(I'm enchanted by you, oh, I want you)
(Come and hold me)

Är förlorad och förförd, jag är skakad och berörd
Hjärtat slår så hårt, låta bli dig blir för svårt
Och jag tror du ser att jag faller mer och mer
Håll om mig!

(I'm lost and seduced, I'm shaken and moved)
(The heart beats hard, to resist you is hard)
(And I think you see that I'm falling more and more)
(Hold me!)

Rose felt the sweat running down her forehead, and her heart was throbbing hard. She never knew a song could affect her that much.

Ja, håll om mej, släpp inte taget om mej
Är som förhäxad av dig, ah jag vill ha dig
Kom och håll om mig nu

(So hold me, don't let go of me)
(I'm enchanted by you, oh, I want you)
(Come and hold me)

She could see Sirius now, sitting away from the crowd in one of the tables, wondering to herself if he was feeling as touched by the song as she was.

She was finishing now with all her heart into the song. By the time it was done, people kept silent for a while, then cheered.

If you check Youtube, you'll see the song I'm talking about. It's called Hall om mig nu (hold me now), and I discovered it cuz of Princess Tutu. I'm sorry if my song craze is getting annoying, but this is really good. Listen to it, and you'll know what I mean.

R&R, and as for flames, my sheep are fireproof.

(hides under fluffy sheep)

Thanks!!!