"George, who're you going with?" Katrina carried her books in her arms as she walked down the hall.

"Dunno yet. I'll find someone eventually. What about you, Kat?" He didn't seem to care much about who went with him to the ball.

A small pack of Durmstrang boys walked by. The two Gryffindors would have ignored them, except a tall one slowed and stopped her.

"Katrina, right?" He was tall, dark and handsome, she immediately noticed, and for a school taught in a different language, he spoke remarkably good English.

"Yes..."

"My name is Alek. Would you do me the honor of going to the Yule Ball with me?"

She was taken by surprise, but recovered herself. "Uh...sure. Thanks, Alek."

He bowed to her, and joined his friends, who clapped him on the back, and grinned, glancing her way, winking at her.

She glanced at George. "Well, some Russian boy asked me."

"Oui, oui, of course we vill never pass up an opportunity to give someone a makeover." Roial smiled at her, looking extremely excited.

"I will find Gabrielle and Emmy and meet you outside your Common Room in 'alf an 'our, shall we say?"

Katrina would not have asked for it if she hadn't have needed it, but her sense of fashion was zip. She nodded gratefully.

"You 'ave very nice eyes, you know?" Emmy remarked as she brushed out Katrina's long, straight dark brown hair.

"Oui. I will 'ave to outline them with gold eyeliner. Very subtle, yet effective, it will bring out the gold flecks in your eyes. And of course, there will be a...green dress, I would think."

"Oh, I don't know...green's never really been my color-"

"I beg to differ," Roial piped up, "You vill look lovely, trust us. Now, just close your eyes...Katrina?"

"Yes?" She was imagining with a thrill of something half-horror and half-excitement what she would look like.

"'Oo are those two boys you are always with? Are you double-dating?"

"What?" Katrina frowned, irritated. "No, I'm not. They're my friends."

"Oh. Well, you 'ould have thought one of zem would 'ave asked you out by now. That is what normally happens in Beauxbatons by now."

"Yeah. You would have thought." Do they not think I'm pretty? She pushed her features subconsciously into an ugly pout. What does it matter, anyways. Alek thinks I'm pretty enough to ask out to the Ball.

20 minutes later she was ready.

"Okay, open your eyes, Katrina," Gabrielle said softly.

She took a deep breath and opened them.

There was a stranger in front of her.

The girl was beautiful; her body, slim yet oh-so-lovingly protected with a slight layer of pudge was outlined by a satin green strapless dress that swooped to the floor, banded by a gold sash. It wasn't body-hugging or ill-fitting.

Her hair was slightly wavy, soft with long curls and spritzed with a light hair-spray. Her eyes were indeed outlined with a subtle gold that brought out the green in her eyes. Other than mascara that lengthened and darkened her already long lashes, she had no makeup on. A small crystal necklace completed the outfit.

Katrina half-smiled. So did the girl in front of her. Only then did she realize; the girl was her.

"I look amazing!" She hugged Gabrielle, Roial and Emmy. "Thank you!"

She walked tentatively down the steps, worried that she would trip in her sky-high shoes. Katrina felt like a different person, and certainly turned a few heads as she walked to the entrance.

Alek met her there, wearing the traditional Durmstrang fur outfit; nevertheless, he looked very handsome.

"You look beautiful," he told her.

"You're quite dashing yourself."

He offered her his arm and together they walked into the hall.

It had been decked out extravagantly. Snow fell softly from the ceiling and decorations swooped from every angle.

Alek and Katrina stood in awkward silence for a while - she had never been good at small talk – when George and a Ravenclaw girl he barely knew came up. He gave her and Alek a once-over.

George raised his eyebrows. "Wow, Kat, you clean up nice."

"Thanks, George, so do-"

"I mean, you look like a girl, for once."

"Well, bless your little heart." She felt venomous and mean. It was too touchy, some part of her knew, but she was sensitive after the conversation with the Beauxbatons girls.

George opened his mouth to say something in surprise, no doubt, when-

A sudden cheer; Fleur Delacour and - what was his name again? - Roger Davies walked in, followed by Victor Krum and Hermione Granger. Good for her. Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang came next. Cedric was sweet, a year older than her. Cho was a year younger than her, and seemed like a Mary-Sue who shed tears frequently – not the type of girl Katrina wanted or needed to know.

Finally, Harry Potter and Parvati Patil came in. Parvati seemed entirely in her element, waving and blowing kisses. Harry, by contrast, seemed nervous and quiet. Parvati was an odd choice, Katrina had to admit. She had never seen Parvati with Harry before. Maybe Harry just waited too long.

The ball went smoothly. Alek was a good dancer, and lead the dances, as Katrina's own dancing skills were limited. Katrina's eyes stayed on him as they waltzed around the ballroom, although occasionally they strayed to other couples. George was dancing with that Ravenclaw, while Fred was dancing so exuberantly with Angelina that people around them were backing away for fear of injury.

The dancing went on for hours. The Weird Sisters switched from low, melancholy tunes to fast-paced, high-pitched screamers that went on for two minutes at a time.

"So...any nice girls at Durmstrang?"

"Not really... not like here. You know, you have very pretty eyes..." He trailed off, leaning forward.

Oh god, he's going to kiss me. What the hell do I do? Her mind blanked, but she made a split-second decision to just go with it. Alek was nice, smart, handsome and probably kissed really well. And he genuinely seemed to like her.

"Alright, you happy couples. Having a good time tonight?" The Weird Sister's lead singer cracked out across the room.

Alek leaned back, their lips having not yet touched. He winked at her. "After this announcement, yes?"

She wanted to hex the Weird Sisters then and there. Damn. So close.

"Alright! Next, as part of the ball, we wanna ask each guy to ask a girl they did not ask to the ball with them tonight - to slow-dance!"

Katrina stopped. Alek raised his eyebrows.

"Any recommendations?"

"Well, uh, Katie, over there, is really nice...and Angelina, I can't see her now, but you must have spotted her...she's the one who was so enthusiastic...and, there's a few other girls who're younger than me...there, that pack of fourth-years..." Why did the Weird Sisters have to speak up now, of all times?

"I will ask someone when I've made sure a decent boy has asked you."

"Excuse me, but wouldst thy care to caper about on the dance floor like a pair of drunken baboons?"

Katrina knew who it was before she had even turned around.

"I except thy kind invitation, Lord Frederick. Angelina, this be Alek Shavenik. You might find that he be a more than capable dancer."

Angelina shook her head, smiling. She took Alek by the arm. "That's how they always act. So come on, tell me about yourself."

Fred took her waist.

"Have you ever actually danced a slow-dance before?"

"No."

"Good. Me either. Just, uh, try not to fall over, and I'll do the same."

They did relatively well, all things considered. Katrina only stepped on Fred's toes three times, and he only stumbled twice. At least they were laughing about it.

But the smile melted off her face as soon as she saw how well Alek and Angelina were doing - very well. As in lip-locked well.