Well, well, well… I have returned with the next chapter… set during the Yule Ball. You all had your guesses at what Mia was going to do, and, to be honest, I'm pretty sure you all got it right. Yes, it may be clichéd… BUT there is one little detail that is not so clichéd… you'll find that out later on.

So now, let me thank all those people who voiced (or wrote) their thoughts: Adora81, ForeverTeamEdward13, rowellylovesgryffindor Oogie, Jasey-Rei, Tesariel Evenstar and the Anonyms Reviewer who didn't leave their name. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Guess what? I still own nothing… 'cept Mia, Céleste and Anton, of course.

Anyways, the next chapter starts just a few lines down, so… hope ya like it, and enjoy!

Chapter 14: Dances and Dresses

Mia stood in front of the mirror, twisting her body so she could see herself at every angle. Her dress was a dark crimson colour. The top part of it was styled like a corset, with black laces at the back to tie it up and thin, black swirls curling up the front of it. The skirt was a slightly darker shade and came to her mid-thigh, flaring out ever-so-slightly. Her shoes were black, two inch high sandals, and the straps across her feet made to look like they were made of small flowers. Her hair had been made to fall in waves and she'd clipped half of it up, letting a few strands fall around her face. Silver eye shadow, mascara and eyeliner made her already wide eyes look almost circular, and her lips had a light shine. She didn't usually wear lip-gloss, because of her habit of licking her lips whenever she was nervous, but she wore it tonight. Oh yes, her plan was going to work.

She turned to Alicia, Angelina and Katie, placing her hands on her hips. "Ready to go?" Alicia asked.

"Yep," Mia replied, "oh! Wait a minute!" she turned back to the mirror and grabbed the rose around her neck, on the necklace George had given to her for her birthday. If she wore it, then her plan probably wouldn't work… but she really didn't want to take it off. She fiddled with the rose for a few seconds, before dropping in down the front of her dress. All you could see was the chain; it could be any necklace from anyone. "Ok, now I'm ready," she said.

"Right, Fred said he'd meet me down in the Entrance Hall so I could walk there with you guys," Angelina said, "So let's go!"

They reached the Entrance Hall and veered off in different directions towards their dates. Alicia went to Michael Spooner (who wasn't cracked up to be), Katie walked over to the Hufflepuff named Timothy, and Angelina went over to Fred. Who was standing with George. Who had Céleste at his side. Her hair had been pulled back into a French plait and she was wearing a floaty silver dress. Mia only let her eyes skim over them as she looked around the Hall.

She smiled, walking past Fred, Angelina, Céleste and George towards Anton. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw George turn his head and look at her, but only out of the corner of her eye. One major part of the plan was not to look at him.

She stopped in front of Anton. "Hi," she said, smiling sweetly.

"Hello," he replied, taking her hand and kissing. She smiled a bit more, willing a blush to rise to her cheeks. It probably didn't.

They walked into the Great Hall, Mia had her arm through Anton's, and somehow, they ended up walking in front of George and Céleste. She made sure not to look back, but she could hear them talking. Or, rather, Céleste talking, George only gave very short replies.

Mia looked around the Great Hall- at the frosty walls and the ivy, and the hundreds of small, silver tables. "Where would you like to sit?" Anton asked. He seemed to be laying on the accent thicker then before.

"I don't mind," Mia replied, shrugging slightly. Anton steered her towards a table with several Durmstrang students. There were a few Beauxbatons girls and one Hogwarts boy. Anton held out her seat as she sat down, and then sat in a chair next to her.

The champions came into the Hall. Fleur Delacour was with Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain. Cedric had come with Cho Chang, whom Mia was pretty sure was in Ravenclaw. Harry was with Parvati Patil. Mia briefly remembered the other day, when, in a fit of panic and fear at looking like an idiot alone, he'd asked her to go with him, but her plan was already formed in her mind, and Harry just wouldn't make the cut. She didn't know who Krum was with, until she looked twice. Hermione. Mia's eyebrows shot up, straight hair and straight teeth seemed to suit her. They all sat down at the front table.

Mia looked down to the fancy gold plates around the table, and at the small menus placed next to them. Up at the top table, Dumbledore said to his plate, "Pork chops!" and guess what? Pork chops appeared on his plate. All around the Hall, people copied him. Mia read down her menu and decided on "Duck!" she hadn't had duck since the summer before her first year. She smiled as her plate filled with slices of duck. Next to her, Anton seemed to have chosen the same as Dumbledore, pork chops.

Across the Hall, George sat at his table, looking over at Mia. He didn't know who the boy was that she was with, but he decided he looked way to old for her, and that any boy who pierced his ear was dodgy. It didn't even cross his mind that Bill, his own brother, had done the very same. Envy reared up inside him as the boy's hand slowly started to crawl up Mia's arm.

"George?"

"Hm?" he looked over at Céleste, who was looking at him expectantly with those small eyes.

"I was askeeng what you usually do at Chreestmas. Do you stay 'ere? Or do you go 'ome?" she asked.

"um… go home…" he answered, his eyes drifting back to Mia, who had removed her arm from under his hand, but was laughing at something he had just said. She turned towards the boy, holding her shoulders back, flaunting her body at him. Little did he know, she was actually flaunting her body at him, George.

"His name's Anton," Angelina murmured.

"What?"

"The boy she's with. His name's Anton, from Durmstrang. She met him in the library 'bout a week ago," she told him. He looked back over to them. Mia was now talking to him eagerly.

Finally, once everyone had stopped eating, Dumbledore stood up, and everyone copied. He waved his wand and the tables flew to the edge of the room. He waved it again and a stage appeared, complete with instruments. A group of people dressed in ripped, black robes walked onto the stage, picking up the instruments. Everyone around the Hall was clapping wildly, so Mia joined in, despite having absolutely no idea who these people were. She caught someone saying "I can't believe the rumours were true! The Weird Sisters!" ok… so they were called the Weird Sisters.

The champions walked onto the dance floor- Harry tripping over his robes as he went- and the Weird Sisters started to play a slow tune. The champions started to dance and Mia had to hold back a laugh Harry's dancing skills. Or lack of. Hermione and Krum were dancing a little way off. Soon, though, several other people joined them. Dumbledore and Madame Maxime were waltzing, Ginny was trying to avoid Neville's feet, failing and grimacing every time he stood on them, Moody was dancing with a teacher Mia didn't know, but she looked very nervous, probably because of the wooden leg, which was probably heavier then Neville's feet.

Anton held out his hand, "Would you like to dance?" he asked.

"Yeah, sure." Mia smiled and took his hand as he led her onto the dance floor. He placed one hand on her waist and took her own with the other as she put her free hand on his shoulder. He twisted her around and she spotted George glowering at them, just before leading Céleste onto the floor. She smiled. Her plan was working. Finally, the slow tune ended and a faster one started. "Would you like to keep dancing?" Anton asked.

"Yes, definitely." She replied.

George watched as Anton twirled her and caught her around her waist. The bottom of her dress swung around her legs and a few more strands of hair fell around her face. He subconsciously twisted Céleste, and put his arms around her neck, looking back to his date. Wishing Mia was there with him wasn't going to make it happen. But however many times he forced himself to look back to Céleste, his eyes always ended up drifting back to Mia. He narrowed his eyes when she pressed up against Anton, and clenched his fists when Anton's hands slid a little too low below her hips.

Mia felt Anton's hands slip down. That was a little too far, even for her plan. She turned, taking both his hands in her own and twisting the top half of her body. As she spun under his arm, she spotted Harry and Ron sitting in a far off corner, looking very solemn and moody. She winked at them quickly before turning to face Anton again.

About half way through the nigh, Mia saw Céleste talking to Angelina by where the drinks were, and spun around, swiping her eyes across the room. She spotted Fred and George talking to Ludo Bagman, and twisted herself and Anton around so she could keep an eye on them. Bagman shook them off and trotted over to where Harry and Ron were still sitting. Obviously, Percy had joined them at some point. The twins looked disappointed and went back to their dates. Mia could guess what they had been doing. And after she had specifically told them how dangerous it was!

Another song started, which was much faster then the other one. Mia spun out of Anton, still holding onto one hand, then spun back into his chest. She twisted under his arm again, and hopped from foot to foot, kicking forward slightly. Her dress swung around her mid-thighs and she flicked a bit of hair out of her eyes.

George sat in a chair. Céleste had decided she wanted to 'take a break' and was talking to Angelina earnestly about something. Fred was sitting next to him. On the edge of the dance floor, Mia was twisting and turning. Her cheeks had flushed pink and she was smiling widely.

"She, er, looks like she's having fun," Fred commented, following George's gaze.

"Huh?"

"Mia. She looks like she's having a good time," Fred repeated.

"Yeah…" Fred watched his brother, then glanced at Angelina, who shot him a look.

"Y'know, I reckon she's trying to make you jealous," he stated. George furrowed his brow, looking up.

"Sure," he said sarcastically, "I thought that when girls were trying to make you jealous they keep looking at you."

"Well… maybe that's the whole point. So it doesn't seem like she's trying making you jealous."

"Where did you get that idea from?" George asked.

"Something Angelina said," Fred shrugged. George rolled his eyes and went back to making sure Anton didn't do something he would regret.

Eventually, the songs got slower, and as the time edge towards twelve o'clock, Mia's feet started to hurt. What was probably the slowest song of the night had just finished playing, and Mia looked over at Anton. She'd completed her plan, and actually found out that dancing with Anton was a bit of fun, but he wasn't about to replace George. She smiled at him, "um… do you mind if we leave? It's getting late and I'm tired… and my feet hurt," she said.

"Of course, whatever the lady wants," he replied, and they made their way to the doors. George watched them go as he danced with Céleste.

"Would you like me to walk you back to your common room?" Anton asked as they got to the Entrance Hall.

"Um… no, it's all right… I mean, it's on the top floor of the castle and you'd have to walk all the way up there, then come all the way back down to go back to your boat." She replied.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah… um… thank you, I had fun," she said.

"As did I. Well, good night," he kissed her hand and went towards the doors that led outside. Mia turned towards the stairs and took a step forwards, but was stopped. "Excuse me!" she turned back around and saw Céleste coming out of the Hall.

"Yes?" Mia asked, in a slightly cold voice.

"Um… Mia? Your name is Mia?" Céleste asked.

"Yes."

"I am sorry," Céleste said. Mia's brow furrowed and she took a step forward.

"What for?" she asked. Céleste bit her lip.

"I did not know you and George were… well, there izn't really a word to describe it," Céleste said.

"What does that mean?" Mia asked, in utter confusion.

"You and George. You 'ave some sort of… claim over each other. It eez like you are almost a couple… but not," Céleste tried to explain, "I did not know, so I asked 'im to come 'ere tonight with me… but the way 'e was watching you tonight… I cannot compete with that."

"Um…" Mia said, completely amazed. "Please, don't take offence when I say this… but when I first met you I thought you were some kind of…"

"A slut? A whore?" Céleste supplied.

"Um, yeah… but… er, thank you?" Mia offered.

"Do not worry. There is plenty of men out there. For me, at least. For you… there is only George," Céleste started to un-plait her hair, "I theenk I will be going back to ze carriage. Goodnight Mia. I am glad you can understand what I am trying to say," with that, the French girl walked past Mia and out of the doors. Mia looked at the footprints in the snow for a second before turning back to the stairs again, walking up a few of them. Only to be stopped. Again.

"Mia!" the voice sounded ever-so-slightly desperate. This time, however, instead of turning all her body, she just looked behind her shoulder. George was standing there, his arms hanging by his sides and a worried expression on his face. Thought Mia doubted he was worried about her, he was probably worried about himself and what might happen to him.

Finally, she turned to face him completely. She walked back down the few steps and paused a couple feet in front of him. "Did you, er, have fun tonight?" he asked, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"Yeah. You?" she replied, licking her lips, for the first time that night.

"It was alright," he replied, shrugging. Something caught his eye and his eyebrows knitted together. He took one of his hands out of his pocket and it went towards her, hovering over the small chain. She licked her lips again and he pulled the rose out from her dress, stepping towards her. "I thought you took it off…" he muttered, running his thumb along the petals.

"Why would I do that?" she replied.

"Well, considering you haven't spoken to me for the past couple days…" Mia smiled, with a bit of a shamed expression.

"You know… I think they're just starting the last song…" he said. Mia smiled, and followed him back into the Hall. There was only a few people left now. Fred and Angelina were dancing a little way off, and Neville and Ginny had finally seemed to have perfected stepping from side to side. Seamus Finnigan was dancing with Lavender Brown, and Parvati was with some Beauxbatons guy.

Mia stood opposite George and he slid his arms around her waist. She put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. They turned slowly to the music and she smiled, breathing in. George's hand came up to her hair, twisting the bottom of it in his fingers. She looked up to him, smiling. She thought about it. She could do it. Right there. Right now. But a voice entered her mind. It wasn't the like the malicious voice that had spoken to her last time she'd let the opportunity slide. It was nicer. Calmer. This moment's good enough all ready… and she decided to agree with it. So she just stayed there, dancing with George during the last song of the Yule Ball.

So how was that? The Yule Ball… one of my favourite parts of the book, I think I did it justice…

Did you figure out what the un-clichéd part of this chapter was? At least… I think it was un-clichéd…

I hope you liked it… please review! :)