It was Christmas day and Ginny, Hermione and Cho were in the Beauxbatons carriage with Fleur.
"You lucky ladies are dating ze boys I teenk of as brothers and I want you to look perfect for zem" she said eyeing their dress robes that they brought with them. "I 'ave spoken to zem and zey agrees to meet you 'ere"
"Agreed" Hermione corrected "not agrees"
"Thank you 'ermione. My eenglish still needs working on" Fleur said smiling "about your 'air I was theenking maybe one of my potions will 'elp" she said "and Hoe could stick with au natural. And Ginny iz my special, special project"
Cho glared "my name is Cho not Hoe. And why is Ginny your special project?"
"Ginny has 'elped me get a date with her older brother Bill and my honorary leetle brother 'Arry is taking her to the ball" Fleur snapped "now I 'ave made you all a bath Hoe's is the one that smells like jasmine, 'ermione's is the one that smells like lavender and Ginny's is the one that smells like vanilla. So get in"
Cho grumbled about her name again before doing so.
There was only half an hour left before the Yule ball and Fleur was now working on all of their make-up.
"Hoe does not need zis make-up, she iz natural. 'Ermione should wear zis pale pink lipstick and natural eye…..eye….." Fleur stumbled searching for the word
"Shadow?" Hermione said helpfully as she stared in the mirror admiring her hair. Fleur was a miracle worker, it fell down her back not a single curl in sight.
"Oui, than you 'ermione. And Ginny shall were some base stuff to hide her freckles"
Ginny shuddered at the idea of her face covered in gloop.
Knock, knock
The four boys stood there feeling nervous. Harry stood there shivering under his cloak and Cedric was jumping up and down to keep warm. Viktor stood there looking like a prince in his fur cloak and Bill was regretting, that he allowed Ginny to persuade him to take a young girl to a school dance.
The door opened and a small pale girl in pale blue robes looked up to him. Bill shuddered please, don't let that be her. He begged the gods.
"Hello Gabby" Harry said "is the girls ready?"
The small girl nodded and shouted over her shoulder in French. There was pause then another girl shouted back in French.
"Zee girls will be out in a minute. I wish I could go" the little girl said sadly
"Maybe next time Gabby; you are a bit young, for dances." Cedric said ruffling the girls pale blonde hair.
"Excuse me Gabby" Hermione said
Harry blinked a couple times to make sure it was really Hermione. She wore a sparkly blue gown, her hair no longer bushy or curly, and they way she stood was completely different……maybe it was the lack of books?
"Hermy-own, you look very nice" Viktor said offering her a space in his cloak.
"Thank you Viktor. You look very nice too. Very dashing" she said stepping inside his cloak.
Cho came out next, her golden dress looked melded to the skin it was so tight. Cedric was speechless…..Harry started to snigger at the look Cedric had on his face.
"Shut up Harry" he muttered offering an arm to Cho.
Ginny walked down the steps, and everyone looked at her. Her hair was held back by a lily shaped clip leaving long red curls float gently against her shoulder. She wore elegant dark blue dress robes that looked altered, the neck line scooped low enough just to show the beginning of her breasts and the skirt of the dress flared out slightly. On her throat laid a lily charm on a silver chain.
"Doesn't she look wonderful?" a thickly accented voice asked "I altered ze dress myself and gave her the 'air clip and necklace for Christmas"
Bill turned to see a beautiful woman standing just behind him. She wore satin grey/silver dress robes that seemed to make her hair glow; she didn't wear any make-up or jewellery apart from the small blue topaz earrings in her ears that brought out her beautiful blue eyes.
"You must be Bill" she said "Ginny said you and I will get along vary well"
"Err….yes I am Bill. Bill Weasley at your service mademoiselle" he said giving her a mock bow. She giggled and curtsied back
"Fleur Delacour. Pleasure to meet you sir" she said
"Oh no milady the pleasure is all mine" Bill joked offering her an arm.
"Come on then lads lets make an entrance" Cedric said
"And keep warm" Harry muttered "Cedric was foolish enough to go without his cloak"
"I heard that Harry and personally I think a cloak will ruin my brand new robes" Cedric said
Ginny laughed, house pride was foolish. Cedric's canary yellow robes would look fine under a black cloak but Cedric obviously wanted people to see how proud he was to be a Hufflepuff. She looked back to see Bill and Fleur chatting away, they seemed to make a nice couple indeed. Bill looked very prince like in his plain black dress robes and long hair and Fleur played the fairytale princess well.
Neville stood by the entrance stairs feeling nervous. He was praying to all of the gods up there that Luna wouldn't stand him up.
"hey Neville" Ron muttered as he walked pass in his horrible maroon dress robes, on his arm Pravati Patil was wearing bright magenta robes.
"Oh….hello Ron and Pravati" he said watching them make way to the great hall. He sighed; she probably has stood him up.
"Hello Neville Longbottom"
Neville turned sharply to see Luna standing on a stair directly above him. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a bun with dark purple jewels fixed in that matched her dark purple dress.
"Luna…..you look beautiful" he whispered
Luna blushed "thank you Neville Longbottom" she said
"Please just Neville" Neville said offering her his arm which she took.
"Okay just Neville" she said. Neville was about to say he didn't mean the just until he noticed the glint in her eyes. She was teasing. Neville began to laugh, he had to hand it to Ginny she was brilliant at this matchmaking stuff.
They waltzed into the great hall and everyone applauded, whispers could be heard as they walked past, it took a lot of strength for Harry to not laugh when people went "bloody hell that's Hermione granger".
Harry eyed the crowd and saw Neville in a deep conversation with Luna, Ron glaring at Viktor while his date Pravati was gossiping with Padma and her date dean. Seamus looked bored and Lavender was eyeing people's outfits. Colin managed to get in because he was 'hired' to photograph the event (Harry had a strange feeling that he badgered McGonagall into it) Fred and George were with Alicia and Angelina and to Harry's surprise Oliver was there with Katie.
"Hem, hem" Flitwick said before he got the orchestra started. One of Harry's arms went round Ginny's waist while the other held her hand. Ginny's hand rested on his shoulder and they began to dance. Harry grinned it was a good thing he got Angelina, Alicia and Katie to teach him before the ball started. From the corner of his eye he could see McGonagall and Dumbledore dancing.
After the opening dance they were seated at various tables. Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Viktor, Cedric, Fleur, Cho, Bill, Dumbledore, Karkaroff, Maxime, Bagman and to Harry's surprise Percy and Penelope.
"What are you two doing here?" Harry asked
"Percy's been promoted" Penelope said "Mr Crouch couldn't make it so we're taking his place."
Percy was staring at Bill "may I inquire why you are here brother?" he asked
Bill grinned "Perce, this lovely lady here couldn't find the right person to escort her to the ball. Ginny promised to set her up with a brother. However you have lovely Penny, the twins have their chasers, Ron is too young and Charlie isn't really up to Fleurs standard"
Penelope frowned "please don't call me Penny William"
Bill laughed "trust you to pick one that sounds like mum Percival" he then glanced at Hermione "however I think our baby bro will beat you hands down with the one that sounds like mum the most"
Harry and Ginny started to choke.
"You are very lucky Hermy-own" Viktor said
"Viktor, it's her – mi – nee" Hermione said blushing slightly
"Herm – ninny" Viktor said smiling. Hermione went redder
"Close enough. Why am I lucky?" she asked
"Your school is huge and varm, ours is so small and cold in the vinter. Hovever our grounds are bigger. It makes flying better in the summer" Viktor turned to the champions "you three must visit sometime, so ve can fly together at my school"
"I teenk zat you should visit us as well" Fleur said taking a small sip of her butterbeer.
Dumbledore nodded approvingly "now this is why the Triwizard tournament was started. To unite young wizards and witches from other areas of the globe."
The students are glanced at each other and quickly looked down at their plates in case they would start laughing. The way the headmaster of Durmstrang and headmistress of Beauxbatons have been acting, you would think the Triwizard tournament was to show off.
Soon they went back to the dance floor occasionally swapping partners. Harry danced with Hermione, Fleur, Luna, Cho, and Penelope and even to his embarrassment professor McGonagall.
Unfortunately the happiness didn't last long. Hermione and Ron got into another argument. So Ginny and Harry snuck off for a walk. They overheard Karkaroff and Snape and then almost walked in on Bill and Fleur snogging.
"Well they seem to get on well" Ginny whispered as they sat behind the nearest bush.
"Yep….." Harry mumbled looking at her. Before he knew it, he was lying on his back with her on top of him snogging the living daylights out of him. They were disturbed when they heard Hagrid talking to madam Maxime. Ginny was shocked to learn that Hagrid was a half giant and explained to Harry what giants are like in the wizardry world.
They made their way back to the castle when Cedric came up to them
"Harry, I forgot to tell you. I worked out the clue; let's just say its all clear when you take a bath. I told Viktor and Fleur and we arranged to go swimming tomorrow the prefect's bathroom has a swimming pool size bath there, so meet me here at eleven"
Harry nodded mutely
"Ok see you tomorrow I got to say goodbye" Cedric jerked a thumb at Cho who was standing rather impatiently by the hour glasses.
"Night Ced" Harry and Ginny chorused in union.
He walked her to her common room; he's hand firmly in hers. He was a wonderful dancer, before tonight she hated to dance. He stopped at the entrance.
"Well…..err…..goodnight Luna" he said quickly kissing her cheek before walking away.
Luna leaned against the cool stone wall. "Goodnight Neville" she whispered
They giggled as they ran across the grounds. They tripped over something a rock maybe. And rolled round laughing.
"Zis has been ze best night in my life" Fleur whispered her eyes never leaving Bill's
"It's a shame, you'll be leaving in June and I have to go to Egypt after New Year." Bill murmured
"I'll write. And maybe you can watch ze third task. I'm planning on getting a job here to improve my eenglish"
Bill smiled "your English is wonderful. I'll write to you the moment I get back to Egypt." He promised
"Good" Fleur said she propped herself up on her elbows and leaned over Bill and lips very, close to his "I only know you for a few hours but it feels like years" she whispered before closing the gap.
Authors note: I couldn't resist. Bill and Fleur make such a good couple! I would like all those that add me to their alerts and favourites to please review at least once because it drives me nuts not knowing what you're thinking.