A/N hey everybody... I updated within the week I said I would (just! but who cares lol) lol anyway here is the new chapter and it is finally getting close to the Yule Ball where I plan for there to be drama drama drama! hehe nothing ever seems to run smoothly for pairings in my fics the poor things.
Also just letting you know I am going away for about a week and a half with no computer access so I probably won't have the next chapter up for 2+ weeks since I need to wriite it still. I will begin writing the next chapter when I get back. I updated now though to give you something before I left!
I hope you enjoy it and please please review. Feel free to give ideas and things too. but just review it makes me happy!
oh by the way does anyone know what Minako uses and says to transform into Sailor V? Not Venus just V, I plan on using that transformation at some point but I don't remember exactly what she says or uses. If you could let me know that would be great.
Enjoy and please REVIEW
Disclaimer: don't own anything.
"Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?"
Professor McGonagall's irritated voice cracked like a whip through the Transfiguration class on Thursday. The pair both jumped and looked up guiltily.
It was nearing the end of the lesson and they had finished their work of changing a guinea-fowl into a guinea-pig. The bell was due to ring any minute and Ron and Harry were fighting with some of Fred and George's fake wands. Ron ended up holding a tin parrot and Harry was holding a rubber Haddock. Mina glanced over at them and burst out laughing at the looks on their faces and what was held in their hands.
Professor McGonagall gave Mina a look and she immediately silenced turning to stare out the window with a light blush on her cheeks.
"Now that Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age, I have something to say to you all. The Yule Ball is approaching. It is a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialise with our foreign guests. Now the ball will be open only to fourth years and above, although you may invite a younger student if you wish."
After the word ball Mina's head had snapped back up to attention she loved balls. She remembered back to the Silver Millennium where she loved to dress up and dance the night away with a handsome gentleman. Her thoughts were broken as she heard Lavender Brown let out a shrill giggle.
Professor McGonagall ignored the girl and continued on. "Dress robes will be worn and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day. It will be held in the Great Hall and will finish at midnight. Now then, the Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to... er... let our hair down but that does not mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in anyway."
The bell then rang and there was the usual scuffle of activity as everyone packed to head off to their next class which was Magical Mythology. As the group was about to leave, Professor McGonagall called above the noise.
"Potter... a word if you please."
Harry turned to the others and told them to head off to class and let Professor Meioh know that he might be a little late. The others nodded as Harry headed back inside to talk to Professor McGonagall.
"Potter the champions and their partners..."
Harry interrupted with a confused look on his face. "What partners?"
Professor McGonagall looked at him suspiciously, as though she thought he was trying to be funny.
"Your partner for the ball Potter, your dance partner."
Harry looked up at her in shock his mouth gapping slightly open. "Wh..what? Dance partners? I don't dance."
Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes slightly at him. "Oh yes, you do. That is what I am telling you. Traditionally the champions and their partners open the ball."
Harry had a sudden mental image of himself in a top hat and tails accompanied by a girl in the sort of frilly dress Aunt Petunia always wore to Uncle Vernon's work parties.
"I am not dancing."
"It is traditional. You are a Hogwarts champion and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner Potter."
Harry tried to argue but Professor McGonagall silenced him with a look. "You heard me Potter. Now go you will be late to Magical Mythology and if I am not mistaken it should be a very interesting lesson today."
Harry groaned as he made his way up to magical mythology, he was shocked to find that the room had been cleared of all the desks and other things that were in the room. The female students were on one side of the room while the males were on the other side.
Professor Meioh smiled at Harry as he walked in. "Perfect timing Mr Potter. I was about to explain why there is no furniture in the room and why I divided you all up.
Well it is because I heard the big news about the Yule Ball and after double checking with Professor McGonagall she informed me that she told you all about it just now."
The class nodded and Professor Meioh grabbed out her wand and whispered some words causing light to spill out from her wand and encircle the room. Right before their eyes the room turned into a grand ballroom. The walls were a pearly white with silver and pale pink decorations. In one corner of the room there was a small band and the other side was a balcony. Harry noticed that if you looked out of the balcony doors instead of seeing the moon there was the earth floating in the sky.
Everybody was captivated by what they saw and Mina and Ami remembered fondly back to a similar event they had attended back on the moon.
"I had intended to keep up with our usual schedule but after hearing the news I couldn't help but want to teach you about the balls that were held on the moon. What you see around you is what a traditional Lunarian Ball would look like. Though clearly there would be nobles in attendance.
Even though all the balls were held on the moon they would traditionally have 10 big balls a year. This is because each of the planets except earth hosts a ball on the moon. The 10th is like a new year's celebration ball.
The first ball to be held in the month of January was hosted by the royal family of Pluto. They often decorated the ballroom with the colours of deep red and black, the colours of Pluto. The guests would also dress in the style from Pluto. This was often darker colours, full length gowns with sleeves that clung to the arms. They were quite a conservative society."
After Professor Meioh stated that the room changed to the way it was decorated during a Plutonian Ball. The decorations were a deep shade of red and black, portraying a darker feel to the place. The music in the background also changed to suit that of Pluto. It was slightly dark and foreboding but still a beautiful melody.
"The next to hold the ball was the royals from Saturn during the month of February. They used the colours of Saturn which consisted of a beautiful purple and black. With each of the different balls the guests were expected to dress similar to the planet that was hosting it, for Saturn's ball that meant long gowns in dark colours such as purple, burgundy and black. The gowns differed from Pluto's because instead of full sleeves the sleeves stopped either at three quarter length or at a normal t-shirt length. They often also showed a bit of back but never the legs."
Again the surroundings changed to suit the balls that were held on Saturn. The music turned even darker than before with strong beats and dark undertones but still the students were awed with the lesson.
"Neptune held the next ball during the month of March and it was completely different from that of Saturn and Pluto. They decorated with the colours of the sea, mainly aquamarine and blues were used. It would often remind people of being in the sea and the dress reflected this. The dresses were still full length and flowed around the women like they were swimming. The sleeves would often be loose and flowing and the colours worn were cool colours that were reminded people of the ocean."
The music in the background was soft and sounded exactly like the sea did, like gentle waves crashing on the shore. The decorations turned to the colours of the ocean and they felt like they were under the sea.
"In the month of April the last outer planet held their ball, Uranus. They had interesting decorations and dress. They decorated the ball room in the colours of dark blue and yellow. It was always interesting because of the contrast. The dresses from Uranus were the most masculine of all. They were held at the top with either straps or sleeves and dropped straight down to the floor showing no shape. The people from Uranus treated men and women as equal and back on Uranus hardly ever wore dresses or skirts. The colours worn were gold's, blues and yellows."
The music changed again but still light and reminded them of air and floating. The ballroom was decorated with navy blue and yellow with gold trimmings every so often. It was beautiful like they were floating on air.
"Jupiter was the first of the inner planets to hold the ball in the month of May. They stuck to the colours of the woods using mainly greens and browns but also some pink. Their gowns were just below the knees and had tight tops that showed some cleavage at the front. The sleeves varied on each of the different dresses but were mainly tight. They clung at the top but were loosely flowing around the legs and were green, brown or pink."
The ballroom around them shifted to display the typical colours of Jupiter a dark hunter green with light green and pink trimming. The music changed to a folk sort of song that made the students want to dance.
"As it reached the middle of the year it was then time for the Moon to have its ball during the month of June but often held on the very last day as to celebrate half a year. They went all out for their ball and decorated as I showed you before with white, silver, pale pink and pale blue. They were also quite conservative in their dress sense. They had floor length gowns often in white, silver and pastel colours. They were as you would call now baby doll style or empire waist and short sleeved. They were often the favourite as they were masked balls and allowed everyone to be free."
The room around them returned to what it was like when it first started but with a bit more colour. The music was light, soft and romantic causing the girls to sigh softly around them.
"Mars was the next in the month of July. They held the most exciting balls, full of colour and fire. They decorated mainly with red and sometimes purple. They would have fire in the corners that would make different shapes. Their dresses were full length but clung to the body all the way down and made of warm colours. The dances learnt were fast and full of passion similar to the tango. It was less of a structured ball than the others."
The music turned to the tango making some of the students laugh and attempt the dance. The decorations were of differing shades of red and they could all feel the difference between the other balls and this one.
"August was a month of rest because this was often when the planets would come together to renegotiate the terms of the Silver Alliance and they spent much of the month talking politics. Then in September Mercury would hold their ball. Their ball was like the snow, using blues, whites and silver. It was absolutely gorgeous and very structured. They had ice sculptures and though the dresses were again quite conservative they were beautiful often decorated with glistening silver beads. They had the similar to the moons dresses but had flowing sleeves like those from Neptune."
The band turned into one lovely lady playing a harp sending sweet music out over the room. The room was like white Christmas wonderland. The room had ice sculptures and fake snow that glistened in the light making the students hope that the Yule Ball would look like that.
"The last ball to be held by the royals of a planet was during November and held by the royal family of Venus. This one was often a hit among the male guest because it was the most... exotic. They used all warm colours to decorate in particular orange, red and yellow. The Venusians didn't exactly dress conservatively they had floor length dresses that had slits all the way up one leg or both legs and showed a fair bit of skin. Some of the more conservative planets altered the dresses as much as they could to cover up bits and pieces but the Venusians had no problem with nudity, sometimes showing off their bodies with gauzy slightly see through material. It was all about the romance, love and lust."
The surroundings changed yet again to the colours Professor Meioh mentioned and the music turned warm and romantic and slightly exotically passionate. Mina blushed slightly as she remembered some of the dresses she used to have to wear. Back then she thought nothing of it but now it seemed slightly inappropriate at a ball.
"As I mentioned before the last ball was held to celebrate the end of the year and the start of a new one. It was a rainbow of colours using the main colours from each planet to decorate. It was decorated in white, blue, orange, red, green, purple, navy blue, aquamarine and deep red. Everybody wore the fashions from their own planets and it signalled the joining again of all the cultures."
The room showed all the different colours and instead of looking like somebody had thrown up a rainbow all over the room it managed to look classy and mesh the colours well together. The music changed from each different style and the students groaned as it all disappeared returning the room back to normal.
"That was only the first part of the lesson I am now going to cast a spell that will cause the females clothes to change to a dress that belonged to one of the planets. The males back in the silver millennium generally wore the same thing but you should be able to tell by the colours and the cut of the outfit you will end up wearing of what planet you belong to.
This isn't just for fun this will be a test to see how well you have been listening. You will each be in an outfit from one of the planets I then want you to line up in the order of the planets from Mercury to Pluto. There should be at least one person in each native outfit. There will be a male and a female, you must find your partner and face each other and wait for my next instructions. Is this understood?"
Everybody nodded and Professor Meioh grabbed out her wand and whispered a few words. A few coloured bright lights erupted from her wand and surrounded the students blinding them slightly. They were unable to open their eyes until the light died down.
The males looked down at their outfits with a slight disgusted expression there outfits were kind of like suits and had the planets main colour with the secondary colour as pipping (think the shittenou/generals outfits. Blue with light blue for Mercury, Orange with blue for Venus, white with pink for the Moon, red with purple for Mars, dark green with light pink for Jupiter, purple with black for Saturn, navy blue with yellow for Uranus, aquamarine with dark blue for Neptune and black with red for Pluto), in the lines they were in they looked like a rainbow. The girls on the other hand loved their new outfits and were twirling around and giggling loudly.
"Okay now each of you find your partner and line up like I told you to."
Mina looked down at her outfit and let out a sigh of relief. She knew it was stupid to think that Setsuna would put her in one of her more revealing outfits but she couldn't help but think that Setsuna had a slightly bad sense of humour. Instead she was dressed in a beautiful orange gown that hung tightly to her curves. It of course had slits up both sides that reached just underneath her bottom. It had thin spaghetti straps at the top and dipped down to show a bit of her cleavage. The back of the dress showed a fair bit of back stopping three quarters of the way down her back.
She walked over and lined up next to Ami who was wearing one of her favourite Mercurian gowns. It was a light blue with dark blue shimmering crystals. It had an empire waist an intricate silver designs from under the breasts where the dress started to flow. The sleeves were tight just to her shoulder before flaring out and flowing loosely around her arms. She looked fantastic.
Hermione was dressed as somebody from Jupiter and was smiling at the green dress, Lavender was dressed in a purple dress from Saturn, Parvatti was dressed as a Martian and the other girls were the other planets.
Mina felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see Harry dressed in the typical Venusian orange. She couldn't help but let out a small giggle. He glared at her lightly before smiling softly.
"I am sorry Harry but orange isn't your colour at all!"
Harry laughed and nodded in agreement. Next to him was Ron dressed in a cobalt blue looking quite nice in that shade, Neville was dressed in green representing Jupiter, Dean was dressed in red for Mars and Seamus was dressed in a dark almost black shade of purple for Saturn and the others were the other planets.
Professor Meioh walked up to the front of the lines next to Ami. "Okay the next part of the lesson is learning how to dance the traditional dances. I know that some of you will need to dance at the Yule Ball. The dances are not exactly the same but I thought it would be fun to learn. The person dressed as the same planet will be your partner. Boys turn to them and bow, girls turn to them and curtsey."
The students all did as they were told and before they knew it they were being taught dances that were said to be taught during the silver Millennium.
Harry and Ron glanced at their partners with their mouths open. Harry spoke up for the both of them.
"We can't dance at all!"
"Harry's right I have two left feet."
Mina and Ami laughed slightly. "Harry just follow my lead I loved dancing and if I do say so myself I am fairly good at it and Ami, when you see her dance she is very graceful."
The boys nodded and just followed what the girls told them to do. They knew that boys were meant to take the lead but when the girls were so good at dancing while they were bad, they were happy to follow.
The class learned one dance from each of the planets. The dances from Uranus, Neptune, the moon and Mercury were slower dances reminding the others in the class of traditional ball room dancing such as the waltz and the other planets had more dramatic dances reminiscent of Latin styles.
Mina and Ami were of course the quickest to get it and were often asked to demonstrate for the class. Ami was better at the slower more traditional dances whereas Mina was better at the more upbeat, romance type dances because it was those that she loved to dance to.
By the end of the lesson every student had loosened up and thoroughly enjoyed the lesson. They were all disappointed to hear the bell ring signalling the end of the lesson. Professor Meioh laughed at all her student's reactions and waved her wand in the air turning the clothes back to normal.
"I am glad you all enjoyed this lesson and I am sure you will have just as much fun at the ball. Remember those moves it might come in handy."
The class laughed as they all began to leave. Mina and Ami turned to the boys and smiled at them.
"That was so much fun guys, you aren't as bad as you thought you were! I just want to go in and thank Professor Meioh for such a fun lesson. Mina and I will meet you for dinner in a few minutes if that is okay?"
The boys nodded and headed downstairs while the girls walked over to Setsuna.
"That was the best lesson ever Sets! I really enjoyed it I can't wait for the ball!"
Setsuna and Ami laughed at Mina's enthusiasm. It was good to see her all excited and back to her bubbly self.
"I am looking forward to the ball too. It is surprising for me because I used to hate the balls I used to have to go to but after that lesson, I am thinking it will be fun. We won't have to act as proper as we did in the Silver Millennium we can actually have fun for once."
"That is right girls. I am going to be one of the chaperones. I believe you will thoroughly enjoy it and the band that will be playing."
Mina nodded and a thought hit her. The others noticed her grin drop and looked at her. Mina looked up at them. "I can't believe you didn't tell us about this sooner Setsuna! Where am I going to find a dress for the ball?"
Setsuna and Ami stared at Mina before bursting out in laughter, trust Mina to get worried about her outfit. Mina huffed at them and crossed her arms. "I am being serious!"
Setsuna calmed down and smiled warmly at the two of them.
"Don't worry I have been working on a dress for each of us and if I do say so myself they look great. I chose the colour and the design. They will look great and they will be ready in time, trust me."
Mina nodded and hugged Setsuna. "I am so excited! I wonder who will ask me to go with them."
Ami shook her head lightly. "I am sure you will have plenty of guys to choose from Mina, now let's go to dinner before we miss all the food."
It was funny how much everything had changed in a week. Mina was no longer excited at the prospect of the ball after she had been asked to the ball by many guys. She would usually hate to say no to them but they always used the cheesiest most overused pick up lines and she was sick of it.
She had taken to walking around with just Ami so that she could avoid detection. She was just as popular with the guys as Fleur was. Ami even got asked to go by quite a few boys but she always politely refused.
Harry and Ron had no choice but to just hang together since the girls were always together now trying to avoid other boys and talking about the ball. The two never noticed how many girls there seemed to be at Hogwarts. They were always hanging out in a bunch and giggling loudly. Harry sighed loudly and turned to Ron.
"Why do they have to move in packs? How are you supposed to get one on their own to ask them?"
Ron shrugged as he rolled his eyes at another pack of girls sending bright hopeful eyes at Harry. "I dunno, lasso one? Got any idea who you're going to try?"
Harry didn't answer he knew perfectly well whom he'd like to ask. The first girl to pop into his head was Mina and he had wanted to ask her but each time he tried he would either get to nervous and chicken out, she would suddenly remember that she had to talk to a teacher or Ami about something or his least favourite reason another boy would interrupt and ask her to go with him. If that wasn't bad enough she would also roll her eyes and say no like none of the boys were good enough for her.
Harry secretly agreed with that fact but it still unnerved him that she would say no to all the older, good looking boys. Harry thought he had no chance but he had a small sliver of hope after every time she would reject a boy but each time that hope came back he would take a look at her and he would lose that hope. She was beautiful, kind, funny, smart and extremely popular and even though she was one of his best friends she wouldn't want to go with him.
Ron seemed to know what was going on inside Harry's head and elbowed him smiling widely.
"Listen you're not going to have any trouble. You're a champion. You've just beaten a Hungarian Horntail. I bet they'll be queuing up to go with you."
In tribute to their repaired friendship, Ron had kept the bitterness in his voice to a bare minimum. Moreover to Harry's amazement, he turned out to be quite right.
The next day girls started to ask him to the ball, girls that he had never talked to in his life. There was a third-year from Hufflepuff, a second year and to his horror a fifth-year who looked as though she might knock him out if he refused.
Harry doubted that any of the girls would actually want to go with him if it wasn't for the fact that he was a Hogwarts champion. He still was trying to ask Mina but it never seemed to go right and he failed each time.
On the whole, Harry had to admit that even with the embarrassing prospect of opening the ball life had definitely improved after the first task. The Hufflepuffs were nicer and their seemed to be fewer Support Cedric Diggory badges around.
The last week of term became increasingly boisterous as it progressed. Rumours about the Yule Ball were flying everywhere though the group didn't believe half of them. For instance that Dumbledore had bought eight hundred barrels of mulled mead from Madam Rosmerta. It seemed to be fact however that the band that Dumbledore had booked, the Weird Sisters had to cancel on them. This led to another rumour about another famous band that he had booked, that had been recommended by one of the staff members.
Some of the teachers like Professor Flitwick, gave up trying to teach them when their minds were so clearly elsewhere. He let them play games during his lesson as did Professor Meioh, even though she was teaching them games and activities people on planets did for fun.
Other teachers were not as generous. Nothing would ever deflect Professor Binns from ploughing on through his notes on goblin rebellions. The other teachers that did the same were Professor McGonagall, Moody and of course Snape.
After their last lesson with Snape for the term the five of them made their way down to the Great Hall where people had started to hang out now they had no more classes. Ron was building a castle out of his exploding snap pack, Hermione and Ami were already getting started on their homework and Mina and Harry were just chatting with the group.
The four of them burst out laughing when Ron placed the last two cards on the top of the castle and the whole lot blew up, singeing his eyebrows. Mina was laughing so hard she had to excuse herself to go to the bathroom. Ami went with her as girls never go to the bathroom alone.
Just as they walked away Fred and George walked up to the remaining three. "Nice look Ron... it will go well with your dress robes."
George laughed at his twins comment before turning to Ron. "Ron can we borrow Pigwidgeon?"
"No he is off delivering a letter. Why do you ask?"
"Because George wants to ask him to the ball." Said Fred sarcastically.
George snorted, "Because we want to send a letter."
Ron looked at his brothers suspiciously. "Who d'you two keep writing to, eh?"
Fred glared at Ron. "Nose out Ron, or I'll burn that for you too. So... you lot got dates for the ball yet?"
Ron shook his head as did Harry.
"Well you'd better hurry up, mate or all the good ones will be gone."
Ron nodded slightly as he looked at his brother. "Who're you going with then?"
Fred smiled and promptly answered without a trace of embarrassment. "Angelina."
Ron gapped, slightly taken aback. "What? You've already asked her?"
Fred looked confused for a second before he answered. "Good Point," he then turned his head and called out to Angelina.
Angelina who had been chatting to Alicia Spinnet looked over at him and gave him a questioning look, saving her from having to yell. Fred on the other hand didn't mind yelling.
"Want to come to the ball with me?"
Angelina gave Fred an appraising sort of look before nodding at him before turning back to Alicia and continuing her talk but with a bit of a grin on her face.
Fred smirked at Harry and Ron. "There you go, a piece of cake."
Fred and George then left leaving Harry and Ron with a stunned look on their face. Ron turned to Harry and spoke.
"We should get a move on you know... ask someone. We don't want to end up with a pair of trolls."
Hermione who had managed to ignore most of the talk screeched loudly. "A pair of... what, excuse me?"
Ron just shrugged as he continued on. "Well... you know. I'd rather go alone than with Eloise Midgen."
Hermione just glared at the two before standing up with a shocked look on her face. "Her acne is a lot better lately and she is really nice."
Ron just sniffed slightly. "Her nose is off-centre."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh I see. So basically you're going to take the best-looking girl who'll have you even if she acts like a troll. It is fine as long as she doesn't look like one."
Ron nodded and Hermione scoffed and walked away. Ron sighed before walking after her to calm her down. He needed her to help him on some homework.
Harry laughed slightly and looked around to see that he was one of the only people left in the hall except for Malfoy who was standing in front of him across the table.
"You and Weasley wouldn't be able to get anyone other than a troll anyway."
Harry glared at Malfoy. "Shove off Malfoy."
Malfoy laughed slightly. "Hit a nerve did I? You know it is true Potter who would want to go with you."
Just at that moment the two heard Mina's laugh from across the great hall making Harry turn around and smile goofily at her. It was then that Malfoy realised why Harry hadn't asked anyone yet.
"You want to go with Mina, Potter. I don't think that is going to happen."
He smirked and walked to Mina who was a few steps away from the two.
"Mina I have been meaning to talk to you for a while. I was just wondering if you would go to the Yule Ball with me."
Mina, Ami and Harry's mouths dropped open. Mina looked up at him with a questioning look in her eyes. Why was he asking her to go with him when they were in different houses? Yes they were friends but the both still found the looks they got when they talked irritating and he would be subjecting them to a whole night of it.
"Um... why me Draco, wouldn't you prefer to go with someone from your own house like Pansy?"
Malfoy scoffed slightly. "I asked you because even though it is very weird for a Slytherin and Gryffindor to be friends but we are. Plus this ball is supposed to be promoting socialising between the schools and houses. So why don't we just go together?"
Mina looked at him before bitting softly on her bottom lip, something she did when she was unsure. "Um, okay but I think we should only go as friends. It would be good to promote inter-house friendships. Is it okay if it is just as friends?"
Malfoy's grin slipped slightly but he nodded. "Friends is just fine with me Mina. I will see you later Mina, bye Potter."
Mina smiled at him and turned to see Ami had disappeared and Harry was standing there turning slightly red.
"Harry are you okay?"
Harry just spluttered a bit and threw his hands up into the air. "Why did you agree to go with him? You have said no to all these boys just to say yes to Malfoy of all people. I just don't understand why!"
Mina shrugged her shoulders lightly. "He asked me in a way that wasn't a cliché pick up line and he is my friend, plus it is getting close to the date so I decided that I should say yes to someone and we are only going as friends so what's the harm."
Harry let out the breath of anger he had been holding in. He was still furious that she was going with Malfoy but he knew he had plenty of chances to ask her and he missed out on them all. Instead of pressing the issue he just nodded and the two walked upstairs to the common room not saying a word.
It was getting closer to Christmas and of course the Yule Ball. Decorations were hung up around the place but Harry still hadn't asked anyone to the ball. He was still furious with Mina for going with Malfoy. The only reasons he hadn't given her the silent treatment was because a) she didn't know how he felt about her, b) he never asked her to the ball and c) she had stood by him through things worse than this and he owed it to her.
Both he and Ron were getting very nervous now as both still hadn't found dates, though as Harry had pointed out, Ron would look much less stupid that he would without a partner.
The two were just chatting when Mina walked up to them with smiles. "Hey boys how are things?"
Ron just grunted as Harry attempted a greeting but failed. Harry then saw Cho walking past out the corner of his eye and had an idea. "Sorry guys I have to go."
Mina followed Harry running off with her eyes. "What was that about?"
Ron just shrugged and walked away. Mina shook her head and headed up to the Gryffindor Common Room. She sat down by the fire with some of her homework and got to work. She managed to make it through quite a bit of her homework before Ron came stumbling into the room collapsing at her feet with a groan.
Mina jumped up and sat down beside him, pulling him into a hug. "Oh my god Ron, are you okay?"
Ron just shook his head and fell further into her embrace. "I just did the most embarrassing thing ever!"
Mina pulled back and smiled at him. "Nothing can be that bad Ron. Just tell me and I am sure it isn't as bad as you make it seem. "
Ron took a deep breath and whispered just loud enough to hear. "I asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with me. I don't know what made me do it. What was I playing at? There were people all around... everyone was watching. I mean I know what made me ask her. You see there was this other girl that I was going to ask but I just never got up the confidence and then I just walked past and was blinded by her Veela nature and suddenly I just had all this confidence.
So I walked up to her and just asked her to go with me. She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. She didn't even answer she just looked at me and turned back to Diggory. Then I finally came to my senses and ran."
Mina giggled softly as she gave Ron another comforting hug. "Ron it isn't that bad. You didn't really like her and as you said wanted to ask somebody else, so why does it really matter. Tell me Ron, is it Ami who you wanted to ask? You have a crush on her don't you?"
Ron turned red and whispered. "Well, maybe but I don't know."
Mina giggled again and smiled. "You do know, you like her I can tell. I can also tell you that I think she kind of likes you too."
Ron opened his mouth to say something as Harry came trudging through the entrance and sat down in a chair opposite the two sitting on the floor. After he gave Ron a look clearly asking 'why are you in the arms of the girl I have a crush on' Ron smiled slightly and pulled back and explained.
"I just did something really stupid and embarrassing and kind of asked Fleur to the ball. She didn't even answer and I ran back here. Mina was helping me overcome my embarrassment. So now I explained what is up with you?"
Harry sighed as he ran his hands through his hair. "Well this girl I wanted to go with was taken...I asked Cho Chang to go with me but of course she rejected me because she is going with stupid pretty boy Diggory."
Mina looked at Harry in shock and felt bad for him at his first sentence she thought he meant her but for some reason she felt jealous when he said he asked Cho to go with him. She sighed as she stood up and gave Harry a hug. "Oh Harry, you should have told me. I knew they were going together it was the latest gossip. I would have told you if I thought you were going to ask her. I didn't even realise you were friends."
Harry just sighed as he took in her warm embrace. The three of them stayed in silence until Ron groaned again.
"This is mad! We are the only ones left who haven't got anyone... well except for Neville. Hey – guess who he asked? He asked Hermione."
Mina and Harry looked at him in shock. Harry was shocked but Mina was shocked because she knew that Hermione already had a date. They may not be good friends or even friends but Hermione had needed advice and Mina just happened to be around to talk to.
Ron started to laugh, finally getting some colour back into his face. "Yeah I know, he told me after potions but she told him she was already going with someone else."
Just the Hermione and Ami walked down the stairs together. The two happened to walk down at the same time and were engaging in polite small talk.
Just then a thought popped into Ron's mind. All this time he had been surrounded by girls and if worded right he may be able to get Ami to go with him to the ball.
"I know two of you can go with Harry and me to the ball. You are all girls after all."
Mina discreetly placed her head in her hands that was definitely not the right way to ask. She was proven right as Hermione glared at him.
"Glad you finally noticed we were girls Ronald."
Ami on the other hand just blushed and tried to avoid everyone's gaze until she noticed Ron was looking at her with hopeful eyes. "I am sorry Ron but I am already going with somebody else. I really am sorry and I think I will go back upstairs now, since I only came down to tell Mina that there was a letter for her on her desk in our room. Good night and sorry again."
Ron looked at the floor before looking back at the last two girls for a moment. "Fine Hermione and Mina you guys can come with us."
Hermione snarled at him. "Just because it has taken you three years to realise I am a girl Ronald, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl."
Ron rolled his eyes slightly before smiling at her again. "Okay, we know you're a girl. That do? Will you come now?"
Hermione glared at him clearly at her wits end. "I already told you, I am going with someone else!"
She stormed away back upstairs as Ron and Harry watched her go.
Ron whistled softly. "She is a tad dramatic. I bet she is lying."
Mina shook her head. "She isn't lying Ron. I know who she is going with and I'm not telling and before you ask I don't know who Ami is going with.'"
Ron threw his hands up in the air. "Fine you can come with one of us and help us find another girl."
Mina turned slightly red as Harry's glared slightly as he snorted. "She can't go with us either Ron. She has a date already."
Ron whirled on Mina. "Who are you going with and please do not say you can't tell me. I think I deserve to know who one of my good girl friends is going with!"
Mina looked down at the floor and whispered quietly but just loud enough for Ron to hear. "I am going with Draco Malfoy."
Ron's eyes widened. "You are going with Malfoy! What...Why... I mean...umm."
"Look Ron, it isn't like I am interested in him or anything. I mean yes he is good looking but we are just going as friends. I don't think I like him as anything more than a friend okay. I am so sorry but look I will help you guys get dates. Just give me one second."
She looked around the room to see a few girls scattered around the room. She mentally went through the gossip she heard to figure out which ones already had dates. She finally zeroed in on Parvatti and Lavender. She knew for sure Parvatti didn't have a date but she wasn't sure about Lavender. She sighed to herself and mumbled under her breath. "It is worth a try."
She walked over to them and smiled at them widely. "Hey Parvatti, Lavender I was just wondering if you had dates for the ball yet?"
Parvatti shook her head as Lavender broke into a fit of giggles. "I...am ...going..."
Parvatti sighed and spoke for Lavender. "She is going with Seamus."
"Oh well Parvatti would you go to the ball with Harry. I know it is stupid that I am asking for him but he really needs somebody to go with, since he is you know a champion and all."
Parvatti started to giggle and nodded. "Sure, Harry was always nice to me."
Mina smiled at her. "Okay well do you know anyone who will go with Ron since Lavender can't?"
"Why don't you go with him, or Hermione or even Ami?"
Mina silently groaned as she explained. "We all actually have dates, otherwise we would."
Parvatti's eyes widened as she heard of the gossip. Nobody really knew who those three girls were going to go with. "Who are all of you going with?"
Mina shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know about the other two and as for me you will find out soon enough. So please, do you know anyone who will go with Ron?"
Parvatti deflated a little and she nodded. "I could ask my sister Padma, from Ravenclaw if you like. I am sure she would say yes."
Mina just nodded and gave her a hug before heading back over to the boys. "I got you both dates, it isn't nearly as hard as you two make it out to be. Harry you will be going with Parvatti and Ron you will be going with her sister Padma. Please treat them well and don't cause any trouble. Now since I did all the hard work for you guys I am heading off to bed."
She leant over giving each of them a hug before heading upstairs to read the letter Ami was talking about. When she made it to the room she heard the sound of water running in their shower and headed over to her desk to see a beautiful yellow rose with orange around the edges and a note with her name written beautifully on the front.
She opened it and pulled out the letter reading it slowly.
Minako,
I originally was writing to you to ask you to accompany me to the Yule Ball but I heard that I was too late and you already found a date. As much as that pains me to hear I still would like to give you this rose as a token of my appreciation, to remind you of how brightly you shine.
I ask that you wear this enchanted rose on the night of the ball and that you save one dance for me. I know that is asking too much since you don't know who I am but trust me at the ball as soon as you see me, it will all make sense.
I am counting down the days till I can see you again.
Your Secret Admirer
Mina read over the letter before staring at the rose and letter suspiciously. Ami walked out of the bathroom as she was staring at the letter.
"I got one too, except mine was a white rose. May I read yours, so I can see if they are sent by the same person?"
Mina nodded and Ami read through the letter before smiling softly. "They are similar but also different. I am fairly certain they aren't sent by the same person."
"So you are going with this mystery man then?"
Ami nodded before sitting down on her bed. "Yes I am, he sounds sweet and in a way familiar just from his writing. I also know that he isn't dangerous otherwise the note wouldn't have been able to get into this room."
Mina looked at Ami curiously. "What do you mean?"
Ami smiled, "Well only people with planetary powers or Professor Dumbledore can enter our dorm so it only makes sense that either Setsuna or Dumbledore approves of this person. They must have placed the letter in here for us."
"Sometimes you are too smart Ami."
Ami nodded and turned to Mina. "Mina can I ask you a question?" After seeing Mina nod she continued on. "You got asked to the ball by many different boys but yet you said yes to Malfoy, why?"
Mina sighed, "Well he is a friend of mine no matter how annoying he can get sometimes and he is also handsome. I wanted to go with someone who didn't just ask me because of my looks. All the boys that asked me didn't really know me, hell I didn't even know their names and I thought I at least wanted to go with a friend. He was the first friend of mine to ask, so I said yes."
Ami nodded before smiling at Mina. "What do you say we catch up with the other inners? I don't believe they know that we get to go to a ball!"
Mina nodded and Ami grabbed out the communicator. She pressed a few buttons and cast a spell on the screen to make it better. Their friends faces appeared and they all shared a warm welcome.
"Guess what guys? Ami and I get to attend a ball on Christmas Day!"
The three other inners looked jealous before smiling widely. Usagi as always was the first to speak up. "That sounds like so much fun! I am so jealous! What are you guys going to wear? What accessories are you adding? What colour is your dress? How are you doing your hair? Who are you going with? Wh..."
Rei had just covered up her mouth to stop they questions. "Shush Odango and let them answer the questions."
Mina and Ami laughed as they answered with Mina going first.
"Well let's see... We don't know what we are wearing yet since Setsuna is making our dresses so we also don't know the colour. She also told us not to worry about the other stuff that we will have all we need on Christmas, though she told me that the jewellery you guys got me for my birthday should match the dress perfectly. For my hair I have no idea, it totally depends on the dress and I am going with my friend Draco Malfoy."
They heard a slight growl before a ruckus broke out and Artemis' face popped up on the screen. "Minako, you can't go with him! You are too young to date and you are my charge which means I must approve of all your dates."
Everybody laughed slightly and rolled their eyes as Minako smiled at her guardian. 'Oh Artie, you know you can't stop me if I want to date someone, though admittedly I should start taking your advice but I am just going with Draco as a friend. I don't like him like that; he is handsome but just a friend okay?"
Artemis deflated and nodded before stepping away from the screen allowing the other senshi to be viewed again. Makoto smiled at them before voicing her thoughts. "I kind of thought you would go with Harry. You talk about him a bit and you guys are good friends."
Mina blushed and mumbled out. "He didn't ask me and Draco did case closed. It is now Ami's go to answer the questions."
Ami blushed and started to speak. "Same as Mina really except that I am going with a secret admirer. He sent me a letter with a beautiful pure white enchanted rose."
The others sighed lightly at the romance of it all and Ami then from the embarrassment spilled that Mina got one too but she was already going with Malfoy so it didn't matter.
The group laughed and gossiped about the ball until the two girls became extremely tired. They said good night and went to bed happier than they had been in a while.
there you go! hope you liked it. As for the dresses and decorations for balls in the Silver Millennium sorry if it got repititive but it was very hard to come up with set dress designs that would suit the type of people on the planet. And for those that don't know by Shittennou and Generals I mean Kunzite/Malachite, Nephrite/Nephlite, Jadeite/Jedite and Zoicite/Zoycite (though I go by Zoi being a boy not a girl.)
I also think that Ami and Mina's secret admirer's are very easy to figure out lol...
remember review!