Ruby tried to discreetly look over at the Hufflepuff table to sneak a glimpse of Graham, but then David dropped into the seat right in front of her, humming cheerfully.

"David," she said exasperatedly.

"Hmm?"

"Do you really have to sit right there?" she said. He looked at her bemusedly.

"Why? What's wrong with sitting here?"

"It's just…oh, nothing," she sighed, resting her cheek against her hand. "You look awfully pleased with yourself."

"He is," Robin said, then grinned at her. "Hello, beautiful," he said, sliding into the seat next her.

"Ugh." Ruby rolled her eyes and scooted herself further down the bench.

"Anyways," Robin said, unfazed by her rudeness, "little Davey Nolan's got a date for the Yule Ball." He smiled at David patronizingly. "Don't you, Davey?"

"Davey's got himself a date," David said triumphantly, drumming the table.

Ruby squealed. "Congratulations!" she said excitedly, clapping her hands. "Who is it, who is it?"

"Not telling," he smirked.

"David," she whined, sagging her shoulders.

He shook his head. Ruby looked over at Robin.

"Do you know?"

"Haven't the foggiest. Speaking of dates—" he flashed her a winning smile—"you still going with Hunter?"

"Yes," she said firmly.

"Sure you didn't change your mind?"

"Very."

"All right," he said, shrugging. "But if you do…"

Ruby ignored him, turning back to David. "Come on, David, please? Just a hint?"

"Stop pestering me, I'm not telling you anything," he said. Ruby sighed dramatically.

"Oh, very well." She straightened in her seat, trying to peek at Graham over his head. She could just see the tips of his curls—

Suddenly, he stood up, catching her eye and grinning at her. She flushed, smiling back. Hi, she mouthed, giving him a shy little wave.

"Oh, here we go," Robin muttered as Graham came over. David looked up, raising his eyebrows.

"Hey, Hunter."

"Nolan." Graham turned his head and smiled down at her. "Hi, Ruby." Ruby beamed.

"You can sit down," she offered, sliding further down. Robin made an indignant noise as Graham took the space between him and Ruby.

"You know, if you ever want to, you can always sit with us at Hufflepuff," he said.

"Maybe," she said casually, tossing her hair.

"You can't sit outside your House," Robin said pointedly. "Sorry, Hunter. No Badgers at the Gryffindor table."

"Emma sits at Ravenclaw all the time," Ruby said, her smile sliding off her face. "Look, she's sitting right…" She frowned at the familiar figure of a tall Slytherin boy, hovering near the Ravenclaw table. "What is Jones doing at Ravenclaw?"

Graham's smile turned into an ugly grimace. Ruby put a hand on his shoulder as he rose in his seat, his hands clenching into fists. They watched as Jones walked over to Emma's group, stopping in front of Belle French. Ruby narrowed her eyes, preparing to stalk over and tell him to back off—but then Belle got up from her seat and followed him.

"Where are they going?" Robin said, turning his head to stare. "What are they doing? What are they talking about?" he demanded as they stopped to have what was clearly supposed to be a private conversation between the Ravenclaw and Slytherin hourglasses. "What's going on?"

"Do you think any of us have any more information than you do?" David said, whirling around irritably.

"Yeah, Robin, shut up," Graham said absently, craning his neck to get a better look. Robin's eyebrows shot up, but he didn't say anything.

"Are they arguing?" Ruby asked, squinting.

"Doesn't look like it," David mused. "Oh, wait—now he's getting angry… she's folding her arms…yeah, they might be arguing."

"Wait—" Ruby frowned, sitting up in her seat. "Are they coming over here?"

"No," Graham said, shaking his head. "They couldn't be… Even Jones wouldn't have the nerve to—blimey, they are."

Belle marched Jones to their table, wearing a very self-satisfied smile. Jones, for his part, was glaring at the ground, his fists swinging at his sides. They watched open-mouthed as he stopped in front of them, still refusing to look up.

Belle peeked out from behind him. "I think Jones has something to say to the two of you," she said to Ruby and Graham. She nudged him with her elbow. "Go on."

Jones blew out a breath, and raised his eyes to the ceiling. "Sorry," he said flatly.

David dropped his fork. Ruby and Graham exchanged a wide-eyed look.

"I think he can do better than that," Belle said through clenched teeth. Jones closed his eyes.

"Sorry," he repeated, louder.

"No," Belle said threateningly. "I think he wants to apologize individually and specifically."

Jones whirled around in rage. "I think he's apologized enough, thanks very much!"

"Well, I disagree!" she said hotly, putting her hands on her hips. She met his glare, stubbornly glaring back. They seemed to have a silent battle of wills before Jones slowly turned around and forced himself to look Ruby in the eye.

"I'm…" He exhaled frustratedly. "I'm sorry I… humiliated you in front of everyone…and that I…" He seemed to be searching for words. "That I shouted your name some…and did some other shouting…and stuff."

Ruby blinked rapidly, unable to believe her ears.

"And Graham?" Belle prodded. Jones squeezed his eyes shut, clenching his teeth tightly enough to shatter them.

"I'm sorry for humiliating you, too, Hunter," he said, his breathing uneven. "I'm so very sorry that I shouted your name and made fun of your Head Boy aspirations, and I'm sorry that your team has a rubbish Seeker, and I caught the Snitch right from under his oversized nose—"

"No," Belle said fiercely. "That is not an apology. Start over, Jones. Or the deal's off."

"Deal?" Robin perked up. "What deal?"

"Keep your nose out of it, Loxley, it doesn't concern you," Jones snapped. Belle narrowed her eyes.

"I think you owe Robin an apology as well," she said coldly.

Robin's jaw dropped. Jones covered his eyes, cursing under his breath. "I'm sorry, Loxley," he said, dropping his hands and glaring at him darkly.

Robin raised his eyebrows. "Apology accepted, mate."

"Now, Graham," Belle ordered. Jones flicked his gaze to Graham.

"Sorry I embarrassed you," he said in a low voice, nearly growling.

Graham stared at him wordlessly, not taking his eyes off him as Jones turned to Belle.

"Satisfied?"

"It'll do," she said, shrugging.

They walked away, leaving the four of them to stare after them, open-mouthed and wide-eyed.

"Did Jones just apologize?" Ruby said breathlessly. "To us?"

"And me!" Robin said delightedly. "That was amazing!"

"How did she get him to say all that?" Graham said wonderingly. "What does she have on him?"

"All we know is, there's a deal of some sort," Robin said, frowning thoughtfully. He templed his fingers, watching as Jones and Belle went to their separate tables.

Ruby studied Jones as he made his way toward his usual spot next to Victor Whale, a few seats down from Regina Mills. "Did he get hit with a Bludger in the head during Quidditch practice or something?" she mused, absently twirling her hair. Whale looked over at her, as per his usual custom, and she immediately looked away.

"Well," Graham said at last, pushing himself up, "I've got Transfiguration homework to finish, so I'll talk to you guys later. Nolan, Loxely—" he grinned down at Ruby. "Bye, Ruby."

"Bye," she said, blushing furiously. Robin rolled his eyes.

"Mind you, I don't even know what Jones was apologizing to you for," he said darkly as Graham walked away. "It's because of him Hunter asked you at all."

"Hey!" Ruby said, stung.

"Well, it's true!" he insisted. "Should have apologized to me!"

"Did you find anyone yet?" David asked, frowning. "You'd better hurry up, all the good ones are nearly taken."

"Who's left?" Robin asked, ignoring Ruby's indignant splutter.

"Let's see…" David put his fork down, thinking. "I could ask Emma, if you want."

"She's going with Neal Cassidy," Ruby said, shaking her head. David looked surprised.

"She is?" he said. "Blimey, I didn't even know he asked her."

"Of course he did, he's liked her for ages," Ruby said, rolling her eyes at his ignorance.

"He has?"

"Honestly, David," she said exasperatedly.

"Can we get back to me?" Robin said as David opened his mouth. "I'm sure we're all thrilled for Cassidy, but I'm still dateless."

"What about Mary Margaret Blanchard?" Ruby suggested, seeing that David had been rendered speechless. "From Hufflepuff."

"Blanchard?" Robin repeated scathingly.

"She's really nice."

"Who cares about nice?" he asked the ceiling. Ruby frowned.

"Well, I care about nice. Maybe because I'm not impossibly shallow like other people at this table."

"Right," David said, recovering his speech. "You're going with Hunter because he's nice. Not because he's a Quidditch star. Not because nearly every girl in school is in love with him. You're going because he's nice."

Ruby glowered at him, folding her arms.

"What about Belle French?" Robin asked suddenly. "Is she going with anyone?"

"Not that I know of," David said. "You could try, but I don't like your chances."

"Might as well try Regina Mills, while you're at it," Ruby said acidly. "Seeing as you don't care about nice and all."

"No," David and Robin said at the same time. Ruby and Robin frowned quizzically at David. He looked between the two of them.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Is that who you're going with?" Ruby asked, crinkling her brow. "Regina Mills—?"

"—from Slytherin?" Robin finished, an incredulous look on his face. "She's the enemy!"

"She's really pretty, though," David shrugged. "And she said yes."

"Regina Mills agreed to go with you?" Ruby said disbelievingly.

"Gryffindors should go with Gryffindors, and Slytherin scum should go with Slytherin scum," Robin said firmly. "We shouldn't be mingling with other Houses. So, Ruby, will you please dump that pretty-boy Hufflepuff and just go with me already?"

"Robin, stop," she said, slamming her hands on the table. "I'm going with Graham. And even if I wasn't, I wouldn't go with you. I'd go with Jones before I'd go with you."

"Why, 'cause he's nice?" Robin shot back. "Oh, wait a minute—no, he's a horrible person and everyone hates him. Much like Regina Mills," he added, pointing sternly at David.

"Yes, but I don't care about that," David said pleasantly. "So, it's fine."

"What about Wendy Darling?" Ruby said. "She's a fourth-year, but—"

"NO." Robin shook his head. "I can't go with a fourth-year when everyone else is going with someone in our year. It'll look pathetic."

"Go stag," David said suddenly.

"Might have to," Robin grumbled, slumping.

"No, no, no, really—go stag," David insisted. "Say you did it on purpose or something. If you play your cards right, you can pull it off without looking pathetic."

"Victor Whale's going stag," Robin complained. "That puts me on the same playing field as him. And Booth."

"I don't think Whale's going to be going stag," Ruby frowned, watching Mary Margaret detach herself from the Hufflepuff table and approach the Slytherins. "I didn't think she was serious…."

"What?" David asked, twisting in his seat. "What is it?"

"Blanchard," Robin said, looking after her disbelievingly. "She's talking to Whale." He looked at them bemusedly. "Why would she be talking to Whale?"

David and Ruby exchanged a glance as Robin ran his hands through his hair and rubbed his eyes, muttering to himself.

"Blanchard's talking to Whale… Belle's making deals with Jones… David's taking Regina Mills… Ruby's going with a Hufflepuff instead of me…" He looked up, bewildered. "What's wrong with you people?"