Chapter 16: Prep… Prep… Preparation.
A.N. I don't own anything from harry potter because I am not the one and only J..

James woke up the next morning and he felt like he was hurting everywhere. This was probably because of what he did the day before and from the scars he received. This evening, every house had been called to different places in the school for the preparation of the Yule Ball. All the champions already knew about this, but they also had to join their houses so then their head teacher of their house could explain more, as for Gryffindor at the moment, it was Professor McGonagall, still… It seemed like for so long she had been head of Gryffindor house! Rhea wasn't very excited about this because she had no one to go with, maybe she could ask someone from the Durmstrang, but they were too old for her, or maybe she could ask James, Albus, maybe even Hugo or Andy. But she wasn't sure who because they probably all had small crushes on all the girls, and the only person who had a crush on Rhea was Sid. But she was angry at Sid, yes he did survive the first task, that doesn't mean he will survive the next 2 tasks. But the thing was… Rhea had extreme feelings for Sid and she wanted to ask him, but he already had so many girls on him. Wherever she saw him, there were girls following behind him, and whenever he was in the library, there were always girls lining up to get his autograph.
It became lunch time and when all the girls were eating they also gossiped about different things as well.
'So… What's happening girls?' Said Charlie
'Nothing really… Except Chloe A and the tournament and the Yule Ball really…' Replied Zee
'Who in the world is Chloe A?' Asked Rhea
'She's that girl who poisoned that black was the colour of death in your mind, do you remember?' Replied Zee
'Yeah. God, black WAS my favourite colour, now because of her poisoning I'm not very fond of it' Replied Rhea
'And did you hear, she ACTUALLY has a best friend?' Interrupted Fi
'NO!' Said Ash, Rhea, Zee, Charlie and Rachel, Rachel had just arrived from the Library because she was looking on books on the essay that Professor Lockhart had set for them.
'You know Leah? Leah Williams?' Said Fi
'Oh yeah, that girl who stole my essay off me for Transfiguration, her?' Said Zee
'The girl who copied my whole Charms exam in year 2?' Said Rhea
'Yeah that girl, she is best friends with Chloe!' Said Fi
'That's just sad… Who would want to be friends with HER?' Said Ash
'SHE KILLS PEOPLE WITH HER KINDNESS!' Shouted Rhea.
Everyone started laughing and then finally everyone had finished eating! So all of them set off to the Muggle Studies classroom to have their 'Yule Ball talk'
They had come pretty early, because there weren't many people here, only a few boys and a few girls, a lot more girls when the other girls joined. They all sat in small groups because that was the most 'Comfortable' way of sitting for the girls. After everyone was in the room, McGonagall entered the room and then started to explain the Yule Ball…
'Today everyone, I am going to be talking to you about a great event, which is a tradition for every time we have the Triwizard Tournament. This is not just an event. It is a dance. A FORMAL dance' All the girls started to talk to each other and they were talking so happily and they were getting very, very excited, Rhea was not. Sid was looking at Rhea and he could see in her eyes straight away that there was a lot of hurt in her eyes and he saw she wanted to be excited but she just couldn't.
'This formal dance is also known as the Yule Ball, the two champions here would already know about it. Every boy and girl has to go together and… you have to dance. The main point of this whole Ball is dancing and sharing and showing your inner spirit! As I have said in many other years, inside a girl is a swan and inside a boy is a lion prepared to prance! Now before you go, I have a few announcements about the Yule Ball. Everyone MUST dress formally, no one shall behave like a bumbling band of baboons, and lastly… The Yule Ball will be set in the Great Hall. Class dismissed' Then McGonagall left the room, with Perry running behind her, Perry is the new caretaker, he became new caretaker after Filch died. All the girls and boys started coming out the room and then the only people who were left in the room were Ash, James, Rhea, Sid, Albus, Fi, Andy, Rachel, Zee and Charlie. It was first awkward because no one was talking and they weren't really supposed to be here because there was going to be teachers and students coming in and out of this classroom but they still sat down here.
'So the Yule Ball?' Said Ash
'Yeah. Ash. The Yule Ball…' Said Zee, Rhea and Fi
Ash then looked up and saw James looking at her. She stared back at him, but nothing seemed to happen with the way James looked at Ash, he was still looking at her in that same way he did years before. Sid was looking at Rhea, who was giving Sid the 'evils' because she still really hated him. Ash thought it was getting a little awkward at the moment because it was all the boys staring at all the girls so Ash whispered something to Zee, who told Rhea, who told Charlie who told Rachel, who then finally told Fi. Ash got up and then walked to the door and then everyone else who were her friends followed on. James looked up at Albus and Sid and then smiled.
'Now I guess its time for the 'asking out' to start?' Said James
'Yeah, but I think I've been asked out by so many girls already' Said Sid while laughing
'I have my eye on someone, but I don't know if she has her eye on me…' Said Albus
James and Sid started laughing and Albus looked down and said 'You cant say anything James… You like Ash right?'
'No… Course I don't. She's absolutely mental…' Said James
'You sooo like her, don't deny it!' Said Sid
'No, I don't!' Said James smiling
Then after a laugh and some jokes they left to go back to the common room.
When they got back into the common room, Ash was on the sofa reading an old book she had found in the back of Fi's suitcase. She was really comfortable where she was that she didn't even notice that James was here. James looked at Ash and smiled, because… Well because he thought she looked quite cute when she was comfortable and was on the sofa lying down. James picked up the latest daily prophet from the table, and then went next to Ash where she was sitting.
'Oh hey James…' Said Ash
'Hey Ash…' Said James
'how are you feeling…? From yesterday?'
'I'm fine… Just my scars on my neck stinging a little and I have a burn on my knee which pretty much stings as well'
'Wait let me see…'
James turned a little and Ash put her book down and she examined the scars on his neck… Her face went red and she blushed as she found out that she was holding James' hand tightly. She then let go of his hand and then said 'You could go see the nurse again...'
'No, I think I would rather stay here… I think I've got all I need…' Said James while smiling. Ash blushed and then said 'Sorry I have to go now… 8pm and got to wake up early tomorrow for Defence Against the Dark Arts'
Then she ran upstairs with her book and blanket but just before she went up, she ran to James and gave him a kiss on the cheek and then ran back up, as if nothing had happened.
James felt his cheek and then he started smiling, he felt as if he was the happiest person in the world. Then all of a sudden 3 boys who were behind the sofa all that time starting singing love songs and then they came from the back of the sofa and then they went next to James and sang even louder.
'SOMEONES IN LOVVEEE!' Said Sid
'YEAH JAMES… LA LA LA LA LA LA LA! Love, love, love!' Said Hugo
'Shut up both of you, even you Albus!' Said James
Albus was with his guitar in the background and he was playing it!
Yes I can say James wasn't in love but he had feelings at the moment, that night it also started snowing and that reminded Ash of her name written in the snow and the bracelet… Which then made her think about James. Could she trust him once again? Or would he do the same?...