Chapter 23: The Morning of Yule Ball's Eve.

A.N. This may seem a little quick, but I am going to be passing the story to 2 days before the Yule ball because I didn't want to bore you with doing nothing on the days between Ash's Birthday and the Yule Ball… Enjoy!

The day started, when James' owl, Reggie, starting shaking about in his cage and woke James up from a deep sleep. James slept in front of the window, so as soon as he woke up, he saw outside it was a white day, the whole place was white, this was supposed to be lucky, with the Yule Ball the next day and of course Christmas! James was happy that it was snowing, but the fact that he had no one to go to the Yule Ball felt horrible. He waned to ask Ash but he knew she wouldn't say yes, because of things happened in the past, which he regretted… He then heard someone behind him come into the Boys Dorms, it was someone he had never seen though, it was obviously a boy, he had straight hair and a fringe and it was pretty long as well. The boy was quite tall and was a little tanned. He was probably one of the new comers which were coming to Gryffindor in the middle of the year, so James didn't say anything. He then heard the boy went out of the room, as he heard a door close behind him as he turned around. He was now very annoyed, if he couldn't get a date, then who could? Because he's someone in the Triwizard Tournament and it would be easy for him to get a date… But apparently, right now its not. He didn't know what else to do, so he took out a bit of paper and took out his quill ink and then started writing on the paper:

Dear Mum and Dad,
as you probably already know, the Yule Ball is tomorrow, and I still have no one to go with! I don't know why I don't have anyone to go with, I know dad did when he had his Yule Ball, and I know Mum went with someone as well, but seriously I have no one, not even Ash! I want to ask someone, but I just don't know how to ask that person… I'm just worried… She might say no to me… But promise me, next year I can come home for Christmas, and maybe with my friends. Please, please reply to this message as soon as you get this, I urgently help! And I know you can help!
From James.

James then called Reggie and then told him to send it to his mum and dad and then he flew away into the snow, James stared at him until he disappeared into the snow. James got it his robes, not in any rush, and then he opened the window and then sat there for a while, for some fresh when he saw Ash, Claire, Rhea, Zee, Lia, Rachel and Rose all in hats and gloves and coats walking and laughing and they seemed like they were heading to Hogsmeade, for last minute Yule Ball things.

'Hey! Where are you all going?' Shouted James

Ash looked up and smiled at him, James did smile but then he noticed very quickly she was still wearing the bracelet and necklace, and she took off the ring that Aleksandar gave her…

'No where, no one your business POTTER!' Shouted Lia while laughing

'Very funny Lia…' James said sarcastically

'We're going to Hogsmeade to get… a few things… before the Yule Ball and Christmas… Y' Know…' Said Claire

James nodded and then let them carry on to go to Hogsmeade. While James was waiting for his reply from his parents, Ash, Claire, Rhea, Zee, Lia, Rachel and Rose were all on there way to Hogsmeade.

'So Ash, what kind of guy do you want?' Said Rachel

'I don't know… Someone who is really sweet… Someone who is good looking and really intelligent as well…' Said Ash, as she started blushing

'Okay, then… Point at the person you think is the best- looking in this crowd' Said Lia pointing at a crowd in front of Honeydukes

Ash looked at the crowd and then saw all these boys, but they weren't that good looking… Until, Ash saw someone at the back, the boys hair was straight and he had a fringe, it was black and was quite long… He was also tanned, his skin colour was very similar to Ash's skin colour. She pointed at him and everyone gasped…

'Ah… So why do you like him?' Said Rhea

'Because… He's cute and he has long hair and he looks like my age and he looks like he has a good personality as well' Said Ash blushing once again, as the boy looked at her and smiled and of course she smiled back…

Then they all carried on walking. As they were doing that, James on the other hand received his reply from his parents; he quickly grabbed the letter from Reggie and then opened and read it, it said:

To James,
I know this is a big problem, trust me I had a problem finding someone, but your Mum, she easily found someone to go with! I first wanted to ask a girl out, but it turned out she was going with someone else, and yes I was sad, but then I knew I didn't want to go alone, because I was also one of the 4 people to be in the Triwizard Tournament as well, and your uncle Ron well… He didn't have anyone to go with either! So I just found a friend to go with, and I guess… I enjoyed it a little, but I don't want you to do what I did, I spent the Yule Ball doing nothing, sitting down just drinking punch with Ron, but your Mum, she spent the whole Ball having fun and dancing with her date. If you want a date, then choose a friend or someone to go with, and eventually I promise you, if the person you like, hasn't got a date, will come up to you and say something, because people cant hold things inside forever. And if the person who you are already going with, because you didn't find someone to go with, then make the person understand before the Ball and then that person will also find someone! And of course you can be here next Christmas, and yes you can bring your friends, this time I got your mum's permission before I said yes! I hope you understand me in this letter and good luck for tomorrow and I hope you like the robes we sent you!
Love Mum and Dad x

James read the letter and then put it down and then thought about who his friend was and who he could go with, Claire, Rose, Fi, Rhea? ANYONE? He knew that Rachel was already going with Andy and that Sid would maybe be asking out Rhea, if not that other Priya girl he was with a few days ago. No on would want to go with him, if Ash didn't want to go with him then no one else did, and anyway, forgetting about the Yule Ball he remembered the second task, he still hadn't found out about the clue! The pendant was still in a drawer, waiting there until James would come and 'try' and find out what the clue was. The other champions probably already figured the clue out he thought to himself. He didn't want to focus too much on the tournament, otherwise he wont enjoy the Yule Ball, thinking too much about one thing. He then went down to the common room, to see if there were any girls in the common room, someone he could ask to go to the Yule Ball. Unfortunately he saw no one he knew. He then heard screams and laughs and then heard some people coming. He didn't know who it was so he quickly hid.

'So who are you going to the Yule Ball with?' Said one person

'I don't know… If anyone asks me ill go with them I guess...' Said another person

But then James recognised the voice, and then knew straight away that it was Ash, he didn't want to listen to anything, so he quickly ran upstairs.

'So who are you going to the Yule Ball with Rhea?' Said Ash

'I don't know, I'm also waiting for someone to ask me, I would expect Sid to ask me, but I think he's going with that stupid Priya girl' Replied Rhea

Ash smiled and then she left her friends so then she could go up and then put what she bought away. As she was putting her things away, she saw the same boy she saw outside Honeydukes outside the window in the snow. He was throwing snowballs at his friends and he looked like he was having fun. Ash wanted to know what was happening, so she went up closer to the window and then tip-toed so she could see everything. She didn't know who the boy was but the boy somehow saw her and then looked up at her and waved. Ash looked around and then saw no one else was there, and then she looked down and then waved back. The boy who waved at her was too busy looking up at Ash until he got hit by a snowball and the moment was ruined. The boy laughed and so did Ash as he went in a rage and then started hitting his friend with snowballs as well! Ash knew her friends were waiting for her so she quickly went down… Pretending nothing had happened. It was only now 1pm and it was only one more sleep until the Yule Ball.