Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing except Chloe and anything else you don't recognize.
Okay here's chapter 13. Not much to say 'cept enjoy!
Chapter 13:
Dancing Lessons
I sat in the great hall during breakfast. The mail was supposed to come today but I haven't gotten any yet. Poor Ron Weasley had gotten frilly little dress robes from his parents. They looked absolutely ridiculous.
"So, what are you going to do for Christmas?" Cedric asked from beside me.
"I don't know yet," I said, stirring my porridge. "I haven't seen my grandparents on my dad's side of the family for a while but then again, I'm too lazy to pack and unpack and then pack again. It's too much work." Cedric laughed and I smiled. "What are you doing for Christmas?" I asked.
"I don't know yet either," he sighed. I smiled and looked back down at my porridge. It looked disgusting and unappetizing. I grimaced.
"That's disgusting," I said, pushing it away.
"It's not that bad," Cedric argued with his mouth full. I rolled my eyes.
"Chew and swallow Mr. Diggory," I teased. He glared at me playfully as he did as I said. "And yes it is that bad, I've always hated porridge." I said. He laughed as he ate his breakfast. There was the sound of approaching footsteps but I ignored it. It was probably just someone late for breakfast.
"There's a package for you, Chloe," said a very familiar all-too-perky voice. Crap. I slowly turned around. Doesn't this kid leave me alone? In his hands he held a big brown box.
"Thank you," I said taking it and setting it on the table. I expected him to take off but he didn't.
"You know Cedric Diggory?" I groaned. This kid just gets more and more annoying everyday. "Are you guys-"
"Go away!" I demanded. I knew what he was going to ask and didn't want him to finish. He took off.
"I think you've got an admirer, Chloe," Cedric teased.
"Shut up," I hissed as I looked back at the box that sat in front of me. There was no letter but judging by the return address, it was obviously from my parents. I ripped open the flaps and was faced with ugly brown tissue paper. I pushed it aside and pulled out the most beautiful dress I've ever seen. It was a long, flowey, strapless cream colored dress with silver diamond shapes sewn onto the torso part.
"Oh, it's beautiful!" I gasped, standing up, holding it to me and spinning around. I think I saw hanging in my mother's closet before. Oh well, it's mine now.
"Hey, there's a letter," Cedric said, snatching it out of the box. I sighed.
"I always tell them not to put the letter under the item in the package," I grumbled, taking the letter from him. I placed the dress back in the box and ripped the letter open.
Dear Chloe,
How are you? Are you enjoying your time at school? Your father and I still wish you would come home. Anyways, your father told me about the Tournament going on at your school and I figured you might need this. You always used to love playing dress up in this dress, I figured it seemed appropriate. Your father and I won't mind if you don't come home for Christmas, your cousins are staying at school to. We'll see you when you get home from school.
Hugs and kisses,
Mom
Oh yeah, I always loved this dress. I remember now! Well, now I know what I'm doing for Christmas. I read the letter over once more. It was really short. My mom wasn't good at writing long letters. I folded the paper up and laid it on the dress. I wondered why she sent it to me. Oh well, I guess I'm staying for Christmas.
"Well, I know what I'm doing for Christmas." I said, folding the flaps of the cardboard box.
"What?"
"I'm staying; my parents say they don't care." Cedric chuckled. "I'm gonna go bring this up to the girls' dorm. I'll meet you in class," I said, grabbing the box and my bag.
"See you in class," I walked out of the great hall and headed to the Hufflepuff common room.
CDCB
"That class is so boring and it feels awful repetitive," I said, as me and Cedric headed to Transfiguration. We had just finished History and it was boring! We spent the duration of the class passing notes and making fun of the class.
"Yeah," Cedric agreed.
"I mean, how many times can we hear about the founders of the school?" I swear, they're mentioned more then needed.
"A lot, apparently." I laughed. We stepped into the doorway of the Transfiguration classroom and froze.
"Whoa," it didn't look like the Transfiguration classroom anymore. There were no desks and the chairs were pushed to the sides of the classroom. There was a big record player thing at the end of the room. Filch was trying to work it under the watchful eyes of Professor McGonagall. There were already some people in the class. There were three girls on the left and one boy on the right.
"Ah, Mr. Diggory, Ms. Baker," Professor McGonagall said once we stepped into the room. "Please take your seats," we went to the separate sides of the room. We waited for the rest of the class to arrive. I wondered what we were doing today. It obviously wasn't the usual class. The rest of the class arrived quickly and Professor McGonagall started explaining the Yule Ball.
"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception," she started. "On Christmas Eve night, we will gather in the great hall with our guests for a night of well mannered frivolity." Yeah, see how long that lasts. "Now, as part of the host school I want you to put your best foot foreword and I mean this literally because the Yule Ball is a dance." A dance? A DANCE?! I can't dance! I went into panic mode at the thought of dancing. Now I know why I got that dress. There were sounds of excitement from the girls. The boys, however, sounded less enthusiastic. I just sat there, stunned. "Silence!" McGonagall ordered. Everyone quieted down immediately. She stood there, looking at everyone making sure there were going to be no more outbursts. "Now, dancing is a way of letting the soul breath," okay then. "Inside every girl there's a secret swan longing to burst free," not if I have to wear heels, then I would be tripping all over the place and stepping on everyone's feet. "Inside every boy, a lordly lion prepared to prance." Maybe not inside every boy, some boys weren't exactly lion materiel. Then Professor McGonagall walked up to one of the boys and pulled him up to dance with her. I stifled my laughter as Mr. Filch started the music. Professor McGonagall started counting out the beats and they started to dance. Poor boy must be so embarrassed. "On your feet!" Everyone got up and came together. And just my luck, I was with Anthony. Ugh. He didn't seem too pleased about it either. I looked over to Cedric. He was with Cho. I glared. I felt…I felt jealous-wait, jealous? I'm not jealous, am I?
"Come on," Anthony growled, angrily taking my hand and putting his other hand on my waist. I rolled my eyes at him, placing my hand on his shoulder. We started dancing, but not very good. I nearly fell backward a couple times because Anthony was moving too fast, and because I kept tripping over my own feet. He wasn't a very good leader, either. And I kept stepping on his feet. He didn't like that at all. All he could do was criticize me every time I got something wrong. I looked over to Cedric and Cho. They were doing a great job and did look good together, making me more jealous. Did I like Cedric Diggory?
I was pulled out of my train of thought when I stumbled and fell. Anthony just let me fall.
"Ow, Anthony!" I exclaimed, standing up.
"Well maybe you should stop sucking so much." Okay, that was below the belt. I narrowed my eyes at me and opened my mouth to say something back but that was when McGonagall decided to step in.
"Excuse me, Ms. Baker, Mr. Hawkins is something wrong?" She asked.
"No nothing," we both said. Ah yes, standard answer to any question like that from any teacher.
"Well, then, continue," we looked at each other for a brief second before resuming our positions and continuing our…well, I wouldn't really call it a dance. I would call it a monstrosity. I stumbled a few times before regaining my balance, no thanks to Anthony. And then I stepped on his foot. He howled in pain and let go of me, getting the attention of the rest of the class.
"Way to go Baker, you did it again!" He exclaimed.
"It was an accident. Besides, it's not like I stomped on it," I said. "This would be stomping." I lifted my foot and stomped down as hard as I could again. He cried out again, holding his foot. I smirked.
"Alright, that is enough." Professor McGonagall said. "Now, there does seem to be a problem with you two so, Mr. Diggory, would you mind switching partners with Mr. Hawkins?" I looked over to see Cedric nod and walk towards me. Anthony walked towards Cho. Cho looked upset about this whole exchange. Ha, ha! In your face Cho! "Alright now let us continue." The music started up again and everyone started dancing, Professor McGonagall counted out the beats as she went to go check on the other pairs.
"Your friend doesn't like me," I said, looking at Cedric. He laughed a little.
"Well, you didn't have to stomp on his foot like that,"
"I think it was rather funny." I argued. Cedric laughed again.
"Shall we start before Professor McGonagall comes around?"
"Yes," I agreed, placing my hand on his shoulder. I felt all tingly and giddy, for some odd reason. His hand rested on my waist and my heart rate picked up incredibly. Please say he couldn't hear it. He took my hand in his and we started dancing and I tried hard to hide my smile. I felt and tingly all over and my heart didn't calm down. It was much easier to dance with Cedric. I did stumble a few times but he didn't let me fall. I was always looking at my feet to make sure I didn't step on his. He was always telling me not to but I couldn't help it! I didn't want to step on his feet.
"Stop looking at your feet." Cedric said when I looked down at them, yet again.
"I just don't want to step on your feet."
"You won't,"
"Yes I will,"
"You won't Chloe," I gave him an unconvinced look. "Just give it a try," I sighed.
"Fine," we started dancing again and I stayed focused on his beautiful grey eyes. Maybe I should've focused on something else because I got lost in them, swimming in the grey mist. And that's when I realized, I like-no love- Cedric Diggory.
And she's finally realized how she feels. But will she tell him? Your gonna have to review to find out.