After eating, she met James and Albus in the entrance hall to go to Hagrid's.

"So," Al said as they walked put into the windy grounds, frozen grass crunching underfoot. "James, who're you going with?"

"Nobody," James said defensively. Albus laughed.

"Come off it, Tricia Bell asked you, didn't she?"

"Maybe," James replied, his cheeks pinkening. "You'll just have to wait until tonight. And who's the lucky girl that's going in on your arm, Al?"

"Polly Chapman," Albus said proudly.

"What?" James asked. "The Ravenclaw girl that everyone has been asking all week? How did you get her to go with you? I thought she was going with Scorpius for sure!"

"It was Scorpius's idea, actually," his brother grinned. "We bet that if he got Rose to go with him to the ball, he'd hook Polly up with me. I never thought he'd actually-"

Rose gave him a vicious elbow in the side, but it was too late. James' face broke into a wide grin.

"No way," he said incredulously, still grinning. "Rose! You're seriously going with-"

"Bizarre, I know," Albus agreed, rubbing his side as Rose gave him another elbow. "Sheesh, Rose. Cut it out! I haven't told anyone except James!"

"And if it doesn't stay that way," Rose said sweetly, "I'm going to give you a lot worse than an elbow, Al. James, you too."

"I am staying out of your elbow range until this ball is over," James promised. "I don't want to give Tricia damaged goods."

"Aha!" Albus crowed. "So you are going with her."

"I never said that!"

"You just did!"

Laughing, the two heckled each other all the way to the cabin. Rose's thoughts were in complete disorder. Scorpius would've told Albus, of course- they had made the bet in the first place. But now James knew, too. Sooner or later, this would get back to Mum and Dad, and then she'd be in for it.

"Hello, yeh lot!" Hagrid greeted them cheerfully. "Come in, come in- got time for a drink?"

"Why not?" James agreed. "I'm starved."

"You just had lunch!" Rose said in exasperation. "How are you hungry already?"

"I'm talented," James explained as he sat down at the scrubbed, wooden table. Hagrid's black mastiff, Trife, padded over and laid his head in Albus's lap.

"He really likes yeh, Al," Hagrid smiled as he set the kettle on the fire. "Yeh should've heard him barking when he heard yeh comin'."

Albus patted Trife's head, scratching him behind the ears. Trife's tailed wagged frantically.

"So," Hagrid said as he settled down at the table, bucket-sized mugs before each of them. "Got dates fer the ball yet?"

"I have," Albus replied. "Polly Chapman. And James is going with Tricia Bell, the poor girl."

Everyone laughed. Hagrid cocked an eyebrow at Rose.

"And yeh, Rose?" he asked. "Who's the lucky boy that won yer hand for tonight?"

Rose wondered what to say as she threw a desperately warning glance at Albus and James, but Albus spoke up anyway.

"Rose is keeping it secret," he explained, a perfect innocence masking his face. "She's hasn't told anyone yet- not even James or me."

Rose tried not to smile. Albus had pulled it off in style- he hadn't exactly lied, but it would stop Hagrid's questions neatly. She chimed in with a question of her own.

"Are you going with anyone, Hagrid?"

Hagrid shook his head. "Nah. I'm goin' stag."

"You could always ask McGonagall," James said reasonably. Hagrid's beard twitched.