Avery peeked around the edge of the corridor before continuing her trek to Potion's. There was no way she would be able to speak to James without snapping his head off. Her head was warring with itself, having a mental argument.
Okay, no James, no James, no James, I think the coast is clear. This is ridiculous, you shouldn't be mad at him you were the one who said you wanted to be friends. Yeah, well, he didn't have to go and find a new girlfriend three seconds later. He can do whatever he wants, you have no right to tell him what to do-
"Hey Avery." Dimitri said as he caught up to Avery.
"Hi."
"Okay, what's wrong?"
"What?"
"I can tell you're upset. It's quite obvious really. What's wrong? Is the sequel to your book checked out?" He joked, causing Avery to giggle.
Within that second, Avery made a split second decision, "Hey Dimitri?"
"Yeah?"
"Is your invitation to the Yule Ball still open?"
"Yeaaah?"
"Would you want to go then?"
"Of course, Avery, that is going to be loads fun. Hope you can dance."
"Huh?" Avery questioned, feeling confused.
"The Champions' Dance. Where the Champions and their dates dance in front of everyone. No pressure." He clarified, a smile playing at his lips as he saw the look of horror in Avery's face.
"I did not think that one through." Avery facepalmed.
He laughed, "It's okay, just follow my lead. Worst comes to worst, we'll look like idiots together."
"Haha, sounds good, at least you can't get mad if I accidentally dislocate one of your toes. Well, I better be off, I have Potions next." Avery grimaced.
"See you later. Oh, by the way, I still need help with my Charm's essay, could we meet in the library later?"
"Sure, see you after lessons." Avery stepped into the classroom, immediately running into a strong chest, "Oomph."
She looked up to see a frowning James, "Oh hi, Potter." Avery tried to dart around him, only for James to block her way.
"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked bluntly, staring through her with his sapphire eyes.
"I'm not-" Avery started protesting, only to be interrupted.
"I may be an idiot, Avery, but even I can tell something is wrong. What have I cocked up this time?"
"N-nothing, I-"
"Mr. Potter and Miss Winchester, I am starting class, so if you wouldn't mind sitting down, that would be a blessing." Mr. Slughorn said.
James gave her a look this isn't over yet before reluctantly trudging over to his seat.
Just a day until the Yule Ball, then this will all blow over, Avery thought to herself, giving up on taking notes, I'll just have to be better at avoiding him. Like a ninja, quiet and mysterious. They're so cool, I wonder if I can get a ninja suit? Then again that might attract attention...
*Timeskip*
"Avery," Lily whined, "You look gorgeous, let's just go!"
"This is a free nation, I can stay here as long as I like." Avery laughed, trying to savor her last few minutes before dancing in front of the entire school and other schools.
Lily sighed before grabbing Avery's arm and screaming, "DICTATORSHIP!" and apparating her out of the room to the door of the common room.
"See was that so hard?"
"Yes, I am slowly melting. Help." Avery declared dramatically, flopping into the couch.
"And you say I'm dramatic." James said as he pranced down the stairs. He glanced over the girls quickly before his head whipped back around to do a double take at Avery, mouth slightly agape.
"What?" Avery asked, suddenly extremely self conscious.
"You just-...you look great." James said, looking shocked.
"I couldn't agree more." A voice said by the Portrait door. Avery broke into a smile as she made out Dimitri's tall silhouette, "Are you ready to go?" She asked.
"Let's do this." Dimitri said as he offered her his arm.
"Oh, you're going together?" James asked nonchalantly.
"Yeah, he was the the only person she didn't want to choke when he asked." Lily interjected as she came down the stairs, "And, frankly, I agree he is entirely repulsive."
"I'm not sure if the feeling's neutral." Dimitri said, straight-faced.
"Excuse yo-" Lily said, her temper kicking in before DImitri let out a chortle. Lily looked at him confusedly, only causing him to laugh harder, "I'm kidding Lily. You think someone as beautiful as you would be able to take a joke." Dimitri he said between his laughter as he took in her green dress that brought out her eyes, like her father's.
Lily blushed, "Thank you. I think" They looked at each other for a few moments before Lily cleared her throat, "Well, I really have to meet my date, and I KNOW your date will be looking for you, James."
James rolled his eyes before replying, "Might as well get the first dance over with. After that you will find me by the snack table." As they neared the Hal, Avery could hear the music and conversations emanating out of the ballroom and the followed the decorations to the party.
Once inside, Avery gasped. The room was completely decked out in white, gold, and silver, crystal chandeliers hanging like icicles from the ceilings. There were snowflakes raining down from above, creating the illusion of snow before they disappeared a few feet over their heads. Overall, it reminded her of that day in the snow with James. She looked over only to find that Lily and James had abandoned them. "Come on, it's nearly time for the dance." Dimitri said as he lead her over to the middle of the floor, merely feet away from James. James was dancing with his date who looked very...distracting. Her dress was very form fitting and short and eye catching with nearly every color under the rainbow and feathers and glitter and too many things to list. As nauseous as the dress itself was, Brittany seemed to pull it off with her unwavering confidence and blinding smile. As the music started, Avery looked at her feet and trying to not trip over them. She cringed and apologized as she stepped particularly hard on Dimitri's foot, "Sorry! Again..." She looked downcast
"Hey, you're doing great. Don't be so nervous." Dimitri reassured, lifting her chin up to meet his eyes.
"Easier said than done." Avery muttered.
Dimitri looked like he was contemplating something before asking, "You know what always helps me?"
"What?" Avery asked curiously, wanting to know what helped him dance so gracefully."
Dimitri hesitated before answering sheepishly, "I hum the song and pay attention to the beat."
"Like the tempo?"
"Exactly. From what I hear, you have experience with music."
"Only singing, which I gave up a long time ago." Avery said pointedly.
"Wellll, this doesn't exactly qualify as singing, does it?"
Avery looked at him doubtfully. "I speak only the truth and you know it." Dimitri said, "Come on, I'll even hum with you." He began to quietly hum the tune.
Avery sighed, "Fine." Avery closed her eyes, hearing each note play in harmony with one another and let the music take over as she hummed the familiar melody and counted out each beat. Soon, her heartbeat and breath were one with the tempo and she felt less awkward and out of place here, dancing with Dimitri.
"See. That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Dimitri grinned, causing Avery to beam back.
"I guuuesss not. But you still owe me for endangering the lives of the students." Avery said as she lead them over to Lily, James, Jessica, Fred, and Brittany.
"Where's Rose and Scorpius?" Avery asked, after taking a mental attendance.
"Snogging in a broom closet somewhere, no doubt, " Fred said mischievously, "About time they finally confessed, I was going mental listening to Scorpius prattle on about her."
Lily elbowed him, "I swear, no one ships them harder then you do. Except maybe Avery."
"Oh, please, I have invested triple the amount of time and effort in their relationship then Avery." Fred protested.
"I can't disagree on that." Avery agreed.
"Besides the ever intriguing romantic advances of our friends, how is Yule Ball so far?" Lily changed the subject.
"I hate nearly tripping in this damn thing ever three seconds." Avery huffed in frustration.
"You know, now that I think about it, I don't think I have ever seen Avery in a dress until now." James grinned, causing said blonde's heart to lurch at the sight of his smile. She really needed to get that checked out.
Avery saw her dress tint slightly pink as she flushed, "Yeah, I don't think I have either."
"Oh, your hair and your dress match. That's cute, for some people I guess." Brittany said, joining the conversation.
"Thanks...?"
Lily cut in, "Yeah, it changes as her hair does."
"Wouldn't've guessed." Brittany said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Well, then." Jessica muttered, causing Lily to elbow her.
"Well, I'm going to go, uh, get a drink. Avery, do you want to come with me to get one?
"Oh, I can get drinks for you ladies." Dimitri volunteered.
"NO," Lily said hastily," I mean, I am very picky, I wouldn't want to put you through the trouble."
"No, really it's fi-" Dimitri insisted until he caught the look on Avery's face. "I mean, uh, okay.'' He looked at Avery for approval with please-dear-god-I'm-sorry-if-I-fucked-that-up-face. Avery gave him a reassuring smile and started to walk off.
"Honestly, I will never understand why girls insist on traveling in herds." Avery heard James mutter, causing her to bit back a laugh as she tried to catch up with Lily.
There were a thousand thoughts running in her head as she walked. Why am I so angry? I have absolutely no right to be angry. I am a horrible human being for being so unreasonable. Hormoooones stahp, we had an agreement, you would start being more sensible. I swear I can never trust what you say. Ughhhh. Avery sighed as she got near the food table, earning a sympathetic look from Lily, "I know, I'm getting that vibe too." Thank Merlin it isn't just me, Avery internally sighed in relief.
After a few minutes of watching dancers and eating Avery came to a realization.
"...We left Jessica to fend for herself."
Lily's eyes widened, "Oh my god, there's no telling what destruction she will cause to the school if James's date rubs her the wrong way," Lily said, terrified at the prospect, "I'll go and get her and you stay here. I'll make up some excuse, just continue eating."
"Thanks Lily," Avery laughed, "You are a true friend."
Lily stuck out her tongue and walked off, leaving the snack table to herself. She reached over for a chocolate chip cookie, when a hand grasped hers. She looked up to meet an onslaught of feathers and glitter, "Oh hey, Brittany, where's the rest of the-"
"Look, James is mine, so back off." Brittany said abruptly
"Ooookkkaaayyyyyyyyyy then, I'll be leaving now." Avery replied, trying to walk off, only to be stopped by Brittany grabbing her arm.
"Wait, I'm not done with yo-"
"Look, you seem...well, you, but I really have to be doing literally anything other than this conversation."
"You just made a mistake, just you watch."
"Okay, bye." Avery walked off, seeking refuge with Jessica and Rose. She found them and explained what had just occurred.
"Ugh, how does he stand her?!" Jessica asked, exasperated, "I can feel my IQ lowering by the minute. Also, I think I inhaled too many feathers by being in a five foot radius of her."
Avery nodded in agreement, feeling slightly guilty she was. I mean, after all, it was her friend's date.
"He didn't even want to go, much less with her, anyway." Lily casually stated, causing Avery to glance up.
"What?"
"He didn't want to come to the Yule Ball. Said no one interested him enough for him to ask. He only went with Brittany to be polite." Lily reiterated.
Immediately, Avery felt a strange sense of relief followed by unreasonable andger and guilt. She should not have been mad at him in the first place, even if he did come here with the she witc- ehem, Brittany, of his own free will. Avery sighed in defeat, "Excuse me for a moment, butI have to go apologize for being an idiot to an idiot."
Lily laughed, "James?"
"...Yeah, James.''
"Good luck, you're gonna need it Aves," Jessica said as Avery began her search, "He was on the balcony last time I saw him."
"Okay,thanks." Avery trudged off, not sure of how to apologize. How exactly do you apologize for this situation? Hey, James, sorry for being a total jerk and ignoring you for a solid week, but I'm over it now that I know you have no feelings whatsoever for your date. See you at practice!
Oh well, she'll just wing it Avery decided as she approached the twin doors to the balcony. She grasped the handle, took a deep breath, and flung them open, "James, I- Whoops." Avery felt her stomach drop as she saw Britanny with her arms clasped around James's neck and pulling him into a kiss under the moonlight of the balcony.
Author's Note: AP CLASSES ARE GOING TO BE THE CAUSE OF MY DEATH AND NEED TO BE STOPPED. That is all. -Alex