I am absolutely amazed with how fast I started cranking these out. I didn't expect that from me...I even shock myself :D. (It's probably all Theodore's fault...I like writing him as the way I write him reminds me of a character I created named "Leo". :P) Hope you're enjoying this as much as I am.

School was much easier to tolerate now that the first task was done and Theodore solved the riddle fairly quickly: there would be an hour long search in the Black Lake, which is riddled with all sorts of creatures that could hinder the task, for something that would be taken before the task and hidden. The much smarter Slytherin made all sorts of suggestions, from partial-Transfiguration, a bubble-head charm, and the use of gillyweed, but claimed that a potion with gillyweed in it would probably be safer and last longer.

"Can't have it running short on you." Was his best advice.

Therefore, they had found themselves studying potions and it didn't take long to discover a gillyweed potion which would give the drinker an hour and a half of water breathing capabilites. It was a complex potion and required time and precision in its make, but they had just enough of both to do it. Thankfully, Professor Snape let them into his stores to gather the rather rare and unusual ingredients.

"Making a Spiro Aquaero Potion?" He asked coolly as his eyes washed over their gathered ingredients. "I warn you that halfway through is the most critical part of the potion and the part that can go most devistatingly wrong...because you won't know until you've used it and it suddenly only lasts a half hour instead of an hour and a half."

Harry looked up, startled. "But..."

"Just make sure you add the correct water to it." Professor Snape rolled his eyes. "Preferrably using water from where you are intending to take the potion."

"Oh." Harry grinned at this hint. "Um...anything else you can tell us about it?"

"You can't get out of the water earlier or you'll suffocate." The man informed him. "That is very important. If you plan to use it for only a certain amount of time it is important than to mark the vial in thirds and only drink two thirds of it as this will make the potion last an hour instead of an hour and a half."

Beaming enthusiastically, Harry started working on the potion while Theodore assisted him. Snape kept his distance, muttering hints and suggestions throughout the first stage of the process. Than it was letting it simmer for a week.

A couple days later, he and the rest of the Slytherin fourth years were informed by their Head of House about the Yule Ball and Harry was in particular told that he had to have a partner as it was traditional for the champions to open the ball. Professor Snape apparently held no sympathy for Harry concerning this and no advice either.

This fact did not lighten Harry's spirits.

"How am I supposed to ask a girl?" He groaned as he flopped on his bed.

"You just ask." Draco snorted from where he was sitting on his own bed.

"How?" Harry sat up and gazed over at the blond.

"Really, Potter, did you learn nothing from them Muggles?"

"Muggles should be your clue." Blaise grumbled as he started changing into his pajamas, which were green silk with real silver embroidery of course.

"Well, all right." Draco sighed, seeming slightly annoyed yet proud he was able to teach Harry something. "First things first: you have to consider who you are. You're Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Bloody-Lived, and that right there makes you plenty famous, but that's not all you are. You're a Triwizard Champion and that's even more fame. It means you'll be opening the ball and every girl is going to want to be seen dancing with you."

"But you've also got to remember you're in Slytherin." Blaise stated. "Therefore you can only ask people from our House, Durmstrang, or...well, maybe Beauxbatons."

"I was getting to that." Draco sniffed indignantly than continued. "So that limits your options. If they're from Beauxbatons, you're going to have to charm them as, aside from that flower Delacour girl's little sister, all of them are older than you. And the Durmstrang bunch is going to be rather cold-shouldered because you tied with their Viktor Krum, so it's probably best to stick to Slytherin."

"Keep in mind also not to chose a girl taller than you." Theodore pointed out. "But it's all right if a bloke is."

"He's a Triwizard Champion, Nott!" Draco rolled his eyes. "He shouldn't be dancing with someone taller than him, regardless of gender! It'll make him look weak!"

"And ya shouldn't g'for anyone too young eether." Gregory suddenly added. "Or it'd be creepy. On'y third up."

"Wow." Draco said sardonicly. "You have a brain, Goyle?"

Goyle blushed profusely at this and turned to crawl into bed.

Vincent suddenly piped, "I'm going to ask Bulstrode."

Draco gave him a dull look. "You do that. You'd make a great fit."

"Who are you going to ask?" Harry turned to Draco.

"I've already asked Pansy." Draco replied coolly.

"Ugh..." Harry grumbled. "You never explained how one's supposed to do that."

"How do you think, Potter?" The blond quirked an eyebrow, looking uncannily like his father. "It's really not that hard...much easier than battling a dragon."

"I think I'd chose the dragon right now." Harry asserted.

The entire dormitory laughed.

"Just ask them." Blaise instructed pleasantly, speaking perhaps the most he ever had to Harry. "It's not that hard."

Goyle suddenly got out of bed and said in his usual deep and doppy voice, "Harry Potter, w'ud'j'ya go to the Yull ball with me?"

There was another round of laughs, partially because of Goyle's pronunciation, and Harry blushed.

Vincent seemed to think this was fun and also asked, "Harry Potter, will you please go to the ball with me?"

"No no no." Blaise snickered. "It's: Harry Potter, I would be delighted if you accompanied me to the ball."

"That sounds more like a statement." Draco pointed out.

"It worked on Daphne Greengrass."

Gasps of shock went round and then Draco threw out, "Harry Potter, may I ask for the pleasure of your company at the Yule Ball?"

"That just sounded way too stiff." Blaise snorted, but Draco insisted it had worked just fine with Pansy.

While the others continued to bicker over who could ask Harry to the ball better, Theodore leaned over and whispered into Harry's ear, "In all honesty, I really wouldn't mind if you went to the ball with me, Harry."

And then the taller Slytherin was in his bed and opening a book to study while Harry tried to tame down the pink flaring across his cheeks. In order to get his mind off of what Theo had just said, he asked Goyle who he planned to ask.

"Dunno." Goyle shrugged. "Maybe...Rachel."

"Rachel?" Draco laughed. "That third year who's really smart? You don't stand a chance!"

"I think you don't know until you try." Harry stood up for the boy who's shoulders were beginning to sag. Goyle smiled slightly at Harry's encouragement.

"What about you, Potter?" Draco brushed his hand through his hair, but Harry just shrugged and so the blond moved on to his next victim: Theodore who hadn't made public any decisions. "And you, Nott?"

Theodore pointed at Harry instantly while giving a devious look from beneath his eyebrows. "Already asked him, but he hasn't said one way or another."

"Everyone in this room has asked him." Draco shot back, but his eyes were amused. "Did you really?"

Theo's brow flicked up. "Would I lie to you, Draco?"

"Yes." The entire dormitory chorused and laughter broke out once more.

"No answer for Nott." Draco snorted. "I think that's a no."

Harry was so red now he was sure he would glow if the candles were all blown out. Theodore just shrugged though and went back to reading.

"Why not Theo, Harry?" Draco mused, giving Harry a curious look. "It's not as if anyone would be surprised...well, there'd be some disappointed girls and boys, but nothing too bad."

Harry hesitated, but Theodore answered for him.

"Not normal for blokes to like blokes in the Muggle world." Theodore explained. "Take time to get used to the possibility."

"But you like blokes, right, Harry?" Draco's eyes were glittering with something dangerous.

"Uh..." Harry felt his heart hammering hard against his sternum as he finally admitted aloud, and confirmed for himself, "Y-yeah...I like blokes..."

This didn't seem to bother anyone, but it made Draco go into a long reverie.

"Don't think too hard on it, Draco." Theo finally interrupted the blond's thoughts and sent another bout of chuckles through the room.

"You should go with Roy from third year." Draco stated. "He's smaller than you and a bit weak looking, but he's pretty powerful for a young wizard. It'd be a good-looking match."

"N-no..." Harry shook his head, feeling his heart doing somersaults in his chest. "I'd rather not..."

"It that Muggle thing?" Blaise growled. "Get over it. That's just weird thinking."

"Leave him be." Theodore's glare was enough to silence Zabini, who drew his curtains.

Malfoy frowned. "Just say yes to Nott than, Harry. You two could go as friends and there wouldn't be any pressure."

Harry shivered a little unintentionally. "Uh...well..." He glanced over at Theo, who didn't bother looking up from his text. "Um...it's just nerve-wracking...that's all...because he's my friend."

Theodore snorted and gave Harry a wry smile. "Don't lie, Harry. Is because I'm a bloke."

"Th-that too." Harry admitted, grinning warily.

Draco sighed in exasperation and flopped back on his mattress. "Mudbloods."

"He's not a Mudblood!" Theodore instantly rose to the defense in a flair of wrath. "Don't you dare call him that! You know his blood as well as I! He's no Mudblood!"

Harry double-thought pointing out his mother's blood, but Draco was now correcting his error.

"Sorry." Draco gave a sly grin, despite the fear in his eyes. "Forgot you two are all lovey dovey now."

"Can it, Malfoy." Theo snarled, every bit a snake as any Slytherin.

After this bit of excitement, everyone settled down in their beds and started getting themselves to sleep. Harry lay in his, eyes peering between his curtains at the light coming from Theodore's where the taller boy was reading with the light from his wand. Thoughts churning through the idea of attending the Yule Ball, Harry tried to imagine what other people's expressions would be. He could already see Ron, pointing and laughing along with his Gryffindor gang, and the whispers from the other Houses and disdainful looks from Slytherin and the carefully mediated looks of the teachers and, for some reason, he pictured his Aunt and Uncle and Dudley and the furious, disgusted looks they'd give and the shouts of hatred and disownment and how unnatural he was...

At some point he feel asleep to these thoughts and they became a nightmare in which he shook as he walked past those shouts and screams and past the looks to find him on the dance floor where he had no idea what he was doing and was nervous as he was facing the dragon...

But he looked up and found Theodore's soothing blue eyes staring down at him, almost laughing, but never ridiculing, and the taller said, "I'll get you through this, Harry."

This late bit was enough comfort to turn the nightmare into something bareable and he got through the night without waking in a cold sweat.

I like this pairing. :D I wonder if I'll let it last :P Review if you want :D