(A/N: Another one of mine! This one also has a part two.

SPOLIERS FOR CONUNDRUM!)

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"I can't believe you're taking a fucking GRYFFINDOR to the Yule Ball!" Draco growled, glaring at Harry murderously over the edge of his book. "And a mudblood, no less!"

"Don't call her that," the dark haired boy sighed, more out of reflex than any real hope of discouraging him from using the word. He was lounged in one of the high backed armchairs that adorned the Slytherin common room, absently twirling his wand while Morgana coiled comfortably around his shoulders. "And they said I can choose whoever I want."

"You could have taken anyone else! Honestly, do you have NO sense of social standing?"

"You know I don't care about that crap. Look, she helped me out with the challenges. The least I could do was take her to the bloody ball." Harry said, sounding extremely long suffering.

"You amaze me, Potter." Malfoy drawled, giving his grey eyes the hardest roll. "All those steamy witches practically drooling to be seen on your arm, and you choose...her."

"Those witches are as fake as the swelling charms they put on their chests. I don't want a girl who's going to spend the whole night trying to get herself with my baby." Harry snapped, finally getting irritated. "What do you care anyway?"

"I'm just trying to stop you from committing social suicide. But if you don't care, then neither will I."

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The night of the Yule Ball, Harry, in his deep green dress robes, waited for his spur of the moment date to arrive so he could go in. He rocked back and forth on his heels, trying to keep his second thoughts at bay. He'd only really asked her because he needed SOMEONE to take to this damn ball, and he knew she wouldn't think anything of it. If he wasn't a champion he wouldn't even be here right now.

He just hoped she'd at least made an effort to look nice...

"Harry!"

He grimaced as Malfoy strolled up with Pansy clinging to his arm, grinning widely. "Has the mudblood showed up yet?"

"Don't call her-"

"She's probably sobbing herself to sleep right now," Pansy sneered. "I wouldn't expect anything different from the Muggle Beaver of Gryffindor."

Harry's eyes narrowed into icy green slits, making him look more snakelike than ever. He opened his mouth to chew her head off-

"What THE-!? Granger?!"

Every head in the entry hall turned to watch as Hermione Granger descended the staircase. Except...she looked as far from Hermione Granger as she ever had in her life. The lavender dress she wore showed off the previously unacknowledged curves on her frame, clinging to her in just the right places and flowing around her body. The fabric was sheer, allowing light to pass through and surround her in a golden purple glow. The crazy bush that was her hair had been straightened and sleeked up halfway, thick brown curls cascading down onto slim shoulders.

Harry turned to Pansy and Malfoy with the biggest smile on his face, laughing openly. "Not bad for a beaver, huh?"