10th December

I barely put one step into the common room when both Ginny and Fred nearly bowled me over and pushed me back into the corridor again. George had to steady me as I was tackled. I looked around at George to thank him, and the warmth of his smile told me I had made the right choice.

Fred looked absolutely delighted, "What did you say?"

"I said no." I pulled a face.

Both Ginny and Fred looked shocked.

"Only joking!" I said with a wide grin, "Of course I said yes!" and George put a cheeky arm around my waist.

"You're not making it easy for him, though, are you?" Ginny smirked.

"You know I'm not. He's still to keep on McGonagall's good list for the next two weeks and he is well aware of other things." I looked from Ginny to George.

Fred winked at me jokingly, "She had better be worth all this, mate. I haven't seen you all week and we haven't had any fun in class…"

"This one is priceless." He squeezed, "Now you're sure you only want these two and Hermione to know?"

I nodded, "I think Katie, Alicia and Ange might punch you and there are a few people who wouldn't be amused at me, so I'm going to let what you're doing prove to them that it's serious?" I stopped for a second, "That didn't make sense, did it?"

"I know exactly what you mean." George smiled, "Do you want me to come with you to tell Hermione, or…?"

"I've got this one, thanks." I smiled, "I'll see you around, sure."

George called after me, "Where are you going?"

"Where do you think Hermione's going to be? The library." I laughed as I turned on the spot to go find her.

I waved to Madam Pince as I walked into the library and she directed me to the general direction where Hermione was sitting. I walked along the aisles, looking up and down, seeing other students quietly studying when I heard a low mumble, "I woz wandering if you wood like to come to the ball with me?" the voice said.

"Oh, what a surprise! Of course I'll go with you!" the voice was undoubtedly Hermione's, I couldn't stop myself from walking in time to avoid the rest of the conversation.

"Hermy-own you are very difficult to get on your own-"

Krum looked up and saw me, I could see him shaking his head in mock surprise, "Sorry… I'll see you in the Common Room, 'Mione…" I hid my face in shame. I turned on my heels and cursed. Madam Pince gave me an inquisitive look, "No, no, I swear Madam Pince I definitely said 'duck!' I promise!"

I walked all the way to the Common Room with my head hung in shame. I kept walking and didn't look at anyone along the way. I sat in our dorm room for almost an hour before Hermione walked in, "I'm so so so so so so so unbelievably sorry, so sorry so so so so so so so sorry…"

But Hermione stood there and laughed, "The first thing he said was 'it's so quiet in here without your friend'. That's how he started off the conversation! He's actually quite funny, you know. Looks like I'm going to owe you a bar of chocolate…" she continued giggling.

"Thing is, 'Mione…" I joined in.

"George asked you to go with him?" she smiled, "I knew something was up when Ginny grabbed you like that! You said yes, right?"

"You know I did." I smiled, "But what I will say is, we're keeping it on the down-low, so only you, Ginny and Fred know."

"I think Ron would murder you if he found out." She said seriously.

I shook my head, "Me too." Then I laughed, I didn't think George knew just how much Ron and I didn't get along, "I'm so happy for you, Hermione!"

"Viktor also said that he didn't want everyone knowing, and I agreed, can you imagine how many of those silly giggling girls will be after me if they found out?" she shook her head as she laughed at the idea, "and to think we were worrying about getting dates." She snorted.

11th December

Draco was acting really strangely today in potions as we prepared to make the potion to stop nose bleeds together. He wondered if I had all my work done for the poison cures, asking if I wanted to copy any of his. "I've got it all under control, but thanks for the offer!" I said, having finished mine the evening before.

"Here, let me do that." Draco said, taking over from cutting up my dandelion roots, "are you okay to stir?"

I thought nothing of it first time around, but when it happened a third time, I thought something was up. Did I look unwell? Am I incapable of weighing then grinding a mixture of herbs? "Draco," I said calmly, "is something wrong?"

"No, why would there be?" he smiled at me whilst adding the roots to the cauldron.

"Do I look pale or something?" I asked.

Draco stopped stirring the potion and looked up at me, "No, you look lovely."

"Then what is your problem today?" I spoke out probably slightly more harshly than I aimed to.

Draco stopped once again, taking a step closer to me and whispered, "Can I talk to you about it after class?"

I suddenly felt worried, "Of course!"

So after class I walked with Draco and found a deserted corridor, he looked sweaty and pale, "Draco, are you feeling okay?" I asked feeling his clammy forehead.

"I'm just nervous." He said with a panicky laugh, taking a seat on the cold stone floor and directing me to do the same.

"There's no need to be nervous with me, you can talk to me about anything!" I smiled, taking a seat.

Draco cleared his throat, "I was wondering if you would go to the-ball-with-me." he said quickly.

"What?" I questioned.

Draco took a deep breath and said, "We're friends, right?"

"Right." I said, "Friends."

"And I was wondering if you would like to go to the ball with me?" he said much slower, "As friends, of course, you're fun, I think we'd have a good time together."

"Oh!" I said, "That was a shock!" I said, buying myself some time to think, "Can I think about it?"

"What is there to think about?" he pushed me to make a decision.

I opened my mouth to speak, but on thinking that I don't want to go with you wasn't the best approach, I said it a little bit nicer, "I've already said yes to someone else."

Draco looked slack-jawed, "Who?"

"That doesn't matter," I said, "I would love to go to the ball with you, but I can't go back on my word, I'm sorry, I truly am, Draco."

Draco turned green with envy, "It's Potter, isn't it?"

"You'll find out in two weeks," I smiled, "I'd still like them to be able to walk by that stage."

He looked downtrodden.

I lifted his chin up, "Look, I'll dance with you, one song, best dance we'll have all night." I giggled, "I just can't go back on my word, I'm sorry…"

"Do you promise?"

I nodded, "One dance, I promise." I got to my feet quickly and fixed my skirt, "I'll see you around Draco, I'm sure Pansy Parkinson will be delighted to go with you." I quickly walked to the Great Hall for dinner.

12th December

"Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen!" the dance instructors looked far too happy to be alive with buckets of energy. All I could think was that I was wasting my Saturday morning learning how to dance when I have no hope and would prefer to be in bed, "My name is Kevin and this is Rebecca and we have been partners for six years now."

Kevin was around the same height as me with his hair held back by gel and he wore a pair of very sexy glasses. Rebecca was insanely gorgeous and I felt totally unworthy to stand in her presence as she glided gracefully through us. We were all put into pairs- Harry and I were standing close together and grabbed each other for fear of being put with someone we don't like or don't know. Ron reluctantly got paired with Hermione.

Harry and I looked at each other and laughed as Kevin and Rebecca told us to practice the first steps of the dance. Harry put his hand on my waist (after me directing him to where my waist was) and we took a very slow step forwards and then backwards in sync. "Come on!" I said, feeling as though we had achieved something. I then realised, however, that all the other groups had moved onto and mastered the next two step sequences. An hour later, Harry and I were laughing at each other more than dancing, Hermione was no longer talking to Ron and Rebecca had decided to take Harry to the side to show him how to not stand on my feet.

"Are you two going to the Ball together?" Kevin asked coolly.

Harry laughed, "Not at this rate, no."

"No, we're not." I said more definitely.

"Who are you going with?" Harry asked.

"You'll find out, I'm sure."

Harry grimaced, "Hermione told me Malfoy asked you to go with him, please tell me you didn't say yes."

"Wise up." I told him.

"Perhaps it might be good if they were to swop partners?" Rebecca suggested to Kevin and he announced it.

Before I had a chance to think, never mind look, I had Neville staring at me, "Want to dance?"

I laughed, "Sure. You seem to be better than Harry either way."

"Oi!" Harry gave me a cheeky side glance which made us giggle all the more.

"I don't know about that," Neville said shyly, placing his hand in mine and the other on my hip.

"This looks promising!" I smiled at him mischievously, "Right, Longbottom, teach me how to dance."

"SALSA!" Kevin shouted from the front of the Hall as Rebecca changed the record, "Get those hips moving."

The rest of that morning I'd rather forget as Neville was desperately trying to make me relax and look graceful. I am more of a drunken giraffe than graceful swan, to be honest. Being 5ft 9inches at 14 years old has certain disadvantages, and hand-eye-foot coordination is one of them. I caught eyes with George a couple of times who was dancing with Alicia first then Angelina, he was finding it as hilarious as I was. By the end of the class, I had mastered after a lot of practice how to 'work my hips' after a lot of giggling. That at least was a step better than Harry who had just about managed to remember the steps to the last dance.

"Kathryn?" Neville whispered at the end of the session as I took a seat on the stone floor to catch my breath, "I want to show you something." I gave him a strange look and got to my feet and he took my hand and twirled me quite elegantly, "So I have taught you something today."

I laughed, "You're bound to have had lessons before!"

"Yes, my Grandmother made it a necessity when I was younger, she said that it will pay off at some point," he shook his head, "I guess that day is today." He went through the steps to the first dance again, unbeknown to me as I wasn't overthinking it, helping me perfect the moves, "I was wondering…" he began, "are you going to the ball with anyone?"

My cheeks went a deeper shade of pink, "I am, yes."

Neville asked, "Oh, who is it?"

"For me to know and you to find out." I tapped my nose.

"I feel bad now, you should have been practicing the dance with them and I just stepped in and..."

"Neville, relax! It's fine! This has been fun! And I'm almost certain they can't dance either, so you've given us some hope!" I smiled, "I appreciate the time you've spent teaching me."

"No problem!" he nodded.

I smiled at him, "Any girl would be very lucky to have you as their partner at the ball."

14th December

The entire school was hyped about the upcoming ball. Girls were excitedly telling others about their dress and others were talking about accessories, hairstyles, shoes and makeup. I decided not to get caught up in all the hype, "I'll put on a dress, do my normal makeup and everyone should be happy I turn up." I said to Parvati, Fay and Lavender who kept asking me and trying to take a peek at my dress which was safely stored within a protective bag.

"But Kathryn – you have to do your hair!" Lavender said.

Parvati added, "I'll do your makeup, what colour is your dress?"

"It's a surprise!" I said snatching the dress from Fay, "You'll see soon enough."

Parvati jumped up and down on the spot excitedly, changing the topic, "I heard that Dumbledore has booked the Weird Sisters!" she turned on my radio and tuned it to a station that was playing their music, "They're quite famous in the wizarding world." She said to clarify.

"Who are you going with?" Lavender asked.

I shook my head, "Also none of your business."

Lavender's chin dropped, "You are such a bore."

"I bet its Harry." Fay commented.

"Well, I'm going with Seamus, he asked me today." Lavender announced.

Fay and Parvati did a mini celebration dance and giggled, "OOooohhh!"

"Make sure he doesn't set you on fire." I said sarcastically, "His eyebrows are only back to normal from first year, I'll have you know."

Lavender left the dormitory in a sulk.

"Kathryn. You could at least pretend to be in the slightest bit excited?" Parvati attempted to scold me.

"Let me wear a hoody and jeans and I'll be happier." I said simply, "Actually, if I had a decent family to go home to, I would, I'd skip this whole malarkey completely."

Parvati and Fay both rolled their eyes, "We will have you all dolled up, if you like it or not."

17th December

"It's not fair; why do we have a test tomorrow? It's the last day of term and it's a week before Christmas!" Ron and Harry moaned as we sat eating lunch, Ron was building a tower with his exploding snap and Harry was watching. Hermione was reading her notes and I was recounting steps to each of the potions whilst eating very slowly, Hermione and I had been on a regime of learning one potion per day and it seemed to be working well in preparation for tomorrow.

"Well, it's not like you've particularly strained yourselves." Hermione commented, receiving a gesture from Ron I'm glad she didn't see, "I thought you'd be doing something more constructive, Harry, even if you weren't going to learn your antidotes!"

Harry raised an eyebrow, looking for clarification.

"The egg?" Hermione hissed.

Harry answered, "Come on, Hermione, I've got 'til February the 24th!"

"But it might take you weeks to work it out!" Hermione explained, "You're going to look like a real idiot if everyone else knows what the next task is and you don't!"

"But-" Harry began.

"I'm going to bang both your heads together, if you're not careful!" I slammed my knife and fork on the table just for added effect, it certainly stopped the impending argument that was brewing. I quietly recited the ingredients and methodology of the potion to stop bleeding which I had just been learning in the library.

Ron concluded, "Leave him alone, Hermione, he's earned a bit of a break." His exploding snap exploded and singed his eyebrows. I nearly choked as I took a sip of water. Fred and George walked over and took a seat beside us.

"Nice look, Ron… go well with your dress robes, that will." Fred laughed, assessing the damaged on Ron's face.

"Ron, can we borrow Pigwidgeon?" George asked.

"No, he's off delivering a letter," Ron replied, "Why?"

"Because George wants to invite him to the ball." Was Fred's sarcastic response.

George corrected, "Because we want to send a letter, you stupid great prat."

"Who do you keep writing to, eh?" Ron asked.

I turned on my seat and faced George, "Good question, who are you writing to?"

He smiled at me.

"Nose out, you two," Fred said, waving his wand threateningly at Ron, "So… you lot got dates for the ball yet?"

"Nope." Ron answered on behalf of himself and Harry, probably assuming that Hermione and I didn't have dates either. The conversation had never been brought up and I was quite comfortable leaving it that way.

"You two had better hurry up, mate, or all the good ones will be gone." Fred directed to Ron and Harry.

"Who are you going with, then?" Ron asked sceptically.

"Angelina!" Fred said with great confidence.

"REALLY?" I said with far too much excitement, I had been talking to her about the prospect of the two of them going together, but she claimed that he hadn't asked.

"What?" Ron was taken aback, "You've already asked her?"

"Good point." Fred said, standing from the table, rolling up a napkin and chucking it so it hit Ange gently on the arm, "Oi! Angelina!" he called out.

Angelina, who had been chatting to Alicia, turned on her seat, "What?"

"Want to come to the ball with me?" Fred asked coolly.

Angelina gave Fred and appraising sort of look, "All right then." She said before returning to her conversation with Alicia, now with a massive smile on her face.

I couldn't help but laugh, "Smooth."

"See," Fred said, "Piece of cake." Him and George got up and walked towards the owlery to find an owl to deliver their letter.

"We should get a move on, you know…" Ron said to Harry, "ask someone… He's right. We don't want to end up with a pair of trolls."

Hermione and I let out a splutter of indignation, but Hermione verbalised it, "A pair of … what, excuse me?"

"Well – you know," Ron said shrugging, "I'd rather go alone than with – with Eloise Midgen, say."

"Her acne's loads better lately – and she's really nice!" Hermione defended the girl, they had arithmancy and ancient runes classes together.

"Her nose is off-centre." Ron said.

"Oh, I see," Hermione said, bristling, "so basically, you're going to take the best looking girl who'll have you, even if she's completely horrible?"

"Er – yeah, that sounds about right."

I 'accidently' knocked over my glass of water and it went all over Ron. It made him look like he had wet himself and a few surrounding students started laughing at him. Hermione and I meanwhile both swept off to DADA without another word to either Harry or Ron.

18th December

Today was the last day of term before the Christmas holidays and the long dreaded potions test finally arrived. Snape wished us all luck with a sneer, which symbolised that we were about to undertake the world's most horrible test imaginable. Despite the fact that the dungeons were freezing cold at this time of year, especially since it was threatening to snow outside, we were all sweating by the end. The test was nothing short of cruel, as Snape expected us to write out the ingredients and methodology for all eight of the antidotes.

"Merlin's beard, that was bloody awful." Was Ron's apt summary.

Harry grabbed his bag and ran, "I'll meet you at dinner."

Ron nodded as though he suddenly had a great mission ahead of him and disappeared off in the other direction. Hermione and Neville were engaged in deep conversation and I found myself standing alone. I hurried to catch up with Hermione and Neville before Snape got any ideas with me hanging about his classroom. Neville seemed to be very pink in the face and Hermione looked flustered. "I know, wasn't that test awful?" I interjected, guessing the topic of conversation, soon to find that that was not the topic of conversation whatsoever.

"We can find Neville a date to the ball, right?" Hermione pleaded, grabbing onto my arm and pulling me to stand in between the two of them, "Who do you know who doesn't have a date?"

"So you both aren't joking when you say you already have dates?" Neville said shyly.

I rolled my eyes, "Of course we weren't joking, and I was being totally serious, Neville, any girl would be lucky to go with you!" I nudged him gently, in a friendly sort of way, "Not that I'm actually that interested in going to this stupid ball in the first place. The talk of all the girls makes me feel sick! They were even suggesting fake nails, fake tan and getting hair extensions! I can't believe it! What has this world come to? This is not the be-all and end-all of existence."

Hermione snorted, "This is why we are friends, Kathryn."

"I'd really like a date though, just so I don't look completely pathetic…" Neville said shyly.

I stopped suddenly in the corridor, "I've got it."

"What?" Hermione and Neville asked.

"GIN!" I shouted over to her, beckoning her to leave her friends and join us, which, luckily she did.

She looked cheerful as she walked over, "Oh, hey Neville!" She said happily, "What's up?" she looked at me.

"Ginny," I looked at her, "Neville," I turned to him, "Neville, Ginny," it was as though I was introducing them to each other for the first time. I was getting a few strange looks from both of them, "Ginny, you want to go to the ball," I said and she nodded in agreement, "Neville, you are looking for a date," I nodded and he smiled as the penny finally dropped.

"Do you want to go to the ball with me, Ginny? I mean, only if you want to?" Neville was extremely nervous.

Ginny beamed, "I'd love to!"

"So that's it settled, I've got two happy bunnies." I felt a sense of accomplishment.

Neville relaxed slightly, "So, er – I'll meet you in the common room at 1945?"

"I'll be there!" she smiled, "I promise I'm not being rude, but I said I'd meet a friend, I'll talk to you soon Neville, okay?"

"Emm, okay!" he replied as Ginny ran off towards the Great Hall and Hermione excused herself to go to the library to return a book she had borrowed for her revision.

"Thanks, Kathryn!" Neville smiled as the two of us walked up the stairs towards Gryffindor Tower.

"No problem!" I nodded, "That's what friends are for! Fairy Lights!" I said to the Fat Lady and we gained passageway. I went up to the dorm to set down my bag and to get changed into something more comfortable. I chose jeans, hoody and a t-shirt and found a comfortable seat in the common room and continued reading a new fictitious book Madam Pince had recommended called 'Skin' which so far told of a story about a girl who had to choose between love and her dream job, which was to work in Africa, but he didn't want to go with her.

"You're so difficult to get on your own, you know that?" George said as he plonked himself down on the chair beside mine, "What are you reading?"

I closed the book, "It's so difficult to get peace and quiet in this place!" I joked, "It's not homework, I promise!" I held up the book, "I've decided to allow myself the night off work, but tomorrow morning Hermione and I are heading to the library to start on the mass of homework we have for over the holidays. Then we might be able to escape the sound of excitable girls talking about this stupid ball." I sighed as I heard a girl mention that she was wearing a black dress and her dilemma of the day was if she was going to wear silver or gold jewellery.

George sniggered, "I'll have you know, I'm very excited for this ball."

I rolled my eyes sarcastically, "Not you, too. I'm not putting extensions in my hair, nor will I be putting on fake tan, nor will I be deliberating frantically on what way I'm going to accessorise." I pulled a face of disgust, "What your mother, Ginny and I decided during the summer is exactly how I'm going to show up, so don't be raising your expectations or anything."

George sat up straighter and leaned towards me slightly, staring into my eyes, "You could show up in a black bin bag and I'd still know I was with the prettiest girl in school."

I couldn't help but blush, "Well, so long as my dress stays safe, I don't think I'll have to take out the old classic black bin bag."

The two of us laughed lightly before George spoke again, "So where will I meet you? The Common Room? Downstairs somewhere?"

"How about the Entrance Hall?" I suggested.

"Perfect, 1945?"

I sighed, "Darn. I was planning on having a nap then. I suppose I might be able to make it, but if I'm late, you'll know I've fallen asleep." I said sarcastically, "Or I've been attacked my Parvati and Fay. That could be another reason for turning up late."

"But you'll show up?" George smiled.

"Of course."

A few minutes later Ginny climbs through the portrait door, dragging Ron behind her, "Come on Ron, it's just a little further…" I heard her say.

Ron was pale, shaky and sweaty and Ginny literally had to drag him across the room to sit on one of the sofas. "This looks dramatic." I said rubbing my hands together, setting the book on the seat beside me and raising my eyebrows at George who quickly followed me to investigate.

"What happened?" I asked Ginny, Ron was staring at the stone wall in front of him, looking as though he was scarred for life.

I could see Ginny press her lips together in order to stop herself from laughing, "Ron just asked Fleur Delacour to the ball."

"GINNY!" Ron scolded his sister.

"HAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" I burst into laughter, "You're joking, right?"

"No, sadly not, the whole experience was toe-curling, to say the least." Ginny tried even harder to control herself, "He yelled at her, it was quite terrifying actually."

"Maybe she thinks your nose isn't quite in line, Ronald." I said slyly.

Ron shot me the dirtiest of looks and stuck up the two fingers, "Piss off, Kathryn."

"No, I think I'll just stand here a little longer…" I smirked, "And gloat." I added.

"It's not as if you've got a date to the ball. You and Hermione will be turning up alone, looking pathetic and miserable as always."

I saw George raise an eyebrow beside me, so I gently elbowed him in the side to stop him from reacting. Luckily, Harry climbed through the portrait and the conversation quickly turned to informing him of the current situation.

"She's part Veela," Harry comforted his friend, "you were right – her grandmother was one. It wasn't your fault, I bet you just walked past her when she was turning on the charm for Diggory and got a blast of it – but she was wasting her time. He's going with Cho Chang." Ron looked up and Harry explained, "I asked her to go with me just now, and she told me."

I saw the light-hearted expression drop on Ginny's face.

"This is mad," Ron said, "we're the only ones left who haven't got anyone – well, except Neville. Hey – guess who he asked? Hermione!" Ron shot yet another dirty look at me.

"What?" Harry was startled.

"Yeah, I know!" Ron laughed, "He told me when he was going down for dinner – but she told him she was already going with someone. Ha! As if! She just didn't want to go with Neville… I mean, who would?"

"Don't!" Ginny said loudly, "Don't laugh –"

Just then, Hermione climbed in through the portrait hole, not looking particularly amused, "Why weren't you three at dinner?" she looked between us. I had a feeling this could get interesting…

"Because – oh, shut up laughing, you two – because they've just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball!" Ginny said smoothly, giving me a sideway glance, looking to see if I was laughing. I did not disappoint.

I laughed hysterically, "Oooooh. Ronniekins. Taken down by your own sister."

Harry and Ron stood in silence.

"Thanks a bunch, Ginny." Ron said sourly.

"All the good ones taken, Ron?" Hermione said, walking towards me, staring at Ron with a look of utter disgust, "Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone, somewhere who'll have you."

Hermione and I high-fived.

Ron didn't seem to take that statement in the way Hermione or I had hoped, he was staring at Hermione in a whole new light, "Hermione, Neville's right – you are a girl…"

"Oh, well spotted." She said acidly. My chin was on the floor.

"Well – you can come with one of us!" Ron suggested.

"No, I can't," Hermione snapped.

Ron started to get impatient, "Oh, come on, we need partners, we're going to look really stupid if we haven't got any, everyone else has…"

"I can't come with you," Hermione said, now blushing, "because I'm already going with someone."

"No, you're not!" Ron said, "You just said that to get rid of Neville!"

Hermione looked dangerous, even George took a step to the side, "Oh, did I? Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!"

"Okay, okay!" Ron smiled, "we know you're a girl! That do? Will you come now?"

"I've already told you!" Hermione said angrily, "I'm going with someone else!" she turned on the spot and stormed off towards our room.

Ron watched her leave, staring in disbelief, "She's lying."

"She's not." Ginny said quietly.

"Who is it, then?" Ron said sharply.

"I'm not telling you, it's her business." Ginny answered.

"Right," said Ron, who looked extremely put out, "this is getting stupid. Ginny you can go with Harry and I'll just-"

Ron's eyes met mine, "Don't even f*cking try." I shook my head in disgust.

"I can't…" Ginny said, trying to grab Ron's attention from murdering me, "I'm going with – with Neville. He asked me when Hermione said no, and I'm presuming he asked you, too, Kathryn?" Ginny's eyes met mine momentarily as I nodded slightly, "and I thought, well… I'm not going to be able to go otherwise, I'm not in fourth year." She looked miserable, "I think I'll go and have dinner..." She said and walked towards the portrait door, her head bowed.

"Gin, wait!" I called after her, "I'll come with you…" I grabbed my book from the seat behind me.

"And I suppose, you're going to claim you have a date, too?" Ron said gruffly, "I bet you and Hermione are going on a sad loner's date."

I stopped in my paces, "For your information," It took everything I had not to strangle him and whack him with the book, but then I thought it would be an insult to both my hands and the book, "I have got a date, and even if I hadn't, I'd rather go alone than with you."

Ginny and I linked arms and went for dinner together. Neither of us feeling any remorse for putting Ron in his place, more than once.

George walked into the Great Hall which was pretty empty by this stage and pretended to be shocked, "Who are you going with?" he slipped into the seat beside me and got himself a slice of lasagne.

I raised an eyebrow, "Who did you send the owl to?"

"I'm not telling you."

"Just the same as I'm not going to tell you who set off that amazing prank." I winked.

George got close to my ear and whispered, "I'll tell you at the ball."

"I'll think about it." I nodded, biting my lip.

Ginny cleared her throat, "I feel like I've suddenly become a third wheel…"

"No, you haven't, George is just keen to discuss the ball with us and all the glitz and glamour." I joked, "He wants to know what I'm wearing, what colour the dress is so we can be the cute kind of couple that matches, how much leg and cleavage I'm showing off and if he –"

Ginny sniggered, "Awww. You're embarrassing him. Look at his little puppy dog eyes, Kathryn." Ginny said in a sloppy sort of cutie voice.

"Don't make me throw up." I said, "I might have to wear that bin bag after all, then he might be able to formulate a sentence. George. George!" I snapped my fingers in front of his face, his eyes were glazed over and he was clearly in another world, smiling to himself, "Earth to George?"

George continued smiling, "I've just had a great idea."

"Oh no…" I said, "I don't want to explode, or fly, or turn into some kind of animal or –"

George looked like he was calculating a very difficult sum in his head, "I'm going to do something different." He said, "You'll love it, Katy."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry, Kathryn…" George corrected himself, taking another mouthful of food. I watched him as he thought up what seemed to be an intricate plan in his head as he ate. It was amazing to see how his mind worked, how he took an idea and made it into something. I guess that's something I've always liked about him. Ginny and I shared in quiet conversation about the dance routine for the ball, as she hadn't had the opportunity to take the lessons with Kevin and Rebecca as she was only a third year.

I looked at the concentration on George's face then turned to Ginny, "Should I be worried?"

"Definitely."

19th December

As I looked out of the window this morning I could see that it had started snowing overnight, the grounds of Hogwarts glistening in a soft white powder. I was glad to be inside in the warmth as Hermione and I ate a full fry for breakfast with no regrets, looking up at the enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall. The rest of the school and those not attending the Yule Ball were going home this morning. I saw Ginny hug all of her jealous friends, exchanging gifts and wishing them all a 'Merry Christmas'. We had one last cup of coffee before hitting the library to get a load of work done and to avoid all the annoying girl chat about the ball. Ginny joined us, the three of us working in silence together before taking breaks for lunch and dinner.

At dinner, Ron kept pestering Hermione, "Who are you going to the ball with?" he asked at regular intervals.

"I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me!" Hermione frowned. Ron and I still hadn't talked from when I yelled at him, I think he was afraid of what I might say or do next. It was a good thing, really, not once did he ask me who I was going to the ball with or who Hermione was going with, either.

"You're joking, Weasley?" Draco stopped suddenly on walking past our table, "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"

Both Harry and Ron whipped around on the spot, but Hermione said loudly, waving at somebody over Malfoy's shoulder, "Hello, Professor Moody!"

Draco went pale and jumped backwards, looking wildly around for Moody, but he was still up at the staff table, finishing his dinner.

"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" Hermione said scathingly, as the four of us left the Great Hall, cackling to ourselves, heading up the marble staircase to Gryffindor Tower.

23rd December

At breakfast this morning, there were a number of owls arriving, dropping off boxes, presents and letters in time for Christmas. I noticed that George received a particularly large box and went out of the Great Hall to open it. McGonagall approached me, looking very serious as she said, "I request a meeting with you straight after you finish eating, Miss Pink, in my office."

"Blimey, Kathryn!" Ron looked delighted, this was the first time he had spoken to me in days, "What have you done this time?"

I genuinely couldn't think of a reason for getting shouted at. I had been on my best behaviour. But I reckoned that Ron could have done with some excitement in his life, so I thought up a cover story. "Oh, didn't you hear?" I said with a devious smile.

Ron looked at me inquisitively.

"Oh, you haven't…" I pretended to be shocked, "Don't use the toilets near the boy's dorms." I swallowed the rest of my tea and smiled, leaving them in wonder.

I knocked on McGonagall's door a matter of minutes later, bouncing on the balls of my feet nervously. As I walked in, I saw George sitting at her desk with a grin on his face. McGonagall poured me out a cup of tea and opened up her tartan tin, "Congratulations, you've earned it."

"I have?"

"You managed to keep Mr Weasley out of trouble for three entire weeks! I think you deserve you two newts."

"Shall I make my acceptance speech?" I jested, lifting two ginger newts out of the tartan tin, looking down on it as though it was something precious, "I'd like to thank Professor McGonagall here for setting the challenge, and I would also like to thank the wonderful George Weasley, whose head is growing ever the more into a normal shape, might I add," Professor McGonagall gave me a very strange look and George chuckled to himself happily, "thanks to George for being so accepting of my demands, without whom we wouldn't be gathered here today."

"Couldn't have done it without you!" George joked as I took a seat next to him, facing McGonagall who was trying to hold back laughter, taking a sip of my tea.

"Will that suffice you, Mr Weasley?" McGonagall asked George.

George smiled, "Actually, would you kindly also confirm that my grades have improved in the last essay I did?"

McGonagall nodded, "You got an Exceeds Expectations, yes, I must commend you!"

"See?" George nudged me, "I believe there is one last thing to cross off the list."

"I'll be the judge of that, thank you." I said sweetly with a devilish smile, "thank you for your time, Professor McGonagall, I understand you're a very busy woman." I said awfully politely, standing to head out the door.

McGonagall shook her head, "I don't even need to ask you if you're alright, you seem to be doing just fine."

I felt George looking at me as he stood beside me and I looked up into his brown eyes and smiled, "Yeah, I'm doing good."

24th December

I was sitting in the common room, Harry and Ron were playing a game of Wizard Chess. Ron was incessantly ignoring me, forcing Harry to do the same. Harry did however send me pleading looks every so often, so I didn't mind as much. Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia, Katie, Ginny and Hermione were nowhere to be seen, which was strange, the common room seemed oddly quiet without them there. I suppose it gave me the perfect opportunity to read the next chapter of the book, where the girl in the story decided to go to Africa without her boyfriend, but was feeling terribly homesick.

Suddenly the portrait door opened and Angelina burst through, grabbing me in a panic, "Kathryn! Help me! I've made a horrible mistake."

"W-What's happened?" I set the book down.

"It's – It's Fred, I've messed up, I just, I can't go to the ball with him!" she looked terrified, dragging me by the hand all the way down the stairs towards a spare classroom. I assumed she wanted to go somewhere more private to talk.

"But Ange – you – you're crazy for him –" I said as she pushed the door open to reveal a darkened room.

Ange walked off into the darkness, "Just like you're crazy for George?"

"Exactly!" I admitted, trying to find a light source, "Ange, can you get the light?"

"Sure." A voice sounded, but it wasn't hers.

"George?" I heard a radio on in the background which was playing a song on the Wizard Wireless Network, "What's going on?" I called out in the dark.

Someone turned the volume of the radio up and the radio presenter said, "And if there's a girl called Kathryn out there, give George a chance, he asked me to play this one for you…"

A dim light appeared in the room and George's face lit up. He was smiling and holding what looked like a microphone, as the introduction of the song began, "This is me doing something completely different, just for you Katy."

Then George sang…

'Baby I'm-a want you
Baby I'm-a need you
You're the only one I care enough to hurt about
Maybe I'm-a crazy
But I just can't live without
your lovin' and affection
Givin' me direction
Like a guiding light to help me through a darkest hour
Lately I'm a-prayin'
That you'll always be a-stayin' beside me'

Then I heard other voices join in, 'Used to be my life was just emotions passing by
Feeling all the while and never really knowing why'

During the instrumental, George handed the microphone to Fred and took a step closer to me, took me by the hand and spun me around, then sang,
'Lately I'm a-prayin'
That you'll always be a-stayin' beside me.'

I couldn't help but join in and sing with him,
'Used to be my life was just emotions passing by
Then you came along and made me laugh and made me cry
You taught me why…'

Then George pressed his finger to my lips and sang his own version of the lyrics,

'Katy I'm-a want you
Katy I'm-a need you
Oh, it took so long to get you, Katy
Katy I'm-a want you
Katy I'm-a need you'

As the song ended, I wrapped my arms around George and he kissed my forehead gently, "That was amazing, thank you so much!" I couldn't help but smile like an idiot.

"I just wanted to show you just how much you mean to me. You said to win you back in a way I normally wouldn't, I hope you weren't expecting this!" George let out an excited breath, "that was nerve wracking!" he chuckled as his back-up singers quickly filtered out of the room, Fred mumbling something along the lines of 'Keep your clothes on until we all leave, if you don't mind.'

"Definitely not!" I smiled, ignoring Fred, "I just need to tick the last thing off the list…" I took an imaginary piece of paper out of my pocket and mimicked ticking, "do something different, check, taken me seriously, check, maturity, often debatable but… check…" I carried on, ticking off everything on the list from memory, "Oh, look. The boy does not disappoint; he can take me to the ball after all."

George placed his hands on my hips, "Did you doubt me?"

"Not for one second," I reached up and kissed his cheek gently, the first time I had ever done so, "See you in the morning." I grinned, turning my back and swinging my hips as I walked back to the common room, climbing into bed feeling suddenly very excited for tomorrow!