Author's note: Hello everyone! I'm back with chapter 4. Special thanks to Wrixel, SvenHPotterFan and FraySing for leaving constructive reviews. I'm very glad everyone is enjoying the story as much as I am enjoying writing it. As usual, any feedback/reviews are appreciated. This chapter concludes the Yule Ball as the following Chapters will take a dark turn, touching on the final task and the soul bond.

Ps. I do not own Harry Potter. J.K Rowling does

Chapter 4

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, Harry stirred beneath the warmth of his blankets. With a gentle sigh, he slowly opened his eyes, blinking away the remnants of sleep. Stretching his arms above his head, he reached out for his glasses and realized that there is still some time before breakfast.

With determination, Harry swung his legs over the side of the bed, his bare feet finding the rugged carpet beneath them. Sitting upright, he took a moment to fully orient himself to the new day ahead. The cool air of the room enveloped her as he shuddered in the cold. As he slipped his feet into his slippers, Harry couldn't help but smile, he could barely remember yesterday's happenings besides the fact that he managed to ask a beautiful girl out to the ball. He slowly made his way past a snoring Ron to the male toilet as he freshened up.

Harry descended the steps leading to the Gryffindor common room as he was immediately greeted by the cozy atmosphere. The room is adorned with crimson and gold, the colors of the Gryffindor house. Plush armchairs and sofas were scattered around the room but with no one in sight. A crackling fire roared in the fireplace, casting a warm glow across the room and chasing away the morning chills. Harry plopped down onto an empty armchair next to the fireplace as he thought about the upcoming Yule Ball.

Just then, he heard distinct footsteps coming from the staircase leading to the girls dormitory as he shifted his attention towards the sound, disrupting his train of thought.

"Morning Hermione."

"Morning Harry! You're up early today."

"Yeah I guess so."

"Shall we wait for Ron before heading to the Great Hall?" Hermione asked.

Harry shot Hermione with a knowing grin as she took the seat opposite him.

"So… I noticed that you and Ron are unusually close these days, anything you want to tell me?" Harry questioned in an amused tone.

Hermione blushed slightly at the sudden question as she looked at him nervously, unsure of how to reply.

"Well… I'm not sure if you can tell but Ron and I obviously have feelings for each other but none of us are willing to take the first step and ask the other out. So I have been in a bit of a dilemma as the Yule Ball is approaching…"

Before Hermione could continue,

"Morning Mione, Morning Harry. You guys are up early today." Ron sleepily said as he let out a yawn.

"Morning Ron. I've got something to tell both you and Hermione before we head to the Great Hall for breakfast."

Ron gave Harry a questioning look as he took the seat beside Hermione, causing her to blush a little.

Harry took a deep breath and gave them a detailed breakdown of what happened at the Black Lake last night. He could see their expressions change from a frown - mainly just Hermione as Ron merely chuckled when Harry told them he used his invisibility cloak to leave the castle after curfew, to shock and eventually a wide grin as both of them understood the significance of the events. Ron gave Harry a large pat on the back as he congratulated him for bagging a gorgeous woman for the ball while Hermione merely rolled her eyes at his words and gave Harry an appreciative smile.

As the trio stood up to head to the Great Hall for breakfast, Ron abruptly turned towards Hermione, gazing nervously into her brown eyes. He took her hand in his and channeled the Gryffindor in him and asked if she wanted to go to the ball with him. Without a word, Hermione flung her arms around Ron, pecking him lightly on the cheek before replying: "Of course I would, silly!" Ron returned her embrace as they both stood there for what seemed like an eternity, both reluctant to let go of each other before Harry had to intervene by informing them that they were going to be late for breakfast if they did not hurry.

"You guys can continue snogging to your desires after breakfast but right now can we please head to the Great Hall, I'm famished." Harry complained as both of them flushed a beet red at his statement.

The trio quickly made their way to the Great Hall as they were immediately greeted by the sight of towering ceilings adorned with enchanted candles that float high above, casting a warm and flickering light throughout the room, a view they would never get bored of. As usual, Dumbledore was seen at the staff table overseeing the Great Hall, his eyes twinkling beneath those half-moon spectacles. They made their way to the Gryffindor table and sat down at their usual spot where they were immediately greeted by Neville Longbottom.

"Morning Guys"

"Morning Neville" The trio said in unison.

Breakfast passed in a haze as it was time for their first lesson of the day, charms. Harry had always been fond of charms as Professor Flitwick was a competent teacher which made studying about the subject slightly more bearable as compared to a subject like potions. Harry's face twisted in distaste at the thought of potions with Snape, as if he had just taken a bite of the bogey flavored candy.

As students filed into the Charms classroom, they were greeted by the sight of Professor Flitwick standing atop a stack of books, his diminutive figure barely visible over the cluttered desk. The charm's professor was a tiny wizard with a cherubic face and a shock of white hair.

"Good morning, class!" Professor Flitwick chirped, his voice echoed with a hint of excitement.

"Today, we shall explore the intricacies of the Summoning Charm, Accio!"

He waved his wand, and a pile of quills levitated into the air, hovering around him like a whirlwind of feathers. The students watched in awe as their professor demonstrated the spell with ease and finesse, each object returning to its rightful place on his desk with a flick of his wand.

"Now, let's give it a try!" Professor Flitwick announced.

"Remember, focus your intention on the object and give it a firm flick of the wrist!"

The classroom erupted into a flurry of activity as students eagerly attempted the spell, some succeeding with ease while others struggled. Professor Flitwick moved along the isles, offering guidance to those facing difficulties while complementing those who succeeded. Harry was one of the first ones to succeed at the spell, he managed to summon a roll of parchment on Hermione's desk, leaving her in awe.

"10 inches of parchment on the practical uses of the Accio spell by next lesson, run along now."

Sounds of students sighing were heard across the room as they trudged out in discontentment. In the midst of it, a certain bushy haired witch had already planned out the contents of the charms homework which was just given moments ago.

The golden trio made their way back to the Gryffindor common room as they had no other lessons for the day.

"Balderdash" Harry said, as the portrait of the fat lady swung backwards, allowing them to enter.

They were greeted with strings of twinkling lights adorning every corner. Garlands of evergreen boughs draped gracefully over mantels, their fragrant scent filling the air with the essence of the season. Colorful ornaments dangled from the branches of the Christmas tree. Sparkling tinsel cascaded down the tree's branches like shimmering icicles and atop the tree perched a radiant star.

"I could never understand elf magic." Harry said as he stood there in awe, immersed in the Christmas vibes.

They made their way to a table by the fireplace as they began discussing their Christmas plans. Harry had spent his last three Christmas breaks in Hogwarts as he refused to return to Privet Drive for the holidays knowing that he would most likely spend his time being Dudley's punching bag. Thankfully, Ron had offered him to stay over at The Burrow as Mrs Weasley would be more than happy to host him for the holidays. Harry was thankful for the Weasleys as they were the first group of people to treat him like family ever since his parents passed away.

As seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into hours, Harry found himself thinking about the Yule Ball yet again. He had not made any plans with Gabrielle to practice for the ball which had him worrying. Thoughts of embarrassing himself in front of the whole school filled his mind as his stomach twisted in tight knots, churning with anxiety. He decided that he would make a trip down to the Black Lake later again, hoping to catch a glimpse of his partner again.

After confirming that his roommates were soundly asleep, Harry slipped on his invisibility cloak as he quietly descended the steps to the common room before exiting through the portrait hole. There was a gentle creak sound as the portrait swung open, Harry had hoped that nobody heard it as he carefully scanned his surroundings, ensuring that nobody was around. He sneakily made his way to the castle entrance as he slipped through a small gap. He was immediately greeted with a gust of cold wind which howled mournfully through the rocky path, its icy fingers clawing at anything that stood in its path. Harry trembled beneath his invisibility cloak as he painfully made his way to the Black Lake. A glimmer of hope he saw when he spotted a figure sitting by the Black Lake, hoping that it was Gabrielle. The figure sported silvery blonde hair, reminiscent of a certain girl he knew. Harry took this opportunity at a little mischief as he snuck up behind her, tapping on her shoulder lightly to see her reaction. Needless to say, it was priceless. She immediately jumped up from her seat, her blue eyes quivering in fear.

"W…Who's there?!" She shouted.

Harry couldn't hold it any longer as he collapsed onto the snow, clutching his stomach in uncontrollable laughter. He could hear her sulk as her hands were folded across her chest, clearly not amused by his prank. He got up momentarily and apologized, as he tried to control his laughter. He gave her a sheepish smile as they sat down on the bench, unsure of what to say.

"Are you excited for the Yule Ball?" Harry said as he broke the awkward silence between them.

"Yeah." She replied.

Words could not express her true feelings as her heart was racing a mile a minute at the moment, barely containing herself. While she was fighting her inner thoughts, Harry stood up, extending his hand gracefully towards her, with a gentle bow.

"May I have this dance with you, M'Lady." Harry said with as much poise as he could assume.

Gabrielle slowly reached out her hand for his. As their hands met, there was an immediate spark, a jolt of electricity that seemed to course through their veins. His hands were gentle yet firm, sending a wave of comfort cascading through her body. The first touch was tender, conveying a sense of intimacy that transcends words. It was a silent language, accompanied by their feelings and desires. She seemed to have lost all vision of her surroundings as she was confronted by those emerald green eyes once again. There was a brief moment where it felt like her magical core was connected to his, as she felt a surge of power course through her whole body. Harry seemed to have felt it too as he shuddered at that moment. However, the pair was seemingly too engrossed in the moment to put their fingers to that feeling. She felt his hand carefully land on her waist as she placed her own on his right shoulder. Both of them started to dance to what seemed like waltz as he recalled the steps Professor McGonagall displayed during transfiguration class. Every once in a while, he would accidentally step on her feet, and she would giggle, assuring him that it was fine. Under the soft caress of the moonlight, the pair danced with a carefree spirit. The world seemed to slow down for them, as if caught in a timeless reverie. Sounds softened to a whisper, and the air was filled with a sense of tranquility and serenity. They eventually broke off in exhaustion, both panting.

"Engorgio!"

Harry glanced over at his now un-shrunken clock which displayed two am in the morning. They gave each other a sheepish look as he took her hand instinctively and placed the invisibility cloak over the both of them, unbeknownst to how close they were. He escorted her back to the carriage as they soon bid their farewells.

"Good night Harry."

"Good night Gabrielle."

Before he could leave for the castle, she pecked his cheek lightly, blushing furiously as she hurried into the carriage, hoping that he did not see her flushed look. Harry blushed crimson himself as he scurried back to his dorm without a trace. Almost immediately, exhaustion took over his body as he felt consciousness slip away after what seemed like a fever dream of a night.

The days passed by relatively quickly as Harry found himself staring at his dress robes in front of the mirror in his dorm. It was the 25th of December 1994, at exactly six pm, two hours before the commencement of the Yule Ball. Anxiety brewed within him like a relentless storm, a tempest of worry and uncertainty. His heart was beating faster than his nimbus 2001 during a quidditch match. He had yet to digest the fact that he will be starting the ball with Gabrielle. As he performed a few final touches on his outfit, he descended the staircase to the Gryffindor common room, where he was greeted with distinct chatter from across the room. Everyone was in their dress robes and ready for the ball. He spotted Ron across the room and made his way towards him.

"Happened to see Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Not a clue." Harry replied.

Just then, the sounds of heels clicking echoed through the air as everyone turned their attention towards it, briefly cutting their conversations. Each step she took was like poetry in motion, her dress trailing behind her like a cascade of silk and satin. The soft glow of candlelight illuminated her features. Her hair, usually wild and bushy, had been tamed into elegance. She sported a beautiful gown of periwinkle blue, which matched her glass-like heels.

"Hi guys, how do I look? Weird right."

Harry and Ron stood in complete awe, their mouths dangling in an O shape. The twins whistled flirtatiously at Hermione earning a glare from their partners as Ron broke out of it, giving them a death stare.

"Wow. You look amazing Mione" Ron exclaimed.

"Totally." Harry added.

Hermione smiled in embarrassment as she soon realized that the whole room was staring at her in a similar way Harry and Ron were moments ago. The trio made their way to the Great Hall as the ball was starting soon. Harry had yet to spot his partner in the vicinity as panic was starting to grow on him. Just then, he felt a tap on his shoulder as he turned around to see his partner, no, she was an angel. Her eyes were like twin pools of liquid sapphire, deep and mesmerizing. They sparkled with warmth, drawing him into their depths with an irresistible pull. Her silvery blonde hair cascaded in lustrous waves of silk and gold, each strand seemed to shimmer with its own light. She was wearing a silvery silk dress, which complemented her fair complexion. It was simple yet elegant, perfectly capturing her curves in all the right places and flattering her figure with effortless grace.

"Y..You look amazing!"

"Not too shabby yourself."

"Champions and their partners please line up in front of me, the Yule Ball is about to commence." Professor McGonagall shouted.

Harry and Gabrielle linked arms as they quickly made their way through a group of students who looked at the pair in astonishment. They found their way to the entrance of the Great Hall as they were promptly greeted by the other champions and their partners. Fleur was paired with Roger Davies, Cho with Cedric Diggory and Viktor Krum with a girl whom he did not recognise. Cho waved weakly at Harry in which he gave a small smile in return. He did not forget her rejection at the owlery, at least she was with Cedric, someone who Harry thought was a decent bloke. Cedric had tipped Harry off before the second task, allowing him to uncover the mystery behind the golden egg, which he was thankful for.

"Before further ado, let the Yule Ball commence!" Professor McGonagall announced.

The entrance to the Great Hall swung open, revealing a breathtaking spectacle of enchantment and elegance. The towering walls were adorned with shimmering silver and icy blue decorations, twinkling with the soft glow of enchanted chandeliers suspended beneath the ceiling. At the far end of the hall, a majestic ice sculpture stood as the centerpiece of the evening, its intricate carvings depicted a winter wonderland. The four champions and their partners were escorted by Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall followed by the rest of the students. They lined up in the middle of the dance floor as the rest surrounded them, watching in anticipation. The sound of music filled the air, a symphony of strings and melodies that pieced together a waltz, a tune everyone was familiar with.

Harry gently placed his right hand on Gabrielle's waist as her eyes softened at the touch. She placed her hand on his right shoulder as they started to move to the beat of the waltz, this time with minimal error. The pair moved in synchronized steps, spinning and twirling with effortless grace. As they danced, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in a timeless embrace. Their movements were a conversation, a silent exchange of whispers that spoke volume as they indulged in the presence of each other. As the final notes of the waltz faded into the night, they were left contempt as nobody else in the room but them knew how this moment felt, it felt perfect.