Oi vey... lost one job but I still have the other one, dealing with mega changes in my life, and family drama all around... I'm just about ready to say "hasta la vista" and get the hell outta Dodge Junction! (ears fold back in annoyance) Meh, probably not gonna change much cause calling and texting is a thing. Oh well. At least I have my creativity to keep me sane. Anyway, finally back on to this one as we start getting ready for the Yule Ball! And Val will probably play matchmaker with some of the others, but who knows? So let's dive in! (tail splashes the pool water)

Disclaimers: As per usual, I don't own either book series, nor do I own any copyrighted material.

Several days had passed since the First Task and Valerie's injuries had healed up well, but she still had leftover scars. At the moment, she was enjoying some breakfast with the Golden Trio and Draco, sipping some of her blood tainted cranberry juice and reading the Daily Prophet with Hermione.

"Unbelievable!" Hermione shouted in annoyance and slapped the paper down.

Valerie scowled as she read the Me, Myself, and I content. "'Ms. Tod, youngest entry in the Triwizard Tournament, seems to have developed a taste for famous wizards'?!" Her eyes flashed an angry red as she snatched the paper up and grabbed her wand. "Diffindo!" Instantly, the paper was shredded into pieces, startling Ron and Harry as she looked at them and said, "What? That woman wants to make up lies, I ain't standing for it."

"Personally, I've always thought that Skeeter woman was just plain old sketchy," Draco said as he bit into a sausage.

Hermione nodded a bit and sighed softly. "It's horrible how she's targeting you though, Val."

Valerie nodded before she saw Nigel coming over with a package for Ron before the younger man looked at her eagerly and asked, "Sorry about this, Ms. Tod, but could I possibly have your autograph? It's for my parents, you see. I know you're pretty famous for representing Ilvermory in the Triwizard Tournament and all."

Val smiled at him. "I don't mind at all." She accepted his autograph book and signed it in beautifully neat cursive before handing it back to him. "There you are."

Nigel grinned brightly. "Brilliant! It's much appreciated, Valerie!" He headed off to join his friends and show them the autograph.

The Dhampir chuckled slightly before her ears perked up as Ron said, "Oh look! Mom sent me something!" He pulled out a dress robe, clearly confused by its appearance. "Mom sent me a dress."

"Well, it does match your eyes," Harry mentioned. "Is there a bonnet?" He reached into the box and pulled out the chest piece. "Aha!"

Ron didn't seem amused by the jab. "Nose down, Harry." He walked over to Ginny. "Ginny, these must be for you."

The youngest Weasley looked at the robes and made a disgusted face. "I'm not wearing that. It's ghastly."

"Clearly you don't know what they are, Ron," Joss spoke up as he joined the group, smiling at the younger wizard. "They're actually dress robes."

"Dress robes??" Ron was astonished and confused. "For what??"

He got his answer later when the Gryffindor house was summoned to a meeting where Professor McGonagall explained, "The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school, I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the Yule Ball is first and foremost a dance."

The students chatted in confusion before the deputy headmistress spoke up again, "Silence! The house of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the Wizarding World for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you, in the course of a single evening, besmirch that honor by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons!"

Val heard the twins make a challenge out of it and hid a chuckle as McGonagall continued, "Now to dance is to let the body breathe. Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers, longing to burst forth and take flight."

"Something's about to burst out of Eloise Midgen, but I don't think it's a swan," Ron commented to Harry.

The comment didn't go unnoticed by Val, who made a face and patted the shoulder of the girl in question. "Ignore Ron. He's just a total idiot wishing to get laid."

Eloise chuckled slightly at Val's comment before the girls watched Ron be asked to step forward by the Transfiguration teacher, McGonagall turning to the girls' side and speaking to Valerie. "Ms. Tod, would you join us, please?"

"Of course, Professor." Val answered her, standing upright and walking over to them before she held her hands up, Ron stepping forward towards her and looking a little nervous about the situation, but Val reassured him, "Hey, I'm pretty good with ballroom dancing. My dad's the one who taught me, after all. Even the darker creatures have to have some refinement."

Ron smiled and snickered in relief before they heard McGonagall say, "Mr. Filch, if you'd please."

The caretaker put on some classical music and Val led Ron in dancing, proving to be quite skilled with a simple waltz.

Soon after the dancing practice, Val was quick to work on matching students with dates for the dance, speaking with some of the Beauxbatons girls in French while also talking with the Durmstrang men in Bulgarian, easily setting up some of the students with others, and even getting Ron and Hermione set up, along with pairing Harry with Ginny.

Throughout her pairing, she discussed some annoyances about the situation with Cedric while they were in a study session. "You know, sometimes I wish the rules of the Yule Ball would let champions pair off with one another, then you and I could go together. As friends, I mean."

He chuckled slightly and smiled. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It would be nice, but then again it'd be giving Rita Skeeter more to write about."

She snorted slightly and nodded. "Touché. So who are you thinking of asking to the ball?"

He shrugged slightly. "I was thinking of asking Cho to go with me."

She nodded slightly. "Makes sense. You two do seem like a cute pair when you're together."

He blushed at the comment, but refocused enough. "What about you, Val? Got anyone in mind?"

She shrugged a little bit. "I... honestly don't know. I was thinking of talking with Draco about it, but... he's probably already lined up with Pansy Parkinson. I don't know what he sees in her though..."

He reached over and took her hand gently. "Hey, if anything, just do what you feel should be right, okay? I won't be judgemental."

She blushed slightly, nodding to him as their hands remained connected for slightly longer than necessary before he let go and she sighed softly, feeling a blush creep onto her face.

As Val made her way to the owlery that day to check on Twilight, she sighed softly and headed up the steps, stamping her feet on the ground before she headed towards the door, only to almost run into Cho. "Oh, hi, Cho!"

"Hey, Val!" Cho stepped aside and warned her, "Un, watch yourself on the stairs. It's a bit icy at the top."

Val nodded in gratitude before speaking up. "By the way, I'm glad for you and Cedric. I really think you guys would be great together."

Cho smiled at her and nodded. "Thanks. I hope you find someone to go with too."

Val nodded a bit and smiled slightly before heading up to Twilight's perch.

Later that night, Val was heading to the dorm room before she was stopped by Fleur. "Valerie, might I speak with you?"

Val nodded a bit and walked with the Beauxbatons girl. "What's up?"

Fleur started explaining, "From what Professor McGonagall was telling me, there's some standard about the Yule Ball where the female champion is supposed to perform in front of the students before the dancing starts. Personally, I think you should be the one singing. With my partial Veela heritage, I would cause chaos among the men."

The vampire child listened and nodded slightly, considering the offer before she smiled a bit. "I guess I could. I mean, I haven't really sung in front of three schools, but I'm willing to try. I have a good song in mind already, as a matter of fact."

The French woman smiled eagerly and nodded. "Splendid! I will tell the deputy headmistress then." She turned and gracefully walked off.

Val smiled as she watched Fleur leave before getting a crazy idea and heading down the hallway quickly.

And let's stop right there for now. Who's gonna be Val's date for the Yule Ball? I'm not giving any spoilers away, but you'll see next chapter! 'Til then, my lovely wizards and witches!