Nothing But You // N. Longbottom

Three: The Yule Ball

"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." Professor McGonagall said, as she announced the Yule Ball to the Gryffindors.

The girls sat on one side of the hall and the boys on the other. Norvina took her eyes from the professor and looked at Neville. He looked exceptionally nervous, but flashed her a quick smile.

A dance? Norvina felt her heart skip a beat within her chest, which frightened her. Was she nervous? Absolutely.

"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 besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons." As Professor McGonagall spoke, Norvina felt her stomach twist as she began to think about the dance. 

Norvina Evergreen imagined herself hand in hand with Neville as they twirled around the Great Hall. She envisioned white lights bedazzling their way from the ceiling as soft string music played in the background. The mere thoughts of being so close to a boy as handsome as Neville Longbottom made her body tremble with nervousness and excitement.

Norvina was ripped straight out of her thoughts as Neville stood up and walked over to her.

"May I have this dance?" Neville asked the young girl, as he held out his hand to her. He smiled at her as she drew a deep breath and smiled up at him. There's that feeling again, she thought to herself.

"Of course."

X

As the days passed after the dance rehearsal, many people had begun to find their Yule Ball dates. Still, some had still not asked that one little lingering question. Neville Longbottom just so happened to be one of those people.

Nobody had asked Norvina to the dance, but even if they had, she would have said no. The only person that she would even consider going with is the boy she was sitting right beside of.

"I can't believe that happened! I can still see his face!" Norvina joked, her laugh echoing throughout the Gryffindor common room. Norvina and Neville sat on the red couch, just feet away from the warm fireplace. Neville smiled, he loved seeing her so happy. Nothing hurt him more than seeing her in pain. He vowed that he'd never let her get hurt, not if he had anything to do with it.

"Right?" Neville chuckled, looking up from his lap. He gulped as he looked at the girl beside of him. Do it now, or you'll miss your chance, he thought. He felt his palms growing sweaty and his stomach seemed to be rolling inside of him. What's the worst that could happen? She says no? That would be bad. But it would be much worse seeing her with somebody else. The feeling of anger rose in him, no way would he let somebody else dance with his girl.

"Are you alright?" Norvina asked, she took notice of his prolonged silence, "You got quiet."  Norvina watched him eagerly, seeing his face grow deep in thought.

"Oh," Neville laughed, "just thinking." He ran his hands over his pants anxiously, hoping to calm his nerves.

"About what?" Norvina's interest was peaked. Neville was always a little awkward, but never this much. Never with her.

"You." The word had come out of his mouth so quickly, he hadn't realized what he had said until he had already said it. Well, it's too late to turn back now. Norvina's interest was skyrocketing by the millisecond.