𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 | 𝐝.𝐦.

eighteen

The subsequent days swept by in a breeze, with the hustle and bustle of the school hallways brought upon by the pronouncement of the unanticipated ball.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the following Friday, along with the abrupt Hogsmeade trip happening tomorrow, where they could pick out their attires that were specially sewn for the night.

Meanwhile, along the corridors, in the enclosed space of a classroom, or even in the middle of the great halls, Betty would see ball proposals all over. Students gathering together to bear the poles of a banner which would have 'Be My MidSpring Ball Date'.

The label for the ball wasn't exactly decided by the headmaster, nor did the teachers confirm it. Although, there was an instance where Professor Mcgonagall referred to the ball as its unofficial name in a Transfiguration lesson, eliciting the number of students to do the same.

Anyway, Betty had bitterly observed the proposing of other students, when none had demonstrated the act towards her. Even Harry had plucked up the courage to ask Ginny to the ball when she had just broken up with Dean Thomas.

The flaming redhead had agreed, mainly because she has always had an undying crush on the famous boy, and partially because she wanted to spite Dean a little.

A couple of friends, like Hermione, were still lying in wait for a certain person to ask them. Ron had been discharged from the hospital wing a few days back, and while he had been actively aware of the new ball, he was still in a muddle with the situation between Hermione and Lavender. Thus, despite Hermione's persistent hinting that she was available for a date during the ball, her efforts were to no avail.

Betty enters the great hall, brushing by some other students who were exiting it at the same time. It was the end of study hall period - which Betty had somehow managed to skip without being discovered -, and nearly the beginning of dinner.

Neville and Luna sits by the Gryffindor table, still flipping through a heavy book of History of Magic textbook. Betty is a little reassured to see that the teacher who was in charge of this study hall period, Professor Sprouts, had returned to her office.

When the duo sees Betty sauntering towards them, they wave her over, and Neville slides across the bench, issuing her a seat beside him.

"You're lucky Professor Sprout was the teacher in charge for today's study period," Neville tells her as she sits, "If it had been Snape here, you would've been sent to detention immediately."

Betty glances briefly at the tattered pages Luna is reading through. "Well, it's a good thing there's dozens of people in the hall, then. Plus, Sprout doesn't remember me much - I'm not in her Herbology class, she probably doesn't even realise I exist," she says nonchalantly.

Neville then exhales breathily. "I don't get it. Why are you constantly skipping classes?"

Betty looks at him, opens her mouth to speak, manages to get a word out - which was his name - before Luna pipes in dreamily.

"Do the both of you have a date for the Midspring ball?" she asks hopefully, slamming her book shut and giving the pair her full attention.

Betty is thankful for the girl, whether or not she does this on purpose.

"A date?" she says, dreading this topic, "Not for me, no. Do you, Neville?"

Neville's face flushes, more than it usually does when he is put in the spotlight. He swallows, and stammers as he speaks, "Well, no. Nobody's asked me yet, but I - "

Betty's eyes gleam in excitement, and she interrupts him without meaning to, "You have someone in mind you'd like to ask?"

Neville's eyes dart furiously around the hall. "Well - I - Do you, Betts? I mean, do you have someone you'd like to take to the ball?"