𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝑋𝑋𝑋𝑉.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙮-𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

THE YULE BALL was tonight, and Caroline was excited, even though she was going with Dean. Her and Hermione were flitting around their dorm, finishing getting ready. Their dormmates had already left, and Caroline and Hermione were right behind them. Caroline was putting the finishing touches on her hair. Her normally wild curls were smoothed into a braided bun at the crown of her head with a few sparkle pins scattered throughout her hair, matching her dress. Her dress and heels were on, and when Caroline looked over, Hermione was ready too.

"Are you excited to dance with Viktor Krum?" Caroline teased, smiling at her best friend as they began to walk out of their dorm. She gave Penny one last kiss, tucking the cat into her bed.

Hermione laughed, adjusting her pink dress that Caroline adored. "Well, you'll have fun with Dean while Harry stares at you the whole night." she said. The two girls walked out of the common room.

"I just don't know why he didn't ask me, Hermione. Maybe he just doesn't like me. I don't even know if I like him!" Caroline exclaimed, talking with her left hand, her other one holding up her dress so she didn't trip down the stairs.

"Oh, stop. You're flustering yourself for no reason." Hermione said, using her finger to smooth out some of Caroline's baby hairs.

Caroline nodded. The girls were approaching the Great Hall, and they couldn't stop smiling. Caroline was meeting Dean at the door, and just as they were about to round the corner and descend the final couple of stairs, Hermione hid behind the wall.

"Hermione, it's okay." said Caroline, holding her best friend's arm in an attempt to urge her towards the stairs. Caroline knew Hermione was nervous to dance in front of everyone with Viktor Krum, but she knew she could do it.

"You'll be right there, right?" Hermione practically begged, smoothing out her hair.

Caroline nodded. "Yes. I'll be with Dean, but we will come rescue you if you need us to. Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Let's go." Hermione said, taking a deep breath. The girls gently rounded the corner, peeking their upper bodies out, before fully emerging. Below them, outside the doors of the Great Hall were the champions, their dates, Ron, Padma Patil and Dean. Viktor couldn't keep his eyes off of Hermione, a smile on his face as the girls walked carefully down the stairs. Parvati was smiling at her dormmates, and then Harry turned around.

His eyes landed on Caroline as she walked, holding her dress up. He was enthralled with her. Why didn't he ask her, he thought. He could've had her, and he didn't. Harry had no one to blame but himself. Caroline looked just like Delilah Taylor in this light, and it was remarkable.

Viktor came over and bowed to Hermione, taking her hand and leading her away. Caroline allowed herself to look at Harry. He looked nice. She gave him a small smile, and he returned it, before she walked over to Dean.

"Now, aren't you glad you're with me, and you don't have to dance with the champions?" Dean said with a smile, offering Caroline his arm as they walked into the Great Hall.

Caroline chuckled. "Yes, Dean, I'm so glad." she said. They found Seamus and stood by him.

"Oi, Caroline, why're you with Dean when Cedric Diggory asked you?" Seamus teased, accent thick.