Forgotten Black

Chapter 4 - The Yule Ball...

Emily sat in the Gryffindor common room, trying to hold in her laughter, as she saw Professor McGonagall dancing with Ron. "There will be a ball on christmas night, and the champions must dance, and they must have a partner. You must not make a fool of Gryffindor, and I will not have you all behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons!" McGonagall concluded, and Harry's face blanked, and Emily burst into laughter. Fred and George grinned identical grins, and Ginny sulked on the steps to the girls dorm, as she was a 3rd year, and could only go to the ball if she was invited by a 4th year or above.

When the meeting was done, everybody filed out of the common room to go to dinner, except Harry and Emily. Harry asked Professor McGonagall his question first, "Do I need to have a partner professor?"

"You do Potter, and if you can't think of one, you can always ask Ms Black here." McGonagall answered. "No I think I'll find another partner," Harry said, throwing Emily look as if Emily suggested McGonagall to say that, an left to find Ron and Hermione. "Do I have to go to the ball?" Emily asked.

"No, but I think it will be an enjoyable experience, anyways, you can't go home for the christmas holidays, Noah is on a mission." McGonagall replied, and Emily nodded and left. She sat at the Hufflepuff table, next to Cedric who was chatting happily about asking Cho to the ball, "wait, are you even listening?" he asked, as he saw Emily staring out in front of her, with a glossy look in her eyes. "Noah is on a mission Ced. What if something goes wrong?" Emily stressed.

"It will be fine, Emily, come on, have some shepherd's pie, it's your favourite," but Emily wasn't hungry, unlike Ron, who was shoving food in his mouth. Emily nodded, and allowed Cedric to put some food on her plate, but she didn't touch it. She stood up, and walked out of the great hall, earning some confused looks from people all around. Emily walked up to her common room, and sat on her bed. Phoenix slowly flew down to Emily, and hooted softly. She was very old, 28 years, so she couldn't fly as well as she used to, or hunt for food. That was why she didn't live in the owlery. At first the other girls in Emily's dormitory didn't like it, but after 4 years, they were used to it. Lucky (who had grown a lot) lay at her feet, he was always there for her. She complained to them about people, she told them her worries, her secrets everything. Sometimes she would wake up at night and start talking, waking up the other girls.

It was the night of the yule ball, and everyone was gossiping who was going with who. Lavender was going with some older guy from Ravenclaw, Parvati with Harry Potter (Emily had a twinge of jealousy) and Hermione was going with the one and only Viktor Krum... Emily herself wasn't going with anyone. She had this gorgeous emerald dress (see picture above), her hair was hanging loosely over her shoulders, and stunning silver heels, earrings, and bracelet. In this dress, her grey eyes stood out, together with her snow white hair. She mentally noted to send an owl to thank Noah tomorrow. Lavender and Parvati's dates where waiting outside the common room, and Emily walked past them. She was absolutely stunning. She could easily pass for a Slytherin, for a Malfoy even, except that she had a wolf with her.

She waited at the entrance of the great hall patiently, and boys and girls gawked at her with big eyes, not believing that she didn't have a date. Draco Malfoy even came up to her, not seeing or hearing the wolf growling behind Emily. "Hello stunning... I don't believe I've met you before. Draco Malfoy, at your service." he introduced himself, placing a short kiss on her hand. Emily giggled and replied, "I do believe we have met before. Emily Black, perhaps I am at your service too..." Malfoy jumped back in shock, and stared at Emily with big eyes. Normally they were full of hate, and ego, but this time it was filled with something else, kindness and admire. Emily stared in (and he stared in her's, like long lost siblings, which they're not) them until Pansy (Malfoy's date) pulled him towards the great hall and whined, "Come on Draky! We need to be at the front!" Malfoy pulled her hand from his wrist and with one last look at Emily, he followed his date to the front.

Emily could not believe what had just happened, and promised herself not to tell anyone about it, perhaps her pets, but no one else. Only after the champions walked walked in - Cedric (who winked at her) and Cho, Harry and Parvati, Krum and Hermione, Fleur and Roger Davies (the Ravenclaw quidditch captain) - was the rest of the crowd allowed in. The champions and their partners sat at the head table, together with the judges, and the crowd sat a small tables. Emily sat on her own, with Lucky hiding under the table, so that nobody could stand on his tail. She got some meatloaf for Lucky (it was a special occasion after all), and some shepherd's pie for herself, together with a glass of coke (a muggle fizzy drink).

After a delicious meal, Dumbledore cleared the tables away, Lucky became visible, and the music began. The champions began dancing, and slowly but surely other partners came up and danced too, including Neville Longbottom and Ginny Weasley. Emily softly swayed with the music, and put Lucky's paws of her shoulders (her dress was claw proof). Emily was happy in that moment, until she saw Ron coming towards her, a murderous look on his face. Lucky immediately stepped in front of her and snarled, baring his teeth, and the red haired boy quickly changed his path. After a few songs, Emily grabbed some water and decided to sit down, and put some water in a bowl for Lucky.

After a few minutes of watching partners dance around her with longing, a certain blond haired boy walked up to her. "Care to dance, my fair lady?" he asked. Emily nodded and took his hand. A calm music started playing, and they softly swayed in the music, Lucky looking at them intently, preparing to protect Emily should he do something that Emily wouldn't want, but he didn't.

"What about your date? Did she agree to this?" Emily asked

"Ah, nah, she went of with Zabini, so she can't complain." he answered. The boy smiled, and Emily did too. This was her first dance, and she would never dream in a million years that she would dance with him. Cedric looked at them and cracked a smile, he had never seen Emily that happy with another boy. After 3 dances, the boy said, "I am going to bed, you too?"

"Yeah," Emily nodded.

"I'll bring you to your common room." the boy said, and Emily giggled, calling Lucky over. They slowly walked to the Gryffindor common room. "Close your ears." Emily commanded, and the boy did so. She said the password and stepped in. The boy started to walk away. Emily hesitated. "Draco?" She called out, and he stopped, looking back. "Thank you for tonight..." Emily whispered as she walked into the common room.

"You're welcome..." Draco breathed quietly, staring a few minutes at the place where she had just left, before turning towards his own common room. Emily didn't have that nightmare that she usually had about that one time when she saw all of those people... 

A/N - Sorry that it took so long... I wasn't really in the mood.