Ariana Dumbledore || Harry Potter

23| the yule ball

That day the four of us sat in the Great Hall enjoying lunch peacefully as Hermione reads the paper. I sit across from Harry, watching as the Patil sisters great him. He smiles back and locks eyes with Cho Chang. I watch the whole scene before my eyes, he's practically shaking she makes him so nervous.

I frown and look down towards my plate. I go to stand, as Hermione asks, "What's wrong? You've hardly ate." Harry and Ron look up towards me as I look forward watching. "I've lost my appetite."

I walk through the hall, not really knowing where my feet are taking me. I stop in front of my Uncles office and say the words. "Lemon drop." The stairs reveal themselves as I walk up angrily.

"Ah Ariana! How are you my dear." Uncle is sat perfectly in his chair as I flop on the arm chair next to him. "He doesn't get it! How can he not get it?" I rest my arm on my forehead dramatically.

"Are we speaking of Harry?" He stands and walks over to me. "Yes! He doesn't see it." I know uncle knows I have feelings for Harry, he's called me out only about ten times. "So this would mean you have feelings for him, correct?" I knew he was playing with me, wanting me to tell him he was right all those times.

"Yeah yeah yeah okay you've seen right through me. But what do I do?" My Uncle chuckles lowly at me and glances down towards me. "Well I believe you should tell him. Let him know of your feelings. I know it's frustrating, and you're scared of the outcome but you're the strongest young lady I've ever met."

Sometimes I forget that I have my uncle to speak to about things, and how much I truly love him. I smile at him and blush due to his kind words. I sit up straight and stand from the chair. "You know you're right." I walk over to him and hug him tightly. "You're truly the best uncle a lady could have, and I love you." I felt as if I didn't tell him that enough, and right now he needed to hear it.

He laughs lightly and returns the hug. "I love you too my dear."

•••

"The yule ball has been a tradition of  the tri-wizard tournament since its  inception. On Christmas eve night we and our guests gather in the great hall for well mannered frivolity. As representitives 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."

This was perfect I thought to myself. Now would be the best time to tell Harry, but I wasn't sure how I was going to pluck up the nerve to tell him. Every boy within the room groans loudly, and I smile at Hermione who does the same.

"Silence. The house of Godrick Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard 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. Now to dance is to let the body breathe. Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers longing to burst free and take flight. Now inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr Weasly, will you join me."