Delyth Snape

The Yule Ball

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It's a sunny day, and I'm walking through the halls, lost in my thoughts. The sunlight streaming through the tall windows is warm, but I can't seem to shake the chill running down my spine. Why didn't Sirius Black kill me? He could have. He knew I could have told anyone, and yet... I still don't understand. My mind keeps circling back to that moment in the forest.

Suddenly, I hear quick footsteps behind me.

"Hey, Snape, wait up!" Fred's voice calls out, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turn, and there he is, grinning as he catches up to me. "Fred," I say, smiling back at him.We walk together for a bit, chatting about nothing in particular. Just when I think he's about to tell me another joke, Fred's expression changes. He's nervous, which is strange for him.

"So, listen... there's something I've been meaning to ask you," he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

I raise an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"The ball," he blurts out. "Will you go with me?"

I blink in surprise. "Yeah, I'd love to."

Fred's grin gets even wider, if that's possible. "Brilliant! I'll see you there. I've got to tell George I'm ditching him." He gives me a wink before running off, leaving me standing there, smiling to myself.

I have to find Hannah and tell her right now.

The night of the ball arrives faster than I expected. The Great Hall has been transformed into something out of a dream. The ceiling looks like the night sky, dotted with stars, and the candles floating above us cast a soft, warm glow. Garlands of flowers are draped across the walls, and golden curtains hang from the corners, shimmering as they catch the light. The whole place feels magical, more than usual.

As I step inside, the sound of music and laughter fills the air. I glance around, taking it all in. That's when I see him—Draco Malfoy, standing off to the side near the entrance, Pansy Parkinson hanging on his arm. I assume she's his date for the night. For some reason, a small part of me wishes Draco had asked me to the ball. Not because I wanted to go with him, but just because... I wanted him to ask.

He notices me staring. "Hello, Delyth," Draco says, looking me over with his usual cool smirk. "You look great."

"Thanks," I reply, forcing a polite smile. "You both look amazing too." I keep walking.

As I make my way through the crowd, my eyes search for Fred. And then, there he is, standing by one of the tables.

Fred smiles down at me, his eyes bright with excitement. "You look beautiful," he says, his voice soft.

"Thanks, Fred," I reply, feeling a little blush creep into my cheeks. "You look handsome too."

Without missing a beat, he reaches for my hand. "Let's dance."

Before I can say anything, Fred pulls me onto the dance floor, twirling me into the center of the hall. The music swells around us, and we move in sync with the rhythm, his carefree laughter making me forget about everything for a moment.

But as we spin across the floor, I catch glimpses of the people around us. Hannah's mischievous stare from across the room as she winks at me. My father, standing by the door, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watches me, unreadable as ever. And then there's Draco Malfoy, who is staring too, but his gaze is cold and distant.

Despite the odd tension in the room, I feel light as Fred twirls me around again. But then, out of the corner of my eye, I see something that makes my heart skip a beat—just outside the window, barely visible in the shadows, is the black dog. Him. Sirius Black. Again.