Ruby Dellamark ⍎ Malfoy

6) Snake Snack

Professor McGonagall had gathered the fourth years of four houses in the grand hall later that day. The girls sat on one side of the room while the boys sat on the other.

"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception," McGonagall explained, "On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school, I except 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," she said. All the girls – except for Ruby that is – were suddenly excited, while the boys groaned.

"Silence!" she called. The children quieted down again. "The Heads of the Four Houses have commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly 10 centuries. I will not have you, in the course of a single evening, besmirching our reputation by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons,"

Tongue twister, much? Ruby thought.

"Now, to dance is to let the body breathe. Inside every girl is a secret swan slumbers; longing to burst forth and take flight," she said.

"Something about to burst out of Eloise Midgen, But I don't think it's a swan," Draco chuckled with his Slytherin friends.

"Inside every boy, a lordly lion prepared to prance," McGonagall said.

"I don't see a single lion in that crowd," Ruby whispered to Cho. She cracked a small smile.

"Mr. Malfoy!" McGonagall called.

"Yes?" he asked her.

"Will you come up?" she asked. The boys ooh'd and giggled at him while he rolled his eyes. But, he stood up slowly. Ruby sniggered under her breath, glad to watch Malfoy make a fool of himself twice in one week.

"And Ms. Dellamark!" however, she didn't find it funny anymore.

"What?" she asked. Cho urged her onto the floor, and she shuffled her way to the middle. Draco and Ruby looked at each other with scowls. McGonagall watched Ruby turn the kid into a ferret only days ago, was this some sort of cruel punishment for the both of them?

"Now, Mr. Malfoy, place your right hand around Ms. Dellamark's waist," she said.

"Where?" Draco asked.

"Are you joking?" Ruby asked her.

"Come now, don't be scared," McGonagall said. She took Draco's arm and made him place it around Ruby's waist. Some of the Gryffindor boys whistled, including the Weasley Twins. Ruby tried to push Draco away but McGonagall only pushed her closer, "She won't bite,"

"No, but she will curse and kick," Draco muttered.

"Oh, are you still on about that? It was three days ago!" she hissed at him. McGonagall positioned them correctly, but even now they seemed to be as rigid and stiff as their wands.

"Mr. Filch! If you please," McGonagall called. The caretaker started the massive gramophone, and a waltz started to play. "Go on then," she urged them.

He hesitated, but Draco started to lead. He had had previous experience with these things, being born into a prestigious family and all. Ruby felt all eyes were on her, making comments and laughing at her. This was torture.

The twins seemed to be enjoying it as well while they mocked the two. Then Harry called them over, "Hey! We're never gonna let her forget this, are we?" he asked them.

"Never," they grinned.

"Everybody come together!" McGonagall called. The girls got up instantly, but the boys didn't move. "Boys! On your feet!"