The Evil child

18. Date.

Everyone in my grade. Fourth years. We were all in the assembly room. Professor McGonagall was standing in the center of the room. Boys on one side and girls the other. "The yule ball has been a tradition of the tri-wizard tournament since its inception." She started. I've read about these. Guess I know why Ron's mother sent him dress robes. I nearly laughed at the thought of the thing.

"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." McGonagall finished as groans emerge from the boys who are listening.

I looked around to see the girls seem a lot more excited. I wasn't. Who would want to take Aria Riddle anywhere? I'm not going. I simply can't.
McGonagall glared at the boys. "Silence. The house of Godrick Griffindore 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." She said firmly.

I noticed Fred mumble something to Georgie and then George began repeating something and they smiled at each other. After a moment of silence McGonagall kept going. "Now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight." She said smiling.

Ron then made the mistake of whispering something to Seamus a little too loud. I didn't hear it but McGonagall did. She turned to Ron. "Inside every boy a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr Weasly, will you join me?" Though it sounded like a question, she grabs Ron and pulls him up to dance. The boys laugh but not too loud. I even smiled. I looked at her mike who also looked amused. "Now, place your right hand on my waist." McGonagall instructed.

My smile vanished as my eyes met Draco's. He quickly looked down. I looked back at Ron. He was clearly embarrassed. "Where?" He mumbled. "My waist." She said clearly. He does so and a whistle comes from the crowd. I giggled. "Now bend your arm. Mr Filch." McGonagall showed us as the music starts.

"One two three, one two three, one two three." She began as they did the dance. After a moment of embarrassment from
Ron McGonagall nodded but didn't stop. "Everybody come together." She said to the rest of us. The girls instantly stood. It took me a moment but I joined. The boys are all still seated. "Boys, on your feet." McGonagall ordered

Neville was the first to stand. I smiled at him. Brave boy. My fear was being alone with Draco after that embarrassing pull away. I need to practice with someone else. I rushed to Neville and we began the dance.

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As the days went by Draco and I avoided each other. I wasn't asked to the dance yet and it's soon. I still don't know the clue the egg holds and I've tried everything.  I'm current walking back to my common room when I walked dead into someone. "I'm sorry-" I started then saw who it was. "Well well well if it isn't little Riddle." Amy spat.

"Piss off." I sighed as I walked past her. My leg fully healed now, I would surely fight her. "Pardon me little miss bitch." Amy shoved me but unlike last time I didn't fall. I turned around and glared at her. "Is there a problem here?" I turned to see Cedric.

"Nothing at all. Have a good day Riddle." Amy said in her polite tone and she skipped off. Bloody fake bitch. "Hello Aria." Cedric spoke to me. I turned to him. "Hey Cedric. You should go before you're seen with me." I said about to walk away. "Do you have a date to the dance yet?" He asked suddenly. "I'm not going." I said. "All the champions have to have a date." He said as if I should know that.

I sighed. "I know. Let me correct myself. I wish I weren't going." I didn't know who to even ask. "Anyway I wanted to ask if you or Harry have cracked the egg clue yet?" He asked clearly worried. I shook my head no. "Well let me know if you do?" He asked. I nodded. "Same to you. See ya Cedric." I said as we parted ways.

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"This is mad. At this rate we'll be the only ones in our year without dates." Ron said to Harry and I during class. I nodded. Severus Snape walks past and slaps Ron over the head. Ron rubbed his head and looked over at Neville. "Well, us and Neville." He added. "But then again he can take himself." Harry commented. I nodded.

Neville was defiantly practicing. He's a great dancer. He seems to love it. "It might interest you to know that Neville's already got someone." Hermione added in the conversation. I groaned and Ron gasped. "Now I'm really depressed." He mumbled as he got a note from Fred hands Ron a note. Ron sighed and then looked at Hermione. "Well Hermione, you're a girl." He started.

My eyes widened. He's not gonna ask is he? "Oh well spotted." Hermione said not looking up from the work in front of us. "Come on. It's one thing for a bloke to show up alone. For a girl it's just sad." Ron said. My head shot up. "Except in your case." Ron added pathetically. I sighed and closed my book finally done.

I was about to stand when Hermione spoke. "I won't be going alone because believe it or not someone's asked me." She slammed her book. "And I said yes." She spat. She then stormed out after handing her work in. "Bloody hell." Ron mumbled. I shrugged and left to turn my work in and left as well.

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I was walking to my room to fiddle with the egg more. My mind kept going to the dance coming up and my dateless self. I can't do it. They'll laugh at me. I clenched my hands together  and looked down and tired to control my breathing. Suddenly I walked into someone and caused us both to fall.

"Bloody hell. I'm sorry." I said standing and seeing the guy I knocked over. He smiled and brushed himself off. "It's fine. My fault." He said kindly. "No. All mine. Again sorry." I said. He nodded and began walking. I noticed the empty hall. Now or never.

I turned. "I'm Aria." I blurted making him turn back to me. "You probably already know that though." I added stupidly. He nodded. "I do." He said. My stomach dropped. I knew this was pointless. He must have noticed my thoughts because he instantly looked regretful of saying it. "I mean we're in the same year. I didn't mean-well I didn't mean anything bad." He stumbled. I smiled.

"I'm Eric." He said extending his hand. I shook it. "So this dance huh?" I asked stupidly. I mentally killed myself. He chuckled and nodded. "Do you plan on having a good time with your date?" I asked beating around the bush. He smiled. "If I had one. I'm kinda a shy kid." He said making it clear he didn't have a date. "Same. Except I'm a girl." I laughed. He joined in.

"You have to have a date don't you?" He asked referring to me being a champion or whatever. I nodded. "Do you wanna-I don't know, go with me?" I blurted. His eyes sparkled. "I'd love too." He answered. My heart beat was rapid. When he answered it declined. "Really? And you know who I am?" I asked bluntly. Why can't I just accept the yes? I mentally sighed.

"Yes and I'd love to. I'll see you around Aria." He said excusing himself. I was left there baffled. I just got a date. I smiled as I made the rest of the way to my room.

I just got a date.