Magic (5sos/l.h. Hogwarts AU)

Chapter 67

~A/N~ I've started majorly editing Part VII because I made a bad choice when I wrote it and it's so exciting to be back actually writing this
Enjoy the chapter!
Leila xx

The Christmas holidays had not been as eagerly anticipated as usual, for all the excitement was at school and no one wanted to leave it, but luckily McGonagall was ready to deliver a solution to that problem.

The Yule Ball, an occasion of great prestige that came with every Triwizard Tournament, was something it seemed everyone except me was looking forward to and every day leading to Christmas it was all I heard about in the common room.

The issue for me was finding a partner, for I had no idea who I was supposed to go with and though the obvious choice would be to go with one of my friends, I had an urge to reach out of my comfort zone for the first time in a while.

It was too late to just go home too, for I had already signed up to stay the holidays as did Luke, Michael and Ginny, while to my surprise Calum and Ashton also opted to stay at Hogwarts.

"I thought you would hate the idea of a ball," I said to Calum one day in the library.

"Normally I would," he grinned, "but now I have an idea of who I'm going to ask."

"What?! Calum, you have a crush?!" I squealed in a manner most unusual for me, and he violently shushed me.

"Say it any louder, will you?!"

"Who is it? Oh Merlin, is it Ginny?!"

"Don't be stupid," he scoffed. "Don't tell anyone - I mean it Leila, I know how Lavender and Parvati can weasel things out of you - but it's Hannah Abbot."

"What?" I asked, incredulous. Out of all the girls in the school, the one I was least likely to pair Calum with was Hannah Abbot. There was no way, in my perspective, the cute, shy Hufflepuff could match with our fiery Gryffindor. That was why I had been trying to set her up with Ashton a while back, though that mission had died quickly.

"Yeah," Calum blushed for perhaps the first time ever, "do you think she'll say yes if I ask her?"

"Definitely! She's so nice, she could never say no to anyone! Now, does Ashton also have a crush? Is that why he's staying?"

"I don't think so," he snorted. "Ashton just doesn't want to be left out. I think he's intrigued by the idea of a ball."

"I think that's probably why Hermione's staying too," I said. "They can go together."

"That's disgusting."

***
A week later, I found that I was actually in higher demand than I had previously believed, and had already been asked by what seemed to me like a great deal of people. As I had little knowledge of dates and dances, I always told everyone I would get back to them, then consorted Lavender or Parvati for advice, something they were in no short supply of.

The second year I knew immediately was a no. They were widely regarded as babies by the fourth year, so I didn't even have to contemplate before a disgusted rejection fell from my mouth and the baby-faced boy plodded away, sulkily dragging his feet behind him.

The sixth year I needed some help with, but Parvati was sure to inform me that someone that much older was probably only doing it for a dare, or to use me for his own benefit, and I once again had to say no.

Perhaps the most difficult experience was having to explain to Susan Bones that I was in fact straight, without hurting her feelings. Fortunately she reassured me that it was ok, and I was allowed to be whatever I wanted but if I ever changed my mind, she was the one to come to. The boys found this hilarious, and sent a short rumour around that I was dating Susan which was faintly irritating, but nothing I couldn't handle.