SuperPotterLock- The Goblet of Fire

The Yule Ball

Despite Dean's best efforts, he could not convince Cas to attend the Ball in the days leading up to Christmas, nor could Cas convince any of the others to do their homework.

'I'll do my homework if you go to the Ball,' Dean had said.

Cas had glared at him, and left the Gryffindor common room without another word.

When the day finally arrived, a thick layer of snow blanketed the ground, and they all happily opened their Christmas gifts.

A note arrived for Dean, which he quickly read, then threw into the fire.

'What was that?' Ron asked, mouth full of the homemade mince pies Mrs Weasley had sent them.

'Nothing,' Dean shrugged. 'I was expecting... something... but it's not finished yet.'

'Expecting what?'

'Nothing important.'

The snow was untouched besides the deep tracks the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had made making their way up to the castle, and they couldn't resist hurrying out into grounds to start a snowball fight.

Gabriel joined them not long after they started, but there was no sign of Castiel.

'He won't come out of his dorm,' Gabriel said in response to Dean's questioning, after pelting Ron directly in the head with a snowball. 'It's a shame. He loves to throw snowballs.'

'He does?' Dean asked, throwing one at Harry, whose sharp Quidditch reflexes allowed him to duck just in time.

'Oh sure. He beats me every time.'

Dean grinned. Once the Ball was over, he was sure he could convince Cas to come out into the snow. 'Yeah, he seems like he would like snow.'

Hermione, who had chosen to watch their snowball fight rather than join in, told them she was going back upstairs to get ready for the Ball.

'What d'you need three hours for?' Ron asked, looking at her incredulously, before getting hit in the head once again, this time by George. 'Who are you going with?' he yelled after her, but she only waved in response.

Then Dean departed as well.

'What do you need three hours for?' Ron demanded.

'Oh, you'll see,' Dean grinned.

'Can't wait,' Ron said, eyebrows raised.

Their extended snowball fight continued for another hour or so, until John couldn't feel his fingers anymore, and got tired of Sherlock attempting to calculate his every move.

'I'm going in,' he said, rubbing his hands together.

'Yeah, we'd better start getting ready,' Harry said, checking his watch.

'No one needs this long to get ready,' Ron grumbled.

'Maybe Harry doesn't, but you definitely do,' Fred teased.

'Yeah, Ron, it'll take hours to make you look any good,' George added.

Ron chucked a snowball at George, but missed.

They did all start making their way up to the castle, however, and John was grateful to be in the warmth.

Once back in his dormitory, he began to feel nervous, but pushed it down. He was careful not to crease his dress robes as he put them on, once again admiring the silkiness of the material. He stopped at the tie. He still had both the plain one and the one with the tiny rose on it. Sherlock was going with someone else, he told himself, but there was still a part of him that thought maybe. He picked up the plain one and held it up to himself, but his eyes travelled back to the other one, still in its box. They're made to match, he thought. If he wore this one, and Sherlock wore his own, then...