Belladonna

The Yule Ball: Part I

Belladonna 38

The Yule Ball: Part I

25 December 1994

"Ana!"

"Ana! Wake up!"

"Oi!"

A flying hairbrush bopped Ana on her brow bone.

"Ow," Ana said softly as she rubbed her head. She looked up to find Hestia smirking at her. "Look, I know I'm your competition for most beautiful tonight, but you don't have to take out an eye."

"Well I wouldn't have to if you weren't in La-La Land," Hestia replied. "What's up with you today? Never mind; we don't have time for that. We need to start the hair train."

Ana smiled despite her nerves. It had been a week since the last Hogsmeade trip. With every hour the clock tower chimed, the Yule Ball drew nearer and the butterflies in Ana's stomach went a little crazier. Ana hadn't told the girls what had happened; she could scarcely believe it herself.

"...Will you go to the ball with me?"

Ana's heart was racing. Her skin was on fire and the falling snow did little to assuage that. She couldn't think straight, but still, she knew it was a rather poor excuse when she choked out, "Sev."

"Hates me already. And I really doubt that dating his adoptive daughter could make him hate me more than he already does. Next excuse?" Fred asked.

"I—I'm a Slytherin; you're a Gryffindor." Ana knew it was another lame excuse.

Fred didn't let it discourage him. "Strip away the colors and I'm just a boy who fancies a girl, and you're just a girl who, I hope, fancies a boy, this boy to be precise." He smiled. "So, I'll ask again, Ana. Will you go to the ball with me?"

"Sweet Merlin, Ana! You look like a Slytherin Goddess," Sadie said with awe.

Ana smiled as she let her fingers brush down the beaded hips of her skirt. Her dress was a deep green with an illusion neckline. Her hair was pulled up into a low, loose bun with a few soft curls framing her face—courtesy of Flora. Her jewelry was minimal with simply a pair of short chunky earrings.

"Adrian is going to lose his head when she sees you," Sadie continued.

"Thanks, but I'm not going with Adrian," Ana said.

"I know. And he's going to kick himself for not asking you."

Ana smiled again. Her stomach was now in knots; the ball was so close. But Ana knew that this might be their last care-free moment for a while. So she had to push past the nerves; her smile brightened.

"And you look utterly divine in blue, Sae. It matches your eyes so well."

"She may have tweaked the color a little in that instance," Hestia said.

"Guilty," Sadie admitted. "Oh! But I wish I could wear purple as well as you do, Hes."

"Well not everyone can be perfect."

"It's so tiring isn't it?" Ana teased.

"A real chore," Flora added as she left the loo.