adored by him | *under editing*

fourth year × 54

Nadia and Hermione scanned over Rita Skeeter's newest article as Ron watched Harry make a fool of himself whilst staring at his girlfriend.

"Look at this!" Hermione fumed, slamming the newspaper on the table. "I can't believe she's done it again! 'Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. Her latest prey, sources report, is none other than Bulgarian bon-bon: Viktor Krum. No word yet on how Harry Potter's taking this latest emotional blow.' " Nadia snorted at the last sentence, earning a look from an annoyed Harry.

"Why are you even here? Wouldn't want to miss a snogging session with Malfoy." He drawled.

"Harry!" Hermione hissed, glaring at the nonchalant boy.

Nadia scoffed. "I'm not doing this. Not today."

Then, a small boy approached Ron with a box. "Parcel for you, Mr Weasley."

"Thank you, Nigel." But Nigel didn't leave. He continued to gaze at Harry.

Ron swatted him away. "Not now, Nigel. Later. Go on." Reluctantly, Nigel dashed away.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "I told him I'd get him Harry's autograph." Ron explained whilst opening his package. "Oh look! Mum's sent me something."

Out of the box, Ron pulled a dingy, lacy set of dress robes. His face contorted with disgust and confusion. "Mum's sent me a dress."

Nadia and Hermione giggled amongst themselves, knowing exactly what they were for. Harry found the ordeal rather funny too. "Well it does match your eyes. Is there a bonnet?" He pulled out a lace collar. "Aha!"

"Head down, Harry." Ron rolled his eyes and took the robes to Ginny. "Ginny, these must be for you."

Ginny grimaced at the sight. "I'm not wearing that. It's ghastly."

Hermione couldn't help it anymore and let out a loud laugh. "What are you on about?" Ron turned to her.

"They're not for Ginny." She said between laughs. "They're for you!"

"Dress robes." Nadia added, a wide grin on her face.

Ron furrowed his eyebrows. "Dress robes? For what?"

"Oh Merlin, Ron. You're utterly clueless." Nadia tutted.

•••

Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been put together in order to practice dancing. The girls were all sat one side whereas the boys were all slumped by the other.

Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick stood in the centre. "The Yule Ball has been a tri-wizard tournament tradition since its inception. 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." Flitwick explained, earning groans from the boys and squeals of excitement from the girls.

"Silence." McGonagall snapped. "The houses of Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw have commanded the respect of the wizarding 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."

Fred turned to George with a challenging look. "Try saying that five times fast." They both begin repeating the phrase.

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