Modern Hogwarts

The Christmas Ball

"What the fuck is this?" Martha asked Brooke as they decorated the tables in the Great Hall.

"It's called tinsel," Brooke said spitefully. "It makes things look shiny."

"No, it makes things look cheap," Martha corrected her. "Get rid of it."

"Yes, your highness," Brooke rolled her eyes.

Martha decided to hold her tongue and went back to looking for the Prefect crowns. Allen walked over to her carrying a box of glass Christmas tree ornaments. "Which tree has the Nutcracker theme?" he asked her helplessly.

"The one behind the orchestra," Martha said. She smiled at him. "You know, you can ask Emily where the tree decorations go. I did her put in charge of that stuff."

"Yeah, but then I wouldn't get to talk to you as much, now would I?" Allen said and smiled back as he walked away.

Allen walked back through the chaos to Emily on the stage.

"Dude, just ask her out already," Emily begged him. "It physically hurts me to watch you two flirt. The cringe is so bad my neck hurts from-"

"Oh shut up," Allen laughed. "And we're not flirting, we're just talking."

"Every day and every night?" Emily asked. "It's nonstop! Just ask her out! Ask her to the Ball at the very least!"

"Um, we're kind of Head Boy and Head Girl," Allen reminded her. "We'd have to go together whether we wanted to or not."

"How tragic," Emily said sarcastically.

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown," Allen shrugged, secretly elated that he was going to get to dance with Martha in front of everyone later that night.

Teddy and Jane ran around making sure all the tables had chairs and plates.

"Why aren't the house elves doing this?" Jane asked Teddy.

"Because the house elves are swamped with dinner preparations," Teddy said. "It's going to be like a six course meal. We're doing this to ease their workload."

"That's nice of us," Jane said.

"Yes it is," Teddy replied.

"So are you and Adrian going to dance at the Ball?" Jane asked him with a smirk.

"I'm still trying to convince him, but he's adamant that he's not a dancer," Teddy said.

"Well if Hogwarts's favourite couple doesn't dance, then what is even the point of this thing?" Jane laughed.

"Hogwarts's favourite couple?" Teddy asked.

"Well duh!" Jane laughed. "Everyone's soft for the Hufflepuff/Slytherin Kings. We love you."

"Well I'll tell him that then," Teddy said. "Maybe it'll boost his confidence a little."

Dominic, Maggie, and Nolan arranged the chairs for the orchestra and set up the music stands.

"I can't believe the day is finally here!" Maggie squealed. "We're going to have so much fun!"

"Doesn't matter how much you cheer," Nolan told her, "I'm still terrified."

"Oh come on!" Maggie said sweetly. "Doesn't dancing with the love of your life in front of everyone and showing off how much you love her sound like fun?"

"You've never been one for subtlety, have you?" Nolan laughed. "And when you put it like that, no. It doesn't sound fun. I don't feel the need to show off my love for anything. Isn't knowing it enough?"