black and white ✰ g.w.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ron's question was answered that day after classes. Professor McGonagall called for Gryffindor students fourth-year and up to meet her in a chamber on the first floor. When they arrived, there was a row of chairs on either side of the room and a huge record player in the center. With McGonagall were Mr. Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris. McGonagall instructed girls to sit on one side of the room and boys to sit on the other.

Once they were all situated, she addressed them. "The Yule Ball," she said, "has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since it's inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity. As representatives 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."

"Oh, great," Olivia said sarcastically. It didn't take a genius to figure out that with dances came dates and with dates came drama.

Angelina nudged her and nodded her head across the way. Olivia looked and caught George's eye. She blushed and looked away.

"Silence!" Professor McGonagall said to quiet the whispering and groaning. "The House of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard 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!"

"What'd she call us?" Alicia asked. Angelina shrugged.

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

"Okay, this is getting weird."

"Inside every boy, a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr. Weasley."

"Yes?" Ron asked timidly.

"Will you join me please?" McGonagall brought Ron to the middle of room. "Now, place your right hand on my waist."

"Where?"

"My waist."

Arabella wolf-whistled, causing the students to laugh.

Filch turned on the music and McGonagall and Ron began to dance, Ron rather stiffly. Across the room, Olivia could see Fred and George dancing as well, and she and her friends had to struggle not to burst out laughing. Arabella had failed and was full-on cackling at her brother. She only stopped when McGonagall threatened to kick her out.

Later on in the common room, Olivia was trying to do her Advanced Arithmancy homework while Angelina and Alicia discussed the Yule Ball on either side of her.

"Poor Ron is having an awful time, isn't he?" Angelina said. "First he receives those dreadful dress robes, then has to dance with Professor McGonagall. Gosh, I sure hope Fred's dress robes are better than those."

"You think he's going to ask you?" Alicia asked.

"Well, I sure hope so. What about Nicole, do you think he'll ask you?"

"His name is Nikola, not Nicole. But yes, of course he'll ask me. If he doesn't, I'll just ask him myself."

"What about you, Liv?" Olivia didn't seem to have heard her. "Olivia." Still no response, and so she kicked her. "Olivia!"

"What?" Olivia snapped.

"You figure George will ask you to the ball?"

"I don't know, I've never taken Divination."

Angelina rolled her eyes. "You don't have to predict the future to know if someone likes you or not."

"That wasn't your question."

"Will you stop being difficult?"

"I'm trying to do my homework."

"Then stop doing your homework."

"What, and fail?"

"You won't fail if you pause on your homework for five minutes so we can talk to you."

Olivia sighed. "Fine. Talk."

"Do you want to go to the ball with George?"

"I guess."

"What do you mean, you 'guess'? I thought you liked him?"

"I do. I'm just not sure I want to go to the Yule Ball."

"Why not?" Alicia asked. "It'll be fun. And you'll get to wear those dress robes! You'll look so pretty, Liv. George'll be drooling over you."

"And that sounds nice and all, but I already know there's going to be crying girls everywhere."

"Well, you don't cry, so it's fine. You'll have a good time."

"I'm not so sure..."

"You will! We'll make sure of it," Angelina reassured her.

[word count: 725]
[written: 5/16/20]
[published: 6/15/20]