Melody Riddle and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 26: The Yule Ball

Draco and Pansy came out in front of the group of Slytherins leaving the common room. Travel in groups, I thought, like a pack of wolves. The entrance hall was full of students waiting for the clock to strike eight, and for the oak doors to open.

Becky was standing next to George already, they had linked arms and were talking to each other quietly. Fred stood with Angelina Johnson looking spiffy – when he looked over at me, his eyes widened, but he was able to manage a wink.

"Is that –?" Draco said in horror, staring right at Becky and George.

"Yup," I said, thinking up something. "She wanted to be with someone that would make them a one-of-a-kind couple. What better than a Gryffindor and a Slytherin?"

The front doors opened then, and the champions took their places by the door of the Great Hall. Hermione was standing with Viktor, and I smiled thoughtfully. She wore periwinkle-blue material and her hair was tied up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. Nervous but standing straight and smiling brightly.

An area of the lawn outside looked like a magical land full of fairy lights where real fairies sat around in the rose bushes placed there for the occasion.

The doors to the Great Hall opened and everyone went in before the champions, who were to wait until everyone was seated to make their grand entrance. As we passed the champions, Pansy gaped at Hermione... Draco seemed to look for some insult to say that never came to him.

The Great Hall was magnificent. The walls were covered from top to bottom in sparkling silver frost, along with many, many garlands of mistletoe and ivory going across the still black and starry ceiling. There were over a hundred small, lantern-lit tables that could fit twelve people.

We sat at a table – an entire group of Slytherins. Millicent, Blaise, Draco, Pansy, myself, and other Slytherins... sadly including Marcus and the Beauxbatons girl, both matching in bright, snowy white robes. The guys all pulled seats out for the girls — even Blaise did it for me.

I looked around and spotted Becky sitting at a table with the twins and some other people. She's got a very magnetic personality, I bet they'll all really like her.

Once everyone in the Great Hall was seated, the champions came in in a line with their partners at their side. Harry seemed completely out of place with his partner, Parvati Patil, who enjoyed the attention a lot more than he did. They reached the front table and sat down.

Then people began talking amongst each other, some just looked at their empty golden plates and menus lying in front of them, mostly looking around the room for waiters.

"I'm surprised, you really..." Blaise cleared his throat as though nervous, "you look beautiful tonight."

Heat rose up in my cheeks. "Urm, thanks but... it's really thanks to Pansy," I said, gesturing to her.

"Still," he said. "I only asked you so I could have somebody to go with, but you have outdone yourself. Really, you look perfect."

I chuckled, "I remember that very clearly... and you look wonderful tonight as well."

He smiled thoughtfully.

"I thought you were beautiful without all that on," Marcus said softly. The Beauxbatons girl smacked his arm crossly, but he didn't notice.

I ignored him. "So Draco, what did you think of Becky's date for tonight?"

He looked at me, "I have no words."

"No insult? She really was hoping for one, knowing you likely don't want to talk to her again. She wants to know one last insult from you."

"I can insult her myself when I get the chance." He looked down at his lap.