• Thanatophobia ~ {HP} • Discontinued

1.33: Date's For The Dance

"Cassiopeia," Nathaniel cut in, "You have a crush,"

Her eyes widened in shock. It made sense. The laugh. The Smile. The Eyes. The Butterflies. Pink hair. She needed to talk to someone. She got up and made her way to James' room.

Nico saw Cassiopeia get up and head out of the common room, having a sudden burst of courage. He ran up to her, ignoring the bewildered boy's he left behind.

"Hey Potter," said Cassiopeia grinning.

"My dear Cassiopeia, will you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Yule Ball," Nico asked nervously. He could hear the entire common room go silent, waiting for the response.

"Alright," said Cassiopeia, the roots of her hair a rose pink.

"W-What," Nico spluttered out, while the people in the common room were whispering to each other.

"I will go to the ball with you, Nico James Potter," Cassiopeia said with a smirk, and headed out the portrait hole, leaving a heart-struck boy staring at her retreating figure.

Nico looked around, and to his surprise, he saw Ron sitting ashen-faced in a distant corner. Ginny was sitting with him, talking to him in what seemed to be a low, soothing voice.

"What's up, Ron?" said Nico, joining them with a smile on his face.

Ron looked up at them, a sort of blind horror on his face.

"Why did I do it?" he said wildly. "I don't know what made me do it!"

"What?" said Harry.

"He — er — just asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with him," said Ginny. She looked as though she was fighting back a smile, but she kept patting Ron's arm sympathetically.

"You what?" said Harry.

"I don't know what made me do it!" Ron gasped again. "What was I playing at? There were people — all around — I've gone mad — everyone watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall — she was standing there talking to Diggory — and it sort of came over me — and I asked her!" Ron moaned and put his face in his hands. He kept talking, though the words were barely distinguishable.

"She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. Didn't even answer. And then — I dunno — I just sort of came to my senses and ran for it."

"She's part veela," said Harry. "You were right — her grandmother was one. It wasn't your fault, I bet you just walked past when she was turning on the old charm for Diggory and got a blast of it — but she was wasting her time. He's going with Cho Chang."

"I asked her to go with me just now," Harry said dully, "and she told me."

Ginny had suddenly stopped smiling.

"This is mad," said Ron. "We're the only ones left who haven't got anyone — well, except Nico Neville. Hey — guess who he asked? Hermione!"

"What?" said Harry, completely distracted by this startling news.

"Yeah, I know!" said Ron, some of the color coming back into his face as he started to laugh. "He told me after Potions! Said she's always been really nice, helping him out with work and stuff — but she told him she was already going with someone. Ha! As if! She just didn't want to go with Neville . . . I mean, who would?"

"Don't!" said Ginny, annoyed. "Don't laugh —"

Just then Hermione climbed in through the portrait hole.'

"Why weren't you two at dinner?" she said, coming over to join them.

"Because — oh shut up laughing, you two — because they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball!" said Ginny.