Melody Riddle and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 25: Preparations for the Ball

"Funnily enough, I never noticed that before," I said, staring at Hermione's teeth. Where there used to be two large front teeth were now two normal-sized teeth. After the hex Draco had hit her with, Madam Pomfrey held up a mirror to her face and asked that she stop her when they were back to how they were before... and she let her go a little further than they used to be.

Hermione laughed, "That's because you were too busy thinking about your own problems."

"Pfft, who doesn't have their own problems?" I asked.

It was the first week of winter break and we just sat around the library for a while. It was mostly just Hermione, Becky, and myself because Fred and George were busy selling their own products in their common room. Hermione warned us not to trust anything they gave us.

"So, who are you going to the ball with?" Hermione asked me.

Becky giggled. After Blaise had asked me, I went upstairs and told her. She was more surprised that I actually said yes to someone than that I talked to someone neither of us really knows... despite being in most of the same classes as him.

"Blaise Zabini," I replied.

"So you did find somebody!" Hermione said in awe.

"Okay, so first you all believe that I'm going to take someone to the ball just to get Marcus off my scent. Now you're surprised that I ever said yes to going to the ball with someone. I admit it's not with someone I know very well, but at least it's somebody who shares my disinterest in this nonsense."

"Not to mention," Becky said with small chuckles. "It's somebody who isn't bad looking."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Draco's going with Pansy," she said in a low whisper. "The girl who looks like a pug."

My heart sank at the reminder, but I ignored it to push a small laugh out. "Haha, I know right? And he said last year that she wasn't his girlfriend."

"That's right.. he did, didn't he?" Becky said thoughtfully, staring at me.

"Still," Hermione said, smiling widely, "it's going to be a really exciting night."

"Right?!" Becky said, snapping out of her deep thoughts to beam at us.

"Heh," I emitted half-heartedly with a smile. "I'm sure."

⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛ ⚯͛

Christmas day came and I opened my eyes blearily at the sound of my alarm clock, feeling the dread creep in. The ball is tonight... why, oh why, must I go through with this? I slapped the clock off before rolling myself further into the warmth of my blankets....

The coziness was short-lived.

There was a loud shriek... and Becky came bouncing on my bed, "Oh my gosh! Thank you, thank you, thank you, you're the best!! Squee!!"

That woke me and everyone in our dormitory up. The other girls groaned.. but then they sat up straight, and excitedly began opening their presents.

I looked at what Becky was holding. It was a pearl necklace and matching earrings that I had bought. "I thought it would be good for you at the ball."

She squeezed me in a tight bear hug. "Oh! Em! Gee! Thank you!! You are amazing! I love them! You have no idea how perfectly they're going to go with my dress!"