"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception. On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather in the Great Hall for 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 it literally because the Yule ball is first and foremost a dance."
Groans emerged from the boys who sat at the other side of the room, whilst the girls were excited and had all of their attention at McGonagall.
"Sielnce. The House of Godrick 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." ("Try saying that five times fast." Fred said and they did) "now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl is a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight" ("I feel like a mad dog is going to burst out of me than a swan." Carina muttered) "Inside every boy is a lordly lion prepared to prance." (Carina bit her lip to prevent herself form laughing, but she couldn't stop herself from letting out a chuckle, but was elbowed by Hermione to quiet down). "Mr. Weasley, will you join me."
McGonagall grabbed Ron and pulled him up to dance. Ron had the most hilarious face of panic.
"Now, place your right hand on my waist." McGonagall instructed.
"Where?"
"My waist."
Ron does and a wolf whistle came from the crowd of boys, and Carina couldn't help but laugh at her spot.
"Now bend your arm... Mr. Filch." Filch started the music. "One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three... everybody come together."
The girls instantly stood up and walked forward, whilst the boys were still seated. But when McGonagall gave them a threatening look, they got on their feet to look for a partner. Carina found herself being pursued by Dean, Seamus and Harry, all three of them fighting to reach her first. Carina raised a brow at them and watched.
"I don't know if I should find this sweet or annoying that I'm the easiest of all the girls." Carina muttered to Hermione.
"Just pick one of them – and try not to break their hearts." Hermione chuckled as she walked off with George to dance.
But before the three boys could reach her, another boy, older, and handsome, tapped Carina at the shoulder. Carina turned and found herself blushing.
"May I have this dance, Miss Black?" The older Gryffindor asked with a teasing smile.
"Of course..." She turned back to the three and waved a teasing good-bye.
•†•
Roman sighed at the sight of the girls passing by. He and Theodore have been looking around the halls for a girl they can ask to the Ball.
"Want to try a Beauxbaton girl?" Theodore offered.
"And die out of embarrassment when she says 'no'?" Roman scoffed, "No."
Theodore rolled his eyes at his best friend.
"Oh please, how hard could it be?"
Roman scoffed.
"I doubt that a girl would say 'no' to you." Theodore muttered.
Roman turned to Theodore with a sly smirk.
"Are you saying that I'm handsome, Theo?" Roman teased.
"I think you're an idiot who clearly needs to take a mint because you, my friend, smell like a dog."
Roman covered his mouth with his hand and breathed to it then tried to smell if he did.
"I do not!" Roman pushed Theodore. "And it is hard to ask someone out, especially if girls go around in groups – why do they go around in groups."
"Ask a girl." Theodore sighed. "Why not just ask a friend to go to the dance with?" Theodore's gaze found the very familiar brown hair of Carina Black – who was busy talking with Harry and Ron, but then was approached by a boy – she seemed to be talking to the boy, but their conversation was cut short and the boy left. "Like peculiar Black who does nothing but get her arse in detention..."
Roman raised a brow at Theodore.
"What?"
Theodore groaned. "Merlin, you're dense..."
•†•
Harry and Ron were having were complaining about the whole Yule-Ball-Date-Problem to Carina – who seemed to be bored with the whole thing. Carina rested her chin on the palm of her hand and listened to the two.
"Why do they always have to travel in packs? How are you supposed to get one alone to ask them?" Harry muttered.
"Blimey, Harry, you slain dragons. If you can't get a date who can?" Ron exclaimed.
A group of girls giggling passed them – and they seemed to be a bit too young for them to take to the ball.
"I think I'd rather take the dragon right now." Harry muttered.
Carina rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, how hard can it be to ask someone to the dance?" Carina asked the two.
Ron turned to her. "How would you know – you're a girl, you don't have to ask someone to the dance – guys would just line up to you to ask you!"
Carina raised a brow.
"Really?"
"Carina..."
They all turned and found a Ravenclaw boy – a year younger – came up to them with a nervous look.
"Yes?" Carina asked.
Harry and Ron leaned back on the table, interested to know what was to happen.
"This is going to be good." Ron muttered to Harry.
"I don't know if you know me but... I'm Sam Underwood – I just wanted to ask if... you... want to go to... the Yule Ball with... me?" Sam Underwood asked.
"Sorry... but I already said yes to someone." Carina gave the boy a pursed smile.
"Oh..." Sam's shoulder slumped, "Well... alright... see you."
The boy then walked away, he was greeted with his friends at the Ravenclaw table.
Harry and Ron turned to Carina with a questioning look.
"You already got a date to the Ball?" Harry asked.
"No." Carina simply answered.
"Wha – then why'd you – but you said you did!" Ron exclaimed.
"He's a second year! I'm not going to the Ball with a second year!" Carina pointed out. "Do you really think I'm that desperate to go to the Ball with a second year? I'd rather go with Roman than with a twelve year old."
Harry's brows rose at Carina's statement. Was she planning on asking Roman?
"But I've got to hand it him." Ron chuckled, "He's got some guts to ask you out."
Carina turned to Ron. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean..." Ron shrugged, "you're a fourth year... and we all know who your dad is... right?"
Carina stared at Ron with the most intimidating look, whilst Harry moved away from Ron, not wanting to be at the way if Carina does something to him
"I hope you do find a date to the Ball, knowing what you'll be wearing for the night, that is..." Carina got up from the table, gathered her things then left.
•†•
Now it all made sense, Carina thought. The formal dress that was listed in their school supplies list for the their fourth year didn't made sense to her so she just –purposely – forgot about it just to avoid dress fitting with her Aunt Charity, but now she was regretting on forgetting about the dress and would have wanted to have gone with Charity to have her dress fitted and made.
Carina found the company of Roman and Theodore later that day, walking around the castle, like Harry and Ron, Roman was having a bit trouble with the whole Yule-Ball-Date and she couldn't help but be annoyed – she and Theodore.
"You do have dress robes for the Ball, right?" Carina asked Roman, "I mean, you're worrying about dates, but shouldn't you worry about dress robes first – wouldn't want to end up like Ron, now, would you?"
"As a matter a fact, I do." Roman answered, "Mum and I got it made before we left – it was quite a hassle to have your whole body covered in pins – they said that they'd have it sent here..."
"And you have it... now?" Carina asked.
"What's with the questions, anyway, Black?" Theodore asked, "Did you forget yoru dress?"
Carina remained quiet.
Theodore and Roman stopped on their tracks and stared at Carina with disbelief.
"No... you didn't." Roman groaned.
"I might have let it slipped." Carina fiddled with the hem of her school vest.
"Why?" Roman asked.
"Because I don't want to go dress shopping or have pins around my body!" Carina exclaimed, "I just thought that it was a small event that I don't have to go to!"
"Did you at least tell Tom or – or Charity – or..." Roman trailed off, knowing that Carina would get the idea.
"No... I'm not going to bother them with such a petty thing." Carina crossed her arm over her chest.
"If it would make you feel any better." Theodore tucked his hands in his pockets, "But there are girls going to Hogsmeade this weekend to find their dresses – why not go there."
Carina and Roman turned to Theodore with disbelief.
"Are you giving Carina girl advise?" Roman asked.
Theodore glared at them.
"Do you want to go to the Ball wearing your Gryffindor robes?" Theodore gestured to her robes.
"No..." Carina muttered. "What's the point anyway – no one's going to ask me to he dance, why bother."
"We literally just saw you being asked to the dance by a boy at the Hall... and you just turned him down." Theodore crossed his arms over his chest, "Why? Are you expecting a Durmstrang boy to ask you out?"
"NO! And that boy was a second year! And I am not going to the Ball with a second year – I mean... would you go to the Ball with someone younger than you?!"
When Theodore did not answer, Carina and Roman stood beside each other, their arms crossed over their chests and smirks plastered over their faces.
"And who is this lovely girl you asked out to the Ball?"
Theodore sighed, he scratched the back of his head and played with the leaf in his mouth – a habit he acquired since he joined Roman and Carina with their Animagus training.
"It's Astoria Greengrass."
"You asked Astoria Greengrass to the Ball?" Roman chuckled. "What'd Daphne say about that?"
Astoria Greengrass was a third year Slytherin. She was Daphne Greengrass' younger sister, a sweet little girl and very soft-spoken. Students of their House even question to why Astoria was put in Slytherin – even though she was a Greengrass, a family of Slytherins – since she was very kind and sweet girl, whilst most girl in their House were... well... living up to the name Slytherin.
"Was she supposed to say something about that?" Theodore asked.
"I mean – you just asked her little sister – you know how Daphne is... quite the drama queen – sometimes..." Roman laughed.
"If you care so much what Daphne Greengrass has to say, why don't you ask her out to the Ball?" Theodore said.
"I bet she cursed you for asking her sister before her." Carina laughed with Roman.
"She might have..." Theodore thought for a second, "I don't know... I must've zoned out – so what about you two... do you have your dates for the Ball?"
Roman and Carina blushed. It was Theodore's turn to smirk, he walked pass them, making sure to brush pass their shoulders.
"Good luck – if you continue of rejecting dates or being a bit too picky, you might find yourselves dancing with Headless Nick or the Gray Lady..."
•†•
Carina sat with Roman at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, as usual her legs rested on Roman's lap as they popped bubbles that Carina would blow with her bubble wand. It was their way to pass the time – if they weren't going on to prank Draco and his goons – or just thinking about the whole Yule Ball problem.
"Why'd there have to be a Ball anyway?" Carina muttered.
"Do you have a dress now?" Roman asked.
"No."
Just last Hogsmeade trip, Carina went with Lavender and Parvati to the small village – forcefully – to find a dress. She didn't last in the shop when the two girls started pulling out frilly dresses and tower-high-heels.
"Then go get one." Roman sighed.
Harry and Ron entered the Hall with distraught looks. They still didn't have a date to the Ball – everywhere they look boys and girls seemed to have their dates settled, while they were still looking for the girl they want to go with. They sat down at the Gryffindor table, in front of Carina and Roman, and noticed their troubled looks.
"Still no dates to the Ball?" Harry asked.
"No." They answered.
"You would have if you just said yes to that McLaggen." Roman told Carina with a teasing smirk.
"I'd rather have the Mandrake plant be my date to the Ball than that toe-rag, McLaggen." Carina flicked Roman at the forehead.
"McLaggen asked you to the Ball?" Ron asked with wide eyes.
"Aye... got some ball to do it too." Roman chuckled, "He just went up to us during class – probably thought she wouldn't reject him – it was hilarious when Carina said no."
"He's an arrogant-insufferable-human being." Carina muttered.
"What about you." Ron nodded at Roman. "How come you still don't have a date?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Roman raised a brow at him.
"I'm sure the girl would instantly say yes to you if you asked." Ron muttered.
"So you think I'm handsome, Weasley." Roman batted his eye at Ron.
"Disgusting." Ron's face scrunched up.
"But seriously, Roman, how come you still don't have a date?" Harry asked.
"Because he's being picky." Carina lightly slapped Roman at the cheek.
"Am not!" Roman tugged her hair.
"Alright." Carina straightened up. She looked around the Hall to find a girl for Roman. And she did. It was a Ravenclaw girl, their age. "Ask her out." She pointed at the girl. It was Marietta.
Roman, Harry and Ron turned to the girl Carina was pointing at, and their face scrunched up.
"Don't want to... I'm sure she already has a date already." Roman stuttered.
The owls came with mail, all dropping packages for the students. One particular gray owl came and landed at the center of the table before Carina, Roman, Harry and Ron. It was Hester. Hester had a huge package under its claws and a roll of parchment attached to its foot.
"Who's it from?" Ron asked.
Harry and Carina immediately went to get the package from Hester and untangle the rolled parchment from its foot, knowing where Hester came from. Harry took the parchment and smiled when he read the name of the sender.
"It's from him." Said Harry.
"What's in the package?" Carina asked.
"Why don't you open it?" Roman chuckled.
Carina opened the package's wrapping and saw a white box inside. She took off the lid and saw the content of the box. Inside was a beautiful fabric of blue satin and chiffon, and dark blue patterns, and layers of it more. Carina didn't have to get it out of the box to know what it was, it was clear as day that her prayers were answered – and she didn't need to go shopping with Lavender and Parvati for it.
"Well, at least one of us got their prayers answered." Roman smiled at Carina.
"There's a note." Harry pointed at the side of the box.
Carina took the note and opened it. She smiled at her father's quite messy handwriting and read every word in it.
Carina,
When I heard about Hogwarts hosting the Triwizard Tournament, I knew that there'd be the Yule Ball. I wasn't sure if you found a dress for yourself for the Ball – If you did, then there is no need to wear this – I'm not the best in fashion, but I did pick a dress that might match your personality. Consider this your early birthday present.
Enjoy the Ball. Don't go with someone you're not comfortable with. You could just go with a friend if you like (I'd prefer that). Stay safe. I love you.
Love,
Dad
P.S. Who's Roman?
"Well I can imagine what type of father, Sirius is now." Harry chuckled after reading the letter with Carina.
"Your Dad still doesn't know me?" Roman asked Carina, "I'm your best friend!"
Carina hid the letter in her boo bag. She closed the lid of the box and used a spell to have it wrapped again with its wrapper.
"But he did have a point, right?" Carina ignored Roman's remark, "I could just go with someone as a friend." Her eyes trailed at Roman.
Roman had a confused look.
"What?" he asked.
Ron and Harry groaned at Roman's denseness.
"You don't have a date, and I don't have a date." Carina pointed out, "Maybe we could go to the Ball together..."
"Yeah – I mean, I'm sure we could go there as friends, right?"
"You can." Hermione said, "No one said that it'd have to be a date-date."
"Then it's settled." Carina smiled, "Done."
"Roman!"
They all turned to the girl that stood behind Roman and Carina. She was their year, had long brunette locks and deep brown eyes – quite beautiful – and she wore Hufflepuff robes. Carina didn't know the girl personally, but she knew that the girl had a huge crush on Roman was very evident. And Roman was blushing as well.
"Hi..." Roman greeted.
"I'm not sure if you know me but... I'm Margaret Moon –" she held out her hand for Roman to shake, and he did.
"Oh, I remember you, you're that girl from Charms." Roman said. "Peggy, right?"
"Yeah!" Peggy beamed in joy, her face blushing.
Harry, Ron and Carina shared a look. It was clear as day that the girl gathered the courage that she needed to ask Roman to the Ball, it was just Roman who didn't see it. And Carina was hoping that he'd remember her asking him first.
"So what is it that you want?" Roman asked.
"I was wondering if – you don't have to if you don't want to – if you want to go to... the Yule Ball with... me." Peggy was fiddling with the hem of her jumper.
"Of course – yes!." Roman said.
"What?" all of them – Peggy, Carina, Harry and Ron – said.
"Sure. I'd love to go to the Ball with you." Roman smiled.
"Great! Thank you!"
Peggy then left and rejoined her friends. She hugged Susan Bones and they both squealed in joy when she told her the news. Roman returned to his group like nothing happened. Harry, Ron and Carina – especially Carina – had the most embarrassed – Carina's case – and annoyed look in their faces.
Roman being Roman – completely oblivious at situations like this – simply asked,
"What?"
"You do know Carina asked you first, right?" Harry pointed out.
Roman's eyes widened realization, he turned to his best friend and saw her eyes glaring at him.
"Carina, I'm so sorry." Roman practically begged.
Carina removed herself from Roman. Roman begged for her even more when he saw her eyes glisten when she took her bag and the package and then left the table and then went straight out of the Hall, completely red from embarrassment. Roman groaned and hit his head on the table.
"Some times I wonder if you're really just an idiot, Alston." Ron said.
"Don't... just... don't." Roman groaned.
"This is on you, mate."