Weeks later, dragons gone and the quidditch field turned back to normal. Percy sat, a dragon egg in his lap, pressed to his stomach as he was curled in a ball to give it all he could-plus some warming spells for Dragon eggs. He was scribbling on pages of students work. Rubbing the egg softly. He didn't know when it should hatch but he was perfectly happy to take care of it. It was a great honor in his eyes.

His eyes glanced at a cauldron bubbling nearby, magically doing its thing. He wondered if it would be finished before summer....

So focused in his musings he didn't know that Severus had entered. The man eyes the cauldron that Percy usually would hide when he entered. Yet because he wasn't seen yet he didn't. "What is it you are brewing Jackson?"

His voice made Percy jump making red blotch some of his parchment. He looked over and smiled sheepishly. "Ah, Sev, uh I'm not making anything important-at least nothing that you'll need to know now." With a wave of his hands-a status charm placed as it was quickly banished off back to his room. "What's up?"

His eyes narrowed as suspicion arose in him before he waved it away and sat in a settee. "The Yule ball." He drawled.

Laughing Percy stood and sat next to him, Snapes eyes diverting to the eggs shape under the shirt Percy wore. "What about it?" He asks as he curls up around it again.

Snape looked him over subtly finding something endearing of how small he looked as he protected and warmed the egg. Shaking the feeling he turned more towards the younger male. "The students are going on with a love sickness incurable."

"Right," Percy Laughed. "It'll pass, but most people do that even outside of a major event like this. Especially the young and in love." He sighed happily as he thought of the good days.

"Have you ever been in love?" Severus asks when he saw the look on his friends face.

Blinking-Percy stared at him for a moment before nodding his smile faded a little bit but it was still there. "Yes, would have married her to if...death didn't take its claim." He said simply. Ignoring the sounds of his name being called by a familiar voice inside his head. He simply shook it off.

"I'm sorry...." Severus spoke softly.

"It's fine, you wouldn't have known otherwise now would you?" He smirked before he called on Dobby who worked in Hogwarts while his masters were there. Snacks were then on the table in front of them.

Severus stared at Percy, taking in the mans young-almost eternally so-face. The way he was sharp and yet soft-most likely from his mother. Percy was chattering about the ball and how excited he was for it. All the while his eyes examine him. The broad shoulders and slim form. The tan skin, nearly a soft gold look to it soft-and with some scarring and a freckle here of there on his arms. The way his lips-

Severus stopped himself standing suddenly, making Percy stop talking beweildered. For some reason to Snape, it felt wrong to be looking at Percy like that but instinctually it also felt right. It's like his mind was not connected to his body when it came to Percy.

And before Percy could stop him he was leaving him confused while rubbing an egg.

___

Sighing Harry blew some bubbles into the water-thanks to Cedric he was able to figure out the next clue. Obviously he could tell it would be something that dealt with water. And he had the best prospect at winning that-at least he thought so. His father and Poseidon his grandfather had given him blessings-thus why it didn't phase him when he went through Camp Half-Bloods shields. If he was just Wizard it would feel like apparition just to get through.

Sighing again he moved some bubbles but paused when he heard people come in. He turned to find the twins whispering together with a couple bags in hand. He blushed furiously red as they stopped and stared at each other.

"Um, what are you two doing?" He asked as he moved bubbles to cover himself.

Fred, a blush on his cheeks. "Pranks."

It was akwardly silent for a moment before George came up with a grin. "So Harry, what are you doing in the Head Bathroom?"

Face still red Harry pointed at his egg. "It works underwater..." he said meekly, embarrassed.

Fred pulled his twin back a bit, "Are you almost done? Or shoulder we leave until you finish?"

"Yeah, I'm done, but could you guys-um, turn around so I can get my towel?" Harry knew it was normal for boys to change in for g of each as it was for girls considering the locker rooms and such. But he was still embarrassed at being seen. He had scars-though much more faint now thanks to his dads care of him-still marred his body, as well as he wasn't as muscled as most his age. He was quite skinny.

They nodded before turning around and walking away a bit. Quickly and carefully, Harry stepped out and wrapped a towel around himself before going to his clothes whipping down before putting his boxers on.

George not helping himself turned and got a glance in before Fred walked his brother upside the head-getting a glimpse himself. But blushed as well did George. Their little crush for the younger boy acting up.

Harry finished getting dressed, his face only left pink on his cheeks from the warmth and from the embarrassment. "So, what prank?"

He was then pulled into helping them set the bathroom up to color people skin different colors.

He was laughing as quietly as possible when they left, he couldn't wait till Cedric came and possibly turned pink. The twins looked at Harry then each other before they stopped him in the halls.

"So, Harry, considering that the Yule ball his coming up-do you have a date yet?" George spoke casually even if his heart picked up beat.

Harry shook his head. "No, not yet. Not sure who to ask." Even though he knew he wanted a certain someone. But still unsure about it all the same.

"Well good, cause we" Fred started with a smile. "Would like to ask you Harry Jackson, to the Yule ball with us!" They spoke together in the end with giant smiles on their faces.

Harry paused to look at them both with wide eyes and wondered what had happened before his brain came back. His face turned red once again and he looked back and forth between the two. "Both of you?" He was able to push out.

The twins exchanged a look and smile at Harry when they turned back at him. He paused after opening and closing his mouth. Then slowly he nodded. "Yeah...yeah that sounds fun." He smiled brightly.

They cheered and suddenly kissed a cheek each before carrying him forwards to drop him off back at his dorms while also trying to not get caught. And Harry the whole time a red mess as his soft cheeks tingled.

_____

"So, you all had dates to the Yule ball?" Daphne asks simply as she looked around her friends. She held Angus who was snacking softly on a strawberry. They were in the Slytherin dorms, it was much quieter there then anywhere else and they could speak freely. Neville's head laid in her lap, his hair soft in her hands. Blaise sitting next to her watching.

Draco was on the ground, enjoying the fires heat next to him as Harry sat in a seat near his feet, Hermione in a chair next to Harry a book in hand mirroring Theodore over on another couch.

Biting his lip Harry twiddled with his robes. "Do you?"

Daphne squinted her eyes but let him deflect it back at her for now. "Yes, Neville and me are going together. Blaise and Theo are taking us. The four of us together." She bites her lip as she tries to gage their reactions. And though surprised the three only shrugged it off which made he smile with the rest of her boys as she leaned on Blaise softly.

"I asked someone-and was asked. I turned Victor Krum down." Hermione spoke slowly as she closed her book.

"Wait, he asked you?" Daphne blinked. She had heard through her gossip mill that he hadn't asked anyone yet. Even though many waited for him to do so to them.

She nodded. "Found me alone in the Library. But I've...kinda started to like someone."

Harry leaned forward. "Who?"

"You'll see." She grinned.

Pouting he sat back with a sigh. "I have dates as well." He admitted and noticed how Draco tensed. "They asked after I told them I hadn't really figured out who I wanted to go with." He but his bottom lip as Draco continued to stay still.

"Who?" Daphne asked excited but also very concerned, everyone else to, they could see the growing bud between the two boys only inches apart.

Blinking, Harry smiled at her. "The Weasley twins." With that Draco sat up so quick it made Harry jump.

"The WeaSEls?" He sounded incredulously horrified. "The devil twins? Both of them?" He asked eyes deeply staring into Harry's.

Gulping unsure why Draco was so angry-only a hint but he still wasn't sure. "Yes..." he said softly as he watched Draco's reaction.

And instead of yelling like he expected Draco seemed to crumble a little into himself before rage boiled and he was leaving the common room. Harry stood and went to stop him but stopped when Hermione grabbed his sleeve. She shook her head and had him sit back down.

"He needs to think. He shouldn't have waited weeks to ask. It was bound to happen that you'd find a date-or two. A week before the ball." She told him.

Blushing softly at her implication he would have asked her. But he already had dates, he couldn't back down now it would be mean towards the twins-and even then-he also knew his crush on the twins he had that started when they started training with his dad flared up a little. But he sighed and went back to what he was doing.

____

Percy didn't look pleased as he made his hair into a somewhat presentable form as he looked into the mirror. He was in a nice fitted-in a way that actuated to his body, tight in the places that made him look a lot more leaner then he probably was. But also curvier in a strange alluring way that made him kid with a smirk to himself. The black matched his hair, as the silver shirt under the tailed coat of his suit shimmered along with his blue tie he was fixing yet again. He sighed as he realized he would have to meet with the rest of the champions soon.

Mcgonagal had hurt her ankle so she would not be able to dance with Victor-who couldn't find a date. Or didn't want one. He looked young enough to pass he supposed. Well obviously he was-he was the same age as the boi if not a year younger in appearance only. He was at least 27 by now. He was sure.  Somewhat...

Walking out he found Severus about to knock. He was in nicer black robes then he was in usually. Silkier. But all the same it would be able to give a dramatic flare if needed. "Oh, you're ready." He smirked when Percy gave him a look.

"Yes, I am. And in a rush, I need to get to the champions." He grumbled as he walked out shutting the painting to his room closed softly, smiling and leaving the painting with Snape following.

"For what reason?" He asks Percy his robes eccentrically flapping behind him.

Turning his blue eyes onto his brown, he stared for a second and sighed. "I have to dance with Victor-other then him requesting me, Mcgonagal hurt her ankle when she was teaching kids how to dance the other day. She's still healing."

Severus seemed to be ruffled at the news but stayed quiet as they were. On their way, outside the great hall doors, they parted as Percy went into a room across the hall. There he found the twins, Victor and Fleurs date was enamored and watching he run her long silver dress from the side. Cedric was having Cho Chang see if his tie or whatever it was called fixed as it was off. Then the last Champion arrived in his own fitted suit. They weren't much more the dress robes so they got more muggle clothes for yule.

Smiling at his son, Percy then got ready after Mcgonagal told them to get together to walk in and start the ball of by dancing with each other.

They walked in and many were surprised Harry had two people leading him in flamboyantly, Harry smiling and laughing in amusement. Having just as much fun as the twins were themselves.

Victor was rough and jerky with some of his movements as Percy let him lead. But otherwise he was a good graceful dancer. He kept having to keep his hand on his hip-much to both their amusement and Percy Ire.

Silver blue eyes watched Harry and the twins, a frown deeply set on his face, and a pain in his chest. Draco really felt like he messed up as he sat in a corner table watching as Harry danced between the twins in their own unique dance.

Soon everyone joined in, Daphne spinning with Neville as Theo and Blaise watched from the side as the two giggled in the floor.

Hermione smooching past tense. In a flurry of her dark pink dress mixing with a periwinkle one as the younger girl in her arms giggled. The younger was Luna Lovegood. And she was having the time of her life.

All in all, the Yule ball went fairly well.

Percy stayed clear of Victor the rest of the night-only obligated him to one dance after all.

Harry enjoyed what he could with the twins-missing a piece though he felt.

Severus was annoyed. Draco angry.

Hermione was happy.

And so was the rest of Hogwarts.

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