"𝙰𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝'𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕."

ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝔾𝕖𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕣𝕝 - 𝕋𝕒𝕪𝕝𝕠𝕣 𝕊𝕨𝕚𝕗𝕥

"It would have worked–We were just too late."

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"Where were you?" Daphne exclaimed as Y/N walked her tired body into her dorm. 

"Daph it's ten o'clock," Y/N yawned.

"Ten fifteen," Daphne retorted. "You're late we were worried sick," she exclaimed nodding to Tracey who was leaning off her bed so she was reading her book with her body upside down.

"Tracey looks fine to me," Y/N shrugged walking over to her bed.

"I will be if you tell me where my record player went," Tracey said not taking her eyes off her page. 

"Shit I left it on the astronomy tower," Y/N said. "I'll get it tomorrow."

"So you were on the Astronomy tower?" Daphne exclaimed like she had caught Y/N, her daughter, sneaking out. 

"Yes, yes I was," Y/N said raising an eyebrow at Daphne. "Okay, what's going on with you?"

"Nothing," Daphne said. "I just want to know what you were doing on the Astronomy Tower at this time of night."

Y/N didn't answer her and just flopped on her bed looking up at the ceiling of her four-poster. 

"You alright there Sinclair?" Tracey asked looking at Y/N upside down. 

"Yeah, yeah," Y/N said in an un-assuring tone. She didn't take her eyes off the ceiling of her bed and she looked like she was intensely thinking about something. 

I mean, of course, she was thinking about something. 

Had she and Harry almost kissed, or did she just imagine it?

To her, she felt him leaning in but that could have all been a fluke. I mean, dancing with him was probably the most fun she's had in a long while but she never really deeply considered her feelings for Harry. 

Of course, they were different than how she felt towards Ron, Fred, George, Blaise, or Theo. But feelings bring confusion and Y/N didn't know if she wanted to take the time and dissect it. 

"Love, what's wrong," Daphne said concerned. She moved to the side of Y/N's bed sitting on the edge. 

"I don't know," Y/N said furrowing her eyebrows not looking at Daphne.

"Did something happen tonight?" Daphne asked tilting her head slightly. 

"Yeah, did you and Harry snog on the astronomy tower or something," Tracey laughed jokingly reading her book.

Y/N didn't answer, she just froze in her spot. 

"Wait..." Daphne started her eyes growing wide, "Did you?"

"No," Y/N said dragging out the word and her voice going up an octave. 

"You fucking liar," Daphne gasped. 

"I am not lying we did not SNOG," Y/N said. 

"Then what happened?" Daphne asked. 

Y/N groaned and rolled onto her stomach and buried her face into her pillow.

"Y/N Sinclair tell me what happened now," Daphne ordered. 

She let out a sigh. "Imighthavealmostkissedharry," she said, her voice muffled.

"English Y/N," Tracey said her eyes still glued to her pages. 

Y/N sighed and laid back on her back and looking back up at the ceiling. 

"Me...." Y/N started slowly, "and Harry......may have......almost......kissed?"

"WHAT!" Tracey screamed jumping up from her bed to stand in front of Y/N's. 

"I said almost," Y/N said sitting up and shushing the girls who had started talking rapidly. "It could have all been in my head."

"Yeah right," Tracey said rolling her eyes. 

"That boy is so head over heels for you," Daphne said. "Now he's definitely going to ask you to the Yule Ball."

"No way," Tracey said. "Y/N's got to do it. Potter's too much of a coward with girls."

"No way Harry should be the one to do it," Daphne argued. 

"When you two are done planning out my love life can you add me in on that," Y/N said looking at them. 

"Sorry," Daphne said. "But come on, it's obvious now isn't it?"

"No," Y/N said sitting up and hugging a pillow and her knees to her chest. "Nothing's obvious. I was just teaching him how to dance in the astronomy tower and then at the end, we were both super close. It didn't happen, and I don't even know if he was leaning in...plus we're fourteen.....and I don't even know if I like him."

"Are you that stupid?" Tracey asked.

"Tracey!" Daphne scolded, but she then turned to Y/N again. "But are you that stupid?"

"Hey!" Y/N said. 

"There is no way in hell that you don't like him," Tracey said.

"You wouldn't be this upset about him if you didn't like him," Daphne concluded.

"I'm upset because I don't know what it means," Y/N protested. 

"Okay fine," Daphne said. "Say you don't know what it means. Answer this one question and depending on how you answer I'll never bring up you liking Harry again."

"What is this? A 'do you love him?' quiz you found in the back of a teen magazine?" Y/N sassed.

"Yes," the blonde said. "Daphne Greengrass edition."

Y/N sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Do we have a deal?" Daphne asked. 

"Am I getting graded?" Y/N asked sarcastically.

"This is a hard question," Daphne said looking at her seriously.

"Fine," Y/N said. "Ask your question."

"Why don't you like Harry?" she asked. "Give me one reason you can't see yourself with him, and the excuse 'he's my best friend' doesn't count."

Y/N thought. Why was she friends with harry? Easy, he's Harry. But, there wasn't really any reason she could come up with of why she wouldn't have a crush on him. 

I mean he's attractive, funny (sometimes even on purpose), selfless.

I mean sure he can be annoying, get's jealous easily, definitely has raging anger issues, can barely see, and has the attention span of a two-year-old, but...he also puts everyone before himself, even if they don't deserve it.

He sacrifices things for people. I mean he could've let Y/N just deal with that dementor herself instead of saving her that first day. He did it without even knowing her.

She also loved the way he also always knew how to make Y/N laugh even in the darkest of times. She didn't know what she would have done if Harry wasn't her best friend when Rue died.

"You have an answer?" Daphne smirked.

"No," Y/N said quietly.

"I'm sorry what was that?" Daphne asked cupping her ear.

"I said no," Y/N scowled. "Okay fine! I don't see Harry as just my best friend!"

"You like him," Tracey finished. 

"Yeah what you said."

"Nope not good enough," Daphne said. "Say it."

Y/N fakely smiled at the two girls, "I-have-feelings-for-Harry-James-Potter. Happy?"

"Very," Daphne smirked. 

"Just because I like him doesn't mean he does," Y/N pointed out.

"An actual idiot," Tracey muttered.

"Excuse me?" Y/N said narrowing her eyes at her friend. 

"I'm sorry did I not say it loud enough?" Tracey said sarcastically. "You. Are. An. IDIOT. YOU AND HARRY BOTH ARE. OF COURSE, HE HAS A CRUSH ON YOU HAVE YOU SEEN THE WAY HE IS AROUND YOU. THE WAY HE LOOKS AT YOU! I WOULD PAY TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT ME LIKE HOW HE LOOKS AT YOU. MERLIN, I BET HIS TWO FRIENDS WEASLEY AND GRANGER KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM BEING IN LOVE WITH YOU. IT'S THAT OBVIOUS Y/N. SO DON'T THINK 'oH hE dOeSn'T LiKe mE' ANYONE COULD SEE IT! YOU SIT IN THIS DORM READING ROMANCE NOVELS AND DON'T EVEN NOTICE ONE HAPPENING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!"

Tracey inhaled deeply and let out a huge sigh while Y/N looked at her friend with wide eyes.

"How long you been holding that one in?" Daphne asked with a smirk.

"Quite a while actually," Tracey said fixing her hair that got messed up in her rant. "The point is you better tell him before it's too late Y/N."

"That is terrifying," Y/N said. 

"Yes," Daphne said. "But what love isn't?"

"No no I've just established I like him. Don't you dare go throwing around the l-word," Y/N said pointing a figure at the blonde. 

"Fine," Daphne shrugged. "That's tomorrow's conversation."

Y/N scowled at her while she smiled. 

"So," Tracey said. "Yule Ball. You and Harry. It's gonna be epic."

"Yeah, yeah," Y/N sighed. 

She shooed them off her bed while they were giggling to themselves and climbed into bed.

As much as Y/N tried to shut her eyes and drift off into the nothing darkness that was sleep. She couldn't.

Too many racing thoughts of actually realizing that she had inexplicable feelings for her best friend that everyone seemed to be convinced he reciprocates. But to her, it didn't seem as obvious.

I mean it's not like she's ever looked at people before and thought they were attractive, that's normal, but to realize she feels something with her best friend, and if he doesn't feel the same way....well everything goes to shit.

The real question was, was he worth the risk?

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ─── 

"So you almost kissed her?"

"Yes Ron," Harry sighed. 

"And she almost kissed you?"

"I don't know Hermione."

"So you guys didn't kiss?"

"No Ron."

"But you wanted to kiss her?"

"Yes, oh my god." Harry groaned moving ahead of Ron and Hermione in the corridor to speed up walking to the great hall. 

"I feel bad," Hermione said. "He obviously wished he was able to kiss her."

"No shit," Ron said sarcastically. 

Hermione rolled her eyes. 

"Don't worry," Ron said smiling widely. "Harry's in good hands. I'm going to help him."

Hermione just scoffed and shook her head. 

"Is there something you would like to say?" Ron said stopping to look at her.

"Hmm? No," Hermione said shaking her head casually. 

"Good," Ron said. "Harry wai-"

"I just think that your the last person to be giving Harry advice on girls," Hermione said. "Did you find a date for the Yule Ball?"

"No Hermione," Ron said accenting the syllables in her name. "I've been being a loyal friend to Harry helping him get the girl."

"So that's the excuse your using," Hermione laughed. 

"It's not an excuse!" Ron protested.

"Sure," Hermione said sarcastically and walking forward to catch up with Harry. 

"Hey wait!" Ron exclaimed running after her. 

As the trio walked into the Great Hall, Harry caught a glimpse of the Slytherin girl seated with Daphne, Tracey, and Theo. Daphne and Theo seemed to be heavily arguing about something while Tracey and Y/N were laughing. 

"There she is," Ron whispered to Harry. 

"No, I'm not going to ask her to the Yule Ball during breakfast when Crabbe and Goyle are two seats from her inhaling their breakfast," Harry hissed.

"To each his own," Ron shrugged taking a seat at the Gryffindor table. 

"No Theo I don't think cereal is a soup," Daphne hissed at the Slytherin table. 

"But it's basically the same thing!" Theo protested pointing at Daphne with his cereal spoon. 

"No it's not," Daphne said annoyed. 

"But think about," Theo said passionately. "It's a liquid with stuff in it. Just. Like. Soup."

"Genius," Tracey said sarcastically. 

"Mind blown," Y/N said. 

"You are an idiot," Daphne said looking at him. 

"Rude," Theo said. "Blaise would back me up if he were here."

Just then Blaise walked into the great hall almost immediately followed by the golden trio.

"Look who just arrived," Tracey said in a sing-song voice giving a suggestive look at Y/N. 

"YES BLAISE," Theo exclaimed obliviously running up to the Slytherin boy.

"Sometimes I worry for his mental health," Daphne sighed. 

"Blaise tell them cereal is a soup," Theo said. 

"Completely," Blaise said sitting down. "Liquid with stuff in it. Soup."

"See," Theo said looking at Daphne with a proud look. 

Daphne just made a mocking face at him and turned back to Y/N. 

"As I was saying," Tracey said. "Look who's arrived."

"I am completely aware that he has arrived," Y/N said not looking up from her food. 

"Who are we talking about?" Theo asked. 

"Don't worry about it," Daphne hissed. 

"Why is she so mean to me?" Theo complained. "Blaise do you have a clue what they're talking about?"

"Yeah," Blaise said. "They're talking about Y/N's undying love for Potter."

"What?" Y/N said. "How do you know about that?"

"I'm pretty sure Tracey told me," Blaise said. 

Y/N turned her head to look at Tracey who gave her a big cheesy smile making her roll her eyes. 

"Wait...huh?" Theo asked confused. 

"Y/N has a crush on Harry. Keep up," Tracey said. 

"Tracey!"

"What it's obvious," she said. 

"Wait does he like you back?" Theo said in a mocking voice drawing out his words. 

"O.M.G did he kiss you?" Blaise mocked.

"Did he like say it to you?" Theo continued.

"Shove it," Y/N hissed at the both of them while they broke into laughter. 

"Come on you two are going to look amazing at the Yule Ball," Daphne said dreamily. 

"And before you say he doesn't like you, you can cut that bullshit," Tracey said. "Let us live vicariously through you."

"I better be a bridesmaid," Daphne determined. 

"Me too," Tracey said. 

"Yeah me too," Blaise added. 

Everyone turned to him and blinked at him. 

"What?" Blaise said. "I would look badass in a dress. Don't be mad because I'm more attractive than all of you."

The table broke out into laughter as Blaise smirked proudly at himself. 

Merlin, her laugh. Harry thought looking at Y/N from the Gryffindor table. 

"Mate, talk to her instead of staring," Ron said. 

"Shut up," Harry said giving Ron a glare as he grabbed his pumpkin juice, and turned back towards Y/N.

Y/N then turned around towards the Gryffindor table and made eye contact with Harry while he was mid-sip and his cheeks went red.

"Don't just sit there staring at her," Hermione said. "Smile."

Harry tried to give a smile but ended up spitting out the pumpkin juice he had in his mouth down his jumper. 

"Smooth," Ron snickered. 

"Wow you really know how to pick 'em," Blaise snickered looking at Y/N's who was using all her will not to laugh as she scolded the rest of her friends for laughing. 

"Shut up," Y/N and Harry both hissed to their separate friends. 

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

Throughout the day Y/N noticed multiple girls come up to Harry and ask him to the Yule Ball. He declined them all but this didn't help her self-confidence at all. 

Tracey being who she is, wanted Y/N to go all women empowerment and ask Harry out himself but her stomach kept lurching at the thought. 

Everyone seemed certain he would say yes but that doesn't make it any less scary. 

Over the next day, Harry and Y/N were too awkward for their own good. They talked but it was definitely not how it usually was. 

Both of them were confused if it was because the other one didn't want what almost happened on the astronomy tower to happen again or not. 

The girls who all wanted to ask out 'The fourth champion' and 'the boy who lived' were repeatedly stacking up. Many of them were girls who had hated Harry before he fought the Horntail. 

There was a curly-haired third-year Hufflepuff Harry had never even spoken to who asked, and a couple of other second-years who asked him too. 

One fifth year looked at him like she would knock him out if Harry said no but he tried to, as cautiously as he could, decline the invitation. 

"She was quite good-looking," Ron pointed out after he had finished laughing at Harry's horrified face. 

"She was a foot taller than me," Harry said. "Imagine what I'd look like trying to dance with her."

"Yeah yeah," Ron said. "Forgot you only have eyes for Y/N. Why haven't you just asked her?"

"Because I don't know if she'll say yes Ron, and despite me being in Gryffindor I'm a pussy," Harry said.

"Obviously," Ron said rolling his eyes. "One way or another you're going to go with her. I promise I got your back."

"Ron she's not going to want to go with him if you ask her for him," Hermione said.

"Rubbish," Ron said. "Who else would do it? We've already established Harry's a pussy."

"And what exactly are you going to do?" Harry asked.

"This," Ron smiled cheekily at him. "HEY Y/N!!" he shouted trying his best to mimic Harry's voice and then grabbing Hermione's hand away and ducking around the corner. 

"Ron-No-Stop it-" 

"Do it."

Y/N looked up and the only person she knew in the corridor was Harry and her heart started beating rapidly as she made her way down the corridor. 

"What's up?" Y/N asked. "Is everything okay?"

"Um yeah," Harry said starting to get nervous and praying he wouldn't stutter. I'm going to murder Ron. He had already tried to ask her to the ball once but she had left in such a rush he didn't get to finish his sentence and building up that courage again was ten times harder. "Everything's fine."

"Oh," Y/N said, her mood slightly lifting. "Was there something you needed then?"

"Oh...um," Harry started. "Do you want-"

Y/N could barely hear Harry over the rapid banging in her chest and the hope that he was finally asking the question that she's been wishing for. 

"Do you um want to—" Harry asked. "Would you like—"

"Spit it out," Y/N said. 

"Would you like...a sherbet lemon?" Harry said, chickening out and pulling the wrapped yellow candy out of his pocket. 

Y/N's face slightly dropped. "Umm sure...I guess..." Y/N said. 

Was that relief? Harry thought. Is she relieved I didn't ask her to the ball?

"Thanks," Y/N said with a faking smile as she started to walk away. 

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Ron hissed emerging from the shadows. 

"RON!" Suddenly a voice called. Fred and George were racing down the corridor.

"Oh hey Y/N," Fred smiled as the energetic twins brought her attention back over to Ron, Harry, and Hermione. 

"Ron, can we borrow Pigwidgeon?" Geroge asked. 

"No," Ron scowled, still in a sour mood at the stunt Harry pulled. "What do you need him for anyway?"

"Because George wants to invite him to the ball," Fred said sarcastically.

"Because we want to send a letter, you stupid great prat," George said.

"Who d'you two keep writing to, eh?" Ron asked.

"Nose out, Ron, or I'll burn that for you too," Fred warned, waving his wand in Ron's face.

"So...." Fred said wrapping an arm around Y/N and another around Harry, "You lot got dates for the ball yet?"

Y/N and Harry made quick eye contact before looking down at their shoes.

"No," Ron sighed eyeing Harry.

"Well, you'd better hurry up, mate, or all the good ones will be gone," Fred advised.

"Really?" Y/N said sarcastically. "Who are you going with then Fred?"

"Angelina," Fred said proudly.

"What?" Ron said surprised. "You've already asked her?"

"Good point," Fred said. He turned his head down the corridor to see Angelina talking with Alicia Spinnet. "Oi! Angelina!"

"What?" Angelina asked rolling her eyes.

"Want to come to the ball with me?" Fred asked flashing a smile. 

Angelina gave Fred an indistinct look.

"All right, then," she said like it hadn't phased her. Then she turned back to talking with Alicia but had a bit of a smile on her face.

"See," Fred said, "Piece of cake."

Harry felt helpless. There was no way he was that bold enough to just flat-out ask her casually. He just failed miserably at that and offered her a sherbet lemon instead.  A fucking piece of candy. 

Fred made it look so easy but it was quite the opposite when you have a crush on someone and telling them your feelings absolutely terrified you.

Unknown to both of them, they were both feeling the exact same. Completely and utterly terrified of telling each other how they truly felt. 

"We'd better use a school owl then, George, come on..." Fred said.

"He's right y'know," Ron said once the twins had left. "We better get a move on before we're stuck with a pair of trolls."

"Excuse you?" Hermione said threateningly while Y/N's eyes narrowed at the boys.

Harry slightly gulped standing next to Ron. Hermione and Y/N had always managed to scare both of them when they were together.

And apart for that matter. 

"A pair of what, excuse me?" Y/N asked.

"Well–you know," Ron said trying to keep strong. "I'd rather go alone than with–with Eloise Midgen, say."

"Eloise Midgen is a perfectly nice girl," Hermione insisted. "Her acne's loads better."

"I'd rather go with her than you Ron," Y/N snapped.

"Oh come on," Ron said desperately. "Her nose is off-center."

"And your a ginger," Y/N said making Harry snicker. "Your point is?"

"Harry help me out here," Ron said.

Y/N turned her attention to Harry. It was the first time she had directly looked him in the eye since they had almost kissed but she kept her composure with a warning look.

Harry kept his mouth shut and started to forget exactly what the girls were talking about.

"Okay let's see if we understand this correctly," Hermione started.

"Yes let's," Y/N said sarcastically. "You're going with the best-looking girl who'll have you?"

"Even if she's completely horrible?" Hermione said.

"Er–yeah, that sounds about right," Ron said. 

Hermione grabbed Y/N's arm and the two stormed away from them in a huff.

"Why do you insist on making me look bad?" Harry asked.

"You do that by yourself," Ron said. "'Want a sherbet lemon?' what the fuck was that?"

"Not my finest moment," Harry sighed. 

"Oh let's not forget about the pumpkin juice yesterday morning," Ron laughed. 

"What about the whole not being able to speak to Fleur," Harry retorted.

"You could barely look Y/N in the eye after that dream you had," Ron said. 

"Okay fine we both suck," Harry concluded. 

"Speak for yourself," Ron said proudly. "I do fine with girls," he happily turned around and ended up slamming straight into a Beauxbatons girl. 

The girl got up angrily and yelled at him in French before storming off. 

"Yeah. Spectacular," Harry said laughing and reaching a hand out to help him up. 

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

Y/N and Harry had never acted weirder around each other. I mean they hung out but never alone and Y/N couldn't bring herself to look directly into Harry's eyes and Harry couldn't bring himself to not see her and get flashbacks to every single moment he's had with her.

Any moment she would be hanging out with the golden trio, where she usually sat next to Harry, she would now take a seat next to Hermione or Ron, and Harry would do the same.

Hermione seemed to be slowly losing her shit over this awkwardness and Daphne and Tracey would always push Y/N to just come out and ask him.

Ron was hellbent on helping Harry get the girl, but Harry assumed he was just doing it because he was denying his own feelings of wanting to ask Hermione to the ball.

Hermione, Harry, and Y/N were hanging out in the Gryffindor common room one day, Harry and Y/N on far opposite sides of the couch, and Hermione sitting on the floor in the middle.

Harry was sneaking multiple glances at Y/N as she did her homework and continued to ask Hermione to check her work after every problem.

Suddenly Ron came into the common room being held up by Ginny and a couple of other girls. His eyes were wide and he looked like he just saw a ghost.

"It's okay Ron, it's alright," Ginny's soft voice came as she led him to a chair.

"What happened to him?" Y/N asked getting up with Hermione and Harry.

"He's just asked Fleur Delacour out," Ginny said. She made eye contact with Y/N and looked like she was trying to suppress a smile but she held a sympathetic hand on her brother's arm anyway.

"What?" Hermione asked crouching down in front of him.

"What did she say?" Harry asked.

"No of course," Hermione said.

Ron shut his eyes and pressed his lips into a line as he shook his head.

"She said yes?" Y/N gasped putting a hand over her mouth.

"Don't be silly," Ron said softly. "There she was walking by–you know how I like it when they walk–"

"The point Ronald?" Y/N said.

"I couldn't resist," he said. "It just all slipped out."

"Actually he sort of screamed at her," Ginny said. "It was a bit frightening."

"What did you do then?" Harry asked.

"What else?" Ron said his voice growing louder. "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. I'm not cut out for this Harry."

"She's part veela," Harry said. "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."

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

"What?" Y/N said in complete surprise. She looked over at Hermione who had moved to the back of the common room returning to her work.

"Yeah, I know!" Ron said as he broke into laughter. "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?"

Y/N got more and more impatient with him along with Ginny.

"Don't laugh Ron," Ginny said bitterly.

"Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she?" Y/N said. She got up from her seat and grabbed her books. 

She then bid Hermione Ginny and Harry all goodbye before going down to the Slytherin common room.  

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"It's been three days and he hasn't asked," Y/N said as she walked with Daphne and Tracey heading outside. "Maybe I imagined it."

"Stop it," Tracey said. "You better go find him and ask that scarheaded boy out."

"Tracey-"

Tracey stopped in her tracks and put both her hands on Y/N's shoulders making her look her in the eyes. 

"I'm going to give it to you straight," Tracey said. "There is probably a ten percent chance that he is going to say no. But...I have so much faith in the ninety percent that I think he is one hundred percent going to ask you out."

"That makes no sense," Y/N said. 

"Shut the fuck up. You are amazing and if he says no then he's an idiot. Worst-case scenario we go together and have the time of our lives. Wait–no that's best-case scenario never mind."

Y/N laughed and nodded. 

"Now go ask that awkward boy out to the Yule Ball before I drag you out there and make you do it."

"Fine, fine," Y/N laughed. "I'll go do it."

"Good," Tracey smiled. 

"We'll treat you to butterbeer," Daphne promised. "Better yet we'll get the boys to do it."

"Now go," Tracey said nodding towards the courtyard where Harry was sitting under a tree. 

"Okay, okay I'm going," Y/N said taking deep breaths. 

With every step, she took getting closer and closer to where Harry was seated either gave her a shot of confidence or a shot of discouragement. 

Either way, she was kind of thirsty and butterbeer sounded delicious right now.

"Harry!" she exclaimed once she had reached him. He looked up and Y/N could already feel her face heat up. Merlin, why did she have to yell at him?

She coughed before continuing, "Harry."

"Yeah?" Harry asked looking up at her. 

"Umm...do you have a date to the ball yet?" she asked cursing herself for asking a question she already knew the answer to.

"No," Harry said shaking his head. His stomach started entertaining a circus. His hope was rising. Finally, he would have his dream date at a dream ball and everything would work out perfectly.  

"Well...um...I was thinking," she started. "Do you..maybe...want to go with...m-"

"HARRY!" 

Y/N's entire face fell as Romilda Vane ran over to where the two were standing. 

"Harry! Professor McGonagall's looking for you," she said urgently. She then looked to see Y/N and made a disgusted face. "Oh hey, Sinclair. Slytherin treating you well?"

"Fine," Y/N said shortly. 

Romilda Vane was her least favorite person right before Pansy but after Draco. Her parents were at the very very top of that list along with Mr. Crouch. Romilda had hexed her multiple times before Gryffindor Slytherin matches last year and she laughed and made fun of the nasty things Rita Skeeter had written about her. 

Let's just say Romilda Vane would definitely not be a bridesmaid. 

"If you don't mind we were in the middle of something," Y/N said trying to hide her attitude as best she could. 

"Well I'm sorry," Romilda said with not one bad feeling in her voice. "But Professor McGonagall needs him."

"Romilda what does she need?" Harry asked. 

"I don't know she asked me to come and get you," Romilda said, a slight flirt in her voice. 

"Well-"

"It's fine," Y/N said not letting Romilda see her sweat. "I'll see you later Harry."

"Bye Y/N," Romilda said in a cheery voice before grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him off towards the castle. 

"What happened?" Tracey exclaimed walking to where Y/N was left alone. 

"Where did Vane come from?" Daphne asked. 

"I don't know," Y/N huffed. "I was this close to asking him. One more fucking word and I would be on my way dress shopping but she had to ruin it."

"Why don't we go get butterbeer anyways," Tracey said putting an arm around her friend. 

"Yes please," Y/N whined.

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"This is mad," Ron sighed seated in a study hall hosted by Snape the Slytherins and Gryffindors were taking in the Great Hall. "We're going to be the only ones in our year without dates."

Professor Snape came over and shoved Ron's face back into the table so he could be looking at his work.

It had been five days since the whole event on the Astronomy tower and Harry could not bring himself to ask her. Maybe Ron wasn't completely useless if he managed to figure out a way for Y/N to go with the ball without having to make a complete fool of himself.

"Well except for Neville," Ron said thinking back to what he heard about being rejected by Hermione.

"Yeah but then again he can take himself," Harry said as they laughed.

Y/N and Hermione who were both seated across from them looked up at them annoyed.

"You know Neville's already got someone," Y/N said harshly. 

"Seems like you two are the pathetic ones," Hermione hissed.

"Ugh," Ron sighed. "Now I'm really depressed."

Fred from a bit down the table tossed a piece of paper at Ron. 

"Get a move on," Ron read quietly. 

Fred gave him a sharp look and nodded towards Y/N and Hermione. 

"Well," It was like a light bulb went off in Ron's head. He turned towards where Y/N and Hermione were doing their work. "You two are girls?"

"What an observation," Y/N said not looking up from her writing.

"Well spotted," Hermione added sarcastically keeping her eyes glued to her work as well.

"Want to–"

Professor Snape came back around and shoved Harry and Ron hitting them with the back of the book he held.

"Anyways, why don't one of you come with us?" Ron asked after Snape had walked away.

In scarily sync Y/N and Hermione both looked up at the boys checking to see if they were serious.

"Your kidding," Y/N said looking from Ron to Harry. She was already angry about Harry not asking her and then when she tried to ask him, he let Romilda Vane of all people drag, him away. 

She knew she was slightly overreacting and her anger was probably misdirected, but by the way, Harry and Ron were talking about Neville and the way they kept complaining about not having dates even though they didn't ask anyone was setting her over the edge. 

It seemed like Hermione felt the same way. 

"You two have to be joking," Hermione said.

Y/N looked at Harry expecting some kind of protest to this but he looked completely fine with Ron saying the two could be their dates for show.

"I mean, it's not a bad idea," Harry said. "We do need partners..it's not that big of a stretch–"

"Did you ever stop to wonder if we have dates?" Hermione said anger rising in her voice.

"It's bad for a bloke to show up alone," Harry said.

"For a girl, it's just sad," Ron sighed.

"You both are actually being serious right now," Y/N laughed sarcastically. 

"We both need partners," Harry pointed out. He was met with Y/N and Hermione's furious gaze.

"Just because you two only now noticed we identify with the female gender doesn't mean other people haven't," Hermione hissed.

"Other people have actually plucked up the courage to ask someone despite being terrified," Y/N whispered shouted. She was looking at Ron but she knew exactly who she was directing her anger at.

"Okay, okay, we know you're both girls," Ron said.

"Can you two please just come with us?"

"If it wasn't clear enough before, were not your last resorts," Y/N said.

"Someone has asked me, Ronald," Hermione said. "I'm going with someone else."

She stamped over to Professor Snape and silently handed him her composition book.

"She's lying," Ron said.

"You two need to grow a pair and just ask someone," Y/N said angrily. "Not casually, not as a last resort. If you like someone, tell them instead of having them wait around. You two being Gryffindors is bullshit."

She got up and moved her stuff over to where Blaise and Theo were sitting, quickly finished her work, and followed after Hermione once her work was done.

"Bloody Hell," Ron whispered.

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"So your not going with him?" Daphne said disappointed.

"I don't know Daph," Y/N sighed as they moved back to their dorm. "Everything's all up in the air, to be honest."

"I know...and what he and Weasley did was a total dick move," Daphne pointed out, "But you two are perfect, maybe he'll ask you again. The right way."

"Maybe," Y/N said as they approached the common room door.

"But, you also have the liberty to say yes to anyone else who asks you," Daphne added.

"Yeah," Y/N sighed. "Rue always made sure I never settled but...I just–I just really thought for one second that he felt the same way," Y/N said as they walked up the staircase.

"Ah love it's okay," Daphne said throwing an arm around her shoulder. 

Y/N leaned her head on Daphne's shoulder. "Who are you going with anyways."

"I asked Theo," Daphne said with a slight grimace.

"You did what?" Y/N asked trying not to laugh.

"It's not like that," Daphne said. "Crabbe was heading over and I panicked so I frantically asked Theo who was standing next to me and of course he said yes. He's being so smug about it too."

"Yeah okay," Y/N laughed. "Maybe you're finally realizing your long-lost feelings for Theodore Nott."

"No. No, I did not," Daphne said. "And how did we get on the topic of me, we were talking about your love life, not mine."

Daphne leaned against the wall that was outside their dorm as Y/N's hand was on the doorknob of their dorm.

"It's nonexistent right now Daph," Y/N said opening the door. "The Yule Ball is now in almost a week. Harry hasn't asked me, and when I asked him it imploded...ugh this shit is so complicated."

As soon as they walked into their dorm, Y/N noticed Tracey and Pansy both surrounding her bed.

"I got curious I'm sorry," Tracey said holding something in her hand. "And Parkinson," she said sending a glare towards Pansy, "Just happened to enter the dorm."

"Tracey, what are you doing?" Daphne asked as Y/N and Daph both walked to her.

"Pansy said that we should touch it," Tracey blamed.

"Davis I said no such thing," Pansy defended. "I don't even like her."

"What are you two talking about?" Y/N said snatching the card in Tracey's hand and moving her out of the way to see what was on her bed.

Seated at the foot, was an opened box filled with her favorite candies like Exploding Bon-Bons, Chocolate Frogs, Peppermint Toads, and more. Inside was filled with a bouquet of her favorite type of flowers.

"Shit, what am I doing wrong?" Daphne muttered.

Y/N's stomach did a backflip. For five short seconds, she had thought Harry had come to his senses. Things were finally going to end just like how she had read. The argument had happened and this was finally the moment where the girl would get to have her happy ending,

But life just isn't that way.

In neat perfect script was written:

Meet me after Dinner.

- Adrian Agapov

"Why do you look upset?" Tracey asked excitingly. "If someone did this for me I would get on one knee."

"It's from Adrain," Y/N said handing the card to Daphne.

"The cute Duramstrang boy, your friends with?" Daphne asked.

"Yeah," Y/N said.

"Come on this is an invitation to the Yule Ball from a hot older guy and your moping around," Tracey said. 

"Sinclair, even I agree that you not accepting this is stupid," Pansy piped up making Y/N raise her eyebrows at her.

"As much as I hate to agree with her," Daphne said. "Waiting around for Harry isn't going to do anything. You said it yourself the yule ball is in a week. 

"I don't even know if this is an invitation," Y/N said. "I don't know how I feel about it." 

Sure Adrian was attractive and he was pretty funny but Y/N hardly knew him. He was also seventeen and she was fourteen. It's not like she would ever think of dating him but for a yule ball date, he might be fun. 

Right?

"Well dinner's in three minutes so we'll figure it out on the way there," Daphne said pulling Y/N's arm out of the dorm.

They made their way down to the Great Hall, even Pansy was trailing a distance behind them interested in what was going on.

"Y/N!" a voice suddenly called.

Y/N turned around halfway to the Great Hall and saw her least favorite Gryffindor rushing up to her.

"Y/N who are you going to the Yule Ball with?" Romilda Vane asked, her face had a slight smirk.

"None of your business," Y/N said.

"I was just asking because I wanted to make sure Harry was available," she said. 

"Whatever," Y/N said rolling her eyes to leave. 

"I guess there's no need," Romilda sighed. "He said yes to me anyways."

Y/N stopped in her tracks and looked back at the smirking girl. 

"Oh you didn't know," Romilda said tilting her head slightly and smiling at her. "We're wearing blue."

"Yeah sure," Y/N said not believing what came out of her mouth for a second. "Harry actually has standards."

Y/N turned around ignoring Romilda and took a seat at the Slytherin table.

She only took a few bites of her dinner. Her mind was in hyperdrive as she thought back to the events of the past week. 

"Y/N eat," Daphne ordered.

"I feel eyes looking at me," Y/N said.

She caught glances from across the table from Harry who's expression was very indescribable. 

And Adrian's smile from the other side of the Slytherin table.

 Each glance from both sides was causing her to feel claustrophobic.

Once dinner had ended most of the Great Hall had gotten up to leave but Y/N stayed in her seat trying to mentally keep herself focused. 

She was never one to let a boy or anyone for that matter define how she felt and waiting around was definitely not something that she felt entitled to do.

Y/N didn't notice but Harry and Ron had stayed in their seats as well. Harry staring daggers at the Slytherin table harsher than he ever had.

Y/N got up and made her way to the front of the entrance hall. 

Adrian was leaning on the wall outside holding a bouquet of the same flowers that were in her dorm. 

She smiled at the flowers and made her way over to him. 

"This was you right?" Y/N asked handing him the card he left. 

"Um yeah," he laughed. "I was um...I was wondering if you wanted to go to the ball with me?"

Y/N didn't know what to say. A part of her wanted to wait for Harry even though she told herself she would never wait around for anyone. 

"You don't have to answer right now," Adrian said. "Just....think about it."

He handed her the bouquet of flowers and gave one of his signature smirks before walking off to his friends.

Y/N had never felt more confused in her life. 

She didn't even realize she had walked right past Harry and Ron with Daphne and Tracey as she was trying to figure it out with them. 

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

"Well, what do you think I should do?" Y/N asked Blaise as they walked out of the castle around noon the next day. 

Daphne and Tracey were stuck in their ways that Y/N should accept. Y/N even had Pansy's opinion in her mind. She needed someone who had a boy's perspective and Blaise could be pretty smart when he wanted to be.

"I don't think I can tell you what to do Y/N," Blaise said. "You know you like Harry, but do you even like Adrian?"

"Sure," Y/N said. 

"Like how you like Harry?" Blaise asked looking at her. 

"No," Y/N said. "But this isn't about that. I just want to go to the fucking ball with someone. And obviously, someone who doesn't ask me so they're not alone."

"Wow such high standards," Blaise said sarcastically. 

"Am I being overdramatic about the Harry situation?" Y/N asked. 

"I don't know," Blaise said. "But I also don't think you can trust Romilda Vane of all people."

"Yeah I know she was definitely lying about that but I don't know if I should just give up on the prospect Harry's going to ask me," Y/N sighed. 

"Well I can't give you an answer," Blaise said. "Only you can decide that. Are you able to give up on him about it?"

No. Y/N thought. No matter what she could never see herself giving up on Harry.

They continued walking around the grounds, the sun glistening on the thin layer of snow that coated the castle-like glaze on a gingerbread house. 

Suddenly, Y/N heard Harry's laugh come from somewhere when they reached the frozen over Black Lake. 

"That's Harry," Y/N pointed out furrowing her brow to locate the source of the noise. 

"Only you would be able to identify him by his laugh," Blaise said rolling his eyes. 

"Oh shove it," Y/N said but she had a smile on her face just by his laugh.  

She looked around to see where the source was coming from until she noticed Harry, sitting under the same spot they sat together on the second day of school.

Except, in her place, was Romilda Vane. 

Her entire face dropped. 

I mean something had to be off right? Why would Harry Potter be laughing at the Black Lake with Romilda Vane? 

Was she not lying, Are they really going to the yule ball together?

Y/N didn't know exactly how to react. 

I mean what's an appropriate reaction when you see someone who you think almost kissed you going to the Yule Ball with someone else.  It's not like they were together. They barely even hung out this week.

That fact didn't make it hurt less. 

"Oh," was all she could come up with to say. 

"Come on Y/N," Blaise said in disbelief. "Harry and Romilda don't even talk. You really think they're going together?"

"It's fine," Y/N said. "It's not like we kissed. I've been treating it like we did."

"Y/N—"

"No, I got it wrapped that there was something that wasn't platonic but I guess it was," Y/N said. 

Blaise wrapped an arm around her and she smiled gratefully at him. 

"Come on let's find Daphne and Theo if they haven't killed each other yet," Blaise said. 

Y/N let out a light laugh even though she felt extremely disappointed. 

One thing that she knew how to do was regulate her feelings. If something her parents did bothered her, she never had shown it. And she always had to second guess if her feelings were valid. 

They walked together into the castle again but she didn't even notice Harry was walking back not far from them.

"Have you thought any more about my invitation?" Adrian asked from behind her making her turn around once they had reached the entrance hall. 

Before Y/N could give a clear answer she noticed Harry coming into the hall with Romilda after him. She whispered something in his ear making him laugh. 

"You know what?" Y/N said feeling a shot go through her. Maybe it was her anger, jealousy, sadness, or spite. Probably all mixed together. "Yes, I will go the ball with you."

Adrian broke out into a huge smile and nodded his head at Y/N. 

"I'll see you then Y/N," Adrian said. 

He walked off with Viktor but not before sending a wink towards Harry. 

He had Romilda on his arm but his eyes were fixated on Y/N. Burning with anger. 

Y/N turned to find Blaise but was only met with Harry's piercing stare. 

She looked him up and down oddly.  Why was he so upset? Ron started coming down the hallway and Blaise and Y/N started back towards the Slytherin common room. 

"See I told you," Romilda said. 

"Yeah," Harry said faintly. "Yeah, I'll go the ball with you."

"Perfect," Romilda smiled. "My dress will be blue, make sure you match."

Harry nodded not even bothering to look at her. His eyes just filled with hatred down the hallway. 

"What's going on?" Ron asked as Romilda walked away. 

"He got to her first," Harry said his voice seeming so far away. 

"And her?" Ron asked nodding towards Romilda who was giddily walking up the stairs back to the Gryffindor common room. 

"I don't know," Harry said not making eye contact with Ron. 

His gaze not moving from the stone door Y/N and Blaise had disappeared behind. 

"Well there goes that plan," he said.

"Sorry mate," Ron said putting a hand on his shoulder. "It would have worked–We were just too late."

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟒: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟕

A/N: If you're confused....good. 

Also, the next chapters have many flashbacks so you won't be confused forever! Also, that last part reminded me of the song deja vu with the whole black lake thing. Anyways...

Thank you all for 22K! I love you all. <3