✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Harry's P.O.V. 

Well, Harry had done it.

After Elijah left, Y/N came over to Ron, Hermione and Ginny, moreover ignoring Harry almost completely. "What's going on here, then?" Y/N asked, eyebrow raised, giving Ron's trembling state a once-over.

"Oh shut up, you two - Ron's been turned down by the girl he asked to the ball!" said Ginny. 

"Thanks a bunch, Ginny," said Ron sourly. 

"All the good-looking ones taken, Ronald?" said Hermione loftily, nudging Y/N who couldn't withhold a snort of laughter. "Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you."

Harry would have laughed, but he found it rather mean. Hermione was nice, and Ron was pushing it by being an arse. If he just asked her nicely, she'd let him down slowly, like she did to Neville after he asked her.

But Ron was staring at Hermione as though suddenly seeing her in a whole new light. 

"Hermione," said Ron, almost nonchalantly. "You know, you're a girl..." 

"Well spotted," Hermione replied sardonically. Y/N giggled.

How could she stand there and look so perfect? It would make Christmas so much harder, because Harry had an amazing present in mind...well, if she said yes to him for the Yule Ball...but he couldn't exactly give it to her, since she was going with Cedric...

"Well - you can come with one of us!" Ron's voice snapped Harry out of his stupor.

"No, I can't," snapped Hermione. 

"Oh come on," Ron said impatiently, even though Harry was widening his eyes at the boy, warning him to just stop. "We need partners-" 

Harry furrowed his brows, almost in alarm. His gaze involuntarily flickered to Y/N.

"Don't drag me into this, mate-"

"- We're going to look really stupid if we haven't got any, everyone else has...especially Harry, he's a champion!"

"What did I just say about dragging me into it-"

 "I can't come with you," said Hermione, now blushing, "because I'm already going with someone." 

"No, you're not!" said Ron loudly. "You just said that to get rid of Neville!" 

"Oh did I?" said Hermione, and her eyes flashed dangerously. "Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!" 

Ron stared at her. Then he grinned again." Okay, okay, we know you're a girl," he said. "That do? Will you come now?" 

"Ron, stop," Y/N said lowly, glancing between Ron and Hermione. Ginny stood in almost-silence, only humming to agree with Y/N. 

"I've already told you!" Hermione said very angrily. "I'm going with someone else!" And she stormed off toward the girls' dormitories.

"She's lying," said Ron flatly, watching her go. 

"She's not," said Ginny quietly. 

Y/N glared in Ron's direction seething, "Maybe if you actually believed her and didn't press her about it, she'd open up." Then, the girl followed Hermione to their dorm, with a smile at Ginny, but not another word to Harry.

"Ginny, you just go with Harry, I'll figure something out..." Ron said tiredly, waving a hand.

"I can't," Ginny said, blushing furiously. "I'm going with Neville. He asked me, and...it was the only way I could go. Third year, remember?" 

Ron's mouth gaped open, surely to scold his sister about fraternizing with boys and how she wasn't allowed to date until she was married.

All semblance of the conversation left him when Harry saw Parvati Patil walk through the Portrait Hole with Lavender Brown and an idea struck him. Those two girls were in his year, at least...and he was somewhat familiar with them...

"Wait here," he said to Ron, and he stood up. 

It was an absurd idea...but Harry quite literally needed  a partner for the Yule Ball. Of course, he wanted Y/N, who wouldn't want her?

He couldn't ask Cho, it just felt wrong. He couldn't ask Y/N, she was already going with Cedric. It couldn't hurt to ask Parvati and Lavender, right? It would hurt him, since he only wanted Y/N, but...Harry needed a partner to open the ball. 

And Y/N didn't care.

So why should he?

It's not like he liked Parvati like that anyways.

And so it was. Harry confidently strode up to Parvati and Lavender. They stopped and stared for a moment, then Harry blurted,

 "Parvati? Will you go to the ball with me?"

Parvati gave him sort of a blank look, but a confused smile slowly crept onto her face. She looked at him quizzically, and Harry could feel his hope dissipating, replaced with worry in his stomach. 

This felt so utterly wrong. He should've been asking - 

"Where's Y/N?" asked Parvati. 

"Upstairs, dorm," said Harry, getting more nervous by the second, fidgeting with his fingers in the pocket of his robes. "Why?"

"Give me about thirty seconds to think about it," Parvati said quickly. "While I just...um...put my books in my dormitory!" 

And she scurried up the stairs without another word, her plait of long black hair swishing behind her. Harry looked at Lavender, confused and worried. The girl just shrugged. 

Harry could make out faint talking at the door of the girls dormitory, beyond the stairs. Obviously, Parvati was speaking to someone at the door, but Harry could not hear clearly enough to discern who.

In exactly twenty-two seconds flat, Parvati was racing down the stairs, glancing back at the top. Harry saw that she still had her bookbag with her, not having put her things away. Odd - why else would she go up to the girls dorm?

 She stared for a moment, then said to Harry, "Yeah, all right, then. I'll go with you." 

"Really?" 

"Yeah," she said again. "Friends, though. Nothing more."

Harry's eyes widened. "Yeah, of course, yeah. That's what I meant in the first place." 

Lavender snickered, diverting Harry's attention to her.

Considering that Ron didn't have a partner yet, Harry asked "Lavender - will you go with Ron?"

"She's going with a guy from Ravenclaw," said Parvati, and the pair of them giggled harder than ever. 

Harry sighed. "Can't you think of anyone who'd go with Ron?" he said, lowering his voice so that Ron wouldn't hear.

"What about Hermione?" said Parvati. "I can just run back upstairs and ask her-"

She's going with someone else." 

Parvati looked astonished. "Ooooh - who?" she said keenly. 

Harry shrugged. "No idea," he said. "So what about Ron?" 

"Well . . ." said Parvati slowly, "I suppose my sister might...Padma, you know...in Ravenclaw. I'll ask her if you like." 

"Yeah, that would be great," said Harry. "Let me know, will you?" 

He trudged back over to where Ron and Ginny were waiting, mentally grumbling that this ball was a lot more trouble than it was worth, and hoping very much that Padma Patil's nose was dead center.

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Despite term being almost over, the students received mounds of work from every teacher. Harry didn't exactly want to do it, but he did...begrudgingly. 

Moody was still being a little odd, staring at Harry intently during class. Harry could feel Moody's mechanical eye on him, but what annoyed him more was that he could also see Moody's eye on Y/N. 

He studied her like she was some sort of specimen. It drove Harry crazy - he just wanted to hex the professor's fake leg off and jab him in the mechanical eye. Did Moody know about the things happening to her? The glowing eyes, the metal...summoning? 

It didn't matter. It was creepy. 

Again, Harry, Y/N, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the common room, in a dark corner, doing their homework. Well, Y/N and Hermione were diligently doing their homework, while Harry and Ron sat in silence. Ron was reading a Chudley Canons book, but Harry was just sitting. 

He was too tired to do anything. 

Suddenly, Harry heard a laugh from Hermione. She was giggling with Y/N, who also looked happy, hiding a smile behind her hand. 

"Hermione," said Ron, looking sideways at her, suddenly frowning, "your teeth..." 

"What about them?" she said. 

"Well, they're different...I've just noticed..." 

"Of course they are," Y/N snorted, nudging Hermione. "Did you expect her to keep those fangs Malfoy gave her?" 

"No, I mean, they're different to how they were before he put that hex on you....They're all... straight and - and normalized." 

Hermione suddenly smiled very mischievously, and Harry noticed it too: It was a very different smile from the one he remembered. 

"Well, when I went up to the Hospital Wing...Y/N followed me," Hermione said. "She let Madam Pomfrey shrink them a little more. Mum and dad won't like it, since they're dentists, but - oh, look! Pigwidgeon's back!" 

Harry watched Ron's gaze switch to the icicleladen banisters, where his tiny owl was twittering madly, scroll clutched in his talons.

People passing him were pointing and laughing, and a group of third-year girls paused and said, "Oh look at the weeny owl! Isn't he cute?" 

"Stupid little feathery git!" Ron hissed, hurrying and snatching up Pigwidgeon. "You bring letters to the addressee! You don't hang around showing off!" 

Harry snickered quietly, but Ron took the scroll off and chucked it into Harry's lap, shooing Pigwidgeon off. 

"Go on," Y/N said shortly, but quietly. "Open it. It's from Sirius, right?" 

"Yeah," Harry muttered, prying the paper open. When it was open, he looked around to make sure nobody was listening, and began to read aloud: 

"Dear Harry, 

Congratulations on getting past the Horntail. Whoever put your name in that goblet shouldn't be feeling too happy right now! 

I was going to suggest a Conjunctivitis Curse, as a dragon's eyes are its weakest point -

"That's what Krum did!" Hermione whispered 

- but your way was better, I'm impressed. Don't get complacent, though, Harry. You've only done one task; whoever put you in for the tournament's got plenty more opportunity if they're trying to hurt you. 

Keep your eyes open - particularly when the person we discussed is around - and concentrate on keeping yourself out of trouble. Keep in touch, I still want to hear about anything unusual.

Say hi to the others for me.

- Sirius"

"He sounds just like Moody!" said Harry. "Constant vigilance! You'd think I walk around with my eyes closed, banging off walls..."

And then Y/N laughed. It was the first time Y/N had laughed at something Harry said in days. Involuntarily, Harry grinned to himself, then quickly suppressed it and fixed his face. 

"But he's right, Harry," said Hermione, "you have still got two tasks to do. You really ought to have a look at that egg, you know, and start working out what it means..." 

Y/N laughed again, "I dunno, Herms...I think he can get through it with his constant vigilance." 

Harry was convinced that Y/N's laugh was his favorite sound after her voice, especially after not hearing it for a long time.  

Y/N's P.O.V. 

After a long while of sitting in the common room, the quartet was about to pack up and go to bed when they heard a tapping at the window. Bandit stood, perched on the ledge outside, waiting to be let in. 

Harry coughed in indicated and Y/N glared at him. This whole time, she'd been fiddling with her bracelet that Harry gave her. The one that had their names on it, the one that had Flos Lunaris wrapped around it. The flowers that Harry had given her on her birthday.

And then they fell asleep in each other's arms, peaceful under the moon and stars.

None of that anymore.

Before Y/N could get up, Harry opened the window and Bandit flew into Y/N's lap. In his talons was a large parcel and in his beak was a red letter.

A Howler.

"Umm..." Y/N said aloud. "Why would Remus send me a Howler...?"

Harry and Hermione both shrugged, but Ron said, "Go on, I wanna hear Professor Lupin yell at you," he grinned.

Y/N rolled her eyes at him, but gestured for bandit to get off her lap. He fluttered to an armrest and hooted softly. Softly ripping the howler envelope open, Y/N prepared for Remus' roaring voice. 

It was, in fact, not Remus' roaring voice. 

It was a honey-like, sweet voice that Y/N was very familiar with. Auntie Ettie's voice - Cedric's mom, Rosetta Diggory. 

"Hello, Y/N, dear!" said the Howler in Auntie Ettie's voice. "A certain someone told me that you prefer silver jewelry, so I sent you some - just look through it, and wear whatever you want to the Yule Ball! I'm glad you found a good date," it said. 

Y/N smiled to herself. She had told Cedric to tell Rosetta that she was going to the ball with Elijah, who Cedric wasn't friends with...but they were in the same year, and were acquaintances. 

The letter continued, "Uncle Mossy says he misses you, by the way," Rosetta's voice rang from the envelope.

"Anyways, letter me back when you've decided! You can keep all the jewelry until we meet again, no rush to return it. Think of it as a Christmas present :) 

Well wishes for the ball,

Aunt Ettie."

"Who's Aunt Ettie?" Harry asked curiously.

Y/N looked at him and tried not to roll her eyes. It was hard, but she pushed through. She did it.

"Ced's mum," said Y/N cheerily. It wasn't fake, since she loved Rosetta, but it was more cheery than she intended, since she was talking to Harry. "Family friend, she just sent me necklaces and stuff." 

For a moment, Harry's face turned dark. He scowled deeply, but then it was normal again and Y/N thought she might have imagined it. "Nice, nice..." Harry muttered, looking away from her. "That's really great..." 

"That's really sweet of her," Hermione said earnestly. "Want to go unpack them? Pleeaaaaseeee, we can get Lavender and Parvati and we can all judge them!" 

Y/N smiled at Hermione's sudden desire and nodded quickly, grabbing Hermione by the arm and running to the dorm. Childishly, the two giggled and called to Lavender and Parvati, who were sitting in the dorm.

Y/N wasn't the best of friends with Parvati and Lavender, but they had shared a dorm for four years, and were close nonetheless. 

When, a couple days ago, Parvati came barreling up the stairs and said to Y/N: "Harry asked me to the ball, he needs a partner, I just wanted to confirm with you if it was okay?" Y/N absolutely died inside.

First, she understood. He hadn't asked Cho, or he had asked Cho, and was disappointed when the girl said no. Harry quite literally needed a partner, he was a champion. So, asking someone from his year that he's familiar with would be the right choice, if he couldn't be with the girl he liked: Cho Chang.

Second, Y/N wanted to hug Parvati into oblivion and buy her everything her heart every desired. Any girl in this school would be battling to go to the Yule Ball with Harry Potter, Hogwarts Champion, the Boy Who Lived. Yet, Parvati asked Y/N first, because she had obviously picked up on the signs between the two. 

The signs that they maybe liked each other, that they were too silly and blind to notice.

The signs they used to have. 

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

On Christmas morning, Y/N woke up groggily. She sat up, checked out of her window for light. When she deemed that the sky was too dull, she flopped back onto her bed and fell asleep. 

She dreamt that Dean asked Seamus to the Yule Ball - wait a minute...he had asked Seamus to the ball, and Seamus said "yes!" 

Long story short, they weren't going as just friends.

Still asleep, the girl forgot it was winter and cloudy, so the sun wouldn't be out, but who cares - sleep was better than presents anyway. 

Wait. 

No it wasn't? 

Y/N immediately shot awake when Hermione shook her, only needing to utter one word: "Presents-" 

"I'M AWAKE!"

Jolting up, Y/N didn't even care that her hair was messy. She grabbed the handmirror on her beside, took one glance at herself, and found that she didn't care - she was too happy. 

The mirror had been "Repairo-ed" about seven times, after getting stuck in her hand and then unsticking, falling and shattering. It was getting annoying. It was her favorite mirror, too - one she nicked from Remus' locked chest when she was seven. Why it was locked, she didn't know, but she had snuck in after he left it open for a moment and exited the room. Y/N saw something shiny, instinctively took it, and scampered out of the room before Remus came back to lock the chest.

Hermione, Lavender and Parvati were already up and, and gathered around her bed. Y/N laughed and got up, then collected the presents from the bottom of her bed and sitting on the floor with the girls.

They sat in a circle, with their presents beside them, starting with Lavender, then Parvati, Hermione and then Y/N. Still in their pajamas, the girls first did each other's hair in a train, with each girl doing another's hair. 

Once their hair was done, they decided to finally unwrap presents. Obviously, since they were in the same dorm, they bought each other presents too. 

Y/N and Hermione had gotten theirs during the Hogsmeade trip when they got their dresses. It was really hard to hide Hermione's gift from her, but Y/N figured it out.

Lavender started. Parvati had gotten her some jewelry (consisting majorly of gold and pearls), Hermione got her some powder blush and Y/N had gotten her a set of binoculars, since Lavender had mentioned last year that she was into birdwatching. "Oooh!" said Lavender. "I'll be able to watch the Scottish Crossbils much better in the morning!"

Hermione smiled, and Lavender brought the binoculars to her eyes, looking at Y/N intensely, then giggling.

After she opened the rest of her presents, it was Parvati's turn. Lavender bought her perfume, Hermione gave her a couple small books about Divination. Yes, Hermione wasn't fond of Divination, but Parvati was. Y/N bought her a pair of butterfly earrings - "Something more subtle, so Professor McGonagall doesn't say, 'Miss Patil, take that ridiculous thing out of your hair!' "

Parvati smiled and laughed, remembering when the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrived and Professor McGonagall had scolded her for having an ornamental butterfly at the end of her plait.

Then, it was Hermione's turn. Parvati gifted Hermione with a new set of quills and this fancy, high-quality ink and paper. A new bookbag was presented by Lavender, along with some cute flower-pins to attach to it. 

She got odds and ends from her parents, some books and a maroon sweater from Ron "Herms, that's his sweater!" Y/N exclaimed excitedly, pointing. 

"No it's not, Trouble," Hermione scoffed, though she was red. "He probably just asked his mom to make it-" 

"It's maroon," Y/N said. "He always complains that he gets maroon every Christmas- and aha!" She pulled the sweater (which was inside-out) from Hermione's hands and turned it right-side-out. There was a large R on the front. 

Lavender and Parvati gasped, then squealed. 

"It's the same letter font as last year," informed Y/N. "Saw it on one of Harry's jumpers when I rummaged through his trunk..." she trailed off, eyes on the floor. "Nevermind! But basically, it's his sweater from last year and he gave it to you!" 

Hermione rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop a smile. "Maybe he outgrew it..." 

"He was wearing it yesterday." 

"Oh." 

Hermione was trapped, and Y/N grinned, prompting the girl to read the little note that came with the present. She refused to let anyone else read it and immediately shoved it into her trunk, along with the jumper, a light blush on her cheeks.

Harry gave Hermione a couple books and other encyclopedic type things, particularly one about Ancient Runes. 

Patiently waiting for Hermione to pick up Y/N's parcel, the girl was basically jumping up and down when Hermione got to her present.

Slowly, Hermione unwrapped the gift and was met with a couple of things: 

Sleekeazy's Hair Potion-

"To do your hair for the Ball! It also comes with an extra curl cream, I think it'll make your curls pop out! It's used for day-to-day, I think...not as harsh as the Ball formula," Y/n said brightly. 

Hermione beamed, "I've been meaning to try something like that out...I just didn't know where to start!" 

The next item, a heart pendant to put on her Herms and Trouble necklace. Hermione teared up and hugged Y/N, who hugged back and showed Hermione the heart pendant already on her own necklace. 

The last bit of the present was a bunch of cute clothes. Hermione happily thanked her best friend, and then...it was Y/N's turn. 

Before she opened the presents she was given, she liked to think of the gifts she gave. It made her feel less selfish and more grateful. 

Ron had gotten the black dress robes - those cost a lot. Hopefully he liked them, because Y/N spent too much time picking the perfect ones.

She gave Cedric a new wallet with a shield charm to mirror her bracelet. The wallet wasn't for money, no - it was for pictures of his loved ones. Y/N made a mental note to get Colin around sometime to take pictures, or she'd borrow Hermione's muggle camera. 

Fred and George had received one hundred galleons each to help with their Joke Shop start-up, Lee got fifty because Y/N was feeling nice. 

To Elijah, Y/N gave a purple tie and pocket square for his suit to match her dress, and a set of silver rings to wear. She really hoped he took the hint and wore them, because he had really hot hands. 

Y/N hadn't known what to get Harry, especially because they weren't really talking at the moment. She knew he didn't need it, but in the end, she got him a sackfull of galleons. She decided that he could spend it on whatever he wanted - Y/N had to push the images of him buying things for Cho away.

The first present she unwrapped was from Hermione. It contained a journal that told her to do her homework, a couple odds-and-ends like hair pins and clips, a new set of red ribbons to tie her letters with when she was at home. Hermione also gave her a small sheath-like thing. "For your mirror," said Hermione. "Maybe it'll stop shattering!" 

Ron had given her some new knee-high socks and some Chaser gloves, even though she wasn't on the team...this year. It went along with her Forever-Flying Quaffle that he had also gifted her. 

Remus' gift was money to do with as she pleased, she grinned when there was a note attached: I know you have more money now. Say no to drugs, unless it's cheap. If it's cheap, buy it as evidence and report it. 

Cedric's was rather simple, but it was sweet. He had put together a small, heart-shaped box. It was yellowish gold, color of friendship, and contained memoirs and inside jokes, such as, "Egghead" (represented by a cutout of Y/N's face in a frying pan) and a slice of pie to reference how she pied him in the face every Christmas. 

Fred and George gave her a little note. At first, she wondered what it was...

Free Weasley's Wizard Wheezes for life! 

Not going to lie, it was a good present...some of their products could actually be useful, and Y/N knew that the pair was bound to be successful with the start-up of their company. She could just feel it.

Now...Elijah's present... 

He had gotten her stunning silver heels for Yule Ball. Y/N had complained to him  a day ago that she didn't have heels and would probably transfigure a pair of old shoes. Apparently, Elijah had taken it upon himself to Express Order heels that cost one hundred galleons. 

Good grief, he was too perfect. Not because he was buying her things, but because he listened and remembered. 

Y/N looked around, searching for her present from Harry. 

She couldn't find it. 

Maybe she left it on her bed? 

She checked.

Nope. 

Her trunk, maybe?

Nope. 

Oh. 

Harry hadn't gotten a Christmas present for Y/N. Not even something simple. Nothing at all. 

Silvery tears pricked her eyes, though they never fell. Y/N looked into her handmirror to wipe them away, not even noticing the small, splintering cracks beginning to form in the glass.

What a 'friend' Harry Potter was. 

 ✦

After a long snowball with Harry and the Weasleys, Y/N and Hermione were heading back to their dormitory at five o'clock to get ready for the ball.

Ron had spared Y/N from his harsh snowballs because he was thoroughly thankful for the dress robes she had given him for Christmas. Fred and George were merciless, but Harry seemed to avoid Y/N altogether. 

Good riddance. 

He hadn't even gotten her a Christmas present, but at least a note would've been nice? Maybe? 

It hurt more than she could describe. Harry Potter, one of her best friends for four years, just suddenly became cold and distant for no reason at all. It didn't make sense. Maybe he just forgot to give the gift to her, and had bought it...

Honestly, Y/N just wanted to set the thoughts aside. 

So she did. 

She was going to have fun at the Yule Ball with Elijah and her friends. 

Hermione and Y/N made their way to Gryffindor Tower and found Liana standing outside. They had invited her to get ready with them, and the girl accepted quickly. Liana stood with all of her things floating behind her, smiling broadly when she saw them. 

"Hiya, Lia," greeted Y/N cheerily. 

The trio happily walked up to the girls dormitory, where Lavender and Parvati were waiting. Once they arrived and Liana got her things settled on Y/N's bed, the real fun began. 

"Vati, have you see my-" 

"Whatever it is, Lavender, no!" said Parvati, rummaging through her trunk. "Y/N, did you ever give back that bruise-remover I lent you-" 

"She gave it back two weeks ago," supplied Hermione when Y/N gave Parvati a blank look, trying to remember. 

"Thanks, Herms-"

"Somebody, how do I open this door for Helga's sake?!" Liana said, twisting the doorknob in all different directions, trying to access the washroom to do her makeup in the mirror. 

Hermione laughed and walked over, "It twists the other way," she said gently. 

"Liana, you intellectually challenged individual," Y/N joked, pulling out hair products from her trunk and shoving one of her SilverSpell tee-shirts back inside. 

She gave Spellie, who was curled on up on her bed, a head-pat. The dragon playfully huffed some fire at her, then curled up again and was asleep within seconds.

The five girls filed into the large bathroom to use the mirror. Everyone was either doing hair or makeup or both, which took a little while. Hermione's was pretty natural - so was everyone's, in fact. Liana had some yellowy-orange eyeshadow on, but nothing else too out-there. 

"That color really suits you, Liana," commented Lavender, who was doing the last of her curls. 

"Aawww, thank you!" said Liana, touching up her mascara. "Those curls frame your face nicely!"

Y/N helped with Hermione's hair, using Sleekeazy's Hair Potion to smoothen it out, bringing it into an elegant bun at the base of Hermione's neck.

When they were finished and Y/N was satisfied at how she looked, ("Gorgeous!" said Hermione, Liana, Parvati and Lavender) they went back to the room for dresses, heels and jewelry. 

Y/N gingerly took her dress out from her trunk. Every time she saw it, she loved it even more. Slowly, she slipped it on and looked into the floor-length mirror in the room.

The lavender dress fit Y/N like a glove, floor-length, with a form-fitting figure and a cinched waist. Past the waist, purple fabric flowed downward, folding over itself, giving the dress some variation in looks. Y/N did a spin, looking at the long pieces of fabric that cascaded down from the off-the-shoulder sleeves.

The whole dormitory was silent, then the girls broke out into compliments. 

I'll spare you the details - just know it went on for a good fifteen minutes, by the end of which, Y/N was extremely flustered.

Liana dressed herself in the golden-yellow gown and did a spin, earning "oohs" and "aahs." Parvati was in a beautiful fuchsia saree with orange accents, and Lavender wore a pretty pink dress, similar to Princess Aurora's. 

Hermione was in the beautiful periwinkle dress. The neckline plunged into a sweetheart shape, while the sleeves were a slightly transparent piece of fabric. The dress started out light periwinkle, and darkened slightly in an Ombre going down the dress.

"Jewelry time!" squealed Parvati. 

While the others chose their jewelry pretty fast, Y/N stared at all the options given to her by Rosetta Diggory, Cedric's mum.

"What about these ones?" Liana and Hermione said for the thousandth time, holding up a necklace and some earrings. 

The necklace was dainty, with a couple pearls right near the center. One big pearl with three smaller pearls on either side. The earrings were pearls as well, with a silvery sheen. They dangled from a small silver, metal chain, just like the necklace. 

Y/N considered, narrowing her eyes at the jewelry. The whole room held it's breath, watching her intensely. 

"Yes," Y/N said finally. Something about the pieces was calling to her, she just didn't know what. 

Everyone let out a huge sigh, then Hermione handed Y/N the earrings to put on. Liana stood behind Y/N to clasp the necklace. "Hold this," Liana said, pushing Y/N's hair out of the way and closing the clasp. 

Liana produced Y/N's handmirror and held it up in front of the girl. Y/N stared at herself - she did look pretty. Her hair was perfect, her makeup perfect - she was stunning. 

And then her eyes widened. The mirror's glass strained, then a crack as fine as spider's silk stretched across it. Y/N's gaze followed the scar to it's end, letting out an audible gasp when inscribed in the broken glass was: 

Your Own Hostiles 

"What is it?" Hermione asked in response to Y/N's gasp. 

Y/N blinked once, twice, and the message was gone. The mirror wasn't even cracked in the slightest.

"Are you okay, Y/N?" Liana asked worriedly, putting the unbroken mirror down on Y/N's bed gently. 

What had just happened? 

"Did anyone else see that?" Y/N blurted, eyebrows furrowed, looking around at her friends in confusion. 

"See what?" asked Lavender, coming closer. "We didn't see anything," she said, pulling Hermione along with her. 

Hadn't anyone else seen the odd inscription? The inscription Y/N had seen twice before, on the statue of Selene in the Moonlight, and initially on the title of a book in Otter St. Catchpole. 

Y/N blinked again as the others stared at her in concern. "Nothing..." she muttered. "Probably caught something out of the corner of my eye..." 

"Right..." Hermione said quietly, but the tone of her voice suggested that she would be interrogating Y/N about this at some point. 

Y/N fiddled with the necklace around her neck, trying to play it off. Hermione saw through it, though, and looked at her worriedly.

Liana, looking down at Y/N's bracelets, asked, "Will you wear all of them?" 

With a shrug, Y/N, trying to keep her voice even, replied, "I dunno...seems kind of...cluttered, right?" 

Giving a slight nod, Liana suggested, "Maybe take off the shield one and the one with the flowers? The other one has pearls, so it fits in with the rest of the jewelry." She pointed to Elijah's bracelet, with the three beads and the two pearls he had added when he asked Y/N to the Yule Ball. 

Y/N smiled and slipped Harry and Cedric's bracelets off her wrists, setting them on the nightstand beside her extremely problematic mirror. Maybe Fred and George swapped it out for a Joke one? 

Turning, all the girls were ready to go to the ball, and it was almost time. 

"Let's go?" asked Y/N. 

"Let's go!" came a chorus of replies, all cheery, all excited. 

Y/N took the perfume Elijah had gifted her, admiring the heart-shape of the bottle, and spritzed it on, doing a twirl in the mist.

The girls did their last touch ups, glanced in the mirror, then threw on their heels and left the dormitory laughing, awaiting the wonderful night ahead of them. 

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

Harry's P.O.V. 

After the snowball fight, Harry and Ron went to get ready. They didn't take three hours, like the girls, and it was pretty easy, seeing as they wore their black dress robes and tried to tame their hair a little bit. 

"I'm so glad Y/N got me these," Ron said, looking in the bathroom mirror, "else' I'd have to go looking like-" 

"Your great-aunt Tessie," finished Harry with a grin.

Harry looked at himself in the mirror. It was a pretty standard black suit, with a white dress shirt underneath and black slacks to match. He supposed, if he got too hot, he could take off the suit jacket and stay in the dress shirt. 

Bringing a hand to his hair self-consciously, he tried to fix it. Couldn't it stay neat for just one night? Y/N always said she liked it messy, but - nevermind. 

"Come on," said Neville from across the room. "All of you, hurry up and for Merlin's sake, Dean, hold Seamus' hand somewhere else!" 

"Godric forbid I hold my date's hand..." Dean muttered under his breath. 

Seamus nudged him and laughed. 

Harry watched with the slightest air of jealousy. That could have been him and Y/N... 

"This is us going! " Neville said, frantically gesturing to the door. "Leaving! Look at us go!" 

The rest of the boys laughed and followed him out of the dormitory into the common room. Instead of the usual mass of black school robes, there were colors everywhere and Harry found himself subconsciously looking for Y/N. 

Ginny met Neville at the bottom of the stairs, but Parvati was nowhere to be found. 

"She told me she'd meet you in the Entrance Hall," Ginny supplied, watching Harry look around. 

He nodded his thanks and the small group moved on. As they went through the Portrait Hole,  Harry wished he could just stay in the common room forever. 

The Entrance Hall was packed with students too, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock, when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd trying to find one another. 

Harry spotted Parvati somewhere near the entrance, and he walked over, Ron in tow. She was dresses in robes of shocking pink, with golden bangles and pretty gold decorations in her long, black plait.

"You look - er - nice," Harry said awkwardly. This felt wrong. 

"Thanks," said Parvati. "You too." 

Ron looked around, no doubt trying to spot Padma Patil, Parvati's sister. When Parvati found Padma, she led the girl over to where the two boys were standing. Padma was dressed nice as well, in robes of bright turquoise. 

Ron and Padma walked off, trying to make it a little less awkward by trying to know each other before they danced. 

There was a symphony of gasps, and Parvati snickered slightly when Harry turned quickly, trying to discern where and why people were gasping. 

When he saw it, his jaw dropped. It probably would've fallen off, if that was possible. Harry felt heat creep up his neck when his eyes landed on Y/N. 

Walking down the stairs, laughing lightly together, were Hermione and Y/N. Of course, Hermione looked amazing, but Y/N...she was stunning. She was show-stopping, and Harry's-heart-stopping. 

Her silver heels clicked lightly on each step, her smile was gorgeous, her eyes were bright. Y/N was wearing a beautiful purple dress that flowed to the floor. Fabric from the sleeves trailed behind her. It hugged her body in all the right places...not that Harry was looking...

They reached the bottom of the stairs, hugged, and went off to their respective partners. Harry would have been surprised that Hermione was here with Krum if he wasn't too busy staring at Y/N. 

Harry's lips curved into an involuntary smile, which immediately dropped when Y/N walked past him without even a glance. Without even thinking, he whipped around, trying to find Cedric, who she was sure to be walking towards. 

But Cedric was standing hand in hand with Cho Chang? So where was Y/N going? 

His eyes followed her figure through the crowd, following, following following. She slipped between people, greeting them quickly, and smiling and laughing. 

She met her partner. 

Harry's eyes widened. 

Y/N went up to Elijah Collins and hugged him around the neck. He said something to her, then took her by the hand and spun her around. Y/N giggled when he bent down and kissed her knuckles, then she took his arm, and let Elijah lead her into the Great Hall. 

Harry could feel his heart breaking. 

He dabbed at his eyes from under his glasses before turning back to Parvati, who was smiling slightly. 

"Beautiful, isn't she?" said Parvati simply. 

"Yeah..." Harry breathed softly. "Yeah." 

But the only thing Harry could focus on was Y/N. Was she not going to the ball with Cedric? Harry had seen her say yes to him. Had she ditched him, tossed his feelings aside the moment Elijah inevitably asked her? 

Had Y/N just been playing with everyone's feelings all along? 

Had Y/N just been playing with Harry's feelings all along? 

✦

The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The House tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people. 

Harry concentrated on not tripping over his feet. Parvati seemed to be enjoying herself; she was beaming around at everybody, steering Harry so forcefully that he felt as though he were a show dog she was putting through its paces. 

He caught sight of Ron and Padma as he neared the top table. Ron was watching Hermione pass with narrowed eyes. Padma was looking sulky. 

Harry and the Champions sat at a table. Percy Weasley, Mister Crouch's assistant, struck up a conversation with Harry...something about the Ministry of Magic. Harry couldn't find it in himself to care, too focused on Y/N and Elijah dancing nearby. 

He glanced to Hermione, who was also at the table, since she was Krum's partner. Hermione was now teaching Krum to say her name properly; he kept calling her "Hermy-own." 

"Her-my-oh-nee," she said slowly and clearly. 

"Herm-own-ninny."

"We're getting closer," she said, catching Harry's eye and giving him a wry smile. 

Tonight's music was done by two bands. One of which was The Weird Sisters, arguably the most popular band in the wizarding world, and SilverSpell, a band that Y/N was obsessed with. 

Why did Y/N come to mind? Harry, just stop. She doesn't want you anyway. 

that the other champions and their partners were standing up. "Come on!" Parvati hissed. "We're supposed to dance!" 

Harry tripped over his dress robes as he stood up. The Weird Sisters struck up a slow tune and Harry walked onto the dance floor, carefully avoiding catching anyone's eye...especially Y/N's. 

Next moment, Parvati sighed loudly and had seized his hands, placed one around her waist, and was holding the other tightly in hers. 

The opening dance was torture. Don't get him wrong, Parvati was great, but Harry's eyes couldn't help but wander to Y/N, standing in the crowd. Whenever he did, his heart panged at the thought that she never cared.  

But then again, it wasn't as bad as it could have been, Harry thought, revolving slowly on the spot. Many people had joined the dancefloor, which took some of the spotlight off of the champions. 

Elijah led Y/N to the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her waist. Her went around his neck as they danced slowly, smiling at each other. Well, Elijah was more so smirking down at Y/N with affection in his eyes. 

It made Harry absolutely sick.

"Nice socks, Potter," Moody growled as he passed, his magical eye staring through Harry's robes.

 "Oh - yeah, Dobby the house-elf knitted them for me," said Harry, trying to be enthusiastic. He really didn't want to talk to this creep.

 "He is so creepy!" Parvati whispered, taking the words from Harry's mind, as Moody clunked away. "I don't think that eye should be allowed !" 

Harry heard the final note from the bagpipe with relief. The Weird Sisters stopped playing, applause filled the hall once more, and Harry let go of Parvati at once. 

"Let's sit down, shall we?" asked Harry.

 "But this is a really good one!" Parvati said as the Weird Sisters struck up a new song, which was faster, but harmonious.

"No, I don't like it," Harry lied. He loved this song, especially after the many times Y/N hummed it while doing homework in the common room.

Harry led Parvati away from the dance floor, past Fred and Angelina, who were dancing so enthusiastically that people were backing away, scared of hurting themselves. 

They sat down beside Ron and Padma, but not all of them stayed very long. Two boys from Beauxbatons came up to them and bowed with their hands outstretched, asking for a dance. 

Parvati looked at Harry, who nodded absently, and she went off with the boy. Padma didn't even ask Ron, which was fair, since she had been sitting down since the ball started. 

"How's it going?" Harry asked Ron, sitting down and opening a bottle of butterbeer. Ron didn't answer. He was glaring at Hermione and Krum, who were dancing nearby.

Even if Ron did answer, Harry wouldn't have heard it. His eyes, like Ron's, were fixed on another couple. Y/N and Elijah. 

How could she dance so happily after playing with the hearts of three boys? 

Hermione came over and sat down in Parvati's empty chair. She was a bit pink in the face from dancing.

"Hi," said Harry. Ron didn't say anything. Before Hermione could continue, Harry asked, "Is Y/N going to come over, too?" 

Hermione shook her head, giving him a frown. "No," said Hermione. "She's dancing with Elijah."

"I've noticed."

 Hermione scowled again, then, she looked around, as though casting for a topic change. "It's hot, isn't it?" said Hermione, fanning herself with her hand. "Viktor's just gone to get some drinks." 

Ron gave her a withering look. "Viktor?" he said. "Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?" 

Hermione looked at him in surprise. "What's up with you?" she asked.

"If you don't know," said Ron scathingly, "I'm not going to tell you."

The girl stared at him, then at Harry, who shrugged. "Ron, what - ?"

"He's from Durmstrang!" spat Ron. "He's competing against Harry!" He pointed an accusatory finger at Hermione. "Fraternizing with the enemy, that's what you're doing!"

Hermione's mouth fell open. "Don't be so stupid!" she said after a moment. "The enemy! Honestly - who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph?" 

Ron chose to ignore this. "I s'pose he asked you to come with him while you were both in the library?" 

Harry really didn't want to get in between in this, he was perfectly okay with painfully admiring Y/N from far away.

"Yes, he did," said Hermione, the pink patches on her cheeks glowing more brightly. "So what?" 

"What happened — trying to get him to join spew, were you?" 

"No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he — he said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!"

"Yeah, well — that's his story," said Ron nastily. "And what's that supposed to mean?" 

Ron scowled as though it was obvious. "He's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cozy little library sessions -" 

"I'd never help him work out that egg!" said Hermione, looking outraged. "Never. How could you say something like that — I want Harry to win the tournament, Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?"

Harry nodded absently.

"You've got a funny way of showing it," sneered Ron. 

Hermione turned on her heel and stormed away, probably in the direction of Viktor Krum. Ron slumped even more in his seat, muttering sourly. 

Elijah was leading Y/N towards the punch table, where he poured her a drink. They downed them in a rush, and Harry caught some quips of Y/N challenging him to who could finish their drink faster. 

Now, the members of SilverSpell were on stage. Y/N gasped so loud that Harry could hear it from where he was seated, her face lighting up with excitement. 

Grabbing Elijah's arm, Y/N dragged him over to the dance floor, talking very fast about each member of the band and how their music was amazing. Harry watched as Elijah laughed and followed. Moreover, he was watching Y/N, how the end of her purple gown slipped off into the crowd, and how she was gone.

Y/N's P.O.V. 

"They're playing Lovestruck Girl!" Y/N exclaimed, tugging Elijah along quicker, subconsciously matching her strides to the beat and lyrics. 

'Cause she's just a love - 

love - 

girl in love, 

lovestruck girl, 

and she's had enough 

lovestruck girl, she pushes it down, 

you bring it up, please, just call my bluff! 

"I love Wisteria's voice," Y/N sighed as they got to the middle of the floor. When Elijah gave her a cute, confused look, she supplied, "The backup singer." 

Elijah nodded, then grinned and took her hands, swaying them to the peppy beat. It was a little difficult to dance to this more energetic songs in heels, but Y/N tried her best, singing along with the lyrics 

Lovestruck girl, she shines in the light of the fuuullll - 

Moon! 

You shed like a snake and she hides the bite you gave her, 

In all honesty, you're missing a screw- 

But still, she's in love with you! with you!

With youuuuuuuu-

Your lies! 

Y/N was bobbing her head to the beat, it was one of her favorite SilverSpell songs, even though she'd never been through anything like that before. 

Well, maybe with Harry, but definitely not to the extent in the lyrics. Y/N glanced back at Elijah, who was looking off fondly at something in the distance. She poked him, and he brought his fond gaze onto her, eyes growing more affectionate by the moment. 

'Cause she's just a love -

Love -

Girl in love,

Lovestruck girl,

And she's had enough

Lovestruck girl, she pushes it down,

You bring it up, please, just call my bluff! 

Elijah had begun singing along to the words he could pick up from the chorus, and sent Y/N a very proud smile.

They danced through a couple more songs, all by SilverSpell. Most of them were love songs, upbeat and fun, grunge-y - whatever, they were teenagers!

Y/N was spun around by Elijah many-a-times, she even spun him once, which didn't exactly work out, because he was taller than her significantly. 

When the Weird Sisters started playing again, it was a slow tune that neither Y/N nor Elijah were interested in. 

"Follow me," Elijah said lowly, but she could still hear him over the noise of the crowd. 

Y/N laughed and let the boy lead her away, through the crowd of people and out of the Great Hall, through the Entrance Hall. She stopped to playfully salute two Knight statues that flanked the doors. 

They continued out into the garden that had been created for the Yule Ball. It was sort of like the courtyard, with pillars and hallways surrounding a rectangular space. A blue beetle crawled up one of the pillars, and flew past Y/N's face.

Also, like the courtyard, there were arches in the hallways, for easy access to the middle of the garden. 

The moon was a half-moon, and the stars shone prettily upon them.

Small, white, glowing butterflies flittered around from here to there. One landed on Y/N's face, causing her to scrunch her nose up. 

Elijah produced another black dahlia from one of the flower beds and offered it to Y/N, a smirk on his face. She took it, blushing. 

"Snake bite your tongue, pretty lady?" 

Y/N laughed again and shook her head. But yes, in all honesty, a snake had bit her tongue. Elijah just looked so...handsome. He, like most of the boys, was wearing a black suit. He had shed the jacket, so he was left in a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. 

Finding it incredibly hard not to stare, Y/N glanced away before he could make fun of her for it.

"You look pretty, you know," Elijah said offhandedly, as the two walked around, hands intertwined, while Y/N's other hand twirled the flower. "The name pretty lady fits. Fits all the time, but extra tonight." 

"Speak for yourself, handsome," Y/N said, nudging Elijah in the side.

Their conversation was light, like the air, filled with laughs and smiles and smirks from Elijah. Oh, flirting. Lots of flirting. 

At one point, Y/N saw Liana and Mathew slow dancing in the quiet of the garden. She caught Liana's eye and grinned, to which the girl rolled her eyes, but blushed. 

Slowly, Elijah took her hand once more, and let her through one of the archways to the torchlit hallways. Since these halls were basically just in a square formation, this made their walk less aimless. 

Through the archways, Y/N could see Hagrid and Madame Maxime talking. About what, she didn't know. 

"So," said Elijah. "I know I'm not the best dancer-" 

"Oh, bullshit," Y/N intervened. "You danced great - didn't you have dance classes as a kid?" 

Elijah snorted a laugh, "Yeah, and I failed. They literally kicked me out." 

"You're lying!" 

"It's true," he said earnestly. "I just didn't have those Pureblood Posh Partying skills - they transferred me to fencing instead."

"You couldn't find any other dance instructors?" Y/N inquired playfully as they leant against a walk and talked.

The stone was cold, since she was wearing a backless dress. The lavender color looked a little darker in the torchlight, but was beautiful all the same. 

"Nope," he answered, popping the 'p.' "Nobody else would take me, word spread about Elijah Collins' terrible dancing skills." 

Y/N narrowed her eyes. "Every dance instructor would not turn you down. Money. They like money."

"All the Pureblooded ones did," Elijah argued. "And my parents wouldn't let me learn from anyone who wasn't a Pureblood." 

"Your parents suck." 

"I know," sighed Elijah. 

They sat in comfortable silence for a couple of minutes, but Y/N could feel Elijah's gaze on her. The firelight bounced off of his blond hair, making it look like tongues of flame in the dark. 

"I wasn't lying," Elijah said suddenly, but softly. "You really do look amazing." 

She returned the compliment, her heart pounding her chest as Elijah scooted the tiniest bit closer to her. They were pressed up against each other now, almost no space between them. Slowly, slowly, slowly, Elijah brought a hand up to cup Y/N's face.

It was like butterflies were getting drunk and having a party in her stomach. Y/N's eyelashes fluttered as she looked up at him. He looked down at her. 

The rings on Elijah's fingers pressed into the skin of Y/N's jaw, but she didn't care. Not that she didn't care about the rings - especially her favorite one, his red family crest ring. In the torchlight, it glowed and pulsed a beautiful orange color. 

There was a rustle in the leaves just beyond the archway, and Elijah stepped in front of Y/N, his back to the garden and his face to hers. 

Almost hesitantly, Elijah leaned in. 

See, Y/N hadn't had her first kiss - so this...this was exciting, and new, and she sort of felt like she was floating as she closed her eyes and waited. 

The rings on Elijah's fingers pressed into the skin of Y/N's jaw, but she didn't care. Not that she didn't care about the rings - especially her favorite one, his red family crest ring. In the torchlight, it glowed and pulsed a beautiful orange color.

She didn't care at all, because -  

Suddenly, she felt a finger press against her lips and she heard Elijah sigh. 

Her eyes flickered open, not even having to ask 'why,' before Elijah said, "I just...We can't have our first kiss here," he said, gesturing to the hallway. "A dingy, dark hallway that won't even exist after tonight. I dunno...it makes it less meaningful. I want our first kiss to mean something." 

Y/N melted. Even though they didn't kiss, the butterflies didn't leave. How did Elijah always know the right things to say to her? 

"That...makes sense," Y/N said, voice filled with affection. 

"Please, don't be mad-" 

"I'm not," Y/N reassured. "I promise. You're right," she laughed, "a dingy hallway isn't the best place." 

"I..." Elijah trailed off. "Sorry, pretty lady, I'm just...really overwhelmed right now. Nervous, mostly - you're too good... mind if I get a drink? Take a breather?" 

"It's all good, Ellie," she said, slipping the nickname in. 

He gave her a hug, squeezing her waist, then slowly made his way back into the Great Hall. 

She sat down against the wall, closing her eyes and imagining what it would really be like to kiss Elijah Collins. Her dress got a little dirty from the floor, but nothing a cleaning spell couldn't fix. 

Taking some moments of peace, Y/N reflected on how fun this night had really been. She danced with Hermione for a little bit, seen Liana...Dean and Seamus were partners! She said 'hi,' to Ron quickly, but the only person who she hadn't spoken to was - 

"Y/N?" Harry's voice came from the archway in front of her. 

Y/N blinked her eyes open and got up, brushing off her dress. "Do you need something?" 

It seemed as though Harry was building up the courage to say something.

 "I don't need anything, no," he said quietly, but something in his voice was accusatory. "I just want to know what your problem is." 

"What do you mean?" 

"What do I mean?" Harry repeated, his voice laced with a tinge of anger. "What do I mean? I mean why are you leading every guy you meet on!" 

"Excuse me?" Y/N demanded, outraged. "What the fuck are you saying right now?" 

Harry pointed a finger at her, his figure silhouetted in the arch. And to think that Y/N had been staring at him earlier. 

To think she found his stupid suit and his stupid hair and his stupid eyes attractive! 

"Does it not concern you that you're currently at the Yule Ball with Elijah Collins?" asked Harry. "After you squealed and jumped and said, 'yes!' to Cedric when he asked you?"

To add insult, Harry pitched his voice annoyingly high when he imitated her agreeing to Cedric. She never even agreed to Cedric.

It stung. It panged her heart that Harry thought so lowly of her.

"Harry are you daft?" 

"No! Don't argue that by insulting me," Harry said, voice raised. "And to think - you lead Cedric on, and now you've just kissed Elijah Collins?" 

"We didn't ki-" Y/N said, then realized. "Were you spying on me?!"

Harry became defensive, "No - I just happened to be in the garden when you were-" 

"You were spying on me!" Y/N shouted. "Harry are you insane? What is wrong with you?" 

"I was not!" Harry said hotly. "Even if I was, that doesn't explain you being a two-timing-" 

"A two timing what?" Y/N interrogated, anger flaring in the pit of her stomach.

Slut,

Whore,

Hoe.

She repeated her question. Y/N could feel her eyes stinging, burning, knowing their unearthly glow was upon them. The hallway lit up in white light, giving Y/N a clear view of Harry's scornful expression. 

Her palms tinged, and Elijah's bracelet was suddenly in her clenched fist. It felt like Y/N's heart was seizing up, and crumbling, and her world was spinning very rapidly. 

Harry stuttered over his words, "I..I just..I didn't mean it!" 

"I never said yes to Cedric," Y/N said brokenly. "How would you even know?" 

"I saw it!" 

"What you saw was practice," Y/N snapped, feeling angrier by the minute. "Practice for Cho Chang. I was helping. Maybe your jackarse jumps to conclusions too fast!" 

Every piece of jewelry on Y/N's skin was heating up like molten lava. It seared and burned and made her grit her teeth. That had never happened before...? 

Somehow, it made her even angrier. In the sky, the moon was overridden by clouds. Clouds that hadn't been in the sky - it was supposed to be a cloudless night.

"It doesn't matter," Harry said bitterly. "It just doesn't explain why you've been avoiding me for Godric knows how long!" 

"That isn't even the topic right now!" said Y/N heatedly, getting closer and closer to Harry. "Do go on, tell me all about how I'm a common, dirty slag-" 

"Don't call yourself that," Harry said sharply. 

"You just did," she pointed a finger at him.

"I said I was sorry." 

"If you were sorry for anything you wouldn't have told me you wanted to take Cho Chang to the Yule Ball!" Y/N blurted, her outstretched finger jabbing into his heaving chest.

Her eyes immediately widening at what she said, wishing she could take it back the moment the sentence slipped past her lips. 

Tears were flowing out of Y/N's glowing eyes, taking on the glow, falling from her cheeks onto the stone below. 

They splashed, creating puddles of silvery, shining moon-like water. 

"That doesn't matter," Harry said coldly. 

"It mattered to me," Y/N shot back, wiping her eyes. It didn't do anything, nothing at all. 

"It shouldn't have." 

"It did, Harry. It mattered so much. It mattered too much," she said, voice quivering. "After everything? After everything we shared, the man - the boy I was in love with wanted another girl. Isn't that fun? The boy I was in love with broke my heart, Harry. How could I face him - you - after that?"

She didn't know why she said it, but Y/N knew that the damage was done. 

He knew. He knew it all. 

Harry's eyes widened and his mouth hung open slightly. Before he could say anything, Y/N roughly pushed past him, making sure that he crashed into the stone pillar of the archway. 

Immediately, she heard footsteps behind her. She walked faster, letting the tears spill freely now. Her palms hurt. Her eyes hurt. Her heart hurt. 

Harry's desperate pleas followed her. 

"Y/N-" 

"Would you just go?" 

"Y/N, please just listen to me!" 

Harry persisted until they were in the empty Entrance Hall once more, just passing the statues of the Knights Y/N had saluted to earlier. Everything was ticking her off, she just spilled out her heart, her thoughts. Everything. 

She gave everything to Harry. 

"Please, Y/N-" 

"I said get away from me," Y/N said dangerously.

There was the grinding of stone, of metal, of armor. 

Y/N whipped around to see Harry's distraught face, his messy hair and his terrified eyes. Then something eclipsed her vision.

The Knights had risen from their posts and placed themselves between Y/N and Harry. Their spears were outstretched, alarmingly close to Harry's adam's apple. 

Behind their helmets, their stone 'faces,' were odd. From behind their visors came a bright white light - just like how Y/N's eye's glowed. 

"Just go," Y/N repeated. "Get out of my sight." 

Harry didn't budge.

Neither did the Knights, but Y/N got an idea. If they, too, were glowing like her eyes...

"Escort this...boy...away from me," she commanded through tears. 

Harry caught her eye - he had begun to cry too, tears glimmering behind his glasses, making his green eyes a sight for sore eyes. 

"Y/N if you would just listen," Harry pleaded. "Please, if you want me to kneel, I'll kneel. If you want me to beg, I'll beg. Just listen."

"No."

Y/N turned to the Knights. With more noises of stone grinding, they nodded their heads as Y/N commanded once more, "Lead him away." 

Stretching their spears towards him, the jabbed him in the arms so Harry couldn't use his wand. Y/N watched as the now-sentient Knights lead Harry back into the Great Hall, almost enclosing him, with their shields on one side and their spears on the other. 

Once Harry had disappeared back into the crowd, the Knights returned, but not to their usual post. They returned and flanked the entrance to the Great Hall, as though guarding it, incase Harry tried to leave...to see Y/N.

Y/N turned on her heel, sniffing and wiping her tears away. She couldn't go back to the Yule Ball - in fact, she could never face Harry again after the events of the night. 

Her silver heels, a gift from Elijah, clicked against the polished stone floors of Hogwarts castle as she ascended the stairs, heading to her dormitory. Her skin burned where the jewelry made contact. Elijah's bracelet had slipped off, finding itself in the palm of Y/N's hands. Her eyes stung with vigor, keeping the flow of tears steady.

Through Hogwarts' large windows, the moon shone in. Y/N followed, letting the moonlight guide her.

Y/N didn't have the time to revel in her newfound ability. Her only focus was on Harry James Potter, and how he had turned her into a fool. 

Not even just a fool.

An idiot, blinded by tears, blinded by love.

─── ☆: *.⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ .* :☆ ───

hey guys...! lowkey this chapter took absolutely forever bc i had terrible writers block while writing it but it's here!! 

10.2k words are u guys proud :3 

no emojis today because um...yeah!! 

sooooo....what d'ya thiiiiinkkkkkkkkkkk ??? 

ALSOO!!!!

for the song, sorry if the lyrics suck bc it was off the top of my head lmaoooo, if you wanna know roughly what the song would sound like, imagine it to sound like a mix oooffff

lovestuck - by mother mother 

annnddd

letter - ... also by mother mother

mother mother is literally by favorite band of all time literallyWHAIDHWAIDHAWIDJAOWJDAJODaWD 

ok anyways!! 

i have "we don't tak anymore" stuck in my head !! 

we don't talk anymore

we don't talk anymore

we don't talk anymore 

like we used to do. 

we don't love anymore

what was all of it for?

we don't talk anymore 

like we used to do. 

 ...

don't wanna know

what kinda dress you're wearing tonight

if he's holding onto you so tight

the way i did before.

i overdosed

should have known your love was a game

now i can't get you out of my brain

ooh, it's such a shame. 

anyways!! i hope u enjoyed the chapter :) if you did, vote! also, if u want, follow me to get silly little updates and to know when chapters are posted :3 

will edit later!

ok, i love you troublemakers <3 

- dizzy