"Oh my gosh, Al, are you excited or what?" Lily squealed as the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws trickled out of Transfiguration. "The Yule Ball! I mean, this is something we've only dreamed of! My mum told me all about it."

"My mum was asked by Viktor Krum!" Rose bragged. "I only hope I can get asked by someone."

"Who do you think will ask you, Alissa?" Lily asked. "I mean, practically all of the Hogwarts boys will be falling at your feet, trying to take the Champion to the ball!"

I laughed as we passed Filch, who was trying to hang a wreath on the wall. He glared at us, as apparently he wasn't excited for the upcoming ball or holiday, although the hallways were filled with merry laughter and chatter about this exciting news.

"Well, I don't want to take like, a third year." I reply. "I don't really have anyone in particular after Jake and I broke up." My boyfriend, Jake Simmons, and I had broken up after he gave me a lot of crap about not winning the first challenge. I told him that I didn't need anymore pressure and maybe he should go find a better girlfriend. After he said fine, that was that.

We passed Nearly-Headless Nick, who was merrily humming and gliding through walls. He waved hello, and continued on his way.

"I'm just going to wait and see who asks me, I guess." My two best friends laughed with excitement and we headed to our next classes.

The transformation of Hogwarts in such a short time was incredible. Not many students signed up to go home over Winter Break, simply because the Yule Ball was such an amazing opportunity. Within days, many girls had partners, and Hogwarts was as lavishly decorated as anybody had ever seen it.

Garlands wrapped the banisters of the moving staircases, all of the paintings were making merry, running around, drinking too much wine, and calling out crude comments at passing students. The Gryffindor's painting of the Fat Lady was so constantly drunk, they had to replace her, because the Fat Lady typically forgot the password to the common room.

The Great Hall constantly had snow clouds on the enchanted ceiling, and wreaths covered every spare inch of wall. The ghosts were as happy as they've ever been. Peeves gathered buckets of soap flakes, and dumped them over unsuspecting students heads, calling, "It's snowing!" gleefully, and cackling with laughter as they tried to eat the snow, only to discover it was soap.

My friends had predicted correctly, much to my surprise. Boys kept approaching me, asking me to go to the ball. As I walked through the courtyard one day, flanked by Lily and Rose, a second year Gryffindor strode right up to me, blocking my path.

"Hey babe." he winked at me. "Want to go to the Yule Ball with me? We could take it to my place after."

"You're like, thirteen." I pointed out. "I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Plus, you don't even have a 'place.' Sorry, but no." The boy slumped back to his friends in shame as they hooted with laughter at him.

Lily and Rose were suppressing smiles, but Lily couldn't help herself. She let out a snort of laughter.

"Babe? Really?" she snorted. Rose lost it too, and the three of us collapsed into giggles.

"At this rate, I'll be the only Champion with an actual date that's old enough to count." I replied with a laugh. Rose snickered.

"Yeah, I heard the Beauxbatons Champion is going with the Malfoy boy. Scorpius."

Lily blushed. "I have a date."

Rose squeals. "No way! You didn't tell us! Who?" She's loud enough that a few Beauxbatons girls, bundled in coats, turn their heads towards us, sniff, and resume chattering in French.

"Alfred Longbottom asked me, and I said yes." Lily smiled. "He's nice, if you look far enough under the awkward clumsiness."

"If you say so..." Rose said. "I'm still hoping that Trey asks me." Trey was a Hufflepuff, our year, and Rose liked him a lot.

"Maybe I'll take your cousin, Rose." I mused. "Fred's nice enough."

"Yeah, if you want pranks played on you all evening." She scoffed in response. "Don't take Fred Weasley, Jr."

Lily peeled off towards the Gryffindor common room. "Catch you all in Potions! See you later!"

"Bye Lil!" We chorused back at her. She climbed through the portrait as Albus, her brother, came out.

He saw Rose and I and turned bright red, which I found unusual. He saw us all the time, with us being his sister's best friends and all, and I couldn't fathom why he was suddenly shy and blushing. He approached us and cleared his throat.

"Um, Alissa, could I, um, speak with you privately for just a minute?" Rose winked at me and I shot her a look.

"Sure, Al, what's up?" It felt weird to call someone else by my nickname, but I was with the Potters enough that I was used to it. He led me to a corner of the hallway and gulped as students passing by stopped to stare.

"Well, I was wondering, I mean, that is, if you want to, I was thinking maybe, well, you probably already have a date, but um, maybe, um, do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?" Albus stammered out. I was taken aback. I always saw Albus as my best friend's older brother.

"That's not at all what I was expecting..." I laughed nervously. "I, actually, um, yes?"

"That's fine, I figured you'd probably already have a da...wait, what?" Albus realized what I had said.

"I'd love to go to the Yule Ball with you." I repeated. He smiled and grabbed me up in a hug. "Well, I better be going." I said as he awkwardly let go of me. "I'll see you around, Albus." Rose grabbed me as I floated down the hallway. There was one problem solved.

"What did Albus Potter want?" Rose asked me, tugging me to match her step.

"He asked me to go to the Yule Ball with him, and I said yes!" I

replied giddily. I didn't know why I was feeling the way I was feeling. Albus Potter...who knew?

Rose tapped my arm. "Hey, Ms. La-la Land. I asked you a question!" I looked at her with a guilty glance. "Do you like Albus?"

"Well, I mean, he's a really nice guy, and I've known him for forever, and well..." I paused, thinking. Did I like Albus? The answer hit me like a speeding train. "Yes!" I gasped. "Yes, I think I really do! I hope it's not too weird for Lil...and you can't tell him!" I added as an afterthought.

Rose nodded solemnly. "I won't. While you were talking to Albus, Trey asked me!" She grinned as we turned the corner into the Ravenclaw area. Our question to enter the common room was easy.

"What time of year is it?" The eagle knocker asked us. I supposed it too was in the best of moods, with only a week until Christmas.

"The happiest time of the year!" Rose and I exclaimed together.

"Absolutely." The knocker responded, swinging the door open to let us in.

The ball was the topic of the school for the next week, and through the whole school, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrangs alike could be seen chattering away about it, making plans, and asking each other to the ball. Lily was a bit shocked to hear that her brother had asked me to the ball, I had accepted, and furthermore, I kind of liked him. She wasn't as surprised as I had thought she might have been, because I had been hanging out with Albus a little bit more after my breakup with Jake. In fact, Lily took the news in stride, offering to help me prepare for the opening dance.

I never had the opportunity to talk with the other Champions about the first task, so I figured I'd meet them at the ball. The night before the ball, I took a stroll by myself through the castle, marveling at the exquisite decorations. Wreaths, garlands, lights, extraordinarily decorated Christmas trees...everything looked as beautiful as I'd ever seen Hogwarts look.

The day of the ball, I woke up to Rose excitedly shaking me awake. "Al, Al, wake up! It's Christmas!" I stretched out my arms and saw a pile of presents sitting at the foot of my bed.

"Christmas!" I breathed. I sat straight up in bed and sorted through my presents. Chocolate Frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, fudge, treacle, and all sorts of other goodies lay in store for me, as well as a hand-knitted sweater by Rose's grandmother, some presents from my parents-mainly clothing-and books from Rose and Lily.

"I love it!" I exclaimed as I unwrapped Notable Witches of the Era, a present from Rose. I wrapped her up in a hug, and she smiled at me. After she opened her presents amid choruses of 'Merry Christmas!', we headed downstairs to the Great Hall, which had been transformed overnight. A huge Christmas tree, at least five times my size, had been draped in sparkling fairy lights and golden baubles. Lights hung from the ceiling, as well as mistletoe in unexpected places. Wreaths and garlands lavishly adorned the walls, and on the tables sat huge centerpieces of red and green.

Breakfast was made of a special sweet bread and more food than any human could possibly imagine, and after stuffing ourselves, most people headed back to their common rooms to hang out with the ire friends, because there wasn't much to do until the Yule Ball. I spent the better part of the afternoon getting ready, slipping on my floaty purple-pink dress, that fluttered at the sleeves, nipped in at the waist, and then fluttered out gracefully. Rose put on her pale pink dress that complimented her trademark bright red Weasley hair, and fixed her hair with soft curls.

I let Rose do my hair, and Lily did my makeup. Rose curled my brown hair and put it up, making sure my natural golden highlights were clearly visible. I told Lily to do light makeup, because although people would look at me, I didn't want them to stare.

Once my outfit was complete, I looked in the mirror and clapped a hand to my mouth.

"Oh my gosh, you guys..." I said. "It's perfect." My best friends agreed that it was stunning, and for once in my life, I actually felt pretty.

Not plain, pretty.

Finally eight o'clock rolled around, and I descended the steps into the Great Hall, which had been transformed again. The tables had been moved to the side, three more huge trees, decorated in silver and white had been added, a chandelier dangled over the dance floor, an orchestra sat in the corner, waiting for their cue, and silver and white lights hanging from the ceiling bathed everything in a soft glow.

Albus' mouth dropped when I walked in. Rose and Lily met their dates at the foot of the stairs as well, who's expressions mirrored Albus.

"Alissa." He said, shocked. "You look...absolutely stunning!" I flicked his dark navy dress robes playfully.

"You don't look too bad yourself!" At that moment, before either of us could say anything more, Professor Actriz invited the Champions and their dates out to the middle of the floor for the traditional opening dance, the Champion's Waltz."

Albus gulped as they announced each Champion and their partner.

"Miss Adelena Zenore of Beauxbatons, accompanied by Mr. Scorpius Malfoy of Hogwarts." Everyone politely applauded as the gorgeous Beauxbatons Champion elegantly glided forward with Scorpius on her arm. Her ivory pale skin glowed a softer color under the lights, which made all of her features seem less sharp. She was the classic French beauty, and I paled in comparison next to her. Her flowing hair was elegantly partially up, held in place by a crown-like clip, and her gown swept the floor behind in a deep blue, fading upwards slowly and ending at the top in white. Jewels glittered on the neckline, and she had an elegant mask, giving the overall appearance of a swan.

I jealously admired her dress, and she strode into place like she owned the world. Typical. All Beauxbatons had been almost nothing but rude to me ever since they'd came, and although I didn't know her too well yet, this Champion was giving off the air of a spoiled brat as well.

"Miss Mia Abena of Durmstrang, accompanied by Mr. Thomas

Thatch, also of Durmstrang." With more polite applause, the second Champion took the floor. I nervously gripped Albus' hand, knowing that we were next. I examined this Champion as well, in awe of the beauty of my competitors. Mia's dark purple dress robes complimented her large blue eyes, which sparkled under the lights, and her dark hair up in a bun, the vibrant color of which was brought out by her tan skin. I was snapped out of my thoughts as Professor Actriz spoke again.

"And now, last but not least, please welcome Miss Alissa Strought of Hogwarts, accompanied by Mr. Albus Potter, also of Hogwarts." I heard the smattering of applause and the cheers of my friends as I took my date's hand and carefully walked down the steps, making sure not to step on the light purple/rose color of my floated behind me almost like magic, accenting all of my curves on my thin body and my heels making me seem taller then my actual five foot three self was. A curl fell into my face but I ignored it, focusing on Albus as we took our places.

Both of our palms were sweaty with nerves of the upcoming opening dance, but I knew Albus could see me through. The orchestra cued the waltz, and Albus and I floated through the soft lights, just the two of us in our own little world, opening the Yule Ball with the familiar waltz. One two three, one two three, step, glide, step lift turn, I reminded myself. As suddenly as the dance had begun, it was over.

At some point in the evening, Rose glided past me in Trey's arms, throwing me a wink as I danced with a fourth year. After that dance, I took my leave of the dance floor and chatted with Albus at the refreshment table. Something sparked between the two of us, but Rose interrupted as he reached for my hand.

"Oh, sorry." She winced, noticing our interlocked hands. I let go of Albus' hand quickly, blushing. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, no. It's fine." I laughed nervously.

"Okay, if you say so." Rose winked. "Anyway, Al..." At this, both Albus and I paid more attention and she laughed. "Oops, I mean Al as in Alissa, I was chatting with the Beauxbatons Champion just now, and I think you should definitely meet her. She's really nice."

I threw a glance across the room where Adelena was lounging, still looking like she thought she owned the world.

"I don't know..." I responded reluctantly. "She seems to be kind of snobby to me."

"Give her a chance! That's what this whole competition is about!"Rose pleaded. I consented, letting Rose drag Albus and I across the room to the Beauxbatons girl.

She coolly appraised me with her eyes and then seemed to decide that I was apparently worth talking to. She stuck out her hand and I shook it with a nervous smile.

"Hello." She said in her beautiful voice, with her French accent being like icing on a cake. "My name is Adelena Zenore, but that's agiven." My jaw dropped. So she thought everyone should already know her name? I was right. I shook the disgust out of my head and decided to give her a second chance.

"And I'm Alissa Strought." I smiled. "We haven't really gotten to talk much, but I'm the Hogwarts Champion. It's nice to meet you."

Adelena's lips curved up in a pleased smile. "The pleasure's all mine. How was your first task? Mine was fairly overwhelming."

"Mine too." I groaned at the memory. "How did you manage to get past the Sphinx?" Just as I began to believe that this Beauxbatons girl might have some civility in her, she ruined it. She scoffed at me.

"A Sphinx? I didn't encounter a Sphinx..." She raised her perfect eyebrows above her mask. Of course she thinks her task was so much harder than the rest of ours. I knew I was right about her all along.

I snapped. "What do you mean? You got the same clue...you think you're better than everyone, getting a different challenge? I bet they gave you an easier challenge. You Beauxbatons think you're so much better than the rest of us..."

Adelena cut me off. "I'm sorry?" She tried to regain a civil tone, but her anger shone through. "Easier? What right have you to judge me nor my academy? My challenge was no easier than yours...I fought a legend and survived!" Her prideful attitude infuriated me. Rose put a hand on my shoulder to try to calm me down, and Albus grabbed my hand from the other side, but I shook them both off.

"I'm not judging your academy, I'm just commenting on the fact that you've been standing here ALONE all night, away from the rest of us. You're so full of pride that you can't even talk to the rest of us. I guess we're all below you."

She smiled a mocking smile at me, and venomous words spill from her mouth. "I suppose you're only proof of why I don't speak often."

I took a deep breath and tried to maintain all composure I had left. Rose squeezed my shoulder in encouragement.

"I'm going to assume you didn't mean that the way it sounded." I trailed off.

Adelena sniffs. "Take it as you will." She mumbled an excuse to leave, and I attempted to part on good terms.

I held out my hand once more and she civilly shook it. "Well, best of luck, I suppose. It's certainly been...interesting...chatting with you." She nodded in response and we parted ways.

"That was something else." Albus remarked wryly.

"Shut up." I replied, in a bad mood.

Rose tapped my shoulder. I was rapidly approaching the Durmstrang Champion. I wasn't in the mood to talk to another person besides my friends, but Rose reminded me that not all Champions were like that one. I sighed and walked over. I cleared my throat nervously, preparing myself for what was to come, but the Champion surprised me.

Flustered, the Durmstrang girl turned to me and spoke. "Um, hi, you're the Hogwarts Champion, right? I'm Mia, f-from Durmstrang." By the time I had decoded her words from her thick accent and stutter, I knew a response was long overdue. Mia glanced back over her shoulder nervously at her date, Thomas, I think was his name, who was looking terribly bored. I didn't know what to say in response, so my response came out sounding just as flustered as Mia's did.

"Um, hi yourself. Yeah, um, I'm the Hogwarts Champion. I'm Alissa, or Al, if you want." I threw a quick glance to my left, where Albus was standing. He gave me a reassuring smile, and a warm feeling blossomed in my heart. "This is Albus Potter, yeah, his dad is Harry Potter, and this is Rose Weasley." I introduced my best friend standing on my right, who was smiling warmly at the Durmstrang girl. I suddenly noticed a pretty blonde standing next to Mia. She was dressed in dark rose dress robes, and I was surprised she wasn't swarmed in boys all vying for a dance.

Her face just screamed 'pretty', and her blue eyes and blonde hair made her seem like a princess. There was a quality in her eyes that I couldn't quite place, but I didn't like the look of it. "Who's your friend?" I asked, more out of politeness than real curiosity.

"This is my friend Angeline, from Durmstrang." Mia introduced us, and Angeline crossed her arms and looked down her nose at me, which wasn't hard, due to my height, or lack thereof.

Angeline sniffed. "Charmed." was her exact phrase, although she sounded anything but.

Mia visibly relaxed a bit, tension and awkwardness leaving her stance. "So, how did your first trial go, Alissa? Was it hard?" I hated making small talk, but I did my best to be polite, because this girl seemed genuinely friendly.

"Yes, I had to fight a Sphinx and solve some riddles. It was terribly hard. It's um..." I paused, searching for the right word, and addressed Mia's friend. "...charming to meet you too, Angeline. How about your task, Mia?"

Mia laughed nervously. "Stressful." I nodded my agreement. I understood that feeling for sure. "I'm not even sure what it was. There was an egg thing, and a trillion dead souls...it was exhausting."

I opened my mouth to reply, but Angeline beat me to it. She narrowed her eyes at me. "A Sphinx?" she scoffed. "Riddles? It doesn't sound particularly difficult to me." Fury rose inside me. She was just like that other girl. The Durmstrang Champion elbowed her friend hard, and Angeline looked away, pretending not to care or pay any attention. My blood was boiling. I was fed up with people insulting my friends and I tonight. I addressed the Champion first.

"Wow, yeah, yours does sound hard." I told Mia with a nervous laugh. Then I turned to Angeline and got right up, well, as close into someone's face as a short girl can get.

"Well I apologize for not defeating Voldemort." I retorted to her. I heard Rose snicker, and Albus muttered an 'ohhhh' under his breath where only I could hear. Fueled by my friends, I continued. "I'll let the judges know that that should be my next task."

Rose poked me, letting me know I had taken it too far. "Hey, it's okay." she muttered. "Be nice. I'm sure she didn't mean it."

I spoke quietly to Rose, the indignation of the night still seething through me. "What is this Durmstrang girl's problem? Does she think she's better than the rest of us, just like that Adelena girl?"

Angeline shot us a withering glare, and Mia spoke in a hushed tone to her.

"What is your problem?" Mia hissed to her, unaware that we could overhear every word spoken.

"My problem is that you're speaking so lightly with the competition! What, are you hoping to get some pointers by talking to them? If so, leave me out of it." Mia's snobby friend retorted.

"Who do you think you are, my manager?" Mia exclaimed, raising her voice and then returning to a hushed whisper. "I'm just being friendly! Stop acting like you own me!" She heaved a sigh and shot an apologetic glance to me. Albus took my hand again and I smiled at him, feeling bad for not dancing with him more.

Mia turned back to her friend. "Why don't you go dance with your date now? He'll be wondering where you are."

Angeline spit out her words. "Stop acting like a child."

Mia raised her voice, and I felt guilty for intruding into a private conversation. "Oh, I'm the one acting like a child?"

Angeline raised a slender finger and pointed at me, and I felt like a fox sighted by a hound. I steeled myself for whatever it would say, but it didn't work. "And what's your damage?" Angeline asked me. "Trying to get some tournament secrets? You Hogwarts students are all weasels."

Rose hissed under her breath at the term weasel, but I was more stuck on the fact that she had just insulted my friends.

"Angeline!" Mia exclaimed, in shock at her friend's rudeness.

"Tell me she didn't just say that." Rose whispered in my ear. Albus nodded his agreement.

"Yes." I responded in a sarcastically venomous tone to Angeline.

"Because all I ever do is try to get people to tell me things." Something in me snapped, and my cool voice attracted more attention then me screaming would have. "I'm nothing. You're right, I can't do anything by myself. I'll never be anything important. You know, I think you would really like my father. Good day to you." I spit out the last words and turned sharply on my stiletto heel, stalking away with whatever dignity I had. Mia immediately struck up a harsh conversation with her friend, but I was too hurt to listen.

Albus followed me immediately, but Rose stared in shock, stunned that I had spoken about my father at all, much less like that. I slunk to a corner, having thoroughly embarrassed myself and Hogwarts. A single tear slipped down my cheek as I slumped over. My stupid loyalty ruined everything. A warm hand brushed the tear from my cheek.

"Hey, hey." Albus' deep warm voice said. "Don't cry." I looked up into his eyes that reflected the lights above, and I was strangely comforted. He took my hand and kissed it lightly, sending a blush back up into my cheeks. "That was brave, what you said. Smart? I don't know. Brave? Absolutely. You could easily pass for a Gryffindor." I sighed in response.

"I don't want to do this anymore, Albus." I told him. I heard a click of heels beside me, and know that it's Rose, come to comfort me as well.

"What?" A girl's voice gasps.

"I said I don't want to do this anymore. I'm tired of the competition. I want to drop out. Everyone's right, I can't do this. The competitors all hate me...I just...I can't do this."

"What? No!" The same voice said, and suddenly the thick Bulgarian accent clicked in my brain. I hadn't been speaking to Rose like I thought. It was actually Mia, although my best friend was standing behind her. The blonde was nowhere in sight. "Look, I'm so sorry about Angeline." Mia apologized. "She's just be a brat, like usual. You shouldn't have to worry about her. And neither should I." She shook her head as if to clear it, making me wonder just what went down during that conversation after I left. "My point is, who cares? The competition isn't worth giving up, just because of some idiots." She hesitated, and I waited for her next words.

"And I...I don't hate you. You seem pretty cool. I'm just sorry we have to compete against each other. But Angeline isn't worth it, and neither is anybody else." She paused again and leaned against the wall next to my corner. "What an idiot." She laughed nervously. "I'm...kind of alone now. As sucky as she was, Mia's kind of my only friend." She rubbed her head.

"Sorry..."

I realized she was done speaking, and her words lifted me a little bit. I apologize first. "I'm sorry, I thought you were just Rose. That...that means a lot to me. Thank you for that. I'd..." I paused, unsure of her answer to my next question. "I'd be honored to be called a friend of yours. We can do this competition together." I lifted my head off of my knees and gave her a smile, extending my hand. "Friends?" She took it with a smile. "Yeah." We shook hands, and she sighed.

"Now I'm going to have to go deal with Angeline..." The smile slipped off of her face. "She won't let me hear the end of it." Across the refreshment table, Mia's date called her impatiently.

"Mia!"

"I better go. Talk to you later?" Mia asked.

"Absolutely." I responded with a grin. "See you around!" As an afterthought, I tagged on one final sentence. "Merry Christmas!" Rose crouched down as Mia left.

"Want me to stay?" I shook my head and told her to go dance and have fun with Trey. Albus asked if I want to walk around the gardens, which are magical beauty in the snow. I nodded in response, so we slipped out of the Great Hall and into the gardens, where some other couples were walking around.

He found a secluded, gorgeous spot and we stood there, admiring the beauty of the frozen lake and the snow. I shivered out of the pure magic and beauty of the moment, but he took it to mean I was cold, and wrapped me up in a warm hug.

"Until a bit ago," Albus began, "you were always just my little sister's best friend. But I don't know...something changed between us after your breakup. Do you feel it too?"

"Yes." I nodded. "Oh yes, I do."

He leaned in to the hug and turned me to face him. He brought his face near mine and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Al." as the clock chimed midnight, officially ending the Yule Ball. He closed his lips on mine, and it was the perfect kiss. Sweet, warm, everything just the way it should be. We pulled apart and I leaned back into his side, admiring the perfection of the moment.

This Yule Ball might have been a bust, but some things worked out just fine by me.