"Max. Max. Max?"

I kept on hearing a voice. It sounded a lot like Harry's voice.

"Maxine!"

I snapped out of my daydream and saw that Harry was calling my name. "What?"

"You did it again."

"Oh, sorry. Let's try again," I said as we got back into the dancing position.

Since Harry and I didn't exactly know how to dance, we decided that we would teach each other. We thought of the idea after Harry's arm was fully healed and realizing that it was almost Christmas Eve.

We were out by the lake so no one would give us weird looks. It was Harry's idea, he was so awkward about everything, really. It was a bit cold, but we didn't care. We just didn't want to look like idiots when the dance came.

While we were practicing, Harry started to make conversation with me. "So has anyone asked you to the Yule Ball yet?"

Shit. "Um, maybe."

"Well, it's a shame you couldn't go with Cedric. Whoever it is, they sure are lucky to be with my beautiful sister."

I laughed nervously. "I wouldn't say that."

"Why not?"

"Because neither of us are lucky."

"What do you mean?"

I stopped dancing and looked out at the water. Then, I sighed and shook my head at the thought of telling him that my date was Malfoy. "Nothing. It's nothing, Harry."

Harry came over to me and looked at me. "Who's your date, Max?"

I took a deep breath then replied under my breath. "Malfoy."

"Who?"

"Malfoy," I mumbled again.

"Maxine Lillian Potter--"

"MALFOY! Okay, there! I said it! Malfoy is my date to the Yule Ball!" I shouted. "He found out about Cedric and I the other day. He said he wouldn't tell anyone unless I went to the Yule Ball with him."

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"You're not mad?"

He sighed and shook his head. He sat down on the ground and I sat down beside him. "I'm not mad that you found a date. I would hate for you to go alone. I'm just mad the guy is Malfoy."

I huffed a sigh. "I know that going with Malfoy to the dance isn't going to make it any better. But I'd rather go with him to the dance than the whole school knowing about Cedric and I." I paused for a moment, then continued. "I don't want any more things to be said about me."

Harry looked at me with raised eyebrows. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

I nodded. "I'm positive, Harry. I know what I'm doing."

He nodded back. "Okay. Let's practice some more."

We got up and started dancing again.

*******

The boys still didn't have a date for the ball. Poor Ron was trying his best and Harry just seemed to be awkward with asking the girls out. I felt so bad for them. I wanted to set them up with girls, but I didn't know many that still didn't have a date. The girls were really hard to get.

While Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I were in the Great Hall, studying and doing homework, Ron was looking around for girls. "This is mad," he said. "At this rate, we'll be the only ones in our year without dates." Snape came and pushed him back in his book. I just shook my head and went back to my book. "Well, us and Neville," he added.

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

The two were laughing when Hermione cut in. "It might interest you to know that Neville's already got someone."

Ron groaned and went back to his book. "Now I'm really depressed."

I snorted at his comment. "Sucks to be you," I mumbled.

After we watched Fred get a date, Ron had an idea. "Oi, Hermione. You're a girl."

"Very well spotted," she told him.

"Come with one of us?" Ron started to do the same thing his brother did when Snape came back and hit Harry and Ron on the head with a notebook.

"Good job, Ron," I muttered.

Ron ignored me and went back to Hermione. "Come on. It's one thing for a bloke to show up alone. For a girl, it's just sad."

"I won't be going alone, because believe it or not, someone's asked me!" Hermione slammed her notebook shut and went to hand it to Snape. Then, she came back. "And I said yes!" She grabbed the rest of her stuff and left.

"Bloody hell," he said. Then, he looked at me. "Max, you're beautiful."

"She's already got a date, Ron," Harry informed him.

Ron looked shocked. "Who the hell asked you?!"

I rolled my eyes. Before I went to hand in my notebook, I looked at Harry. "I'll see you later." With that, I grabbed my things, and left the Great Hall.

*******

"So how do I ask a girl out?" Harry asked.

We were walking around Hogwarts in the snow later that day. Harry finally came to me for advice and I was more than happy to give it to him.

"Well, for one thing, stop acting awkward around them. It's cute, but it will kill your first impression. Second, get the courage to ask. Don't just stand there like some idiot. And finally, be yourself. It worked for me and I guarantee it will work for you. I know you can get a girl, Harry."

Harry scoffed at my last comment. "No, I can't."

"Yes, you can. If Neville can get a date, then so can you."

He started laughing. "Thanks, Max. Hopefully, I'll get a date by tonight."

"Same with Ron. If I wasn't with Malfoy, I would've gone with him. He really is trying."

"Yeah. Poor him."

I laughed. I looked around the snow that covered the school and sighed. "I think I should go back. I'm supposed to meet Cedric soon."

"Okay, I'll see you tonight, then." He waved as I started to leave.

"Good luck finding a date." I winked at him. He only laughed at me. I walked away from him and towards the castle.

Once I finally got into the warmth of the castle, I took off my gloves and hat. I was ready to go back to my bed, so I headed towards the Gryffindor Tower. On the way there, I heard voices.

"Come on, Cedric! Just this once?"

"I can't, Cho." Holy shit. It was Cedric and Cho.

"But I have to go back in a second! Please?" She was giving him those puppy eyes I used to give him when I wanted something.

"No, Cho. I'm sorry."

"Fine, then. I'll give it to you." He had no idea what she meant by that until she crashed her lips on his. My eyes started forming tears. That wasn't the worst part.

He didn't pull away immediately. He kept on kissing her back. Then, he pulled away. "Cho, I have a girlfriend and--"

"See you at the ball." She smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Once she was out of sight, I stepped in the hallway. "Cedric..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say.

He turned around and saw me crying. He quickly ran to me. "Max! I'm so sorry! Max, it's not what you think!"

I just kept on crying. I was hurt. He wasn't even thinking before he started kissing her back. I buried my face in my hands and just kept on crying. He pulled me into a hug and started rubbing my back.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't kiss her, I swear. She kissed me."

"But you kissed her back."

"I was shocked at first. I didn't mean to. You know I wouldn't hurt you like that. I care about you, Max. Please forgive me."

I just stood there, crying in his chest. I knew he didn't mean to hurt me. But I wasn't sure if he was telling the truth. Did he mean to kiss her back like that? I was so confused right now. I didn't know what to do. I pulled away from his hug and slammed my lips onto his. I didn't know why I did that, but I did. He was a sense of comfort to me. When I needed him the most, he was there. He was like Harry, only he was my boyfriend and not my brother.

After I pulled away, he looked into my eyes. "I would never hurt you, Max. You know that. I want you and only you."

I reluctantly nodded. "Okay."

He wiped my tears away. "I'll see you later, okay?" I nodded again and he gave me a peck on the lips. I walked away, looking back at Cedric. He looked back as well and gave me a smile. I smiled back and walked away.

The Gryffindor Common Room was empty when I went in there. The only person that was in there was Hermione, who was reading a book. She heard me come in and looked up at me. "Hey."

"Hi," I greeted back as I plopped on the couch.

"You okay? Your eyes look red."

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

She nodded, but I knew she wasn't convinced. "Okay."

I sat back on the couch and within minutes I fell asleep. I was in a deep sleep. It was as if no one could wake me up. I was running. I was running away from something. But it changed. I was now locked in a room. I was being carried by two men. Then, I was in a dream I had before. I saw the Muggle that You-Know-Who killed. I remembered seeing the dream once. I was in the same exact spot he was in. It was like I was him.

"MAX, WAKE UP!"

I woke up, gasping for air. Everyone was surrounding me as I felt my forehead and noticed that I was sweating. I was breathing heavily and I was pulled against someone's body. That was when I knew Harry came back.

"Max, calm down. It's okay."

I closed my eyes and tried to take in everything that just happened. I didn't even remember how long I was asleep. I remembered the last dream I was having before I woke up. It was about that Muggle. Voldemort killed him. He was talking to that man again, along with his snake and Wormtail. They wanted us, but for what?

"There's too many people," my voice cracked a little. Harry nodded at Hermione and got everyone out of the room. "Better."

"What happened?" he asked.

"I had that dream again. About the Muggle. He keeps on popping up in my dreams."

"Same here. Just try not to think about it."

"Okay." We sat there on the couch for a long time. I let Harry hold me during that long time. I wanted to fall asleep again, but I stopped myself. I didn't want to have that dream again.

"So I've got some news," Harry spoke up.

"What is it?"

"Ron and I have dates for the Yule Ball."

~~~~~~~

A/N: YO!

I made y'all wait 2 days! You should be proud of me! So as a reward you should give me votes and comments and LOVEEE!

Well then.

So the next chapter is gonna be the YULE BALL! You have NO idea how long I've been wanting to write this chapter. There's gonna be a PLOT TWIST in there somewhere. Who's ready for that?!?!?!? WELL GUESS WHAT?!?!?

I have to write it first. Lol I do have homework though on this 3-day weekend so I'm gonna try and get that done sometime. If I feel like it. Lol. This is also dedicated to my wifeyy because she was upset today and I promised her I would upload her crack and I did. <33 love you girr!

2020: So there seems to be a lot of comments recently about why Max is keeping her relationship with Cedric a secret. Honestly, the reasons that I have for this when it was written at the time is that 1). I wanted to get more of Draco and Max's relationship developing some more and 2). Because of the age gap between Cedric and Max is also a part of the slut-shaming and why it's a secret they're dating (and for Draco to reveal that to the entire school would add fuel to the fire and a lot more crap for Max to deal with). So yeah, I know it doesn't make sense, but I was 16 when I wrote this sooo please give me a break lol.

Well comment, vote, and demand me to post the next chapter. Lol bye!

-A