THE YULE BALL

"Oh, come on, you must be kidding me!" mumbled Cassiopeia as she smacks her head with her brush after it got stuck. She muttered various curses under her breath, her anger issues slowly going overboard as she threw the brush across the room.

She was the only person left in her dorm, but she wasn't late. It is because the other girls went early. She took a breath in and out, until she ran down the stairs.

She was still wearing her casual clothes, since she wanted to do her hair before she changes.

She ran out of the Common Room, then ran through the hallways that were empty and outside to the carriage where she knew Fleur would be in.

She knocked and Fleur, who was surprised to see her, looked at her in shock. "Hello, Cassiopeia! Why aren't you ready yet?"

"I'm so sorry for bothering you, uhh, is it all right if you help me with umm..." she motioned towards her hair. "My mother used to do my hair whenever there were balls back at home, I never really learned how to do it myself..."

"Of course! I'd be glad to help you, I will go finish up, and I'll be in front of the Slytherin Common Room in 20 minutes."

"Wonderful, thank you!" She hurried along through the cold snow, running back to the Common Room. She did her makeup, took out her dress from her trunk. She looked at it in awe, before placing it back on the bed.

Fleur came along after a few minutes, did her hair and with many thank you's from Cassiopeia, she then rushed off to her friends.

°°°

"Poor kid, bet she's alone in her room crying her eyes out," said Ron.

"Who?" questioned Harry.

"Hermione of course," the redhead replied. "Come on Harry, why'd you think she wouldn't tell us who she's coming with?"

"Because we'd take the mickey out of
her if she did," Harry pursed his lips.

"Because nobody asked her. I would have taken her myself if she weren't so bleeding proud." said Ron, he looked at Harry who was biting the insides of his lips. "What's the matter with you, mate? You look like someone broke your heart."

"I'm fine, Ron," glared Harry.

"Oh maybe you are, because Cassiopeia Malfoy is being taken to the Ball by some other bloke," teased Ron, "Seriously, Harry, her? The enemy?"

"She's not enemy, Ron, her family is. Not her."

Ron stopped Harry from walking, then lifting a brow. "They're all the same, believe me."

"Well, believe me she isn't like her family." Harry scoffed.

"Getting all defensive about girlfriend, eh?" Ron chuckled as he nudged Harry.

"She's not my girlfriend, besides I like someone else..."

'Does he?' Harry thought.

°°°

Cassiopeia walked down the empty Hallway, the clicking of her heels is the only noise that can be heard. She was starving, she has not eaten in a few hours, and she couldn't wait to finally eat.

She turned the corner, she sees Hermione at the end of the Hallway turning to walk down the stairs.

She walked faster, fixing her hair. When she finally reached the stairs, she saw many students who were chatting outside the Great Hall. She walked down the stairs with a small smile as she noticed the attention was drew to her.

Her eyes met green ones, and she smiled at him. Harry looked at her, his cheeks turned red when she made eye contact with him. She was indeed pretty. He gave her a small smile, which she returned a bigger one.

When she is finally down the stairs, she patted Harry's shoulder. "You look great, Potter!"

"Thank you...and you umm, look pretty good!" He smiled awkwardly.

She chuckled, "Thanks," she saw Blaise with her brother who was looking at her, he slowly walked towards her.

She gave Harry a smile, before walking pass him, then to Blaise.

"You look beautiful, Cassiopeia," Blaise smiled.

"Why, thank you," she smirked, Blaise held his arm out, and she gladly took it before walking inside the Ballroom.

The four champions soon walked in the ballroom, and they dance first. Soon others are joining, Dumbledore and McGonagall, Mr Filch and his cat, Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Then students.

Blaisw held his hand out for Cassiopeia, who was eyeing the food." Let's make this fast," she said to him. Blaise nodded and they both danced, her soft pink dress flowing as she dances. She saw Fleur, who waved at her. She waved back, before motioning to her hair and smiling gratefully.

°°°

The music is now rock played by the Weird Sisters. Cassiopeia who sat in a bench, finishing her punch, her heels that she took out beside her. It was an amazing night, hoping it'll be even better.

Blaise, who was from the crowed sat down beside her. "Dance?"

"No, thank you! I'm exhausted, how about that girl over there? She's been eyeing you," she nudged him playfully. Balise smirked before making his way to the girl.

She stuck her tongue out to her brother who rolled his eyes at her. She lets out a breath, as she looked around the Ballroom. She looked at Ron and Harry, who were both looking very down and annoyed, both their dates have bailed, probably.

She watched as Ron got into an argument with Hermione, making Ron roll his eyes and walk away from Harry. She took this opportunity to talk to Harry, she took her heels and approached him.

"Hey, Potter, is this seat taken?" She asked. Harry looked at her before shaking his head. She sat down next to him.

"Rough night?" She asked.

"Yeah, our dates left us, Ron is being stubborn again, and I have no idea what to do now." He pursed his lips, he then looked at her. "You?"

"It was fun, my legs are hurting from the dancing." She shook her head before running her hands through her hair. The music grew soft, and students stopped dancing wildly. 

Harry stood up and held his hand out to Cassiopeia, who was surprised. Even Harry himself was surprised of his own action.

"Dance?" He asked, "I mean, since I'm really no good at dancing, will you teach me?"

She nodded before taking his hand, but before they can walk to the dance floor, Ron came stomping to Harry, angry not even noticing Cassiopeia.

"Let's go, Harry, I see Hermione with Krum and I want to know what they're doing!" He looked at Cassiopeia, "Oh come on, let's go!"

Ron walked outside the Great Hall, letting Harry know he must follow.

Harry sighed, along with Cassiopeia. She turned to him, "Well, you owe me a dance, Potter."

Harry smiled and nodded, "So, um, goodnight, Cassiopeia."

She placed a small kiss on his cheek before winking at him. "Goodnight, Harry." She lets go of his hand, then she walks away, leaving a shocked Harry.

°°°

Cassiopeia had slept well, usual dreams that she can't remember...except for one. In her dream, she looked around and noticed mermaids? She shrugged it off, not paying much attention to it.

The water was dark and place empty, she heard a song, but she couldn't hear the lyrics to it, except the soft humming and tune. She saw something golden from afar, she squinted her eyes to see and finally, she saw it was the golden egg that Harry won from the previous task. It was open. But he said it would make a horrid noise if you open it, right?

She had an idea that maybe if you put it underwater you could hear a song.

She woke up in the morning, frowning. It was a strange dream. Or maybe, it wasn't a dream. It was a vision.

°°°

She saw Ron at the courtyard, chatting with Seamus, she ran to him, quickly asking where Harry was.

"Where's Harry?"

"Hello to you, too, Malfoy." scoffed Ron.

"Yes, Hi. Now where the hell is Harry?" She asked again, seeing as Ron just stared at her, she lets out a heavy sigh. "Look, Weasley, I'm in a hurry. This is important."

"He's at the bridge." The redhead replied.

"Thanks!"

She ran to the bridge, trying her best not to hit other students. She saw Harry talking with Cedric, and she spotted Hermione. She placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder who was quite surprised to see her.

"Are you okay, Cassiopeia? It's freezing out and you're sweating like you've ran a marathon," Hermione asked as Cassiopeia catches her breath.

"I'm fine, I've been looking for Harry, I think I have a clue for his golden egg," she said. As Cedric walked away Cassiopeia looked at Harry who was surprised to see her there.
Hey, I've got a clue for your golden egg, put it underwater or something, you'll hear a song and--"

"I know, Cedric told me," Harry pursed his lips.

She gave him a look, "I ran here all for nothing."

"No, now at least I know there will be a song."

"Brilliant," she rolled her eyes.

°°°

After a long day of running, she gathered her things for a bath. Since her dorm bathroom has been locked for a few hours, since she knew Pansy takes ages to prepare for sleep, she walked down the prefect's bathroom where she knew there was a bathtub.

She wanted a cool bubble bath to relieve herself, she usually goes there every Tuesday night.

And well, Moaning Myrtle knows that. So the ghost closed the bathroom door, and placed a 'out of service' sign. The ghost giggled evilly, and noticed Cassiopeia turned the corner.

Cassiopeia held her bath robe tightly, her towel on the other as she walked to the prefect's bathroom for girls, she groaned in annoyance when she saw the sign.

"Its out if service, Malfoy, why don't you go to the boy's bathroom instead? No one goes here at this time of night, you know?" Myrtle smirked.

"And I take hours at the bath too, so I'll just hop in the shower instead." She sighed, she placed her hand on the doorknob, "You sure no one's here?"

Myrtle giggled, "Let me check." The ghost flew into the walls and few minutes later she came out. "All clear."

She turned the doorknob to see an empty bathtub, she sighed in relief. But something was off when she noticed that there were a bunch of bubbles in the tub.

She didn't think of it as anything though, she placed her hand towel, that was on her shoulder, down and just in time when Harry popped his head out from underwater.

"AHHHH!!!" screamed Cassiopeia, as her shampoo fell from her hands, Harry whirled around from the shout and he too, yelled. Cassiopeia covered her eyes, and grabbed her shampoo bottle that fell on her toe. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

"Why are you asking me?!" Harry asked as he tried his best to cover himself with the bubbles, "This is the boy's bathroom!"

"The girl's bathroom is closed, and Myrtle told me nobody was here!" She yelled, Myrtle laughed and Cassiopeia lets out a huff. "Dear Merlin, please help me, I'm going to go."

"Yes, go, now!"

Cassiopeia ran out, almost slipping as she got to the door. When she shut the door, she cursed to himself. And she was glad that she didn't see anything. She walked in the girl's bathroom, closing the door and finally going back to what she came here in the first place, a nice bath.

°°°

"Harry, tell me again." said Hermione.

"Come seek us where our voices sound," Harry repeated after the tenth time. Cassiopeia groaned, she sharply inhaled.

"The black lake, that's obvious." Hermione said as she glanced at Cassiopeia who nodded along with her.

"An hour long you'll have to look,"

"Again obvious, though I must admit potentially problematic," said Cassiopeia biting her lips.

"Potentially problematic?" repeated Harry, "When was the last time you held your breath under the water for an hour Cassiopeia?"

"Look Harry, we can do this. The four
of us can figure it out." Hermione said.

Mad-Eye Moody appears in the doorway. "Hate to break up this scholar session, but Professor McGonagall would like to see you in her office. Not you two, just Malfoy and Granger.

"But sir, the second task is only hours
away and..." Hermione was cut off.

"Exactly. Presumably Potter is well-prepared by now and could do with a good night's sleep. Go. Now!" said Mad-Eye, already annoyed. "Longbottom!"

"Good luck," said Cassiopeia as she stood up, patting the boy on the shoulder.

"Thanks," he sighed.