───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

On their way to meet Hermione, Blair saw Neville, Dean and Seamus waving at her. "Hey, I'll meet up with you guys later. Give Sirius my love." 

Harry and Ron waved goodbye and went on their way. Blair grinned and ran to her fellow Prancers. "Ignis! Tranqs! Gramen!" 

Neville's eyes widened as Blair jumped at them, and they all fell to the ground. "Oi, Caelum! Get off, will you?" 

Blair chuckled and helped them all up. They grinned back at her while they started their way back to the castle.

"That was amazing, Caelum! Even that stunt with Hermione," Neville said excitedly. 

"We were about to go to you, but we saw Ron and her going to you and Harry so we thought we'd give you space." Dean explained to her. 

Blair let out a contented sigh when she remembered that Hermione kissed her on the cheek. She started jumping up and down like an excited puppy. "Oh, you won't believe what happened. When Harry was preparing, she went to me. To me, Tranqs. Then, she gave me a kiss on the cheek!"

Neville, Dean and Seamus let out chuckles at how excited their ringleader was, but nonetheless, they let her rant all the way until they entered the Gryffindor common room. From outside, they could hear the cheers and applause. Harry must've arrived already. Suddenly, Herman came flying towards Blair with two red letters. Blair let out a groan. 

Seamus snickered at her. "Go on. Open it, Caelum. It's better to open it now than later."

Blair took a deep breath before she took the letters. "Wait, why are there two?" She glanced at her friends, who shrugged, before taking a deep breath.

Blair opened the first one, and the first Howler took a deep breath before yelling with her mother's voice. "BLAIR AIKA WOOD! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, YOU? FACING OFF A DRAGON THEN THINKING IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO FLIRT IN THE MIDDLE OF A DRAGON CHASE!" 

The cheers from inside the Common Room ceased, and Blake's voice came from the Howler. "Well, dear. It was idiotic, but you have to admit it's sweet. Ow! Okay! I'll shut up." 

Then, it was her mother's voice again. "I KNOW YOU LOVE HERMIONE, BUT THERE'S A PROPER TIME FOR THAT. YOU... IF YOU PULL OFF ANOTHER STUNT LIKE THAT, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET STRAIGHT BACK HOME." 

Then, Blake's voice came out again. "Congratulations, Little B! I'm so proud of you. Ow! Okay!" 

"Congratulations, Blair! That was excellent flying- Okay, ow, Mum! I'll go." Oliver's voice came out of the howler. 

Then, it was Olivia's voice again, and this time it was calm. "I'm so proud of you, Blair. But please, take care of yourself. Good luck. I love you!" 

"We love you too!" Blake's voice said before the Howler ripped itself to pieces.

The Prancers shared wide-eyed looks before Blair opened the second one that yelled with Molly Weasley's voice. "BLAIR AIKA WOOD! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? AFTER YOUR ACCIDENT, I WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD START TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, BUT NO. YOU JUST HAD TO GET INTO TROUBLE AND FACE OFF A DRAGON. THEN, WHILE A DRAGON IS CHASING YOU, YOU JUST HAVE TO DO A STUNT!" 

Then, the voice calmed down as Molly spoke proudly. "I'm so proud of you. Congratulations to you and Harry, dear!" The letter shredded itself to pieces. It was silent for a few moments.

The Fat Lady spoke up. "Well, dears. Password?" 

"Balderdash." Blair said as she sent reassuring smiles to Neville, Dean and Seamus before they entered the common room. As soon as they entered, it exploded with cheers and yells again. Blair's eyes widened at the mountains of food and juice. She smirked at Dean when she caught sight of the banners of Harry zooming around the Horntail's head on his Firebolt and Blair riding on a dragon before zooming and scratching the Vipertooth's chin. Blair smiled as she took a cup of butterbeer and ate some Treacle Tarts. 

"Blimey, this is heavy," said Lee, picking up the golden eggs. "Open it, Harry, Blair, go on! Let's just see what's inside it!"

"They're supposed to work out the clue on their own," Hermione said swiftly. "It's in the tournament rules." 

Blair smirked at Hermione before muttering so only Hermione could hear her. "We were supposed to work out how to get past the dragons on our own too." Hermione grinned rather guiltily.

"Yeah, go on, Harry, open it!" "Come on, Blair!" several people echoed. 

Lee passed Harry and Blair the eggs, and Harry and Blair nodded at each other before they dug their fingernails into the groove that ran all the way around it and prised it open. It was hollow and completely empty — but the moment they opened it, the most horrible noise, a loud and screechy wailing, filled the room.

"Shut it!" Fred bellowed, his hands over his ears. 

"What was that?" said Seamus, staring at the eggs as Harry and Blair slammed them shut again. "Sounded like a banshee. Maybe you've got to get past one of those next, Blair, Harry!" 

"It was someone being tortured!" said Dennis Creevey, who had gone very white and spilled sausage rolls all over the floor. "You're going to have to fight the Cruciatus Curse!"

"Don't be a prat, Dennis, that's illegal," said George. "They wouldn't use the Cruciatus Curse on the champions. I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing... maybe you've got to attack him while he's in the shower, Harry, Blair." 

"Want a jam tart, Hermione?" said Fred. Hermione looked at the plate he was offering her with doubt. Blair glared at Fred, as she knew it was one of their trial products. Fred winked at her before turning back to Hermione.

"It's all right," he said. "I haven't done anything to them. It's the custard creams you've got to watch —" Dennis, who had just bitten into a custard cream, choked and spat it out. 

Fred laughed. "Just my little joke, Dennis..." 

Hermione took a jam tart. Then she said, "Did you get all this from the kitchens, Fred?"

Blair answered and she smiled at Hermione. "Yep. The house-elves are dead helpful. They help me whenever I go there for milkshakes." 

"How do you get in there?" Hermione said in an innocently casual sort of voice. 

"Easy," said Blair, "concealed door behind a painting of a bowl of fruit. Just tickle the pear, and it giggles and —" 

Fred nudged Blair and looked suspiciously at Hermione. "Why?"

"Nothing," said Hermione quickly. 

"Going to try and lead the house-elves out on strike now, are you?" said George. "Going to give up all the leaflet stuff and try and stir them up into rebellion?" Several people chortled. Hermione didn't answer. Blair frowned, but she knew that they were right. 

"Don't you go upsetting them and telling them they've got to take clothes and salaries!" said Fred warningly "You'll put them off their cooking!"

Just then, Dennis caused a slight diversion by turning into a large canary. "Oh — sorry, Dennis!" Fred shouted over all the laughter. "I forgot — it was the custard creams we hexed —" 

Within a minute, however, Dennis had molted, and once his feathers had fallen off, he reappeared looking entirely normal. He even joined in laughing. 

Blair whispered to Fred and George. "Let's try making them in different colors." Fred and George nodded before turning to the crowd. 

"Canary Creams!" Fred shouted. "Blair, George and I invented them — seven Sickles each, a bargain!"

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The winter breeze touched Blair's bare skin. She ran her hands up and down her arms to keep herself warm. She was on her way to Hagrid's cabin to help out with the Skrewts. Blair loved Magical Creatures ever since she was a child so when Hagrid asked her to help, she immediately accepted. Classes had been the same, but Double Divination was better now that she, Ron and Harry laughed at the horrible deaths Professor Trelawney planned out for them.

"Oh, there yer are Blair. Sorry, I had to do somethin'." Hagrid smiled at her then frowned. "Aren't yer cold? It's winter already." 

Blair let out a chuckle. "It's fine, Hagrid. The Skrewts will warm me up." The two of them talked about their days as they went towards the Skrewts.

"Hey, Lil' B. Can I ask yer something?" Hagrid fiddled with his hands nervously as they stopped in front of the Skrewts. 

"What is it, Hagrid?" Blair looked confused at how fidgety Hagrid was. 

Hagrid smiled weakly. "Yer see. I like Madam Maxime an' I-" 

"Aha! I knew it. I'm proud of you, Hagrid!" Blair smirked. She won the bet. Seamus owed her 5 sickles. 

Hagrid laughed merrily before they went in and started tending to the Skrewts. "So, I like her, an' I don't know what to do, Lil' B."

Blair smiled slightly while stroking one of the Skrewts. "Just be you, Hagrid." 

Hagrid looked surprised at her words. "W-What do yer mean?" 

"You know, Hagrid. She likes you too. I saw it when we went to the dragons you know. The way you look at her, the way she looks at you. It's the same as the way I look at Mione." Blair's smile went wider at the thought of the witch. Her eyes went wide when big arms wrapped around her and lifted her up. 

"Thank yer, Lil' B." 

Blair smiled back and frowned when she remembered their class a few days ago. "You better watch out for Rita Skeeter, Hagrid. I don't know how, but she still gets into Hogwarts even if Professor Dumbledore banned her." 

"Oh, let her be. She was quite nice, yer know, but she kept on askin' about yer and Harry." Blair furrowed her eyebrows. If Rita Skeeter was nice, it meant that what was going to happen was not nice at all, and if she asked about her and Harry, it meant she was probably making new articles about them.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

After her session with Hagrid, Blair was on her way to the common room when her stomach rumbled. She changed course to go to the kitchens. Blair stopped in front of the portrait of fruits and tickled the pear. Blair smiled as the smell of food wafted through her senses. 

"Blair Wood, miss! You're here." Dobby squealed when Blair came in. 

"Dobby!" Blair opened her arms as Dobby hugged her tight. 

"Blair Wood, miss! What can I do for you?"

"Blair?" A voice said from behind them. 

Blair turned around to see that Harry, Ron and Hermione came in. 

Dobby went to hug Harry this time. Blair waved at them. "Hey. What are you guys doing here?" 

Ron whispered to Blair Hermione's plans with S.P.E.W. "You've got to stop her, Blair." 

Blair hesitated before whispering back. "I would if I could, but I agree with my future wife, Ronnie." Blair winked at Hermione, who just rolled her eyes at her.

Then, Blair patted Winky, who had started crying, on the shoulder. "There, there, Winky." But Winky cried harder than ever. 

Dobby, on the other hand, beamed up at Harry and Blair. "Would Harry Potter and Blair Wood like a cup of tea?" he squeaked loudly, over Winky's sobs. 

"Sure, Dobby. I'd like some treacle tart too, please. Oh, and a milkshake." Blair smiled at her. Dobby nodded, and several house elves came with a teapot, a large plate of biscuits and Blair's treacle tarts and milkshake.

"Good service!" Ron said, in an impressed voice. 

Hermione frowned at him, but the elves all looked delighted; they bowed very low and retreated. 

Blair let Harry and Dobby talk. She watched how Hermione listened carefully to Dobby's words. She grinned and thought that Hermione's stubbornness just made Blair fall in love with her more. 'Would our children be super stubborn then? Stubborn plus stubborn equals too stubborn.' 

Then, she saw Hermione try to comfort Winky, but to no avail. Blair crouched down beside her. Winky glared at Hermione. "Winky is a disgraced elf, but Winky is not yet getting paid!" she squeaked. "Winky is not sunk so low as that! Winky is properly ashamed of being freed!" 

"Ashamed?" said Hermione blankly. "But — Winky, come on! It's Mr. Crouch who should be ashamed, not you! You didn't do anything wrong, he was really horrible to you —"

But at these words, Winky clapped her hands over the holes in her hat, flattening her ears so that she couldn't hear a word, and screeched, "You is not insulting my master, miss! You is not insulting Mr. Crouch! Mr. Crouch is a good wizard, miss! Mr. Crouch is right to sack bad Winky!" 

Hermione was about to say something when Blair shook her head and smiled at Winky. "We're sorry, Winky. We didn't mean to upset you. Hermione just meant that you shouldn't feel bad. Mr. Crouch may have been your master, but you should know that you should still be the master of your life, and don't worry about Mr. Crouch. He's fine."

Winky went silent and stared at Blair before asking them. "You is seeing him here at Hogwarts?" 

"Yes," said Hermione, "he and Mr. Bagman are judges in the Triwizard Tournament." 

"Mr. Bagman comes too?" squeaked Winky, and to their surprise, she looked angry again. "Mr. Bagman is a bad wizard! A very bad wizard! My master isn't liking him, oh no, not at all!"

"Bagman — bad?" said Harry. 

"Oh yes," Winky said, nodding her head furiously. "My master is telling Winky some things! But Winky is not saying... Winky — Winky keeps her master's secrets..." She dissolved yet again in tears; they could hear her sobbing into her skirt, "Poor master, poor master, no Winky to help him no more!"

Blair prevented Hermione from saying another word as Blair smiled and chatted with Dobby and her friends. Harry, Ron and Hermione soon left, but Blair stayed, wanting to talk to Dobby more and trying out her new prank ideas. "Hey, Dobby. Can you bring me some Butterbeer Pops and pumpkin juice?" 

"Yes, Blair, miss. How was your first task, Miss?" 

Blair grinned and told Dobby everything, she especially emphasized the kiss, while placing some spells on the Butterbeer Pops and pumpkin juice. "You think I have a chance, Dobby?" 

"Oh, yes, Blair, miss. She is most certainly warming up to you. Dobby thinks she is liking you." Dobby smiled at her excitedly. 

Blair jumped up and down and finished her experiment on the Butterbeer Pops and pumpkin juice. Blair gave him one last hug before fixing her stuff. "Thanks, Dobby. See you! Come visit me so I'd give you my old sweater, alright?" 

"Thank you, Blair Wood, miss!" Dobby waved goodbye as Blair left the kitchens.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Blair walked to the common room and smiled when she found Fred and George there. "My favorite Weasley twins!" 

Fred gasped mockingly. "Our favorite female Wood!" 

"Oh, Freddie. Why do you think has the Champion visited us?" George played along. 

Blair let out a dramatic sigh. "I have finished it, dear Fred, dear George. I call it the Bumbling Butter Pops and Pepper Pumpkin." Fred and George grinned while she brought out the Bumbling Butter Pops and Pepper Pumpkin and handed it out to them. Blair looked around and smiled when she saw someone. 

"Hey, Nigel! Come here."

Nigel, who was a fan of Blair, smiled widely and went towards her. "B-Blair, what can I do for you?" 

"Well, you see, there's something I want to try. Can you help me?" Blair smiled at him mischievously. It was obvious Blair had a plan, but Nigel smiled and nodded anyway. 

Fred clapped his hands. "Perfect. Now, would you try this, Nigel?" Nigel took one of the Butterbeer Pops curiously before trying it. His eyes widened. He suddenly grew fur and when he tried to speak, what came out of his mouth were the sounds a baboon made. The whole Common Room laughed, and even Nigel himself was laughing. Well, that was what Blair and the twins thought from the sounds he made.

George held out the Pepper Pumpkin. "Here, this'll make you feel better." 

Nigel drank the juice, but suddenly felt his whole body turn warm, and his entire body turned red under all the fur. Then, smoke came from Nigel's ears and nose like a dragon. When he opened his mouth, smoke came out as well. 

Blair let out a chuckle before waving her wand and turning Nigel back. "Sorry 'bout that, Nigel, but thank you." 

To her surprise, Nigel just grinned. "Wicked." Blair waved goodbye to Nigel and turned back to the twins. They brainstormed on how to fix their products and prepared for their business.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

At breakfast, Blair snorted. Harry spilt the drink from his mouth when Cho smiled at him. Blair waved at Cho, who blushed and waved back. 

Harry looked at Blair with wide eyes. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" Blair confusedly said. Harry let out an exasperated sigh and simply ate his toast. 

Hermione scoffed and slammed the newspaper on the table. "Look at this! I can't believe it, she's done it again. Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. Her latest prey sources report is none other than the Bulgarian bon-bon Viktor Krum. No word yet on how Harry Potter and Blair Wood are taking this latest emotional blow."

Blair glared at the newspaper before smirking at Hermione. "As long as I'm your English bon-bon 1, Granger." Hermione scoffed at Blair. 

Nigel came towards them with a package in hand. "Parcel for you, Mr. Weasley." 

"Thank you, Nigel." Nigel stood there, staring at Blair. 

Ron mumbled to him. "Not now, Nigel. Later. Go on." 

Harry, Blair and Hermione looked at Ron with confused gazes as he sighed. "I'd told him I'd get him Blair's autograph. Oh, look. Mum sent me something."

Ron opened up his package, and his eyes went wide. "Mum sent me a dress?" 

Harry snickered at him. "Well, it does match your eyes. Is there a bonnet?"

 Blair stuck her hand in the box and took the bonnet out. "Aha!" 

Ron stood up and walked to Ginny. "Ginny, this must be for you." 

Ginny scoffed at him. "I'm not wearing that, it's ghastly." 

The whole hall burst into laughter. Hermione spoke through her giggles. "They're not for Ginny. They're for you! Dress robes." 

Blair stopped eating and looked up at her. "Dress robes? For what?"

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Professor McGonagall looked at them sternly while the Gryffindors separated into two sides of the room. Blair sat with the boys and winked at Hermione from across the room. Hermione just rolled her eyes and smiled while looking at Professor McGonagall.

"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament since its inception. On the night of Christmas Eve, we and our guests gather in the great hall for well mannered frivolity. As representatives of the host school, I expect each and every one of you to put your best foot forward, and I mean this literally because the Yule Ball is first and foremost... a dance."

Groans emerged from the boys' side of the room while excited whispers erupted from the girls' side.

"Silence. The house of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you in the course of a single evening besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons."

"Try saying that five times faster." Fred whispered to Blair and George. They tried to do it without stuttering but broke out into laughter every time they couldn't do it.

"Now to dance is to let the body breathe, inside every girl a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight."

"Something's about to burst out of Eloise Midgen but I don't think it's a swan." Ron whispered to them, and they stifled their laughter because Professor McGonagall was glaring at them.

"Inside every boy, a lordly lion prepared to prance. Mr Weasley, will you join me?"

Blair snorted and pushed Ron, who looked horrified, forward and McGonagall took his hand.

"Now, place your right hand on my waist."

Ron's eyes widened. "Where?"

"My waist. Now bend your arm. One two three, one two three, one two three."

And they began to waltz around the room, Blair called out loudly. "Let out your lordly lion, Ronnie."

The whole room burst into laughter as Ron glared at her.

Harry leaned in and whispered, "Oi! Never gonna let him forget this are you?"

"Never," Fred, George and Blair said at the same time.

"Now, everybody come together," said Professor McGonagall. 

Blair immediately stood up and walked to Hermione. She bowed and held out her hand, "Miss Granger, would you like to dance with me?"

Hermione blushed and rolled her eyes at the envious stares at her before smiling at Blair and taking her hand, "I would like to."

And Blair smiled so wide, she winked at her friends, who laughed at her delight. Hermione couldn't help the smile on her face because Blair's happiness was contagious, and she felt happy that she was the cause for Blair's smile, and hope rose in her. She was starting to hope that she would be the one Blair would ask. Hermione was having a few doubts, but seeing Blair smile at her with pure happiness and love, Hermione felt herself let go of her doubts and relax and laugh even if Blair was a bad dancer.

After a few dances, Professor McGonagall dismissed them but held Harry and Blair back. The two exchanged nervous looks, not knowing why.

Professor McGonagall waited until the rest of the Gryffindors had gone, and then said, "Potter, Wood, the champions and their partners —" 

"What partners?" said Harry. 

Professor McGonagall looked suspiciously at him, as though she thought he was trying to be funny. "Your partners for the Yule Ball, Potter," she said coldly. "Your dance partners."

Blair felt herself go red. "Wait, dance partners? But I don't dance." 

"Oh yes, you do," said Professor McGonagall irritably. "That's what I'm telling you. Traditionally, the champions and their partners open the ball." Blair suddenly smiled. She had another chance to ask Hermione out, even if she wasn't a great dancer.

"I'm not dancing," Harry said. 

"It is traditional," said Professor McGonagall firmly. "You are a Hogwarts champion, and you will do what is expected of you as a representative of the school. So make sure you get yourself a partner, Potter." 

"But — I don't —" 

"You heard me, Potter," said Professor McGonagall in a very final sort of way. As they left the classroom, Blair hurriedly bid goodbye to Harry and started thinking of a plan to ask Hermione out. She was going to make sure that it was special.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The Prancers walked down the corridors, and Blair was surprised to see girls giggle and whisper and stare at them as they passed. 

Neville let out a moan. "I'll never be able to ask someone out. They're always together." 

Blair slung an arm over his shoulder. "Oh, Gramen. Why don't you ask Ginny out? You've liked her since second year. Oh, there she is." 

"Caelum-"

But Neville was too late. "Oi, Ginny!" Blair waved her over. 

Ginny's friends giggled, and they pushed Ginny. Ginny blushed slightly as she went to them with a smile. "Hey, Blair." 

Dean nudged Seamus and Blair. "Hey, I think Harry wanted to talk to us. Let's go. See you, Gramen." 

"Bye, Gramen!" Blair cheekily called. Neville blushed a deep shade of red while they walked away. The trio hid behind a tree as they watched Neville ask Ginny out. When they saw Ginny blush and nod, the three of them bumped fists. 

Neville couldn't wipe the smile off his face when he walked over to them. "Thank you, Caelum. You're amazing." 

Blair just ruffled his hair as they walked on. "Who'd you ask, Ignis, Tranqs?" 

"Oh, I asked Lavender. Tranqs asked out the Ravenclaw in a year below us, Luna Lovegood." Seamus said. 

Blair's eyes lit up in realization. "Oh, I know her. I talked to her one time." 

"How about you and Hermione, Caelum?" Dean suddenly asked. 

Blair smiled softly. "I'm thinking of a plan, Tranqs. I want it to be just as special as she is. She deserves the best, and I want to give it to her. Besides, if I don't go with her, I won't go with anyone at all."

Neville, Dean and Seamus smiled at her. Their friend was so deeply in love with Hermione Granger that she didn't even notice the stares that followed her as she walked through the corridors. She didn't think twice before gently rejecting the countless people that asked her to be their partner. She wanted one person and one person only, and that was Hermione Granger.

The Prancers went up to the common room and Blair smiled when she saw Hermione there with Harry and Ron. Blair rushed to the seat beside Hermione and ran a hand through her hair. "Hey there. Think I forgot your name. Can I call you mine?" 

Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes. "In your dreams, Wood. And when will you start thinking about the task?" 

Blair pouted at her. "It's in February, Mione. Let me be." 

Then, Blair turned to Fred and George. "So, who're you two going with to the ball?"

"Angelina," said Fred promptly, without a trace of embarrassment. 

"What?" said Ron, taken aback. "You've already asked her?" 

"Good point," said Fred. He turned his head and called across the common room, "Oi! Angelina!" 

Angelina, who had been chatting with Alicia Spinnet near the fire, looked over at him. "What?" she called back. 

"Want to come to the ball with me?" 

Angelina gave Fred an appraising sort of look. "All right, then," she said, and she turned back to Alicia and carried on chatting with a bit of a grin on her face.

"There you go," said Fred to Blair, Harry and Ron, "piece of cake." He got to his feet, yawning, and said, "Hey, Blair. Can we use Herman?" 

Blair just nodded, and Fred tugged on George. "Thanks, Little B. George, come on." They left. 

Ron then turned to Blair. "Who are you going with?" 

"No one. Well, at least not yet." Blair winked at Hermione, who glared before turning back to her book and muttering something under her breath that Blair couldn't hear. Blair was surprised at the sudden animosity and started thinking if she did something wrong.

Ron groaned and looked at Harry. "We should get a move on, you know... ask someone. He's right. We don't want to end up with a pair of trolls." 

Hermione let out a sputter of indignation. "A pair of what, excuse me?" 

"Well — you know," said Ron, shrugging. "I'd rather go alone than with — with Eloise Midgen, say."

"Her acne's loads better lately — and she's really nice!" Hermione glared at him. 

"Her nose is off-center," said Ron. 

"Oh I see," Hermione said, bristling. "So basically, you're going to take the best-looking girl who'll have you, even if she's completely horrible?" 

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

"I'm going to bed," Hermione snapped, and she swept off toward the girls' staircase without another word. 

Blair shook her head at Ron. "Oh, Ronniekins. You made my lovely Granger mad."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Blair smiled at the decorations that went up around the castle. Everlasting icicles had been attached to the banisters of the marble staircase; the usual twelve Christmas trees in the Great Hall were bedecked with everything from luminous holly berries to real, hooting, golden owls, and the suits of armor had all been bewitched to sing carols whenever anyone passed them. It was quite something to hear "O Come, All Ye Faithful" sung by an empty helmet that only knew half the words.

Several times, Filch had to extract Peeves from inside the armor, where he had taken to hiding, filling in the gaps in the songs with lyrics of his own invention, all of which were very rude. 

Blair smiled widely at the thought of her plan to ask Hermione. It was almost finished, and she hoped that she would say yes.

Before dinner, Blair cheered Harry on as she accompanied him to Cho Chang. "Er — Cho? Could I have a word with you?" Harry said nervously. 

Giggles erupted from the girls around Cho, and Cho smiled and blushed when she met eyes with Blair. "Okay." 

Blair sent him a thumbs up, and Cho's friends went away. 

"Er, wangoballwime?" Harry said hurriedly. Blair stifled her laughter. 

Cho blinked her eyes. "Sorry?" 

 "D'you — d'you want to go to the ball with me?" said Harry, turning as red as Ron's hair.

"Oh!" said Cho, and she went red too. She took a glance at Blair then at Harry. "Oh Harry, I'm really sorry," and she truly looked it. "I've already said I'll go with someone else." 

"Oh," said Harry. Blair sent him a sad look. 

Harry cleared his throat. "That's okay. Who're you going with?" 

"Oh — Cedric," Cho said. "Cedric Diggory." Cho sent them one last smile and another apology to Harry before she walked away. 

"Come on, mate. It's alright." Blair wrapped an arm around Harry and led him back up to Gryffindor Tower.

"Fairy lights," Harry said dully to the Fat Lady. "Yes, indeed, dear!" she trilled, straightening her new tinsel hair band as she swung forward to admit them.

Entering the common room, Blair looked around, and to her surprise, she saw Ron sitting ashen-faced in a distant corner. Ginny was sitting with him, talking to him in what seemed to be a low, soothing voice. 

"What's up, Ron?" said Harry, joining them. Ron looked up at Harry and Blair, a sort of blind horror in his face.

"Why did I do it?" he said wildly. "I don't know what made me do it!" 

"What?" said Blair. 

"He — er — just asked Fleur Delacour to go to the ball with him," said Ginny. She looked as though she was fighting back a smile, but she kept patting Ron's arm sympathetically.

Blair's eyes widened. "You what?" 

"I don't know what made me do it!" Ron gasped again. "What was I playing at? There were people — all around — I've gone mad — everyone watching! I was just walking past her in the entrance hall — she was standing there talking to Diggory — and it sort of came over me — and I asked her!"

Ron moaned and put his face in his hands. He kept talking, though the words were barely distinguishable. "She looked at me like I was a sea slug or something. Didn't even answer. And then — I dunno — I just sort of came to my senses and ran for it."

"She's part veela," said Harry. "You were right — her grandmother was one. It wasn't your fault, I bet you just walked past when she was turning on the old charm for Diggory and got a blast of it — but she was wasting her time. He's going with Cho Chang." Ron looked up.

Blair smiled sympathetically at her friends. 

 "I asked her to go with me just now," Harry said dully, "and she told me." 

"This is mad," said Ron. "We're the only ones left who haven't got anyone. Hey — when are you going to ask Hermione, Blair?" Blair smirked and told them all about her plan. 

"Well, you better be quick. I heard Terry Boot asked her during Potions, but she told him she was already going with someone. I thought it was you, but you haven't yet." Ron started laughing a little.

Blair's face fell a little. Was Hermione really going with someone else? 

Just then Hermione climbed in through the portrait hole. "Why weren't you three at dinner?" she said, coming over to join them. 

"Because — oh shut up laughing, you two — because they've both just been turned down by girls they asked to the ball!" said Ginny. That shut Harry and Ron up.

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

"All the good-looking ones taken, Ron?" said Hermione loftily. "Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you." 

Blair kept silent while Ron looked at Hermione. "Hermione, is it true? Are you really going with someone?" 

Blair's head snapped up, and Hermione suddenly blushed. "Yes. I'm going with someone."

Blair felt her heart break and from the corner of her eyes, she saw Harry, Ron and Ginny look at her with sad looks. 

Ron let out a scoff. "No, you're not! You just said that to get rid of Terry! And there's someone hasn't asked you yet." 

"Oh did I?" said Hermione, and her eyes flashed dangerously, but softened a little at the hurt look on Blair's face. Her eyes hardened again as she stared at Ron. "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. Now will you tell us the truth now?" 

"I've already told you!" Hermione said very angrily. "I'm going with someone else!" And she stormed off toward the girls' dormitories again. Blair stared after her with hurt in her eyes. She didn't want to believe it, but she knew Hermione wouldn't lie.

"She's lying," said Ron flatly while placing a hand on Blair's shoulder in comfort. 

"She's not," said Ginny quietly, looking at Blair with a look of pity. 

"Who is it then?" said Ron sharply. 

"I'm not telling you, it's her business," said Ginny, signing to Ron not to push on because of Blair. 

"Right," said Ron, who looked extremely put out, "this is getting stupid. Ginny, you can go with Harry, and I'll just —"

"I can't," said Ginny, and she went scarlet too. "I'm going with — with Neville. He asked me a few days ago, and well, I'm happy with that. I think I'll go and have dinner. I'm sorry again, Blair." Ginny squeezed Blair's shoulder, got up and walked off to the portrait hole.

Ron looked at Blair and frowned. "Blair-" 

"Don't worry. It's fine." Blair forcibly smiled before getting up. "I'm going up to bed." Blair slowly walked up the stairs, tuning out the world and clutched at her chest. She knew that Hermione did not like her the same way, but it didn't hurt any less.

Blair opened the door to see Neville, Dean and Seamus there. Dean walked up to her excitedly. "Everything's ready, Caelum. You just have to get- Are you alright?" 

Blair shook her head and hugged Dean tight. Dean exchanged surprised glances with Neville and Seamus before hugging her back. 

"Is everything fine, Blair?" Neville walked to them and looked at her worriedly. 

Blair smiled weakly at them. "She's going with someone else. I'm too late, Gramen." 

Without a word, the three of them swept Blair up into a tight hug, trying to give her some comfort, but they knew it would be no use. Blair's heart just got broken, and the only one who could fix it was the person who broke it in the first place.

Hermione sat in bed with a frown. She had been waiting for Blair to ask her. She wouldn't deny it, but when she saw Blair call Ginny in the courtyard, she thought that Ginny and Blair were going together and immediately left. 

Hermione actually felt hurt when she saw that. She was starting to think that Blair had genuine feelings for her then she goes and ask someone else. Krum popped up and asked her. Hermione said yes out of the hurt she felt. Then, she learned that Ginny was going with Neville, but it was too late. She had already said yes to Krum.

Hermione let out a sigh and frowned at the clothes that flew out of Blair's closet and out the door. Blair must've been really hurt to not even show up. Hermione remembered the look in Blair's eyes. The look of hurt and betrayal, and her heart hurt when she saw it. She knew that she had started seeing Blair differently this year, not only because of how she changed physically, but actually, she was surprised that Blair was still at it at asking her out.

Hermione wouldn't deny it anymore. She had feelings for Blair Wood. She liked the Chaser, but she just wouldn't admit it. At least, not yet.

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Thank you so much for 1000 reads and over 100 votes! You all are amazing. And I hope you all enjoy the story so far. Next chapter is the Yule Ball. Who do you think will she bring to the Ball? Thank you for reading. Much love! <3

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