hello bubs!! this chapter is beyond long as it is the Yule Ball😁😁😁

i apologize for any grammar mistakes. my eyes are so tired from typing so much so there might be a few that i missed lmao

anyways i suggest starting to song when they get to the Yule Ball/start dancing instead of at the beginning of the chapter.

enjoyyyyyy!!

"I havent eaten in six hours." Pansy sighs, plopping down to sit on her bed. She was in a long and puffy dark red colored dress- similar to the color of my own dress.

"Why not?" I question, my brows furrowed with concern.

"Had to fit snugly into this dress," She smiles, standing up and rubbing her hands down her waist as she admires herself in the mirror.

I roll my eyes at her, holding up my dress as if to see any mistakes, though I knew there wouldn't be. any It was a long dark red colored gown, with fabric that hugged my waist, though got loser as it went down.

Pansy and I had decided both to wear red colored dresses to "support" our Gryffindor dates, though there was revenge in both of our motives to buy these dresses. We knew Draco and Blaise would hate to see us in red.

"Aren't you just thrilled to see what Ron's got on?" I smile goofily at her, having seen a glance of his awful dress robes one day in the Great Hall.

She glares at me, crossing her arms over her chest. "I will not be spending the night with him if he shows up in those horrid robes."

"Oh don't lie to yourself, you won't be spending the night with him either way," I quirk an eyebrow, a small mischievous smirk growing on my lips.

She huffs, checking her hair in the mirror. "That is indeed true."

Her hair was made back into a low bun, two pieces of curled hair in front of her face along with her bangs.

"Time to put this gorgeous thing on," I smile slightly at the dress I was holding up in front of me.

Pansy claps quietly, grinning at me.

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Ron's jaw practically breaks as Pansy and I walk up to him and Harry. Harry was wearing simple dress robes, while Ron was wearing strange and almost frilly looking dress robes, causing my thankfulness for Harry being the one I was going with to rise.

Pansy gives me a silent beg for help once she sees what Ron's wearing, though I only give her a small smile in return. She definitely was not staying with him the whole night.

"Shall we?" Harry takes in a deep breath, before I wrap my arm around his forearm and we all begin walking.

We travel through a few dimly lighted corridors, before making it to a staircase that lead down to the Great Hall entrance. I pick up my dress with my hand that wasn't wrapped around Harry's arm before slowly walking down the staircase.

As I look up, I notice him. My mouth falls open slightly at the sight of Draco all dressed up in his dress robes. He locks eyes with me immediately, his lips parting slightly as well. His eyes slowly move down my body, before looking back up to my eyes, his mouth only parting further as I continue to walk down the stairs with Harry.

I try my best to take my eyes off of Draco to at least show a bit of respect for my own date, though as we make it down to the ground, I notice that Harry's eyes are on someone else as well. I follow his eyes, assuming at first that he's looking at how beautiful Cho looks, though I soon realize he's not looking at her, he's looking at her date. Cedric.

My brows furrow slightly with confusion, though before I can question him, Mcgonagall comes rushing out of the Great Hall to gather all of the Triwizard champions and their dates.

Draco starts walking with a Slytherin girl who I assume is his date, giving me one small glance before disappearing into the Great Hall.

A small sigh leaves my lips before I smile, looking at Harry. "Good luck." I whisper to him before we walk together into the ball.

It looks as though the Great Hall has been frozen, as there are many ice sculptures and pillars. Fake snow falls from the ceiling, earning a grin on my lips as I admire how absolutely beautiful everything looks. There were giant Christmas trees too, snow covering their evergreen leaves. Tables were set up around the room, though a space for dancing was kept in the middle, which is exactly where we were going.

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After the Triwizard champions had finished our dance, I decided to go sit with Pansy. A few of our Professors were dancing with each other, along with some students- including Neville and Ginny.

I smile as I watch Neville gracefully glide across the floor, a bright grin on his face.

"I'm gonna go grab a drink, want one?" I ask Pansy, standing up slowly and carefully to not damage my dress.

"Nah I'll get one later," She says, her eyes not leaving the sight of Blaise talking to his date.

A small sigh leaves me as I look over at him as well, leaving our table after a moment. I walk over to a long table that drinks were being served at, though nothing was alcoholic. I begin pouring some of a fruity looking drink into a cup before a familiar boy enters my presence.

"You know how I said I was fine with it?" Draco asks me quietly, getting a drink for himself too as to not pull attention towards us.

I nod slowly, trying not to show how confused I was.

"I'm not sure if that still stands true," He sighs quietly, clearing his throat.

A silent laugh leaves me, as I take a small sip of the drink. "A bit too late for that don't you think?"

He turns to face me, though I can't tell what he's feeling. "We could just go to the Astronomy tower and spend the rest of the night together."

I roll my eyes, scoffing quietly at him. "Draco we need to stay here. I need to stay here."

Before he can say anything else, Harry walks up to us, slightly out of breath from dancing. "Uh-" He looks between the two of us. "Would you like to go dance, Y/n?"

I see Draco's jaw tense up, as he stares at the ground, trying to avoid the sight of us. "Yeah sure," I smile at Harry, trying to ignore Draco's jealousy.

"Brilliant," Harry says, though he doesn't seem too excited as he glances at Draco one more time before walking me out to the dance floor.

As a new song begins to play, we slowly start to waltz. I couldn't quite tell the emotions he was feeling, so I avoided any eye contact.

"Y'know, if Malfoy's ever bothering you, you can let me know." Harry says quietly, trying to meet my eyes.

I huff humorously, though I can tell theres a bit of annoyance in my attitude. "Trust me, he isn't the one bothering me." I say, intending that if either of us were to bother the other, that it'd be me. "Plus, I don't want to be seen as a weak woman who needs a man's help to get rid of another man. I appreciate your concern, Harry, but I promise I'm fine on my own."

He gives me a small smile, nodding his head. "Well if this helps, I bet if I didn't know you, I'd be more scared of you than I am Malfoy. You come off very independent and intimidating."

A small smile grows on my lips as well, as we continue to waltz around the room. "Good. Though I thought you weren't afraid of Draco."

"Well I'm not, really. I just meant it in a way that you have intention in what you do, where as he just bullies for no reason." Harry shrugs slightly.

I quietly laugh. "Well I'm glad you think so highly of me and my 'intentions'." I mock his wording.

He laughs awkwardly, before focusing more on our dancing. Harry definitely wasn't the best dancer, nowhere near as good as Draco or Blaise, though I appreciated his effort in trying.

"Ow," I say quietly after a few moments of us dancing. Harry had stepped quite harshly on my toes, which soon began to throb out of pain.

"Oh shit I'm so sorry!" Harry whisper yells, his dancing now messed up from the incident.

"Its fine-" I smile awkwardly, trying to not pay attention to the pain. "I think I'm gonna go sit down for now,"

He lets go of my waist and hand, backing away awkwardly from me as if I had a contagious disease. "Uh yeah- so sorry again."

I give him a small smile as to say goodbye before walking away to Pansy's table, where Theo and Crabbe were now sitting with her. A quiet sigh leaves me as I sit down in a seat next to Pansy, lifting my dress to look down at my foot.

"Having fun?" She asks me sarcastically, glancing down at my injury.

I glare at her, dropping my dress back down. "No more than you are," I look over to Blaise who's across the room, seeming bored as ever with his date.

She looks over at him for a moment before resting her chin in her hand and slowly stirring her drink around with a straw.

"Where is Ron anyway?" I say, searching confusedly around for her date.

"Over there with Lovegood and Longbottom," She rolls her eyes, looking at the table the three of them were sitting at. "He's been obsessing over Granger all night. Cant handle that she's here with Krum."

I furrow my brows slightly as I examine his angry expression. "What a date,"

Pansy huffs humorously, shaking her head slowly before looking away from them.

I turn back toward the table, resting my chin in my hand just as Pansy had done earlier. A few moments go by, no one talking as classical music continues to play and couples continue to dance.

I hear someone quietly clear their throat near me, causing me slight confusion before I turn around to see them.

"Might we have thou ladies hands in a dance?" Blaise grins goofily at Pansy and I, Draco smiling right beside him.

"Is that even correct grammar?" I ask, raising my eyebrows at him.

"Is that even the correct answer?" Draco responds, tilting his head to side.

I roll my eyes at him before looking over to Pansy who seems slightly hesitant about dancing with Blaise. I slowly get up and take Draco's hand, attempting to give them their privacy.

"Good luck, Zabini." I whisper, patting him on the shoulder before Draco and I walk out to the dance floor.

It was muscle memory at this point to put one of my my hands on his shoulder, and my other hand in his. We begin waltzing once we're prepared, our eyes locked and our rhythm in sync.

"Y'know if your foot is still hurting from Potter's awful dancing, we could just leave." Draco smirks, pulling me slightly tighter by my waist.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head slowly. "We can't just leave, you know that."

He pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue, clearly contemplating ways to sneak out. "People have been leaving all night, and I know you're not enjoying yourself." He says in a tone of concern. "Theres nothing and no one stopping us from leaving, Y/n."

I glance at the Great Hall entrance, biting my bottom lip gently. "I need to stay here, for Harry if nothing else."

Draco nods slowly, hesitant in accepting my reasoning.

My eyes wander around the room before they land on Pansy and Blaise. The two of them are rather quickly jogging out of the Great Hall, hand in hand with grins on their faces. I scoff quietly, my jealousy only rising.

Draco laughs quietly at my anger, watching the two of them as well. "They seem to have resolved their problem."

"No kidding," I say annoyedly, finally looking away as they disappear from my vision.

Though right as I look away, I begin to hear faint yelling at the entrance of the Hall. I recognized the voices almost immediately as Ron and Hermione's.

My mouth drops open slightly at the small sense of deja vu I was getting. Something in me felt as though Ron could be slut shaming her right at this moment. I stop dancing from the distraction and hurry off the dance floor.

My hand holds my dress up tightly as I speed walk toward the entrance, wanting to stop whatever was happening.

"Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?!" Hermione yells at Ron, Harry coming to the scene at about the time I get there.

"Oh yeah?! Whats that?!" Ron yells back, reminding me of a five year old having a tantrum.

"Next time theres a ball, ask me before someone else does! And not as a last resort!" She responds, storming up the staircase and away from him.

I barely notice Ron attempting to say something though nothing actually comes out of his mouth before I pick my dress up again and rush after her. I wasn't totally sure what Ron had been saying to her, though I knew from the looks of it that he was being stupid and immature.

I run through a few empty corridors, my dress trailing behind me as I follow whatever noise of crying that I can hear. "Hermione?!" I yell out, once I come to a halt.

I hear quiet sobs from the girls bathroom, causing a small frown to develop on my lips before I push the door open and see Hermione curled up on the ground, tears streaming down her face. My lips part with shock of how upset she was before I sit down next to her, bringing her into a hug which she automatically leans into.

I stroke her hair for awhile and rub her shoulder, not saying anything yet as I knew she was just trying to process her own emotions.

"He's such a prick," She says, leaning up and out of my hug.

"Thats somehow easy to believe," I smile comfortingly at her, grabbing some toilet paper from the nearest stall for her to use.

She blows her nose before throwing the tissue to the side and crossing her arms angrily. "He's probably just jealous that he wasn't the one going with Viktor."

I laugh quietly, straightening my legs and smoothing out my dress. "In my opinion, he just couldn't bare to see you with another boy. Especially one as charming as Krum."

Hermione shakes her head slowly, a small laugh leaving her. "He's not even charming," She continues to laugh. "All he talks about is quidditch and other things that I find no interest in."

I start to laugh quietly with her. "You mean Viktor Krum isn't charming?"

"Not in the least," She laughs, a small snort leaving her making us laugh even harder.

It was slightly strange that just a few minutes ago she was sobbing in my arms, and now we were laughing about how Ron was actually a little right. It was nice though, really nice.

"How was Harry?" She asks once our laughter has died down.

"He was fine other than the part where he practically broke my toe," I huff humorously at the memory.

She laughs a little, resting her head on the wall behind us. "At least he didn't break your heart,"

My smile fades at her words, resting my head against the wall as well. "He really is a prick for doing that,"

She shrugs, staring up at the bathroom ceiling. "When is he not?"

A few moments of silence pass by as the both of us get lost in our thoughts and emotions, while we sit against the bathroom wall trying to take in everything that had occurred at the ball.

"Thanks by the way..." Hermione says quietly, turning to look at me. "For comforting me."

I give her a small smile before standing up and holding my hand out to help her. "Anytime, really." She grabs my hand and helps herself up to a standing position.

She walks over to a mirror, fixing her appearance slightly before we both walk out of the bathroom.

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An exhausted huff of air leaves me as I finally make it up to the top of the astronomy tower, my dress dragging along behind me. I turn my head to see Draco sitting up against one of the walls, fidgeting with his hands in his lap.

"Hey," I say quietly, panting slightly as I walk over to him.

He gives me a small smile in return, before his eyes go back down to his hands. My eyes travel down to his hands as well, as I sit down beside him, trying to figure out what he was holding. "Whats that?" I ask, pointing to the thin chain I could barely see hanging off of his fingers.

"Its one of my rings," He says, looking up at me.

"With a chain around it?" I quirk an eyebrow, an amused smile on my face.

He huffs humorously at my comment before standing up and holding his hand out. I take it confusedly before standing up as well. We walk to the edge of the tower, my hands finding their way to the railing.

He moves to be behind me, before wrapping the chain around my neck, clipping it in the back. "Merry Christmas," He says softly.

I look down and hold the necklace in my hand, inspecting the ring on the end. It was a thick silver ring with a few stars engraved on it. It would be much too big on my finger, so it was understandable why he had turned it into a necklace.

A smile grows on my lips before I slowly turn around to face him."Thank you," I whisper, still holding the ring tightly in my fingers.

His fingers intertwine with my hand that wasn't holding the ring, slowly bringing it up to his lips before placing a soft kiss on my knuckles. He then gently takes the hand wrapped around the necklace off and wraps my arms around his neck, before placing his hands on my waist.

We sway side to side slowly for awhile, before he spins me around by my finger, earning a small laugh from me.

The two of us continue to dance for only God knows how long, enjoying our time together before Christmas break.

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heyyy;)

wowzers that was a long chapter‼️ it definitely took me awhile to write but it was so fun and i'm hoping y'all enjoyed it.

i genuinely cannot process that this is chapter 70. it's so freaking crazy and i'm so happy to see that y'all are still enjoying the story.

thank you for everything lovelies<33 i love you all dearly mwahh!