"I'm nervous, I'm....wow I'm nervous!" Henry shuffled back and forth outside the Gryffindor Tower as he walked beside Fergus to head to the hall where the Yule Ball was being held. Hope agreed that she would meet the boys there as her grandfather wanted to meet up with her and Teddy before the start of the ball. Henry was an obvious nervous wreck as he pulled at his dress robes, suddenly feeling all too warm.

"Will you stop!" Fergus told him. "You're making me nervous!"

"I can't help it!" Henry said. 

"You're acting like you've never seen Hope in a dress or you've never seen her dance. You've seen both plenty of times. Just relax or you'll wind up passing out before we even reach the hall."

Henry paused in the middle of the corridor trying to regain his breath and gather himself, but he was failing miserably. He wasn't sure what was getting himself so worked up, it wasn't like the Yule Ball was a sudden concept. He had been aware of it for quite sometime. He wasn't nervous about dancing either as he had gone to Professor Longbottom for help. The boy figured since Hope had claim Professor Longbottom to be the best dancer in the school that he was going to go right to the source for help. 

Professor Longbottom was more than willing and just a little too enthusiastic, but Henry didn't care, he was just happy that he didn't have to go to his parents.  He couldn't imagine getting dancing lessons from his father or his mother, by the time of the Yule Ball, he would be able to perform the Chicken Dance no problem under their tutelage. 

'Come on, Henry," Fergus sighed patting him on the back. "You're going to be fine. It's Hope."

"That's just the thing, Fergus, it's Hope. No one, it's Hope."

"You'll be just fine. If you mess up the traditional dance, she's not going to hold it against you. If anything she'll probably take your lead and you two will come up with your own dance."

Henry chuckled. "That's true. Well, I certainly hope that you practice your dancing. After all, you're taking the best dancer of Hogwarts' daughter."

He clapped Fergus on the shoulder before he continued in the direction of the hall. Completely unaware that he had left Fergus standing behind in complete horror. 

"My, my, my, you certainly clean up nicely." Hope called to her uncle as the two of them met up in Professor Lupin's office as instructed. Teddy was all dolled up in his dress robes with his hair neatly tucked back, but still sporting the lovely shade of teal. 

"I'm sorry and you are-" Teddy joked around until Hope hit his arm playfully.  "I can definitely tell Ellie made your dress and.."

"And my shoes!" Hope stated proudly lifting up her foot and revealing the knitted flat that went with her dress.  "Mum went all out."

"I can see that."

Unlike the majority of the gowns that the girls and women were wearing to the Yule Ball, Hope appeared as though she would be the comfiest among all the attendees.  Eleanor had not disappointed with her knitting talents. Using a light grey yarn, she had created a long sleeve dress, that was detailed with an embroider design to accentuate her waist. There were a couple of tassels that hung from her sleeves that gave it a winter feel, perfect for the Yule Ball. It was a terribly fancy gown, but then again, Teddy couldn't imagine seeing his niece wearing anything terribly fancy to begin with.

After all, Hope came from the masters of comfort, the two that were married in their pajamas on their wedding day. 

When Remus arrived to his office, he had a surprise in tow as Tonks arrived right behind them. The woman let out a happy cry as she saw her son and granddaughter all dressed up. 

"Look at you two! You both look incredible! That's it, you'll be the best looking ones at the Ball, we need to tell the other students not to even bother going. They'll just look ridiculous compared to you two."

Teddy turned red while Hope giggled before looking to her grandfather.

"Are you okay, Grandpa Rem Rem?" She questioned.

"What?" Remus quickly rubbed at his eyes. "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm fine. You both just look...ah...well you both look fantastic. Your dates are incredibly lucky."

Tonks walked over to Hope once she had finished fussing over Teddy, who was slightly relieved that his mother had stopped attempting to groom him. 

"You didn't do anything to your hair?" Tonks pointed out, noting that Hope's hair was out in it's usual way, resting down by her shoulders.

"Nope." Hope said with a smile.

"Good." Tonks chuckled. "This suits you much better than any weird hairstyle...unless you wanted to add some color to it."

Hope giggled. "I think I'll leave that to Teddy, Stella and you."

Sirius and Nixie were standing outside of the hall, greeting students at the door as they entered the ball. Sirius was adjusting his tie repeatedly until Nixie nudged him in the ribs, roughly.

"What I was just fixing it-" He turned his head to see that Nixie wasn't fussing at him over the tie, but the fact their son had arrived. 

"Look at him." Nixie said softly. "He looks so grown  and...so handsome."

"Now, Nini, don't you go getting emotional. You're going to embarrass the boy."

"I'll do whatever I damn well please." Nixie told him sternly before he made his way over to them.

"Is Hope here yet?" He asked. The nerves were written all over his face as he looked to his parents.

"I'm afraid not." Nixie answered, however, she was confused as Henry sighed in relief and wrapped his arms around his mother. 

"Oh thank Merlin, I have a moment to breathe."

"Is everything alright, Henry?" Nixie asked him in concern. She went to run her hand through her son's hair, but the boy grabbed her hand last minute.

"I just got it to where I like it, Mum."

"Sorry," she muttered as Sirius chuckled beside her. "What is wrong with you?"

"He's worked himself up into a frenzy over Hope." Fergus answered plainly before entering the hall without another word.

"Thanks, Fergie." Henry grumbled.

"What are you getting all worked up about?" Sirius said leaning against the wall. "It's not like Hope is a stranger, you've known the girl since...well since you both were born."

"I don't know!" Henry groaned burying his face into his mother's arm. 

Sirius and Nixie exchanged looks, the couple smiling at each other as they saw Hope down the corridor arriving.

"Well, you better it figure it out very soon, son." Sirius told him, peeling Henry away from his mother's side.

"Why-" Henry didn't need a verbal answer as he was turned to look down the corridor where he instantly saw Hope. "Merlin..."