"The Yule Ball has been a tradition of the Tri-Wizard tournament since its inception..." Professor McGonagall explained to the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws alike.

The last two classes of the day had been canceled due to a surprise announcement and lesson — whatever the fuck that meant.

All students fourth year and above were required to attend, the younger students got the afternoon off.

The Hufflepuffs and Slytherins had been grouped together and taken to one side of the castle by their heads of houses: Snape and Sprout.

Many Slytherin students had been complaining about being stuck with the "dirty and rancid Hufflepuffs" all day.

On the other hand, the Gryffindor and Ravenclaws were grouped into one and directed to go to the opposite side with McGonagall and Flitwick.

The entire day, Isabelle had been the subject of much student discussion. It did not take long for her full name to spread among the students: Isabelle Lockley, the transfer from New Orleans was the latest buzz.

The smart Southern witch.

The girl that almost no one knew anything about.

Most presumed that she was a transfer from Ilvermorny even though she had not so much as stepped a toe inside what was supposed to be her home school.

Isabelle herself was annoyed by this for the sole reason of her having been attending Hogwarts for over a year already. How the fuck did the gossip train about her leave the station this late?

Barely anyone noticed her until Binns' called on her earlier. The majority of the Ravenclaw house already knew her, it was the other houses that had not. Minus Harry Potter, of course, seeing as she sorta saved his life.

He waved to her in passing in the corridor earlier.

Draco Malfoy had looked at her multiple times throughout the day, a few times even whispering to his friends while pointing to her. He no doubt knew what her name was from it being whispered by multiple students so frequently.

However, Isabelle wanted to know very badly what he was whispering to his friends while looking at her. She hoped it was nothing bad, but knowing Draco it easily could have been. Isabelle only hated how her heart sped up at such thoughts.

Thankfully, nearing the end of the day, the gossip about her transformed into gossip about this special announcement and lesson.

"On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests will gather in the Great Hall for a night of well-mannered frivolity," McGonagall explained sternly, staring down each and every student with hard eyes.

Isabelle sat sandwiched between the Goldstein twins on one side of the large room with the rest of the Ravenclaws; the Gryffindors sat on the other side. The two sides were split by a ballroom dance floor that McGongall and Flitwick walked.

"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..."

At McGongall's words — excited chatter started between all the students. Isabelle yelped as Clementine grabbed her arm happily, shaking her and murmuring about the dance.

A dance?

Isabelle was not sure how to feel about this. But if it was indeed on Christmas Eve, that probably meant that those who wanted to attend the dance would not be able to go home. While Isabelle had yet to receive the letter from her mother regarding her newly opened Inner Eye: this dance gave Isabelle an excuse to not go home.

"Silence!" McGonagall said sharply causing everyone to go quiet once again. "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." Her voice was not loud as she addressed the Gryffindors, but her eyes were fierce as though daring anyone to test her.

The Gryffindors remained quiet at their Head's words.

Flitwick sighed figuring he should probably say something to his own house.

"And the House of Rowena Ravenclaw has never given the Wizarding World a reason to see it as anything other than reasonable, wise and graceful. Do not be the one to ruin that..." The short professor warned.

McGonagall nodded in agreeance at his words — letting the Ravenclaws know that her previous words may have been directed at Gryffindor but she would not hesitate to get on their case if need be.

"Now to dance is to let the body breathe. Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers longing to burst forth and take flight!" McGonagall said, and Isabelle almost laughed at those choice words. The only swan inside her was the Black Swan.

And let it be known that nobody wanted to see the Black Swan take flight.

Ron Weasley was cackling across the room, speaking in hushed tones of laughter with a few other Gryffindor boys. McGonagall noticed this, looking at him as she spoke her next words.

"Inside every boy, a lordly lion prepared to prance..." McGonagall spoke and it took everything in Isabelle to not laugh, the girl leaning into Clementine who was also having trouble hiding her amusement.

"Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall walked toward Ron who looked scared. "Will you join me, please?" She did not take no for an answer, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the middle of the room.

"Now place your right hand on my waist," McGongall instructed a baffled Ron.

"Where?" He gasped as though it was the craziest thing he'd ever heard.

"My waist," she repeated sternly, Ron doing as she asked.

Multiple wolf whistles echoed throughout the room as McGonagall almost wrestled with Ron to get his grip right.

Isabelle was dying into Clementine's side at the sight — Clementine not doing much better. Anthony nudged them though he also looked amused, but he noticed the side eye Flitwick was throwing them.

Flitwick cleared his throat, giving a look of warning to the two girls, but the majority of the room looked highly amused at the scene.

Isabelle Lockley was a pureblood from a well-known family in America: of course, she knew how to dance.

Ballroom dancing was a must-known for almost all pureblooded people of high status worldwide. So Isabelle; of course, knew how to dance.

The Lockley family originally came from Africa many centuries ago, so they also knew a few African dances. However, while that was their heritage and history: they were still African-American.

Speaking more locally to where Isabelle was from AKA the South of the United States, she was a country witch.

That meant the dances that were popular among Southern wizards and witches were all dances that Isabelle knew. Swing dancing, two-step dancing, line dancing, and a few other styles that Isabelle could not think of.

It helped that Isabelle actually liked to dance. When one likes to dance and is not just doing it because they are forced, then it makes their dancing much better. This was the case for Isabelle.

Especially when it came to fun swing and two-step dances where Isabelle would be led and flipped by her partner.

She typically did not dance with anyone but her father or cousin, but there had been times when her family went to some wizarding events in Port Orleans and she danced with strangers.

Nevertheless, despite Isabelle's proficiency with dancing — this was Scotland, and in Scotland, there was no flippy two-step or swing dancing. This was a ball where students would be ballroom dancing elegantly.

No matter how much Isabelle wished it was a fun country dance where they would be two-stepping and swing dancing.

The last thing Isabelle wanted was to be seen as some hick; however, and she had no doubt many would judge her if she broke out swing dancing. Hell, some people in America who were not from the South would judge her for that.

If she could side-eye those bitchy California witches she would.

Isabelle was knocked out of her thoughts as classical music began to play from the giant gramophone in the corner.

McGonagall started to count as she waltzed across the floor with a miserable-looking Ron Weasley.

Eventually, he stopped stumbling and got the hang of it.

"Everybody on your feet — come together!" McGonagall suddenly commanded after a minute or two of showing the students how to waltz.

It was a simple waltz that Isabelle had done many times at a few MACUSA events in her life. Along with having an old and powerful family name, her father — Edward Lockley — also held a high position at MACUSA.

He was the governor for the Wizard World in Louisiana.

Seeing as the U.S. was incredibly large, each state had its own elected governor.

Immediately, it was noticed that while the girls stood up, the boys remained seated.

"I said UP!" McGonagall yelled, releasing Ron and turning to the boys. "Everyone find a partner!"

The boys begrudgingly stood up, the students beginning to mix and intermingle with each other as everyone went to find partners. Ron basically ran from McGonagall, afraid she would make him dance with her again.

It was part of the reason he was so quick to choose another partner, one of the first boys to do so.

Of course, that partner happened to be Hermione Granger who all but yelped as Ron grabbed her to him. She glared and scolded him as he practically hid behind her.

Anthony was; of course, dancing with Padma Patil.

And Clementine left Isabelle's side as Michael Corner approached them, holding out his hand and asking her to be partners. He shrunk away at the glare that Isabelle was throwing him — still fearful of the New Orleans transfer.

"Sure!" Clementine cheered in a delighted manner, waving to Isabelle who only pursed her lips and continued to look around.

She did not really talk to anyone else, and nerves ate away at her at the thought of finding a partner. She did not even want to think about the Yule Ball as a whole — finding a date would no doubt turn out to be a disaster.

While Isabelle was pretty enough, she still felt out of place.

There was no way anyone would ask her to the ball! She would probably need to be the one to ask someone, and just the thought had her heart pounding and palms going sweaty.

As she stood to the side almost shyly, big brown eyes taking in all the students that were quickly partnering up — she did not notice a familiar boy approaching from behind. Not until there was a meek tap on her shoulder, at least.

She whirled around, her eyes going hard as she was immediately on the defense. However, she relaxed upon coming face-to-face with a cringing Harry Potter. He awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"Want to dance?" He hesitantly questioned.

Her gaze softened and Isabelle Lockley suddenly found herself liking Harry Potter just a bit more.

"I'd like that," she said easily, her shoulders slouching down as she relaxed.

Harry held out a hand that Isabelle took, guiding her to the middle of the floor where the other students were waiting for the music to start.

Harry Potter was not that much taller than Isabelle Lockley. While he had hit puberty; unlike the other boys in his year, he had not quite hit the point where he sprouted up. That aspect would probably not come for another year or two.

Isabelle did not care though, in fact, their similar heights made it almost easier.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, gripping his right hand while he hesitantly placed his left hand on her waist.

Ever the gentleman, he made sure that it was not too low, but because of that, it was a bit too high.

"A little lower, Harry..." Isabelle reprimanded kindly.

His eyes widened.

"Lower?!" He sputtered, cheeks painted red.

Isabelle watched him amused, nodding her head while unlinking their hands.

"Yes," She said, using her newly unlinked hand and pushing his left hand lower on her waist.

Harry blushed as he felt the dip in her hip: his right hand suddenly felt much hotter from where it rested just above the curve of her ass. Harry Potter had NEVER touched a girl like this before, but even this was not much.

"Better!" Isabelle nodded with a small cheer, bringing her right hand back and relinking it with his.

"Yeah..." Harry breathed out, averting his gaze from her bashfully.

He was thankful that he was so deep into his crush on Cho Chang, otherwise he would not even want to think about how bad he would have it for the pretty Southern witch. Not only had she saved his life, but now he was sharing his first dance with her.

He had only dreamed about touching a girl so intimately, even if by all standards how he was touching Isabelle was BARELY considered intimate. But it certainly was for Harry who'd never done this before.

Isabelle tilted her head at him, her eyes portraying entertainment.

She suddenly liked Harry Potter just another tad more.

"And begin!" McGonagall cried as the music began playing.

Like most of the couples — Harry jumped at the music and started to awkwardly lead the dance. Isabelle cringed as he stepped on her shoes multiple times and went the wrong direction all within the first minute.

"Darlin'," Isabelle said with that thick Southern drawl. "Relax... do just as McGonagall showed us..." Isabelle briefly took the lead, showing Harry how to do it.

After a few moments, he slowly nodded — still relatively silent with his flushed nature.

"Right, o-of course..." he mumbled, British accent in deep contrast to her Southern one.

He gradually took the lead once more, leading Isabelle more successfully this time around. Their movements turned more fluid — not as graceful as Isabelle was used to, but fluid enough.

"Got it then?" She asked him and Harry nodded back happily.

He reminded her of a Golden Retriever in a weird way — eyebrows furrowed as he watched his feet to make sure he was doing the correct motions, but happy nonetheless.

"I think so!" Harry said elated.

They danced together for a good while longer — making polite conversation as they did so. They spoke of various shallow things like the exams they had coming up and favorite classes and such. Harry also spoke of his joy at the Yule Ball for he would not be left alone at Hogwarts for Christmas this year.

It made Isabelle's heart hurt as a guilty feeling settled over her.

And she had been complaining about going home to a large estate and family when Harry had none of that. She wondered where he stayed over the summer holidays but did not dare ask.

"Nice job, Harry. You picked up on it fast." Isabelle complimented when McGonagall claimed them all finished for the day.

Apparently, Snape and Sprout had just ended the lesson for the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs on the other side of the castle.

Isabelle wished she could have seen the sight of Snape dancing with Sprout.

"Thanks, you are a brilliant dancer though, so I'm sure that had a lot to do with it..." He said timidly.

"Thanks, Harry..." Isabelle smiled before walking away to get her school bag.

Harry, on the other hand, tilted his head as he watched her walk away. She was kinder than he expected, especially after their first two encounters.

His thoughts pushed to the mysterious words she told him many weeks ago. About how she had saved his life but one day she'll need him to return the favor. It was curious and dark and left Harry baffled.

At this moment though, after having talked to her when she was not saving his life or spouting mysterious words, Harry figured that he would not be opposed to returning the favor.

Like a true chivalrous Gryffindor, Harry would always offer his help to those who needed it.