"Oh, this is so exciting!" Rosalyn shouted as she and Hermione talked to Rosalie in their dorm.

It was a few weeks since the first task, and Christmas was fast approaching. In fact, tomorrow was the last day of term before the winter holiday.

But that day, a lot of commotion had happened, the most prominent of things being that Cedric had asked Rosalie on a date.

The girl, having first been a little sceptical, had actually said yes. The two were going on a walk around the grounds tonight.

But at that moment, Rosalie was fully briefing Rosalyn and Hermione on their past encounters.

Since the first task, Cedric had been getting a lot more attention than usual (and he usually got a lot of attention) from the girls of all three schools. However, despite all this, he had been making an effort to get to know Rosalie, who had been trying, as well, to get to know him.

But tonight was their first real date.

"Well, anyway," Rosalie said, as Rosalyn checked the time. "It's not like it's a date, it's just that we're sort of-"

"Going on a date?" Rosalyn teased.

"Shut up," a blushing Rosalie laughed.

Hermione giggled. "I hope you have a good time tonight, Rosalie."

Rosalie smiled at them. "Thanks, girls."

☆☆☆

At breakfast the next morning, Ron was stuffing his face, Hermione was reading the newspaper, Harry was eating a bit more politely than Ron, and Rosalyn was watching the owls fly in and deliver stuff to people. She was also looking for Rosalie, to ask her how the date went, as she didn't see her last night.

However, she decided that watching the owls was more important, and went back to doing that, wondering if Ruby was among them. It just so turned out she was.

She dropped a letter right into Rosalyn's hands just as Hermione started to rage about Rita Skeeter.

"Ahh!" She put the paper down. "I don't believe it she's done it again! 'A plain but ambitious girl, Hermione Granger seems to be developing a taste for famous wizards. Her latest prey is none other than the Bulgarian Bon Bon Viktor Krum. No word yet on how Harry Potter's taking this latest emotional blow.' It's ridiculous!"

Rosalyn sighed and set about opening her letter, inside, she found twenty round, gold coins and a letter, she opened it and read it.

Dearest Rosalyn,

I heard about your name getting picked and everything. I hope you're okay and safe. I heard about you flying with the dragon and I'm impressed, truly.

Now, an event is coming up and you'll need a dress for it. I know that older students are allowed to go to Hogsmeade in the holidays as long as you're back by curfew, it's something I remember. So I have taken this money out of your vault at Gringotts so that you can pay for your dress. I hope you enjoy the next event in the tournament. Do keep safe, won't you?

Love,

Molly xxx

Rosalyn smiled at her adoptive mother and asked Hermione. "What comes next?"

"What?" Hermione asked, confused.

"What's the next event in the tournament? Apparently it's not the second task."

"I don't know," Hermione said, as Rosalie came up to the Gryffindor table.

"Oh, here we go!" Rosalyn said, as the girl sat down beside Hermione. "How did it go? What did you do? Did you kiss? Did you-"

"Don't even," Rosalie laughed, however, a smile dropped onto her face just thinking about Cedric.

"Oh, she's in trouble if she's smiling just thinking about him!" Rosalyn hissed to Hermione, who giggled. This earned them both a light slap from Rosalie.

"Shut- shut up!" She said, laughing.

"Then just tell us about the date!" Rosalyn hissed.

"Fine..." Rosalie said. "He- he erm- he took me down to the lake and there was this picnic blanket set up and we ate and we stargazed and- okay, yes, we kissed."

Hermione and Rosalyn squealed.

Rosalie smiled. "It was... it was fun. I really enjoyed it."

"Hey, sounds like it-" Rosalyn started, as Fleur rushed over to her sister and started talking to her in French.

Rosalie talked back then turned to Hermione and Rosalyn. "Sorry, I have to go. See you guys later?"

"See you later," Rosalyn and Hermione nodded to their friend as she ran off after Fleur.

And just then a small boy that Rosalyn recognised as Nigel came up.

He held a big box, delivering it to, Rosalyn was surprised to see, Ron. "Parcel for you, Mr Weasley."

"Aww, thanks Nigel," Ron said, taking the box from him and opened it.

Nigel, however, didn't go after he had dropped the box off. He stayed and looked at Rosalyn. He stared at her for a few more seconds before Ron hissed. "Not now, Nigel. Later. Later," and he ran off.

After he was gone, Harry, Hermione and Rosalyn stared at him. "I promised I'd get him Harry and Rosalyn's autograph."

Ron opened the box and said. "Oh look mum's sent me something!"

"Is it for this mystery event as well?" Rosalyn asked.

"Yeah," Ron said as he quickly read the letter attached to the box before he opened it.

He was quickly disheartened. Inside there were dusty robes that had ruffles of pink, white and red. Rosalyn laughed as Ron looked mortified. "Mum's sent me a dress!"

"Well it does match you eyes, is there a bonnet, aha!" Harry found a white lacy, ruffly bonnet.

"Nose down, Harry!" Ron said. He walked over to his little sister. "Ginny, these must be for you."

Ginny dropped her spoon into her cereal. "I'm not wearing that, it's ghastly!"

Hermione laughed as Ron rolled his eyes. "What?"

"They're not for Ginny, they're for you," Hermione and Rosalyn giggled. "Dress robes!"

"Dress robes?" Ron's ears turned red. "For what?"

"I think we're about to find out very soon," Rosalyn said.

☆☆☆

And they did. Their last lesson before the Christmas holidays was with McGonagall, and instead of a 'sit behind a desk' lesson, they were on the benches at the side of the great hall. The girls were on one side, the boys were on the other, and it wasn't just the fourth years. It was every Gryffindor class from fourth year up.

McGonagall spoke up. "The Yule ball has been a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament-"

Rosalyn whispered to Hermione. "That's the event I take it?"

"Yes," Hermione whispered back. "That's what we'll need dresses for, and why Ron's got those robes."

They lapsed into sniggers and then tuned back into McGonagall's talk.

"On Christmas Eve night, we and our guests gather together for a night of 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 quite literally because, the Yule ball is, first and foremost, a dance."

This got a lot of sighs and talking. Rosalyn and Hermione looked at each other.

"Does this mean we have to find dates?" Hermione asked.

"I think soooooo..." Rosalyn said, voice trailing off.

In spite of the noise, McGonagall quickly stepped in. "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."

Fred and George started being stupid and McGonagall continued. "Now to dance, is to let the body... breathe." She pointed to Rosalyn's side of the room. "Inside every girl, a secret swan slumbers longing to burst out."

Ron leant forward and said to Harry and Seamus. "Something's about to burst out of Eloise Midgen but I don't think it's a swan."

Rosalyn heard this. Eloise Midgen was a nice, kind girl that had a bad dose of acne. Despite all this, she and Rosalyn talked and were kind of friends.

She whispered a curse at Ron across the room and immediately a big pimple formed on his nose. He looked at Rosalyn who was smirking, and she mouthed "shut up about Eloise, then."

Ron rolled his eyes and nodded. Rosalyn muttered the counter curse and the pimple disappeared. Harry and Dean laughed at him.

McGonagall hadn't been watching this, and hadn't noticed Ron and Rosalyn's debacle. "Now, you will be expected to bring a date to this ball, but I don't think that's going to be a problem. Now, time for a little demonstration. Mr Weasley?"

"Yes?" Ron asked rather fearfully.

"Will you join me, please?" McGonagall pulled Ron up and he joined her in the middle of the room.

McGonagall put her hands on Ron's shoulders and said. "Now, put your right hand on my waist."

"Where?" Ron asked, positively scared now.

"On my waist, Mr Weasley," McGonagall repeated.

Someone (A.K.A. Fred and George) wolf whistled in the crowd of boys and Ron looked like he was about to punch someone. McGonagall put his hands in the right place and put hers on his shoulders. "Mr Filch, I'd you please."

Filch put a record on and then suddenly, a slow waltz began to play.

"One, two, three... one, two, three..." McGonagall said as she and Ron began to dance.

"Now everybody come together!" McGonagall shouted to the students on the benches.

The girls stood up immediately, but none of the boys did. McGonagall shouted. "It's a dance, boys, it won't kill you!"

The boys still stayed seated. Though suddenly, Neville decided to stand up. He joined the dance awkwardly, wanting to dance with Rosalyn but not asking.

"Come on, boys, chop, chop!" Rosalyn said jokingly to Harry, Seamus and Dean.

"No way, Rosie," Seamus shook his head.

Eventually, Rosalyn and Hermione danced together because they couldn't get Harry, Seamus and Dean to dance. Rosalyn and Hermione were both fair dancers, and as they twirled each other about and had fun. Rosalyn had to admit, she was looking forward to this ball.

And she wasn't the only one as she went to bed that night, she spotted Neville on the landing. He had shoes around his neck and a perfect dancing frame. He was waltzing round, humming the tune of the song they had danced to earlier. Rosalyn smiled to herself as she went up to bed.

☆☆☆

Dress shopping was underway. Rosalyn woke up to see that it was snowing, and she put in tall boots as she, Harry, Ron and Hermione went out to Hogsmeade together. Rosalie also tried to join them but was caught (apart from seventh years, students from other schools couldn't go to Hogsmeade as they weren't of age and didn't have permission). Ron and Harry split off from the girls as they went into a dress shop to get their dresses for the ball.

They spent the first ten minutes deciding on which ones they liked, and then narrowing it down.

Hermione had five options, Rosalyn had four. So they eventually just went to try them on. Hermione eventually got a floaty blue dress, and Rosalyn tried hers on. Whilst she got them on, they talked about dates.

"Who d'you think's gonna ask you?" Rosalyn asked as she tried on a white dress.

"Well, first of all, Rosie, you're going to a ball not getting married, so that's a no go. Second, I think- I don't know-"

"Whaaaat?" Rosalyn asked as she went into the fitting room again, took that dress off and tried on a red one.

"I'll tell you later," Hermione said as Rosalyn came out of the fitting room.

"That's the one!" Hermione said. "Honestly, you look so beautiful in it, Rosie, whoever's asking you is one lucky guy."

"Same to you," Rosalyn giggled as they went to pay.

They headed out the shop and back into the snow. They met with Harry and Ron and decided to go to the Three Broomsticks. They all got a butterbeer and Rosalyn sipped hers as Harry and Ron debated how they were going to ask their dates to the ball.

Rosalyn sighed, wondering just how much drama this ball was going to dredge up.

☆☆☆

They headed back up to the castle and Rosalyn split off from the others, going to the owlrey because she had forgotten to write back to Molly.

However, on the way there, she encountered a distraction. She was just walking about when-

"Rosaleen?"

A certain someone stopped her. She turned round and hugged him. "Tristan!"

Oh great, here come the butterflies...

"Hey! I'm so happy I met you here!" Tristan said.

"Me too!" Rosalyn smiled.

He seemed to be lost for words, almost as though he didn't know what to say. Rosalyn frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yes, em..." Tristan bit his lip. "I... I didn't exactly plan to tell you zis here, Rosaleen, but..."

He drew his wand from his pocket, and conjured up a single rose, which he held out to her.

"Will you go to ze ball with me?"

Rosalyn's face burst into a smile as she took the rose.

"Yes, Tristan! I mean, of course! Thank you so much!" Rosalyn ran into his arms and he spun her around, almost slipping on the ice.

"I thought a rose was most fitting for you," Tristan grinned, as he set her back down. "You're so beautiful... but you're also very brave. You don't hesitate to stand up for yourself or your friends."

Rosalyn smiled. "No one's ever described me like that before."

Tristan's smile lit up his face. He looks so cute like that, she thought. He said. "Let me be the first, Rosaleen."

She grinned.

Rosalyn told him that she had somewhere to be and they went off in separate directions. Both, however, were still grinning.

So that was her sorted.

Rosalyn wondered about Hermione. Her best friend had 'forgotten' to tell her about the person she thought would ask her. So she switched direction and headed towards the library instead, Hermione must be there.

She arrived there and saw Hermione immediately. She also looked like she was on cloud nine.

"Viktor Krum just asked me!" She squealed as soon as Rosalyn got within hearing distance.

"Viktor Krum?" Rosalyn asked. "He's the one that you were talking about!"

"Yes," Hermione admitted. "He's been coming to the library to see me, but we'd never actually talked until now!"

"Well it's good news for me as well, I just got asked by Tristan," Rosalyn said, smiling like mad.

"So we've both got dates?" Hermione asked, and Rosalyn nodded. "Wow. I didn't expect it to be that easy."

"Hey guys!" Rosalie came rushing in. She was smiling uncontrollably as well.

"Well, three guesses who just asked you to the ball," Rosalyn joked.

"No, it's more than that!" Rosalie said excitedly. "Cedric he- he also asked me to be his girlfriend! And I said yes!"

All three girls giggled and squealed.

"Oh, this is amazing!" Hermione said, after updating Rosalie on her and Rosalyn's 'date status'. "Rosie's going with a french boy, I'm going with a quidditch star, and Rosalie's got a boyfriend!"

Rosalyn nodded. "I can't wait for the ball now! I wonder if Harry and Ron have got a date yet?"

☆☆☆

Over the next few days, this became a hot topic, or at least for the quartet. Harry and Ron hadn't got dates, and to be honest, they were trying very hard.

"Why do they have to travel in packs?" Harry asked one day, when he, Ron and Rosalyn were walking together. "And how are you supposed to get one on their own to ask them?"

A group of girls suddenly stared at them and Rosalyn rolled her eyes. The three of them pushed past them as Ron said. "Blimey, Rosalyn, can you ask your horntail mate to be my date? I don't think it's gonna get any better."

Rosalyn giggled as they headed inside out of the cold. "There has to be someone that'll take you."

They went into the great hall and sat down at a table with Hermione. They got their books and homework out and started to write. But in a few seconds, Ron started talking. "This is mad. At this rate we'll be the only ones in our year without dates."

Snape, who was in the hall, helping to keep everyone quiet, pushed Ron's head down hard. But Ron just went on

"Well, us and Neville."

Rosalyn shivered internally. Her and Neville still hadn't really ever made up yet.

They laughed and Harry, who had obviously seen Neville as well, said. "Yeah but then again he can take himself."

They laughed and Hermione stepped in. "You might want to stop being mean to people like Eloise and Neville to avoid facing your own problems."

"Ohh," Ron said, checking Snape was gone before continuing to bicker with the girls. "Now that's just depressing."

Fred suddenly chucked Ron and bit of paper. Ron read it and Rosalyn read it over his shoulder.

GET A MOVE ON OR ALL THE GOOD ONES WILL HAVE GONE

Rosalyn and Hermione sniggered as Ron whispered. "Who're you going with then?"

Fred pointed to Angelina.

"Have you even asked her?" Rosalyn whispered.

"Good point," Fred said, not afraid of Snape at all.

He chucked the bit of paper at Angelina, then acted out going to the ball. Smooth, thought Rosalyn, she's definitely saying no.

But she said yes. Fred winked at Ron, who scowled at being shown how easy it was. Well, how easy it was for Fred.

Though Ron suddenly took a completely different tack. He leant towards Hermione and said. "Hermione, you're a girl."

"Oh well spotted," said Hermione testily.

"Come with one of us?" Ron said, miming dancing. Him and Harry were now whacked with a book, Snape was on the rampage.

"Come on, it's one thing for a bloke to show up alone, for a girl it's just sad," Ron said. Hermione looked outraged.

But Rosalyn laughed. "Trust me, Ron, I think you being alone will be sadder than any girl. At least they have decent outfits."

"Shut up, Rosie."

Hermione, meanwhile, had snatched her books off the desk and said irritably to them. "I won't be going along because believe it or not someone's asked me!"

She stormed down the hall, giving her homework to Snape before heading back to the table. She finished it off with, "and I said yes!" Before picking up her bag and leaving.

"She's lying," Ron looked after her.

"She's not, we both have dates. It's you that's letting the side down," Rosalyn said as she went to hand in her own work.

When she came back, Harry asked, "so who're you going with?"

"Tristan," Rosalyn answered unblushingly, not caring what the boys thought.

And with that she set off down the hall, heading back up to the common room.

☆☆☆

Rosalyn had just sent her letter off to Molly, thanking her for the money to buy the dress and assuring her that she was okay after the dragon.

She was just coming down the steps when she met someone. She almost crashed into this person and once she realised who it was she was very embarrassed. Neville. He had suddenly gone very red and backed away.

"Rosie."

"Neville."

They shuffled around for a minute before they finally got past each other. Rosalyn told him awkwardly. "Don't slip on the steps, they're very icy."

"Okay."

Rosalyn sighed and shot off. But then she heard his voice again.

"Rosalyn?"

"Yeah?" She turned around.

"WellIjustwonderedifyouwantedtogototheballwithme?"

"What?" Rosalyn asked. Neville had spoken very quickly and she hadn't been able to catch certain words.

"Well, I just wondered- if- if you would want to- to go to the ball with me?" Neville went scarlet, but on the inside, he sighed in relief. The hard part was done.

Rosalyn, however, didn't. Her face fell with her heart. "Neville- Neville I'm- I'm really sorry- Tristan asked me, I'm going with him-"

Neville looked like he was about to cry. Rosalyn felt so bad, she watched as he said, "okay," then rushed off.

Rosalyn raced after him and grabbed his arm. "Neville, I'm so sorry-"

"No, I am," Neville said, wrenching his arm out of her grip. "I hope you have a wonderful night with Tristan."

And then he stormed up the stairs. Rosalyn watched him go. This was her fault, she knew it, she felt so bad and she didn't know how to fix it. She liked Tristan a lot, but she would always feel bad being with him if Neville was in the background.

She didn't know what to do, she felt guilty and bad, but she wanted to go with Tristan. So that's what she was going to do.

☆☆☆

Rosalyn was sat by the fire with Hermione, both cold and rosy cheeked. They had just been out in the snow. Fred, George and Lee Jordan had been having a snowball fight and Rosalyn and Rosalie had joined in quickly, trying to forget about Neville. Hermione had been hesitant and sat on the sidelines, and Ron and Harry were nowhere to be seen.

Anyways, now they were warming up beside the fire in the common room. Rosalie was back on the Durmstrang ship, getting changed.

Then, suddenly, all at once, Harry and Ginny came in with Ron a their side, whispering. "It's okay, Ron, it's over now, it doesn't matter."

"What happened to you?" Rosalyn asked. Ron looked like he was about to faint he was so pale, and his eyes were wide and looked scared.

"He just asked Fleur Delacour out," Ginny answered for him.

"What?"

"What did she say?"

"No, of course!" Hermione answered matter of factly. However, when Ron didn't answer, Hermione covered her mouth.

"She said yes?"

"Don't be silly," Ron looked like he was going to puke. "There she was, walking by, you know I like it when they walk... couldn't help it, just sorta slipped out."

"Actually he sort of screamed at her, it was a bit frightening," Ginny said unhelpfully. Rosalyn sniggered.

"What did you do then?" Harry asked.

"What else? I ran for it. I'm not cut out for this-"

"Hi Harry."

The two Patils walked past. Rosalyn looked at Hermione, Hermione looked at Harry, and Harry looked confused. Then the penny dropped.

Walking forward, he said, "Hey-"