I stood at the entrance to the dining hall alongside Oliver and the others. One of the large doors opened and McGonagall ushered us in.

"The ball is tomorrow, so we are not learning anything too fancy," She started, "I made each of you a little note with every step on it, so please reread it a few times.

Step forward with the left foot. Right foot step sideways to the right. Bring your left foot next to your right foot. Step back with the right foot. Step back sideways with the left foot. Bring your right foot next to your left foot.

I scanned the paper a few times.

"Now I would like someone to do it with me to demonstrate, any volunteers?" No one stepped forward.

"Alright, Weasley, care to join me?" McGonagall shot him a look that made it clear she would hex him dead on the spot if he refused.

"Alright professor" Percy gulped down.

"Alright, now put your hand on my waist, yes, just like that," She adjusted his hand, "And now, one, two, three, one..."

They began to twirl around the dining hall.

"They look quite cute together, don't you think?" I whispered to Oliver, to which he snickered.

"Don't you worry, we'll blow their performance out of the water." He gave me a thumbs up.

"Now grab your partners and try for yourselves,' McGonagall let go of poor Percy and turned on a metronome, "Feel free to improvise, but stay within the beat."

Oliver lined up his body to mine, and I felt my breath hitch slightly. His large hand gently hovered over my waist,

"Is this ok?" He asked cautiously, and only put it down when I nodded.

"One, two, three. One, two, three," I counted to myself as we stepped into the waltz.

Oliver moved in perfect sync with me, and we began to glide across the room alongside the other couples. Once we began actually feeling the rhythm Oliver began to lift me in the air with every other turn, and each time it felt like we were floating. I knew he was strong because of quidditch, but I never truly realized how strong he was. His face showed no effort of even lifting me, and his large hands sat snugly on my waist when he did. Suddenly there was no one else around us and just him and I, enjoying each other's presence.

~~~

The day of the ball was mainly spent packing, and when I finished mine, I took a look around the room I used to spend most of my nights sleeping in. Tonight was my last night in it, but now it was much less cluttered, with everyone's luggage next to their beds.

June came out of the bathroom with her hair done up for the ball. Liane and I gasped. Junes hair was set in long dark blue curls that shone with what almost looked like stars. Her hair gave the full illusion of a starry night, and it sparkled and shone under each light.

"'Oly sheet!" June whispered under her breath, "You could be on ze cover of Vogue!"

June smiled bashfully, but she looked happy to have that effect on us.

We began excitedly chatting whilst putting on our dresses and makeup. Liane helped me squeeze into mine, and the three of us stood back looking at me in the mirror.

"Merlin's fat beard, you look stunning," June bit her lip.

I smoothed out my dress skirt and smiled. I felt so pretty.

June wore a dark blue dress to match her hair, and Liane wore a black silk dress with a long slit going up her leg, her hair styled in a braided bun. Lori wore a dark green dress with a lace corsage, and Sarah wore a pale yellow ball gown with one of the puffiest skirts I have ever seen.

We practically floated down to the great hall, giddy for the dance.

Oliver was already waiting for me at the entrance, with his usual wide grin. He wore a plain yet elegant black suit, and a dark blue tie. His eyes twinkled in the dimly lit foyer, as he took in what I was wearing.

"Could be worse," he chuckled, offering his elbow which I accepted.

"Oh please, if anyone looks mediocre, it's you." I rolled my eyes.

The entrance hall was packed with students too, all milling around waiting for eight o'clock when the doors to the Great Hall would be thrown open. Those people who were meeting partners from different Houses were edging through the crowd trying to find one another.

The students were mainly seventh years, but there was the occasional sixth year, and only Marcus Flint took a fifth year, who looked more scared than excited.

Finally, the doors to the hall were thrown open, and everyone entered. Professor McGonagall, who was wearing dress robes of red velvet and had arranged a wreath of roses around the brim of her hat, told us to wait on one side of the doors while everyone else went inside; we were to enter the Great Hall in procession when the rest of the students had sat down to have the first dance.

The Great Hall was adorned with stars, and the ceiling was turned into a beautiful night sky. There were beautiful sculptures of greek/roman gods and goddesses who I know the planets were named after. There were stars suspended in midair as lamps

Oliver gave me a reassuring smile as everyone piled in past us.

Finally, McGonagall gestured us in after her, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as we entered and started walking up to the center of the dance floor.

We all stood in ready position, and Oliver's hands were once again gently hovering over my waist until I slightly nodded, only this time the warm feeling was not the only thing that I felt, I felt sadness. I was at this dance with a boy I loved but who didn't love me, and I spent all this time at Hogwarts unable to move things any further with him than they currently were, and now, I was all out of time.

Suddenly the music started and we began twirling yet again, and I felt my skirt lift around me with every jump.

"You know Stone," Oliver said between another jump, " You actually look really beautiful."

"You're not too bad yourself," I smiled distantly.

We continued silently twirling, and I felt my heart sink with every spin. '

Finally, the music came to a slow. We went to take a seat with clapping following us there. There was no food as yet on the glimmering silver plates, but small menus were lying in front of us. I picked mine up uncertainly and looked around - there were no waiters. Dumbledore, however, looked carefully down at his own menu, then said very clearly to his plate, "Pork chops!"

And pork chops appeared. Getting the idea, the rest of the table placed their orders with their plates too.

"Firewhisky!" Oliver said to his goblet, but nothing appeared, "Ah, well, worth a try."

"You're too young to become an alcoholic, Wood," I shrugged.

We sat in silence, and my mood kept bittering. When the food had all been eaten, people started piling onto the dance floor again, but I remained sitting, as did Oliver.

"You care to dance?" Oliver finally asked.

"No, not really," I shook my head, "I'm too full."

"You don't seem like you're having too much fun."

"Oh trust me, I am." I retorted a bit too quickly.

"Ok, bloody hell." Oliver raised his hands in resignation.

And so we sat for the rest of the ball in relative silence until the last song came on.

"Can I at least have this last dance?" Oliver looked at me pleadingly.

"Alright," I nodded, and we stood up.

He put his arms around me and we began to spin. This time we spun slowly and gently, and it was as if we began lifting off the ground itself. We were already floating, so I barely even felt being lifted by him. I think it was my mood lifting rather than ourselves, but I felt a giant smile creep its way onto my lips, to which Oliver smiled as well. For a moment I forgot my fears and my sorrows, and it was just us again.

He sat with me even when I ignored him, and come to think of it, he's stuck with me from the start. Be it with insults, or competitive banter, he's always been there. Right then and there, I realized I wanted Oliver to stay in my life, even if it was just as a friend.

The music stopped and the light dimmed. It was time to go. We piled out of the Great Hall and walked out and into the fresh night air.

"Say, Stone," Oliver turned to me, "How about we walk to the pitch, for old times sake."

"Ok," I smiled up at him, and we snuck into the night.

We strolled down the foresty path and onto the pitch in relative silence. The moonlight was bright enough for us to see where we were going. The summer air was still warm, and the sounds of the student's going back to their dorms were the only thing aside from the crickets and our own footfall that could be heard.

"This is the last time I'll be seeing this thing in a while huh." I looked around as I plopped down on the warm grass, disregarding how it would affect my dress.

"You could always hide here from the Hogwarts express and live out your day as a hunter-gatherer in the forbidden forest," Oliver suggested.

I shook my head and laughed.

"Who did you want to go with?" Oliver asked suddenly,.

"Huh?" I looked over at him, now sitting next to me.

"Well you seemed distant and sad this entire night," He frowned, "It's obvious I wasn't your first choice."

I stayed silent for a moment, gathering my thoughts. It was now or never.

"I won't judge if it's Flint," Oliver added.

"You're wrong," I said quietly, "You were my first choice, and that's the problem."

"What?" Oliver stared at me as if I was speaking a different language.

"I like you Oliver, but you don't like me back, and you only asked me because you didn't have much of a choice." I smiled sadly, "And that's ok, but man did I wish you actually ask me, and not as a last resort."

"You're kidding, Stone!" Oliver exclaimed.

"No Oliver, for once I am dead serious," I shook my head, feeling tears wanting to spring into my eyes.

Oliver began to laugh, interrupting me. His laugh was not mocking or mean spirited, but rather happy and relieved, "Oh Y/n," He laughed, "We're so stupid."

"Why?" I giggled.

He pulled out a small necklace from under his shirt. A tiny golden snitch glimmered in the moonlight.

"I haven't taken it off since the day you gave it to me." He grinned. 

"But why?" I asked, my breath hitching.

"Because I like you too!" He exclaimed, grabbing hold of my hand, "And the reason I didn't ask you as an actual date was because I thought you would reject me. I got so excited when McGonagall announced a mandatory date I practically ran to you after the meeting!"

I suddenly began to laugh as well, squeezing his hand.

"It took me so long to realize, I thought I was too late," I whispered.

"I've known for a long time," Oliver rubbed his neck, "But I was too much of a bloody wimp to tell you."

We stopped laughing and looked at each other, and even in the starlight, I could see Oliver's beautiful eyes as he leaned in, slowly but confidently.

"Unfortunately, you're the only girl for me, Stone."

"Unfortunately indeed," I chuckled.

His lips now mere inches from my own, I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him in, making our lips connect for the first time. I felt the sparks around us, and all the butterflies that were previously trapped in my stomach fly out and spiral into the sky. His hand slid over my cheek and I could feel his calloused fingers on my skin. When his lips softly pressed on mine I couldn't help but think they couldn't have fit more perfectly against my own. It was not a long kiss, but it was enough to tell me that Oliver really did care.

We pulled away unwillingly, from each other.

"This was long overdue," mumbled Oliver, grinning ear to ear.

"I think it was perfect timing," I pointed to the sky.

Fireworks erupted across the starry sky, filling with bright reds and oranges, and all sorts of other colours. They began to morph and suddenly the fireworks were all different couples who danced at the ball. I could see Percy and Penelope twirling in the sky, and then Flint stumbling with his date, who did not look happy to be there. There was June and Sarah, who spun into a position where Sarah was leaning back into June's hand as they kissed. Lori and Liane were shimmying completely separate to the usual waltz, but seeming to enjoy themselves nonetheless. And finally, I could see Oliver and me. Our firework doppelgangers were twirling around in the sky with no care in the world.

"Aye, we don't look too shabby," Oliver pointed up.

"Well I don't," I shrugged, "Can't say the same about yourself." 

"You little-" Oliver started, only to be silenced with another kiss.

"Will you be doing this to shut me up every time?" Oliver smirked when I broke apart again.

"Yes sir," I nodded matter of factly.

"Well then expect me to never shut up." He grinned.

"Anything else you want to say?" I playfully crossed my arms.

"Of course," Oliver nodded solemnly, "Will you, Y/n Stone, take me, Oliver Wood, as your partner in crime?"

I wrapped my arms around his neck again and pulled him close.

"Usually a man is supposed to ask a girl out before kissing her," I giggled in his ear, "But I'll forgive your impudence and accept thy offer."

~~~

And so my stay at Hogwarts ended, under the stars and in the arms of the boy I thought I would never have.

 The train ride out of the school grounds was bittersweet, but now I had Oliver sitting next to me, firmly gripping my hand, while June and Liane interrogated him about his intentions with me. I wasn't sure whether he was gripping my hand to ease my anxiety of the future, or to ease his own from my friends. 

During the summer Oliver and I managed to both place onto Puddlemere United, and to my surprise, things with Vincent weren't awkward. In fact, things bloomed and blossomed between him and Liane. Liane was now a student in the Wizarding Academy of Dramatic Arts. June went to a muggle arts university where she studied writing and literature, while also managing to work at the bookshop in Diagon Alley. Sarah as promised went to some magical university in Germany to study healing. In fact, she and June shared an apartment in which they had an elaborate system of port keys to help themselves get whey they needed to be. Lori became a journalist, specializing in current events. She quickly became a well-liked figure in the newspaper she worked for.

The end of summer was foiled by the Death Eater incident at the world cup, but that's a story for another day.

Oliver and I moved in together shortly after summer ended in a small apartment across the Puddlemere stadium, and thus came a close to our carefree childhood.