“Sisters Never Say Die!”

(Aricka’s POV)

Aricka was terrified. The four siblings- well, mainly Sam, Adam and herself- were racing against the clock to figure out how to return Dean’s rapidly depleting memory to himself.

Adam and Sam had left to track down a lead, leaving Aricka to Dean-sit. Which would be great… if Dean remembered who she was. Even if he just remembered who he was. Currently, they were standing in the tiny bathroom of the hotel they were staying at. Dean was staring at a mirror, repeating a simple list of facts they’d given him.

“Okay. My name is Dean Winchester. Sam and Adam are my brothers, and Aricka is my little sister. Uh, Mary Winchester is my mom. And Cast—Cas is my best friend.”

He sighs and looks unsure about everything he just said. “Try again,” Aricka gently coached, trying to not panic outwardly and freak either of them out further.

Dean huffs out a breath. “My name is Dean Wi—Winchester.” He looks down as he realizes he barely remembers his name. He looks up again to try again. “My name—My name is...” The fear on his face is visible as he doesn't remember his name. “My... My name is—is...” and Aricka watches his eyes fill with tears at the realization that he no longer knew who he was.

Determined, she grips his shoulders and turns him to face her. “Your name is Dean Michael Winchester,” she says firmly. “You’re 37 years old. You’ve got two little brothers- Adam and Sam- and me, I’m your little sister Aricka. Your best friend is an angel named Cas. You’ve taken care of me since I was 3. You’re my hero. You never stop fighting. I taunt you and tease you but you torture me right back cause we’re siblings and we love each other. Dean-,” her voice cracks and tears fill her eyes. “I love you, De. Don’t forget about me. “I’m Aricka, I'm your little sister! I taunt you and I tease you and I make your life miserable, but you love me anyway. You're everything that I ever wanted to be-! You’re strong and brave and you told me that I can be anything I want as long as I work hard and fight for it. You never stopped believing in me, or Sammy or Adam. Dean don’t go…”

By now, Dean is crying. Not a lot, just a few tears on his cheeks, and he wraps his arms around her tightly and she buried her face in his shoulder. “… Aricka?” He asks after a moment.

“Yes, yes Dean, it’s me. I’m your little sister and I’d never ever hurt you, okay? Don’t forget that- hold onto that tightly. Okay? I’ve got you. Sammy’s gonna fix this. Adams gonna fix it. We’ve got you De. We love you.”Dean’s now sitting on the closed toilet seat and repeating everything Aricka just told him. He’s got an arm half-looped around her middle and she’s playing with his hair and trying not to cry even more than she already was. “Just.. hold on, Dean.”

The weight of the moment hits her; she was currently in the role of “big sister” and she felt wildly out of her depth. “C’mon, come with me,” she says, and soon enough, they’re laying on the bed while Scooby-Doo is playing on the screen. She reintroduces Dean to the show; and is mildly amused by the childlike look of awe on his face.

“Daphne is your favorite,” she says. “You don’t really like Fred and I tease you about it cause I -like- have this HUGE crush on him and Shaggy.” He scrunches his nose,

“Why would I not like Fred?”

“You think he’s a bit pretentious. But it’s okay. We all have our own opinions. Like- I don’t like Dr. Sexy but you think he’s awesome. And you tease me about that. And I roll my eyes but we laugh about it and move on.” He takes this information in.

“Your name is Aricka. And… we have brothers.” She nods.

“Tell me their names, De. What are their names? I know you know, deep down.”

He frowns, pursing his lips and focusing. “Adam and Sam.”

“Yes-! You got it.”

“I’m not a kid,” he grumbled, rolling his eyes.

“No, but you remembered without me telling you.”

**********************************************

Aricka leaned heavily against Adam. Her and Dean had raced to the house where Sam and Adam had been caught, and they’d got tangled up in the fight. She could hear Rowena saying a spell even from downstairs. Rowena and Dean emerge from the room and start walking down the stairs. Sam looks anxiously up at them. “Hey. Is that it? Is—is it done?”

Dean scrunches his face up, confused, and look at Rowena. “Who's this hippie?” He asks, but as his gaze meets Aricka she can see the mischievous little glint in his eyes.

Sam looks horrified that Dean doesn't recognize him. A beat. Two beats. And then Dean and Rowena chuckle. “Look at his face. Oh! Kind of like the time when I ate all your Halloween candy. You remember that? Classic.”

Sam’s face goes from being panicked to his classic resting death glare. “Not funny,” he says. Aricka laughs and runs to hug Dean, who catches her and hugs her tighter and longer than usual; which was saying something.

“You remember,” she whispered, pressing her face into his jacket, breathing in the comforting scent of gunpowder, leather and something woodsy.

“Everything.” He presses a kiss to the top of her head. “Including what you said at the hotel.” She smiles.

“I meant every word.”

“But you were wrong about one thing.” He steps back, still holding her shoulders. “You never once have made my life miserable.” She grins, hearing what he wasn’t saying.

“I love you too,” she says, “now let’s go, I’m starving-!” She turns and grabs Adam’s hand, tugging him out to the Impala, “let’s go Adam-!”

**********************************************

The Goblet of Fire

The second task: Mermaids and Pneumonia

“Okay, let’s take it line by line,” Aricka says. Herself, the other four champions, and her group of friends were gathered in the Room of Requirement- Harry and herself had discovered it on the Map, and they knew they could use it to their advantage.

“Come seek us where our voices sound/We cannot sing above the ground,” Hermione had wrote the entire poem down after Aricka had told how she’d figured out how to hear the clue.

“Mermaids,” Cedric said. “The Black Lake.” Aricka nods.

“And while you're searching, ponder this/We've taken what you'll sorely miss,” Fleur continued.

“So they’re taking something important to the five of you,” Draco said, tossing a paper wad in the air and catching it.

“An hour long you'll have to look,And to recover what we took,” Viktor said the next lines.

“So we’ll only be in the water for an hour,” Harry says, “but we need to figure out how to manage underwater that long.”

“But past an hour, the prospect's black,Too late it's gone, it won't come back.”

“I don’t like that part,” Neville said. “It implies that whatever’s taken won’t be returned.”

“I concur, Nev,” Hermione said. “It’s frightening.”

“We need to figure out how to survive underwater for sixty minutes,” Aricka says, “let’s focus on that for now.”

“I think I’ll do a bubble head charm,” Cedric said.

“I am decent with the shark head charm,” Viktor added.

“Fleur, you’re a Veela, how will you possibly survive the cold winter water?” Theo exclaimed suddenly. The group all goes silent at that.

“I… I suppose I will have to..” Fleur stammered, having not expected anyone to worry about that side of her life.

“Warming charms, and some form of oxygen mask, and…”

“Gillyweed,” Neville points at a picture of it in his book. “Aricka, you Harry and Fleur could use it to grow gills and fins underwater.”

“I can ask uncle Severus if he has any,” Aricka says- by this point everyone in her friend group knew he was her godfather, and they were under strict orders not to tell anyone else.

“Blimey,” Ron said, “what kind of tournament sources a Veela to go in freezing water in the middle of winter to save something valuable?”

“If it comes down to it, we need to be ready to jump in to help Fleur,” Cedric said. “Competition or not, we can’t risk her health.”

“Merci,” Fleur says gratefully. With that in mind; they all exited the Room to head to their respective sleeping quarters.

Aricka and Draco held hands as they headed to the Slytherin common room with Blaise, Theo, Vince and Greg. Halfway there, they were stopped by professor Flitwick. “Oh, good, there you are, Mr. Malfoy. Professor McGonagall wants to see you in her office about the upcoming exam.”

Draco gives the group a sly look of, “What are the odds?” Before turning to the Charms professor with a smile. “Lead the way, sir,” he said. As soon as they’re out of sight; Aricka tells the others to head back to the common room, and she goes to the Potions lab.

When Snape notices that she’s standing in the doorway; he motions for her to come in. “How may I help you?”

“I need some Gillyweed for the task tomorrow, but I don’t know where to get it,” she says. Her godfather nods.

“I have some, I can only imagine this has to do with the task?” She nods. “Why they’re sending you into the lake in the middle of winter is beyond me.”

“I need enough for Harry and Fleur as well. She’s a Veela so we’re all trying to make sure she’s safe,” Aricka says.

The professor nods, “come by tomorrow and I’ll have enough fresh Gillyweed for all of you who have need of it.” She nods and grins,

“Thank you, uncle Sev.. I really appreciate it.”

“Of course. You only need ask me for something and I will try to help.”

**********************************************

Aricka was worried. She hadn’t seen Draco since the previous night, but she knew he wouldn’t miss the second task. Where could he be? She wondered, chewing her lip, as Dumbledore began to speak. “Welcome to the second task. Last night something was stolen from each of our champions. A treasure of sorts. These four treasures, one for each champion, now lie on the bottom of the black lake. In order to win each champion need only find their treasure and return to the surface. Simple enough. Except for this, they will have one hour to do so and one hour only. After that they'll be on their own.”

And then it hit her like a bolt of lightning-

These four treasures… now lie on the bottom of the…lake….

Draco was her treasure- Draco was at the bottom of the lake-! “DRACO-!” She cried, and the others hear her, and come to the same realization.

“Gabrielle-! My sister-!” Fleur exclaimed, as Viktor, Harry and Cedric looked around as well.

“That explains why Ron and Hermione left last night and never came back.”

“And I didn’t see Cho this morning either,” Cedric said. “We need to focus, and get there, before any of them get sick or worse, isn’t Gabrielle a Veela too?”

Aricka shoves the Gillyweed into her mouth and chews, pushing past the gross texture to make sure she can stay underwater as long as possible. She sees Fleur and Harry do the same thing, and she prepares to jump into the water.

The canon goes off- and she dives, wincing as she feels the fins and gills emerging from her skin.

She kicks and paddles, and soon enough, she reaches the location where the group of teens are being held. She sees Draco and her heart drops- he looked so- thin and pale and absolutely frozen even though he was unconscious. She quickly cut through the seaweed tied around his ankles and then swam to wrap her arms around his chest, swimming and kicking to the surface as fast as possible-

Until she saw Fleur struggling to get to the meetup point. She kept an arm around Draco, and she swam over to Fleur, freeing the girl from the grindylows and casting another warning charm on her. Fleur gave her a thumbs up and kept going, and she saw Harry and Cedric also swimming by.

Aricka wraps her arm back around Draco, and continued to swim. She could feel the effect of the Gillyweed wearing off, so she began to swim more urgently. Faster, and faster, closer and closer the surface came and-

She shoved Draco up first, seconds behind him, sighing as he took in a big, deep breath of air. He turned to face her. “I-you- you would miss me the most?”

She smiles and says, “you’re my treasure, of course I’d miss you most. Harry and I will always be together, I never have to worry about that.”

They swim to the shore and the first people there are Draco’s parents, followed by Snape, Remus, Sirius, and her aunt Aricka. Lucius was spitting mad, but obviously more worried about Draco than his fury with the ministry and Dumbledore. Snape wrapped a soft, warm blanket around Aricka and another warming charm. “Admirably done,” he said. “Let’s get you Pomfrey.”

“Sounds good,” she says, feeling dizzy all of a sudden. “Sev…? My head… I’m all… dizzy…”

And then everything went black.

**********************************************

Aricka woke up to shouting. Lots of shouting. “She was HYPOTHERMIC-! She stayed underwater almost the whole time. Her skin was BLUE-! Of all the ridiculous things… sending CHILDREN UNDERWEAR in the MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY…”

She groans, “ow….” And gains the attention of the entire room.

“Oh, oh Aricka, dear, you’re awake.” She blinks and Narcissa hands her her glasses. “Are you okay?”

“Thirsty… head hurts…” She answered dazedly. She was leaning against someone, and she looks to see- “uncle Sev?”

“Hush, you idiot girl,” he says fondly. “You need rest. Don’t move too fast or push yourself too hard.”

“Harry?”

“He’s asleep over here,” Remus said, and she slowly moves her head to see.

“Draco?”

“Sleeping too. He was rather frightened when he saw you keel over, so we had to give him Dreamless Sleep to help.”

“I swam… it was cold.” The memories slowly come back. “Dumbledore.” Her voice was husky and weak.

“The matter is under review, and lots of parents are concerned about it, as none of the students sent underwater had parental consent,” Lucius said. “Dear girl, are you quite alright?”

“Cold,” she says. “So- so cold…”

“More blankets, right away,” Narcissa said to Madame Pomfrey, “and some Pepper-Up.”

Aricka curled up in her godfather’s arms, shivering hard enough to be her own earthquake. The man ran his hand over her hair and tried to be as comforting as possible.

“All will be well,” he says. “It will take a few days for your body and magic to remember it’s not freezing anymore, but you will be just fine.”

“I don’t… ever… wanna do that… again,” she said with a sneeze. Severus hands her a tissue.

“And so you won’t,” he said. “I will ensure it.”

**********************************************

Lucius and Narcissa worked their magic, and got permission to let Draco and the twins come home to the Manor for the weekend. Aricka spent most that time in her room under several blankets, reading her book and drinking cocoa. Harry and Draco barely left her side, neither of them (namely Draco) caring about etiquette for once. When they retuned, everyone was approaching them and asking how they were doing.

Cedric was one of the first, carefully hugging Aricka. “You deserved the first place spot,” he said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get it.”

“I don’t care much about winning this, Ced, but I appreciate the sentiment nevertheless,” she says with another sneeze. Fleur hugged her next,

“Thank you for helping me to save Gabrielle,” she says. “You didn’t have to, but you did, and you have my eternal gratitude.” Aricka smiles,

“Of course, Fleur,” she says. Viktor even gave her a hug,

“You fight bravely,” he said. “I respect that.” She nods.

“I respect your bravery too.”

**********************************************

The Goblet of Fire

We danced all night long

Aricka’s dresses:

**********************************************

The days went by quickly between Draco asking Aricka to the Ball and the day of the Yule Ball. The girls spent all day getting ready; laughing and curling each other’s hair and doing each other’s makeup or nails.

“Oh my goodness, Draco is gonna die when he sees your dress, Aricka,” Daphne said. “Especially the charm you’ve got planned. You’re gonna blow his mind.” Aricka laughs and puts on her butterfly necklace and lily earrings that her uncle had got her.

“Well… it’s going to be a night to remember, for sure.”

Eventually all the girls were ready to head down to the Great Hall, but first they went to grab the rest of the girls in their friend group- Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Cho and Fleur. Once they had everyone, they proceeded to their next destination, laughter preceding them.

The girls all line up and walk down the stairs one at a time. Hermione chews her lip nervously, and Aricka notices. “My Mia, what’s wrong,” she asks.

“What if everyone laughs at me?” She whispered. “What if they think I’m with Viktor because I’m a gold digger?”

Aricka grips the girl‘s shoulders. “Hermione Jean Granger-Potter. You are not a gold digger. You are not taking advantage. You are a 14 year old girl who got asked to be the dance partner of the youngest professional seeker in the world. You are just here to have fun. That’s all. This isn’t a marriage proposal. He hasn’t asked you to be his girlfriend. So smile, raise that chin, and march down those steps like you deserve to be here, because you do.”

Hermione smiles and the girls hug. “Granger-Potter?” She asks.

“You’ve been my little sister since first year. I don’t care what anyone else says.” Hermione grins.

“I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“Me too. Harry is great, but sometimes I want a girl to yak with.” They laugh, and Aricka turns her around. “Go. He’s waiting.”

“Walk with me?” Hermione asks. Aricka grins and links her arm with Hermione’s.

“Sure. Let’s do this.”

**********************************************

The girls walk down the stairs; and everyone turns to see who’s made their appearance. Aricka grins as she sees her group of friends waiting. Harry was grinning at Hermione and her as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

Viktor approached first and bowed to Hermione and Aricka. “You ladies are looking rather lovely this evening,” he says, and holds out a hand to Hermione. The girl grins and sets her hand in the Seeker’s and they walk away.

Then Draco approached, as did Cedric, Fred, George and Harry. “Aricka,” he says; and bows, but doesn’t take her hand quite yet. “I hope you accept this token of my gratitude and affections.” He holds out a rectangle shaped box-

And it all clicks in her mind.

This was a courtship gift. Draco was asking her to enter a formal courtship with him.

How long had he felt this way?

Daphne smiles and whispers in Aricka’s ear, “accept the gift wholeheartedly, gratefully and reciprocally.”

Aricka smiles and takes the package. “Thank you, Draco. I accept your gift wholeheartedly, gratefully and reciprocally.” She opens the box and gasps as she lifts out a beautiful locket with lilies on it. “Oh Draco.. it’s beautiful. Thank you.” He helps her put it on. And then he offers her his hand, leading her to the other champions to wait for their grand entrance.

**********************************************

With great fanfare, the Tri-Wizard Champions made their entrance into the Ball. The Great Hall looked like a Christmas wonderland, with actual snow falling from the ceiling. Aricka gasped softly as she was escorted by Draco to the center of the room. She spun to face him, and he places a hand on her waist, holding her other hand in the proper posture.

The orchestra starts playing the first waltz, and the champions and their dates whirled around the center of the room. Aricka laughs as Draco lifts her up before they continue to dance, eyes only on each other.

It felt as if she was floating on air, and she knew the night would only get better from there.

After the first waltz ended, Harry cut in to dance with his sister, so Draco asked Parvati to dance then next round. “You look beautiful, sis,” Harry said as they spun around the room.

“Thanks, Harry, you look pretty snazzy yourself. Those dance lessons with Cissa paid off,” Aricka said.

Harry squeezes her hand. “Do I need to have a big brotherly chat with Malfoy later?” He asked. Aricka laughs,

“I bet when this gets out that there’s going to be a line. I didn’t realize so many people considered us siblings.”

“May I have this next dance?” Aricka grins as Cedric steps forward after the second dance, and she takes his hand, and off they went, Harry getting to dance with Cho.

**********************************************

Dinner was held not long after the opening dances, and Aricka and Draco sat with the other champions. “Aricka, I adore your dress!” Parvati said; and Aricka beamed.

“Watch this,” she says; and brandishes her wand. “Bippity-boppity-boo-!” She exclaims and waves her wand in a circle over her head. A shower of golden sparks settled over her and the green dress she was wearing fades to reveal a purple dress in a similar fashion.

“How did you do that?”

“Dress transformation charm, Mia and I invented it over the weekend,” Aricka says. Draco stares at her with an unreadable expression. “What?”

“Just when I think you can’t surprise me anymore, you go ahead and do just that.” She blushes and he takes her hand. “May I speak to you in private, just for a moment?”

She nods; and lets Draco lead her outside.

**********************************************

It was snowing outside the castle too; the stars were shining and Aricka felt like she was in a dream land. “It’s beautiful out here,” she says.

“It is,” Draco says- but he wasn’t talking about the sky. He clears his throat and turns her to face him. “Aricka Lilian Potter. I’ve known you for almost five years. I’ve laughed more, been on more adventures, and learned things I never thought I’d learn. You made my life better the moment you stepped into Madame Malkin’s looking all nervous about starting a new school. You have always been my friend. My best friend, in fact. But lately… I’ve wanted our relationship to be different. I realize no other girl is going to mean to me what you mean to me.” He waves his wand and another square box appears in his hand. “I asked you earlier but I am asking again, just to be absolutely certain, and so you know what you’re committing to. Will you accept this offer of courtship? Will you do me the honor of letting me court you?” He hands her the box- emerald green with a black bow. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

Aricka takes the gift and opens it, and gasps. “Oh my- oh- oh Draco…” she has to physically catch her breath. “A-a tiara?”

“Because you’ve always been my queen. I said it last year. A knight always protects his queen.” She looks up at him; and sees the barely hidden, nervous look on his face.

She straightens, clears her own throat, and says, “Draco Lucius Malfoy, I once again accept this gift. Completely, wholeheartedly, and reciprocally. I accept your offer of courtship; I return your feelings, and I will happily be your girlfriend.”

Draco grins, and very carefully sets the tiara on her head. “Perfect,” he says. “Now, since you’ve agreed to the courtship, I am only permitted to kiss you on the lips once, until we’re married. Any other time it will have to be your cheek, your forehead or your hand. May I kiss you now?” He asks.

Aricka’s heart thumps painfully in her chest. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, Draco, you may kiss me.”

Draco sets his hand on her arm, and she sets hers on his shoulder. They lean in- and it’s perfect. It’s everything she ever dreamed about. It’s soft, and chaste, and the stuff that she would read about in fairytales.

Someone clears their throat and they jump apart like they’d been shocked. “Mr. Malfoy. Do run along back to the Great Hall. I’m sure your friends are suffering greatly in your absence,” Professor Snape says, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face.

Aricka’s face heated up so red she could feel the heat of embarrassment. The professor waits until Draco is out of earshot. “Did he ask before the moment?”

Aricka nods. “He… it was an offer of courtship. We are official.”

“Does his parents know? I was not informed, and as your godfather I should have been.”

“I don’t know, uncle Sev. He just asked me tonight. I’m happy. Please… please be happy for me.”

He finally turns to look at her. “Who said that I was not happy for you?” She falters. “You are a young lady. You are permitted a certain amount of dignity, something that the adults in your life should help preserve. I have no doubt that Mr. Malfoy did everything correctly, however, asking for a courtship during a Ball, which could have lead to a potential rejection, would only have caused a terrible strain on several relationships here.”

She nods in understanding.

“I only want what’s best for you, do you understand? I would hate to have to give that boy a talking to for breaking your heart.” Snape’s voice is impossibly soft at the moment. Aricka grins.

“You’d probably turn him into a flobberworm, wouldn’t you.” He smirks.

“That would be too good for him.” Aricka laughed. “Alright, let’s get out of this chill and back into the Hall. I’ve kept you away from him long enough.” She nods and starts to head back inside. “Aricka.” She pauses and turns back to face her godfather. “Take twenty points to Slytherin for an ingenious charm invention.”

Aricka beams. “Thanks, uncle Sev.”

**********************************************

Aricka walked back into the ballroom to see Draco making his way towards her with a worried look on his face. “Weasley is really sticking his foot in it- can you go do your girl talk thing with Mia and I’ll try and talk some sense into him? I can’t promise I won’t lightly hex him but I’ll make sure it doesn’t leave a permanent mark.”

“I beg your pardon- what?” Draco sighs.

“I’m sorry- you just walked back in. I have no idea the entirety of the story, but Hermione and Ron are having another row and… I figured if we divide and conquer maybe we can keep both of them intact and not expelled.” She smiles, loving how Draco genuinely cared about their friends.

“Sure. I’ll talk to Mia, you handle Ron. Juzt… don’t rough him up too badly; I don’t want you in detention during our next Hogsmeade weekend.” He grins and squeezes her hand before they split up again.

Aricka walks out of the room to see Hermione crying on the steps. “Oh, Mia my love…” she says and walks over to hug her. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

“Ron’s being a complete-!” And the girl wraps her arms around Aricka and starts sobbing. The entire story pours out, and Aricka had to restrain herself from heading into the Great Hall and jinxing the redheaded little jerk. (A/N: I STAND by the fact that Ron was a royal jerk in this scene, I don’t hate Ron, but Aricka will call him out for this too.)

“Don’t let Ron ruin your night,” Aricka says gently. “Get Viktor, come and dance with me and Draco, and Harry and Parvati and Blaise and Luna and our group. It’ll be fun.” Hermione grins and Aricka transfigured a rock into a hair tie to fix the girl’s hair. “C’mon. It’ll be fine.”

**********************************************

The girls walk back to their group, Ron noticeably pouting in the corner of the room, and they all begin dancing. Aricka ends up dancing with both Weasley twins at one point, first with Fred, then George.

“You look absolutely lovely this evening Missy potter,” Fred says with a teasing smile. “And that was an impressive bit of spell work with your first dress. Care to shake with your older brothers?” He waggles his eyebrows.

“Only if you promise to never prank me again,” she says. He pretends to think.

“Done.” They shake, and she tells him how she came up with the idea and the incantation.

When she danced with George, the dance was a bit faster and they were laughing more than they talked, but she still enjoyed dancing with him, and vice versa.

At the end of the night, Aricka approached Ron. “She waited for weeks for you to ask her to go to the Ball together. She kept rejecting the guys who asked her.” He glares at her petulantly. “You have two options, realistically. You either grow up and ask her to be your girlfriend or you risk losing her permanently. She won’t stand around waiting forever, Ronald. You have to decide what you’re going to do. And if you do break my little sister’s heart? Let’s just say the Hat put me in Slytherin for a reason. I could hex you a thousand ways and never be implicated for it. Chosen One’s best friend or not. Are we understanding each other?”

By now Ron’s face was very pale. He nods rapidly. “I understand. I’ll apologize.”

“You’re my friend, Ron. I like you, sincerely. But you have got to grow up. Acting like a child and pouting because your best girl friend went to a dance with another guy is not going to win you any points with any of the girls.” He nods again. “Just talk to her.”

Another nod. “I will. And.. thanks.”

She nods. “I meant what I said, though.”

“I know- that’s why you’re so bloody terrifying,” he says with a laugh. She does too.

“Go on. Go talk to her.”

**********************************************

The Goblet of Fire

What’s a Yule Ball?

A few weeks later, the 4-7 year Slytherin students were gathered in the assembly room, where Filch was setting up a huge gramophone and Snape stood dead center. “Your attention, if you please,” he said in that same dry, acerbic voice. “If you aren’t already aware, this year, Hogwarts is going to play host to the insufferable pageant that is the Yule Ball.” He pauses as the students start whispering. “Silence.” Everyone goes quiet. “I require two volunteers, one young man and one young lady to step forward and demonstrate how the house of Slytherin should conduct itself during that event.” Snape scans the room. “No volunteers? More’s the pity. Mr. Malfoy, Miss Potter, if you will.”

Aricka flushed a bright pink and remains seated, knowing Draco would come and ask her for a dance first, rather than just assume that she would want to. As predicted, he strides across the room, and bows genteelly to her. “May I have the honor of this dance?” He asks her with a warm smile.

She grins back at him, “I would be delighted to.” He takes a step back and offers her his hand, and once she’s taken it, he leads her to the middle of the room where she curtsies and he bows once more. The music begins to play, and they begin a simple, timeless waltz around the middle of the room.

The song ends after a few minutes and Snape nods approvingly. “Very well done. Take ten points, each of you, and be seated.” Aricka and Draco do so, and Snape continues with the lecture.

**********************************************

The next day, Aricka, Hermione, Daphne, Tracey, Ginny, Luna, Cho and Millicent were all hanging out in the courtyard when several boys approached them. Viktor stepped up to Hermione and bows, “May I speak to you privately?” He asks in a low tone. Hermione nods and they set off to a quieter spot.

Vincent approaches Millicent. “Could we speak as well?” She agrees and they also walk away. Gregory asks Tracey the same thing and they also walk away, followed by Cedric and Cho. Theo asked Daphne, Neville snagged Gunny, and Blaise led Luna away, leaving Aricka and Draco in the courtyard together.

Draco rubs the back of his neck nervously. “Hey.” She smiles.

“Hey, Draco.” He smiles down at her and she has to tilt her head slightly to meet his eye. “You look terrified.”

“That’s because I am, I suppose,” he says honestly. He clears his throat suddenly, and bows like he had the day before. “Aricka Lilian Potter, it would be an extreme pleasure and great privilege to escort you to the Yule Ball this December. Would you do me this honor?” He asks.

Aricka’s eyes widen and she covers her face with her hands, before she curtsies again, throwing her arms around Draco. “YES-!”

He catches her and spins her around, momentarily forgetting himself. “Yes- yes that’s-! I mean,” he clears his throat again. “I’ll meet you in the Great Hall at seven?”

She grins, “seven sounds perfect!”

********************************************