Cyhirae was standing alone at the end of the corridor lining up several small ceramic statues that she had transfigured from nearby debris into a row along the wall. She had split off from her friends after Potions saying that she was just looking for a quiet corner to practice her wandwork by herself. Yeah, that was it. It wasn't to mope around or to let off steam by blasting small objects with her wand. Nope, nope, nope.

With the last statue in place she walked back several paces and let the first statue have it. "Bombarda!" The statue exploded satisfactorily into tiny pieces creating a small circle of pottery shards and dust where the statue once sat. "Bombarda!" The next statue in line met the same fate as the first.

'Why hasn't anyone asked me to the Yule Ball?' Cy though angrily to herself, 'I'm cute. I'm smart. I'm nice... mostly.' "Bombarda! Bombarda! Bombarda!" Three more statues turned into rings of powder. 'Even Winnie had a date.' "Ahh!" Cy cried in frustration, "Bombarda!" This time the spell caught two statues in it's range, causing them to both shatter violently, sending shards  flying. Cyhirae instinctually threw up her hands in front of her face to protect it as shards rained down around her.

When the noise stopped Cyhirae lowered her hands down cautiously, taking inventory of the area and herself. Luckily she wasn't hurt though her skirt was going to need some repair. The flying shards had taken out the rest of the statues, scattering them about and messing up the neat rings of the remains of the previous statues. Cy blinked slowly and took several deep breaths trying to calm herself, ‘At least no one is around to see this.’

Winifred Oliver had asked Zel Trumble out for the Yule Ball.

Winnie had asked Zel.

Winnie had asked...

Ambrose had been hoping the Yule Ball would be an easy time, he'd hang out with Winnie and the Gryffindors, have fun, dance a bit, not have to wear a silly house elf costume like at Halloween, but instead he'd been issued a royal slap to the face by puberty. Winifred Oliver fancied older boys.

Really, it shouldn't have come as a surprise. Back when they'd tried out kissing, Winnie had mentioned wanting to go out with older boys, and they'd laughed about the whole awkwardness once they'd realised neither had eaten the other's head by kissing them, or come out in a rash. But Winnie was Ambrose's best friend since forever, and he'd never really noticed the fact she was a girl until when he heard she was going to go to the ball with Zel.

He'd spent the next two mealtimes staring dumbly at the older boy.

Fortunately, for Ambrose this vacant style of expression was deemed perfectly normal by the Hogwarts community, and it went unnoticed.

Realising that bridge was firmly withdrawn, Ambrose had run through his possible options.

He wasn't madly friendly with any of the girls in his year other than Winnie, because most of them thought he was a bit dim or a liability. He'd danced with Emilija Cihala from Durmstrang on Halloween but it seemed unlikely the girl would accept him further given their more recent interactions had been frosty. He suspected she had received a lot of stick for dancing with him, which was a shame.

Thoughts had turned to Moira McBoid who he'd had surprisingly good conversation with by the animal pens. He had thought her to be very nice indeed at the time, but as with many things in his life, it had been turned upsidedown by that extra tutorial in charms, where something had happened between Moira and Winnie and Winnie had come off worse.

Even the mention of Moira around Winnie had caused distress, and Ambrose wasn't the sort to seek revenge against Winnie choosing Zel over him, even if he was tempted. Actually, he was a little scared of Moira himself, if he admitted. No, he'd have to play it safe.

Some bungling attempts to find out who was going with who by eavesdropping on girls talking had led Ambrose to a minor revelation. Cyhirae Trishna was without a date! Ambrose had nothing against her really, only that she could be a bit of a know it all and sharp for it. Other boys had mentioned that they didn't dare ask her because her dad was a teacher, but Ambrose didn't really mind that. His own father, Francis, who make time turners for the Ministry, was a fan of Professor Trishna, and owned his books and wrote letters to him. It was a bit awkward, but as far as Ambrose knew, his Astronomy Professor was not about to turn up for Boxing Day drinks any time soon.

Asking Cyhirae had become a bit of a mission. She went around everywhere accompanied, outside of the Ravenclaw common room at least, and the girls' loo. He'd lurked outside one of them until he'd been spotted and some fifth year girls had started laughing at him, so he'd run off, red faced with perv! giggled after him.

Then, suddenly, he was in luck, and trailed Cy away from her friends. His heart raced, and peering round the corner to find her blasting things with spells didn't help his confidence at all. Taking a few deep breaths, and blowing into his hand to check his breath wasn't vile, he tried to compose himself before making an approach.

"Need a hand clearing up?" Ambrose asked, his voice shaking. He realised with a start that Cy might not have heard him approach as she was casting, and his question might scare her. "Its ok," he began with a start, "I wouldn't unless you said you did." Ambrose raised both hands - wandless - showing he wasn't about to cause them an accident with his rubbish magic.

Awkward approach, check. Now, those mentally rehearsed lines.

"Cyhirae, would you... " his voice wavered, "would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?" He took a few shuffling steps back from her just in case she hexed him on the spot, and his cheeks flushed.

"Need a hand clearing up? Its okay," he began with a start, "I wouldn't unless you said you did."

Cyhirae jumped slightly at the unexpected voice. Pivoting quickly on her heel, wand ready,  she relaxed when she saw who it was. "Oh, Ambrose I... no it's alright, I got it." Cy quickly cast Repairo on the statues restoring them  to their pre-shattered forms, before glancing back at him curiosity overcoming her embarrassment at being caught. Ambrose looked nervous about something which was different than the morose look he had been sporting the last couple of days.

"Cyhirae, would you... " his voice wavered, "would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

Cyhirae blinked in surprise, that had not been what she had been expecting to hear. She stared at him for a few seconds  before what he asked her finally soaked in.

Ambrose had asked her to the Yule Ball.

Her face blossomed as Cyhirae squealed in happiness, "Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Thank you thank you thank you!" She hopped over and threw her arms around Ambrose's neck and hugged him tightly before leaning in and kissing him full on the lips. Ambrose could be kinda dumb sometimes, but he was cute and very sweet. And even though she new he had a crush on Winnie she didn't really care at this point, he had asked her out.

She pulled away gently, face flushed slightly in embarrassment and smiled at him, "Thanks for asking me, I thought..." That no one was going to ask me. "I... Thank you."

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Thank you thank you thank you!"

MERLIN. Ambrose was not expecting that reaction at all.  He almost gasped in shock - she was coming towards him and she was

SHE WAS HUGGING HIM!

Ambrose's face went bright red in an instance. Cyhirae hugged him so tight he couldn't breathe and then just as he thought the situation could become no stranger, she


It lasted far too briefly, took him by surprise and was far stronger, tighter lipped than when he and Winnie had tried kissing. It was exciting and certainly put a twist on his day (which had so far been awful what with the Charms exam).

"Thanks for asking me, I thought... I... Thank you."

Ambrose managed to force his lungs to take a breath.

"No - no problem." He stuttered, eyes wide, hair a little ruffled from the hug, face crimson, but lessening, blood rushing elsewhere. "I er- would be honoured to take you." Somewhere in the back of his head, his Dad recalling how he'd asked girlfriends out - despite Ambrose and Timothy's protests and the pretence they were vomiting, burbled through to his mouth and he managed a half-chivalrous response.

For a moment Ambrose stared at Cyhirae in shock, and also had a burning desire to kiss her again.

His head dipped forward and then he bailed out, confidence failing.
"Let me know what colour your dress is, so I can like, get a flower to match." Ambrose suggested, and then corrected himself, "A -er - a buttonhole, y'know."

Still wanted to kiss her again...

"No - no problem. I er- would be honoured to take you."

Cyhirae was glad that Ambrose didn't seem put off by her extreme reaction and smiled brightly at him. However she was soon left puzzled when Ambrose's head leaned towards her like he was going to kiss her. Before she could respond he quickly pulled back. She had only kissed him on an impulse, spurred by her joy at having a date. It wasn't like it was a bad kiss or anything, short and rushed as it was, but Ambrose liked Winnie, why would he act like he wanted to kiss her again?

"Let me know what colour your dress is, so I can like, get a flower to match." Ambrose suggested, and then corrected himself, "A -er - a buttonhole, y'know."

Cy smiled at him, "My dress is blue. A bright blue, like a cobalt crystal, with white and silver detailing." Ambrose was really sweet. Cute , adorkable, and kinda dumb too but mostly really, really sweet. . Ambrose had been the guy who liked Winnie, who never seem to notice how Ambrose felt. Cyhirae had mostly felt sorry for him being constantly stuck in the friend zone like that. Maybe  it was just the heat of the moment, but she was suddenly feeling differently towards him, a feeling that was far more romantic than just friendship.

"Your such a nice guy Ambrose," Buoyed by her feelings, she leaned forward to kiss him again. "It's too bad Winnie can't appreciate what's right in front of her."

When she described the colour he nodded and closed his eyes a moment to try and picture it in his mind's eye for better recall. He'd get this right, he really would.

When his eyes opened again, he felt his heart a flutter once more over her - and the fact he was speaking to Cyhirae alone, and that they'd just unexpectedly kissed. The distance between their faces was still at that short distance.

"You're such a nice guy Ambrose. It's too bad Winnie can't appreciate what's right in front of her."

Leaning forward, Ambrose gave a shrug - his cheeks flushing,
"You know, I'm sort of pleased she doesn't at this moment."

Two kisses, the issues over the charms exam that day were long gone when his lips found Cyhirae's once more, even if a small voice in the back of his head screamed that her father - Professor Trishna - was almost certain to find them, it would just be sod's law.

"Cobalt crystal, white and silver then?" He confirmed, and smiled bashfully. Ambrose stepped back and glanced over his shoulder, checking Cyhirae's father hadn't materialised. "Is there anything else you'll need... or would like?" Ambrose asked - hoping therer wasn't, because he'd have no clue of how to help.

"You know, I'm sort of pleased she doesn't at this moment."

Cyhirae pulled away at the end of the kiss and  beamed happily at Ambrose, pleased that he wasn't mooning over Winnie. To say it would have put a damper on the whole affair would be putting it lightly. "I'm glad."

"Is there anything else you'll need... or would like?

"No, that's fine." she said, still smiling brightly. "Where would you want to meet up before the dance. Winnie, Juni and I are going to be getting ready in the Astronomy tower. So you could meet me there or at the dance entrance?" Hopefully having Ambrose see Winnie before the dance wouldn't blow up in Cy's face. After all of this she didn't want to be dumped right before the dance.

Ambrose considered the question and tilted his head a little.

"I can come to the tower," He suggested, "That way you can approve my outfit before its seen, hmm? Put your mind at ease." Ambrose grinned and blushed a little. He had an alright set of dress robes, but his record of being clumsy didn't mean he wouldn't have a piece of stray hair on end, or a smudge on his nose, and he didn't want to go through the embarrassment of discovering it at the door to the Great Hall.

"Besides, don't you girls wear fancy shoes for the dance? Astronomy tower stairs are pretty steep... I could give you a piggy-back?" He grinned, "Or y'know, make sure you get down safely and ladylike..."

Ambrose released the rest of the breath he held in a relieved little sigh. Since Cy had kissed him, he'd been less bothered by the fact she was one of the brightest in the class, and a bit intimidating for it. He'd forgotten her Dad could give him detention for the rest of his life, and was good friends with Professor Storm who Ambrose was convinced wanted Ambrose and Winnie dead.

He'd even managed to forget Cyhirae's sister-like Aunt Georgiana of Slytherin. The presence of whom would normally send Ambrose in the other direction to steer clear. Perhaps, if he didn't muck this up, Georgiana might not want to kick his head in... for a few more days.

"I can come to the tower," He suggested, "That way you can approve my outfit before its seen, hmm? Put your mind at ease."

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Cyhirae smiled. "Boys do have it easier than the girls. Just dress like penguins and your good to go."  It wasn't like they lived in the muggle world where such fixes costed a large chunk of change and several hours at a tailors or a dry cleaner's to fix. Any messiness or mismatching colors could be altered with a flick of her wand or a snap of a house elf's fingers.

"Besides, don't you girls wear fancy shoes for the dance? Astronomy tower stairs are pretty steep... I could give you a piggy-back?" He grinned, "Or y'know, make sure you get down safely and ladylike..."

Cyhirae giggled, "How gentlemanly of you. I don't think a piggyback would be the best idea, my dress skirt is too poofy for that. We'd fall and hurt ourselves and miss the whole dance." She made a face, "That wouldn't be fun." She smiled sweetly at him, "So then I'll meet you about fifteen minutes before the dance starts? That should give us enough time to get down from the tower before everything starts. Oh and don't let Daddy bully you when you come to pick me up." Cy paused for a moment.  "Or Gigi..." she added.

Picking up her statues Cy smiled, "Thank you, again. I guess I'll see you at dinner then."  She leaned in and gave him one last kiss, this time on the cheek and walked back towards the stairwells. When Ambrose was out of sight Cyhirae gleefully ran back to the Ravenclaw dorms. She couldn't wait to tell Juni and Winnie about this.

"Yes, see you... there." Ambrose echoed and watched her go, sorry they couldn't stay and kiss some more. But where there were kisses today, more kisses would soon follow!

Once he was sure she was gone he allowed himself a fist pump.
"Yes!" He hissed loudly to himself, unable to contain the grin.

"You're going to the ball with Cyhirae Trishna!"

He danced down the corridor on his own in elation. Take that Zel Trumble!



End