Cassie was nervous, how could she not? She was going to be going to the Yule Ball with Nick. Well you could insert any name at the end of the sentence, not just Nick. Cassie had not been in a date like environment in a very long time. And it was strange when you saw your significant other of previous with another person that you know well. Trouble with dating in a boarding school. Cassie chose not to dwell on this, and focused on settling her stomach. Calming breaths and thoughts would do her best right now. Cassie would have a good night, and Nick was great company. While Sophie had made a point of perhaps being surrounded in a cloud of Gillyweed all night, but she had faith it wouldn't be like that. From what she recalled, or recently since she had actually been making a point to notice, she had not noticed the scent. It would be great and she was going to get to wear a pretty dress with a cute boy on her arm. Perfect, or pretty close too.

They had witnessed the champions dance, which Cassie made great leaps not to giggle at her dear cousin and Fig. Sophie looked fantastic through and it had been wise to go with the short dress over the long. While the intentions at the start had been good, she was shown just how wrong she was when they saw the dress Sophie would end up buying. Now it just seemed even stupid they had looked at anything else. There was a hint of envy, but she wouldn't admit it. Sophie was gorgeous, so pretty and so lovely as she danced with Fig. Cassie wished she could have been a champions date, but as she looked over at Nick she was happy she was here with him.

The evening had been great so far, and it would be even better given the opportunity to dance. "Want to dance?" Cassie finally asked as the floor was opened to others. She wanted to wear these new shoes in with a good turn around the floor.

Nicholas was excited.  Yule Ball.  Beautiful date.  Who hadn't worn heels and ended up taller than him.  Yes, he was excited, and a little nervous that if he stepped out of line or somehow messed up the night for Cassie, he'd have Sophie to answer to.  And he didn't plan on ruining Cassie's night.  But what if he mucked it up.  He really didn't want a broken nose.  No.  He was going to be on his best behavior.  He hadn't even brought anything to spike the punch with.  Hopefully someone else did.  Preferably with alcohol and not something from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.  He didn't want some transformation to ruin his dress robes.  He was proud of the new ones he'd bought after Katy's mum's funeral.  The others hadn't untransfigured properly.  But the new ones were deep burgundy color embroidered with constellations in gold and bronze, with leo, of course, featured prominently on the back.

He did his best not to laugh watching Sophie and Fig dance with the other other champions.  He'd almost pulled a face when he caught Sophie's eye at one point but stopped himself.  He was happy he hadn't been picked as a champion.  They'd have had to imperiused him to make him dance like a fool in front of everyone.  Or maybe just some gillyweed.  Though he doubted that would have gone over well with the Headmistress.  Or any of the professors.   But the Headmistress mainly.

It wasn't long before the champion's dance was over, and the floor was opened to everyone else.  He heard Cassie ask him if he wanted to dance as guys and not a few girls started leading partners onto the dance floor.  "Of course."  Nicholas replied.  Please Merlin, don't let me step on her feet, he thought as he took her hand and walked out onto the dance floor.

The moment he said yes to dancing with her, the nerves sort of drifted. She didn't worry about what to say, or making sure things went well. Cassie was just excited to get out on to the dance floor. Hogwarts meant she didn't get to dance as much, and this was a special event. She had a cute boy to dance with too, and it wasn't by herself or with Sophie. She didn't have a care as to what she looked like, or what others thought. This was definitely a tick in the good night column, not that she was making tallies or anything mentally. Well, she sort of was but it wasn't very official. Just her organization kicking in. Though she hoped she didn't trip him up, or step on his toes. Not that she anticipated she would, she could dance. It was a good thing she had not worn heels, not because it would make her taller but the fact it would make her clumsier.

With her hand in his, she had a smile on her face, she headed out to the dance floor. Cassie fought back the girlish giggle, she really didn't want too let out. Cassie did not want Nick thinking she was one of those airhead girls. Cassie wanted to make a good impression and keep him in a good mood. While she wanted to have a great time tonight, she also wanted to make sure Nick had one. Cassie wanted to be liked, and she didn't want to be that naggy or pushy date that had made him do something. She didn't wish to be that horrific date one could tell stories of. Though she would not have minded being that date he talked about fondly, like it had been a good night. A Yule Ball was truly once in a life time. Cassie had far fetched ideas of a foreigner date, but you know she was extremely happy she had asked Nick. She would have to thank Sophie for suggesting him, and giving her the push to ask him.

Cassie placed a hand on his shoulder, she stepped a little close and together they moved to the music. No particular step, but it was nice to be moving to any music, with a male partner. "Thank you for coming with me," she said. He really was the perfect height of her in her mind. He was only a couple inches taller, but she didn't feel like she was looking up, or heaven forbid down. Now it just seemed silly that she had been so nervous about this night, about asking him. So far it had been great. She finally felt her stomach settling. It might be the fact she felt like she was doing something, she didn't need to talk if she couldn't find the words. This was comfortable, and that was saying something. She smiled at Nick, this was nice.

Smiling, Nicholas placed his hand on Cassie's waist, the two of them moving with the music.  Simple.  No chance of feet smashing.  For the moment at least.  "Of course." He said.  "I was just surprised you asked me."  He had mostly resigned himself to going alone by the time she'd asked him. 

He hadn't tried very hard either.  And he had been very surprised when Cassie asked him, figuring that her cousin would have skipped over some of his better traits and focused on his less favorable ones.  Get caught smoking gillyweed once in the common room when it had been snowing and all of sudden he apparently had a problem.  Okay it might have been more than one and he might not have always been careful to get rid of the smell.

And she had asked him, which he realized now let some pressure off of him.  She'd asked.  Definitely meant the pressure should be on her.  Right?. 

"Oh," she said with a simple plain tone. She wasn't sure how to take this. "I know, it was sort of last minute wasn't it." Cassie had thought of going alone, and many people had made plans for dates way in advance. But instead Cassie had panicked over the very idea of being asked, which nobody had. This was followed by deciding to go alone and wearing a lovely dress, until her cousin had made a few suggestions. End result, was Cassie asking Nick and she was happy for it. "Well, I am glad you said yes and didn't make me look silly for asking." That had been a scenario that had played on repeat.

Cassie smiled and was pleased how things had gone so far. But still she was nervous about how the day would end, and if things would get messed up. But the dancing was relaxing her and it was keeping them busy, allowing a moment of silence if need be. "I was a little surprised you had not already been asked." Cassie said a little bashful. He was attractive and some girl was bound to have snapped him up, or he would have asked already. It seemed strange to her that he had been available, but her gain right?

"We also don't need to stay here all night either," she did not wish to pressure him into sticking out the entire night. If he wanted to go out for air she would be okay with that as well. She was just happy to be in his company and not alone tonight.

Nicholas chuckled softly, "Last minute is great, I do everything last minute."  That was assuming of course that he did it, though usually he remembered at the last minute.  Or someone reminded him, or in the case of the dance, Cassie had asked him.  "Nah, its never silly to ask." He said with a smile, "Though, when you ask a seventh year if he wants to go with you and he says no, its probably best not turn around and ask the girl he was going with.  That was a bit embarrassing."  Okay, a bit more than a bit embarrassing.  But how was he supposed to have known.  It was probably for the best though since he'd seen the guy sitting at a table completely ignoring his date for his mates.

"I know, don't understand why no one asked.  Maybe Sophie was scaring them off in case she broke Fig's nose again and needed a date."  Doubtful.  But maybe.  He laughed a moment later, imaging Sophie hinting at threats to some poor soul who'd wanted to go with him.  Maybe he'd have to visit Madam Nadge and see if she'd had an influx of broken noses.  He spun them around quickly with a loud laugh that got looks from the students around them.   He didn't care spinning was fun.  "I'm glad you asked, its going to be a fun night.  No pressure, Christmas in less than a week, no class tomorrow, and no homework.  Going to be a great night."

Dance all night?  Could be fun, but the band would have to take a breather and they'd probably need to too.  "We'll have to duck outside and see what all they did with the place at some point.  Something tells me the Headmistress went all out out there too."

"Good, glad it is never silly to ask." Though she had to admit is story of asking a seventh year and then promptly asking the girl he was attending with was rather funny. "Nobody claimed you were a smooth bloke Nick," she smirked. "So a mess up of that degree is allowed now and then. As long as you can recover your cool graces eventually." Cassie smiled over at her date for the night, so far she was very pleased with her choice. Okay with Sophie's choice if one was being picky.

"Ha, very funny. I don't think she plans to do that again." Though it would be funny to see again. Replay could be very useful sometimes. "Though I am glad you were still free." She looked around and couldn't think of someone she would rather be here with. So that was a good thing right. "Things are looking up aren't they. I am looking forward to the holidays." Cassie really was, even if they would be a bit different for Sophie. She was going to do her best. "Are you going home for the holidays?"

Cassie just nodded her head at the mention of ducking outside, it would be nice to see what was done out there. It was as if Minerva was pulling out all the stops.

Nicholas opened is mouth in feigned shock.  "Really.  Not smooth.  Of course I am."  He laughed, "Well I can be.  Occasionally.  So smooth."  Well if he tried.  And really wanted something.  "I always recover though, bounce back like I've been transfigured into rubber."  He had actually turned his arm into rubber once.  Wasn't nearly as fun as it had seemed at first.

"Well, thats unfortunate.  It was amazing.  Wish someone'd had a camera." Nicholas said with a chuckle.  He felt a little guilty about his part in that whole fight.  But it had been a good fight, till he'd been stabbed with a fork.  Oh well, Nicholas figured eventually Fig would screw up again and Sophie might hex him or break his nose again.  He just hoped he  was there for it.  "Yep.  Back to London.  See my muggle friends, buy some new records, and use all the magic I want."  It would be nice to not be under the underage restrictions anymore.  He'd been looking forward to that since they'd told him he wasn't allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts.