The eight friends were sat at the Gryfindor table. The Hufflepuffs were no longer outright malicious but they weren't exactly civil either. Despite this, Evan was becoming very well-liked with the other houses who were very happy about Hogwarts' victory. Hogwarts were far ahead. The Slytherins had made the badges from the book that said support "Evan Perez" instead of "Cedric Diggory". Ella and Eloise were arguing over cats, as per usual. Eloise was determined that cats were evil. Rhianna was ignoring them and, instead, reading the daily prophet.
"Really?" Rhianna sighed as she put down the paper. All of the friends tensed. Had Rita written something evil about them?
"What?" James asked tensely.
"Look at this!" Rhianna said. She tossed the paper to the others.

HOGWARTS CHAMPION HAS FALLEN IN LOVE!

The Hogwarts champion Evan Perez has fallen in love with a Hufflepuff girl in his year. Before the first task, our reporter, myself, caught a conversation. Schoolgirl Ella Young went to visit our Evan before the challenge. They both came away looking much happier! We are overjoyed that our young champion has found love at Hogwarts.
"It's obvious they love each other," Pansy Parkinson, a girl they have lessons with, says. "We catch them teasing each other all the time."
With this new...

Ella snorted but was relieved at the same time (just like the others) because she'd anticipated something much worse.
"Honestly. You'd think she has better things to write about!" Jocelyn said. She knew for a fact that neither of them were in love with each other. That was the truth and everyone knew it. Ella wasn't the type of person to fall in love but she was sure Evan might have a small crush on a certain other girl in the friend group...
"Apparently not," Evan said.
"And apparently you coughing in my face and me putting onion in your history book equates to being in love!" Ella said. The two supposed "lovers" rolled their eyes.
"I still can't believe you did that!" Evan cried. In their first year of (muggle) secondary school, their class had been taking part in a science experiment that involved onions. Ella was irritated at Evan coughing in her face earlier that day so she took some pieces and stashed them in her bag. Then, after lunch, they had history. At the end of the lesson, Ella slid the onion pieces into his book. Evan didn't notice until the next week when they'd gone mouldy.
"Well I did," Ella sung.
"Are you sure you're not in love?" Eloise teased. Sure, the friends all knew that the two weren't in love, that didn't stop them enjoying teasing them about it.
"Positive," Ella and Evan said at once. The others laughed at the looks of horror on the two's faces.
*************************************************************************************************************************
"Now the yule ball is a dance," Professor Flitwick was telling the Ravenclaws. "We have taken you out of lessons today to practice! Let me demonstrate. Ah! Miss Brennan, would you help?"
Eloise sat glued to her seat. This would be embarrassing to the best of people let alone to shy Eloise. Nevertheless she stood up and made her way to Flitwick. Flitwick took her hands and demonstrated dancing. Unfortunately, Eloise wasn't great. The other Ravenclaw friends found it hilarious, typically.
"And now everyone find a partner!" Flitwick called. The boys in the group looked to Eloise, clearly not wanting to pair up with random Ravenclaw girls but Eloise was annoyed at them laughing at her so she smiled sweetly and innocently at them and walked over to Terry Boot, a boy she vaguely knew. The boys gaped at Eloise, surprised and irritated. The source of the irritation was obvious, they didn't want to pair up with random girls. The surprise came from the fact that shy Eloise was about to dance with a random boy. Where had her courage come from?
"Do you mind if I go with you?" Eloise timidly asked, hoping her fear wouldn't suddenly kick in.
"Uh...Yeah...Sure?" Terry said. They awkwardly stood together. Eloise saw the boys finding practice partners. Evan went with Cho; James went with Luna and Lebron, well, Lebron miraculously developed a headache.
"Ready?" Flitwick called. The Ravenclaws nodded. "1,2,3 and 1,2,3 and 1,2,3 and!"
The Ravenclaws were soon enough giggling and mucking about, forgetting about how awkward it was, or maybe they were just trying to override the awkwardness.