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With the Tri-Wizard Tournament in full swing. Maponos having somehow passed the first two tasks, was avoiding any unwanted attention. Menala was with him. Keeping him company as they walked around the halls.
"So who are you asking to the Yule Ball?" Menala questioned but there was a mischievous glitter in her eyes, one that he knew to suspect something.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Why would you ask me that?" He questioned back.
"No reason."
"I don't have any interest in attending the ball. It's bad enough that I'm in the tournament."
"But you're the Arkos representative, you are expected to at least be there." She pointed out.
"Why do I have to go with anyone, at all? Who would I even go with? Powehi? " Maponos asked incredulously. "Leave the ball for all the lovey-dovey people to suck face or whatever."
His sister sighs. "For someone so smart, you can be awfully thick-headed sometimes."
Before he could ask his sister what she meant, Cassie, a third-year Gryffindor, peeked around a stone pillar. "So Maponos needs help gettin' a date?"
He muttered a startled, " What the fuck . " Before recollecting himself. "No, I'm quite fine, Cassie I don't need -"
The firey-haired girl, grinned mischievously and started loudly talking over him. "What's that Maponos, yer single and lookin' for a date?"
Menala sighed and shot the Gryffindor a look. "Was that really necessary, Cassie?"
"'Prolly not, but he needs the help."
"Hey," Maponos hissed. "I'm right here." Just then, two Hufflepuff girls appeared around the corner. He swore he heard one of them mutter, "Isn't that the Lathander guy?" They started to make their way in his direction.
Maponos glanced at his sister, "I'll find you later, I better go." He said before dashing off.
A few hours later, Powehi caught Maponos in the courtyard. "What do you think you're doing out here, young doctor?"
"Hiding. It got out that I'm looking for someone to ask to the Yule Ball." He shot her a look. "Which I'm not."
Powehi crossed her arms. "Heard from your sister that you are willing to drag me into this Yule Ball business. I'm not going. I have experiments to do in the Prefects' bathroom."
He raised a brow. "How are you getting into the Prefect bathroom? You're not a Prefect Powehi."
"Doesn't matter." She said dismissively. "You have to go to the ball with your girlfriend."
"I don't have a girlfriend -" Maponos tried to protest.
"I thought you and the Princess have been dating for a year now?"
Maponos stiffened. "What? No - we just hang out sometimes. We...we aren't dating." He attempted to clarify. "We're friends."
Powehi frowned. "What do you mean you're not dating?"
Before Maponos could speak, she interjected. "You have been spending a considerable amount of time with her in the classes you share with her and you have even gone so far as to spend your free time with her." Powehi started, then paused. "And yes, I know about that time after Astronomy." She shook her head, getting back on topic. "A whole year, you've known her and you're telling me you haven't asked her out? Are you stupid Maponos? She's obviously into you, so why wouldn't you ask her out?"
Maponos glanced around, thankful that there wasn't anyone around to hear Powehi's voice rise in frustration. "Powehi -"
" Don't you 'Powehi, me ." She snapped, then sighed heavily. "This is just like Austen. He was also too scared to properly ask Cynder out. At least he had a reason to be scared; Cynder can break his bones." She looked over at Maponos. "Man up, and go ask her out before someone else decides to do it instead and you miss an opportunity." She advised.
"Why do even care about my love life?" Maponos asked.
"I don't."
There was a long stretch of silence between them before Maponos piped up again. " How ...hypothetically...would...I ask her?"
"For fuck's sake Maponos. "
On his way to lunch, Maponos was stopped when he heard someone call out to him.
Luciana approached him, her stride purposeful.
Maponos' mind went racing, maybe this was his chance to ask her, to take Powehi's advice and -
"Maponos..." She started. "Would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?" She asked, brushing back stray strand of silvery blonde hair.
Maponos' face turned a deep shade of red. All composure he once thought he had vanished in an instant. " I ... uh ..." He stammered, and he couldn't help but notice that all of his friends were looking in his direction. "I...yes." He quickly added. "Sure."
Luciana smiled. "See you later." She then turned around and high-fived Menala on her way into the Grand Hall.
Powehi appeared next to him. "Really? Sure? "
He shot her a sharp look. "I didn't ask for your opinion."