It is a crisp, autumn evening as you make your way back from Hogsmeade, the last few rays of sunlight disappearing in the horizon. The air is filled with a soft chill that bites your cheeks, reminding you of the approaching winter and what it entails.

The Yule Ball.

Everyone is talking about it, a constant topic that's whispered everywhere from the village and to your dormitory.

Another cold gust of wind prompts an involuntary shudder through your spine, making you quicken your pace. You step around the corner when you nearly collide into someone's chest and skid to a halt.

"Careful there," a familiar voice said with a hint of amusement. You look up from the ground and find yourself face-to-face with Adrian Adder, the Hero of Hogwarts himself.

Adrian is donned in his elegant, yellow uniform, and right after him appears his two Slytherin friends, Sebastian Sallow on one side, Ominis Gaunt on his other. Bumping into Adrian was one thing, but you know rumours have been swirling ever since the Yule Ball had been announced. Practically everyone wanted to be his date, and as far as you knew, he'd rejected every single offer.

As your lips part to speak, Adrian holds up a hand and shakes his head. "No harm done, of course. I should watch where I'm going," Adrian replies easily.

"Honestly, mate,” Sebastian chuckles, “if you were half as focused on your surroundings as you are dodging your admirers, maybe you’d avoid running into people."

Adrian shoots him a sharp, silent look, his brow slightly raised.

Ominis steps in. "Come on, Sebastian," he says with a sigh, resting a hand on his friend’s arm. “We have an essay to write.”

“Huh, we do?” This time, Ominis glares at him, to which his lips form to an ‘o’. "I mean, of course we do.”

Before you can even react, Ominis tugs Sebastian along, the latter still chuckling to himself. The two of them disappear around the corner, leaving you alone with Adrian.

"So," Adrian says, burying his hands in his pockets. "The Yule Ball, big thing that... Got a date yet?"