The news of the Yule Ball spread through Hogwarts like wildfire. By the time Professor Flitwick had barely finished his announcement in the Great Hall, students were already buzzing with excitement. Whispers filled the corridors, and the air was charged with the kind of energy that came only when something grand was about to happen.

Evan sat with Clara and Leo at their usual spot in the Great Hall, trying to focus on his breakfast. But between Leo’s relentless chatter and the general excitement around them, it was hard to concentrate on anything except the looming event.

“So, the Yule Ball,” Leo said, grinning mischievously as he poked at his plate of scrambled eggs. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

Clara rolled her eyes, already sensing where this was going. “Here we go.”

“It means,” Leo continued, undeterred, “that certain people—” he gave Evan a pointed look, “—need to get a move on. You know, ask someone special to the ball.”

Evan felt a blush creeping up his neck. “What are you talking about, Leo?”

“Oh, come on, mate!” Leo leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Everyone knows you’ve been eyeing Clara for weeks now. The ball is your chance! You just need to ask her.”

Clara raised an eyebrow, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “I’m sitting right here, you know.”

Evan nearly choked on his pumpkin juice. He hadn’t been eyeing Clara—well, maybe he had, but it wasn’t like that. Or maybe it was? He didn’t know. Ever since the battle, their friendship had deepened, and the connection between them had grown stronger, but the idea of asking her to the ball was… terrifying.

“Leo, you can’t just—” Evan stammered, his face growing redder by the second. “I mean, it’s not like that.”

Leo smirked, clearly enjoying the torment he was causing. “Right. Because you’re not totally into her.”

“Leo!” Clara shot him a warning look, though she couldn’t hide the smile tugging at her lips.

Evan was flustered, his mind racing. Clara was sitting right there, looking at him, and for a moment, all he could think about was how her smile made his heart do a weird little flip. He had never been good with these kinds of things. Romance? It wasn’t exactly in his skill set—especially with everything going on with the relic and the Decepticons.

But Leo wasn’t letting this go, and now Clara was looking at him expectantly, her eyes soft but curious.

“Well, are you going to ask her?” Leo nudged him, his grin only widening.

Evan cleared his throat, feeling like the entire world was watching him, even though it was just Clara and Leo. He glanced at Clara, his heart pounding in his chest. Just ask her, he told himself. What’s the worst that could happen?

“Clara,” Evan began, his voice shaky but sincere. “Would you… would you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?”

Clara’s eyes met his, and for a brief moment, the entire Great Hall seemed to fade away. The noise of students, the clatter of plates, the excited chatter—it all melted into the background as she smiled.

“I’d love to,” she said softly.

Relief washed over Evan, and he couldn’t help but grin like an idiot. Leo, of course, gave an exaggerated fist pump. “Finally! Took you long enough.”

Clara laughed, giving Evan a playful nudge. “Ignore him. He’s been insufferable all week.”

“I know,” Evan said, still grinning. “Trust me, I know.”

But as they laughed together, something tugged at the back of Evan’s mind. He couldn’t fully shake the unease that had settled there. The Decepticons, Megatron, the relic—it was all still looming, even as this small moment of happiness unfolded. How could he focus on the ball when there was so much danger on the horizon?

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In the days leading up to the Yule Ball, the castle was transformed. Garland and twinkling lights lined the hallways, and the smell of freshly baked pastries filled the air. Students darted about, excitedly discussing outfits, dates, and who would lead the dance. Even the professors seemed to be in higher spirits, smiling more often as they passed through the decorated halls.

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Evan, however, felt a growing tension within him. As much as he wanted to enjoy the ball—especially now that he was going with Clara—his thoughts kept drifting back to the relic. He had been keeping it hidden, but its power seemed to be growing, the visions becoming more vivid, more insistent. Each time he touched it, he felt a surge of energy that left him both exhilarated and terrified.

But tonight, he promised himself, he would set aside the worry. Tonight was the Yule Ball, and for once, he would let himself enjoy something normal.

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The night of the Yule Ball arrived, and the Great Hall was unrecognizable. It had been transformed into a magical winter wonderland, with snowflakes falling softly from the enchanted ceiling and floating candles casting a warm, golden glow over the scene. Ice sculptures lined the walls, their surfaces shimmering with an ethereal light.

Evan stood near the entrance, nervously adjusting his robes as students filed into the hall. His heart raced, not just from the thought of dancing but from the fact that Clara would be arriving any moment.

“Looking sharp, Holloway,” Leo said as he approached, giving Evan a thumbs-up. Leo, dressed in dark blue robes, looked unusually polished for once. “Ready to sweep Clara off her feet?”

Evan groaned, running a hand through his hair. “I feel like I’m going to trip over my own feet, to be honest.”

Leo laughed. “Hey, don’t worry. If you fall, at least you’ll be in good company. I’m probably going to make a complete fool of myself tonight.”

Evan raised an eyebrow. “You? Nervous? I didn’t think anything could rattle you.”

Leo shrugged, his usual bravado dimming slightly. “Yeah, well… I may have asked out Daphne Elwood from Ravenclaw. She’s brilliant, but I think she’s expecting someone more… graceful.”

Evan chuckled. “You’ll be fine. Just don’t step on her feet.”

Before Leo could respond, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and Evan’s breath caught in his throat. Clara stepped inside, her dress robes a soft shade of lavender, her wavy brown hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked stunning, and for a moment, Evan forgot how to speak.

Clara approached with a shy smile, her eyes meeting his. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Evan managed, feeling like his heart was about to leap out of his chest. “You look… amazing.”

Clara blushed. “Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

Leo cleared his throat dramatically, cutting through the moment. “Alright, lovebirds, let’s get inside before all the good punch is gone.”

Evan shot him a glare, but Clara laughed, easing the tension. Together, the trio made their way into the Great Hall, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement as students twirled and danced to the music.

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As the night wore on, the music slowed, and Evan found himself standing nervously with Clara on the dance floor. The room around them seemed to blur, the other students fading into the background as the two of them swayed together. Clara’s hand rested gently in his, her other hand on his shoulder, and for a moment, everything else melted away.

Neither of them spoke, but the silence was comfortable, filled with unspoken feelings that hung in the air between them. Evan had never felt so nervous and yet so at ease at the same time. Every glance, every smile from Clara seemed to say more than words ever could.

“You know,” Clara said softly, breaking the silence, “I never thought you’d ask me to the ball.”

Evan’s cheeks flushed. “I wasn’t sure I could.”

Clara tilted her head slightly, her eyes searching his. “Why?”

Evan hesitated, his mind filled with thoughts of the relic, the battles, and the responsibility that weighed on him. “There’s just… a lot going on. Things I’m not sure I can handle.”

Clara’s hand tightened gently around his. “You don’t have to handle everything on your own, Evan. You know that, right?”

Her words hit him harder than he expected, and for a moment, he considered telling her everything—the full truth about the relic, the growing danger of Megatron’s looming presence. But as he looked into her eyes, he realized this moment wasn’t about the relic. It was about them. About trust, and about finding comfort in each other, even when the world seemed to be falling apart.

“I know,” Evan said quietly, managing a small smile. “I’m just glad you’re here.”

Clara smiled back, and for the first time in weeks, Evan felt a flicker of peace.

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Meanwhile, across the hall, Leo was in the midst of his own ordeal.

Daphne Elwood, the Ravenclaw student Leo had nervously asked to the ball, was a far better dancer than Leo had anticipated. In fact, she was an enthusiastic dancer—whirling and spinning with so much energy that Leo could barely keep up.

“Oh, Merlin,” Leo muttered under his breath, trying to match Daphne’s pace as she twirled him around the dance floor with a level of enthusiasm that bordered on terrifying.

“You’re doing great!” Daphne said brightly, not noticing Leo’s increasingly panicked expression.

“Thanks,” Leo panted, desperately trying not to trip over his own feet. “Just… trying not to die over here.”

Evan and Clara, who had slowed their dance to watch the spectacle, exchanged amused looks. Clara stifled a laugh, and Evan grinned, feeling a surge of gratitude for moments like this—moments that felt normal, despite everything happening in the background.

“Think he’ll survive the night?” Clara asked, raising an eyebrow as Leo stumbled slightly, trying to regain his balance.

“I give him about twenty minutes before he passes out,” Evan joked.

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But even as they laughed, the weight of the looming threat remained. Somewhere in the shadows, Megatron was plotting, waiting for the right moment to strike.

And though tonight was filled with joy and laughter, Evan knew deep down that the peace wouldn’t last forever.