"Gen, what are you still doing here!" An angry Jasey cut through Genna's long-anticipated sleep.

"Wha?" Genna responded groggily, curling up tighter on the loveseat in the Ravenclaw common room.

"You were supposed to be with Hagrid ten minutes ago!" Jasey practically shouted.

Genna's eyes shot open. She'd fallen asleep for too long! "Oh my gosh," she whispered. She bolted towards the door and yanked it open.

"I'll meet you in an hour or so," Jasey called after Genna as the door closed behind her.

She raced down the corridors towards the Entrance Hall. The halls were only spotted with several students here and there on their way to their respective Houses for bed. Genna was thankful she had memorized the quickest way to the Entrance Hall.

She took a sharp left and started past the Ancient Runes classroom when she ran straight into Spencer Caulfield, a fellow sixth year in Hufflepuff who shared her Arithmancy class.

"I'm so sorry," she gasped, collecting herself. Luckily his reflexes were decent and he had caught her before she did an embarrassing face-plant.

"What the rush?" he teased.

Genna laughed nervously. "I really have to go to…" She tried to think of an excuse, but nothing came to mind; no one would ever believe she was late… for detention. Luckily enough, he looked distracted by some other thought.

"Er. I've been meaning to ask you something actually," he said.

"I really do have to go," Genna said sheepishly.

He plowed on regardless; apparently nothing was getting through his mind except what he planned to ask. "Well, the Yule Ball is coming up and I was wondering if you'd like to go… with me."

"Oh," Genna replied dumbly, forgetting for a moment why she was out of breath. "Right. Well, I'm not actually going, Spence. I'm really sorry." Truly she was; Spencer was a really great, funny, and attractive guy. But she detested dressing up, mostly because she was bad at it and partly because dancing was something she'd never tried nor wanted to try, especially not with another person.

"Oh. Well, is there anyway that I can convince you to come?" He was determined, that much was certain.

"I really have to go," Genna interrupted.

"Then think about it." Spencer smiled widely and Genna half-promised herself she would.

"Sure," she said. "I'll see you tomorrow." She quickly walked past him and found her way into the Entrance Hall where an anxious looking Hagrid bounced up and down on huge, nervous feet accompanied by a furious Snape who was pacing the length of the hall.

"Late!" was all he said at the sight of Genna coming down the hall. "Do you have any idea the severity of the situation? One person sees you. One person tells their parents-."

"One set of parents gets to stick it where the sun doesn't shine," Genna snapped.

Snape looked taken aback. Genna had never before talked back to a Professor, let alone Professor Snape. But she had also never been late before. "Sorry," she muttered.

His jaw clenched angrily but he didn't say anything more.

"Righ' then," Hagrid said gruffly. "Better get a move on. Sun's already goin' down."

"Er. Thanks," Genna muttered awkwardly to Snape. He was silent as usual, so she followed Hagrid outside and they made their way towards the Whomping Willow.