Even if he was largely going because the Ministry recommended it, Harry thought the ball already looked bloody brilliant. It didn't even look like the place he walked into every day, and that was definitely a good thing. It reminded him of the Yule Ball back at Hogwarts, but on a much larger scale.
Looking at Alicia, he grinned. "Aren't you glad you came? Now you're fun!" She looked good, too, even if they were just going as friends. Harry could still appreciate a pretty woman when he saw one.