Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter series. I just own this fanfic. No copyright intended!
Author's note 1: Another Harry Potter one-shot, this one where Harry is paired with Astoria. This story takes place in Harry's sixth year, around the time of Professor Slughorn's Christmas Party. Astoria will be a fifth year, same year as Ginny. Even after Hermione warns Harry about Romilda's plan to sneak a love potion to him, Romilda tries resorting to even more mischievous means to get her hands on Harry, so she can be famous for being 'The Chosen One's' date. Harry tries evading Romilda's sights and, in the process, he crosses paths with Astoria Greengrass, who doesn't share the same views as Draco Malfoy, or any of the other prejudice Slytherins. Astoria is trying to avoid Draco, who is after her for her looks and family's wealth, rather than for her personality. What will become of the unlikely pair who quickly become friends? Will Harry ask her to be his date for Slughorn's Christmas Party?
An Unlikely Date
fanfic by Brockster550
Harry Potter was a sixth year Gryffindor student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft Wizardry. At the moment, he was, both angry and paranoid. His best friend, Hermione Granger, warned him that a fourth year Gryffindor, Romilda Vane, was planning to sneak Harry a love potion, so he would ask her to be his date for the upcoming Slug Club Christmas Party. Harry thanked Hermione for the heads up and, in return, he asked her to be his date for the Slug Club Christmas Party. Hermione politely declined, stating that she would be going with someone else. Then Harry wandered around the school grounds, looking for Luna Lovegood, a fifth year Ravenclaw student with blonde hair and blue-grayish eyes. Harry spent the next fifteen to twenty minutes looking for her, with the plan to ask her to be his date. But somehow, Luna wasn't anywhere to be found. Harry realized that Luna was a sneaky and slippery one, she always seemed to be in hiding places, where other students are least likely to look, that is if anybody tried to look for Luna. But she always seemed to turn up when it was least expected, so Harry had little choice but to give up.
Harry didn't have any idea who would want to be his date. Besides Romilda, who Harry overheard was planning an even more mischievous scheme to get 'The Chosen One' to notice her, Ginny Weasley was also out of the picture because, for one, she was already dating Dean Thomas, Harry's fellow sixth year Gryffindor, and Harry had a sneaky suspicion that she was only 'dating' Dean to make him jealous. Ginny was too delusional to even acknowledge that Harry wouldn't think of asking her out. For two, Ginny was Ron's sister, and trying to flirt with her would be like flirting with his own sister, which would make the whole thing awkward. For three, Ginny only wanted Harry for his fame, rather than want Harry as a person. And four, her 'dating' Dean to make Harry jealous also seemed to imply that Ginny would try to toy with any boy she can, just so Harry would finally notice her, and that makes her just as bad, if not worse, than Romilda. Luna also wasn't an option, reluctantly, since she turns up in the least expected moments. Hermione mentioned that she was going with somebody else, but Harry had no idea who it was, so she wasn't an option.
Harry was so busy thinking of other girls who'd like to be his date for the Christmas Party that he didn't notice a blonde haired girl jog by until they bumped into each other, which snapped Harry back to reality, and the girl stumbled and fell on her bum. Harry looked down at the girl who had bumped into him, she had blonde hair that barely touched her shoulders, but Harry, naturally, got all tense when he saw that she had green trimmings on her school robes, which told him that she was a Slytherin. When the two made eye contact, Harry saw the most beautiful, bright-green eyes he had ever seen, and this Slytherin girl was pretty, even prettier than Pansy Parkinson, who was a Slytherin in Harry's year. Pansy did seem to get prettier over the years, but Harry didn't like her arrogant behaviour, which was similar to Draco Malfoy's, who was Harry arch nemesis ever since their first meeting. Despite this girl sitting on the ground before him being a Slytherin, Harry decided to be polite.
"Are... are you... alright?" Harry asked the girl.
"Yes," she said, smiling at Harry. "Thank you for asking, Harry!"
Harry was stunned, this Slytherin girl smiled at him, and was also polite to him. She even called him by his first name, rather than by his surname. This was also some proof that there were some decent Slytherins out there, Professor Slughorn being another example, having admitted to Harry that his mother, Lily was one of Slughorn's favourite students.
"Do you need some help?" asked Harry, lowering a hand at the Slytherin girl.
"Sure!" she said.
The girl grabbed a hold of Harry's hand, then Harry pulled her up onto her feet.
"I'm sorry for bumping into you," Harry apologized. "I was lost in my thoughts!"
"Same here," said the girl, then she held a hand out. "I'm Astoria, Astoria Greengrass!"
"Harry, Harry Potter," said Harry as he shook hands with Astoria. "Nice to meet you!"
"I often go by Tori," said Astoria. "It's easier that way."
"Okay." said Harry. "Are you Daphne's sister?"
"Yes," said Tori. "Contrary to rumours, she's pretty nice. She only has that Ice Queen glare to keep unwanted attention from some boys at bay."
At that moment, Harry and Tori heard an all-too-familiar voice coming from down the hall, the voice they knew belonged to Draco. Tori gasped and ducked behind a nearby statue, making sure she was well hidden. Harry became suspicious, because at just that moment, Draco spotted Harry and approached the raven-haired boy.
"Alright, Potter," Draco began demanding. "Where is she?"
"Who?" asked Harry.
"Astoria Greengrass, that's who," snapped Draco. "Now where'd she go?"
"She might be outside," said Harry, playing dumb. "Rumour has it that she has been known to hang around outside the front gate."
Draco believed the fib and walked away. Tori stayed hidden for a few minutes, just to make sure the arrogant ponce wouldn't return to that same spot. Once she felt certain, Tori emerged from her hiding spot.
"Thank you, Harry," said Tori. "The ferret believes that I'm rightfully his. No matter how many times I hex him to teach him a lesson, he just doesn't want to learn."
"Why does he think that you're his girl?" asked Harry.
"His dad drew up a marriage contract during Christmas break, shortly after the Yule Ball," Tori explained, with distaste. "To where I would have marry Malfoy Sr's idiotic son. And Malfoy Sr threatened my dad into agreeing with it."
Harry shuddered at the thought of being married to Draco. The arrogant moron could do anything, and it wasn't something Harry wanted to imagine.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Harry.
"That I'm not too sure of," said Tori downheartedly. "That marriage contract will go into effect on the ferret's eighteenth birthday. Well, I best head back to the Slytherin common room. See ya!"
So Tori began walking away, with her eyes on the ground, filled with sadness. Harry couldn't help feeling sorry for Tori. The way she spoke about the marriage contract implied that she didn't want it in the first place. Suddenly, Harry found his saving people thing rise.
"Wait, Tori!" Harry called out, then Tori turned around. "Would... would you like t-to go to Professor Slughorn's party with me?"
"What about your 'Chosen One' title?" asked Tori. "Alot of girls want you to ask them."
"I don't want to go with somebody who only wants to 'go' with me for my fame," said Harry. "I'd rather go with somebody who wants to go with me as a friend, a genuine one, that is."
"Really? You'd be willing to ask me to go to Slughorn's party with you?" asked Tori.
"Sure," said Harry. "I would like to do anything to make you happy!"
Tori beamed at that, she was so grateful that she ran up to Harry and gave him a hug. Even though he flinched, Harry hugged Tori back.
"Thank you, Harry," said Tori. "Hopefully this will teach the ferret a lesson, a great chance to give him a taste of his own medicine!"
"Yeah," agreed Harry. "He won't see this coming!"
"Hopefully, this will also help, in some way, to render that stupid marriage contract void!" said Tori. "See ya later, Harry!"
"Alright, take care, Tori!" said Harry.
After she finished hugging Harry, Tori turned around and skipped her way back to the Slytherin common room. Harry wondered why he never met her before. The rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin was just, plain stupid. It didn't make any real sense.
(Ten minutes later)
Tori made her way back to the Slytherin common room, being cautious at the same time, just in case if Draco was anywhere nearby. Tori found Daphne sitting on a couch in front of the fireplace, with Daphne sitting by her best friend, Tracey Davis.
"Hey Daph," said Tori. "Can I talk to you and Tracey, privately?"
"Sure, Tori!" said Daphne.
Daphne and Tracey followed Tori into the girls dormitory, which made them curious. They followed Tori to her room and, once they were inside, Tori cast a locking charm and a silence charm on the door.
"What's up, Tori?" Daphne asked her sister.
"Harry Potter asked me to Professor Slughorn's Christmas party!" said Tori ecstatically.
"Are you serious?" said Daphne, surprised.
"Yes," said Tori. "I wanted to tell you and Tracey this in private, to make sure the ferret wouldn't overhear this."
"He's not gonna like this one bit!" said Tracey, giggling.
"Yeah," said Tori. "Hopefully, this will be enough to render that wretched contract void. A real opportunity to give the ferret his just desserts!"
"We'll need to help find you some dress robes," suggested Daphne. "Ones that we think Harry will like!"
"Yeah, Harry will drop his jaw in surprise once he see's them!" said Tori.
The next day was a Hogsmeade weekend, which gave Tori, Daphne and Tracey some time to look for some dress robes that they believe Harry would like.
(The night of Professor Slughorn's Slug Club Party)
The night of the party arrived. Harry was wearing dress robes of emerald-green, the same colour as his eyes. A couple days earlier, Tori advised Harry to wait by the Great Hall (since it was on the way to Slughorn's office), just so his presence doesn't stir up any complaints from the supremacist Slytherins. Once Harry spotted Tori walking toward him, he, indeed, felt his jaw drop open in surprise. Tori's dress robes were strapless, made of velvet, which were green. Tori also had her blonde hair in an elegant bun.
"Tori..." said Harry in astonishment. "You look... look... look..."
Harry couldn't say it, because Tori really was beautiful in her dress robes. Then Harry held a hand out to Tori, who grabbed hold of it. Then they started walking, arm in arm, to the Christmas Party.
"I'm looking forward to having a great time, Harry!" said Tori.
"S-Same here," said Harry, who kept admiring Tori in her dress robes. "Especially with a pretty lady, with a pretty personality!"
Tori blushed as Harry continued escorting her to the party. They knew the night was bound to be interesting. The other guests will be baffled to see the Boy-Who-Lived with a Slytherin as his date. Harry and Tori grinned at the thought of what lies ahead.
The End
Author's note 2: I decided to have Harry paired with Astoria, seeing there aren't many stories with this pairing. Astoria has just as much potential as Daphne.