Note: This story is part of the Dances with Dunces story set, though it may be enjoyed separately. Visit my profile page for recommended reading order.
The asterisk (*) marks something that refers to a detail from another story in the set.


THE OTHER PARTNER

The Gryffindor common room fireplace automatically extinguished as Ginny, the last to bed, left to go up to her dormitory. The air was silent; all she could hear were faint sobs and teary hiccups echoing in the stairwell. For a second, she looked towards the top of the flight for the source of the sound, but quickly realized that the sounds were her own. Startled that what she sounded like and what she felt could be so different, she paused briefly. The truth was, she was happy, she was excited, and she was nervous. All these emotions seemed to be jostling each other to come out as the strongest, so who could blame her for bursting into tears just before? After all, not ten minutes ago did Harry Potter say he'd go to the dance with her!*

Shaking from nerves or the cold - she didn't know - Ginny quietly climbed between her sheets and lay flat on her back, staring up at the darkness above her. She felt the irritating tickle of a tear escape her right eye and drip into her ear. Turning to her side, she could vaguely make out in the moonlight, her friend, Natalie. In the cloak of night and the solitude of wakefulness, Ginny allowed herself a broad smile, another course of excitement tensing her shoulders.

A few days ago, she and Natalie had been debating whom they'd go to the dance with if they asked, and whom they themselves might invite. Natalie had nagged her endlessly to try ask Harry, as everyone knew she liked him and, well, everyone also knew she was at least a little close to him, being his best friend's sister. No one seemed to understand that maybe she was might be a little too close to him to stand a chance. There were a lot of complications, some of the more daunting ones came in the forms of her older brothers, especially Ron and the twins. She could just imagine the kind of embarrassment they would put her through; they would never let her forget that little Ginny Weasley actually asked Harry Potter out.

But now, she smiled. Despite her own doubts, he had said yes! Ginny fought the urge to shake Natalie awake and tell her the news, but as it was late and all the tension had drained her energy, she figured it better be left until the morning.

The sun rose sooner than Ginny had expected, and she was awake as soon as its rays started to lazily filter through the windows. "Natalie!" she shrieked excitedly, slipping out of bed. Her friend grunted a reply but kept her eyes closed. "You'll never guess what happened last night!"

Natalie mumbled sleepily, "You finally asked Harry Potter to the dance and he said yes."

Ginny frowned. How had she known? Suddenly, she was afraid she hadn't been as alone with Harry as she had thought the other night. She opened her mouth to ask, but her friend's eyes flew open. "Oh my God! You did?" Natalie bounced up in bed, her sleepy eyes suddenly wide with excitement. Apparently Ginny's silence was enough confirmation for her. "And he did?"

All Ginny could do was grin. Then both girls squealed and hugged.

Before breakfast in the Great Hall, Ginny dreaded seeing Harry there, for fear of the kind of awkwardness she was sure would follow. She avoided looking in his direction as she took her place at the Gryffindor table, but without thinking, glanced around the room and caught his eye. Before she could quickly withdraw her gaze and return it to her breakfast, he smiled warmly at her. Surprisingly, she felt at ease. It was an ease she had never felt in Harry's presence before, apart from the very first time they had met between Platforms 9 and 10, when she hadn't known who he was. She had felt drawn to him, even wished him good luck on his way to Platform 9 3/4, but his later-known celebrity somehow made her nervous.

Now, he was smiling at her, and there wasn't a twinge of embarrassment in her body. It was like they were sharing a secret that connected them. She smiled back and casually turned back to her plate, feeling more excited than she had been when he had initially accepted her invitation to the dance.

The day quickly rolled around and Ginny tapped her foot restlessly as she waited for Hermione to help her with her hair as she'd promised. Once Hermione arrived, Ginny immediately began discussing exactly the kind of look she was hoping for. She described large, separate curls, hoping they wouldn't fall too short since her hair wasn't very long. Hermione began her work. Ginny was highly appreciative of the help, especially since her friend appeared a tad weary after taking her OWLs just before. She didn't seem very excited about attending the dance, and would only mumble and change the subject when Ginny asked her about meeting Ron or something similar.

The time came for the girls to meet their dates in the common room. Ginny was bursting with excitement and barely contained it when Harry offered his arm and whispered her a compliment. She wanted to tell him he looked gorgeous in black and green, but decided against it. 'Gorgeous' wasn't a word she wanted to share with him, and there wasn't another she could think of. So far, the night was starting off superbly. That is, however, until Hermione devastated them, most of all Ron, by going to the dance with Neville!*

She felt desperately sorry for her brother, miserable at their table in the Great Hall (which had been turned into a ballroom), but knew she couldn't do anything to make him feel any better. "I'm worried about him," she told Harry, "when he's upset about something, he's usually angry, not sad."

"Maybe I should talk to him," Harry suggested, looking at Ron's depressed features sipping absent-mindedly from his goblet. Ginny nodded, but as they turned to him, Ron got up and made to leave.

"Ron, where are you going?" Ginny called after him. He answered with a half-hearted shrug. Harry tried coaxing him to attempt to enjoy the celebrations, but to no avail. They finally let him leave for some time to himself. Ginny sighed after him.

She and Harry sat quietly for a few moments, when Ginny finally bit the bullet. "So, do you want to dance?"