Sweet and Sour



Disclaimer: Miss Goddess Rowling is the owner of everything but the plot!



*This is going to continue if I get seven reviews, so please r/r!*



It was a fall day at Hogwarts during Harry Potter's fifth year, and he was in his dormitory with his friend Ron (for it was a Saturday) reading Flying With the Cannons for the third time over.

"Harry, ready to go down to the late breakfast?" Ron looked up from trying to prod Seamus's football poster for the tenth time, willing it to move with no success.

Harry shut the book quickly, "Yeah, Hermione will already be down there, working on her homework from Snape..."

Ron rolled his eyes "Like that's a great way to start the weekend. Snape."

Harry laughed as they walked down to the Great Hall (for Professor McGonagall had told them to go down there at twelve anyways for a special assembly).

When they entered, the five tables were set up (Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and one for the teachers).

As they sat down beside their fellow Gryffindors, Hermione hissed at them.

"It's about time! I've been up for hours! I've already finished the homework from Snape, Flitwick, and Binns, and gone for a walk!"

She would have continued to scold them except for the fact that Professor McGonagall had begun to talk.

"Staff, and students, I will make this short. This year Hogwarts will participate in the Matching Game in the honour of this year's Yule Ball!"

Most of the room exploded with excitement, Fred and George stomped their feet, and Hermione let out a sigh.

Harry leaned over to his two best friends.

"What's the..."

"The Matching Game, for those of you who don't know," P.M said loudly, "Is a large incantation that will affect each and every one of you. It is like a magical matchmaker. You'd feel a tug at the tip of your wand, which, if you followed and let it guide you, would lead you to a person that you would be extremely compatible with once you got to know. They would accompany you to the Yule Ball. There would be two months for you to get to know each other beforehand so that you would know what to expect. The catch is, your potential partner may be in any house, any year, but your opposite sex. The incantation will take place tonight at eight o clock. The spell includes everyone, even if you don't show up, so I suggest that you just show up so to not make a fool of yourself. Now, you may return to your weekends, see you tonight!"

Harry stood with Ron and Hermione.

"Oh, this will be....interesting..." Harry trailed as they headed back up to the Gryffindor tower.

"Very," Ron glanced at Hermione, went brick red, and stared down at his shoes, which, Harry noticed, were not that interesting.

"Yes, well, I think it's unnecessary rubbish. I mean, the Yule Ball isn't that important that we need to be thinking about it two months ahead! We could be doing our schoolwork..." Hermione sighed.

Harry snorted, then covered his mouth as Ron stifled a laugh when Hermione shot them a dirty look.

The day went by quickly (Harry and Ron look turns on Harry's Firebolt).

Eight o clock came too soon.

As everyone filed down to the Great Hall, Harry fingered his wand.

Who would he be compatible with?

His heart thudded as he thought of the beautiful Ravenclaw sixth year, Cho Chang, but he doubted that she would be paired with him....he wondered if she would be paired with anybody considering her last boyfriend was killed last year...

Oh well, he could dream, couldn't he?

His thoughts were interrupted by P.M.

"Hello, students! Just a quick note before we begin; not matter how you may possibly, er, not like your partner, the spell is never wrong. Remember that. Now, wands out.......Matckika Normako Parisia!"

Harry immediately felt the tug at the tip of his wand, as he could tell other people could too. He followed the tugging, his heart pounding.

He saw Cho heading towards him, and his heart leaped, only to fall in disappointment when her wand pulled her past him.

He decided to close his eyes and wait for the tugging to stop.

It stopped very soon after he closed his eyes.

He opened his eyes slowly to take in a disgusted, blonde framed female face.

Pansy Parkinson.

Harry must have looked equally confused, because she began to shriek.

"Professor! Professor, there must be some mistake! Me and Potter! Me and HIM! I am so not compatible with him!"

Harry nodded mutely, his nose wrinkled.

Him and Pansy?

He completely agreed with her, there must have been some sort of mistake....

He shuddered as P.M appeared at their side.

"I assure you, Miss Parkinson that there is no mistake. Just.....get to know each other a little better..." she shrugged, then walked over to a protesting Ginny Weasley, who was paired with-"

Malfoy?!

Pansy seemed to have noticed this too, and began to shriek again.

"This is so dumb! Not fair...stupid! Me and Potter!? Absurd!"

"For the first time, I agree with you," Harry slumped up against a wall, still marveling at Ginny and Malfoy.

Harry was beginning to doubt the authenticity of this spell...

Just then, P.M waved her wand, and every couple sat alone at separate tables.

Pansy and Harry groaned in unison.

"I just don't believe this..." she complained softly, "I mean, almost all of the rest of the couples make sense! Brown and Thomas, Patil and Finnigan, Goyle and Bulstrode, Weasley and Granger..."

Harry blinked, and followed Pansy's gaze to see Ron and Hermione sitting together, Ron red faced and Hermione fidgeting.

"-and then there's Weasley and Draco and you and me! It just doesn't make sense! It should be switched."

"I know, but there's not much we can do, is there? All we can do is deal..." Harry shredded his paper napkin.

Pansy noticed this and suddenly smiled half-heartedly.

"Well, I guess you're right. This is actually pretty funny......barking...but funny... I guess we'll just have to make the best of the situation..."

Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Pansy, too seemed surprised at her attitude, but she laughed.

"You know, this is so surreal. I can't believe I just said that....well....oh well.....you want something to eat?"





*This is gonna turn out really great.....next time I'll focus on Ginny's rough time...I'll come back to this unimaginable couple though! Please r/r, thanks for reading!