A/N: A big thank you to Anne, who beta- read this story for us. Without
your advice this story might not be like it is now. Next a big thanks to
Imogen, who allowed us to use stolen socks. She owes that idea, and we are
just - very thankfully- playing with it.
Sue's (college girl's) A/N: I'd like to say thank you to all our fans. You guys are great, and you keep us going!! Now send out the reviews ;)
Carrie's A/N: I'd like to say thank you to our readers. Without you, we would definitely miss something. Then a big thank you to Sue- my wonderful co-author: Without you, this chapter wouldn't be finished by now... Writing with you is always a blast. And last but not least: A big thank you to Liz. Without you, this story would never have been written. This story is dedicated to Liz, for being a great friend. :(
One Hundred And One Ways To Get Your Lover
First Way: Show him he's not the only boy in town.
The seventh year girls' dormitory was almost totally dark. Only one little flame was dancing in front of the Head Girl's bed. Hermione Granger was leaning on her bed, while she listened to her friend's problems.
"Hermione, I'm sick and tired of giving him time. It's been a whole year since I found out that Harry's feelings for me go so much deeper. Why is this boy even more thick-headed than my dearest brother? It only took Ron five months to come to his senses...ouch." Ginny Weasley tried to reach for a book on the other side of the candle , when she felt the flame burn her.
"Oh that's so typical." The girl was swearing under her breath while she searched for her wand, speaking a quick freezing charm.
"Gin, calm down. Be fair to him. He has so many things to worry about, he doesn't have time to analyse his feelings. He still thinks that he has a crush on Kaitie Brown... I'm amazed he doesn't still think he has feelings for Cho," the older girl answered, shaking with silent laughter.
"She's a fifth year. Honestly, I only know that if he doesn't open his eyes soon, the frustration will drive me mad," Ginny answered, as she got to her feet. "I'll go to bed now...it doesn't make any sense, to keep going over it over and over again."
"Wait, what you just said made sense. I never thought of it until now . Gin, you are a genius."
"Uhm, what? Why?" Ginny looked bewildered. She was slightly confused. She had no idea what she'd just said that was such a great idea. "WE have to open his eyes. You have to help him to get the connection," Hermione answered impatiently.
"Exactly Hermione, I'll just point at him and say: Me Gin, you Harry. Harry loves Gin, not Kaitie." She rolled her eyes at the very thought of Hermione's suggestion. "I don't mean it like that, and you know it," Hermione said in a rush. "Now come here. We have two months till the spring ball. We have lots to do before then."
An hour later Ginny's head was spinning. "And you really think that Harry will get it?" she asked, still doubtful. When the other girl nodded, she started to smile broadly. "Well then, I guess we have a plan."
*** The next day in the Gryffindor Common Room:
Ron and Harry were sitting in one corner, next to the fireplace. The two boys were enjoying a nice game of Exploding Snap while they waited for the girls.
From time to time Harry looked up from the cards in his hands and let his eyes wander over to Kaitie Brown, Lavender's little sister. He would love to take the sweet, shy, blond-haired girl with him to the ball in two months. But he was sure that there were hundreds of others who had already asked her. In that second, some movement at the staircase to the girls' dormitories caught his eye. Hermione and Ginny were coming down, laughing heartily. And for a second it was as if his insides were melting, as his gaze locked with Ginny's.. He sighed. Ginny surely was a wonderful, sweet girl but...His eyes wandered back to Kaitie. Maybe if he asked Lavender...surely she should know if her little sister... Harry mentally slapped himself. After what happened at the Yule Ball in fourth year, there was no way that she would help him.... Harry felt as if he was being watched. He looked back at the cards in his hands, only to look seconds later into the eyes of his best friend. Ron had been watching him carefully, and now he was smiling knowingly at him.
"What?" Harry asked, irritated.
"Nothing," Ron answered, rubbing his hands and looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Nothing? Why are you staring at me then?"
"I just thought you had smudge on your nose. It's gone now. Must have been my imagination." Ron answered, blushing slightly. Harry knew that Ron wasn't telling the whole truth, but he didn't want to talk about it any longer. His eyes drifted back to Kaitie. This was the best way of getting lost, contemplating the way her hair was shimmering in the candlelight. Then he heard his friend's voice again.
"Say Harry? Nah, never mind."
"Uhm, what?" Harry was irritated now. What the hell was so bad that Ron couldn't talk to him about it? They had been friends for seven years now, but sometimes Ron was a complete mystery to him. Why couldn't he simply say what the matter was instead of speaking in riddles?
"It's none of my business, anyway." Ron's voice was shaky, and Harry wondered if his friend had bad news for him. He forced himself to stop watching Kaitie, and looked at Ron more closely instead.
"What? Come on, you can tell me." By now he was really worried.
" Oh well, I was just wondering who you were going to take to the ball," Ron asked, looking unsure. Harry could have punched his friend there and then. What gave Ron the right to ask such a simple question in such a melodramatic way? After all, Harry's nerves were not the best, and what Ron had just done was a form of torture, although Harry had to admit that it was a funny situation somehow. Ron had sounded as if.... An evil plan formed in his head.
"Oh Ron, I never knew you fancied me...We can go to the ball together. I just don't know what Hermione will make of the idea. Besides, I haven't got a thing to wear. "
"Wha-WHAT?!?! Oh no, Harry, you got it all wrong..." Ron stopped suddenly, as if he were actually considering Harry's suggestion . Harry had to bite his tongue to stop himself from bursting out laughing. "You mean, you really would have gone with me if I'd asked?"
"Sure Ron...If Snape has already a date .... RON, what...do...you...think???" Harry asked, shaking from laughter.
"Well, perhaps someone isn't getting a birthday present from me this year?. Now, if I can get back to the original conversation..." Ron ran his hand through his red hair.He was blushing , but he really wanted an answer, or so Harry thought. "You're not planning on asking that Brown girl to the spring ball, are you?"
"Uhm, why not?" Harry asked, somewhat shocked that Ron wasn't that thick- headed anymore. " I heard that she's going with Dennis." The answer came fast and without explanation. Harry felt his stomach start to ache, and for a second he thought that it would become impossible to breathe. But suddenly he could see Dennis' face his mind's eye, and the shock was overwhelming.
"With Dennis? Colin Creevey's annoying little brother???" He was furious now. " What sensible girl would go with Dennis to the spring ball?"
"Well, apparently Kaitie Brown is," Ron said shortly. He seemed to find the situation amusing . Harry wanted to scream.
"Oh you git...and you call yourself my friend? How long have you known?" Harry's eyes darkened. If Hermione were to go out with another boy, he'd have told Ron straight away. Well, Ron and Hermione were a couple, but that wasn't the point. He sighed deeply. Why were girls so complicated?
"Well...Ginny told me! This morn...er, afternoon. And you know Ginny would never lie," the other boy answered in a rush. He was not in the mood for a bloody nose, just because of Dennis and Kaitie. He would rather meet Aragog again than tell Harry that not only had Dennis asked the girl to the ball, but also had asked her out.
"Ginny can tell him that," he thought grimly.
"Ohh, well...that's true, Ginny is far too sweet and innocent to lie..."
"Um...yeah." Ron agreed lamely, before mumbling under his breath. "Easy for you to say, you haven't had to live with her for sixteen years." Then he raised his voice again, making sure that Ginny could hear him from the other side of the room. "Ginny has always been the honest one of the family."
"What do you mean?" Harry sounded confused.
"She never lies, never cheats, never gets in trouble...how does she do it? I don't know." Ron looked troubled. "She's not as innocent as she looks, Harry. She just has all the adults eating out of her hands. She always gets what she wants, you can bet on it!"
"Oh Ron, you just think so because you're her brother... You're supposed to think that way. But I'd bet all the gold in Gringott's that she'd never say an untrue word."
"Just trust me, Harry, she'll get exactly what she wants. Don't blame her though. In fact, that's what makes her my favourite sister...well, that and the fact that she's my only sister." Ron didn't see Ginny approaching . She sat down in the chair next to Harry.
Ginny looked curiously at the two of them, before she spoke up. "Oh what is he saying about me this time? I swear, I haven't taken your socks," the girl said blushing furiously.
"Socks?" Harry was bewildered. What did she mean? Had he forgotten something? He looked at Hermione, but she just looked back at him with the same blank expression. But before he could think of anything further, the other boy spoke up again.
"Ginny has a real sock fetish Harry, you should be careful," he said, glancing meaningfully into Harry's direction. Then he looked back at Ginny, and it seemed as if he'd suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of socks, did you steal my new pair of grey ones?"
"Uhm, no Ron...I really don't have any idea where they are." Ginny answered blushing, as she tried to adjust her school robes a bit. Harry watched, fascinated. Ron and Ginny seemed to tease each other a lot. Sometimes, he wished that he also had somebody to tease.
"If I catch you with those socks Gin!"
"Hey, aren't you hungry?" Ginny said suddenly, changing the subject abruptly, before getting up. Ron was silent for several seconds, obviously thinking about Ginny's suggestion.
"When aren't I? C'mon Harry, let's go!" He said, and Harry thought that it did look as if he had just decided that he could continue to tease Ginny just as well after he had dinner.
"Okay," Harry said, looking again at an equally confused Hermione. Kaitie Brown was forgotten for now.
The four of them passed through the long corridors of Hogwarts, barely speaking a word. Ron and Hermione were walking hand in hand by now, and Harry felt a pang of jealousy. Not that he wanted to be with Hermione ...just the thought of his best friend... He shook his head violently.... No, he was jealous of what they had. He wanted to hold hands with Kaitie; he wanted to laugh with her about stupid things that only they understood. As his mind started to drift off, he suddenly felt Ginny slip next to him. He heard her make a strange noise, and in the next second he held her in a strong grip, preventing her from falling. She was so incredibly soft, and for some reason it felt right to hold her in his arms.
"Probably, my brotherly feelings for her are stronger than I imagined," he reassured himself, as he looked into those soft brown eyes.
"Thank you, Harry," she said before stepping away from him. "We should speed up if we want to catch up with the others." Her voice sounded as if she were explaining how to use a wand. She didn't blush a bit, and for some unknown reason that annoyed him. Without waiting for him, she started walking in the direction of the Great Hall once more.
He agreed a bit louder than necessary and started to run after her. She was now directly in front of him, and suddenly he wondered how easy it would be for him to pick her up and spin her around. But only in a brotherly way, he reminded himself.
Back at the Burrow, he had seen pictures of the Weasley children. And in one of the pictures, Bill was spinning a five-year-old Ginny around. Ginny was laughing in the picture, and he was curious if she would still like it as much.
However, before he could think of it any further, Ginny stopped dead in her tracks, and Harry ran directly into her. They had reached the entrance of the Great Hall by now. "Sorry," he said in a rush, blushing.
"It's okay," Ginny answered, taking his hand in hers. "I'll guide you to Gryffindor table though. Don't want you to run any more girls down."
When she smiled at him, Harry realised how pretty she looked like this. Without objection, he followed her, wondering for a brief moment with whom Ginny wanted to got to the ball with.
Hermione and Ron where already sitting at the table. They looked rather busy, only not with eating.... Harry had to concentrate hard not to burst out laughing... He never thought that Ron could forget food, ever. He sat down next to Ginny and let his eyes wander over their House Table. Most of the students had already finished their dinner, and the Professors' table was totally empty by now.
Harry didn't pay attention to the conversations that were going on around him. He was just starting to drift off again, when he heard something that made him look up.
"Draco looks nice today," Ginny said to no one in particular. Had he heard right? Surely she had said it sarcastically, and he was only meant to say a good answer. He thought fast, searching for a fitting reply.
"Yeah, compared to those Flobberworms we worked with in Care of Magical Creatures this morning," he stated, rather proud with himself. Ginny would like that.
He had just taken his glass of pumpkin juice, ready to drink when, he heard her say, "Oh no, Harry don't be so critical...He does look quite nice." The glass slipped from his hand, and in seconds the table was soaked. What was wrong with her? He swore under his breath, ready to burst any second, before he took his wand out and did the necessary spell to dry the wet material in front of him.
"Ginny, are you feeling all right? You're talking about MALFOY." She started to laugh and Harry wondered what was that funny. Surely she had just made a cruel joke. He felt more confident again. He turned his face and looked into her eyes. She was up to something, but he had no idea what she would say next. It was, as he had never known her. Maybe he really had never known her.
"I feel perfectly fine, Harry. Just look at him.... He has grown up a lot in the past few years...and his smile is really cute."
"Yeah, I think I'm starting to feel a little sick. I'd better get back to the common room." It was the truth. He felt like protecting Ginny. He didn't like to hear her speaking like that, especially when it was about Malfoy. He snorted. How could a Weasley believe for just one second that Draco Malfoy was cute?
"Oh Harry, come on...Just admit that he's cute, and I'll stop saying it...Oh, oh, have I told you? I think Draco..." She giggled softly, and Harry asked himself when did Ginny start giggling like that? "...I think he wants to take me to the Ball."
Enough was enough. Everything seemed to go blurry in front of him. She couldn't be considering going with that.... He couldn't even find a word to describe Malfoy, he was so surprised at what she'd just told him.. Suddenly he burst out loud, "No Ginny, there is no way you're going to the ball with Malfoy!"
"Why not? I mean it's not like I want to go with Snape..." She looked for a second straight into his eyes, as if she were daring him to say she couldn't go with Snape. Then she turned away and started to grin at Snape, who had just crossed the Hall, looking as sour as always. In seconds he was gone again.
" Did you notice? He's wearing his hair slightly different." Harry wanted to scream. What happened to the little girl, he had met at the Burrow. When exactly did she become such a scarlet woman? His mind was racing.
"Ginny! You are not..." he started. Suddenly he realized that somebody was missing from the argument, Ron! Why wasn't he yelling at her, taking Harry's side? After all, she was his sister. "Are you going to just sit there and let her say things like that?" Ron looked confused, when he finally looked up from his deep conversation with Hermione. It was clear to Harry that he had no idea what was going on.
"Oh well, Harry, she's almost grown up now, but seeing that you are just like another brother to me," Ron said a bit lamely, "I'm sure you can handle whatever it is," he finished, just before Hermione turned his head towards her again. No, Hermione was definitely not being helpful with this situation. Harry couldn't give up.
"Ron! This is important! Take your hands off of Hermione for two seconds, and you'd..." He sighed. There was no way that Ron would interrupt his conversation with Hermione a second time. "Oh, what's the use? Ginny I forbid you to even think about Malfoy...or any other Slytherin for that matter!"
"You forbid ME??? Harry, first I haven't even said that I would say yes to Draco. Even if you can't imagine it, there are many boys who would love to take me to the ball. And second, this is my decision to make, not yours," Ginny argued hotly. Her face was flushed now, and she looked angrily at him. But Harry did not feel like shutting up. He tried to think fast. What could he say to make her change her mind?
"Ginny, you know I'd support any decision you make, but NOT Draco. Anyone but him! How about Neville? He's a nice bloke. Why don't you go to the ball with Neville?"
"Neville? Neville is Hannah Abbot's boyfriend... haven't you heard?...They have been together for over a year...but you said, you'd support anything I did?" she said, her eyes glittering evilly. Harry wasn't sure anymore, if he liked the direction this discussion was going. Maybe it wasn't that much fun trying to protect her?
"Er...um, yeah...Just as long as it's not a Slytherin," he tried carefully. Maybe he could manage to make the best of the whole situation.
"Oh...that's too bad...but okay." Ginny seemed to be thinking of what to say next. Her hands were resting in her lap, and she seemed to relax a bit. Without realizing it, Harry, too, became calmer again. "What do you think about someone older? You know we are allowed to bring former Hogwarts students to the ball." She said those words very slowly, as if she was still considering every single word.
"Er... wouldn't a former student a little bit old for you?" Harry was shocked. Whom was she thinking about? Why didn't she just go with a seventh year?
"Oh Harry, I'm almost seventeen, and I won't choose some fifty year old.... Come on." She looked amused, although her voice was pleading. She really seemed to want his approval , and somehow, he liked the idea.
"Oh, all right. Who is he?" He prepared for the worst.
"Well, I think Sirius Black is cute...and he has experience with women." "Sirius? Are you serious?" He felt his jaw drop. Sirius was old enough to be her father. He felt like screaming again. The mental picture of Ginny coming into the Great Hall, led by his godfather was almost too much.
", Okay I know he's your Godfather, but he's really hot...I wonder how he..." she started to blush furiously, and Harry had a nasty mental picture, although she never did finish that sentence. That was just sickening.
"But he's too old for you!" He could see that she was ready to argue that point, and he hastily added, "Besides that, he, uh...he has a girlfriend!"
" OH, well then he's out. ," Her face fell for a second, before she practically started to grin... with excitement? Happiness? He wasn't too sure. "But I know that Oliver Wood is single...and he's hot, too.... and younger."
"I think I heard that he has a girlfriend, too!" Harry answered, relieved that he sometimes listened to Lavender's gossip. "I guess you're just out of luck then, Ginny." He was trying hard to sound sorry. After all, he wanted Ginny to be happy.
"Nope they broke up...Fred told me...I guess I'll go with Oliver," she almost sang. He wondered for a second how long it would take before she would start dancing.
"Well... how do you know he's free? He just got the Keeper position on the Cannons...I'm sure he's in training!" he tried again. Since when, was it that hard to talk Ginny out of something? She merely smiled back at him, as if there was no problem.
"Oh Harry, and...? It's good that he's in training, isn't it? I heard that men in training, you know..." she hurriedly turned away, colouring.
"Well, you know, I've been training a lot lately," he blurted out, before he could stop himself. As if that statement had suddenly cured her shyness, she turned back again. Her eyes were searching his face. And suddenly Harry was blushing furiously. Automatically he looked down at his glass, hoping that he could for once disappear right then. "Not that I meant anything by that, I just...So, how was your day?"
"Oh, don't go and change the subject, just when it's getting interesting." He could almost see Ginny's smile, realising how she liked teasing him. All at once, he didn't like the idea of treating Ginny like a sister, anymore. "Come on Harry." He felt her hand resting on his own, before she continued. "You can tell me. Are the rumours true?" Harry gulped. The temperature had definitely risen. He started to loosen his tie a bit. This couldn't be happening! He couldn't talk to Ginny about that. Not now, and not in hundred years for that matter.
"Erm...I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure Harry...but it's okay...I'll find out, in two months...Wonder what Oliver has to say on that subject," she said, before she started to giggle softly. She looked dreamily up at the ceiling, as if she had forgotten that he was even there.
"You can't go with Oliver!" He shouted out, suddenly seeing a vision of the two of them, talking, laughing, dancing, or even worse.
"HARRY! Not again... You promised me that you would support ANY decision, as long as I don't take a Slytherin with me," Ginny answered stubbornly. What could he say now? "Well, it's just that...um...HERMIONE!" Harry felt relief floating through his body. Hermione would surely come to his rescue. After all Hermione, seemed to be Ginny's best friend. The other girl looked up questioningly for a second, . However, he just shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what else he could do, and so she turned her attention back to Ron. "Harry, you have to think fast. This is your last chance after all," he told himself.
"Hermione used to have a huge crush on Oliver in third year. I know she's got Ron now, but still, it would just crush her if you went out with him." Ginny looked in his direction unimpressed with this argument. In fact, she almost looked annoyed.
" Show me the girl who never had a crush on Oliver. I said he is HOT...and I will go with Oliver.... This discussion is officially over." She sighed before she stood up. "Hermione? Are you coming?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked apologetically over at her boyfriend, and mouthed "sorry", before she, too, got up, ready to follow Ginny.
"See you later Harry. I have to go write a letter to Oliver now."
"Gin! Wait!" Harry called out, but it was too late. Ginny and Hermione had already left. He felt frustrated. Why wouldn't Ginny listen to him? He turned to Ron, somehow hoping that his friend could shed some light onto the situation .
"What was that conversation all about, and where was my brain while it was going on?"
"Honestly, I don't know, but I know where mine was...." the other boy answered, still looking after Hermione. He looked as if he was in a trance. In the next instant he had jumped up, and run out of the Hall, leaving a very confused Harry behind.
Sue's (college girl's) A/N: I'd like to say thank you to all our fans. You guys are great, and you keep us going!! Now send out the reviews ;)
Carrie's A/N: I'd like to say thank you to our readers. Without you, we would definitely miss something. Then a big thank you to Sue- my wonderful co-author: Without you, this chapter wouldn't be finished by now... Writing with you is always a blast. And last but not least: A big thank you to Liz. Without you, this story would never have been written. This story is dedicated to Liz, for being a great friend. :(
One Hundred And One Ways To Get Your Lover
First Way: Show him he's not the only boy in town.
The seventh year girls' dormitory was almost totally dark. Only one little flame was dancing in front of the Head Girl's bed. Hermione Granger was leaning on her bed, while she listened to her friend's problems.
"Hermione, I'm sick and tired of giving him time. It's been a whole year since I found out that Harry's feelings for me go so much deeper. Why is this boy even more thick-headed than my dearest brother? It only took Ron five months to come to his senses...ouch." Ginny Weasley tried to reach for a book on the other side of the candle , when she felt the flame burn her.
"Oh that's so typical." The girl was swearing under her breath while she searched for her wand, speaking a quick freezing charm.
"Gin, calm down. Be fair to him. He has so many things to worry about, he doesn't have time to analyse his feelings. He still thinks that he has a crush on Kaitie Brown... I'm amazed he doesn't still think he has feelings for Cho," the older girl answered, shaking with silent laughter.
"She's a fifth year. Honestly, I only know that if he doesn't open his eyes soon, the frustration will drive me mad," Ginny answered, as she got to her feet. "I'll go to bed now...it doesn't make any sense, to keep going over it over and over again."
"Wait, what you just said made sense. I never thought of it until now . Gin, you are a genius."
"Uhm, what? Why?" Ginny looked bewildered. She was slightly confused. She had no idea what she'd just said that was such a great idea. "WE have to open his eyes. You have to help him to get the connection," Hermione answered impatiently.
"Exactly Hermione, I'll just point at him and say: Me Gin, you Harry. Harry loves Gin, not Kaitie." She rolled her eyes at the very thought of Hermione's suggestion. "I don't mean it like that, and you know it," Hermione said in a rush. "Now come here. We have two months till the spring ball. We have lots to do before then."
An hour later Ginny's head was spinning. "And you really think that Harry will get it?" she asked, still doubtful. When the other girl nodded, she started to smile broadly. "Well then, I guess we have a plan."
*** The next day in the Gryffindor Common Room:
Ron and Harry were sitting in one corner, next to the fireplace. The two boys were enjoying a nice game of Exploding Snap while they waited for the girls.
From time to time Harry looked up from the cards in his hands and let his eyes wander over to Kaitie Brown, Lavender's little sister. He would love to take the sweet, shy, blond-haired girl with him to the ball in two months. But he was sure that there were hundreds of others who had already asked her. In that second, some movement at the staircase to the girls' dormitories caught his eye. Hermione and Ginny were coming down, laughing heartily. And for a second it was as if his insides were melting, as his gaze locked with Ginny's.. He sighed. Ginny surely was a wonderful, sweet girl but...His eyes wandered back to Kaitie. Maybe if he asked Lavender...surely she should know if her little sister... Harry mentally slapped himself. After what happened at the Yule Ball in fourth year, there was no way that she would help him.... Harry felt as if he was being watched. He looked back at the cards in his hands, only to look seconds later into the eyes of his best friend. Ron had been watching him carefully, and now he was smiling knowingly at him.
"What?" Harry asked, irritated.
"Nothing," Ron answered, rubbing his hands and looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Nothing? Why are you staring at me then?"
"I just thought you had smudge on your nose. It's gone now. Must have been my imagination." Ron answered, blushing slightly. Harry knew that Ron wasn't telling the whole truth, but he didn't want to talk about it any longer. His eyes drifted back to Kaitie. This was the best way of getting lost, contemplating the way her hair was shimmering in the candlelight. Then he heard his friend's voice again.
"Say Harry? Nah, never mind."
"Uhm, what?" Harry was irritated now. What the hell was so bad that Ron couldn't talk to him about it? They had been friends for seven years now, but sometimes Ron was a complete mystery to him. Why couldn't he simply say what the matter was instead of speaking in riddles?
"It's none of my business, anyway." Ron's voice was shaky, and Harry wondered if his friend had bad news for him. He forced himself to stop watching Kaitie, and looked at Ron more closely instead.
"What? Come on, you can tell me." By now he was really worried.
" Oh well, I was just wondering who you were going to take to the ball," Ron asked, looking unsure. Harry could have punched his friend there and then. What gave Ron the right to ask such a simple question in such a melodramatic way? After all, Harry's nerves were not the best, and what Ron had just done was a form of torture, although Harry had to admit that it was a funny situation somehow. Ron had sounded as if.... An evil plan formed in his head.
"Oh Ron, I never knew you fancied me...We can go to the ball together. I just don't know what Hermione will make of the idea. Besides, I haven't got a thing to wear. "
"Wha-WHAT?!?! Oh no, Harry, you got it all wrong..." Ron stopped suddenly, as if he were actually considering Harry's suggestion . Harry had to bite his tongue to stop himself from bursting out laughing. "You mean, you really would have gone with me if I'd asked?"
"Sure Ron...If Snape has already a date .... RON, what...do...you...think???" Harry asked, shaking from laughter.
"Well, perhaps someone isn't getting a birthday present from me this year?. Now, if I can get back to the original conversation..." Ron ran his hand through his red hair.He was blushing , but he really wanted an answer, or so Harry thought. "You're not planning on asking that Brown girl to the spring ball, are you?"
"Uhm, why not?" Harry asked, somewhat shocked that Ron wasn't that thick- headed anymore. " I heard that she's going with Dennis." The answer came fast and without explanation. Harry felt his stomach start to ache, and for a second he thought that it would become impossible to breathe. But suddenly he could see Dennis' face his mind's eye, and the shock was overwhelming.
"With Dennis? Colin Creevey's annoying little brother???" He was furious now. " What sensible girl would go with Dennis to the spring ball?"
"Well, apparently Kaitie Brown is," Ron said shortly. He seemed to find the situation amusing . Harry wanted to scream.
"Oh you git...and you call yourself my friend? How long have you known?" Harry's eyes darkened. If Hermione were to go out with another boy, he'd have told Ron straight away. Well, Ron and Hermione were a couple, but that wasn't the point. He sighed deeply. Why were girls so complicated?
"Well...Ginny told me! This morn...er, afternoon. And you know Ginny would never lie," the other boy answered in a rush. He was not in the mood for a bloody nose, just because of Dennis and Kaitie. He would rather meet Aragog again than tell Harry that not only had Dennis asked the girl to the ball, but also had asked her out.
"Ginny can tell him that," he thought grimly.
"Ohh, well...that's true, Ginny is far too sweet and innocent to lie..."
"Um...yeah." Ron agreed lamely, before mumbling under his breath. "Easy for you to say, you haven't had to live with her for sixteen years." Then he raised his voice again, making sure that Ginny could hear him from the other side of the room. "Ginny has always been the honest one of the family."
"What do you mean?" Harry sounded confused.
"She never lies, never cheats, never gets in trouble...how does she do it? I don't know." Ron looked troubled. "She's not as innocent as she looks, Harry. She just has all the adults eating out of her hands. She always gets what she wants, you can bet on it!"
"Oh Ron, you just think so because you're her brother... You're supposed to think that way. But I'd bet all the gold in Gringott's that she'd never say an untrue word."
"Just trust me, Harry, she'll get exactly what she wants. Don't blame her though. In fact, that's what makes her my favourite sister...well, that and the fact that she's my only sister." Ron didn't see Ginny approaching . She sat down in the chair next to Harry.
Ginny looked curiously at the two of them, before she spoke up. "Oh what is he saying about me this time? I swear, I haven't taken your socks," the girl said blushing furiously.
"Socks?" Harry was bewildered. What did she mean? Had he forgotten something? He looked at Hermione, but she just looked back at him with the same blank expression. But before he could think of anything further, the other boy spoke up again.
"Ginny has a real sock fetish Harry, you should be careful," he said, glancing meaningfully into Harry's direction. Then he looked back at Ginny, and it seemed as if he'd suddenly remembered something: "Speaking of socks, did you steal my new pair of grey ones?"
"Uhm, no Ron...I really don't have any idea where they are." Ginny answered blushing, as she tried to adjust her school robes a bit. Harry watched, fascinated. Ron and Ginny seemed to tease each other a lot. Sometimes, he wished that he also had somebody to tease.
"If I catch you with those socks Gin!"
"Hey, aren't you hungry?" Ginny said suddenly, changing the subject abruptly, before getting up. Ron was silent for several seconds, obviously thinking about Ginny's suggestion.
"When aren't I? C'mon Harry, let's go!" He said, and Harry thought that it did look as if he had just decided that he could continue to tease Ginny just as well after he had dinner.
"Okay," Harry said, looking again at an equally confused Hermione. Kaitie Brown was forgotten for now.
The four of them passed through the long corridors of Hogwarts, barely speaking a word. Ron and Hermione were walking hand in hand by now, and Harry felt a pang of jealousy. Not that he wanted to be with Hermione ...just the thought of his best friend... He shook his head violently.... No, he was jealous of what they had. He wanted to hold hands with Kaitie; he wanted to laugh with her about stupid things that only they understood. As his mind started to drift off, he suddenly felt Ginny slip next to him. He heard her make a strange noise, and in the next second he held her in a strong grip, preventing her from falling. She was so incredibly soft, and for some reason it felt right to hold her in his arms.
"Probably, my brotherly feelings for her are stronger than I imagined," he reassured himself, as he looked into those soft brown eyes.
"Thank you, Harry," she said before stepping away from him. "We should speed up if we want to catch up with the others." Her voice sounded as if she were explaining how to use a wand. She didn't blush a bit, and for some unknown reason that annoyed him. Without waiting for him, she started walking in the direction of the Great Hall once more.
He agreed a bit louder than necessary and started to run after her. She was now directly in front of him, and suddenly he wondered how easy it would be for him to pick her up and spin her around. But only in a brotherly way, he reminded himself.
Back at the Burrow, he had seen pictures of the Weasley children. And in one of the pictures, Bill was spinning a five-year-old Ginny around. Ginny was laughing in the picture, and he was curious if she would still like it as much.
However, before he could think of it any further, Ginny stopped dead in her tracks, and Harry ran directly into her. They had reached the entrance of the Great Hall by now. "Sorry," he said in a rush, blushing.
"It's okay," Ginny answered, taking his hand in hers. "I'll guide you to Gryffindor table though. Don't want you to run any more girls down."
When she smiled at him, Harry realised how pretty she looked like this. Without objection, he followed her, wondering for a brief moment with whom Ginny wanted to got to the ball with.
Hermione and Ron where already sitting at the table. They looked rather busy, only not with eating.... Harry had to concentrate hard not to burst out laughing... He never thought that Ron could forget food, ever. He sat down next to Ginny and let his eyes wander over their House Table. Most of the students had already finished their dinner, and the Professors' table was totally empty by now.
Harry didn't pay attention to the conversations that were going on around him. He was just starting to drift off again, when he heard something that made him look up.
"Draco looks nice today," Ginny said to no one in particular. Had he heard right? Surely she had said it sarcastically, and he was only meant to say a good answer. He thought fast, searching for a fitting reply.
"Yeah, compared to those Flobberworms we worked with in Care of Magical Creatures this morning," he stated, rather proud with himself. Ginny would like that.
He had just taken his glass of pumpkin juice, ready to drink when, he heard her say, "Oh no, Harry don't be so critical...He does look quite nice." The glass slipped from his hand, and in seconds the table was soaked. What was wrong with her? He swore under his breath, ready to burst any second, before he took his wand out and did the necessary spell to dry the wet material in front of him.
"Ginny, are you feeling all right? You're talking about MALFOY." She started to laugh and Harry wondered what was that funny. Surely she had just made a cruel joke. He felt more confident again. He turned his face and looked into her eyes. She was up to something, but he had no idea what she would say next. It was, as he had never known her. Maybe he really had never known her.
"I feel perfectly fine, Harry. Just look at him.... He has grown up a lot in the past few years...and his smile is really cute."
"Yeah, I think I'm starting to feel a little sick. I'd better get back to the common room." It was the truth. He felt like protecting Ginny. He didn't like to hear her speaking like that, especially when it was about Malfoy. He snorted. How could a Weasley believe for just one second that Draco Malfoy was cute?
"Oh Harry, come on...Just admit that he's cute, and I'll stop saying it...Oh, oh, have I told you? I think Draco..." She giggled softly, and Harry asked himself when did Ginny start giggling like that? "...I think he wants to take me to the Ball."
Enough was enough. Everything seemed to go blurry in front of him. She couldn't be considering going with that.... He couldn't even find a word to describe Malfoy, he was so surprised at what she'd just told him.. Suddenly he burst out loud, "No Ginny, there is no way you're going to the ball with Malfoy!"
"Why not? I mean it's not like I want to go with Snape..." She looked for a second straight into his eyes, as if she were daring him to say she couldn't go with Snape. Then she turned away and started to grin at Snape, who had just crossed the Hall, looking as sour as always. In seconds he was gone again.
" Did you notice? He's wearing his hair slightly different." Harry wanted to scream. What happened to the little girl, he had met at the Burrow. When exactly did she become such a scarlet woman? His mind was racing.
"Ginny! You are not..." he started. Suddenly he realized that somebody was missing from the argument, Ron! Why wasn't he yelling at her, taking Harry's side? After all, she was his sister. "Are you going to just sit there and let her say things like that?" Ron looked confused, when he finally looked up from his deep conversation with Hermione. It was clear to Harry that he had no idea what was going on.
"Oh well, Harry, she's almost grown up now, but seeing that you are just like another brother to me," Ron said a bit lamely, "I'm sure you can handle whatever it is," he finished, just before Hermione turned his head towards her again. No, Hermione was definitely not being helpful with this situation. Harry couldn't give up.
"Ron! This is important! Take your hands off of Hermione for two seconds, and you'd..." He sighed. There was no way that Ron would interrupt his conversation with Hermione a second time. "Oh, what's the use? Ginny I forbid you to even think about Malfoy...or any other Slytherin for that matter!"
"You forbid ME??? Harry, first I haven't even said that I would say yes to Draco. Even if you can't imagine it, there are many boys who would love to take me to the ball. And second, this is my decision to make, not yours," Ginny argued hotly. Her face was flushed now, and she looked angrily at him. But Harry did not feel like shutting up. He tried to think fast. What could he say to make her change her mind?
"Ginny, you know I'd support any decision you make, but NOT Draco. Anyone but him! How about Neville? He's a nice bloke. Why don't you go to the ball with Neville?"
"Neville? Neville is Hannah Abbot's boyfriend... haven't you heard?...They have been together for over a year...but you said, you'd support anything I did?" she said, her eyes glittering evilly. Harry wasn't sure anymore, if he liked the direction this discussion was going. Maybe it wasn't that much fun trying to protect her?
"Er...um, yeah...Just as long as it's not a Slytherin," he tried carefully. Maybe he could manage to make the best of the whole situation.
"Oh...that's too bad...but okay." Ginny seemed to be thinking of what to say next. Her hands were resting in her lap, and she seemed to relax a bit. Without realizing it, Harry, too, became calmer again. "What do you think about someone older? You know we are allowed to bring former Hogwarts students to the ball." She said those words very slowly, as if she was still considering every single word.
"Er... wouldn't a former student a little bit old for you?" Harry was shocked. Whom was she thinking about? Why didn't she just go with a seventh year?
"Oh Harry, I'm almost seventeen, and I won't choose some fifty year old.... Come on." She looked amused, although her voice was pleading. She really seemed to want his approval , and somehow, he liked the idea.
"Oh, all right. Who is he?" He prepared for the worst.
"Well, I think Sirius Black is cute...and he has experience with women." "Sirius? Are you serious?" He felt his jaw drop. Sirius was old enough to be her father. He felt like screaming again. The mental picture of Ginny coming into the Great Hall, led by his godfather was almost too much.
", Okay I know he's your Godfather, but he's really hot...I wonder how he..." she started to blush furiously, and Harry had a nasty mental picture, although she never did finish that sentence. That was just sickening.
"But he's too old for you!" He could see that she was ready to argue that point, and he hastily added, "Besides that, he, uh...he has a girlfriend!"
" OH, well then he's out. ," Her face fell for a second, before she practically started to grin... with excitement? Happiness? He wasn't too sure. "But I know that Oliver Wood is single...and he's hot, too.... and younger."
"I think I heard that he has a girlfriend, too!" Harry answered, relieved that he sometimes listened to Lavender's gossip. "I guess you're just out of luck then, Ginny." He was trying hard to sound sorry. After all, he wanted Ginny to be happy.
"Nope they broke up...Fred told me...I guess I'll go with Oliver," she almost sang. He wondered for a second how long it would take before she would start dancing.
"Well... how do you know he's free? He just got the Keeper position on the Cannons...I'm sure he's in training!" he tried again. Since when, was it that hard to talk Ginny out of something? She merely smiled back at him, as if there was no problem.
"Oh Harry, and...? It's good that he's in training, isn't it? I heard that men in training, you know..." she hurriedly turned away, colouring.
"Well, you know, I've been training a lot lately," he blurted out, before he could stop himself. As if that statement had suddenly cured her shyness, she turned back again. Her eyes were searching his face. And suddenly Harry was blushing furiously. Automatically he looked down at his glass, hoping that he could for once disappear right then. "Not that I meant anything by that, I just...So, how was your day?"
"Oh, don't go and change the subject, just when it's getting interesting." He could almost see Ginny's smile, realising how she liked teasing him. All at once, he didn't like the idea of treating Ginny like a sister, anymore. "Come on Harry." He felt her hand resting on his own, before she continued. "You can tell me. Are the rumours true?" Harry gulped. The temperature had definitely risen. He started to loosen his tie a bit. This couldn't be happening! He couldn't talk to Ginny about that. Not now, and not in hundred years for that matter.
"Erm...I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure Harry...but it's okay...I'll find out, in two months...Wonder what Oliver has to say on that subject," she said, before she started to giggle softly. She looked dreamily up at the ceiling, as if she had forgotten that he was even there.
"You can't go with Oliver!" He shouted out, suddenly seeing a vision of the two of them, talking, laughing, dancing, or even worse.
"HARRY! Not again... You promised me that you would support ANY decision, as long as I don't take a Slytherin with me," Ginny answered stubbornly. What could he say now? "Well, it's just that...um...HERMIONE!" Harry felt relief floating through his body. Hermione would surely come to his rescue. After all Hermione, seemed to be Ginny's best friend. The other girl looked up questioningly for a second, . However, he just shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what else he could do, and so she turned her attention back to Ron. "Harry, you have to think fast. This is your last chance after all," he told himself.
"Hermione used to have a huge crush on Oliver in third year. I know she's got Ron now, but still, it would just crush her if you went out with him." Ginny looked in his direction unimpressed with this argument. In fact, she almost looked annoyed.
" Show me the girl who never had a crush on Oliver. I said he is HOT...and I will go with Oliver.... This discussion is officially over." She sighed before she stood up. "Hermione? Are you coming?" Ginny asked. Hermione looked apologetically over at her boyfriend, and mouthed "sorry", before she, too, got up, ready to follow Ginny.
"See you later Harry. I have to go write a letter to Oliver now."
"Gin! Wait!" Harry called out, but it was too late. Ginny and Hermione had already left. He felt frustrated. Why wouldn't Ginny listen to him? He turned to Ron, somehow hoping that his friend could shed some light onto the situation .
"What was that conversation all about, and where was my brain while it was going on?"
"Honestly, I don't know, but I know where mine was...." the other boy answered, still looking after Hermione. He looked as if he was in a trance. In the next instant he had jumped up, and run out of the Hall, leaving a very confused Harry behind.