Harry sat in the Great Hall lost in thought. Over the summer he had a serious growth spurt. He had also taken up running. Now Harry had a nice tan and decent muscle tone. In his min he wasn't good looking, but the way girls were acting around him told him otherwise. Hermione had pointed this out at his first day back at Hogwarts (Harry had not been allowed to go to the Burrow this summer) which nevertheless made Ron furious. Ron and Hermione had recently gotten together. Ginny also found a boyfriend, Colin Creevy. Harry still wondered why when he asked any girl any question they just blushed, giggled or turned away. Harry had not found this amusing. Ron had been pressuring him to find a girlfriend since September. Harry had not followed orders.

Dumbledore tapped his glass with his spoon and the entire Hall quieted down. "Your attention please!" he called out. He cleared his throat a few times before beginning

. "This year we have decided to host a Cedric Diggory Memorial Dance. The Dance will take place December 23rd at six. Only students higher than 3rd year may attend. Thank you!" Dumbledore exited the hall. There was a murmur across the room at his words. Harry noticed Cho was crying at the Ravenclaw table. Harry was roused from his stupor by Ron, who was shaking him.

"Huh?" Harry muttered vaguely.

"Who ya gonna take Harry?"

"I dunno. I guess somebody who asks me. Nobody in mind particularly."

"Sure that's what they all say."

"Shut it. You would know if I knew who I was taking."

"Whatever Harry. I'm just saying to use your looks before all the good dates are gone. I already asked Hermione so hurry up."

"Yeah yeah. I'll find a date don't you worry. I'm going up to bed, you two behave."

"Awww, what would be the fun in that."

"Night."

"Night Harry."

--------------------------------------Breakfast the next morning------------ --------------------------------------

"Mail's here." Ron said, reporting the obvious.

"Letter for ya Harry." Seamus said passing a sealed envelope to Harry. Harry did not recognize the neat pink writing on the front that read his name

As Harry began to open the letter the nosy heads of Seamus, Ron, Fred, and George leaned over to read what the note said. With a few quick slaps and punches they were all sitting again. Ron laughed as Harry's face turned as read as Ron's hair. The letter read:

Dear Harry, I realize we have not been the best of friends over our years at Hogwarts. However I would like that to change. Maybe we could make up for 4 years of minimal friendship. I really would like to go to the dance with you Harry. If you wish to take me to the ball meet me at the Quidditch pitch around 8:30.

Yours for the taking, Lavender Brown.

You could have knocked Harry over with a feather. Lavender was the best looking girl in Gryffindor and she was asking him out? Harry regained his composure and asked Ron if he had a quill.

"Not until you let me read it!" Ron demanded.

"Ron, I would not let Voldemort read it if he threatened to blow up Hogwarts."

"Please, stop saying his name. You know I hate it. Here's a quill. Sheesh."

"Volemort Voldemort Voldemort Volemort Voldemort Voldemort!" Harry nearly yelled "Stop nosing and I'll will stop saying Voldemort!"

"Okay okay. Keep the quill. Jeez." Ron got up and left.

Harry wrote a reply of acceptance and sent Lavender's owl off.

Harry saw Lavender at the other side of the table, reading Harry's letter with a smile big enough to hold a whole watermelon.

"OOOOOH. Looks like I get to see shagging tonight. Woohoo!"

"Why do you always come at the absolute worst times possible?" Harry thought

"Because I can. So are you going to go all the way tonight or are you gonna wimp out and hold hands all evening."

"Ouch. You are like a cross between Malfoy and Peeves!'

"Whatever wimp. We haven't even got a snog all year! How can you do this to us?"

"Night night Malfoy spawn."

"Yeah. It's almost time. Get going before I miss my only chance for a snog all year."

Harry transfigured a dead leaf on the ground to become a bouquet of flowers, and a large rock on the ground to be a large box of chocolates. He also transfigured a twig into a comb another rock into a mirror and cleaned up his messy hair. Harry had no clue when he got so good at transfiguration, he just did. His test scores outstripped Hermione's and Ron's easily.

Harry arrived at the pitch, well groomed at 8:28. Harry saw Lavender rushing towards him like a little kid rushing down the steps on Christmas. When she got to him, she was huffing and puffing.

"Had to (wheeze) run cuz' (gasp) I thought (huff) I was (puff) gonna be late." Lavender said, catching her breath.

"Here." Harry said as he transfigured a piece of grass into a glass of water, offering it to her. She guzzled it in one gulp and asked for more. After five minutes there was a pile of glasses on the ground and a small bald spot on the Quidditch pitch.

"Thanks." Lavender said wiping a few drops of water off onto her sleeve.

"Oh, that reminds me, these are for you." Harry said passing her the bouquet and chocolates.

"Wow! Harry. that's so sweet."

"No problem."

"Fanks." Lavender said her mouth full of chocolate.

"You're welcome."

"Those were good. Where'd you get em?"

"Er. Transfigured em." Harry muttered a cleaning charm and Lavender's face and hands were clean.

"Cool! How can you be so good at Transfiguration?"

"I don't know how, I just did. Like over the summer."

"Let's walk around the lake."

"Okay."

Awkward silence was all that was heard as they walked. It lasted for several minutes. As they passed a bench Lavender broke the silence.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"Let's sit for a minute. My feet hurt."

"Sure."

After a few minutes of sitting and holding hands Lavender broke the silence again.

"Harry?"

"Yes Lav?"

"Will you rub my feet?"

"Only if you go to the dance with me."

"Harry Potter that is blackmail." Lavender said with mock anger

"Only for you my dear." Harry replied with mock pride

"Looks like we have a deal."

"Pass the hurting foot then." Lavender set her foot down in his lap.

"Here you are Doctor Potter." Lavender joked

Harry slipped off the shoe and sock and started rubbing, ignoring the coos and squeals from Lavender. "Other foot?"

"Here!" Lav said

Harry slipped off the other sock and shoe and continued rubbing.

After a minute or so Harry said:

"That'll be five Galleons or I'll tickle you!" Harry said sternly

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh yeah?" Harry said tickling her foot

"Hoohoo stop.. no stop it please no don't not that noooooo!" Lav said through her giggles.

Harry started tickling under her arms. The giggling and screams for him to stop got louder.

"Stop what? Oh this?" Harry said tickling her faster

"Yes that. Do you think this is funny Mr. Potter?"

"Why? You're laughing."

"Harry Potter! What am I going to do with you?"

"I dunno. Just don't let that evil voice in the back of my head decide." Harry said as he stopped tickling

"Oh you!" Lavender said angrily

"Yes me."

"Eurgh! Stop it with your bad jokes."

"Why?"

"Please!"

"Gimme a good reason!"

"This is my reason!" she said kissing him dead on the lips

The kiss lasted so long that when they stopped they were both gasping for air.

"I concede defeat. No more bad jokes." Harry gasped out.

"Why? It looked like we both came out winners there."

"Because it is now 11:15. Not that I wouldn't like to continue this."

"You are right. Let's reschedule this for the for next weekend."

"What time and where?"

" 8:30.We will meet in the common room and choose then."

"Fine with me, but the sooner the better."

"Until Saturday."

"Until Saturday."

And with that they went back up to Gryffindor tower.

-----------------------------Next day--------------------------------------- --

Harry was roused from his slumber by Ron around 7:30. Ron was whacking Harry with his pillow.

"Wake up Harry! Wake up! Go to breakfast!"

"I'm up! I'm up!"

"Good now go to breakfast."

Harry got up and moving. Slowly but surely he got up to the Great Hall for breakfast and hurried up to he North Tower for Divination. Harry and Ron found their way up to class without being harrassed by Sir Cadogan too much. Harry climbed up the ladder and through the trap door to make the class with 30 seconds to spare. They found their usual seats and waited for the class to begin.

After Trelawney's usual misty speech she began to passionately predict Harry's death giving Harry and Ron time to talk.

"Who is she?" Ron asked

"Who is who?" Harry replied

"Who are you seeing?"

"What do you mean?"

"Harry don't play dumb. First you get a letter that you won't let me read and then you disappear from the Common Room around 8 and come back with lipstick on your face! Don't tell me that you aren't seeing anybody. Now who is it?"

"You are right about me seeing somebody but I'm not saying."

"Harry. Please?"

"Nope."

"How about a hint?"

"Fine. She is not a Slytherin."

"Not much of a hint."

"She likes chocolate."

"Again don't all girls?"

"If you saw her you would know her. You know her last name." "Alright then. You aren't gonna give, but at least tell me if she is good looking."

"Oh yeah. Even Malfoy would admit that she is."

"Damn. She must really be hot."

"Yup. And she is going to the dance with me."

"Lucky dog."

"That's what happens when you save the world every year. You get girls begging at your feet for you."

"Shut it Harry."

"Lead by example."

"I said shut it."

"Fine."

The rest of Divination was Ok. Not the best. Not the worst. At the end we headed down to lunch. However, we were greeted in the doorway to the hall by Fred, George, and a whole lot of Gryffindors who wanted to talk to Harry. In private. Harry noticed that they were all boys. They drug Harry off to an empty classroom to "Talk".

"Interrogation time." Fred said

"Yeah. Our ickle Ronniekins says you have quite a catch going with you to the dance. Who?" George said

"Not telling nobody til some people leave the room." Harry said icily

"You name it we'll kick em out." George said

"You two can stay. Everybody else out." Harry said

There was a chorus of Awwws going through the room as about fifteen Gryffindor boys left the room.

"Okay Harry. Who is it?"

"First things first. You guys will not tell anybody unless I say you can. Second do not brag that you know. Third no teasing me. Fourth. Tell everybody I only gave clues." Harry said

"What clues?" Fred asked

"1. She is not a Slytherin. 2. She loves chocolate. 3. She is obsessed with making herself look pretty." Harry said

"Alright spill the beans already!"

"Ok. It's Lavender."

"What?" The twins chorused.

"We lost the bet!" Said George

"Nobody won!" howled Fred

"You two better not tell a soul." Harry growled

"You got it." The twins said as one as they skipped out of the room.

"I'm doomed!" Harry said as he walked towards Transfiguration.

-----------------------Transfiguration------------------------------------

"Today we are learning how to turn a desk into a dog. The incantation is caninus . You may begin!" Professor McGonnagal said

"Finished Professor!" Harry said after about 30 seconds

There was a murmur of whoas and wows going across the room.

"Mr. Potter if you would please come into this office."

"Yes Professor." Harry said as he went towards her office.

"Mr. Potter I have never seen a wandless Transfiguration in my classroom ever." She said beaming

" Fifty points to Gryffindor for that wonderful work. You may take the rest of the class off." The Professor said.

"Thank you Professor." Harry replied and went on his way.

Harry grabbed his things and ran for Gryffindor Tower. Harry knew that to impress Lavender some more he would have to read up on the book Sirius got him for his birthday. A beginner's guide to becoming an Animagus.

End chapter 1

Author's Note: Not bad for fic #2. I hope that all of you wll be nice on your reviews. I know I am a bad writer but at least I try. How about rewarding me for trying hard by reading my other fic: Ginny Weasley and the Disasterous date. I went thru (another word for Detroit. AKA heck the land of the devil. You get it.) to get this fic done. Be kind and I will work harder on the next chapter.

Tootles from Neopyro