A/N Thank you for the nice reviews! I enjoyed reading them! :) And okay, I'll give few details regarding the setting to avoid confusion. I imagined this happening during Harry's fifth year though, I altered some details to fit to the flow of the story like them being already friends with Luna. Forgive me, will you? T_T And since this is their fifth year, some details still remains like them having OWLS and Umbridge at Hogwarts. Although, I won't focus much on Umbridge as she won't help in the flow of the story. Let her remain on the backstage where she deserves. Haha! And yes as promised, the real fun starts here *wink wink :) Hope you'll have fun reading. :)

Chapter 3 Taking Chances

Harry didn't know what he was doing; he didn't know why and how it got to him what he was about to do right now. Maybe someone possessed him. Maybe Ron or Hermione Confunded him; maybe someone used an Imperius curse on him (even though he thought that was very unlikely).

He was standing outside a classroom; the Transfiguration classroom wherein the sixth years were having classes right now. Harry had lost track of how long had he been standing there, waiting for someone to emerge from the door.

At last, he heard movements of chairs as if someone was rising, and soon enough he heard voices chatting and footsteps; a signal that the class was finished. A door opened and Harry saw a flock of Ravenclaws exiting. He overheard some of the girls talking about the upcoming ball and the moment they saw him, they had that look on their faces as if they knew why Harry was here.

Harry tried to ignore them and just wait for the reason of his coming here. But before he could see his target, a not-so-pleasant person caught Harry's sight. He was coming towards the door and Harry knew that they were both waiting for the same person. Harry felt defeat; he knew he didn't stand a chance. Of course, she would go to the ball with Michael instead of him. Why on earth did he listen to Ron about 'taking his chances?'

Harry saw Cho coming out of the classroom; she saw Michael first and headed towards him. Before Cho could notice him, Harry did what he needed to do. He ran away.

"Well, at least you've tried," Ron said that night when Harry told him what happened.

He, Ron and Hermione were sitting by their favorite spot in the common room; the couch nearest to the fireplace. The moment Harry arrived at the common room, Ron and Hermione didn't stop asking him how things went.

"Ron, I didn't even try. I just…. ran," Harry answered annoyed.

"Well we knew it was a hopeless case anyway," said Hermione; she just finished her homework in Ancient Runes and was now joining the conversation. "Just ask someone else Harry. Have you tried Parvati?"

"Hermione," said Harry impatiently. "The last time I went with Parvati to the ball, we both really had the time of our lives. So I think that if I ask her again now, she'd be more than glad to accept it knowing that we'll just sit in one corner and not even talk!"

"Well then, can you think of someone else to ask?" Hermione asked Harry.

"No. I might just not – "

"Harry! You promised! You already signed up! You said you will go! Well then if that's the case I won't go too. And Ron."

Harry looked at Ron. He was surprised by what Hermione had said then frowned. Harry knew what this ball meant for Ron and Hermione and he didn't want his best friends to miss it just because he couldn't get a partner. Harry looked at Hermione; she too, looked like she didn't agree with her own idea.

"Alright!" Harry said in surrender. "We will all go. I will think of someone to ask, and then we will all go. Happy?"

Both Ron and Hermione beamed at him. Harry stood up and said goodnight to both of them and went up to the boys' dormitory. After changing his clothes, he just lay down on his bed and tried to think of someone he could bring to the ball. But every time he would pick someone in his mind that could be a prospect, he would always have reasons why he shouldn't pick that person. Harry did this for what felt like three hours until he fell asleep.

The next morning, Harry found a note at the foot of his bed and recognized Hermione's handwriting. After reading it, he pocketed the letter and went down to the common room where he said he'd meet her and Ron.

The Great Hall had the usual cheerful aura when the three of them entered for breakfast. As Harry walked to the Gryffindor table, he noticed that the hall was now decorated with the usual Christmas trees that Harry had seen in the previous years; only this time there were more decorations than it had last year.

"I already asked Luna," Neville said as soon as the three of them sat at the table with him. "And she agreed. She was beaming."

"Congratulations!" Ron said while putting some sausages onto his plate and Hermione's. "Just be sure to remind Luna not to wear her radish earrings on that night though."

Hermione threw Ron a reprimanding look which he ignored and went to ate, before turning to Harry.

"I left you a note this morning, Harry. Have you seen it?"

Harry chose not to answer Hermione's question and gladly thanked the arrival of owl posts which distracted Hermione because one familiar owl landed in front of Ron and tripped his cup.

"Pig! Bloody hell! You never fail to cause mayhem, do you?" Ron was throwing dirty looks at the owl while drying his robes with his wand. "What is it, now?"

He untied the parchment that was at the foot of the owl and read.

"Oh Harry, it's from Mum. She wants me to ask if you want to spend the holidays with us at the Burrow. And if you agree, Mum and Dad will just talk it out with your Aunt and Uncle and you can come with me and Ginny when we get back home the morning after the ball. She wants me to invite you too, Hermione. Then we can all go there. And – oh wow! Mum and Dad bought me a new dress robe! Blimey! I thought I was going to wear that hideous one from last year! Good thing they remembered I'm their son." Ron handed Harry the parchment and continued eating.

Harry read the letter and felt glad that Mrs. Weasley had invited him to spend Christmas with them. The thought of spending Christmas with his favorite family in the world cheered him up the entire day and on the days that followed, and soon forgot the dilemma of finding someone to ask to the ball. The same thought that they would be able to spend their Christmas together made Ron and Hermione stop pestering Harry about the subject of his partner. Hermione too, which Harry was very thankful for, never brought up the subject about her stupid note ever again. The subject about Harry finding a partner to the ball was long forgotten until the day came that it was time to face it again.

It was the morning of the 20th of December, just a day to go before the Christmas ball, and Harry seemed like will be really going to the ball alone. Harry felt the pressure (and annoyance) as he heard Neville, Ron, Seamus and Dean talked about whom they were going with to the ball.

The pressure was doubled when Harry and Ron went down to the common room and found another note that was posted in the notice board:

GRYFFINDOR ANNNOUNCEMENT:

Those who signed up for the Christmas ball must proceed to

the Great Hall this afternoon at around 4:00 PM. Dance rehearsals

will take place. Those who asked a lower year Gryffindor as

their partner may come with them to the rehearsal.

Signed: Minerva McGonagall

Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress

Gryffindor, Head of House

"She surely likes this sort of thing, doesn't she?" Ron said after reading the notice. "Good thing Hermione's Gryffindor, I won't be forced to dance with McGonagall again."

Harry laughed. He remembered the last time they attended a dance rehearsal and Professor McGonagall partnered with Ron. He enjoyed watching it while Ron dreaded the mere existence of that day. Then the feeling of pressure came back again all at once. He looked around the common room and found that everyone seemed excited about the idea of coming to the rehearsal. Maybe they too, thought that they were safe of being partnered with their head of house because they can just bring their partners with them.

The thought of coming to the rehearsal (and probably the ball itself) alone haunted Harry the whole morning. He couldn't dismiss the thought that it made him distracted from his classes; he got another failing mark from Snape when his potion smelled of burned rubber when it's supposed to smell of wheatgrass.

Harry and Ron agreed to meet Hermione in the common room before they all went down for the rehearsal. Everyone seemed excited; some were with their partners talking. They were all heading for the door when Ron spoke to Harry.

"You've got to prepare, mate."

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, distracted.

"McGonagall. I swear it wasn't a good feeling when she asks you to put your hands on her waist while all those people were looking at you. And mind you, Fred and George'll gonna be there. But it's good though, now they can stop reminding me of that time and turn to you instead." Ron said half amused, half serious.

Though Harry knew Ron was joking, he still couldn't help to feel annoyed at him for making fun of him. But he too, didn't think it'll be a good feeling to dance with Professor McGonagall knowing that Fred and George were around. As they reached the landing outside the common room, he was lost in his thoughts. Harry knew he had to find a partner fast. He needed to find a partner now.

"Hi Ginny!" Hermione said that brought Harry back to present.

Ginny was about to enter the common room when Hermione greeted her on their way out.

"Hi! I see you're going down to the Great Hall. Well, have fun," Ginny said smiling at Ron and Hermione.

"Thanks! We will. Shame though, you didn't sign up. It could have been really fun if all of us will be there," Hermione said.

"That's alright. I'm sure you'll still have fun even without me. Just make sure to teach Ron how to dance though. You don't want your toes get injured that night."

Hermione laughed and Ron threw Ginny a nasty look which she just laughed at.

"Well, enjoy, will you? I'll be going now," Ginny said smiling at the both of them.

"Better," Ron said and walked off; Ginny and Hermione laughed even more.

As Hermione waved her goodbye and followed Ron, Ginny headed for the door. Just when she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and was about to give the password, Harry made a decision. Now was the time to make desperate measures. It was now or never. He walked fast towards her and held her arm.

"Ginny, will you come with me to the ball?"

A/N There you have it! :) *closes curtains*. What do you think happened after Harry asked Ginny to the ball? *wink wink. Reviews please! :)