A/N: From the album Holiday Man, by The Flys, copyright 1998, released by Trauma Records, written by Adam Paskowitz, produced by Chris Goss. I make no profit from this story.
Girls Are the Cruelest
"May I have your attention, please," Headmistress McGonagall said into the rowdy Great Hall. It had been one year since the fall of the Dark Lord Voldemort, and everyone was happy and carefree. The funerals, after the Battle of Hogwarts, had been too numerous to mention, but Harry Potter attended every single one, thanking the families of the deceased for their support, and giving them kind words of encouragement. The students had returned the following year, after the repairs to the school, to continue their educations. It was a bit of a tight fit at first, with the returning seventh years as well as the doubled up first years, but everyone managed. "I would like to announce that, this year, in celebration for our freedom and peace, we shall hold a Yule Ball here at Hogwarts." Cheers resounded through the room, and excitement was thick in the air. "It will be open to all years, with the curfew for the first through third years extended to eleven o'clock. The fourth through eighth years will be allowed to stay until two a.m. We will have live music from several new wizarding bands that have come up over the last year, and there will be a contest to crown Mr. and Miss Hogwarts. Be on your best behavior, and enjoy yourselves."
"Merlin," Ginny gasped, brown eyes lit up with excitement. "I wonder who Harry will ask to the Ball?" Ron smiled indulgently at his little sister, sure that she would be a shoo-in for his best mate's date. He looked up and down Gryffindor table, frowning, noticing for the first time since he'd sat down that his friend was missing.
"Hey, 'Mione, do you know where Harry is?" The know-it-all pulled her nose out of her book long enough to glance around.
"Nope," she replied, burying her face back into her book.
"Nev? Do you know?" the redhead asked the Longbottom heir. Neville had gotten a growth spurt during their traumatic sixth year, and he was nearly as tall as Ron. He'd lost his baby fat, and had blossomed into a handsome, sturdy young lord, who was no longer shy or stuttering. Killing Nagini had strengthened his backbone; Harry had told him that, without Neville's invaluable assistance, he wouldn't have been able to end Voldemort. The formerly clumsy Gryffindor had gained a massive confidence boost with those words, and had become Harry's closest confidant.
"I think he's in the library, trying to get some peace. Everyone's been up his arse more than usual lately."
"Thanks, Nev," Ginny said with a bright smile. "I'll just go there after lunch and talk to him."
He was sitting behind the stacks, eyes closed, when he heard the voices. He'd passed Luna Lovegood when he'd come into the library and winked at her with a wide smile on his face, smirking as she blushed and smiled shyly back. The Ravenclaw was sitting at a table near the bookcases that were hiding him, and he had a perfect vantage point to observe everything without being discovered. He opened his eyes, listening to the girls and frowning.
"Well, if it isn't loony Luna Lovegood," Cho said nastily, smirking at the little blonde. "Hiding? You know we'll always find you." The strident note in the girl's voice irritated Harry, but it was the implied threat that had him tensing.
"Look at that," Ginny chimed in, her voice vicious. "She's been playing the 'name game' on her parchment. 'Mrs. Luna Potter', 'Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter', 'Harry and Luna Potter', 'Lord and Lady Potter'. Please," the redhead scoffed, smirking victoriously at the blonde, "the only one to be Mrs. Potter is me. I've been destined to be the next Lady Potter since I was small, and no little slut is going to take that away from me." The hostile words from the girls surrounding Luna's table continued unabated, and Harry closed his eyes in pain, realizing for the first time that any fond feelings he had for the redhead had gone up in smoke at those words. She only wanted me for my name and prestige, and what it could get her. Never mind that, generally, I'm persona non grata in the wizarding world. With a loud scrape of his chair, the raven stood up and stalked around the end of the bookshelves, glaring at the girls around the blonde Ravenclaw's desk for a moment before leaving the library. So, Luna really likes me, he mused to himself as he stalked to the tower. She's been ridiculously brave ever since she's met me. Never acted like a simpering, helpless princess around me. I'll have to find some time to talk to her.
"Harry?" Ginny's voice startled the raven out of his thoughts. He was seated in a secluded corner of the Gryffindor common room, his thoughts circling around a certain little Ravenclaw when the redhead approached him. He looked up at her, masking the irritation and disgust quickly and presenting a blank mask to the girl. Her brown eyes narrowed at the closed off expression, but she smiled coquettishly and continued. "Headmistress McGonagall has announced a Yule Ball for this year, to celebrate our freedom. It's open to all students, and I was wondering if…well…if you wanted to go with me."
"A Yule Ball?" the raven questioned quietly. This is perfect. I'll send Luna an owl, asking if she would like to attend with me. "Let me think about it. I'll let you know."
"What do you mean, 'think about it'? What's there to think about? You're not going with anyone but me, Harry. I forbid it."
Emerald eyes narrowed on the presumptuous chit, the raven nearly snarled. "First of all, you have no right to demand anything of me. Secondly, you are not my mother, nor are you my wife. You cannot forbid me anything. I'm not even sure I want to attend, and since attendance isn't mandatory, I want time to consider the idea."
"O-okay, Harry," Ginny quickly backed down, worried about pushing him away before he'd said yes. "I'm sorry for speaking to you like that. I'll…I'll just let you think about it." She turned and quickly scurried away, intent on owling her mother for money for a new gown. If I can show Harry how beautiful I am, he'll be sure to take me to the Yule Ball, and from there I become Lady Potter.
The owl sailed in through the window four days before the Yule Ball. Harry had dithered around for a bit, trying to form the perfect invitation; he didn't want to seem pushy or desperate, and he wanted Luna to see that he honestly wanted to be with her. She undid the scroll and opened it, blue eyes glittering with a quiet joy at what was within.
Fair Lady Luna,
I, Harry James Potter, would like to request the honor and privilege of escorting you to the Yule Ball on December 24. I apologize for the lateness of my request; I had despaired of finding the perfect robes and the perfect corsage, which is a spray of ice-blue lilies surrounding one perfect rose. I will be there to pick you up promptly at 7:30, if you would like to go with me.
Luna smiled at the sentiment, and, turning the parchment over, wrote a simple one word reply before attaching it to the owl and sending it back out. Yes.
This day
Is a special day
You're beautiful
And this day
A special place
Your diary's locked
And this face
The freshest face
In the world
Luna sat at the desk in her room in Ravenclaw, writing in her diary. Her dress was hung on the wardrobe door, and it was simply stunning. Harry, in his generosity, had sent her more than enough galleons to purchase the perfect outfit, and she had express owl ordered it from one of the Twillfit and Tattings catalogues.
December 25,1999
Hey mum.
I miss you terribly, especially at this time. It's happened. Do you remember me telling you about this boy I met on the train in fourth year? His name is Harry Potter, and he's asked me to the Yule Ball. I wish you were here to help me with this. I want you to meet him. He's handsome, and kind, and sweet, and understands me as no one else does. He doesn't make fun of me because of my interest in crumple-horned snorkacks, or blibbering humdingers, or nargles, or wrackspurts, or aquivarius maggots, or heliopaths. He treats me like I'm special, and not the kind of special that needs to be locked away. His smile, it lights up the room. I know he's the one, mum, just like you knew that dad was the one. I love him. I hope you approve.
Finished, she stood and went into the bathroom to take a shower, making sure to use the lilac-scented body wash and shampoo, knowing that the lilacs reacted well with her body chemistry. Unlike most girls, Luna understood about how scents reacted with your own body to create fragrances unique to you. Other girls just thought all they had to do was pile on an odor, and it would attract anyone. They were wrong. The subtle fragrances that she wore created a unique scent signature that was hers alone.
Once finished, she dried herself and stood before the mirror, staring at her face and hair. "Harry doesn't like girls that wear a lot of makeup," she murmured to herself. "I've seen the way he looks at Ginny and Cho when they're all painted up, and he gets this wrinkle of disgust on his face. I've even heard him make sniggering comments to Dean Thomas about how the girls like to 'tart themselves up' around him. So, a little lip gloss, and a hint of blush. Some light mascara, and…There. Now…" She waved her wand around her head in a complicated series of circles and watched with satisfaction as her hair rose and began to weave itself into a simple crown of braids. She lifted the butterfly combs she had purchased to match her dress, sliding them into her hair at just the right spots. Nodding in satisfaction, she left the bathroom and slipped on panties and a strapless bra. Pulling her gown carefully from the hanger, she stepped into the skirt and pulled it up, cinching it around her waist. She then tugged on the separate halter top and zipped the back, fidgeting with the floor-length skirt until it lay perfectly before slipping into white 'sasha' pumps with a floral motif. One last spritz of her floral fragrance and she was ready to go. She picked up the white patent leather clutch and stepped from her room, descending the stairs to the gasps and stares of everyone in the common room. Cho Chang's eyes narrowed angrily as she took in the lovely sight of 'looney' Luna Lovegood. Just then, a first year approached the blonde Ravenclaw.
"Um, H-Harry P-P-Potter is w-waiting for you."
This day
Is a special day
Your high school prom
And this time
You won the game
You weren't even trying hard
"Merlin, Luna," Harry whispered reverently as she came out into the hallway. "You're beautiful." She wore a white satin halter crop top with pearl beaded details, and a floor-length ivory skirt with lace detailing. The lace overskirt was decorated with a variety of embroidered roses and daffodils, their stems rising into the waistband of the overskirt. The dress was just so Luna, and it left the raven breathless. He fumbled for a moment trying to pin her corsage into place, working not to actually pin her skin with the corsage. Finally, he got it into place, and he held his arm out to her. She wrapped her arm around his, and he hugged it to him as he carefully escorted her down the stairs.
"You look so handsome, Harry," she said as they descended into the entryway. "That shade of green suits you so perfectly." Harry had bought deep forest green dress robes, the color so deep that they almost looked black. Beneath the robes, he wore a white satin button up shirt and black dress slacks. He had patent leather loafers on his feet, and his glasses had been updated. He now wore very thin gold wire framed glasses, which accentuated his eyes to perfection.
"Thank you, Luna," the raven answered, blushing. They entered the Great Hall to stunned silence. Ginny, who had bought a sinfully tight red satin gown, glared harshly at the girl on Harry's arm. She watched as they walked up to their table, and he pulled out the chair for her. They sat like that for a while, just enjoying the ambiance of the event, until Harry excused himself to speak with some of his friends. As soon as he left, Ginny, Cho, Romilda, Hannah, and Lavender stalked up to Luna.
"What do you think you're doing, you bitch?" Ginny snarled into the blonde's face. Blue eyes just looked blandly back at the redhead. "You do realize that he's only brought you here to make me jealous. He invited you because he felt sorry for you. After all, with that limp and nasty dirty blonde hair, and those froglike eyes, it's a wonder that the wizarding world doesn't ask you to put a bag over your face."
"You don't even have a decent figure," Lavender chimed in viciously. "Harry appreciates a woman; someone who has the curves. You look like a prepubescent boy who's trying to play dress-up with mummy's clothes."
"And that skin," Romilda threw her two knuts in. "You're so pale, you're almost corpse like. I'll bet you're ice cold to the touch, and just as frigid in bed as out of it." A throat clearing behind the girls made them jump, and they all turned to see barely restrained violence in emerald eyes. Behind him stood Ron, Dean, Seamus, Draco, Blaise and Theo. They all wore various expressions of shock, horror, or revulsion, and the girls gulped, faces flushing with embarrassment at having been caught.
"I'll thank you to leave my date and I alone," the raven growled. "Unlike some people, I genuinely like my date. Now, go away before I make you regret coming over here."
"But Harry," Ginny whined, batting her eyelashes at him, "we belong together. We're meant to be."
"The only thing we're meant to be," Harry replied icily, "is strangers. I don't really know you, and you sure as hell don't know me. So, I'll tell you once again. Go. Away." He turned to Luna, holding his hand out and completely dismissing the pack of females. "Would you like to dance with me?"
"I'd love to," she answered, placing her small hand in his. He led her carefully to the dance floor and pulled him into her arms. She snuggled into him, her head under his chin. He inhaled her intoxicating fragrance as he swept her around the dance floor. They stayed out there until well after 2 a. m., making the first of many lifetime memories.
And oh
Don't dignify their hatred
With any kind of response at all
And oh
Don't dignify their jealously
'cause you've got it all
Girls are the cruelest of them all
The cruelest of them all
Girls are the cruelest of them all
The cruelest them all
Girls are the cruelest of them all
(you're beautiful)
The dress Luna is wearing can be found here: shop/dresses/viewitem-PD1449554. The shoes can be found here: women/shoes/pumps-high-heels?pageSize=48&startIndex=96. They're on page three, fourth row down, third shoe in the row.