Skeletons

Chapter 10 - The Yule Ball Approaches

Hermione was exhausted by the time she got to the door outside of Harry's office, her paperwork was piling up and she knew that soon she'd have to go in and spend some time in her office to finish it all off. She yawned and knocked on the door but got no answer. She frowned and knocked again, still no answer. Hermione knew Harry well, so someone else may have assumed he had forgotten and gone to bed, but she knew he wouldn't have forgotten which meant something had to be wrong.

The sight she was met with when she walked into the office made her gasp in horror. There was smashed china and shards of metal all over the floor and in the middle of it lay Harry with a small pool of blood around him.

'Harry!' Hermione cried as she hurried over the smashed ornaments to him.

'Hermione,' Harry groaned quietly.

'Wingardium Leviosa,' Hermione mumbled and she then moved Harry to the bedroom.

'What happened?' Hermione asked as she flicked her wand and stripped him down to his boxers to see how bad it was.

'My own fault,' Harry said groggily and Hermione frowned but didn't ask any more questions because she had just seen the extent of his injuries. They were mostly small cuts and scratches but then there was one more serious injury, a shard of metal in his leg.

'Is it painful?' Hermione asked, she felt sick.

Harry shook his head, struggling to keep his eyes open, 'can't feel it.'

'You can't feel it at all?' Hermione asked anxiously and Harry shook his head once more. She sighed and removed the shard then cleaned and sealed the wound, she then quickly healed all of the smaller cuts on his legs, chest and face.

'Harry, did you hit your back when you fell?' Hermione asked urgently as she turned him over.

'Twisted it,' Harry said simply and Hermione cursed under her breath.

'This might hurt,' she said, she hoped it did because if this didn't hurt it meant that Harry would permanently be paralysed.

Hermione took a breath and slowed her heartbeat down before performing the spell. As always the flash of light shot under Harry's skin and instantly he screamed in agony, which made Hermione breathe a sigh of relief.

'I'm sorry Harry,' Hermione said gently as the spell worked its way through his muscles, searing and burning, 'but this is good, this means you won't be paralysed.'

Harry didn't say anything, but he gripped the pillow tightly and reached out for Hermione's hand. She took it and worked quietly and quickly, trying to ignore his groans and moans of pain. When her wand vibrated as the warning she ended the spell and watched Harry deflate.

'How does it feel?' Hermione asked quietly as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

'Painful,' Harry replied, he sounded slightly more alert now than he had before.

'Pain is better than not being able to feel your legs ever again,' Hermione said gently, and Harry sighed, 'help me sit up Mione. I need to tell you something.'

Hermione frowned but did as Harry asked and sat him against the headboard of the bed with pillows to support him, he was shaking and sweating, but that was normal after a treatment and after what had happened tonight Hermione wasn't surprised.

'There was something I didn't tell you,' Harry said heavily, 'something they said at the hospital after the attack.'

'What?' Hermione asked, 'I thought you told me everything the healers said.'

'I told you everything apart from one thing,' Harry said honestly, 'and I don't know why I didn't tell you, but I haven't told anyone.'

'What is it?' Hermione asked, she was more worried than ever now.

'The healers said that treatment would subdue it, but that eventually the injury would be bad enough to paralyse me from the waist down,' Harry said bitterly, 'I had hoped Susan and I would be able to have children before…' he trailed off and sighed, 'but that won't happen anymore. I don't have time.'

Hermione was staring at Harry in shock, but she was also close to tears, 'is that why you slept around?' she asked, 'because you wanted to feel something while you could?'

Harry nodded, 'the healers said in 5 to 10 years it would happen, and it's been 4 years,' he rubbed his eyes, 'that's why I treat Lacey the way I do, I know I won't be able to have children, and she's the closest I'll get, apart from Teddy of course.'

Hermione nodded, still stunned by the news, 'and is that the first time it's happened?'

'Yeah,' Harry replied, 'but it was my own stupid fault for wrecking my office.'

'Why did you wreck your office?' Hermione asked curiously.

'Lacey,' Harry answered, 'she asked me how her Father died, her brother wouldn't tell her, so I did and she got upset,' he shrugged, 'it made me realise how unfair it is that the children of death eaters didn't get any sympathy or any of the families in need money when they lost their parents too.'

'Their parents were murderers Harry,' Hermione said, not harshly, but slightly more brisk than usual.

'Maybe,' Harry said, 'but they died fighting for what they believed in, just like those on the side of the light did, that belief may not have been right but to them it was.'

Hermione didn't say anything, she obviously couldn't formulate a reply to what he had said, so Harry added, 'they lost parents too, look at Lacey; her brother became head of the family when he was still in school. It isn't right to treat them like they aren't people because of who their parents were. Look at Draco, he's a decent guy now, and his Father was a horrible man.'

'I do understand,' Hermione said, 'I just wish you hadn't been so stupid.'

'So do I,' Harry admitted, and Hermione then stood up, 'I'm going to get you a pain relief potion,' she said as she hurried down the stairs to the fireplace in Harry's office. She threw some floo powder into it and said Daphne's name, her face appeared quickly.

'Hi Daphne,' Hermione said, feeling exhausted, mentally and physically, 'would you mind bringing some pain reliever potion through?' she lowered her voice, 'and add a touch of sleeping draught to it.'

Daphne nodded with a sad sort of smile and 5 minutes later she walked into the office, wearing her comfortable clothes, 'Where is he?' she asked.

'In the bedroom,' Hermione replied, and silently the two women made their way up the stairs into Harry's bedroom.

'Ah, my saviour, and my pain relief,' Harry said, referring to Hermione and Daphne, he seemed slightly cheerier now, but Hermione was sure it was mostly a front for Daphne.

'What did you do to yourself this time?' Daphne asked as she uncorked the vial of potion and handed it to Harry, she had seen the wrecked office on her way through.

'Got pissed off and fell over,' Harry replied, holding back on a lot of what had really happened. Daphne shook her head and left the office, saying she hoped he would be alright soon. The floo whirred and Hermione looked back to Harry who seemed to be drifting off already.

'I'll talk to Ginny,' Hermione whispered to him as she sat back down on the edge of the bed, 'she's working on a clinical trial for paralysis patients, and I'll see if I can get you in on it.'

'Thanks,' Harry mumbled as sleep began to take over, 'love you.'

Hermione frowned, had she heard him right? She had, but he probably only meant it in a friendship sort of way, because Hermione loved Harry as a friend and she was sure he felt the same way. She shook the thought from her head and pulled out a book, preparing for a long night of watching over her best friend.

When Harry Potter opened his eyes he felt groggy and heavy. The world spun until he managed to sit up and get his glasses on, he groaned under his breath, everything hurt, apart from his back ironically enough. He frowned as he tried to remember the night before.

Wow, I am in serious pain. What the hell did I do last night? Oh yeah, Lacey and her Father…I destroyed my office…why am I acting like a 15 year old? It's like 5th year all over again, just without the dead Godfather.

Harry glanced over at the chair by his bed and smiled when he saw Hermione sleeping in it. He felt stiff as he got out of bed and dressed quietly and quickly. He whispered, 'Wingardium Leviosa' and levitated Hermione into his bed, he pulled the covers over her and kissed her on the cheek, 'thanks Hermione,' he whispered as he tiptoed from the office and pushed the door so that it was only a centimetre open.

'Shit,' Harry said quietly as he saw the office, it really was a mess. From the balcony above Harry repaired all of the broken ornaments and cleaned the floor, it was only when he was done and his office was back to normality that he realised what time it was.

'Shit!' Harry cursed as he hurried from the office, it was midday which meant he had missed his 1st year Slytherin and Gryffindor class, and that his 7th years would be in the middle of their double period at the moment. Harry was out of breath by the time he had rushed down to the third floor so after climbing the stairs to the Defence classroom in the Defence tower he thought he was going to have a heart attack. He paused to take a breath outside the classroom and through the ajar door he heard someone speaking. Harry frowned, he recognised that voice, he quietly cast a disillusionment charm on himself and snuck into the classroom.

Draco Malfoy, was teaching his Defence against the Dark Arts class.

'And now we will discuss basic revealing charms to continue our overall discussion of stealth and tracking charms,' Draco was saying as he leant against Harry's desk, 'some of you may already know such charms as I am aware that in Durmstrang they are taught in 5th year Charms. Is that the standard practice at Hogwarts?'

'No Professor Malfoy,' Lacey piped up, 'they've been taught in 3rd year here ever since Professor Potter arrived.'

'Interesting,' Draco said thoughtfully, 'such charms are often beyond the magical capability of a 3rd year student.'

'Professor Potter says that no charm is beyond anyone's capability if they practice hard enough,' one of the Gryffindor girls chirped.

'Does he now?' Draco asked, he looked vaguely amused, 'moving on. Would anyone like to demonstrate one of these revealing charms?'

'I will!' Lacey piped up, she stood up and said, 'Homenum Revelio,' then she frowned, 'hang on a minute,' she said, 'it's detecting something. It's not supposed to do that.'

'I believe Miss. Nott that the charm is telling you that Professor Potter has finally arrived an hour late to this class,' Draco said, smirking as Harry took the charm off and smiled sheepishly at the class, 'I was merely observing your teaching methods Professor Malfoy,' Harry said as he walked to the front of the class, 'thank you for covering for me in my brief illness.'

'My pleasure,' Draco said politely as he left the classroom.

'Professor Potter!' a Gryffindor boy, Jones, piped up, 'since you're both Headmaster's can you and Professor Malfoy duel?'

Harry laughed at this and shook his head, 'I don't think that's a good idea, perhaps at the end of term.'

There was a cheer and then Harry asked the class to take him up to date with what Draco had taught them.

When Hermione Granger woke up she frowned, she was in Harry's bed again, why did this keep happening? She had obviously fallen asleep the night before and Harry had moved her this morning she decided. She got up and made her way through Harry's newly tidied office to her quarters.

It wasn't until she was on her way down to the great hall for lunch, as she had woken up so late, that she thought about the night before and what Harry had said, it had bothered her, but she wasn't sure why. It had happened before, when Harry had been sure he was going to die in the forbidden forest he had told she and Ron that he loved them, so it wasn't anything odd, with this straight in her head she walked into the great hall where an amusing scene met her.

'Why did you take my class?' Harry was asking Draco, 'are you even qualified?'

'Yes, more than qualified,' Draco said, surveying Harry in amusement, 'you never have asked me what I taught at Durmstrang before I was made Headmaster.'

'You taught Defence against the Dark Arts at Durmstrang?' Harry asked in surprise.

'Yes,' Draco replied, 'despite being on the opposite side during the war Potter I still learnt to defend myself.'

'I thought Durmstrang taught the Dark Arts,' Harry said sceptically, 'so what's the point in teaching Defence?'

'They have always taught both,' Draco explained, 'but Defence was always seen as a loser's subject, rather like Divination is here.'

'Explains why you got the job,' Harry teased, getting glared at by Draco.

'And since I became Headmaster Durmstrang has stopped teaching the Dark Arts and Defence against the Dark Arts has become core up until 5th year level,' Draco said, narrowing his eyes at Harry, 'don't underestimate me Potter, I'm not a complete asshole.'

'Anymore,' Harry added which made Draco glare at him again.

'How did you even know I wasn't going to be able to take my classes?' Harry asked, the thought hitting him just as Hermione sat down.

'I told him,' Neville piped up, 'I am the Deputy Headmaster, I have some duties to the school,' he joked.

'How did you know I wouldn't be able to do my classes?' Harry asked Neville.

'Daphne told me,' Neville said simply, 'she told me you were injured last night and you'd had a sleeping draught so I assumed you'd miss some of your morning classes. I knew Draco taught Defence at Durmstrang so I asked him to cover.'

'I didn't have a sleeping draught last night…' Harry said in confusion, he then saw Hermione who looked guilty, 'Hermione,' he said, 'what have I told you about giving me sleeping draughts without my permission?'

'You were pretty badly injured Harry and I knew you wouldn't go to the Hospital Wing, you needed it,' Hermione said simply and Harry rolled his eyes and said, 'oh alright then,' he added, 'by the way Neville, good job with the classes thing, but you're getting too powerful.'

Neville laughed and said, 'watch out Harry or I'll have your job.'

Harry chuckled and smiled along the table at Hermione, 'thank you,' he mouthed and she smiled back and nodded.

As November turned to December time wore on and Harry eventually had to make an announcement about the Yule Ball after a week or so of nagging from Hermione. It was now mid-December and he couldn't put it off anymore.

'Harry,' Hermione said as she fell into step with him on the way to the great hall, 'I need to talk to you.'

Harry glanced sideways at Hermione, 'you're going to ask me when I'm doing the announcement,' he guessed with a smirk.

'No,' Hermione said, smirking back at him, 'I was going to tell you that whether you like it or not you're doing it at breakfast today.'

'I had a feeling you might say that,' Harry said with a groan.

'Harry its two weeks today,' Hermione said in exasperation, 'just stand up and make the announcement.'

'Fine,' Harry agreed reluctantly, muttering, 'I bloody hate the Yule Ball.'

'You are Headmaster,' Hermione pointed out as they walked into the great hall, 'you're going to have to go through a lot of Yule Balls.'

Harry grumbled at this and glared at Hermione as they went their separate ways, she towards the head table and Harry towards the podium at the front of the hall.

'Can I have your attention please?' Harry asked loudly, and silence fell over the hall.

'It is my pleasure to announce that on the 24th of December we will be having one of the most traditional and famous parts of the Triwizard Tournament here at Hogwarts, the Yule Ball!' Harry said, which of course started the whispering of excitement, 'dress robes are required for the ball and students must be in 4th year and above to attend, however they may invite younger students. As much as this is a chance for us to all unwind after a difficult term, I would like to remind everyone that a certain level of behaviour and decorum is expected from all,' he glanced at the Gryffindor table with a certain sparkle in his eyes, 'certain 7th year Gryffindor's have been warned.'

At this Williamson saluted Harry and Jones winked, he shook his head in amusement and made his way to the head table, 'happy now?' he asked Hermione with a raised eyebrow.

'Yes,' Hermione replied, 'although you better start thinking about your date now,' she teased.

'Oh Merlin,' Harry groaned, 'don't remind me.'

The following week flew by and the students got more excited as the Yule Ball drew closer. Harry had to hush many a teenage girl talking or whispering about it in his classes and he was getting increasingly fed up.

When he finished work on Friday after a particularly taxing day he just wanted to go to bed and sleep for hours, but then he remembered he only had a week to find someone to take to the Yule Ball. He felt like a teenage boy in 4th year all over again as he dropped down into his seat in the great hall and called, 'Oi Daphne,'

She glanced along at him, 'what?'

'Want to come to the Yule Ball with me?' Harry asked casually.

'Well if you ask me like that, no,' Daphne said, shaking her head in amusement at him.

'I'm sorry,' Harry said in what he hoped was a sincere tone of voice, 'since you are such a lovely person and friend, will you please accompany me to the Yule Ball?'

'No,' Daphne said, she was smirking now, 'I'm going with someone else.'

'Why didn't you just tell me that in the first place?' Harry asked as he shook his head at her.

'I wanted to see if you'd beg,' Daphne said with a grin.

Harry rolled his eyes at this and turned around, 'Hermione,' he said with a grin, 'do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?'

Hermione raised an eyebrow at her friend, 'First Ron, and now you,' she said irritably, 'I'm sick of people asking me as a last resort!'

'It's not a last resort,' Harry said quickly, 'I just thought we could go as friends since neither of us really have anyone to go with.'

'It might come as a surprise to you Harry, but I do have someone to go with!' Hermione said testily as she got to her feet and left the hall. A large proportion of the head table had heard her rant as had some of the students at the front of the hall.

'I'll go with you Professor Potter!' a Slytherin called out jokingly, Harry recognised the voice, it was Lacey's best friend, Maisie Scott.

'Ask me again in 5 years,' Harry called back jokingly as some of the students laughed.

'Why is Hermione so pissed off?' Harry then asked the people around him in general.

Draco looked at Harry in disbelief, 'She's pissed off Potter because last time Weasel asked everyone he could think of before even realising Granger was a girl, and this time in public you asked someone you are known to have slept with before casually asking her.'

Harry scoffed, 'What do you know about how Hermione feels Malfoy?'

Draco smirked and replied, 'More than you apparently.'

'What do you mean Malfoy?' Harry asked, slightly irritable now.

'Well since I asked her a week ago to be my date, and she said she'd go with me, I suppose I must understand her at least a little more than you,' Draco said with an amused, and slightly smug grin.

'What?' Harry asked in disbelief.

'You're going to have to realise one of these days Potter that if you're not fast, you're last,' Draco said with a smirk as he got up and left the hall.

'What the hell?' Harry asked, directing this at Neville, 'why is she going with Malfoy?'

Neville chuckled, amused at how clueless Harry was, 'I think she said something about wanting intelligent conversation for the night.'

'And she thinks she'll get that from Malfoy?' Harry scoffed, 'are they a thing…or something?' he asked, seeming horrified at the thought.

'I don't know,' Neville replied honestly, 'the first I heard of it was today.'

'I swear Hermione's taste in partners goes down each time…' Harry muttered under his breath as he listened to Neville sniggering and decided to eat quickly so he could get to his bloody bed.

Hermione was fairly huffy with Harry throughout the weekend, but he didn't see her much anyway because he had so much marking to do. When he woke up on Monday morning he decided to go by her quarters to apologise, but moments before he was going to leave his floo roared to life.

'Harry,' a familiar voice called, he frowned and walked over to the fireplace, 'Ginny!'

'Why so surprised?' Ginny asked with a smile as Harry sat down on the floor to talk to her.

'I just haven't heard from you in a while,' Harry said honestly, 'how is…'

'Jacob,' Ginny said.

'Yes, Jacob, how is he?'

'Big, he's walking now,' Ginny said happily.

'Oh really? That's great,' Harry said as his heart sunk, he was thinking of all the things that he would never have.

'I know you probably don't have time for small talk at the moment,' Ginny said, 'with classes and all, but I just wanted to give you some good news.'

'About what?' Harry asked.

'Hermione got in touch with me about the clinical trial, I suggested you as a patient when she told me your case and the board accepted you,' Ginny said with a smile, 'as of March you will start getting a potion to take once a month and you will be assessed.'

'Really?' Harry asked in disbelief, 'Ginny, thank you, that's…' he shook his head as he tried to get his mind around it, 'that's amazing, thank you.'

'I can ensure you that you'll be on the potion, not the fake drug, but you have to do something for me first,' Ginny said with a smirk.

'How much money do you want?' Harry asked.

'Not that kind of payment,' Ginny said with a shake of her head.

'What do you want then?' Harry asked his ex-girlfriend.

'I want to go to the Yule Ball,' Ginny admitted sheepishly.

'Why?' Harry asked curiously.

Ginny shrugged, 'I didn't really enjoy it the first time round, Neville kept standing on my feet.'

Harry laughed loudly at this and said, 'Well I've not got a date so-'

'I know,' Ginny said with a grin.

'How did you find out about that?' Harry asked, did everyone know his business?

'Neville told me,' Ginny said simply.

'Does Neville tell everyone my business without telling me?' Harry asked in exasperation.

'He's the Deputy Head, that's exactly what he does, organises things for you because you can't be bothered or forget to,' Ginny teased and Harry rolled his eyes, he knew she was right, 'yes well, as I was saying I'm going it solo at the moment so feel free to come as my date.'

'Then we have a deal,' Ginny said brightly, 'I'll floo to your office around 6 on the 24th?'

'Sure,' Harry said, 'won't Blaise mind you going to a ball as your ex-boyfriends date?'

Ginny shrugged, 'we're off at the moment.'

'Are you two ever going to get married, or stay together for longer than 6 months?' Harry asked as he chuckled.

'Who knows, Mum wants me too,' Ginny said through her laughter.

'You always were rebellious,' Harry said with a grin, Ginny laughed and said, 'I suppose. I need to go Harry, I've got to feed Jacob, but I'll see you at the Yule Ball.'

'See you there,' Harry said as the floo call ended. He glanced at the time, he didn't have long enough to get to Hermione's quarters to apologise anymore. He sighed, well, at least he had a date for the Yule Ball, even if it was his ex-girlfriend.

Harry spent the following week annoying Hermione by refusing to tell her who he was going to the Yule Ball with and winding her up about the fact that she was going with Draco. He wasn't looking forward to the Yule Ball so naturally time flew by until Harry found that it was the morning of it.

'Are you going to tell me who your date is yet?' Hermione asked that Friday morning at breakfast.

'No,' Harry said simply, 'you weren't going to tell me until Malfoy did.'

'Would you give that a rest?' Hermione asked in exasperation.

'I still can't believe you're going with him,' Harry muttered as he shook his head.

'I thought you liked him now,' Hermione said, still sounding exasperated.

'I don't mind him, but that doesn't mean I want you to date him,' Harry said.

'I'm not dating him,' Hermione reminded Harry, 'and I can go on a date with whoever I want.'

'I'm just saying, I think he's bad for you,' Harry said honestly, 'I'm looking out for you, that's all.'

'Right,' Hermione said in amusement, 'well I'm looking out for you too, so who are you going with?'

'You'll find out tonight,' Harry said with an amused grin as he got to his feet, 'got to run, classes to prepare and all.'

'Right, classes to prepare,' Hermione said as she looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow, 'see you at lunch.'

'Yes, you will, but I won't tell you then either,' Harry said, still grinning as he walked away. He was finding it funny how much Hermione wanted to know who he was going with.

He did have classes to prepare but he was fairly sure that nobody would pay much attention with the Yule Ball that evening. Draco thought it was harsh having classes on Christmas Eve, but this had been in force since McGonagall took over. She thought it made more sense to give students two weeks of holiday from 5pm on Christmas Eve onwards rather than a week before Christmas and a week after.

It didn't bother Harry too much, he never really had much to do at Christmas. He usually spent it at Hogwarts and went round to the burrow for an hour or so in the evening. His 4th year class were hard to control which was rare for the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff classes, so Harry had in the end given them an easy task that he knew they wouldn't complete. His 6th years were even worse for students at N.E.W.T level so he had given in and let them discuss their dates and their outfits. By break he wanted to rip his hair out and he sat in his office and enjoyed 20 minutes of silence. Thankfully his 2nd years were acting normally since most of them wouldn't be old enough to go to the ball, but after teaching the Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff class followed by the Slytherin-Gryffindor one, by the time lunch came he just wanted the day to be over.

'So,' Hermione said the second Harry sat down, 'who are you going with?'

'I'm still not telling you,' Harry said, 'my 4th and 6th years today have been bloody uncontrollable.'

'What do you expect? It's Christmas Eve and the Yule Ball is tonight,' Hermione said with a chuckle.

'I know, they usually find it a bit harder to concentrate on Christmas Eve, but it's much worse today,' Harry said as he shovelled food into his mouth.

'Why won't you tell me who your date is?' Hermione asked, this was really bothering her, 'you tell me everything.'

'I'm having fun watching you get wound up that you don't know,' Harry admitted with a grin.

'I don't know what you're grinning about,' Hermione said with a smirk, 'your 1st years might not be too bad, but you have a 5th year and a 7th year class to get through this afternoon.'

'Don't remind me,' Harry groaned, he really wanted to hit his head off of the table.

'Just teach them something fun,' Hermione suggested as she got up and left the table.

Harry's 1st year class were actually the best behaved of the day, but they were a Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff class so that was expected. His 5th year Slytherin-Gryffindor class were literally out of control, he couldn't even get them to partake in a mock duel so he spent the period sitting on his desk listening to what make up who was wearing and the colour of their dresses. He got fed up pretty quickly so ended up talking to the boys about Quidditch.

By the time it got to the last period of the day Harry really couldn't be bothered.

'Does anyone want to be here?' Harry asked the 7th years.

'No!' the class echoed.

'Alright good,' Harry said, 'because I really don't want to be either. Clear off and start getting ready for the ball.'

'Really?' Maisie Scott asked from the front of the class.

'Really, on you go,' Harry said and with that the class stampeded out of the classroom until only one person was left.

'Professor Potter,' Lacey said as she walked forward.

'Oh, hello Miss. Nott,' Harry said with a smile.

'He asked me to the ball,' Lacey said with a sheepish grin.

'Williamson did? Good for you,' Harry said, happy for the girl.

'Do you have a date Professor?' Lacey asked, hoping that it wasn't too private a question.

'Yes, I'm going with a friend from school,' Harry told the girl, 'I saw the lists yesterday, why are you staying here for Christmas?'

Lacey shrugged, 'I don't really want to go home, I love my brother but his wife lives in the manor now and they're so busy with the kids.'

'Well, I spent almost all my Christmases at Hogwarts,' Harry said honestly, 'and Professor Dumbledore made sure they were great fun, so don't worry, you won't be lonely tomorrow.'

Lacey nodded, 'Thanks Professor Potter, I better go and get ready.'

'On you go,' Harry agreed, 'and have fun tonight!' he called after her.

With Lacey gone Harry sighed and sank down into his seat. It was only quarter to 4, he still had 2 hours until Ginny arrived, he knew he would need to go down to the great hall for dinner, but for now he was going to relax before this darned ball.

TBC :)