The Yule Ball


The night of the Yule Ball came. Harry pulled on his dress robes halfheartedly. Ron, however, was more anxious as he got ready.

"Bloody hell, Harry! What am I s'pose to do with these?" he held up a pair of cuff links.

Harry shrugged. Ron let out a yell of frustration. "I can't let Hermione see me as a mess tonight!"

"You do every other night," Harry shrugged.

"Shut up, Harry."

"Alright," he said dully.

Ron's expression immediately softened, "Listen, mate, Teddy'll be alright, and tonight is going to be great!"

"Yeah."

A half hour later they were walking down the steps to the common room. Hermione wasn't there yet so they waited for her by the girl's dormitory door.

Ron was either asking Harry whether or not he had something in his teeth or frantically patting down the hair on his head, when he stopped suddenly, hand hanging above his head in midair.

Hermione had just came down the steps and Ron gaped at her. She saw the sight of him and giggled. Ron, finally conscious of his arm, put it back down at his side.

Harry sank into the shadows as he so often did these days. Neither Ron nor Hermione seemed to notice his disappearance.

"You–you look beautiful," he managed to choke out.

Hermione blushed and beamed all at the same time. "Thanks, Ron," she said slyly.

Ron held out his arm and she took it. He led her across the common room and through the portrait hole. Harry decided to give them a two minute head start (he didn't feel like gagging) and waited in the corner.

The common room was empty, everyone already being down at the Yule Ball, when Harry decided it was probably safe to head down himself. Then, he heard the clicking of heels coming down the stairs again and he stayed in the corner, waiting to see who it was. Then, as though he had entered one of his dreams, he saw Ginny walk into the common room. She was wearing a golden dress that fell to the floor. She wore her hair up halfway so that crimson ringlets fell over her bare shoulders.

"Ginny," Harry breathed, who couldn't help but hungrily take in this wonderful sight.

Ginny started, apparently she had not noticed Harry. "Harry!" she said, breathing fast.

"Ginny–you–you look gorgeous," he said quietly, stepping forward.

She stared at him with her bright, cinnamon brown eyes. He stepped closer. She didn't back away, but watched him, almost curiously, and he did not break her gaze. He stepped closer yet, their bodies inches apart. He looked down at her. He brushed his hand down the face he had so longed to touch for nearly four months. "Ginny..." he said again.

She held onto his hand that was holding her face. She stared back into his emerald green eyes. Harry leaned his face closer to hers and she moved forward slightly as well, her eyes closed.

Then, as though a loud fog horn had just blown in her ear she jumped backward, out of his reach.

"Michael!" she said hastily, half running, half tripping to the portrait hole. "Waiting–ball!"

Harry watch as she climbed through the protrait hole, leaving him there alone and rooted on the spot. What he had thought was going to be a dream, quickly turned into a dreadful nightmare.

He sat down in one of the good armchairs by the fire. He dazed into the bright, dancing flames. He watched them so long, his eyes began to water. Thoughts were rushing though his head and they all consisted of only one thing. He didn't know how long he'd been there, but suddenly he heard someone clambering through the portrait hole.

"Harry!" Hermione shrieked. I've been looking all over for you!" Her periwinkle blue robes were crumpled in places and her hair was coming out of it's plait. It looked as though she'd been having the time of her life.

"Where've you been?"

"Here. The whole time."

"Well, why aren't you at the ball?"

"Didn't see any reason to go."

"But Ron and I want you there!"

"You two seemed to be getting alone fine when you left," he said bitterly.

"Yes, but–," Hermione looked disconcerted. "I'd thought– don't you want to have a little fun, Harry? Hagrid's there! Granted, he's singing about some man named 'Odo' but he's still same old cheery Hagrid."

"Sounds great."

"So you'll come?"

"Nope," Harry said dully picking up a random book off the table and opening it.

"Harry, please. Just come alright? Even if you just sit on the sides. Please?"

"Fine."

"Really?" she said brightly.

"Don't get too excited."

"Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said hugging him.

"I said don't get too excited." She took his hand and dragged him through the portrait hole.

The Hall was glittering–as Harry remembered, like four years ago–with ice crystals. Ice that never melted covered the walls and snow fell from the enchanted ceiling but disappeared magically just before it hit the heads of the very energized students.

"One, dance, Harry? Just one?"

"Where's Ron?"

"Oh Hagrid's been keeping him. Telling him tragic stories and such. So what do say?"

Harry listened to a slow, lulling song playing. "Er, to this song?" he asked uncomfortably.

"Oh, come on," Hermione said irritably. She pulled him on to the dance floor, placed a hand on his should and grasped his hand with her other. He gingerly place his other hand on her side, careful not to go too far up or down.

They swayed at a faster pace than the song playing.

Harry looked around. He saw Luna and Neville holding hands and swaying, and Bill and Fleur dancing close. He looked up to the teacher's table. Ron was there, sitting squished between Hagrid and Professor Sprout. Both were pink in the cheeks and Hagrid was wailing loudly while Professor Sprout seemed to be telling a story. Ron sat there, looking awkward between the two and as if he wished to be anywhere else but there at the moment.

"Any luck?" Hermione asked, looking up at him.

"With what?"

"You know 'what'."

"Sorry?"

Hermione hit him on the shoulder. "You know very well what I'm talking about, Harry Potter. Now just answer. I know she was still up in her dormitory when I left and I know you were still in the common room."

Harry shrugged. "I, uh leaned in to kiss her and she jumped away, saying something about Michael," Harry said, his face burning.

"Well, I have news!" Hermione said excitedly.

Harry raise his eyebrows at her. "News that I would care about?"

She hit him again. "Yes, you will care!" she snapped. "Ginny broke up with him! Something about being too pushy and bossy!" Hermione practically screeched trying to contain her excitement.

The monster in Harry's chest stuck it's head out and sniffed the air hopefully. Harry, however, managed to keep and calm, bored face. "And I care about this because?"

Hermione hit him for a third time. "Harry, just try and talk to her!"

"Hermione, I've tried and failed again and again! There's nothing to it. She's moved on and I'm trying to do the same. So I'd appreciate it if you'd just lay off this matchmaker deal, alright?"

Harry stormed out of the Great Hall and to the bitter cold outside. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the courtyard through the glistening snow. He came to a bench and sat down, staring out at the frozen lake.

He was going to make himself go numb. He was going to stay out there for as long as it took for his heart to become as cold as his ears already were. And he sat there, alone and bracing himself against the whipping, bitter cold wind for hours, maybe.

"You know you can't numb your heart like you can your nose," said a voice from behind him.

Ginny came and sat next to him on the bench, his heart had stopped beating, it must have. Harry was either in too much shock to respond or just too cold.

"Yeah, I've tried many times to numb out all my feelings," Ginny said quietly. "I tried to convince myself that you meant nothing to me. That you were just a dumb bloke who left me. But–oh here," she said as she conjured him a huge, fuzzy, warm blanket and bright blue flames. "Hermione taught me," she shrugged as she set the flames on the ground in front of them."

Harry edged closer to her and wrapped the blanket around them both.

"Harry," he could see her figure turn and look at him, "no matter how hard I tried, or what distractions I used, I could not forget you."

"The ones who love us, never really leave us," Harry said quietly, quoting a man that had indeed loved him, had even died for him. "They're always in here," Harry placed a hand above her heart.

There was a silence as Ginny took in these words, then she exclaimed suddenly, "Oh, Harry, I was so stupid! I hurt you so much and I lied straight to your face! First day of school. I told you I didn't love you–that was so untrue! And the whole Michael thing...he really is a git! And I am so, so sorry! I just wish I could take it all back and we could–"

Harry never found out what Ginny wished they could do because she was cut off, mid-sentence, by his lips meeting hers. She laughed a little as she wrapped her arms around his neck as he wrapped her arms around her waist, pulling her close. They kissed like never before, this kiss was full of meaning and compassion, full of guilt and regret and most of all, full of longing.

Harry had waited for this moment to come for months, which had seemed like forever... But none of that matter now. Now that the girl he loved was here in his arms.

She pulled away and held his face, "Harry James Potter, I love you."

Harry stood up and picked her up in his arms, "And Ginevra–sorry," he said quickly seeing her face, "Ginny Molly Weasley, I love you."

Her kissed her, twirling around as the snow feel down upon them.

"I love Harry Potter!" Ginny screamed, her arms around his neck.

"I love Ginny Weasley!" Harry yelled even louder.

"I love Harry Potter!"

"I LOVE GINNY WEASLEY!"

"I LOVE HAR–"

"We get it!" yelled a voice from behind them.

Harry turned, Ginny still in his arms, to see Ron and Hermione. Hermione had a smile that could brighten the darkest hour spread across her face and even Ron was grinning from ear to ear.

Harry grinned back at him then and set Ginny back on her feet. He knelt down in the frigid snow. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a little black box.

"Ginny Weasley," he said confidently, "will you–," he paused dramatically, "catch this Snitch?" Harry shot open the black box and Ginny's fingers wrapped almost automatically around it.

"Brilliant!" Harry exclaimed as he took it back. He unscrewed the lid. He knelt down again, "Ginny Weasley, will you promise to–someday," he shot a furtive glance at Ron, "marry, me, Harry Potter?"

Ginny beamed. "I already have, you prat." Harry grinned as he slid the ring onto her finger.

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, holding on as tight as he could. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.

Hermione ran forward and hugged them both. "That was so–wonderful!" she sniffled.

"Oh, come on, Ron! Share the love!" Ginny called.

"Oh alright, you sissies!"

Ron came forward and gave them all a quick hug, then he pulled Hermione away and kissed her fully.

"Gag me!" Ginny laughed.

Harry bowed low, "May I have this dance?"

"Oh, I suppose," Ginny grinned taking his hand.

Harry danced the night away under the stars with Ginny, in the freezing winter air, but feeling the least bit cold because of all the warmth that was surrounding him.


I'm such a cheeseball! but this was absolutely my favorite chapter to write..
a little corny, i know...but I'm a sucker for cheesy love.
thanks for reading, gumdrops :)
SLGunn