Harry brushed his teeth lazily, preparing for the much-needed night of sleep, his mind seeping over all that had happened with Ron and Hermiones planning. They had decided to ask only those who they could trust to not gossip about Harrys need for a revenge date, if Malfoy knew it was for revenge then it just wouldn't do. They had decided to tell the girls they'd asked that it was Pansy that Harry wanted to make jealous, a shocking statement but far less of a scandal than the truth. Pansy made the perfect excuse, she was most likely to be Malfoys date, thus meaning they would be together most the dance, meaning Harry and his date could flaunt themselves to Malfoy without the girl ever knowing. So far they had asked Cho, Luna, Lavendar, Pavarti and Melissa, unfortunately all five girls already had dates, though they all pledged that they would've helped had they not already had plans. Harry flinched, not ALL the girls had claimed such things, in fact, Melissa was beyond irate when she had heard the request, she vehemently refused to be a revenge date and carried on to vent about how disgusting the idea was to her to be used in such a manner. Harry shuffled, exhausted, to his bed. He fell into the sheets, closing the curtains around his bed with a flick of his wand. Satisfied he curled in on himself, pulling the comforter up to his nose, inhaling the familiar scent of his first true home.
When Harry woke the next morning he had a distinct feeling that today was a strange day. For starters, he had slept in till 11:30! He had never slept in past 8 before, a lovely habit developed from his life with the Dursleys. He stretched before groggily slipping into weekend clothes. As he trudged down the stairs he began to pick up on what sounded to be an argument.
"Oh come on Ron! I'm not a little child! Besides, I'm the only one willing to do it who you can trust!"
"You're blathering on as if you expect this to be some sort of romantic event! It's a REVENGE date! Nothing more!"
"I know that! I'm not stupid!"
When all that could be heard was silence Harry assumed his friend was fuming, face as fiery as his hair. Trudging down the rest of the stairs Harry barely had a chance to blink before he had his arms full of Ginny.
"Oh Harry! It's wonderful! I'm going to be your date to the Christmas dance!" Her smile was radiant as she beamed at him, he tried to smile back but it came out wrong, more of a grimace. Ginny pretended not to notice and hugged him once more.
"Oi! Are you deaf?" Rons outraged and indignant voice rose dangerously, "I said NO. You're not being his date Gin!"
Releasing Harry Ginny pouted her lip and looked at Ron through her long feminine lashes.
"Why not?"
"Why not!? How about because you're my BABY sister!"
"M not a baby…"
"You've got a crush on him!"
"So?"
"So you've got real feelings invested in the idea of the date, you still hold hopes that Harry will turn his attentions from Pansy to yourself." Hermiones soft voice rose from behind Harry, he jumped at the unexpected addition to the conversation. Ginny tromped angrily to the armchair nearest to the fireplace, huffing exasperatedly as she fell gracefully into its hold.
"Look, I'm single, no date to the dance, I won't gossip Harrys situation to anyone, I'm in a safe zone as far as celeb-obsessed-freaky-I'ma-rape-you-girls go and according to most the male population I'm one of the hottest girls in the whole school. The way I see it, I'm you're best option, maybe even you're only option, you wanna make Parkinson jealous? I have the most flirtatious smiles and laughs ever, and I'll use whatever I can to make her writhe in jealousy if I have to! So what do you say?"
Ron sputtered uselessly, desperately searching his mind for more reasons to refuse her offer.
"I think she's right you guys…" Hermione mumbled into her hand, "She's safe, and she's the best option to make Mal-m-malicious Pansy jealous…" Luckily Ginny was so psyched about Hermione agreeing with her, the slip of the tongue went unnoticed by the now squealing red-head.
"Thank you thank you thank you thank you!" She grasped Hermione in a vice grip hug before turning to grin madly at Harry, "You won't be sorry I promise! I've already got the most AMAZING dress picked out as well!" Then she dashed from the common room, most likely off to tell her friends who her date was. Ron turned to glare at Hermione.
"Why. Did You. DO THAT!?" His rage shook him violently. Hermione rolled her eyes nonchalantly.
"Honestly Ron, I should think by now you'd know I'm amazingly smart and always think of the best plans!" She bragged jokingly, "Think about it this way, Harry has no interest in Ginny – or any girl for that matter – So Ginny is completely safe with him! And if she wasn't going with him she might end up with some pervert."
Ron looked dumbfounded for a moment before regaining his rage, though this time less impressive.
"But still! Gin actually has feelings for him! It's going to get her hopes up!"
"She knows very well what this is, she's not a child anymore."
Harry's stomach growled warningly at him, as he stood dumbfounded, watching his friends in awe. Glancing at his watch he was pleased to see lunch was already being served, Harry smacked his lips childishly before looking at his friends once more, waiting for a chance to interrupt. After a couple minutes Harry grew impatient and with a tired sigh he decided to interrupt anyway.
"GUYS!" He shouted calmly, the bickering ceased instantaneously, "I'm hungry, mind continuing this later? It's lunch time!"
Hermione chuckled softly, a small smile shaping her mouth; Ron froze for a moment, as if trying to decide something.
"Yeah, man I'm hungry!" Ron agreed, momentarily setting the argument aside in favour of his growling insides.
Why does time always have to go by so fast when you don't want it to? Harry sat on the edge of his bed, heart racing furiously, anxiety distressing his entire self. What if the plan didn't work? What if Draco saw through it? Or what if he honestly didn't care? And what about Ginny?! Harry didn't want to hurt her, but he honestly had no interest in her, the mere thought of even holding her hand in a romantic manor made his stomach churn! Now Harry was stuck with her for an entire evening! Having to dance with her, laugh with her, be romantic with her! All that, all these horrible emotions, just to get Draco back, and Harry wasn't even sure if it would work, and worse yet, if he even wanted Draco back. Was this all going to be worth it? What if it worked but then Harry didn't want him back? Harry choked slightly, a new and horrible thought dawning on him, what if-
"You ready yet mate?"
Harry jumped up off the bed, wobbling as his legs steadied him, Ron watched him with an amused lopsided grin.
"Sorry, did I scare you?" laughter was easily heard in the question. Harry scoffed embarrassed by his jumpiness.
"Course not." He mumbled unconvincingly. Ron chuckled unable to stop himself.
"Right," he agreed when he could control his chuckles, "You look like hell, nervous?" Now Ron eyed him carefully, scrutinising Harrys face and posture.
"Yeah, just a bit." Harry mumbled in response. Ron nodded, watching Harry for a minute more before handing the boy his jacket.
"Lets get going, the girls are waiting for us."
Harry nodded shortly before following Ron out the door, down the slightly spiralled staircase to the common room.
"By the way, thanks for buying me these new dress robes, Harry!" Ron blathered cheerfully on their descent.
Waiting in the common room stood Hermione, her hair was silken, held in perfect large ringlets, falling gracefully over her shoulder and down her back. She wore a fun looking purple empire waist dress. The top around her chest was a scoop neck line with no sleeves and covered in purple sequins, the rest of the dress was purple satin, flowing eloquently down from just under her bust to her mid thigh where it scooped under slightly. Her shoes, dark purple flats.
(Hermiones Dress: . )
Ginny came into view as she bounced excitedly on the balls of her feet. Her hair was pulled half up into a messy bun; the rest of it separated into two long braids that hung happily down her front. She wore a cute blue dress, in the front it was a box cut, pulling slightly at the waist to create curve and to pleat the skirt of the dress, which fell about mid thigh as well. In the back the dress connected across the shoulder blades in an X crisscross, leaving an almost diamond shaped patch of her bare back, the dress continuing at the waistline and down. Her shoes were silver strappy stiletto's.
(FRONT: .com/files/ons1/262/2624923/26_2009/48cbaa4f6f20ae9a_ )
(BACK: .com/files/ons1/262/2624923/26_2009/a0c830404304743b_Krysten_Ritter_Bruno_ )
"W-O-W," Ron gasped, exaggerating each letter into a syllable, "Hermione, you, you look so… Amazing!"
Hermione blushed happily at his comment before giving Harry an expectant look. He stared at her for a moment before jump starting.
"Right, yeah, Hermione you look gorgeous!" But yet the look continued. Was there something he was missing? Ginny shuffled awkwardly beside him. Oh yeah, Ginny.
"You too, Ginny you look so-"
"Inappropriate?" Ron prompted. Hermione sighed, slightly annoyed at Rons tactics. Ginny scowled horribly at him, preparing what Harry was sure to be a mind bomb.
"You look very mature, and very beautiful, I'm lucky to go to the dance with someone so goddess like." Harry finished, laying heavily on the compliments to soothe her wounded ego. Her scowl dissolved in seconds as she turned to attack Harry with her shining smile. After a few moments of chatter and final touches they exited the common room, sliding through the gap that was the portrait hole.
Harry walked like a zombie, trudging toward his, whatever it was, doom or destiny. His heart was dead in his chest, his body like stone, no longer feeling any of the previous emotions or nausea, though that didn't stop his thoughts from flashing like gunfire through his head.
The walk down to The Great Hall seemed almost non existent, they were stopping in front of the doors only too soon. Harry caught glimpse of platinum blond hair within a rather large group of Slytherin, his heart kicking into overdrive instantly. The group dissipated, filing into the hall until only Draco was left to wait for his date. Harry swallowed nervously trying desperately to keep his eyes off the target, but failing miserably. Suddenly cold blue eyes met his, trapping his attention. Draco's glare flared violently in his eyes, more hatred than had ever been exposed was now aimed at Harry. Harry recoiled from the heated glare, feeling as though at any moment he would catch fire. He jumped when a warm, soft, feminine hand slid into his, breaking Draco's spell. Harry turned his wide eyes to Ginny, who was positively glowing.
"Wow, Malfoy sure looks mad! Maybe he's angry because he knows you like Parkinson?"
Harry nodded his head the slightest bit though he knew that couldn't be why. Harry was stunned, the unexpected glare freezing him and burning him all at once. His nostrils flared as he tried desperately for air. Why was Draco holding such an ugly look at him? Draco looked about ready to kill, his muscles twitched with anticipation, his body angled toward Harry, but before he could do, whatever it was he was clearly planning to do, Pansys hand rested elegantly on his shoulder and she lead him into the hall.
Ginny shrugged before sauntering into the hall, tiptoeing like a child, clearly trying to imitate Pansy's graceful swagger. Harry gasped for breath, finally feeling free enough to do so.
"What the bloody hell was that about?" He whispered to himself, shock coursing through his entire body.
"Maybe the plan is working?"
"Yeah I'd say! Working a bit too well I think!" Ron quipped to Hermione. She brushed him off, turning to Harry, sisterly love in her eyes as her hands held his face.
"You'll be alright won't you Harry?"
Looking between Ron and Hermione, Harry seriously considered running for it, turning his tail and bolting. But another part of him, a stronger part of him, wanted to stay, as if it were mandatory, unavoidable.
"Yeah, I'll be fine I think… It just startled me… I wonder what his problem is?"
Ron huffed indignantly.
"You wonder what his problem is? Gee Harry, you showed up with my sister as a date, I wonder what could possibly be pissing off that hypocritical git?" sarcasm fell heavily with each syllable as Ron muttered through a grin. Harry grinned back, but the expression didn't quite reach his eyes.
"I know it sure seems like that would be the reason but, if that were so don't you think he would've been throwing me those looks all week? Ginny's only been bragging to everyone she walks past."
Hermione and Ron both deflated somewhat at the statement, it rang true, Malfoy was bound to have heard of this coming a long time ago (ok, so it was only a week, same diff). Harry smiled weakly at his friends, both contemplating this new information.
"C'mon guys, let's just get inside."
