A/N Hey guys! Happy Monday! I am so excited for you guys to read this chapter! It's kind of long but there's so much that happens. Actually, I'm worried how you guys will respond to this chapter. This chapter is also dedicated to voldelord and morrgy because I think both of them will appreciate something that happens in this chapter. Oh and I need a huge favor from you guys. Can you guys go to my profile and vote on my poll? Thanks!
But anyways, I wanted to clear up a few things. Some people left some reviews with some things they were unclear about. First of all, in the fourth chapter Harry told Sarah that Snape always loved Lily. When I wrote this I meant that as Snape was friends with Lily for a good while meaning he was rather fond of Lily. Sorry about that confusion. Secondly, I always thought that Hagrid names Hedwig because Hagrid bought Hedwig while Harry was in another store. I thought Harry came back and it was already named, but who knows, maybe I'm wrong. However, even if I am I'm not going to change that chapter. Thirdly, in the seventh chapter Katie tells McLaggen that they should head to class. They weren't going to the same class she was just suggesting they leave the presence of Harry.
Anyways...here's some responses to your guys reviews! (There was a lot so I didn't respond to all of them.)
ihaveasandbox- Haha! It's true though. When Harry's life finally makes sense something is thrown at him right?
Hekuri- Thank you so much! You have no idea how much that means to me! This is my first story I've published so I'm glad some people are responding so positively to it.
Anonymous (Guest)- Ummmm I would say that there is expected to be about like 30-35 chapters. I still haven't decided how the story will end so it all depends on that.
Chapter 21: Valentine's Day at Hogwarts
The next two weeks went by normally for the Hogwarts students. Classes resumed as they always did and assigned homework like always, much to Harry's dismay. Harry and his friends made it a habit to meet in the library every Monday at approximately seven o'clock . Most of the time Katie and Ron would pass notes between each other while they pretended to work on homework, Ginny would read a book, Harry would work on homework and Malfoy and Hermione would research the magical, transporting object.
They were having an extremely hard time finding anything on the subject though. Every book they looked in only held a small bit of useful knowledge. Hermione had added time-turners to the list of possibilities even though she doubted anyone besides her owned a time-turner. Hermione had eliminated some possibilities though so their list was shrinking slowly. The only complaint Harry had was that all the research brought Malfoy and Hermione closer together. Sure everyone once in awhile they got in a few arguments but it was never too serious. Thus, the relationship lived on.
However despite the research troubles, Harry's lessons were going quite well. They had learned how to perform some spells without actually speaking and had worked on some spells that Hermione and the others were having a hard time with. Harry was impressed by how fast everyone grasped onto things that he decided to give everyone this Friday off. He did this partially so he could focus on Quidditch. He had noticed that his team was starting to slack off and Harry needed at least one practice where everyone was focused, including Ron and Harry. So he had canceled lessons to get his team back on track to win.
When Friday morning rolled around, Harry had been discussing his Quidditch plans with Ron during breakfast. "So you're saying you want Katie to stay to the left?"
"Yeah, then Ginny passes her the quaffle and she has a way out of the other players." Harry explained.
All of the sudden a voice came from behind him, "Good morning brothers! What a fine day it is today?" Ginny and Katie were standing behind him with huge smiles plastered on their face.
"What do you two want?" Harry asked immediately. Katie and Ginny weren't usually this 'peachy' in the mornings so it was obvious to him that they wanted something.
"Nothing!" Katie defended.
"Lies." Ron said buttering his muffin.
"Well, technically we don't want anything from you guys." Katie started, "We just need your attendance."
"Attendance to what?" Ron inquired squinting his eyes suspiciously.
"The Valentine's Dance!" Ginny announced.
Harry choked on the pumpkin juice he was drinking. "Since when has there been a Valentine's Dance?"
"This is the first one! And we get to participate!" Katie squealed.
"It was all Lavender's idea, she said that we should do something else besides going to Hogsmeade. So when evening comes there's something else for us." Ginny said.
"Of course Lavender's behind this." muttered Ron.
"We're on the committee." Katie boasted. "We are in charge of the decorations, Padma, Romilda, Pavarti, and Lavender are in charge of everything else. It's going to be so much fun!"
Ron swore quietly so only Harry could hear him and then asked, "Are we all required to go to it?"
Katie's faced dropped at this statement, "Why?"
Ron's eyes got big from the guilt he was feeling so he quickly redeemed himself by saying, "I'm not saying I don't want to go but what about Harry? He doesn't have a girlfriend or anything so does he have to go?"
Ginny shook her head. "No one HAS to go, but it's going to be fun. We made it so the girls can ask out the guys," Ginny said.
"Or..." Katie chimed in, "The guys could ask out the girls." she said looking at Ron hopeful.
Ron turned bright red. Katie waited for him to say something. "Well I'll catch up with you guys later, I have to get something before classes start."
"Smooth." Ginny said as Katie walked away.
"What did I do?" Ron asked.
"She wanted you to ask her to the dance." Ginny asserted.
"Well I just bloody found out about the thing. Now I'm supposed to ask her?" Ron fretted.
"Yeah!" Ginny said. "You are going to ask her right?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?"
"How are you going to ask her?" Ginny asked.
Ron wiped his mouth and cleared his throat. "Katie Potter? Will you go to the dance with me?"
"Not if you ask her like that." Ginny said. "You have to be more creative if you want to catch her attention. Don't know if you know but there are plenty of other guys she could go with...including McLaggen."
"But I'm her boyfriend!" Ron exclaimed. "She has to go with me!"
"No she doesn't. She can go to the dance with whomever she pleases to go with. Don't ruin it." Ginny said leaving him dumbstruck.
"Women. Their never happy I swear." Ron said. "I highly doubt Katie will care how I ask her."
"I do too. Just don't ask her like you did before." Harry said.
"Why?"
"Because it sounded like you were reading a script!" Harry said. "Make it sound like going to the dance with her would make your life." Harry advised.
"Fine I'll do something else."
Ginny sat in the hallway just outside the library. She would go inside but Draco and Hermione were in there together doing who knows what and she didn't want to intrude or be a bother. Her mind thought of Katie. However Katie was running off with Ron somewhere doing who knows what and again she didn't want to be the third wheel. That only left Harry and Ginny decided to leave him alone. He seemed stressed about a lot of things. Ginny just assumed it was because of Quidditch. At Quidditch practice he had been very serious and focused and Ginny wondered if the match against Slytherin in a couple of weeks had anything to do with that. Besides, her and Harry were never very close. Even though he had been to her house a countless number of times since he was born he never came to see her, he always came to see Ron. Personally, Ginny could never see this changing. Anytime she saw Harry Potter at her door she knew he was there for her brother.
Ginny sat in the darkness contemplating life. She did feel left out sometimes. More times than not actually. Everyone seemed to have better things to do than sit and chat with her. With her two best friends getting boyfriends within a week of each other Ginny quickly became a third wheel. Even when her friends weren't busy with boyfriends they were busy with school work or some silly mystery. Not only that but it seemed that this year Hermione and Katie seemed to hang out with Harry more this year than they ever did before. Ginny had always figured that Katie and Hermione were annoyed by Harry as they had openly shared this with her in previous years but this year they both seemed fascinated by him and spent much more time listening to his stories and theories instead of listening to her latest boy drama. In a way she was jealous of Harry because she blamed him for why everything had changed this year.
She pondered the expectations she made for the year at the beginning of September. She had always imagined that she would meet a boy she was crazy about and tell Katie and Hermione all about it. She never would have expected that she would have a 'thing' with Dean Thomas or that Katie would be unconscious for two days. She wouldn't have expected that her brother would end up dating her best friend and that Hermione would even consider dating Draco. Speaking of Draco, she had never expected that she would be good friends with Draco. If she had told her younger self that one day her and Draco would be on a first name basis she would have laughed. Yet somehow hanging out with him two days out of the week made him seem more like a friend to Ginny than he ever had been. He seemed to listen when no one else would and would notice her when everyone else was too caught up in their own lives. He was very witty and complemented her humor. It was quite possible that out of all of her friends he was the one she liked the best. She couldn't admit that though. She was too stubborn to say anything of the sort to him. She had always resorted to calling him names or at the most 'Draco' but never had she admitted to anyone that he was her friend.
Ginny startled at the sound of a door opening. The library door opened letting light into the darkened hallway. Ginny saw two disfigured shadows standing in the door way. One of then got bigger and Ginny watched as Draco walked out followed by Hermione. They left the door to the library open leaving a prism of light. They looked longingly at each other for awhile. Neither of them said a word, they just gazed into each others eyes. Ginny was deeply confused as they exchanged this gesture. She was about to slip out of their sight when Hermione leapt into his arms and he gently wrapped his arms around her. Ginny then watched in puzzlement as Hermione walked off without saying a word to Draco. She was gone, and she left Draco standing alone in the light. He stood there with his hands in his pocket and then walked unusually slow in the direction Hermione had walked off. For a reason unknown to herself, Ginny followed him.
He went up a few flight of stairs and against every good judgement, Ginny followed his pursuit. Ginny wondered if he was headed making to the Room of Requirement however he stopped at a room. Ginny hid behind a pillar and Draco cautiously looked in both directions before slowly turning the door handle. Ginny lurked silently behind him and got a glimpse of the room. The room was bare with little ornamental decorations and furniture to fill the empty space. A small little bed sat in the left corner of the room and was neatly made. Across from it was a small table with a wooded chair to go with it. Ginny examined the room as Draco stood frozen in front of her. He then spoke in a low rasp, "This used to be an old Head Boy room. They used it before the ones on the seventh floor were built, Ginny." He put a large emphasis on her name.
Ginny flushed red at the indication Draco made that he knew she was there, "Sorry." She apologized.
"What are you doing here?" He tried to ask as nicely as possible.
"Well I saw you walk out of the library and I just kind of wanted to talk." Ginny stammered.
"Talk?" Draco gulped.
"Yeah," Ginny said softly closing the door behind her. "Like friends do."
"Ron, why do we always wait until the last day to do our homework?" Harry complained as he sat in the common room. A parchment laid on his lap with only a few words about a Transfiguration spell they were assigned to write about. Sitting beside him was Ron and Katie who had also procrastinated some of their homework.
"Because theres no one here to nag us." Ron said. "Imagine if our mums went to school with us. That would be hell."
Just the the common room slipped open. Harry and Ron both turned to see who it was. It was Hermione. Her hair was thrown into a bun and her uniform was untucked in several places. "Hey." She slumping into a seat right beside Ron.
Ron gave Harry a smirk nodding to Hermione. "Well, Katie, lets go over there. Shall we?" He said leaving Harry and Hermione alone.
"Transfiguration homework?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded, "Yeah, I procrastinated a little." Hermione nodded as Harry went back to work. However, he could feel her eyes watching his every move. "Its distracting me, you know?" Harry said.
"What is?" Hermione asked.
"You staring at me like that." she looked away. Harry could tell by looking at her eyes that something was wrong. "Are you okay?" Harry asked looking at her eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine." she said. But Harry knew her better than that. Her eyes welled up with tears and Harry knew that she was everything but okay.
"Let me rephrase that, what's bothering you?" Harry asked.
"Nothing." She said. "So do you have plans for the dance?"
"Yeah."
"Oh." Hermione solemnly as she stared at her hands.
Harry looked at her and wished he could say something to comfort her but he didn't even know what was wrong. "I'll probably go alone, and ask a few girls for a dance." He admitted suddenly.
Her eyes shot up at him and she gave him a jarred look, "You're going alone?"
"Yeah why?"
"I think it's weird." She affirmed.
"Why?"
"Well first off, your a guy that wouldn't have a hard time finding a date. Your the captain of the Quidditch team and many girls find that appealing. And second of all, I don't know why you would want to go alone." Hermione said in a snarky tone. playing with her fingers, "It doesn't seem very fun."
Harry smiled at her snide remark and replied, "Well I figure I'll have more freedom that way. If what you say is true I might find a special lady who appreciates my Quidditch skills. But I doubt it. I'm not really looking for a relationship." Hermione rolled her eyes at his cockiness. "So hey what about you and Malfoy?" Harry asked to ease the tension.
Hermione sighed, "We broke up tonight."
"Wait you what?" Harry asked at once. He immediately regretted everything he had said to her tonight. Yet at the same time he experienced giddiness because she was available again.
"We broke up." Hermione said once more as a single tear fell onto her lap.
Harry stared at her intently and then wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry 'Mione. Do I need to beat him up? You wouldn't have to ask me twice."
Hermione cried into his shirt, "No, it wasn't like that Harry. It wasn't his fault."
"Did you break up with him?"
She shook her head, "It was a mutual break up. We both realized we were friends. Good friends but that was it." She sniffed, "We realized that even though we were dating each other we still had time to think about other people, and that shouldn't happen."
Harry nodded, "Then why are you so upset?"
"I just really hope we can still be friends." Hermione whispered. "I've wondered if he would leave us all when we broke up. Go back to being the Slytherin he used to be." She said wiping her eyes. "I can't watch him become his old self again. I can't Harry."
"Shhh..." He said rubbing her back. "I'm sure he won't go back to his old self. Just talk to him about it. Isn't that the advice you always give me? Just talk it out."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "You're using my own words against me."
"Yes, only because they are wise words." Harry said kissing the top of her forehead.
"I'll talk to him about it tomorrow."
The two of them grew quiet as they became involved in their thoughts. "So you guys liked different people or what?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes."
Harry took this to mean that she no longer wanted to speak on the subject. "So the dance?"
"Don't worry about it." Hermione said as she got up from the couch and left.
By the next week Harry was burdened with just as much guilt as he had before. He probably seemed like a real prick by telling her he was going alone. She had hinted at it but he had ignored it. She needed someone to accompany her so she wouldn't be alone and he had basically ruled himself out. Now he knew he had to fix it. He had to ask Hermione to the dance.
At breakfast that morning everyone seemed busy discussing the dance as it was only three days away. "So what's everyone's plan for the dance?" Neville asked.
"Well I know this may come as shock to all of you," Katie said in a dramatic tone, "But I'm going with Ron. He asked me last night during our walk together." Everyone smiled at her as she scooted closer to Ron.
"I'm going alone." Ginny told. "If I don't have a boyfriend now I will by the end of the dance."
Hermione stared at her plate and remained silent. Harry found this as an opportunity to ask her but Ron interrupted him, "What about you Neville?"
"I'm going with Hannah." Neville beamed.
"That's fantastic Neville! Aww! You guys would make such a great couple." Katie squealed.
"I'm going to get ready for Transfiguration now." Hermione said walking out of the Great Hall.
Katie smirked, "What about you Harry Potter? Who's going with you?"
"Nobody...yet." Harry said.
"Yet?" Ginny asked.
"Harry!" Katie groaned. "I thought you said-"
"Well I-" Harry started before he saw Malfoy get up and chase after Hermione. "I have to go." Harry said darting after Malfoy and Hermione.
Harry ran down the corridor. He could see Hermione and Malfoy getting bigger. As he ran through the hall, Harry reflected on the guilt he was feeling. Harry had felt horrible after Hermione told him that she broke up with Draco. There he was telling her he didn't need a date to the dance, thinking she was not available when she was. She almost acted like she would have liked to go with Harry, but Harry blew his chance. Truth was, going to dance alone was his last choice. He would have loved to have gone with Hermione more than anything. He hoped that she would still go with him even though he had told he was going alone.
He chased the two of them down. Malfoy had reached Hermione and stopped her in the hallway. Harry took advantage of the situation and sprinted faster. He could tell that Malfoy was telling her something and Hermione gave him a serious look before nodding her head. As Harry made his way to the pair, Malfoy started to head back to the Great Hall. He raised his eyebrows as be passed Harry.
"What are you doing here Malfoy?" He hissed so Hermione could not hear him.
"Talking to Hermione." Malfoy said. "You?"
"I was going to ask Hermione-" Harry started before Hermione walked up behind him. "Hey Hermione."
"Hi Harry." She said looking at Malfoy as he walked away with his hands in his pocket.
"What's going on?" Harry asked.
"Oh nothing." Hermione said. "Why are you here?"
"I had to get some things before class started." Harry lied.
"Really?" Hermione asked in a cheerful tone. "Me too! We can walk together!"
Harry smiled as he thought of how easy this was going to be. "So Hermione about the dance..." Harry began.
"Oh yes the dance. You're still going alone right?" She asked inquisitively.
"Well-" Harry said before changing his mind. "Do you have any plans yet?"
"Well Draco just asked if I would-" Hermione began.
Harry's heart sank. "Are you guys back together?"
"Heavens no! We're going as friends." Hermione said. "But-"
"Oh." Harry said trying to cover up his disappointment.
"You okay?" Hermione asked. Her soft eyes met his and cause Harry to look away.
"Yeah, tired is all. I stayed up really late yesterday." Harry lied. Harry could sense Hermione catching onto his lie.
Hermione nodded and then asked, "What was that you were saying earlier? Before I interrupted you?"
"Oh yeah um...I was wondering if i could come to Hogsmeade with you. Ron's going with Katie and I just figured that since-"
"Yes." Hermione said at once. "But Draco is coming along too." Harry groaned. "I'm sorry Harry. He's just been having a hard time okay. He asked another girl to the dance and she rejected him so he asked if he could be my backup plan."
"Do you guys openly discuss your love lives with each other?" Harry asked sensing that that was not normal for exes.
Hermione nodded, "Like I said before Harry, we make better friends than a couple. We both admitted that we were liking someone else while we were with each other. I still love him though...just not the way a girlfriend and boyfriend do."
Harry nodded, "So you know he fancies and he knows who you fancy?"
"Yeah, or uhh, no. He knows who I fancy but he hasn't told me who he fancies. Although I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to look at the Slytherin table and decide which girl he has his sights on." Hermione rambled.
"Oh." Harry said. He tried to act like his heart had not been ripped in half but he wasn't doing a good job because Hermione kept frowning at him. They quickly made their way to the common room and parted their separate ways, and once again Harry was left second best to Draco Malfoy, the guy he despised more than anything.
The dance approached much quicker than others would have expected. Last minute arrangements were made and Ginny and Katie kept busy setting up the Great Hall. After the Hogsmeade trip on Saturday, the students (Fourth year and up) prepared themselves for the dance and made their way to the Great Hall.
Through-out all four common rooms, students were stressing about how they looked and whether they would be on time for the dance. Harry who was going by himself, got ready at a leisurely pace since he had no one waiting for him and didn't spend much time on his looks. At eight o'clock he arrived at the Great Hall. The dance started at 7:30 yet the Great Hall was still strangely empty. "Harry!" someone said as he walked into the Great Hall. "Isn't this fantastic?" the voice said it was Katie. She looked beautiful. Her hair was done loosely into a bun that formed at the nape of her neck and a few curls caressed her face. Her dress was a long blue dress that shined when the light touched it. Jewels decorated the top of her dress and a corsage around her wrist matched beautifully with her outfit.
"Katie! Wow!" Harry said looking at her.
"That's what I said." Ron said. "She needs to watch out tonight." He said playfully. He also looked rather nice. His bright red hair draped across his forehead making him look sophisticated and trendy. He was wearing a dark blue dress robe that matched perfectly with Katie's dress. Under his dress robes be was wearing a charcoal suit with a black bow tie to complete his classic look.
"You look great too Ron." Harry complimented. "Fine looking pair, the two of you are." He added.
"So do you Harry." Ron said. Harry had gone with a classic style as well. He was wearing a black robe with a red strip going along it. Under his robes he had a lighter red shirt ad a pair of black trousers. And magically, he had gotten his hair to remain somewhat tamed. It was quite the feat for him. "You clean up nice." Ron added.
"Yes Harry you look so fancy in your dress robes. Maybe Hermione might fancy them as well." Katie winked. And then as if on cue, Draco and Hermione walked in. Hermione looked stunning. Her pink dress came up to about her knees and fit her curves perfectly. Her hair was put nicely into a bun on the top of her head. A few strands of hair had escaped but made the hairstyle even more pretty as they twisted loosely by the sides of her face. On top of her head was a tiara that sparkled and shined. It completed the princess look.
Harry dropped his jaw in amazement. "Wow would you look at her." Ron said.
"She looks gorgeous." Katie remarked.
"It's amazing how people look at this dance. Maybe it's just the sparkling clothes." Ron said to himself.
Harry found himself speechless and unable to move. He found himself becoming weak in the knees. Because standing a couple feet away from him was Hermione the prettiest girl he had ever seen. She tugged on Draco's shirt to put his attention on Ron, Katie, and Harry. He glanced over and nodded, Harry quickly turned around and faced Katie. "You okay?" she mouthed.
"Fine. Perfectly fine." Harry said glancing back. Hermione was right behind him.
"Hey guys hows it going?" she said. Harry inhaled a breath of her perfume. A perfume that was unique to Hermione herself.
"Fantastic!" Ron exclaimed.
"You look beautiful Hermione." Katie marveled.
"You really do." Ron said.
Malfoy coughed a little. "Ahh and you look smashing as well." Katie added as an afterthought.
"Thanks you guys. You look great too!" Hermione said. She glanced around the room. A lot more people had arrived since Harry had gotten there.
"So..." Ron said awkwardly as a long silence swept over them.
Harry watched Hermione. She hadn't heard Ron for she was still looking around the Great Hall. She glanced over to the crowd of people dancing and a smile spread across her face. It wasn't a normal Hermione face, no it was Hermione's trouble making smile. The mischievous grin that said she was about to do something mean. She looked up at Draco who was looking at Harry suspiciously. "Draco, come with me." Hermione said. She dragged him over to the crowd and started to dance with him.
Harry exhaled loudly releasing all the air he had held in subconsciously. "Your dumbstruck Harry. It's kind of funny." Katie whispered.
"Oh shut up." Harry muttered.
"I almost thought he was going to pass out for a second." Ron teased. "I was thinking I was going to have to break your fall."
"Go out there and dance or something. Just leave me alone." Harry remarked.
Katie and Ron exchanged looks, "Shall we?" Ron said offering his hand to Katie.
Katie curtsied and eagerly took Ron's hand. "I think we shall." she said and they walked away from Harry.
Harry put his hands in his pockets. He watched from the sideline. He watched Malfoy twirl Hermione around. Malfoy and Hermione made quite a good dancing pair and Harry suspected that he couldn't do nearly as well Malfoy. After a couple songs Malfoy and Hermione retreated back to Harry. "Potter stay with Hermione. I'm going to get us some punch." Malfoy demanded.
"Um...okay?" Harry said unsure of himself.
"How has your evening been?" Hermione asked.
"It's been fine." Harry said. He felt bis face heat up from the presence of Hermione. Then a slow dance came on. There was a sudden burst of urge for Harry to ask Hermione to dance. No. He thought. She's with Malfoy. No. But maybe he could just have one dance? No. Harry's inner self told him. However, before he could stop himself the words slipped through his mouth. "Hermione would you like to dance with me?"
"I would love to." Hermione said leading the way. Harry followed very nervous of what was ahead of him.
"I won't be as good as Malfoy." Harry said before they began.
"Nonsense. Your probably just as good." Hermione said putting her arms around Harry's neck. Harry put his shaking hands on Hermione's hips. He didn't know what was wrong with him. This was Hermione, his best friend. She wasn't anything new to him. He knew her better than anyone else probably. So why on Earth was he so nervous.
"You know...um...you look...um...really...Uh...beautiful Hermione." Harry stuttered.
Hermione looked down and blushed furiously. "Thank you Harry. You look rather handsome as well." Harry's heart skipped a beat. "So what's it like going to the dance single."
"Like everything there are pros and cons." Harry shrugged. He was lying though. As he thought about the pros and cons he realized there were way more cons than pros and most of which related to Hermione. Harry looked around the crowd. Ginny was dancing with Seamus and Ron and Katie were still dancing closely together. Hermione turned to see what Harry was looking at.
"They are cute together." Hermione said.
"Yeah. I just can't believe how grown up Katie looks tonight. When I look at her its hard to imagine that's she my little sister." Harry said. "She's grown up a lot this year. "
Hermione smiled, "She does look stunning tonight. Today has been great. I wasn't sure since I wouldn't have a boyfriend. But I think it turned out well. I liked going to Hogsmeade with you and Draco. It was fun."
"Yeah I wasn't sure since I would be around Draco Malfoy. But it wasn't that bad." Harry admitted. "I think me and Malfoy got along better than I expected. I mean I thought that at least once we were going to hex each other."
"I'm telling you, he's changed. Something changed him and made him a different person." Hermione said looking over to where Malfoy was standing. He was holding two glasses of punch and had a smirk on his face. He raised an eyebrow at Hermione when he caught her glancing at him.
"That something was you Hermione. I'm almost positive." Harry said.
Hermione shrugged, "I don't know. I didn't really do anything."
"But that's just it Hermione, you were being you." Harry said as the song drew to a close. "You are so amazing and you don't even know it. You have all these different qualities about you that make people want to become better. It's a beautiful attribute"
Hermione stood there beaming at Harry. Her eyes were a little glossy and she softly let out a "Thank you." The song ended and Hermione pulled away from Harry. "Well I've enjoyed dancing with you a lot Harry." Hermione smiled as she walked over to Malfoy.
Harry could hear Malfoy saying rather obnoxiously, "Well now that Potter has had his turn-"
Harry smiled and then looked over at Ginny. She was standing over by the punch bowl. Her slim fitting green dress caught Harry's eyes. And soon Harry was walking over there. "Hey Gin."
"Hi Harry." Ginny smiled.
"May I ask you to dance." Harry said bowing in front of her.
Ginny blushed. "Yes, you may have a dance with me." They both walked out and started to dance. Harry thought she looked beautiful as well. Her hair was done curly for the occasion and laid down by her side.
"So..." Harry began.
"Have you danced with lots of girls tonight?" Ginny asked.
"Well that all depends on whether you have danced with many boys tonight." Harry said.
Ginny let out a giggle and said, "I've only danced with Seamus."
"Well in that case I've only danced with Hermione." Harry said.
He spun her around. "You are much better at dancing than Seamus." Ginny said.
"Well that makes one. I'm sure Hermione thought I was dreadful." Harry said.
"You don't give yourself enough credit." Ginny said, "You dance rather well. Tell me, have you had any lessons?"
"Only from Hagrid." Harry joked. He tipped her back. His mind flashed to the image he saw in the mirror and leaned down and kissed her. Her soft lips met his and then he broke away slowly. his eyes fluttered open expecting to see her milk chocolate eyes beaming back at him, but they weren't. Instead he was alarmed to find a pair of bright brown eyes looking very confused at him. Then it hit him. He had just kissed Ginny. "Maybe no one saw." Harry thought. He thought wrong. Almost every pair of eyes in the room was focused on Ginny and Harry. Harry glanced around. Katie looked she had just been hit with a Confundus charm; Ron didn't even make eye contact with Harry; Malfoy gaped, jaw open and everything, at Harry and Ginny; and Hermione looked like she had been slapped. Harry quickly realized he still was holding Ginny's waist and let go of it immediately. Harry averted his eyes from the gaping crowd and ran his fingers through his hair. Some of the crowd lost interest in the scene and continued to dance. Harry took a quick glance at Ginny. She seemed just as panicked as she did. She smoothed her dress and stormed out of the room. Harry walked the opposite direction and got a drink. Realizing he no longer wanted to stay at this dance he left after he chugged his pumpkin juice down.
He exited the Great Hall ignoring all the snide remarks people were saying to him. "Ron takes your sister so you take his. Nice!" He turned right once he had gotten into the corridor and was shocked to see Malfoy storming in front of him. Harry slowed down keeping his distance from Malfoy when he heard him call something out.
"Ginny! Wait!" Malfoy called out. Ginny whipped around. "Since when have you been interested in Potter?"
"Since when have you been interested in my business?" Ginny asked. Harry continued to walk slowly down the hall. By this point he had almost caught up to the two of them.
Malfoy frowned, "Just wondering. Wondering if he was your next victim."
"Victim?" Ginny asked, "Malfoy I'm not a bloody dementor or murderer."
"You know victim." Malfoy said pacing around her. "You find a guy. Make him fall in love with you and then you decide your better than him and cut the connection between the two of you." He sneered. "It's sad for Potter. He doesn't know what he's getting himself into. I'll have to warn him next time I see him."
"Malfoy." Ginny said through her gritted teeth.
"I was just wondering if you would do the same to Potter. He really doesn't deserve his heart to be broken by you." Malfoy retorted. "Much less, have his heart be played by you."
"SHUT UP!" Ginny yelled, "I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT TO ANYONE!"
"Oh but you have." Malfoy said back.
"A selfish prick doesn't count." Ginny said.
Malfoy frowned, "Careful now he might hear you."
"Malfoy leave me alone."
"You haven't answered my question."
Ginny's face turned red, "LEAVE ME ALONE MALFOY!"
"I don't know why your mad. This is all your fault. You forced this upon yourself." Malfoy said.
"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" Ginny yelled. "WOULD YOU JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"It is too."
"GET AWAY FROM ME MALFOY!" Ginny cried before she ran away. Harry stayed still. He heard Malfoy curse under his breath and then storm away in a huff. Harry then continued to walk up to his dormitory. As far as days go, this one was definitely one of the most confusing days in both of his lives.
A/N Whew! Are you guys tired of reading yet? Thanks so much for reading and don't forget to review! Also, go on my profile and participate in the poll! It will help me decide which story I will post next! So head on over! You guys are amazing! Don't forget that!