Heyy! Here is the next chapter! The final match is almost here! I hope you enjoy it, and leave a nice long review :) Also, be sure and check out the website! The link is on my profile, and I'll be updating it next week!
Harry was pacing his dormitory. It was time for the Yule Ball. He had practiced dancing till it hurt, and still he was nervous about messing up the steps. Ginny was a flawless dancer, he knew that. He had seen her dancing at the last Yule Ball, and at Bill and Fluer's wedding. He couldn't disappoint her tonight. Every girl in the castle had been raving for weeks about the ball. Harry composed himself, and made his way downstairs.
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Ginny Weasley's heart was fluttering in her chest. Harry Potter was taking her to the ball. Or, he would be taking the girl from Hufflepuff. But he was really there for Ginny. Sometimes she still couldn't believe it. Harry Potter was her boyfriend. She watched as he came down the stairs, looking incredibly handsome. She hoped that she looked ok; Harry had given her the key to his vault while they were in Chudley and told her to buy whatever dress she liked. She tried to refuse, but Harry won in the end.
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Ginny looked phenomenal. She would have looked great wearing a sack, but in the dress she wearing, Ginny looked more beautiful than anyone Harry had ever seen. Her dress was made of emerald green silk, with silver sequins. It hugged her curves fantastically, which made Harry blush when he came to the realisation that he was staring, and not at her face. Which was just as gorgeous as the rest of her. She had done her hair up, and even put on a little make-up, which was unusual for Ginny. "You look amazing." Harry said, his mouth like sandpaper.
"Well thank you," Ginny replied, a wicked smile on her face. "You don't look too bad either." The pair walked arm in arm to the doors of the Great Hall and waited until their 'dates' showed up. Taking a red-faced Hufflepuff girl by the arm, Harry led them into the hall. Everything was red, green and silver. The ceiling was adorned with tinsel, and paper angels had been enchanted to fly around the rafters.
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The four of them sat down and enjoyed a wonderful Christmas dinner, and were joined by some of the students from Beauxbatons, who brought along their furious looking dates from Durmstrang. Harry tried to keep the conversation away from Quidditch, hoping to avoid conflict with the Durmstrang boys. Still, the players from Beauxbatons were quick to compliment Marcus on his keeping skills.
Eventually the meal came to an end and the dance began. Harry danced the first couple of songs with the Hufflepuff girl, before swapping partners with Marcus and dancing with Ginny. "Having fun?" Harry asked her.
"Yeah," she replied with a pained look on her face, "Marcus isn't the best dancer though." Harry looked over to see the young Slytherin Keeper making a pig's ear of the Waltz they were dancing.
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Ginny was having a wonderful time. Harry must have learned to dance from someone. He never put a foot out of place. He whirled her around the dance floor like an expert, in perfect time with the music. "You learned to dance." She said matter-of-factly.
"With a lot of help from Demelza."
"So that's who I have to thank."
"I also paid a lot of attention when McGonagall was teaching us to dance." Harry smiled, whirling Ginny around lightly. Ginny was about to reply, but Professor McGonagall interrupted as the song finished.
"Your attention please. We have some business to attend to. First, lets decide where the final of the Cedric Diggory Quidditch Cup will be held." A small cheer broke out as a hat was brought to the small stage McGonagall was standing on. The headmaster from Durmstrang took to the stage and reached into the hat, then produced a small piece of parchment. "The final will be held at," McGonagall took a pause to create some tension, "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
A cheer erupted from the Hogwarts students. The Beauxbatons girls clapped, a little disappointed. Admittedly, Harry was a little disappointed himself. It would be great to have the home advantage at the game, but he also fancied a look at Beauxbatons Academy. "Excellent," the headmistress smiled, "now, we have some awards to present!" Whispers started all around the Great Hall. Harry looked in wonder at Ginny, who shrugged and turned back to face McGonagall.
"First off, receiving special awards for services to the school; Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley!"
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Ginny turned to Harry with a look of shock on her face. He just smiled back at her and gave her a nudge towards the stage. Ginny stepped up behind Luna, who as usual, seemed unphased by the whole thing. She smiled and shook hands with the headmistress as she was handed a pretty award, made almost entirely of glass. McGonagall took a picture with the two and then gave a small speech.
"The two young ladies beside me have received these awards, for their courageous efforts during the Battle of Hogwarts, and for running 'Dumbledore's Army' which for those of you who don't know; was a club, organised in secret, teaching students to defend themselves against the Dark Arts. Many members of the 'DA' fought and defended Hogwarts, and were instrumental in the defeat of Lord Voldemort." Cheers broke out across the hall, the loudest from Harry, as well as the usual gasp when anyone said 'Voldemort.'
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Ginny and Luna left the stage to more applause. "What about Neville?" Ginny asked Harry once she got back to their table.
"He's getting a different award."
"I thought you didn't know anything about an award ceremony." Ginny raised an eyebrow at her boyfriend. Harry just smirked, and turned back towards the stage.
"Now," professor McGonagall began, "we have a very special guest to present our next award. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt." A few cheers broke out, mostly from DA members.
"Good evening. It is an honour to be here, looking out at so many people who stood at my side and defended our world from the dark forces trying to take it from us!" People cheered for several minutes at this statement, Kingsley joined them. "Tonight, I am here to honour one of the big heroes of the war. This young man showed overwhelming compassion, outstanding courage, and incomparable selflessness. When hope seemed all but lost, this young man stood up, against Lord Voldemort himself! When the rest of us were ready to give up, this man stood in front of thousands of Death Eaters and declared himself ready to fight!"
Cheers were echoing throughout the hall with every sentence Kingsley spoke. "He is a wonderful example of the type of students that Hogwarts can produce! Ladies and Gentleman, I am extremely privileged to stand before you tonight, to present the Order of Merlin: First Class, to Mr. Neville Longbottom!" A shocked Neville stepped up on stage to receive a medal from the Minister of Magic. All of the students cheered for a solid ten minutes, none louder than Harry, Ginny and Luna.
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The Yule Ball was over all too soon. Harry escorted Ginny out of the Great Hall, but rather than head to the Common Room, he took her outside into the courtyard. "Why are we outside?" Ginny looked at Harry quizzically.
"I want to show you something." Harry took Ginny's hands in his own and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. Then, Harry drew his wand and pointed it at the sky. "Expecto Patronum." Once again the red stag burst free from Harry's wand, and pranced around.
"It wasn't a one off?" Ginny stared at the prancing stag in wonder.
"No." Harry replied. "After it happened in the classroom, I started doing a little research into the Patronus Charm. I think I have it figured out."