It was early on Saturday morning when Mcgonagall approached the Lectern
"Students we are approaching Christmas and the staff body has decided to hold another Yule Ball"
There was a lot of excited whispering
"Now this may become a regular arrangement and will be open for fourth years and above but if your date is in a lower year then they may attend. It will happen on Friday the 17th of December starting at six. Dinner for lower years will be delivered to the common rooms. The Hogwarts Express will depart midday the next day so be sure to pack the day before because if you are not on the train by noon you shall be spending the break here. Enjoy". Ron was first to move and span around to Hermione at such speed, Harry was surprised to not have heard his neck crack. Ron looked at Hermione then blurted out
"Willyougototheballwithme"
"What?"
"Will you go to the ball with me Hermione"
"Of course I will but why all the haste?"
"Because last time you said I should ask you first before someone else does" Hermione looked slightly blindsided before melting into a soft smile
"That's really sweet"
"Gin?"
"Yes, Harry?" She asked sweetly
"Would you do me the honours of coming to the ball with me"
"Hmmm" She sighed tapping her chin with a finger "You might have to prove yourself worthy"
Harry smirked at her and said
"I might have an idea"
"Guys I love you both but could you two cut that out?" Ron demanded, dropping his cutlery in disgust.
"Fine. Harry, I'd be honoured" Ginny answered seriously then Ginny turned to Ron
"Happy you giant Hypocrite?"
"Wh-What do you mean I haven't-I mean"
"Oh shut it Ronald Hermione talks too"
Ron flushed deeply red and mumbled slightly as did Hermione. He turned to Hermione and raised his eyebrows
"Don't worry we didn't discuss anything specific, we just-compared notes" Hermione stated. This only made both guys more nervous as they looked between each other. Hermione and Ginny burst out laughing at the sight of them.
"Faced a dragon yet scared of girl talk," Hermione said through her laughs causing Harry to scowl.
"Yes well I don't remember a dragon discussing my-" Ron began
"Moves," Hermione asked innocently, giggling slightly
"That's it I'm out of here" Ron declared with Harry nodding decisively as they got up to leave.
A few days later Harry was getting tired of turning people down. The last Yule ball if people looked at him twice it was a look of disgust. Yet another group of girls leered at him and he had started scanning his food for love potions using a spell Hermione found. The scan at the last lunchtime brought the total up to 14 attempts and it was exhausting. Harry and Ginny finished early and began to get up when a girl in Ginnys year approached
"Hi Harry," She said sweetly turning a coil of brown hair around her finger
"Hi-uh"
"Ellie"
"Hi Ellie"
"So I was wondering why don't you come to the ball with me? I mean you can't possibly want Ginny because-"
"Because?" Harry asked threateningly
"Well. Look at her"
"Would you like to see a visual representation of how wrong you are Ellie?" Before she could answer Harry pivoted on his heel to face Ginny. Ginny knew that face and had a feeling what was going to happen so she drew a deep breath.
Harry yanked her forward and kissed her fiercely resting his hands on her hips as hers went up to wrap around his neck. They separated to see the entire Great Hall staring at them (many girls with their mouths agape). Harry cleared his throat and addressed the hall
"Right. I am getting really fed up with suddenly being sought after. I made my choice way back in May who I wanted to dance my future dances with. If I get another love potion, another box of chocolates or another proposal to go to the ball I will let Ginny exercise her supreme Hexing skills". He then dragged Ginny out but not before letting her threateningly twirl her wand. He briefly looked at the staff table to see Bill tied between disgust and joy and Mcgonagall seemed to be holding back raucous laughter. Harry turned rapidly on his heel and dragged Ginny out with her still smiling maniacally at her wand.
The day of the Yule ball was fuelled with excitement as people discussed everything from dresses to dances. Harry felt as nervous (If not more so) than last time because this would be his first official date with Ginny that wasn't accompanied by Mourners, Siblings or Godsons and he was terrified. What if he messed up?What if he failed at dancing? He couldn't dance to save his life and what if this makes her realise what an utter calamity he is? So here he is nervously fidgeting next to a fidgety Ron as they waited at the bottom of the stairs. This event had been talked about all month between Hermione and Ginny, which was odd as neither were overly focused on dresses and makeup usually, and they had done everything from shopping to makeup which resulted in at least an hour after said shopping trip of them asking Ron and Harry opinions on colours, fabrics and jewellery.
The only instructions they had been given was for a blue bow tie for Harry and a silver bow tie for Ron. Before Harry could ponder why oddly coloured bow ties were important he saw two women coming down the spiral stairs, in matching shimmery dresses, One a dark blue and One a shining silver. Harry moved his eyes towards Ginny's dress it was incredibly simple with a v-shaped neckline and a slightly angled bottom. She had silver high heels (He swore she wore those just to show how in reality he's nowhere near tall) and matching silver jewellery. He hadn't realised he had his mouth open until she closed it softly with a smirk spreading across her features
"Well, I was successful Hermione. How about you?" Ginny turned to see Hermione waving her hands in front of Ron's face trying to snap him out of it.
"You look gorgeous Gin"
"You don't look too shabby either Mr Potter."
Harry smiled in response and turned to Ron who had finally slipped out of his stupor.
"Shall we?"He asked Ginny, giving her his arm making her roll her eyes before linking their arms together and letting him lead her to the ball.
They had chosen a table with a few other DA members and sat down to eat. Harry stated the food he wanted and looked around at the other tables. He saw some people talking amongst themselves and some already arguing. He turned to the table he was sat at to see Luna and Neville murmuring quietly. Well, Neville was murmuring quietly and Luna was gesticulating wildly like she was trying to slap the thin air. Seamus and Dean seemed to have come together. As friends Harry guessed, maybe, but they did seem rather close and Ron and Hermione were talking softly whilst eating. Ginny seemed slightly bored by the rather laid back exchanges and turned to Harry in search of conversation. Harry caught on and lazily remarked
"Bored?"
"Yes. I mean everyone's being adults"
"We are adults Gin"
"Not the point."
"Fine. What do you want to talk about then?"
"How about what the hell have you done to your hair" Harry frowned at this and ran a hand through his usually messy locks which were currently straight and combed.
"I thought it looked better than the constant mess it usually is. I used some Sleakeasy. Why? don't you like it?"
"No, I do not like it. You look far too respectable and responsible" Ginny then pulled out her wand and pointed it at his hair "Contirbium". Harry felt his hair spring up slightly and he ran his hand through his hair a second time to feel the usual knots and odd strands. All Harry could think of in response was a raised eyebrow
" What? I much prefer you less than perfect. Much more you."
"Really?" Harry asked tentatively
"Yeah" She smirked at him then continued "I'm no longer my starstruck eleven-year-old self thank you very much" Harry leant forward and kissed her. Feeling all his previous apprehension melt away he gestured to the dance floor.
They stepped on each other's toes and bumped into other dancers but Harry couldn't care less. She didn't love the boy who lived or the saviour she loved Harry. She loved all of him and if they fell over each other doing an overexcited Tango then so be it. Because he wasn't born a graceful Hero, he was born the son of a marauder with messy hair, poor eyesight and an ingrained boredom from the History of magic and if Ginny could love his less favourable parts then maybe he could learn to love them too.