September 1996
The sun shone brightly as Harry stared at his team. His team. He was finally the captain. He had been on the team when Oliver Wood and Angelina Johnson had been captains, and now, it was his turn to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Ron looked alert on his broomstick at the center of the goalposts, ready to block the Quaffle from scoring. The said Quaffle, a red ball, was under Ginny's arm as she gracefully flew across the field. Katie Bell and Demelza Robbins, the other two Chasers, were tailing Ginny, keeping an eye on the Quaffle. Harry turned around and saw Peakes and Coote, the new Beaters ready with the Bludger. As for the Golden Snitch, he had instructed Hermione to release it from the ground, and sure enough, a mass of bushy brown hair was taking the snitch and looking up at him.
It had been a few weeks since he had started dating Ginny. Ron and Hermione had begun dating since the start of the summer after their fifth year. During the summer, Harry had gone to the Burrow early in July. Harry grinned at the memory.
On the eighth of July, at eight at night, Harry stood in front of The Burrow.
"HARRY! MY CHILD!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed and pulled him into a bear hug.
"How are you, child?" Mr. Weasley asked kindly as he made Harry sit comfortably at the table while Mrs. Weasley gave him soup to drink.
"I am fine, Mr. Weasley." Harry grinned.
Just then, an orange cat jumped onto Harry's lap. Purring, Crookshanks stared at the living room. Harry looked up to see his two best friends in the universe.
"RON! HERMIONE!" He yelled in delight and crashed the two of them into a very tight hug. He patted Hermione and Ron on their backs, and they, too, patted Harry on the back. Still pounding Harry on the back, Ron asked how Harry was.
"I am doing fine, Ron, I guess."
"It will be fine, Harry." His two best friends encouraged him. Harry smiled gratefully. What would he have done if he hadn't been blessed with best friends like Ron and Hermione?
Finally, a redhead walked in. She had grown taller in the last few weeks and now reached up to Harry's chin. Her flaming red hair was tied in a bun, and her freckles looked adorable.
"Harry!" She smiled and ran up to his waiting arms. Harry loved it when Ginny snuggled into his chest and when he could rest his chin on her head. He didn't give Ginny the near-suffocating hug he had given to Hermione or Ron. Nor the hug he had accepted from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. He took Ginny into his arms like she was a delicate flower that he had sworn to protect. He held her to him smoothly while his outer arms looked ready to tear apart any enemy that dared set eyes upon Ginny.
Breaking apart, he and Ginny stared into each other's eyes - lightening green into bright brown. That night, he and Hermione were going to Ron's room when he spotted Ginny entering her room. Later, Hermione stated that she had told Ginny she would be staying with Ron that night.
"I've been doing this since the fifth of July when I came here." She said. "Could you share a room with Ginny, Harry?"
"Not a problem." Harry said and went to Ginny's room.
"Oh, I knew you'd come. No one can argue with Hermione. Hermione's bed is over there, Harry." Ginny indicated.
Harry grinned and went to bed with a "Good night, Ginny."
The following night, Harry didn't immediately go to Hermione's bed but instead sat on Ginny's bed. The two of the talked for a very long time and slept on the same bed. The third night, however, Harry and Ginny cuddled as they talked. The cuddling led to lots of kissing and sex.
"Well, Hermione and Ron have sex each night." Harry had said matter-of-factly.
Every night, Hermione and Harry would exchange rooms like this. They were comfortable with the arrangement, as the two pairs had held feelings for each other for a long time but hadn't come out with their feelings earlier.
While at night, Harry cuddled with Ginny, and Hermione cuddled with Ron; at day, the four of them spent time by the village lake and playing two on two quidditch. Eating the lunch packed by Mrs. Weasley and swimming in the lake was so much fun. Ron and Ginny were siblings, and all the seven Weasley children had grown up seeing each other in nudes, much less in boxers. It only took Harry and Hermione one day to get used to being in boxers in front of each other and the two Weasleys - courtesy of Harry and Hermione exchanging rooms at night while in their boxers/bikini. When it came to two on two Quidditch, Harry and Hermione were on one team, and Ron and Ginny on the other.
That was where they had received practice to join the Gryffindor team once September came around. No sooner had school started than Harry had held tryouts and had selected players after rigorous trials and exercise. Harry was sure he heard some people grumble he channelized Angelina Johnson and Oliver Wood inside of him. He didn't care. He wanted the best on his team and no bias. Smiling to himself, Harry returned to the present.
One whistle from Harry, and Hermione released the Golden Snitch; Ginny, Katie, and Demelza kept passing the Quaffle, occasionally aiming at the hoops that Ron was guarding so carefully; and Coote and Peakes were preventing the bludgers from targeting the players. Hermione kept giving on-the-ground reports of the practice.
"Ron, watch out for the left hoop! And brilliant catch!"
"Ginny, do that basketball trick I told you about!" Harry watched Ginny move the Quaffle around her back over to the other side and shoot it at the hoops.
"Robbins, do look at Bell, and you'll get better. You're doing fine."
"Coote, if you keep watching over the other side, the next Bludger could attack you or Peakes."
Harry was so engrossed looking around that Hermione's voice brought him back to his senses, "It would be great if the Seeker, who happens to be the captain of the team, starts looking for the Golden Snitch!"
By noon, the eight teenagers were exhausted from flying, running, yelling, and focusing on various moves. They were ravenous and dashed to the Great Hall for lunch and enthusiastically gobbled up the food like they hadn't seen it for ages!
"After lunch, we should get to the homework..." Hermione said.
"Homework? In this state?" Ginny said.
"Hermione, we need to bathe first." Ron supplied.
"Yeah, after that, we will surely start on homework." Harry promised as they finished the last of their meals.
As she left, Ginny turned around at Harry, and said, "Five, then, Harry?"
Harry grinned, "Sure, Gin! By the lake!" as Ginny swung her fiery red hair in an angelic way and swept out of the room. Harry stared after her until Ron's equally vivid red hair bobbed out of the Great Hall. Evenings at Hogwarts for Harry and Ginny, like Ron and Hermione, were no different than at the Burrow.
Hermione frowned, "What about Trelawney's Dream Diary, Harry?"
"Oh, come on, Hermione! Not even you like her or her stupid subject!" Harry retaliated.
Scowling, Hermione admonished him, "Then you shouldn't have taken that subject in the first place! Besides, I think Divination is a woolly subject. But that's no excuse to skip classes and homework!"
"Yes, someone here isn't looking forward to five o clock!" Harry retorted, making Hermione flush red. "Besides, I can finish that Diary in about two minutes. Ron gives me the best ideas!"
"WHAT?!" Hermione said in outrage. "You aren't even paying attention to the subject... Come back here, Harry!" But Harry skipped out of the Graet Hall to have a bath by then.
Harry knew Ron and Hermione, like Ginny and him, spent evenings walking by the lake, strolling across the grounds, or hanging out in a broom closet. The four would be seen together only in the Great Hall and corridors on such evenings. Harry's Marauder's Map was always useful in avoiding Filch and Mrs. Norris or any passing teachers and prefects. He would tell Ron or Hermione which corridor or part of the grounds seemed most deserted, and they would go there. Then, he would look into the map and determine which part of the castle was most deserted for him and Ginny. This plan almost always worked, and the four were anyway alert all the time to avoid anybody peeking at them.
Until five that evening, Harry followed Hermione's advice of finishing their homework. With Ron, he diligently studied as the duo sat by one of the windows in the Gryffindor Common Room, Hermione obviously in the library. Finally, at five, Harry set off towards the lake where Ginny would be waiting for him, as Ron met Hermione halfway to the library. Harry made sure to let Hermione know that Ron and him had not only followed her advice but had also finished all their homework, the Dream Diary included - the latter of which took barely five minutes ("I'll get trampled by a Hippogriff, Ron. Why don't you drown because Malfoy pushed you into the lake?") Looking ahead, Harry spotted the girl who brightened his life, Ron and Hermione being the second closest to brightening his life!
"Harry!" Ginny hugged Harry. Blushing red, Harry played with her redhair, sniffing the sweet strawberry scent of her hair. His jet black hair gave off the scent of wood polish to Ginny, which she so much loved. The wood polish came from Harry's Broomsttick Cleaning Kit. They evening went by like a sweet breeze.
It was about half past one in the afternoon, a couple of days later, when Harry was walking towards the Greenhouses. He was looking for Neville, who could help him with a particularly nasty herb. It was green and slimy, shaped like a man-eating flower but in miniature, and would shoot its wines at passers-by. He carried it in a pot as he walked past the alleyway leading to the library. As it happens, the wines suddenly shot forth and grabbed the opposite wall. Harry struggled, dragging it away and putting it back in the pot. At one point, he pulled so hard that he lost balance and stepped back several paces, and collided with somebody holding a dozen books. The resultant crash of two people falling to the ground and the books spilling onto the floor, and the pot breaking into two attracted attention. Soon, Harry could tell that a dozen people were staring at him and whoever he had collided with. Clutching his head where it hurt, he opened his eyes to see himself lying on top of his victim - Hermione, who was breathing heavily and trying to push him off. And the look of the scene was definitely not an innocent look!
Horrified, he got up and apologetically pulled Hermione to her feet. As he got up, he brushed off some dirt from Hermione's cheeks.
"I'm fine, Harry. Your jaw is... hurt, is it?" Hermione said.
"Nah," Harry said.
As the duo gathered the books and collected the plant, which was now cackling madly by the broken pot, the crowd dispersed. Harry supposed they had expected some drama but were disappointed when there wasn't any drama - not even a shouting match.
"R-Reparo! Ok, Harry, I'll get go..." Hermione froze in shock.
It seems the crowd hadn't dispersed entirely. Ron and Ginny stood there, eyes wide in shock. They, however, quickly recovered.
"W-What's up?" Ron demanded.
"These ruddy things!" Harry cursed like his uncle. "They won't stay still and are strong as a rock! I lost my balance." He glared at the potted plant with narrowed eyes, the look highly reminiscent of his aunt when she was particularly furious. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny joined him in looking for Neville.
"I was looking for some books on Arithmancy," Hermione said.
Ron and Ginny were returning from the Charms classroom. They were in helping Professor Flitwick arrange cushions for his next class.
Neville wasn't in the Greenhouse. Thankfully, they found him near the marble Staircase. he fixed the problem for them by enchanting the plant over its head.
"And, this is how you control the plant." He finally added, looking up only to see the amazed look on the faces of his friends. He chuckled.
"You need to pay attention in class. Professor Sprout said this is one of the simpler plants in the danger section!" Neville said, shaking his head. He once again chuckled when he looked at the horrified expressions on his friends' faces.
"W-Why deal with dangerous plants as these?" Harry blurted out. He never really understood the need for these kinds of plants. They weren't curses or spells you could use against Death Eaters, nor were they used for any potions.
"There is a career branch called Magibotonist. That's what I aspire to be, anyway. We study all kinds of plants. You never know which one comes in handy. For instance, this plant is used in magical farms as traps for trespassers!" Neville declared.
"So, why not use it in other places?" Ron asked.
"You saw why, just a few moments ago," Neville said, obviously referring to the crash a while ago. The plant attacks people randomly. "Obviously, these plants are rare, but it works because wizards rarely grow their own food."
"Yeah, Mum buys groceries from the Ottery St. Catchpole Market." Ron supplied.
"And we've been there many times. Muggle farmers sell their goods there." Ginny recollected.
"That makes wizards selfish because clearly, this plant could help muggle farmers too!" Hermione said indignantly.
"Well, it could, except that muggles aren't adept at dealing with these plants. They require magic to control them. Not every witch or wizard can handle them. And Magibotonists are very few in number for the sole reason that this is a very advanced field." Neville said.
"Then, why are we studying them?" Harry wondered.
"You are studying the basics, Harry. Besides, what's to say you don't want to set a trap for a dark wizard on some farm when you are an Auror?" Neville asked. "These come in handy then, and you ought to know what they are for!"
"Thank you, Neville!" Harry said. He, Ron, and Hermione set off back to Gryffindor Tower while Ginny found her friends at the Grounds. While Harry wanted to forget the collision with Hermione, it didn't look like Ron or Ginny had entirely forgotten it. Although they weren't suspicious and certainly did not bring up the subject, Harry could tell that this was on top of their minds.
Thankfully, the new term, Quidditch, and in Ron and Hermione's case, prefect duties, took off most of their time, so neither Ron nor Ginny had time to dwell on the incident. However, Hermione had taken to looking concerned at Harry as though expecting him to fall down suddenly.
Neville had made the whole thing sound easy. The green, slimy herb that Harry was supposed to be studying as part of his project never cooperated. Neville's herb was well-behaved. Hermione's herb, while far from staying still, at least never attacked. Ron's herb had taken to a peculiar habit of dancing whenever someone approached it. But Ron was able to subdue it. Harry's, by far, was the worst. It would attack without warning, so everyone had taken to staying a few feet away from whoever held Harry's herb. It was hard to control. And then Harry messed up one lesson by adding soot instead of roots (he had misheard the instruction) which led to his plant inviting Ron's herb to dance. The next ten minutes of the lesson was entertaining for the other students to watch - two slimy, green herbs doing a slow dance! Even then, Ron managed to grab his herb and dash out of the greenhouse. Harry's herb lost control, and Professor Sprout told him kindly that he could discontinue the project if he wished since the herb was a nightmare. Not wanting to lose the twenty marks for practicals, Harry brushed it off and insisted that he was just a slow learner. Not that he managed to convince anybody. He was known to be a fast and sharp learner.
That evening and the weekend, the story of Harry's dancing herb was narrated across the Great Hall, in the corridors, and in the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry's girlfriend, Ginny, was rather amused. However, she told off people when they tried to mock Harry by asking him to recount the events again and again.
Once again, Harry was glad the distraction wasn't far.
"It's Halloween the coming week! Next weekend, we'll have the first match of the term!" Ginny pointed out one afternoon.
An arm around Ginny, Harry lifted his left hand to cover his eyes and look up. "The weather has been fine so far. But it's going to rain today. We will need to practice under all conditions. So that not even the weather can stop us from winning!"
He gave Ginny a squeeze as she briefly put her arms around his neck and left to get to her position.
"Gryffindor and Slytherin!" Ron said. "Oh, we'll show them that games can be won without being slimy, disgusting cheats and Death Eaters!"
"SEE! MALFOY IS A DEATH EATER! I've been telling you! Lucius is a Death Eater but he is now in Azkaban! So, Draco has taken over!" Harry shouted. But his teammates had mysteriously turned deaf until he blew the whistle and started the practice.
Every practice session went well as the seven players in the Gryffindor Quidditch team did their best. Ron's only problem was insecurity - he had to listen to Draco Malfoy's and many other Slytherin's taunts in the corridors, classrooms, and the Great Hall.
"Hey, Weasley! You're fit to be in a bin!" Malfoy laughed one particular afternoon.
"And you, Weasley," He pointed at Ginny, "You had better not be playing at all! Who knows what will happen? I mean, you OPENED the Chamber of Secrets! Your own family would be ashamed of you! What if you unlesh a monster at... AARGH!"
Harry had punched Malfoy hard in the belly. He followed up by thrashing Malfoy black and blue with his elbow on Malfoy's back. While Crabbe and Goyle tried to attack Harry, an infuriated Ron, Neville, Seamus, and Dean jumped in and whacked the three Slytherins to a pulp.
Lip now bleeding, Harry turned around, "Ginny? GINNY?!" Ginny wasn't where she had stood a moment earlier. Dropping his bag, Harry ran across the corridor just as Snape strode around, "Fifty Points from Gryffindor, POTTER, WEASLEY, LONGBOTTOM, FINNEGAN, AND THOMAS! Now, get out! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING, POTTER, YOU INSOLENT BRAT!" But Harry did not care. He loathed Snape and Malfoy.
"Harry!" Hermione shirked suddenly. "Ginny went into that classroom!"
"Thanks, Hermione!" Harry said, and pushed the classroom door open. It was an empty classroom, and Ginny sat in a corner. Her legs were drawn up to her chest and she shook with sobs. Once again furious at Malfoy and despising Snape with all his might, Harry skidded to a halt next to Ginny.
"Ginny, don't take anything to heart! You know the match is approaching, that is why those dolts are bullying you."
"B-But, I opened..." Ginny began tearfully.
"NO!" Harry said fiercely, "It is Voldemort! Tom Riddle has to be blamed, not you!" He sat on the floor next to Ginny and pulled her into a hug, "Don't take anything that comes out of those worthless fools like Malfoy and Snape seriously, Gin!" Harry skipped his next class as Ginny was in no position to attend her next class. She sobbed into his shoulder for a long time that day.
"You all right, Ginny?" Ron asked that evening. Harry put his arm protectively around Ginny and said, "Leave this, Ron. I'm here for her."
Ron nodded and patted Ginny's arm as he went to the Common Room. That day, Harry called off practice and instead, educated his team, about how to deal with naysayers, demotivators, and trolls such as Malfoy and the Slytherins.
Harry was really distracted on Halloween's Day. For a part of the world, Halloween's Day meant nothing - just a Western holiday. For another part of the world, Halloween was a holiday, a festive occasion. For Harry Potter, however, Halloween marked the day of his parents deaths. The day he lost it all. The day he was denied what could have been. The day he became famous for something he neither remembered nor wanted. The day he was doomed into life at the Dursleys.
"Harry, it's fine. We are there with you!" Ginny pulled him into a comforting hug. His head was buried in her shoulder as he wept that morning. Ron and Hermione patted Harry on the back and arm respectively. Ginny covered him in her arms tightly and whispered words of comfort.
"I-I really wish..." Harry sobbed.
"I know, my love!" Ginny consoled him.
"I never asked for all this!" Harry said.
"Most certainly!" Ron nodded as Ginny wiped his eyes.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione said tearfully.
"S-So sorry, guys, for ruining your Halloween!" Harry said, looking downcast.
"Don't be silly!" Ginny said.
"Harry, you aren't alone! Remember we are with you." Ron said, thumping him on the back in an effort to cheer hm up.
Harry smiled, and Hermione and Ginny helped him up.
Very soon, the day of the match arrived.
Ron let in a few goals in the beginning due to nerves, but picked on quickly and performed exactly like his capabilities. He ignored the boos of the Slytherins and the commentator, Smith's snide comments about how being friends with the captain can take you far without any effort or talent. Soon, he reminded everyone who the King was. Ginny, however, not only played her best, but she also promptly crashed into the commentator's podium after the match and knocked Zacharius Smith down. Both the Weasleys proved during the match that they were on the team because they were the best players, not because they personally knew the captain. Gryffindor won the match.
As the chorus chanted, "Weasley is our KING!" for Ron, cheered for Katie Bell and hailed the new Chasers, Ginny and Demelza, encouraged the new Beaters, and most of all congratulated Harry on his captainship, the entire day passed by with flagons of Butterbeer and mounds of cakes and sweets. It was past midnight when the last of the stragglers - Ginny's dormmate, Violet Hunt - finished the celebrations and went to bed.
In the morning, however, there were mounds of homework to be completed. Fifth and seventh years could be heard groaning and pulling out parchment and quills. The fourth, third, second, and first years seemed to be taking their books outside to study by the lake in the weak sunshine. The sixth years were mostly divided into following the fifth and seventh years to the library or staying in the Common Room.
Harry accompanied Ginny to the library after saying, "See you later." to his two best friends who had chosen to complete their homework in the Common Room. While Ginny studied for her O.W.L.'s, Harry decided to finish his Defense Against The Dark Arts essay. Snape. He couldn't believe the greasy git had finally got the job he had so desperately wanted for the last two decades! Like Hermione and Ron, he had believed that Slughorn, and not Snape, would be teaching the subject.
Try as he might, his glance kept cropping up to Ginny, sitting opposite him. Not that she was doing any better in avoiding him. She was having a hard time concentrating and would often sneak glances at him. As a result, their work was only half complete by lunch hour. Harry knew Hermione would roll his eyes at him and reprimand the two for not paying attention to their work. However, he saw a disheveled Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall. He had the feeling that Ron and Hermione, too, had spent the morning stealing glances at each other more than finishing their work.
"We got nothing done, mate. What about you guys?" Ron sullenly asked.
Harry gave a nonenthusiastic grunt, plainly telling his best friends that they were behind at work too.
"At this rate, we'll get nothing done!" Hermione indignantly said. "Okay, Harry, you go with Ron. I'll go with Ginny."
The afternoon proved better, in Harry's opinion. Not only was Ron not distracting in the way Ginny was (Ginny wasn't distracting, but Harry couldn't focus much on things in her presence), but he was also genuinely fun to study and hang out with. A couple of jokes, some Chocolate Frogs, and some laughing later, he and Ron had finished all their work! By tea time, Hermione and Ginny returned to the Common Room beaming.
"We got everything done!" Hermione happily flopped down into one of the couches.
"Oh, I was starting to get worried I wouldn't finish this week's revision. Thankfully, it's done!" Ginny said, joining Harry. That evening, the four of them visited Hagrid and enjoyed Hagrid's rock cakes and sugary tea.
"Yer all doin' good?" Hagrid beamed at them.
"Yes, Hagrid!" They enthusiastically replied.
"What about you, Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"Aragog's not been keeping well. Olympe says she will look for anything that can help." Hagrid said.
"You and Maxime still together, then?" Ron asked.
"We are engaged!" He replied.
"Engaged? That's wonderful, Hagrid!" Hermione said. Hagrid blushed.
"Oh, look, he's so adorable when he does that!" Ginny laughed, making Hagrid cough with shyness and turn to make tea as he hummed to himself.
Harry and Ron weren't enthusiastic about Aragog and quickly told Hermione and Ginny about their encounter with Aragog and his descendants back when the Chamber of Secrets was opened.
"And so, we're glad we don't have to deal with them." Ron finished with an involuntary shiver.
"If not for Mr. Weasley's car, we'd have been done for." Harry said darkly.
"When is Hagrid going to change?" Hermione exasperatedly shook her head. Norbert the dragon, Fluffy the giant three-headed dog, Aragog the giant spider, Blast Ended Skrewts, that half-brother of Hagrid's he brought from the giants - the list goes on and on.
"I mean, not even Umbridge's inspection and cruelty last year made Hagrid rethink his preferences and teaching methods." Ginny said, staring at Fang in shock.
They were glad to change the topic, and soon, Hagrid was talking about his gamekeeping duties, and the four teenagers kept listening until it was dark. As they bade Hagrid goodbye, Harry, who was the last to leave, called out to Hermione, "Hermione, you forgot your cloak."
He wrapped the cloak around Hermione as the two turned to see Ron and Ginny staring at them.
"What?" Harry asked.
He got no reply - only a shrug from Ron. The two Weasleys led the way back to the castle.
The weather got colder and colder as November went by to make way for December. No one was venturing out any longer now except for classes. People wore all their jumpers, cloaks, scarves, and gloves on all the time. Harry wasn't making much progress with his herb. It had now taken to grasp him and attempt to drag him. Two or three times, Harry even discovered it hanging by his cloak when he surely had left it back in his dorm. It was becoming more and more of a menace, and he wasn't able to devote as much time to Ginny.
Hermione always looked busy too, and didn't seem to be spending much time with Ron as well. More often than not, Harry would find himself sitting with Hermione, both engrossed with their own troubles to notice what the other was doing.
Harry knew Ginny was hurt because he wasn't giving her as much time as he used to before. Even Hermione made a mention in passing how Ron had taken to asking her why she wasn't giving him much time these days.
"What is it that you're doing, Hermione?" Harry would ask.
"Just focus on your plant, Harry." Hermione would vaguely but kindly say.
Guilt overcame Harry a lot when he looked at the Weasley siblings. He knew he was distancing himself from them and wanted to do something about it.
"Mr. Potter? Are you listening? Harry?" Professor Slughorn's voice shook him out of his reverie. He turned around and saw Hermione and Ron trying to poke him back to reality.
"Good! Now that you're here, I'd like to make an announcement." Slughorn boomed, although mildly annoyed. "The evening before your Christmas holidays begin, I'm hosting a Christmas party. All my students from fourth year and above are invited. You can bring dates if you want, even if they're below fourth year. The same for friends. Or you could come alone. Yes, Harry?"
Harry had stood up suddenly. Here was the chance to make up with Ginny!
"Thanks, Professor!" Harry said vaguely as the bell rang. Without even waiting for Slughorn to finish, Harry grabbed his bag and tore out of the classroom to Professor McGonagall's classroom, where Ginny was attending Transfiguration. As she and Luna came out, Harry directly asked Ginny to be his date. Later, he and Ginny found out that Hermione and Ron were going together too.
The day finally arrived, and at five, Harry and Ron parted ways with Hermione and Ginny for an hour so they could get ready.
"Ron, I have got two matching shirts for us!" Harry said.
Ron, who was taking out a second-hand dress Mrs. Weasley had given him, stared.
"Midnight blue shirts and jet black trousers! We'll look great, Ron!" Harry said with enthusiasm.
"But, mate..." Ron said nervously.
"No, nothing doing. Take this." Harry said. He knew Ron's insecure feelings about the Weasley finances, etc.
Ron and Harry waited in the Gryffindor Common Room for almost an hour before they were rewarded.
First came Hermione in a rich purple dress. This seemed to take Ron's eyes out of his sockets. Grinning at Ron, Harry turned around, and his heart froze for a second. Ginny came down the stairs in a dress the exact shade of green as Harry's eyes. Ginny and Hermione had tied their hairs elegantly at the back and promptly stood by the boys, whose jaws had practically dropped open. With hugs, kisses, and compliments, the four went to Horace Slughorn's office.
As the guests entered, they found their photos taken. Couples would have their pics taken in each other's arms, while singles and friends would give out dashing poses and get their snaps. This wasn't mandatory, however, as there were some who opted out of this immediately. Harry, Ginny, Hermione, and Ron insisted a photo of the four of them be taken first. Then, Ron and Hermione posed, followed by Harry and Ginny. They asked for four different copies of each of the photos they had taken and proceeded.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny went straight to the ballroom and stood in position with the other invitees. When the music began, Harry held Ginny in his arms and began to revolve around the dance floor. He felt something tugging at his shirt but ignored it. Nothing in the world mattered when he was with Ginny. He and Ginny met gazes with Ron and Hermione as they, too, revolved around the dance floor, Hermione in Ron's arms.
Harry closed his eyes and could see the images of him and Ginny getting married and a bunch of children with Ginny's flaming red hair and his green eyes gracefully running around while Ginny was in his arms. Years ago, in the Mirror of Erised, he had seen his mother and father and all his dead relatives and yearned to be with them. He had so desperately wanted a family, always. Now, he had the same desperation to have a family, but he wanted to start one with one special person - Ginny.
At that moment, he opened his eyes, and his gaze met Ginny's. Her eyes were a little watery, and he knew she was imagining the same thing. As the music drew to an end, Harry bent and kissed Ginny. A roar of cheers erupted, and he looked around to see Ron and Hermione snogging - Ron had lifted Hermione off her feet. Harry was overjoyed. If there was anyone he wished for the best to happen in all eternity, it would always be his two best friends! In his mental image, he could see Ron and Hermione happily married, in each other's arms, with a bunch of children with bushy red hair running around - having inherited the red hair from Ron and the business from Hermione!
Grinning, Harry captured Ginny's lips in a passionate snog and lifted her off her feet, resulting in more loud cheers. He knew more couples were doing the same now, while the singles and the friend groups were at the tables clapping, cheering, and enjoying a sumptuous meal. The slow music turned into a fast one. A rock band similar to the Wierd Sisters from two years prior had started performing.
Harry had never danced so fast and laughed so hard all his life. He was happy, Ginny was enjoying herself, and his two best friends were laughing and chatting animatedly. It was very brief for him, however. He suddenly tripped and fell down. As he fell, he took Ginny with him, and soon, he found himself in the same position he was with Hermione back in September. This time, he faced Ginny and had landed hard on his back, Ginny on him.
"Harry! You okay?" Ginny cried and got to her feet to pull Harry up.
"I'm fine, Gin. Maybe we overdid it." Harry said, rubbing his back. Over the distance, he could see Hermione and Ron quickly making their way towards him. The four of them found a table for themselves and sat down. The fun wasn't over. Harry had the kind of food he ate at Hogwarts every Christmas in the Great Hall. He had fun playing around with the other three and didn't notice the ominous presence at the back of his shirt - that was only just recovering from the crash when Harry had fallen hard on his back. It wasn't just that. Ron had thumped Harry on the back, asking if he was okay, thus making it harder for it to regain consciousness and full power.
For a long time, Ginny cracked jokes with her brother, and the two of them mentally transported themselves back to when both were yet to start Hogwarts. Whether it was before Fred and George left for Hogwarts or after, Ginny had always been on a team with Ron. The two siblings would often be found climbing random trees, playing with broomsticks (although no one knew that since the age of six, Ginny actually flew on those broomsticks), swimming in the pond, and running around the house and garden.
"Stop, Ginny. You're going to make me throw up the Butterbeer I drank just now." Ron choked. "Hey, where's Harry?"
"Where's Hermione?" Ginny looked around as she wiped tears of mirth.
The siblings got up from their seats and went around the place. Neither Harry nor Hermione were anywhere on the dance floor. They definitely weren't in the dining area and wouldn't have left without informing the others. There was only one place to look for. Towards the personal chamber of Professor Slughorn but to the left, there was a huge white curtain. It was more like a transparent sheet, and shadows could be seen behind it. In fact, there were only two shadows there.
"Come, Ginny. Harry and Hermione can't be there, can they?" Ron said.
"Yeah, it's only a couple making out." Ginny said, shaking her head. "Can't they find a dormitory or a broom closet if they can't hold it in their pants?"
"They seem to be snogging, though, not making out." Ron pointed out.
Just then, a grunt came out from behind the sheet, and the two Weasleys froze. It was Harry's voice.
"Gotcha! You know what? I'm done with this!" Harry could be heard furiously muttering. The other shadow turned, and a moment later, Harry's voice roared, "COME BACK!"
Harry dashed out and tripped. When he caught the wall to prevent himself from falling, he froze at the sight of Ginny and Ron.
"I just want some PEACE!" Hermione declared, coming out from behind the sheet, "You keep it inside..." And she, too, froze.