Chapter Ten: The Last Dance
When Ginny entered the Gryffindor common room that morning, there were angry murmurs from most of the boys.
"I say we grab him whan he's by himself and beat the life out of him! Goyle and Crabbe have detention this afternoon, so he'll be alone!" snarled Ron.
"Even if he's guarded, a gang of six or seven of us would have them all!" cried Seamus.
"Stop it!" shouted Ginny. "Look, let's just let it go. Neville's been through a lot!"
They all turned to look at her. Ginny noticed Neville was not here. Hermione took her to one side. "Ginny, this morning Harry and Ron carried Neville to Madame Pomfrey! his back was a bloody and bruised mess - he could not even stand!"
"Why didn't you tell me!" she screamed.
"Harry and Ron thought-"
"Oh, well thankyou Harry!" she cried. "Just because you had your chance and you blew it, don't you dare ruin this for me okay?" And with that, she stormed off.
Ron, Seamus, Hermione and the others turned to look at Harry.
"What have you been doing with my little sister Harry?" asked Ron angrily.
Harry suddenly felt very alone and upset. "Look, it was never meant to end up like this!" he begged. "I was only thinking of her and Neville! I swear!"
They all seemed to step away from him. The heated atmosphere from before the revelation had to go somewhere and it seemed to now flow against Harry.
"You know what Ginny's like! Hey, come on! Let's go get Draco!" Harry rallied.
The common room was not as interested anymore and Harry sat down and felt suddenly alone.
Neville was shaking quite badly as he lay in his bed. Madame Pomfrey had ordered lots of rest and had done the best she could to ensure his back was better.
He lay on his side and stared at his fingertips. This was always how he started his mantra. concentrating hard, he began casting the Cruciatus spell on the nerves in his fingertips, alowing the gentle and numbing pain to trinkle through his fingers into his hands. Next he thought of his toes, and soon, his arms and legs were awash in a numbing, constant pain which sent his brain into an overloaded stupor; his raging nerves eventually relaxed his mind and tranquility overcame him.
Ginny crept into the room and stared into Neville's vacant eyes. Neville did not even realise she was there, and he slept, like his parents did - eyes wide open, but totally unresponsive.
The Yule Ball came, and Hermione and Ginny had gotten ready together. Hermione looked amazing, and Ginny wish Penny had stayed to help her with her old dress somehow. But Ginny was happy for Hermione who had to leave half an hour earlier to sort out the special arrangements that went with being one of the head table of dancers.
Ginny sat in the deserted common room and waited. Neville was still getting ready, even though nearly everyone else was already in the Great Hall. Eventually, he emerged stiffly and wrapped his shaking arms around Ginny. They kissed deeply and felt happy to be together.
Ginny held Neville's shaking hand as they entered the Great Hall. Ron spotted them and on his cue, every single Gryffindor cheered at seeing them. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs followed suit almost immediately and Ginny felt so proud of her brother. Neville's chest swelled with pride and the pair of them regally glided across the floor to their seats near Ron and Harry.
Parvati and her sister looked a bit bored with their other halves already. Harry caught himself staring at Ginny, and she smiled triumphantly back at him. His eyes hungrily stared at her, and now Ginny was enjoying rubbing his nose in it.
The yule Ball began and Hermione and Victor looked terrific. Neville was muttering to himself as Victor danced. "Please don't." pleaded Ginny, suddenly holding Neville close.
"What? Oh no Ginny, I was just, well, Victor's dancing great, but the Durmstrangs seem to reverse the last part of the waltz somehow - oh listen to me. Trust me, I was just taking notes!" Ginny took hold of Neville's hand and quelled it's mild shake.
"I-I just worry about you is all..." grinned Ginny.
Ginny noticed Ron staring hungrily at Hermione and she realised something which made her yelp in excitement. "What is it Ginny?" asked Neville.
"Look at my brother! I think he likes Hermione!" she whispered in delight.
"And Harry does'nt look too happy either" said Neville coolly.
And it was true - Harry looked miserable, dancing badly amoungst the experts.
"I should give him a few lessons." smiled Neville. But Ginny was not listening. Her eyes were fixed on Draco and his partner. Probably some Slytherin girl. Penny would know, bless her, she thought.
Then everyone filled the floor. Neville was still stiff as he stood up and once on the dance floor, Ginny realised something was wrong. Neville was trembling all over with the effort to dance well. Giiny grabbed him close and forced Neville to slow down.
"Take it easy Nev! You'll hurt yourself." hissed Ginny.
"Okay, Okay! Sorry Ginny!" he winced, and they cuddled each other whilst dancing extremely slowly.
Draco and his partner laughed out loud as they passed. Ginny held Neville closer and prayed he would ignore the taunts.
"I've got to take a break" winced Neville, and Ginny let him go when he made it clear that he needed the bathroom. Ginny sat in her chair and noticed Harry sitting alone two tables down. Harry sat and smiled lazily at Ginny, who instantly took the opportunity to go over to Harry and have a word.
"Missed you Harry, you know that don't you." confessed Ginny.
"Yeah. Me too. Look I'm sorry. I should never have let this get so out of hand. It's all my fault."
"Yep, you're so right." smile Ginny. She leant forward and kissed Harry, then stood up. "Merry Christmas Harry." she smiled sadly.
Harry smiled back and Ginny returned to her chair just as Neville staggered back.
Neville sat down and the pair watched the dancers whirl by. Ginny looked at Neville and felt deeply sorry for him. Neville looked awful, and his hands began to shake.
Draco took that moment to stride up and smile at them "Hi guys. Nice evening is it not? My Neville, you look like you've had too much to drink - disgraceful..."
Neville stood up and grabbed Ginny's hand. "Come on, let's show this pig how to dance." he sneered. Draco looked shocked but Neville countered "Oh please Draco, let's just see who the better man really is eh?" and with that, Neville took Ginny to the floor and as they began, Ginny felt the others part around them. Neville may not be the most fun, or handsome or couragous man in Hogworts, but he was kind and gentle and his amazing athletic body could move in the most graceful of ways - if the right girl was holding his hand. And Ginny felt terrific. For once, all eyes were on her in envy. She had nabbed the biggest catch of the night! No one was saying a thing about Harry, who sat forgotten at his table. None of her brothers could steal her thunder. No expensive dresses blurred and flowed with such grace on the dance floor tonight as her cheap and tatty robes did. Ginny felt alive!
Draco had stormed off soon after and Hermione and Victor danced alongside them, bathing in their glory.
Ginny stared into Neville's eyes and knew suddenly that she was dancing with the wrong man. She glanced at Harry and then back at Neville. That lapse in concentration seemed to break the spell and Neville suddenly began to stagger wildly and Ginny could hear his mantra coming loudly from his lips now as Neville cursed every power in his own body to keep this moment with Ginny going for as long as he could. Tears streamed down his face and Ginny hugged him ans he collapsed to the floor. Hermione and Victor helped them to their table again. Ginny held Neville's hand, but it would not stop shaking.
Another tune had started, and suddenly all of the concerned eyes on Neville blended into the music, and Ginny and Neville were alone once more.
"Ginny?" croaked Neville.
"Oh Neville, what have you done? We should-"
"There is no 'we' Ginny, is there." he snapped. "Now, stop messing around pitying me and go make Harry yours. You've been staring at him all night. And yes, I did see you speaking to him earlier. Don't keep this facade going, just go." he sighed, looking suddenly very tired. Neville stood up stubbornly and staggered off, refusing any attempts by Ginny for her to follow.
Ginny sat there, shivering. Harry came over and wrapped his arm around her. They cuddled and Harry held Ginny's shaking hand until she had calmed down.
Outside, Neville staggered, relishing the freshness of the wintery night. From the Ball behind him, two large silhouettes detached themeselves from the blackness of the Hogworts shadows and their bulky frames bore down on him.
Ginny and Harry kissed long and hard in the seclusion of the cloakroom. They both felt torn inside and both knew they had a lot of work to do to make this relationship start let alone last. But judging by their kisses, they seemed more determined than ever.
Outside Neville collapsed into the snow, glad of the numbness it's freezing whiteness gave him as Goyle and Crabbe beat their revenge into him.
He never danced again.
THE END.
When Ginny entered the Gryffindor common room that morning, there were angry murmurs from most of the boys.
"I say we grab him whan he's by himself and beat the life out of him! Goyle and Crabbe have detention this afternoon, so he'll be alone!" snarled Ron.
"Even if he's guarded, a gang of six or seven of us would have them all!" cried Seamus.
"Stop it!" shouted Ginny. "Look, let's just let it go. Neville's been through a lot!"
They all turned to look at her. Ginny noticed Neville was not here. Hermione took her to one side. "Ginny, this morning Harry and Ron carried Neville to Madame Pomfrey! his back was a bloody and bruised mess - he could not even stand!"
"Why didn't you tell me!" she screamed.
"Harry and Ron thought-"
"Oh, well thankyou Harry!" she cried. "Just because you had your chance and you blew it, don't you dare ruin this for me okay?" And with that, she stormed off.
Ron, Seamus, Hermione and the others turned to look at Harry.
"What have you been doing with my little sister Harry?" asked Ron angrily.
Harry suddenly felt very alone and upset. "Look, it was never meant to end up like this!" he begged. "I was only thinking of her and Neville! I swear!"
They all seemed to step away from him. The heated atmosphere from before the revelation had to go somewhere and it seemed to now flow against Harry.
"You know what Ginny's like! Hey, come on! Let's go get Draco!" Harry rallied.
The common room was not as interested anymore and Harry sat down and felt suddenly alone.
Neville was shaking quite badly as he lay in his bed. Madame Pomfrey had ordered lots of rest and had done the best she could to ensure his back was better.
He lay on his side and stared at his fingertips. This was always how he started his mantra. concentrating hard, he began casting the Cruciatus spell on the nerves in his fingertips, alowing the gentle and numbing pain to trinkle through his fingers into his hands. Next he thought of his toes, and soon, his arms and legs were awash in a numbing, constant pain which sent his brain into an overloaded stupor; his raging nerves eventually relaxed his mind and tranquility overcame him.
Ginny crept into the room and stared into Neville's vacant eyes. Neville did not even realise she was there, and he slept, like his parents did - eyes wide open, but totally unresponsive.
The Yule Ball came, and Hermione and Ginny had gotten ready together. Hermione looked amazing, and Ginny wish Penny had stayed to help her with her old dress somehow. But Ginny was happy for Hermione who had to leave half an hour earlier to sort out the special arrangements that went with being one of the head table of dancers.
Ginny sat in the deserted common room and waited. Neville was still getting ready, even though nearly everyone else was already in the Great Hall. Eventually, he emerged stiffly and wrapped his shaking arms around Ginny. They kissed deeply and felt happy to be together.
Ginny held Neville's shaking hand as they entered the Great Hall. Ron spotted them and on his cue, every single Gryffindor cheered at seeing them. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs followed suit almost immediately and Ginny felt so proud of her brother. Neville's chest swelled with pride and the pair of them regally glided across the floor to their seats near Ron and Harry.
Parvati and her sister looked a bit bored with their other halves already. Harry caught himself staring at Ginny, and she smiled triumphantly back at him. His eyes hungrily stared at her, and now Ginny was enjoying rubbing his nose in it.
The yule Ball began and Hermione and Victor looked terrific. Neville was muttering to himself as Victor danced. "Please don't." pleaded Ginny, suddenly holding Neville close.
"What? Oh no Ginny, I was just, well, Victor's dancing great, but the Durmstrangs seem to reverse the last part of the waltz somehow - oh listen to me. Trust me, I was just taking notes!" Ginny took hold of Neville's hand and quelled it's mild shake.
"I-I just worry about you is all..." grinned Ginny.
Ginny noticed Ron staring hungrily at Hermione and she realised something which made her yelp in excitement. "What is it Ginny?" asked Neville.
"Look at my brother! I think he likes Hermione!" she whispered in delight.
"And Harry does'nt look too happy either" said Neville coolly.
And it was true - Harry looked miserable, dancing badly amoungst the experts.
"I should give him a few lessons." smiled Neville. But Ginny was not listening. Her eyes were fixed on Draco and his partner. Probably some Slytherin girl. Penny would know, bless her, she thought.
Then everyone filled the floor. Neville was still stiff as he stood up and once on the dance floor, Ginny realised something was wrong. Neville was trembling all over with the effort to dance well. Giiny grabbed him close and forced Neville to slow down.
"Take it easy Nev! You'll hurt yourself." hissed Ginny.
"Okay, Okay! Sorry Ginny!" he winced, and they cuddled each other whilst dancing extremely slowly.
Draco and his partner laughed out loud as they passed. Ginny held Neville closer and prayed he would ignore the taunts.
"I've got to take a break" winced Neville, and Ginny let him go when he made it clear that he needed the bathroom. Ginny sat in her chair and noticed Harry sitting alone two tables down. Harry sat and smiled lazily at Ginny, who instantly took the opportunity to go over to Harry and have a word.
"Missed you Harry, you know that don't you." confessed Ginny.
"Yeah. Me too. Look I'm sorry. I should never have let this get so out of hand. It's all my fault."
"Yep, you're so right." smile Ginny. She leant forward and kissed Harry, then stood up. "Merry Christmas Harry." she smiled sadly.
Harry smiled back and Ginny returned to her chair just as Neville staggered back.
Neville sat down and the pair watched the dancers whirl by. Ginny looked at Neville and felt deeply sorry for him. Neville looked awful, and his hands began to shake.
Draco took that moment to stride up and smile at them "Hi guys. Nice evening is it not? My Neville, you look like you've had too much to drink - disgraceful..."
Neville stood up and grabbed Ginny's hand. "Come on, let's show this pig how to dance." he sneered. Draco looked shocked but Neville countered "Oh please Draco, let's just see who the better man really is eh?" and with that, Neville took Ginny to the floor and as they began, Ginny felt the others part around them. Neville may not be the most fun, or handsome or couragous man in Hogworts, but he was kind and gentle and his amazing athletic body could move in the most graceful of ways - if the right girl was holding his hand. And Ginny felt terrific. For once, all eyes were on her in envy. She had nabbed the biggest catch of the night! No one was saying a thing about Harry, who sat forgotten at his table. None of her brothers could steal her thunder. No expensive dresses blurred and flowed with such grace on the dance floor tonight as her cheap and tatty robes did. Ginny felt alive!
Draco had stormed off soon after and Hermione and Victor danced alongside them, bathing in their glory.
Ginny stared into Neville's eyes and knew suddenly that she was dancing with the wrong man. She glanced at Harry and then back at Neville. That lapse in concentration seemed to break the spell and Neville suddenly began to stagger wildly and Ginny could hear his mantra coming loudly from his lips now as Neville cursed every power in his own body to keep this moment with Ginny going for as long as he could. Tears streamed down his face and Ginny hugged him ans he collapsed to the floor. Hermione and Victor helped them to their table again. Ginny held Neville's hand, but it would not stop shaking.
Another tune had started, and suddenly all of the concerned eyes on Neville blended into the music, and Ginny and Neville were alone once more.
"Ginny?" croaked Neville.
"Oh Neville, what have you done? We should-"
"There is no 'we' Ginny, is there." he snapped. "Now, stop messing around pitying me and go make Harry yours. You've been staring at him all night. And yes, I did see you speaking to him earlier. Don't keep this facade going, just go." he sighed, looking suddenly very tired. Neville stood up stubbornly and staggered off, refusing any attempts by Ginny for her to follow.
Ginny sat there, shivering. Harry came over and wrapped his arm around her. They cuddled and Harry held Ginny's shaking hand until she had calmed down.
Outside, Neville staggered, relishing the freshness of the wintery night. From the Ball behind him, two large silhouettes detached themeselves from the blackness of the Hogworts shadows and their bulky frames bore down on him.
Ginny and Harry kissed long and hard in the seclusion of the cloakroom. They both felt torn inside and both knew they had a lot of work to do to make this relationship start let alone last. But judging by their kisses, they seemed more determined than ever.
Outside Neville collapsed into the snow, glad of the numbness it's freezing whiteness gave him as Goyle and Crabbe beat their revenge into him.
He never danced again.
THE END.