A/N Here's chapter ten. The big 1-0. My little story's growing up so fast. Anyway, thank you to all my reviewers and enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter 10

Harry couldn't believe it. It was already December and Ron and Hermione were arriving tomorrow. Today was their last day of school before holidays and no one really felt much like paying attention in class. Since it was their last day, they only had half a day of classes. In charms, Harry and Ryan amused themselves by turning strands of Roxanne Lauler's hair a lovely shade of orange. Professor Wigglebot stared directly at them and to their surprise said nothing.

After discovering that the four of them were the key to Voldemort's defeat and after Harry had told them about his dreams, they decided that it would be best not to make any decisions about what to do until Ron and Hermione got there. He wondered what they would say when they told them that they were the key to defeating Voldemort. Ron would probably say something like, "No way! Harry, that's so cool. So what's next? How are we gonna get Voldemort?" while Hermione would say something like, "Harry, this is so dangerous. I can't believe you guys are still going to go through with this. If I were you I'd just leave it alone."

After lunch, they went outside and had a grand snowball fight with a few other students. The snow had arrived last evening and everyone had been dying to get outside and play in it. This kept them occupied for most of the day and at around six dripping wet and muddy, the four of them made their way back to Emerald tower. Everyone showered and went downstairs for dinner. After dinner, back in the common room the four of them sat opposite each other in front of the fireplace sipping hot cocoa and doing whatever else they felt like doing at the moment. In Ryan's case, that would be sleeping. Lizzie was reading a muggle magazine and Megan was painting her fingernails. Suddenly, the thought occurred to Harry that the Christmas Dance was tomorrow and he had no one to go with. Lizzie hadn't mentioned anything about their kiss since Halloween night. How could she though? She was still recovering from her parents and sister's deaths and she still didn't seem herself. Harry decided he wouldn't mention anything about the dance unless someone else brought it up first. Then, as if reading his mind, Megan suddenly said, "Hey, I just remembered the Christmas Dance is tomorrow." She paused, "And I still have no one to go with HINT HINT." She continued staring directly at Ryan. "Really, me neither." Ryan said and then resumed his sleeping. God he was stupid Harry thought smacking Ryan on the head with his pillow.
"She wants to go with YOU, you idiot." Harry told him.
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh." Ryan stated in realization, "Yo, Megan wanna go to the dance with me?"
"Sure!" She replied cheerfully and then she said, "Lizzie, are you going with anyone?"
Lizzie looked up from her magazine, "I don't think I'm going to go tomorrow night. I'm just gonna sit this dance out." She avoided making any eye contact with Harry at all. Harry and gazed into the fire once more. Lizzie sighed. He knew she was thinking of her family. How he longed to comfort her yet knew it was better if he stayed away for a while.

"Merry Christmas Harry!" Ron shouted as he and Hermione entered Harry's dorm at four o' clock in the morning.
"Shhhh! Ron it's only four in the morning their time!" Hermione snapped but it was too late."
Harry groaned loudly as did the other boy's in his dorm, all of whom had been awakened by Ron's greeting.
"Honestly, Ron, it's four in the morning. Go back to bed... Ron! Hermione!" Harry said jumping out of bed. He hadn't actually realized Ron and Hermione were there until just now.
"That would be us." Hermione said giving Harry a hug, "Merry Christmas!"
"You too."
"Hey, Harry," Tim yawned sleepily, "Would you mind continuing this conversation some other time. Oh say sometime when it's actually light outside?"
"Nah. Now that we're up we have to open our presents." Mo said shaking one of his packages.
"Hey, I'm Ryan and that's Mo and Tim." Ryan told Ron and Hermione. "I take it you're the famous Ron and Hermione? Harry talks about you guys all the time."
"Yep."
"Hey she's a girl!" Tim realized
"Give the boy a prize." Hermione retorted.
"You shouldn't be in here."
"Well too bad cause I ain't movin'!"
"I don't mind having a girl in our dorm." Mo said winking at Hermione. Hermione snorted in disgust and turned back to Harry.
It took everyone nearly an hour and a half to open all of their presents and show them around. Harry had gotten the newest edition of "Quidditch Stunts and Tricks to Try." From Hermione, A five-pound bag filled to the brim with candy from Honeydukes from Ron, A box of Christmas edition chocolate frogs, which were red and green and tasted like cherry and lime from Lizzie, A new Quidditch T-shirt from Ryan, Some sort of grip thing you can put on your broomstick handle to have a better grip when holding on with only one hand from Megan, A new watch from Sirius complete with a timer, the date, and glow in the dark features, Some sort of strange fruit basket from Hagrid, and lastly, a hair ribbon from the Dursley's. He was surprised they had remembered him at all. When Harry opened the hair ribbon Ryan asked,
"Who gave you a hair ribbon?"
"My aunt and uncle." Harry replied.
"Do they know you're a boy?"
"Of course. You should've seen what I got last year. They gave me a tissue."
"That's harsh. Take it they aren't too fond of you." Tim remarked collapsing back into his bed. Ryan and Mo went back to sleep too but Harry, Ron and Hermione left the dorm and went downstairs to the common room.
"This is a really nice school, Harry." Ron told him gazing around at the crystal.
"Yeah." Hermione agreed.
"Yeah, It's not bad but I'd rather be at Hogwarts. So has anything new happened since I've been gone?"
"Well, there's a new greenhouse, that'll be number 4 I think." Ron told him.
"Professor Flitwick is retiring at the end of the year. Fred and George have actually blown up three toilets, got that idea from mum that first year, and turned Snape's hair pink."
"Wow. I wish I could've seen him." Harry sighed.
"And," Hermione added. Harry suddenly noticed that Hermione and Ron were holding hands, "Ron and I are going out..." She gazed into Ron's eyes.
"Wow! That's great. Congrats. Since when?
"November."
"Cool."
Harry felt a little awkward. His two best friends were dating? Weird. He decided he wouldn't mention anything about Voldemort until after the dance tonight. The dance! He forgot to tell them.
"Hey I forgot to tell you that there's a dance tonight."
"That's cool Harry! Who are you going with?" It was understood that Hermione and Ron would be going together.
"Well I went to the last dance with Lizzie but that's when she found out her parents died. She's still recovering and doesn't really want to go to this dance so I'm going solo at the moment." Harry said.
"I know someone who'd love to go with you." Ron said.
"Who?" Harry asked.
Ron flicked his wand and muttered a few words and Ginny suddenly appeared. She screamed and then stopped realizing that Ron, Hermione, and Harry were there and that it was still dark outside.
"Ron WHAT DID YOU DO?" Ginny half-yelled at him.
"Hi Harry, Hi Hermione." She added, "Wait, if you're here then that means I'm in America." Ginny gasped.
"Only for tonight Gin. When the clock strikes 12 you'll disapparate back to Hogwarts." Ron told her
"How-?" Harry asked.
"Little spell I picked up from Bill." Ron said.
"Ron, you shouldn't have done that!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Too late now." Ron said smiling.
"Ginny, you're going to go to the Christmas dance with Harry tonight." Ron told her.
"Ok." Ginny replied blushing.
"I'll meet you in the common room at seven." Harry told her. This didn't mean he liked Ginny although he though she looked rather pretty, even in her pajamas. They were just going as friends right?


That evening, Harry, Ryan, and Ron were waiting in the common room for their dates. Once again, the girls were taking twice as long as the boys to get ready. Ginny, and Hermione were sharing the girls dorm with Megan, Lizzie, and the two other Emerald girls. Harry felt especially bad when Lizzie had found out that morning that he was going with Ginny. She hadn't seemed to mind actually, but he still felt bad. They had spent the day talking mostly, and touring the castle. Ron and Hermione had been extremely fascinated with the ceiling in the Dining Hall. Finally, the three girls came down the stairs together. It was only 7:15 so they were't too late. Harry though Hermione looked very nice. She was wearing blood red dress robes that twinkled when she moved and had her hair up in a half ponytail. Megan was wearing violet dress robes that were trimmed with silver, her hair was down, cascading over her shoulders. He noticed that Hermione unlike Megan was wearing no makeup. His eyes fell on Ginny. Harry gasped. This was Ginny, Ron's little sister? Ginny was wearing periwinkle dress robes that seemed to twinkle when she moved similar to Hermione's. Her hair was up in some sort of twist with a few pieces left out in front framing her face. She wore light blue eye shadow that matched her robes and only a touch of lipgloss. Harry though she looked gorgeous.
"Wow, you look great Ginny!" Harry told her taking her arm in his.
"Thanks, Harry you look really nice too." She replied. Harry was wearing his usual emerald green dress robes that Mrs. Weasly had picked out for him last year.
They went down to the dining hall and the six of them found an empty table. They sat down and food began appearing. When they had eaten their fill, Megan and Ryan left to dance as did Ron and Hermione. Harry and Ginny were still sitting at the table when Ginny said,
"Well, aren't you going to ask me to dance?" Ginny asked him.
"Oh yeah sorry! Ginny, would you like to dance with me?"
"Of course!" Ginny answered.

Harry and Ginny danced for most of the night. Just when Harry was beginning to feel dizzy, Ginny suggested that they take a break. They went over to the punch table and each had something to drink. After their break, Harry danced with Hermione for a while but Ginny refused to dance with Ron. Megan and Ryan had disappeared. To where Harry didn't know. Around eleven the four of them stopped dancing and sat down at their table again. They joked and talked and laughed. Harry found Ginny to be much more talkative this year. Actually, she was quite fun to be around. At 11:45 everyone began heading back to their common rooms. Everyone except Harry and Ginny. The went for a walk around the school. They stopped to rest underneath a tree. The moonlight was shining on Ginny and Harry had the irresistible urge to kiss her.
"Oh no! It's 11:55 and Ron said I'd only be here till midnight!" Ginny exclaimed, "I was hoping this night would never end."
"Me too. Ginny I had a really great time tonight." Harry told her and then he leaned over and kissed her softly.
Ginny disapparated a few moments later and left Harry alone under the tree. He had completely forgotten about Lizzie the whole night! He had just kissed Ginny. Did that mean that his and Lizzie's kiss didn't mean anything? He still liked Lizzie a lot but he was now beginning to like Ginny too! He would have to decide eventually. Not now, it was too late at night and he still had to figure out how to tell Ron and Hermione about his and Lizzie and Megan and Ryan's situation with Voldemort. Let's get through this first and then I can worry about my love problems. Harry told himself as he walked back to the castle alone.

A/N How was that chapter? Please r/r! I'm very sorry it took so long to get this out but my laptop is slower than dirt and I've been at the shore and I have no computer at the shore. Hopefully I'll be able to get the next chapter out sooner but if I don't, don't blame me, blame my stupid laptop.
r.