Disclaimer: All characters, names and events belong to the oh-so-great J.K. Rowling, goddess of all that is Harry Potter. I do not own any of it.

A/N: some of this is my own interpretation (like the showers *grin*) and just to let you know, the correspondence has skipped heaps of letters, Ginny and Anon have gotten to know each other better.


It was early in the morning on Christmas Eve, and Ginny was the only one up in the Gryffindor common room. She was curled up in a chair by the fire, reading over her reply to Anon (who was a boy, as she found out).

Anon.,
You are so wrong, it's not funny. No, I was coming around the corner and Malfoy bumped into me, and fell to the floor. So then he called me a clumsy weasel and then I stood on his face, I didn't initiate it, he did. I probably would have stepped on his face first anyway *snigger*.

Oh well, Happy Christmas,
Love your friend,
Ginny.

Satisfied with her response, she folded it up and went to put it behind the unicorn tapestry. Except that there was already a note there, and a box! She pulled out the note and small box and put hers in its place.

She read.

To dear Ginny,
I know it's not Christmas day yet but I wanted to give you this before the Yule ball tomorrow (or tonight, whenever you get this). It's for you to wear, and I really hope to see it on you.
Your friend,
Anon.

Ginny opened the small white box. Her eyes widened in shock.

Inside was the most beautiful necklace she'd ever seen. It was a silver star-shaped locket with and emerald heart-shaped stone in the centre, and it was thread onto a fine silver chain.

Ginny opened the locket. One side was empty, but the other had an inscription, "For my Ginny".

She felt as if she would burst with happiness. She bounded up the stairs, not caring who she woke up. She ripped open her trunk and pulled out her new dark green dress robes. It was a perfect match.

Ginny flopped onto her bed clutching the necklace in her hands. "Thankyou Anon., this means more to me than anything," and Ginny fell back to sleep.

She woke up later, the room buzzing with excitement. One of the girls, Emily put her hands on her hips as she faced Ginny "About time you woke up. Hello! It's only like, 8 hours until the Yule ball!"

Ginny shook her head as she got out of bed. "You seriously need to cut down on those trashy American magazines Emily," said Ginny.

Emily just grinned at her and went back to rummaging through her trunk. She decided to have her shower so she got her things together and went down to the showers.

There were a few other girls in there already, so she just sat on the bench and waited her turn. It was Parvati and Lavender in the showers, and they came out together (" They must be joined at the hip").

The bathroom was now empty, so Ginny enjoyed and long and luxurious shower in silence. When she'd finished, all was silent, except for some laughter disappearing into the corridors.

With only her bathrobe on, she walked out into the corridor. "Guys! Guys, where did you put my glasses, c'mon I can't see without them."

Ginny turned around to see Harry come out of the boys showers, in nothing, but a towel!

He had grown a lot, even over this year, his body toned from all the Quidditch practise. "Harry!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Ginny? Have you seen my glasses? Fred and George came in here and stole them."

She looked around and saw them hanging off a candelabra. She handed them to him.

"Thanks, ah sorry, I didn't realise anyone else was here…" Ginny looked down at herself to the spot where Harry's eyes had trailed and stopped. The top of her bathrobe had come down and reveald a lot of skin.

Ginny squeaked and quickly covered herself up. "Bye" she said and raced up the stairs.
At the top on the landing, Ginny stopped to catch her breath and to slow her heart down, but it wasn't from climbing the steps.

She closed her eyes and leant against the wall. Harry in nothing but towel was an image that Ginny NEVER wanted to forget.

She smiled and went up to her room to get dressed.
* * * * * * *

Ginny sat at the dresser in the room, fastening her new necklace around her neck. Looking satisfied, she unclipped her hair.

It cascaded down her back, the copper curls falling softly about her face. She grabbed two bits of hair from the front of her hairstyle and pinned them back.

Ginny grinned at herself and went down to the common room. There were people milling around everywhere, all meeting up or commenting on what they were wearing.

"Ginny!" called Hermione. Ginny made her way over to Hermione who was standing beside the portrait entrance.

She was wearing purple robes this year and her hair was down and straight.

"Wow Hermione, I like your hair!" said Ginny. "Sleek-easy potion?" she asked.

"No, I went down to the hairdressers at Hogsmede today and got it trimmed and magically straightened."

"Well, wow, that's all I can say."

"Wow!" said a voice from behind them. It was Ron, and he was wearing dark blue robes.

"You look… amazing," stuttered Ron, lost for words.

"Thank you" replied Hermione.

"And you look beautiful Ginny" said a voice in her ear.

It was Harry and he was in new emerald green robes. Ginny blushed, "Thanks". She tried to avert her gaze from Harry's, but was finding it very difficult.

All she could think of was Harry in a towel *drool*.

"Umm, I think we should get going now," said Harry, not taking his eyes off Ginny. They headed down to the great hall. It was decked out much like last year, only a little more toned down. They sat down at a table like the rest of the school.

It was actually a nice night, Ginny had to admit. The great hall ceiling was cloudless, the starry night lighting up the dance floor.

Celestina Warbecks daughter Serenity, and her band were that night, much to the delight of many (she was like the Britney Spears of the wizarding world).

Ginny only had to turn down one offer to dance, and that was Neville Longbottom. She was actually having a great time, sitting next to Harry talking like old friends.

After dessert and Ron and Hermione were on the dance floor, Harry interrupted her thoughts. "Ok, lets go, I'm willing to dance of you are," he said with mischievous enthusiasm.

"But Harry, you hate dancing!" exclaimed Ginny.

"Teach me" Harry said.

Serenity began to sing a ballad as Harry led Ginny on to the dance floor.

Guiding his hand onto her hip and his hand into hers, she counted '1,2,3,1,2,3' as she taught him to lead the waltz.

Ginny couldn't understand why Harry didn't like dancing; he was really quite good at it, once he got the pattern down.

They then slipped into the arms-around-the-neck-and-arms-around-the-waist dance.

Ginny didn't know how long they'd danced like that, it felt like an eternity. When they did stop, it was late and Ron and Hermione were back at their table.

"Where were you two?" asked Ron. "We were out on the dance floor, Gin was teaching me the ropes," Harry joked.

"Oh," is all Ron said.

At the end of the night they went back up to the Gryffindor tower.
"Well you were right, I did have a good time, thank you for the wonderful night," said Ginny at the base of the girl's dorm stairs.

"The pleasure was all mine," said Harry as he bowed to her.

Ginny giggled, "Well, good night".

Harry smiled "Good night Ginny, sweet dreams."

And she left him at the bottom of the stairs, thinking all the way up, of her wonderful night with Harry Potter.