Harry Potter & the other characters and places in this story belong to JK Rowling.
Chapter Eleven - PreparationsThe next week flew by quickly. Fred and George had heard there was going to be a Yule Ball, so they had sent Ron some order forms by owl post. Ron reluctantly distributed them to the students, only after Fred and George assured him that they would use some of the proceeds from the sales to buy his Christmas present. Students were eagerly ordering love potions, hair dyes, wands that turned into bouquets of flowers, along with the usual treats like Dazzling Doughnuts and Canary Creams.
Harry had never been happier in his life. Not even Snape's Potions lessons could dampen his spirits. He was so grateful that Ron was being so supportive, and not just because Hermione had told him to. He really seemed happy that Ginny and Harry were together.
On Saturday morning, Harry and Ron made a trip to Hogsmeade using the secret passage that Harry had discovered in third year when Fred and George had given him the Marauder's Map. Harry wanted to buy Ginny something to wear at the ball, as an early Christmas present. He and Ron went into a small jewellery store in the village, feeling very out of place. Ron had bought Hermione some earrings there as a Christmas gift the last time he had gone to Hogsmeade.
The owner of the shop approached them. "What can I do for you gentlemen?"
"Well..." Harry said awkwardly, "I'm looking for a Christmas present for my...girlfriend." Harry felt his cheeks burning. Ron looked at him in surprise, but said nothing.
The shop owner said, "Well, we have a lovely selection of earrings over here," he pointed towards a display case. "Does she have pierced ears?"
"I don't know," said Harry and looked over to Ron for help.
"I don't know either," said Ron and shrugged his shoulders.
"You're her brother, you should know these things," Harry hissed.
"You're her... boyfriend," Ron smirked and Harry glared at him.
"OK then, we'd better stay away from earrings," said the shop owner. "How about a ring or a necklace?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other. Harry knew that Ron was happy that he and Ginny were together, but he didn't think Ron would approve of Harry buying her a ring just yet. "How about a necklace?" Harry said, and Ron breathed a sigh of relief.
"Right this way," said the shop owner, and led them to a different counter.
Harry and Ron gazed at the array of different necklaces in confusion. "Which one do you think she would like?" Harry asked Ron.
"I have no idea!" Ron replied.
"Does she have a favourite colour?" prompted the shop owner.
"I don't know," said Harry sheepishly.
"Me neither," said Ron. "Although she's always said that she likes your green eyes."
"Really, she said that?" asked Harry with a stupid grin on his face.
Ron nodded and rolled his eyes, "Hundreds of times."
"No way!" exclaimed Harry. "But it would be pretty cheesy of me to get her something green, I think. How about that blue one? Do you think she'd like that?" Harry pointed at a necklace with a small circular dark blue sapphire pendant on a very fine silver chain. The shop keeper took it out from under the glass so they could have a closer look.
"It looks good to me," said Ron.
"OK then," Harry said. "I guess that's the one."
"That's an excellent choice," said the shop owner. "I'm sure she'll like it."
+ + +
Later that night, Ginny again asked Harry if he wanted to come hear her practice piano. He had readily agreed, as it gave him the perfect opportunity to give her her Christmas present. So, after everyone was asleep, Harry found himself sitting next to Ginny on the sofa in the tower room. It was a clear night with a full moon, so there was plenty of moonlight streaming into the room. They spent several minutes in silence. Then Ginny spoke up.
"Are you looking forward to the Ball?"
"Well of course, but..."
"But what?" Ginny asked.
"I'm really horrible at dancing. I hope I don't embarrass you," Harry replied.
"No, of course you won't! You can't be any worse than Neville. He must have stepped on my toes a hundred times last year."
"What if I step on your toes? I have no clue how to dance. Last year Parvati had to practically drag me around the dance floor."
"You'll be just fine, Harry. Look, if it'll make you feel better, we can practice," said Ginny.
"Now?"
"Of course. Just come over here," she took Harry's hand and led him to the open area at the centre of the room. "Oh, come on. Wipe that horrified look off your face. Dancing's not supposed to be a torture session!"
"No, it's worse!" Harry moaned.
"Just relax, Harry. OK, let's start out with a waltz-"
"How did you learn how to dance, Ginny?" Harry asked, trying to delay the inevitable.
"Percy taught me. He and Penelope had taken a class so that they wouldn't make fools of themselves at Ministry of Magic functions. I pestered him until he showed me how to do it. Now, first of all, you're going to have to move a bit closer to me. I can't even reach you." Harry took a small step forwards. "Closer," she said with a grin, and pulled Harry towards her. "Now, you put your hand on my waist like this, and then I put my hand on your shoulder like this, and then we join our other hands like this....Harry relax for heaven's sake. It feels like you've been Petrified!"
"I just don't like this, Ginny! I feel awkward now... imagine what it will be like with Ron and everyone staring at us in the Great Hall." Harry complained.
"Harry, dancing is really fun once you get the hang of it," said Ginny enthusiastically.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Convince me," Harry smiled playfully.
"Is that a challenge? Because I love a challenge!" she said in a flirtatious voice and pulled him even closer. Harry realized that this might not be so bad after all!
"Alright, now you move your feet like this," Ginny explained, and demonstrated what appeared to be a very complicated pattern of steps. "One-two-three One-two-three," she counted out loud, and Harry tried to imitate her movements. Slowly, very slowly, he got the hang of it. Just as he thought he had it all figured out, she smiled and said, "Now Harry, you're going to look pretty silly if you're staring down at your feet the whole time. You've got to look at my face. Sorry to disappoint you." He lifted up his head and looked at her. Her face looked so pretty in the soft moonlight. Harry promptly stepped on her foot as soon as they started dancing again.
"Sorry," he muttered.
Ginny just laughed. "Come on, let's try that again."
Harry groaned as Ginny began counting again, "One-two-three One-two-three." This time he managed not to step on her feet, and found that it was indeed more enjoyable when he was able to look at Ginny's pretty face rather than his own clumsy feet. Again, just as Harry was feeling confident, she said, "Now, so far I've been leading. But it looks really silly if the girl is leading the guy. So you'll have to lead. That means that you'll select the path that we follow across the dance floor, gracefully avoiding all the other couples."
"Do I have to?"
"Yes," said Ginny firmly. They began dancing again, and Harry led them in a big circle.
"Not bad," said Ginny with a smile. "Now let's try it with some music. And I'm not going to count out loud any more."
Ginny pulled out her wand and directed a few spells towards the old piano, which began to play a lively waltz tune on its own. As they started dancing again, Harry was finally able to forget about counting and footsteps and concentrate on his lovely dance partner. They danced around the room, and Harry felt more confident with each step. Ginny waved her wand at the piano again, which began to play a faster tune. Ginny and Harry were soon flying around the room as fast as they could, laughing breathlessly.
Harry had never felt more alive. Hermione had been right. They couldn't allow Voldemort to take this away from them.
When the song was over, they collapsed onto the sofa. "Alright, you've convinced me," said Harry. "Dancing is kinda fun, but don't tell Ron I said that!"
"I knew you'd like it once you got the hang of it," smiled Ginny. They sat there silently for a few minutes, catching their breath. Then Harry took out the jewellery box that he had hidden underneath the Invisibility Cloak. "Um... Ginny," he said somewhat awkwardly.
"Yes?" she said and looked up.
"I decided to give you your Christmas present a bit early," Harry said, and handed her the box.
Ginny opened the box and then looked at Harry in surprise, "You shouldn't have!"
"You don't like it?"
"No, Harry, it's beautiful. I just don't deserve this!"
"What do you mean?" teased Harry, "You just taught a very reluctant person how to dance, you forgave me for not noticing you for four years, and you forgave me for spying on you... It's me that doesn't deserve you, Ginny."
"Oh Harry, thank-you so much!" Ginny cried. She leaned over and hugged Harry tightly and didn't let go. Harry did what he had wanted to do for so long - he reached up and touched Ginny's fiery red hair. It was even softer than he had imagined.
"So you really like the necklace?" Harry asked.
Ginny released him, and then opened the jewellery box again to look at the necklace. "I love it Harry! I've never had any jewellery as nice as this before! I can't wait till the Ball so I can wear it."
"Ron will be happy. He told me to tell you that he helped pick it out," Harry smiled.
Ginny giggled, "I can just imagine you two in the store!"
Harry laughed too. "We were pretty hopeless!"
"Harry, I feel like dancing again," said Ginny and she jumped to her feet and grabbed Harry's hands.
"Me too," he grinned.
The piano began to play another fast-paced song, and Harry took Ginny in his arms and they began to dance again. They weren't doing a simple waltz any more, but making things up as they went along. It was exhilarating. They seemed to be able to read each others' minds and moved as one. They were laughing with the sheer joy of being alive and being in love. Harry never wanted it to end.
To be continued…