Harry Potter & the other characters and places in this story belong to JK Rowling.
A/N: This is the last chapter of the story. I hope you've enjoyed reading it, and thanks for all the reviews!
Chapter Twelve - The Yule BallThe month of December flew by in a whirlwind of homework, Quidditch practices, and preparations for the Yule Ball. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny spent most evenings together in the library working on homework and laughing together. One night Hermione brought them each a Dazzling Doughnut, and much to Madam Pince's disapproval, they worked on their homework with their mouths glowing various colours.
Ginny gave Harry a few more dance lessons before the Ball, and taught him a few different dances. Harry was looking forward to showing off his dancing skills to Ron.
Finally the night of the Ball arrived. The Common Room was devoid of females all afternoon, although plenty of giggling could be heard from upstairs. "What could they possibly be doing up there for that long?" Ron asked. No one knew the answer. The boys sat around looking rather uncomfortable. Harry and Ron played a game of Wizard's Chess, but they were quite distracted. Their chess pieces kept shouting to get their attention. Finally about half an hour before the Ball was to begin, Ron said, "I guess we better go get ready."
"Yeah, I guess so," said Harry and they went upstairs.
Ron was really proud of his new dark green dress robes - not a scrap of lace anywhere. Harry had midnight blue dress robes. He tried to tame his hair, but it was impossible, and continued to stick out at strange angles. He didn't trust the hair gel that Fred and George had sent him.
When they were finished, they went back downstairs with Dean and Seamus to wait for the girls (Dean and Seamus were taking Parvati and Lavender). There was still no sign of the girls. Most of the Gryffindor boys were waiting in the Common Room now, feeling even more uncomfortable standing around in their dress robes, glancing nervously at the girls' staircase.
Suddenly the girls appeared. They had obviously decided to all go down at the same time, either for moral support, or to intimidate the boys, or both. Most of the boys had stunned looks on their faces. Were these the same girls that they went to class with every day? They looked so different. Harry saw Ron gape as Hermione came down the stairs wearing pale blue robes. Her hair was in an elegant up-do to show off the earrings that Ron had given her. Then Harry spotted Ginny and he promptly forgot about everything else. She was wearing beautiful cream-coloured dress robes which accented her vibrant red hair. Her hair was loose, except for two small braids across the top of her head like a hairband. Narrow cream-coloured ribbons were intertwined with the braids. She was wearing the necklace that Harry had given her, and blushing furiously when she saw him staring at her.
Harry took her hand and smiled at her, "You look beautiful, Ginny!"
She blushed even more, and said, "You look great, too, Harry."
Colin Creevey had been appointed as the picture-taker for the evening, and so he made each of the couples pose for a picture before they went through the portrait hole. He had kindly offered to make copies for everyone. Harry was happy that he would have a picture to remember this night. Finally the whole of Gryffindor House paraded down the stairs and into the Great Hall.
The decorations were beautiful, but Harry didn't notice them at all, because he couldn't keep his eyes off Ginny. They joined Ron and Hermione at a table. Several candles hovered above the table. Soft music played in the background. Slowly, the Hall began to fill with students and teachers. Once everyone was seated, Dumbledore stood up and addressed the school.
"You all look wonderful. It gives me great joy to see so many happy faces here tonight. These are the times we must remember. I am afraid that there are going to be dark days ahead for all of us. Happy memories, friendship, and love - these are the things that will sustain us through the difficult times ahead. So for tonight, let's lock the world outside and celebrate with our friends!"
The students in the hall all stood and burst into spontaneous applause (with the exception of most of the Slytherins). Dumbledore looked very touched by the unexpected outpouring of support from his students, and his voice shook slightly as he said, "Thank-you very much." Then he smiled and said, "Without any further ado, let the feast begin!"
Instantly, everyone's plate was full of delicious food. The Great Hall was filled with the sounds of happy students chattering and laughing.
"Hermione, how did you get your hair to defy the laws of gravity like that?" asked Ron.
"I used some of the hair gel that Fred and George sent me," she said.
"Are you crazy? It'll probably make your hair turn blue at midnight or something!" Ron exclaimed.
"I'm just kidding. Actually Ginny did my hair. She did Lavender and Parvati's too," said Hermione.
Ginny blushed. Harry looked over at Lavender and Parvati who also had complicated hairdos. "Wow, you're really good at that Ginny! Who did your hair? It looks great."
"Hermione did my hair," Ginny replied.
Ron rolled his eyes. "No wonder you were upstairs for hours on end!" He looked over at Harry, "And we thought they were just giggling - or exchanging Cheering Charms or something."
"What were you giggling about?" asked Harry.
Hermione and Ginny exchanged sheepish looks, but didn't answer. Ron rolled his eyes again and said, "Harry, once you've been going out with Ginny for a few more months you'll realize that you don't want to know what girls talk about among themselves."
The four of them shared a laugh. Then Ginny whispered in Harry's ear, causing him to blush, "I'll tell you all about it later."
"This is so much fun!" Hermione said. "I can't wait for the dance!"
"Me neither," said Ginny, and winked at Harry. He smiled back at her. He couldn't wait either.
Ron looked less than enthusiastic, so Hermione scolded him, "It's not that bad once you get the hang of it, right Ginny?"
"Right!" said Ginny
Despite Ron's lack of enthusiasm, Hermione had a determined look in her eyes that indicated that Ron wouldn't escape dancing tonight. The four of them finished their dinner in lighthearted conversation. Harry kept looking over at Ginny. She looked so amazing tonight! It wasn't just her clothes and hairdo, it was her complete happiness. The way she smiled and laughed and seemed to be enjoying every moment... The way her eyes sparkled in the flickering candlelight.
Harry couldn't believe all this was real. One year ago Ron and Hermione had been barely speaking to each other, Ron and Harry had been having a terrible evening in which Parvati and Padma Patil had ditched them, and poor Ginny was having her feet stepped on by Neville. And here they were now - four best friends talking and laughing together. This was the way things should be. Harry couldn't believe his good fortune. Tonight he was sitting here with friendship all around him and love shining in Ginny's eyes. He resolved to take up Ginny's custom of giving thanks nightly for all of the blessings he had received.
Soon the plates were cleared away, and the tables were moved to one side of the Great Hall. Students were milling about and waiting for the dancing to start. Finally the band finished setting up and started to play a lively tune. The students cheered and started to dance. Harry could see Hermione dragging Ron onto the dance floor with a playful expression on her face. But before he knew it, Ginny was pulling him towards the middle of the dance floor.
He took her in his arms and they started their carefully rehearsed steps. Faster and faster they went, around and around, oblivious to their surroundings but somehow avoiding the other couples. All that Harry could see was Ginny. Her red hair flew in all directions as they spun around. Her eyes sparkled with pure joy and her musical laughter provided sweet harmony to the band's music.
At the end of the song, Ginny and Harry stopped dancing to catch their breath. Ginny got that flirtatious look in her eyes that Harry liked so much, and she leaned in and whispered, "I love you Harry Potter."
Harry looked at her in surprise and delight. He had known, of course, but this was the first time she had actually said it out loud. So, Harry put on his most flirtatious demeanour, and pulled Ginny's face very close to his own, and said, "I love you Ginny Weasley."
Determined that Harry would not beat her in a flirting match, Ginny reached in and kissed Harry quickly. Before he could react, the music had started again, and Ginny pulled him quickly back into the dance. This song was even faster than the one before, and Harry and Ginny practically flew across the dance floor. Students began to stop dancing and watch them in admiration. Ron and Hermione stopped dancing with looks of total shock. Soon a circle had opened around Harry and Ginny and everyone was clapping in time to the music.
Harry and Ginny didn't notice any of this. They only had eyes for each other. No matter what happened in the future, no one could take away the love they had for each other, or the memory of this night.
The End.