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Harry Potter and the Return of the Dark Lord

Chapter 10- The Ball

          Ron and Hermione were soon informed about the Order of the Phoenix and were both honoured at being chosen to be in it.  They had sworn to Sirius not to tell anyone about it because only members knew of it and if anyone found out people could be killed.

          Sirius had gotten a telling off from McGonagall about running around the corridors in his human form after several students claimed to have seen him.

          The beginning of December approached and the school was informed of a Christmas Ball.  Not wanting to have to go with Parvati like the year before, he decided to ask someone quickly.  The problem was who?

          Krum had asked Hermione; again, not caring that he was a teacher.  The same was with Luci and Oliver.  Viktor and Oliver were both young so it didn't matter much.  Much to Ron's surprise, Nicole had asked him and both Fred and George had asked Nathalie.  As she couldn't decide whom to go with, she decided to go with both.

          It had also rumoured that Malfoy had given into Louisa and was going with her.  Harry and Ron couldn't help but laugh every time they saw him.  Dudley was going with Katie and Harry was too late again with Ginny, as she was going with Colin Creevy.  Harry couldn't even ask Parvati or Lavender because they were going with Dean and Seamus.  The three chasers were also taken.  Remus had even asked Arabella, who was a good friend of his when they were at school together.  She was not old, really; in fact she was quite young and very pretty.  She had been using Polyjuice Potion to disguise herself while at Privet Drive.  Harry realized that her house smelt of cabbage, just like Polyjuice Potion.  This meant Harry had to go with his first choice, Cho.

          As he walked down the hall on the lookout for her, someone tapped him on the back.  "Cho!"  He exclaimed as he turned around.  "I was just looking for you."

"Were you?"  Cho asked him.

"Yeah, I, um….  Will you go to the ball with me?" 

"I was wondering when you were going to ask," she replied.  Harry smiled as they walked to the Great Hall together for dinner.

          On Christmas morning Harry awoke to Ron shouting "PRESENTS!" all around the dormitory.  Harry saw a large pile of presents at the bottom of his bed when Hermione came into the dorm clutching her presents.  He heard Ron moan, "Not maroon again!"  He turned to his pile of presents and began to open them.  He received a blue jumper and some home-made fudge from Mrs Weasly, Fleetwood's Broom Polish and a selection of Honeydukes sweets from Hermione, a five galleon gift voucher for any shop at Hogsmead from Ron and off Hagrid, a tin of rock cakes, a book called "The Curse of the Hairy Beast," Harry looked at these presents sceptically.  Fred and George had given him a large bag of Weasly Wizarding Wheezes.  From Sirius and Remus, he received a model werewolf, dog and a stag.  Also he got some pictures of his parents while they were at school.

          At four that afternoon, the girls left the common room to get ready for the ball.  "Bloody Hell!" Cried Ron, "what do they need four hours for?"  Harry had been watching all the girls carefully to see if any of them disappeared, but none had.

          At half pasted seven, the Gryffindors left the common room to meet in the entrance hall.  Harry was meeting Cho there.  The girls appeared down the stairs dressed in their dress robes.  Hermione was in lilac with her hair in a similar twist to the year before.  Luci was also wearing a pale purple, Nicole was in light green and Nathalie in sky blur.  Ron was wearing his new robes, which weren't maroon, but scarlet like the Quidditch robes.  He was very happy about this.

          Harry met Cho in the entrance hall who was looking very pretty robes of pale pink.  While standing outside the Great Hall, Harry noticed Hermione flicker slightly and suddenly look very happy.  He dismissed this as his eyesight playing up and Hermione just being very happy about the ball, but Harry couldn't help wondering if it had something to do with the time travelling.

          On entering the Hall, they noticed it had been decorated much like the year before.  Icicles were hanging from the tinkle, which was hung from the ceiling and were in the house colours, and the twelve Christmas trees were covered in ornaments.  After a great meal, Dumbledore announced the entertainment, the *War Locks*, a wizarding rock group, whose members had either attended Hogwarts of still did, as two of the members were Hufflepuff 7th years.

          As the music started, Cho dragged him onto the dance floor and led him around on the spot with her arms around his neck.  From the looks of it, all the boys by him were being put through the same by their dates.  Next to his, Louisa, who was with Malfoy, tried to kiss his but her pushed her away and left her to sit down.  Everyone laughed loudly at them.  Harry thourally enjoyed this Ball much more than the previous year's, so much that before he knew it was time for the final dance.  As Harry and Cho steered around, Professor Flitwick charmed snowflakes to fall from the ceiling.          

          The music ended and people started to leave the hall.  Harry and Cho climbed the steps, which led to the first floor, which was where they were to part.  "I'll see you then," Harry said nervously.

"Yeah," replied Cho, who had turned bright red.  He didn't know what happened next, but his lips met Cho's, who returned the kiss.  After a while, they broke off and smiled at each other.  "Go, Harry!" said Ron, who walked past with Nicola next to him.

          Harry gave her another quick kiss and bade her goodnight, and left feeling the happiest he has ever felt in his life.