Chapter Six

The Halloween Party

            Harry stood in front of a full-length mirror in the boys' dorm. It was the night of the Halloween dance and he had just finished putting his costume on. He had finally decided on going as a vampire. He had to use about a pound of gel to get his black hair to lie flat on his head. Then he had borrowed some of Hermione's make up, the lightest she had, to make his face look pale. He even used a bit of lipstick to bring some color to his lips. He was wearing what looked like a tuxedo with a long cape that wrapped around his ankles. Opening his mouth, he shoved in some fake teeth so it would look more real when he smiled. Yes, he was smiling now. Somehow he and Hermione got back together as friends and had forgotten about whatever had caused the conflicts, which only Ron knew.

Finally satisfied with his costume he walked down the stairs to see Hermione on the couch.

"Where's your costume, Herm?"

She turned around and smiled, she was still wearing he school clothes. "Well, I had two ideas ready…" She took out her wand and tapped herself light on the head. Immediately she changed into a bride of Frankenstein looking creature. Harry shook his head, disgusted.

"Well then, how about this!" she said tapping herself again on the head.

This time though she changed into the most beautiful thing Harry had ever seen: an angel. Her hair had been curled into little ringlets that ended every strand. It looked as if it had been covered with a veil of glitter. A halo hovered above her head shining silver, making her whole body have a radiant glow. Her face had been made up with silver lipstick and eye shadow. A silver choker had been tied around her neck with a cherub pendant hanging from it. She wore a flowing silvery white gown with long transparent flared sleeves that were also covered in glitter. A long golden rope like belt with tassels at the end was tied loosely around her waist. She slowly twirled around making the small, feathered wings in the back visible. 

'Wow, she looks so beautiful…' Harry thought, not realizing how much his mouth was hanging open.

"Hello? Are you ok? So do you like the costume?" Hermione said. 'Yes! He likes the costume. Lavender was right-maybe he really does like me'

"Huh…er sorry. Nice costume. It looks great."

"Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself"

"Whoa- Hermione-nice outfit!"  Both Harry and Hermione turned to see Ron on the stairs. It didn't even take a second before they started laughing.

"Nice costume yourself, Ron, but it maybe a bit too early." Hermione said as she laughed. Ron was wearing a Santa Claus suit complete with hat and beard. It was so big; it hung loosely on his body.

"Oh, shut up, all of you!!!"

"I know what will make it look better…" Harry said as he whispered something into Hermione's ear. She giggled. Pulling out her wand and trying not to laugh she shouted, "Obesityious" Suddenly Ron's stomach began to expand and the costume became a perfect fit.

"What did you do? I weigh over 200 pounds!!"

"Thought you would like it!" Hermione said as she started tear.

"Oh, I'll get you back. I'll get both of you back. I have a secret weapon."

"Come on. Lets just go to the dance" Harry said once the laughing finally cooled down.

All three of them nodded and walked out of the portrait hole.

*           *           *

Another song started up as the last song finished. Hermione, Harry and Ron were dancing together in the center of the Great Hall. Most of the girls looked pretty jealous as they watched Hermione dancing with probably the most popular boy in school.

"Let's say we take a rest…" Ron said wiping a bead of sweat off his forehead. They agreed. As he walked, he white beard seemed to bounce up and down on his water balloon like belly.

"You okay Ron? Maybe you should have chosen another costume…" Harry began.

"Yea, yea- I'm ok. This was the only costume they had left in stock"

The three of them took a seat on the chairs near the punch. After a few minutes Harry noticed Ron staring at something. "You ok Ron? What are you looking at?"

"Hmm? Nothing. I'll be right back…" Ron got up and slowly walked to where he had been staring. Harry lost sight of him as he made his way through the crowd. His absence left Harry and Hermione alone at the punch table.

"Sooo" Harry began. 'Boy, does she look beautiful. I wonder where she got that costume. Her hair looks real nice. So soft and silky. [ a/n What else would a boy think about?]'

"Sooo" Hermione seemed to respond. 'Well, here we are alone again. Do something!! Oh, I'm just too shy. What happens if he doesn't like me? Maybe he'll do something first.  But if I don't do something he won't know I like him! But I already kissed him before. But that was last year- does he even remember?'

They sat quietly as the time passed. Ron still hadn't returned. Harry was bored out of his mind, but he didn't feel like dancing. Lazily, he picked up on of Hermione's tassels from her belt and started tossing it back and forth from hand to hand.

"Give me that- Fool around with your own costume." Hermione said teasingly as she picked up the other tassel and started fingering it herself.

"I can see why Crookshanks likes these things so much," Harry said grabbing the other one back and playing with it.

Finally they looked up to see Ron standing in front of them.

"My God, you were gone for almost 10 minutes- what were you doing? Snogging or something?" For some reason that was the first thing that popped into Harry's mind.

"What is that on your beard? Lipstick!" Hermione said as she took a closer look.

Ron started to blush, "It's… punch. Yea I was drinking it and it spilled."

"Yea right!" Harry said, rolling his eyes. Hermione began to tsk.

Ron got a sly look in his eyes "Well, for that, I'm unleashing my secret weapon!" He stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out a fairy.

"Ok- a fairy. Do we get three wishes or something?" Harry said sarcastically.

"Take a closer look…" Ron said as he held it above Harry and Hermione's heads. The fairy was clutching something in her small hands. Mistletoe… 'Come on Harry kiss her…you know you want to…' Ron thought to himself. 'I'm a pretty good match maker'

"Well I guess we have to…" Harry's red cheeks could be seen through his layers of the white make up. Hermione only nodded, turning scarlet as well. They both leaned forward and met lips for only a second. They pulled away simultaneously, but as if reading each other's minds, they leaned forward again to finish off what they had started.  

"Hello?"

They both pulled away abruptly from the kiss, both of them still a bright red.

"Wow- you guys make a really good couple" Ron began.

"What? We're not a couple! I just…just…it was the mistletoe!!" Harry began.

"What mistletoe?" Ron asked looking above their heads.

"Oh, you know there was mistletoe." Harry looked as if his was about to punch Ron's lights out. He turned to Hermione whose eyes were filling with tears.

"That kiss didn't mean anything to you? How could you?" Hermione was starting to cry as she yelled at him. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall turned to watch this event. Hermione started to cry harder, smearing her silver make up and glitter around her face. She stood up from the chair and slapped Harry hard on the face and ran towards the Gryffindor Room, still crying.

            Harry wanted to follow her, but he just sat there, rubbing his face. 'I really do love her. Why did I lie like that? I didn't mean it. Why did that kiss have to end so soon?'

Ron had taken a seat next to him and patted him on the back. 'Wow, he seems really hurt. Oh, bloody hell, now I have to figure out another way to get them together.'