Since there were so few first years they all had the same classes together. Christina had fit in with the fifth year Gryffindors quite well. She had also taken all the classes Ron had. Ron had stayed true to his words, he showed her around the castle and told her every adventure that he, Harry, and Hermione experienced. Too he studied with Christina, helping her with homework. Surprisingly Christina's and Ron's marks rose steadily and quickly. Soon Ron took the top place in the class, well top boy of the class. Christina, second girl. Third overall. She was content being second to Hermione. The truth was she was ecstatic to be so high in the class.
Hermione was a mess. She studied day and night, night and day to get her marks. Ron and Christina studied, truly studied, only once a week and received nearly identical grades. Harry was doing quite well studying with Dean and Seamus, but thoroughly missed Ron and Hermione. With Hermione the study freak, and Ron tour guide/ tutor extraordinaire, Harry spent little time with his best friends.
Monday before Halloween
"So Harry, who's going to be the new Keeper," Ron was getting hyped for the upcoming Quidditch season. With Wood gone, his position unfilled due to the Triwizard Tournament, Ron suspected Elijah Wood to take his place. Ron wasn't disappointed.
"Elijah Wood will. Spanking good Keeper. Youngest player since," at this Harry paused to think. "Since I came five years ago. He stopped all of Angelina's, Katie's and Alicia's attempts to score."
"Looks like turn about is fair play, look." Christina pointed to a wall where Alicia, Angelina, and Katie stood with Elijah who leaned against a column. Harry, Ron, and Christina sniggered. Elijah, being four years younger, only stood to their shoulders. Their chests were level with his eyes. His face flushed as he stared determinedly into their faces not their chests. Hermione took a break from reading to snigger. The three chasers faces looked shocked as Wood whispered inaudibly. Each shook their heads exaggeratedly and took their seats at the Hall. Wood slumped against the wall. As Harry's group passed each gave him some sort of encouragement.
"Better luck next time," Ron said chuckling, patting his shoulder.
"I think the first year girl likes you," Christina said punching him lightly on the arm.
"There are a couple of second years glancing your way," Harry said smiling and pointing to a group of girls sitting at the Hufflepuff table.
"What did you say to them?" Hermione stopped in front of Wood. He blushed furiously, Hermione could see him sweat.
"I asked them to the dance being held Halloween night, since it's Friday the ball will end at twelve in the morning."
"What? You're kidding me? We didn't hear anything like that. Who told you?" Christina and Harry pressed their faces close to Wood's. Harry seemed anxious, he didn't want to go to a dance. He'd have to find a date. Christina on the other hand was excited. She had a glimmer in her eyes. She glanced in Ron's direction then looked away quickly, hiding her reddening cheeks.
"The first and second years have it this month, third and fourth next month, then fifth and sixth December, and the seventh years their annual end of the school dance. McGonagall told the second years and told us first years individually.
Hermione and Ron threw each other a timid glance. Both held the glance for a few seconds, close to a minute, then turned away.
A wave of cold sweat swept across Hermione's face, which she hastily wiped away. Her hands became cold and clammy. Her mind turned into pottage. Different visions from her past years ran through her mind, but mostly from last year and the Yule Ball. New, and old questions rose from her jelly brain.
Does he care about me? Did he really only care if Harry won the tournament? How can he care for me, the know-it-all study freak? How come he's dropped the summer at Bulgaria so easily? Does he know I like him? Does Harry know I like him? Does Christina know I like him? Does Christina like him? I'll have to speak to Lavender again. Yes, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Elijah said his goodbyes and walked over to his seat. Once again, like many dinners and breakfasts, Hermione sat to Ron's right, Christina to his left, and Harry across.
"Ron, would you mind being my escort to the ball, December?" Christina sat swirling around her mashed potatoes with her fork. She asked her question without an ounce of embarrassment, though her actions betrayed her.
"Wha – um, sure. If you'd like." Ron gave Harry a quizzical look. Harry had silently choked on his chicken at Christina's question, and was just now breathing properly. Harry finally saw Ron's look and gave him a shrug.
Hermione remained deathly silent through dinner, unconsciously taking third and fourth helpings without finishing her first. She had picked up her goblet, supposedly trying to drink from it, and accidentally, or so it seemed, spilled pumpkin juice all over Ron's robes. Hermione mumbled a sorry then excused herself from the table.
"Is she all right," Christina asked genuinely concerned. Though they rarely spoke to each other Christina considered herself Hermione's friend.
"She's fine," said Ron.
"Just getting a jump on that essay due next week," Harry said simultaneously.
Only a few minutes passed before…
"Troll! Troll! Troll in the dungeons! The dungeons," came the squeaky voice of prof. Flitwick.
The Great Hall was filled with screams of students fourth year and down, the older students had dealt with a troll previously. Christina was thoroughly excited. Ron and Harry glanced at each other. Visions of their first year ran through their minds.
"Hermione."
Christina began arguing with Ron and Harry on whether they would "let her" go with them to save Hermione, while Dumbledore gave out orders to the prefects. Harry and Ron were just about to give in, when Ron suddenly thought of something.
"Prefects take your table up to the common room where dinner will continue."
As ordered the many prefects rose up and began leading the students out of the Great Hall single file. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were the first out, then Slytherin and Gryffindor.
"I guess we're going to have to let her tag along," Ron sighed. "Just like Neville in first year."
Harry and Christina gave Ron identical looks of confusion. Harry's eyes suddenly widened with comprehension. Neville didn't try to join them, but did try to stop them from facing who they thought would be Snape, and was rewarded with the full body bind courtesy of Hermione Granger.
"You or me Ron?" asked Harry simply.
"I guess me," said Ron, who shrugged hands in his pocket.
As quickly as they could see Ron had his wand out and was pointing to Christina. Ron was already in mid incantation when Christina figured out what was happening.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Christina's legs slapped together, her arms slapped to her body, her whole body rigid; she fell. Harry caught her shoulders.
"Ron you get her feet. We'll have to carry her to the common room," said Harry trying to balance Christina.
The trudged up the stairs toward the common room carrying Christina in their arms. To Harry it was almost as bad as when he and Hermione had to drag Norbert up to the top of the highest Astronomy tower in their first year, almost.
"Christina, - you've – got to – cut – back – on – the – pump- kin – pasties," grunted Ron as they carried her up the stairs. Though Christina was under the effects of the full body bind she still managed to glower at Ron.
When they reached the Fat Lady's portrait the Fat Lady began telling them off. "What are you three playing at still out while a troll is running amok? What happened to her? You lot could have been –"
"Fish and Chips." Harry thought it weird that they would have a muggle food as a password, but didn't let it distract him from entering the common room and escaping the Fat Lady's voice.
The Fat Lady swung open still telling them off. Upon entering the common room Ron and Harry were bombarded by questions.
"Did you defeat the Roll?"
"How many points did McGonagall give you this time?"
"What spell did you use?"
"What –"
"We didn't defeat the troll, zero points from McGonagall, we used the full body bind on Christina, and we're going to finish our dinner," said Harry heatedly as Ron did the counter spell to the body bind.
"RON WEASLEY!" yelled Christina in furry as her right cross connected with Ron's jaw. Ron was lifted off his feet and was introduced to the floor.
"What did you do that for," Ron asked while moving his jaw around. Though he'd never admit it, that punch hurt a lot.
"For putting me in that spell, you git."
"I'm sorry, we – we just didn't want you to get hurt," Ron quickly retorted, his temperature, and temper, starting to rise.
"I can take care of myself, and we're going back out there now!"
Ron looked over to Harry who was looking for Hermione while he and Christina were making an unplanned, but semi-welcome distraction; Ron's jaw still hurt.
Harry shook his head slowly.
"Okay, okay," said Ron pulling Christina over to the corner. "We'll go upstairs to Harry and my room."
"I know you're attracted to me Ron, but I don't think this is the time to put the move on me," Christina whispered, feigning innocence. Ron rolled his eyes.
"We're going to get Harry's invisibility cloak," Ron whispered.
"An invisibil –" Christina was about to yell "invisibility cloak", until Ron clapped his hand over mouth. Her eyes flashed to his with anger. He released his hand quickly and blushed when her gaze changed to a soft stare of awe.
"Why didn't you tell me that Harry had an invisibility cloak," asked Christina quietly.
"Because I knew you'd do something like you almost did, but anyway we have to hurry."
They left Harry in the common room eating, and just distracting the students from seeing Ron and Christina run to the boys dorm rooms.
Ron quickly grabbed the invisibility cloak from Harry's trunk, taking a few sugar quills and a dung bomb. The sugar quills were for him, the dung bomb for the troll
Ron threw the cloak over himself and Christina, then slowly made their way down the stairs.
Ron and Christina had a difficult time dodging the people in the common room to meet Harry.
"Psst. Harry, we're going to go, we'll meet you back here with Hermione. Give us a distraction so that they won't notice the door opening all by itself.
"All right then."
"Everyone, I'd like to make an announcement," Harry began. Everyone turned their attention to the boy who lived. "We are looking for reserve players for the Quidditch team, if anyone would like to try out come and talk to me. I've talked to Dumbledore, and he said that first years will be able to join the team."
This gave Ron and Christina the time they needed to