Chapter Eight
"The Halloween Ball"
The next month and a half passed very quickly. Harry found himself so busy with coaching and practicing Quidditch with the team, studying for the O.W.L.s, going to classes and doing his homework that he barely realized that Halloween was nearing. Professor Dumbledore had decided that for a special treat this year they would have a special Halloween Ball after the feast on October thirty-first. There were reminders posted up all over the castle. The ball would be open to third years and up, although younger students would be allowed to attend if they were asked as a date with a third year. Harry knew he had waited too long before, in asking Cho Chang last year for the Yule Ball, so he was preparing himself to ask her after breakfast before classes that morning. He didn't have much of an appetite as he waited for people to clear out of the Great Hall. He kept glancing over at Cho, she was so pretty, he thought. Suddenly, she stood up, gathered her things and started to leave the Great Hall. Harry startled, gathered his things and said a hurried 'see ya' to Hermione and Ron and he went out into the entrance hall. "Uh, hey, Cho." Harry said as he rushed to catch up with her. She turned and smiled sweetly at him as they kept up at a steady pace. Harry wished she would stand still so he could think straight. "Um, Cho, I was wondering.I know it's only two days away and all, and I'm sure someone has probably asked you already." Harry blushed as he realized he needed to get on with it. "Well, I was wondering if- if you would go to the Halloween Ball with me." he could feel himself growing even redder. "Oh, Harry, I'd love to go with you to the Halloween Ball." She had finally stopped walking and looked into his eyes. Harry was about a head taller than she was. For the first time in his life he felt the urge to lean down for a kiss. He realized that he hadn't said anything for about two minutes of silence and he sputtered out, "Great, I'll meet you in the entrance hall before the ball, all right?" She nodded and grinned. Harry felt really relieved that she hadn't turned him down again and he was happy that he had a date with someone he actually wanted to go with. He watched her walk down to the Transfiguration classroom. The bell rang and he rushed up to the Charms classroom. When he arrived in the Charms room, he took a seat next to Ron and Hermione. He looked over at them and noticed the way they were sitting. They were both sitting very stiffly in their seats staring straight ahead looking very uncomfortable and showing a bit of color. "What's wrong with you two?" he asked as they both turned even redder. Ron shifted uncomfortably in his chair and Hermione looked at Harry as though she wanted to tell him but couldn't. Ron blushed and looked down at the table in front of him as he said, "I've just asked Hermione to go to the Halloween Ball with me." Harry was shocked, but at the same time he wasn't too surprised. "She said 'yes'." Ron croaked as he looked up at Harry. Ron looked utterly terrified. Hermione looked like she had finally heard what she wanted to hear but appeared embarrassed just the same. "Good for you, guys." Harry laughed. Ron looked abashed. "And just what is so funny, Harry?" Ron and Hermione looked at each other and then at Harry and they laughed too. It was as though they finally realized how foolish they had appeared when Harry had walked in. After that they all seemed to relax. "I've just asked Cho Chang. She said 'yes' too." He said more seriously. Ron looked impressed. Just then, Professor Flitwick walked into the room. He was so tiny, that he barely stood taller than the tables. He reached his desk and climbed up to stand on top of it. "Good morning, class. Today we will be learning the shrinking charm. I've given each of you a goblet to practice on. Now, take out your wands and tap the goblet three times and say, 'Coacto Afflictio!' " With that, Professor Flitwick's goblet shrunk to the size of a stone. Draco Malfoy, who had been talking to Crabbe and Goyle throughout the entire demonstration, said, "Excuse me, Professor, what was that charm again?" "Well, Mr. Malfoy, if you had been paying attention during the demonstration you would know what we are doing. As it is, I have to go and assist Mr. Longbottom, who has shrunken his hand. Why don't you ask Miss Granger, she will know how to help you." Malfoy looked ill. "Me.ask.her! That's a joke! I will never take instructions from a filthy mudblood." Malfoy muttered loud enough for Hermione, Ron, Harry, Crabbe and Goyle to hear. Ron went over and stood behind Malfoy. He looked murderous. He took his wand and brushed the top backside of Malfoy's head three times and said, "COACTO AFFLICTIO!" Malfoy's head shrunk to the size of a bludger. The class roared with laughter, though Harry, Ron and Hermione all glared at Malfoy. Malfoy was shrieking (though it sounded like a shrill house elf screaming) as he ran around the room flailing his arms in the air. "You'll pay for that Weasley!" he screeched in his high pitched shrill voice. "Mr. Weasley! You did it! Oh.um.oh, dear, you'd better go to the hospital wing, Mr. Malfoy!" Professor Flitwick shouted over Malfoy's screams. "Mr. Weasley, I'm afraid I'll have to take ten points from Gryffindor for that." He said glumly. Professor Flitwick hated to punish the students, it was more like punishment for him rather than the students. Harry thought Ron was lucky, if it had been any other teacher, he would have gotten detention. "Ron! You stood up for me!" Hermione grinned. Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Ron turned bright red and smiled. After that, the next two days passed quite smoothly. Harry's nerves were highly active all day throughout classes on Halloween. He kept catching glimpses of Cho in the hallways and he would smile at her as she passed him, which would make the group of girlfriends she was with giggle each time. He wished that they would bugger off, but he was just glad to be her date for the evening. Divination seemed to drag on longer than any class he'd ever been in before that day. It was his last class for the day and he wanted to get to the dormitories to get ready for the Halloween feast. As usual, Professor Trelawney had predicted Harry would have several misfortunes before the week was out (and it was already Friday), it had become extremely boring. Mesmerized by the perfumed fire that was filtering throughout the room, Harry had drowned out Trelawney with daydreams of dancing with Cho. Finally, Ron had to smack Harry on the arm to tell him that class was over and it was time to go get ready for the feast. Harry's insides swirled around as time crept closer to meeting up with Cho. "So. do you reckon Hermione will look really smart like she did at the Yule Ball with Krum, Harry?" Ron asked with a red tint to his grinning face. "I don't know, Ron, I guess we'll find out later." Harry was wondering whether or not he should wear his new scarlet wizard hat with his green dress robes. He thought then of Ron's new dress robes. "Hey, Ron, you haven't shown me your new dress robes yet, what color are they?" Ron looked at Harry suspiciously. "How did you know I had new dress robes?" he asked curiously. "Oh, you know," Harry chuckled nervously, "George told me. How do they look?" Ron seemed to be satisfied with Harry's answer and went on to describe the handsome new dress robes that were royal blue with golden snaps. They finally reached their common room and went up to take their showers. After they had cleaned up they got into their dress robes and went down into the common room. Ron fidgeted nervously and kept glancing up toward the girls' dormitory staircase looking for Hermione. Just when Ron didn't look like he could wait much longer, Hermione came waltzing down the stairs. She had indeed made herself up like the Yule Ball. Her hair was sleek and shiny and up in a nice bun. She was wearing her stunning periwinkle blue dress robes. She met with Harry and Ron by the porthole. Ron looked like he couldn't have been happier if the Chudley Cannons won the Quidditch Cup. They smiled at each other and Ron took her arm in his and they opened the porthole. Harry walked with them down to the entrance hall. He was extremely nervous about meeting Cho. When they reached the entrance hall, Ron and Hermione went on into the Great Hall, Ron called to Harry that they would save them a seat. Cho would be sitting at the Gryffindor table with Harry. Dumbledore had made interhouse seating permitted for the evening. While Harry was waiting for Cho, Draco Malfoy came walking in with Pansy Parkinson on his arm. His silver prefect badge shining brightly. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. Malfoy's head was as big as ever. "S'matter, Potter? Couldn't buy yourself a date with all that gold you won last year?" Malfoy laughed as he stopped next to Harry to give him a hard time. Suddenly, Cho came around the corner looking absolutely gorgeous in sparkling silver dress robes that looked wonderful with her shiny black hair. Malfoy's mouth dropped open. "Harry! There you are! I'm sorry I'm late, we got out of History of Magic late, and I still had to get ready!" Cho sang out. Harry grinned at her and then grinned even bigger at Malfoy who looked like he'd just lost a Quidditch match. "It's all right, Cho. I didn't mind waiting for you at all." Harry took her arm in his and entered the Great Hall, looking back to flash Malfoy a smug look. Just to see the look on Malfoy and Pansy's face was worth all the gold in Gringotts' bank. Harry chuckled to himself as they made their way over to Ron and Hermione. The Great Hall was decorated, as usual, with giant jack-O-lanterns and about two hundred live bats. The enchanted ceiling was demonstrating a thunderstorm, just as the weather was outside. It was going to be a perfect evening. The feast went on nicely, they all ate their dinner and had warm butterbeers. Then the professors magically moved the tables to the sides of the Great Hall. The great clear tank that was out by Hagrid's hut, magically appeared full of water where the staff table normally sat. Only the big flacksquid weren't in the tank. Instead, it was filled with four mermaids. They began to sing underneath the water and it was beautiful. The most beautiful music Harry had ever heard before. He was glad that they didn't sing above the water because their voices above water sounded like high pitch screeching- it is the absolute horrible opposite of what they were listening to now. One by one students began to start dancing out on the makeshift dance floor. Fred and George were dancing crazily with Alicia and Katie from the Quidditch team. Harry lost track of Hermione and Ron, he was too preoccupied with Cho. She held him close as they slow danced to the beautiful singing. He rested his cheek on top of her head. They held each other, dancing for hours. At midnight, Dumbledore quieted the mermaids and announced the end of the Halloween Ball. Harry and Cho walked hand in hand into the entrance hall and he walked her toward the Ravenclaw common room. About half way there she stopped him, as students from other houses aren't supposed to know where other houses' common rooms are. She smiled up at Harry. "I had a really nice time, Harry." Before he had a chance to tell her that he did too, she reached up and kissed him. "Thank you for asking me, Harry. I'll see you tomorrow then." She smiled and walked the rest of the way toward her common room. Harry stood there musing on about the kiss. Then he snapped out of it when he realized what tomorrow was. The first Quidditch match of the season between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.and he and Cho were both seekers.
"The Halloween Ball"
The next month and a half passed very quickly. Harry found himself so busy with coaching and practicing Quidditch with the team, studying for the O.W.L.s, going to classes and doing his homework that he barely realized that Halloween was nearing. Professor Dumbledore had decided that for a special treat this year they would have a special Halloween Ball after the feast on October thirty-first. There were reminders posted up all over the castle. The ball would be open to third years and up, although younger students would be allowed to attend if they were asked as a date with a third year. Harry knew he had waited too long before, in asking Cho Chang last year for the Yule Ball, so he was preparing himself to ask her after breakfast before classes that morning. He didn't have much of an appetite as he waited for people to clear out of the Great Hall. He kept glancing over at Cho, she was so pretty, he thought. Suddenly, she stood up, gathered her things and started to leave the Great Hall. Harry startled, gathered his things and said a hurried 'see ya' to Hermione and Ron and he went out into the entrance hall. "Uh, hey, Cho." Harry said as he rushed to catch up with her. She turned and smiled sweetly at him as they kept up at a steady pace. Harry wished she would stand still so he could think straight. "Um, Cho, I was wondering.I know it's only two days away and all, and I'm sure someone has probably asked you already." Harry blushed as he realized he needed to get on with it. "Well, I was wondering if- if you would go to the Halloween Ball with me." he could feel himself growing even redder. "Oh, Harry, I'd love to go with you to the Halloween Ball." She had finally stopped walking and looked into his eyes. Harry was about a head taller than she was. For the first time in his life he felt the urge to lean down for a kiss. He realized that he hadn't said anything for about two minutes of silence and he sputtered out, "Great, I'll meet you in the entrance hall before the ball, all right?" She nodded and grinned. Harry felt really relieved that she hadn't turned him down again and he was happy that he had a date with someone he actually wanted to go with. He watched her walk down to the Transfiguration classroom. The bell rang and he rushed up to the Charms classroom. When he arrived in the Charms room, he took a seat next to Ron and Hermione. He looked over at them and noticed the way they were sitting. They were both sitting very stiffly in their seats staring straight ahead looking very uncomfortable and showing a bit of color. "What's wrong with you two?" he asked as they both turned even redder. Ron shifted uncomfortably in his chair and Hermione looked at Harry as though she wanted to tell him but couldn't. Ron blushed and looked down at the table in front of him as he said, "I've just asked Hermione to go to the Halloween Ball with me." Harry was shocked, but at the same time he wasn't too surprised. "She said 'yes'." Ron croaked as he looked up at Harry. Ron looked utterly terrified. Hermione looked like she had finally heard what she wanted to hear but appeared embarrassed just the same. "Good for you, guys." Harry laughed. Ron looked abashed. "And just what is so funny, Harry?" Ron and Hermione looked at each other and then at Harry and they laughed too. It was as though they finally realized how foolish they had appeared when Harry had walked in. After that they all seemed to relax. "I've just asked Cho Chang. She said 'yes' too." He said more seriously. Ron looked impressed. Just then, Professor Flitwick walked into the room. He was so tiny, that he barely stood taller than the tables. He reached his desk and climbed up to stand on top of it. "Good morning, class. Today we will be learning the shrinking charm. I've given each of you a goblet to practice on. Now, take out your wands and tap the goblet three times and say, 'Coacto Afflictio!' " With that, Professor Flitwick's goblet shrunk to the size of a stone. Draco Malfoy, who had been talking to Crabbe and Goyle throughout the entire demonstration, said, "Excuse me, Professor, what was that charm again?" "Well, Mr. Malfoy, if you had been paying attention during the demonstration you would know what we are doing. As it is, I have to go and assist Mr. Longbottom, who has shrunken his hand. Why don't you ask Miss Granger, she will know how to help you." Malfoy looked ill. "Me.ask.her! That's a joke! I will never take instructions from a filthy mudblood." Malfoy muttered loud enough for Hermione, Ron, Harry, Crabbe and Goyle to hear. Ron went over and stood behind Malfoy. He looked murderous. He took his wand and brushed the top backside of Malfoy's head three times and said, "COACTO AFFLICTIO!" Malfoy's head shrunk to the size of a bludger. The class roared with laughter, though Harry, Ron and Hermione all glared at Malfoy. Malfoy was shrieking (though it sounded like a shrill house elf screaming) as he ran around the room flailing his arms in the air. "You'll pay for that Weasley!" he screeched in his high pitched shrill voice. "Mr. Weasley! You did it! Oh.um.oh, dear, you'd better go to the hospital wing, Mr. Malfoy!" Professor Flitwick shouted over Malfoy's screams. "Mr. Weasley, I'm afraid I'll have to take ten points from Gryffindor for that." He said glumly. Professor Flitwick hated to punish the students, it was more like punishment for him rather than the students. Harry thought Ron was lucky, if it had been any other teacher, he would have gotten detention. "Ron! You stood up for me!" Hermione grinned. Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Ron turned bright red and smiled. After that, the next two days passed quite smoothly. Harry's nerves were highly active all day throughout classes on Halloween. He kept catching glimpses of Cho in the hallways and he would smile at her as she passed him, which would make the group of girlfriends she was with giggle each time. He wished that they would bugger off, but he was just glad to be her date for the evening. Divination seemed to drag on longer than any class he'd ever been in before that day. It was his last class for the day and he wanted to get to the dormitories to get ready for the Halloween feast. As usual, Professor Trelawney had predicted Harry would have several misfortunes before the week was out (and it was already Friday), it had become extremely boring. Mesmerized by the perfumed fire that was filtering throughout the room, Harry had drowned out Trelawney with daydreams of dancing with Cho. Finally, Ron had to smack Harry on the arm to tell him that class was over and it was time to go get ready for the feast. Harry's insides swirled around as time crept closer to meeting up with Cho. "So. do you reckon Hermione will look really smart like she did at the Yule Ball with Krum, Harry?" Ron asked with a red tint to his grinning face. "I don't know, Ron, I guess we'll find out later." Harry was wondering whether or not he should wear his new scarlet wizard hat with his green dress robes. He thought then of Ron's new dress robes. "Hey, Ron, you haven't shown me your new dress robes yet, what color are they?" Ron looked at Harry suspiciously. "How did you know I had new dress robes?" he asked curiously. "Oh, you know," Harry chuckled nervously, "George told me. How do they look?" Ron seemed to be satisfied with Harry's answer and went on to describe the handsome new dress robes that were royal blue with golden snaps. They finally reached their common room and went up to take their showers. After they had cleaned up they got into their dress robes and went down into the common room. Ron fidgeted nervously and kept glancing up toward the girls' dormitory staircase looking for Hermione. Just when Ron didn't look like he could wait much longer, Hermione came waltzing down the stairs. She had indeed made herself up like the Yule Ball. Her hair was sleek and shiny and up in a nice bun. She was wearing her stunning periwinkle blue dress robes. She met with Harry and Ron by the porthole. Ron looked like he couldn't have been happier if the Chudley Cannons won the Quidditch Cup. They smiled at each other and Ron took her arm in his and they opened the porthole. Harry walked with them down to the entrance hall. He was extremely nervous about meeting Cho. When they reached the entrance hall, Ron and Hermione went on into the Great Hall, Ron called to Harry that they would save them a seat. Cho would be sitting at the Gryffindor table with Harry. Dumbledore had made interhouse seating permitted for the evening. While Harry was waiting for Cho, Draco Malfoy came walking in with Pansy Parkinson on his arm. His silver prefect badge shining brightly. Harry rolled his eyes and sighed. Malfoy's head was as big as ever. "S'matter, Potter? Couldn't buy yourself a date with all that gold you won last year?" Malfoy laughed as he stopped next to Harry to give him a hard time. Suddenly, Cho came around the corner looking absolutely gorgeous in sparkling silver dress robes that looked wonderful with her shiny black hair. Malfoy's mouth dropped open. "Harry! There you are! I'm sorry I'm late, we got out of History of Magic late, and I still had to get ready!" Cho sang out. Harry grinned at her and then grinned even bigger at Malfoy who looked like he'd just lost a Quidditch match. "It's all right, Cho. I didn't mind waiting for you at all." Harry took her arm in his and entered the Great Hall, looking back to flash Malfoy a smug look. Just to see the look on Malfoy and Pansy's face was worth all the gold in Gringotts' bank. Harry chuckled to himself as they made their way over to Ron and Hermione. The Great Hall was decorated, as usual, with giant jack-O-lanterns and about two hundred live bats. The enchanted ceiling was demonstrating a thunderstorm, just as the weather was outside. It was going to be a perfect evening. The feast went on nicely, they all ate their dinner and had warm butterbeers. Then the professors magically moved the tables to the sides of the Great Hall. The great clear tank that was out by Hagrid's hut, magically appeared full of water where the staff table normally sat. Only the big flacksquid weren't in the tank. Instead, it was filled with four mermaids. They began to sing underneath the water and it was beautiful. The most beautiful music Harry had ever heard before. He was glad that they didn't sing above the water because their voices above water sounded like high pitch screeching- it is the absolute horrible opposite of what they were listening to now. One by one students began to start dancing out on the makeshift dance floor. Fred and George were dancing crazily with Alicia and Katie from the Quidditch team. Harry lost track of Hermione and Ron, he was too preoccupied with Cho. She held him close as they slow danced to the beautiful singing. He rested his cheek on top of her head. They held each other, dancing for hours. At midnight, Dumbledore quieted the mermaids and announced the end of the Halloween Ball. Harry and Cho walked hand in hand into the entrance hall and he walked her toward the Ravenclaw common room. About half way there she stopped him, as students from other houses aren't supposed to know where other houses' common rooms are. She smiled up at Harry. "I had a really nice time, Harry." Before he had a chance to tell her that he did too, she reached up and kissed him. "Thank you for asking me, Harry. I'll see you tomorrow then." She smiled and walked the rest of the way toward her common room. Harry stood there musing on about the kiss. Then he snapped out of it when he realized what tomorrow was. The first Quidditch match of the season between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.and he and Cho were both seekers.