(A/N: I never cease to amaze myself....this chapter's kind of fluffy :-P.
It'll go back to normal soon I promise. Well, maybe not totally normal...)
Christmas day came and Harry looked out the window. The snow was swirling ferociously as it fell to the already snow-covered ground. Harry lazily climbed out of bed. Ron was leaned against the foot of his bed, reading a book and wrapping paper was lying at his feet.
"Happy Christmas Ron." Harry said as he sat down next to his own pile of gifts.
"Happy Christmas." Ron replied and tossed Harry a gift.
Harry tossed one back at Ron and they opened them simultaneously. Harry pulled out a new jar of high-quality broom finish. Harry looked over at Ron; he was admiring the new Quaffle that Harry had given him.
"Wow, Harry! This is great, thanks!" Ron said.
A grin spread across Harry's face, "Your welcome." He said. "Thanks for the polish, I needed a new jar." He glanced at his Firebolt, which was lying under his bed, still a little mud encrusted.
Harry moved onto the other gifts; a box of treacle fudge from Hagrid, some homemade toffees and the usual sweater from Mrs. Weasly, a book about seeker strategies from Hermione, Anna had given him a gift-box of all Harry's favorite sweets, and from Sirius he relieved a very cool watch. This watch did not tell time, but like the clock in the Weasly's living room had different hands that pointed to words like, 'Common Room' 'Class' or 'Danger'. The arrows were blank however. A note that came with it told him he had to tap it with his wand to make the names appear then tap it again to make them vanish. Harry did so and the names Ron, Hermione, Anna, and Sirius appeared.
"Hey Fred and George actually got me something this year." Ron muttered.
Harry looked over at Ron in time to see him pull out a pair of midnight blue dress robes.
Ron's jaw dropped. Then he dropped the robes, put his hands on his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief.
Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"Its not funny." Ron gasped. "I am so happy that I don't have to go to the ball in those....things."
Harry laughed harder.
"It's not funny!" Ron repeated. He threw a pillow at Harry.
"Yes it is!" Harry gasped through his laughter.
***
Harry was a nervous wreck. He was going to be meeting Cho in the entrance hall in just one hour. He started to rummage through his trunk then soon found what he was looking for. He pulled out a small jewelry case. It contained what Harry thought was a very pretty necklace. It was a plain sliver chain but on the end of it was a crystal teardrop shape, and suspended inside of that was a small silver snowflake. On either side of the crystal, hanging on the chain were two silver beads. Harry was planning on giving this to Cho as a Christmas present. He had gotten it the weekend before on their first Hogsmeade trip of the year.
The door opened and Harry shut the case. Ron came in.
"What's that?" Ron asked pointing to the case in Harry's hand.
"Nothing." He replied and shoved the case in the pocket of his dress robes.
"Uh huh." Ron said and flopped onto his bed.
"Nervous Ron?" Harry asked.
"No."
Harry let it be and flopped onto his bed as well. He and Ron both lay on their beds for around an hour until the ball would start.
One hour later Harry and Ron made their way down. Anna was waiting for Ron at the bottom of the stairs. Harry actually heard Ron's jaw drop, but he quickly recovered and continued to stare. Harry was pretty impressed as well; She was wearing dark green robes and her hair was pulled back in some sort of twist held up by a clip. Multiple braids were also pulled back into the twist, and the few strands of hair that stuck out of the clip were elegantly curled.
Harry elbowed Ron and he started to stutter, "Y-you look great!" He said with a grin.
"Thanks." She said shyly.
The three walked out of the portrait hole together. Hermione was already down in the entrance hall meeting Krum. And Cho would be down in the entrance hall as well. Harry was growing more and more nervous by the second.
They reached the entrance hall and stood at the top of the stairs for a second. Harry looked around trying to spot Cho. He spotted her near the great oak door; she saw him too and waved. The three made their way down the stairs and Harry broke apart from Ron and Anna to go meet Cho.
He walked over to her. She was in stunning silver robes and her hair was back in a half braid.
"Wow. You look nice." Harry said shyly.
"Thank you. You look nice too." She replied. Then the doors of the great hall opened and people began making their way into the hall.
Harry escorted her through the doorway to an array of tables in the hall. "Where do you want to sit?" he asked.
"Anywhere is fine." She said.
"Do you mind sitting with Ron and Anna?" he said.
"No, that's fine." She replied.
They sat down at the table with Ron and Anna. Hermione and Krum came over and soon filled the two empty seats that were left.
Soon Professor Dumbledore picked up his menu and demonstrated how to order a meal. "Chicken salad!" he said to his plate and there it appeared.
Harry ordered a steak, but he couldn't help noticing that Anna ordered an entirely vegetarian meal herself. The dinner went on, they all chatted merrily about classes they were taking. Hermione and Anna were both particularly excited about an ancient runes class they were enrolled for next semester. Hermione later diverted her direction of conversation towards potions and the problem with Anna.
She glanced skeptically at Anna.
"What?" She asked, " I don't know what's wrong."
Hermione just sighed and continued her meal.
When the meal was over everyone got up from his or her tables and most of them flew against the walls, leaving the dance floor clear. The Weird Sisters struck up a slow tune.
Harry plucked up some guts and what he did surprised even him. "Do you want to dance Cho?" He asked.
"Alright." She replied.
They walked onto the dance floor side by side. They stopped in a mass of people now dancing. Cho put her arms around Harry's neck and He put his on he waist. Fortunately for Harry she was leading, as Harry really wasn't that great a dancer. At least he wasn't stepping on her feet. They danced in silence for what seemed like forever, until the song ended. Then a much faster tune came up.
Harry wasn't so sure about dancing so fast.
"Do you want to dance to this one too?" Cho asked him.
"Uh...well, I-I don't know if-if I can go so fast." He replied rather weakly.
"It's okay. I don't dance fast that great." She said.
As they started to make their way off of the dance floor Harry asked her, "Um, you want a drink?"
"Ok." She said.
They headed over to the refreshment to get two butterbeers. Then they sat down at an empty table and Harry struck up a conversation. When the song ended Ron and Anna appeared at the table and sat down.
"You've been dancing?" Harry asked Ron skeptically.
"Yeah." Ron said.
Harry didn't really think Ron was much of a dancer but he pushed the thought aside. Ron and Anna started to engage in a deep conversation about snow.
Harry had almost finished his butterbeer when Cho asked him, "Do you want to dance again?"
"Sure." Harry said. Luckily it was another slow tune. Harry continued to be careful where he stepped and succeeded in not stepping on any feet. When the song was over they both stood there for an awkward moment looking at each other.
"Want to go outside? I think Dumbledore might have set up that garden again." He asked her, very daringly.
"Ok." She replied cheerfully.
Harry and Cho walked out of the Great Hall into the quiet, almost empty entrance hall. The great oak doors were flung wide open and they stepped outside. There seemed to be some sort of force field around them, for where they were there was only a light snow but a few feet above them a blizzard was raging. And it was not cold and windy, but warm and pleasant. Harry and Cho strolled around for a while in silence there were a few other people out there that they passed every now and then, including Ron and Anna who were sitting on a bench together, on the path parallel to Harry and Cho's, talking. They didn't seem to notice them. Harry and Cho soon found an empty bench away from the others. They sat down and started to admire the fairy lights and the snow.
Harry fingered the necklace case in his robe pocket. "Cho?"
"Yeah?" She said.
"Here." He shoved the case into her hand. "Happy Christmas."
She opened the case and let out a gasp. "Oh!" She stared at it. "Harry," She couldn't seem to find the right words. "It's....it's b-beautiful."
But what Harry saw her do next wasn't exactly what he had hoped for.
A tear leaked down her cheek.
"Cho? Are you ok?" He asked.
"Harry, I-I have to go now. Good night." And with that she got up and hurried away from him as fast as she could go without breaking into a run.
Harry was utterly stunned. What had he done wrong? He got up off the bench and turned to walk away. He had gone a few paces when he glanced to his side and did a double take. If his vision was correct, and he was sure it was for he was wearing his glasses, Ron had just kissed Anna, softly and quickly on the lips. Harry ducked behind the nearest bush so that they wouldn't know he had seen them. He really didn't want to but into their private lives, or over hear anything. So he crawled on his knees the rest of the way back into the castle, then made his way up to the dormitory. He really didn't feel like going back to the ball.
Christmas day came and Harry looked out the window. The snow was swirling ferociously as it fell to the already snow-covered ground. Harry lazily climbed out of bed. Ron was leaned against the foot of his bed, reading a book and wrapping paper was lying at his feet.
"Happy Christmas Ron." Harry said as he sat down next to his own pile of gifts.
"Happy Christmas." Ron replied and tossed Harry a gift.
Harry tossed one back at Ron and they opened them simultaneously. Harry pulled out a new jar of high-quality broom finish. Harry looked over at Ron; he was admiring the new Quaffle that Harry had given him.
"Wow, Harry! This is great, thanks!" Ron said.
A grin spread across Harry's face, "Your welcome." He said. "Thanks for the polish, I needed a new jar." He glanced at his Firebolt, which was lying under his bed, still a little mud encrusted.
Harry moved onto the other gifts; a box of treacle fudge from Hagrid, some homemade toffees and the usual sweater from Mrs. Weasly, a book about seeker strategies from Hermione, Anna had given him a gift-box of all Harry's favorite sweets, and from Sirius he relieved a very cool watch. This watch did not tell time, but like the clock in the Weasly's living room had different hands that pointed to words like, 'Common Room' 'Class' or 'Danger'. The arrows were blank however. A note that came with it told him he had to tap it with his wand to make the names appear then tap it again to make them vanish. Harry did so and the names Ron, Hermione, Anna, and Sirius appeared.
"Hey Fred and George actually got me something this year." Ron muttered.
Harry looked over at Ron in time to see him pull out a pair of midnight blue dress robes.
Ron's jaw dropped. Then he dropped the robes, put his hands on his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief.
Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"Its not funny." Ron gasped. "I am so happy that I don't have to go to the ball in those....things."
Harry laughed harder.
"It's not funny!" Ron repeated. He threw a pillow at Harry.
"Yes it is!" Harry gasped through his laughter.
***
Harry was a nervous wreck. He was going to be meeting Cho in the entrance hall in just one hour. He started to rummage through his trunk then soon found what he was looking for. He pulled out a small jewelry case. It contained what Harry thought was a very pretty necklace. It was a plain sliver chain but on the end of it was a crystal teardrop shape, and suspended inside of that was a small silver snowflake. On either side of the crystal, hanging on the chain were two silver beads. Harry was planning on giving this to Cho as a Christmas present. He had gotten it the weekend before on their first Hogsmeade trip of the year.
The door opened and Harry shut the case. Ron came in.
"What's that?" Ron asked pointing to the case in Harry's hand.
"Nothing." He replied and shoved the case in the pocket of his dress robes.
"Uh huh." Ron said and flopped onto his bed.
"Nervous Ron?" Harry asked.
"No."
Harry let it be and flopped onto his bed as well. He and Ron both lay on their beds for around an hour until the ball would start.
One hour later Harry and Ron made their way down. Anna was waiting for Ron at the bottom of the stairs. Harry actually heard Ron's jaw drop, but he quickly recovered and continued to stare. Harry was pretty impressed as well; She was wearing dark green robes and her hair was pulled back in some sort of twist held up by a clip. Multiple braids were also pulled back into the twist, and the few strands of hair that stuck out of the clip were elegantly curled.
Harry elbowed Ron and he started to stutter, "Y-you look great!" He said with a grin.
"Thanks." She said shyly.
The three walked out of the portrait hole together. Hermione was already down in the entrance hall meeting Krum. And Cho would be down in the entrance hall as well. Harry was growing more and more nervous by the second.
They reached the entrance hall and stood at the top of the stairs for a second. Harry looked around trying to spot Cho. He spotted her near the great oak door; she saw him too and waved. The three made their way down the stairs and Harry broke apart from Ron and Anna to go meet Cho.
He walked over to her. She was in stunning silver robes and her hair was back in a half braid.
"Wow. You look nice." Harry said shyly.
"Thank you. You look nice too." She replied. Then the doors of the great hall opened and people began making their way into the hall.
Harry escorted her through the doorway to an array of tables in the hall. "Where do you want to sit?" he asked.
"Anywhere is fine." She said.
"Do you mind sitting with Ron and Anna?" he said.
"No, that's fine." She replied.
They sat down at the table with Ron and Anna. Hermione and Krum came over and soon filled the two empty seats that were left.
Soon Professor Dumbledore picked up his menu and demonstrated how to order a meal. "Chicken salad!" he said to his plate and there it appeared.
Harry ordered a steak, but he couldn't help noticing that Anna ordered an entirely vegetarian meal herself. The dinner went on, they all chatted merrily about classes they were taking. Hermione and Anna were both particularly excited about an ancient runes class they were enrolled for next semester. Hermione later diverted her direction of conversation towards potions and the problem with Anna.
She glanced skeptically at Anna.
"What?" She asked, " I don't know what's wrong."
Hermione just sighed and continued her meal.
When the meal was over everyone got up from his or her tables and most of them flew against the walls, leaving the dance floor clear. The Weird Sisters struck up a slow tune.
Harry plucked up some guts and what he did surprised even him. "Do you want to dance Cho?" He asked.
"Alright." She replied.
They walked onto the dance floor side by side. They stopped in a mass of people now dancing. Cho put her arms around Harry's neck and He put his on he waist. Fortunately for Harry she was leading, as Harry really wasn't that great a dancer. At least he wasn't stepping on her feet. They danced in silence for what seemed like forever, until the song ended. Then a much faster tune came up.
Harry wasn't so sure about dancing so fast.
"Do you want to dance to this one too?" Cho asked him.
"Uh...well, I-I don't know if-if I can go so fast." He replied rather weakly.
"It's okay. I don't dance fast that great." She said.
As they started to make their way off of the dance floor Harry asked her, "Um, you want a drink?"
"Ok." She said.
They headed over to the refreshment to get two butterbeers. Then they sat down at an empty table and Harry struck up a conversation. When the song ended Ron and Anna appeared at the table and sat down.
"You've been dancing?" Harry asked Ron skeptically.
"Yeah." Ron said.
Harry didn't really think Ron was much of a dancer but he pushed the thought aside. Ron and Anna started to engage in a deep conversation about snow.
Harry had almost finished his butterbeer when Cho asked him, "Do you want to dance again?"
"Sure." Harry said. Luckily it was another slow tune. Harry continued to be careful where he stepped and succeeded in not stepping on any feet. When the song was over they both stood there for an awkward moment looking at each other.
"Want to go outside? I think Dumbledore might have set up that garden again." He asked her, very daringly.
"Ok." She replied cheerfully.
Harry and Cho walked out of the Great Hall into the quiet, almost empty entrance hall. The great oak doors were flung wide open and they stepped outside. There seemed to be some sort of force field around them, for where they were there was only a light snow but a few feet above them a blizzard was raging. And it was not cold and windy, but warm and pleasant. Harry and Cho strolled around for a while in silence there were a few other people out there that they passed every now and then, including Ron and Anna who were sitting on a bench together, on the path parallel to Harry and Cho's, talking. They didn't seem to notice them. Harry and Cho soon found an empty bench away from the others. They sat down and started to admire the fairy lights and the snow.
Harry fingered the necklace case in his robe pocket. "Cho?"
"Yeah?" She said.
"Here." He shoved the case into her hand. "Happy Christmas."
She opened the case and let out a gasp. "Oh!" She stared at it. "Harry," She couldn't seem to find the right words. "It's....it's b-beautiful."
But what Harry saw her do next wasn't exactly what he had hoped for.
A tear leaked down her cheek.
"Cho? Are you ok?" He asked.
"Harry, I-I have to go now. Good night." And with that she got up and hurried away from him as fast as she could go without breaking into a run.
Harry was utterly stunned. What had he done wrong? He got up off the bench and turned to walk away. He had gone a few paces when he glanced to his side and did a double take. If his vision was correct, and he was sure it was for he was wearing his glasses, Ron had just kissed Anna, softly and quickly on the lips. Harry ducked behind the nearest bush so that they wouldn't know he had seen them. He really didn't want to but into their private lives, or over hear anything. So he crawled on his knees the rest of the way back into the castle, then made his way up to the dormitory. He really didn't feel like going back to the ball.