Hey guys! Thank you soo very much for reading my story! I'm glad you all like it, and thanks for noticing the title names! I thought they were cute, I'm glad someone noticed! Anyway, here's the next chapter, I hope you all keep reading and reviewing it! Thank you all! I love you!!!!

Chapter nineteen

Depressing Departure

It was only a week to go until the ball, and the halls were teeming with excitement and anticipation. Ginny and Hermione had ordered their gowns through owl-mail, and were expecting them any day now. Almost everyone had a date, and now more than ever Ron was glad that Hermione had asked him. He fell into a daze every time he thought about dancing with her. It was becoming difficult for him to pay attention during his classes, but he didn't really care. All that mattered was Saturday night. Even though it hadn't happened yet, it was already the best night of his life.

The four crusaders were sitting in the crowded common room. Harry and Ginny were playing wizard chess, and Hermione was teasing Ron about his key, much to Ron's dismay. Suddenly, Harry remembered that he hadn't written Sirius in a while, so, after excusing himself from the game, he headed upstairs to retrieve some parchment and a quill. He came back down to find that his place had been taken by a frustrated Ron. He wasn't the only frustrated one though: when Harry was playing, Ginny had been winning, but now that she was facing Ron…

Harry sat down at the table and unrolled the parchment and bit the end of his quill. What to write, what to write… he thought. Finally, he put the quill to the paper and began to write freely.

Dear Sirius,

How are you? I haven't heard from you in a while, and it may be because I haven't written in a while, I'm sorry about that. Then again, you're probably caught up in your trial business. Well, things have been a little busy around here, the Christmas ball is coming up soon, so everyone seems to be quite excited. Can't say I'm not excited as well…Anyway, how are things with you these days? I hope the trials finish soon, and that everything goes well. Write back and tell me how they go, all right? Hope to hear from you soon.

Harry

He reread his letter, and, feeling satisfied, rolled it up and set off toward the owlery. He told the others where he was headed as he stepped out of the portrait hole. He left to find Hedwig, but on his way to the staircase, he heard the rustling of footsteps coming down the stairs. For some reason, he felt like he didn't want to be seen, so he hid behind the corner to see who it was. He first saw the person's large feet and knew immediately that it was Crabbe. He had the most morose look on his face, and Harry could only imagine what he was going through. It had turned out that Crabbe was leaving, and for some reason he probably wasn't returning. Crabbe slowly made his way down the hallway and down the stairs, out of sight. Harry didn't know it then of course, but that would be the last time Harry would ever see him alive.

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Harry headed back to the common room after sending Hedwig off with Sirius' letter feeling a little down. No one, except for Malfoy and Goyle likely, knew why exactly it was Crabbe was leaving. He was wondering sadly what had happened. He thought that it was surely going to be a quiet rest of the evening. But his mood changed when he made it back through the portrait hole. Every horrible thought left his mind when he walked in and saw Ginny sitting on a chair looking at the gift he had given her with the most appreciative look in her eyes. She really is beautiful, isn't she? And she loves me, she said it. She actually told me she loves me...

It was as though he had heard it again for the first time. He sat next to her, and she looked up at him, smiling. He felt so incredible, knowing that she really did care for him. She slipped the gift back into her pocket and wrapped her arms around her lovely Harry, and she inhaled deeply. She felt so lucky...

On the other side of the room, Ron had challenged Hermione to a game of wizard chess. She accepted, knowing well that she would lose, but for some reason she couldn't turn down the dare. They spent the entire game in gales of laughter, Ron beating her mercilessly as Hermione could only watch her pieces be destroyed. This is so nice, he thought. I wonder what she's thinking...

He couldn't know it, but Hermione was thinking the exact same thing. Only, at the same time, she was thinking about the ball the next night. I wonder what will happen. Will he kiss me again? Though her initial hope was no, she couldn't help but hope he did.