Wanted: Love
Ch9: The Halloween Ball
Halloween arrived slowly, first creeping up over the mountain then slowly onto the grounds of Hogwarts and finally into the dorms where the students awoke. All over the castle people, particularly the girls, were talking about what they were going to wear and who they were going with. So it wasn't very surprising that the day sped by rather quickly. With less than two hours to go before the party started Ron and Lavender were busy trying to get Hermione to agree to go to the Ball, even without Harry.
"It won't be that bad, Hermione." said Ron.
"Yeah, you can dance a few with Ron." said Lavender.
Hermione shook her head, "I don't feel like going anymore."
"Well look on the bright side. At least he's not going with anyone else." said Ron.
Lavender nodded, "That's right, so why don't you come. It'll be fun!" Hermione sighed. They had been at this for over three hours.
She was surprised at how persistent they were being, "Fine, I'll go. Are you happy now?" The two nodded.
"Trust us, Hermione; this is exactly what you need. Candy galore!" said Ron.
"Come on, Hermione! Let's go get ready!" said Lavender, grabbing her arm and dragging her up the stairs just as Harry walked down from his dormitory.
"Sorry, Harry, gotta go!" said Lavender as she bumped into him.
"What was that about?" Harry asked as he sat in the chair next to Ron.
"You know, girl stuff. Gonna spend the next two hours up there primping themselves up for the party." said Ron, shaking his head.
"I don't see what the big deal is. It's just a party. Nothing but a waste of time." said Harry.
Ron looked at him, "What are you talking about? I thought you liked Halloween."
"You would, wouldn't you?" asked Harry. Ron gave him a puzzled look. This wasn't the Harry Potter he knew. Come to think of it, Harry had been acting strangely ever since the night Wormtail got captured.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, fine." said Harry.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Harry rolled his eyes and stood up, "Listen, I'm going for a walk. See you later and have a good time at that party." With that he strolled out of the common room with Ron staring after him. Something was definitely wrong with him.
_~_~_~_~
Harry walked through the corridors, not paying attention to where he was going. What was the point of going to the party? It would just get him in good spirits before the trial which would, undoubtedly, drag him back down. So why not just stay in a crummy mood the whole time? Harry's blood boiled once again at the thought of the trial. He couldn't believe they were making him go. He gritted his teeth at the thought. Shouldn't he have a choice?
'They have the bloody Pensieve, why do they need me!?' he asked himself angrily. Frustrated beyond belief, Harry threw his entire weight behind a punch which he sent flying into the wall.
Peeves flew threw it and laughed wickedly, "Ooooh, what do we have here? Is ickle Potter upset?"
Harry sent death glares at him, he wasn't in the mood, "Shut up, Peeves."
Peeves did a back flip in the air and cackled, "I thought so. Worried about what will happen when everyone finds out what your uncle does to you, aren't you?"
Harry's jaw dropped open, "What do you know about it!?"
Peeves smiled, "I know everything that goes on in this castle! I can see it now!"
Peeves broke off to laugh, "Everyone's gonna know soon, and you know it! Oh how I love to imagine the things they'll say! Quite pathetic, aren't you? Can't even protect yourself from a Muggle. Everyone's going to be very disappointed in you."
His nostrils flared in anger for a moment, if Peeves knew there was a good chance that half the people in the castle already did too, but then he cast his gaze downward to the floor as Peeves continued talk. He was right; everyone would be disappointed in him. He was supposed to defeat Voldemort, how could he do that now? Harry felt like screaming in aggravation but suppressed it just barely. Turning around, he made his way back to the common room with Peeves following behind him, still talking.
"Go away, Peeves!" Harry shouted at him.
"Ooooh, did I upset you? So sorry." said Peeves sarcastically.
"I'm warning you, Peeves." said Harry.
Peeves ignored him and continued on. Harry spun around and glared at him then, without warning, a bright red light sparked on Peeves and he screeched and flew away. Harry looked around curiously, did he do that? Forget that, what was 'that' in the first place? He stood there pondering this for a minute but then he heard footsteps making their way to him. A pair of Ravenclaws walked past him, laughing, all dressed up. Was it time for the party already? How long had he been gone? Sighing, he made his way back to the common room. He didn't want to be out in the halls with all the couples being all lovey dovey.
When he made it back to the Gryffindor tower, there was no one there. Harry sighed and sat in the big chair in front of the fire. He had done it again. Unintentionally he had harmed someone else. True, it was a ghost but Peeves still had feelings. Why was it that he could never do anything right? He ran his hand through his unruly hair and sighed again. He was nothing but a burden to the world. He knew it, Voldemort knew it, his uncle knew it, everyone knew it. He just wasn't meant to be there. Someone had to have made a mistake when making him. Biting his lip, Harry came to a decision and went up to his dormitory, grabbed his invisibility cloak and wand then made his way back to the common room. Hedwig was waiting for him on the chair he had been sitting in. Once she saw him she flew over and landed on his shoulder. She nipped his ear affectionately and Harry smiled.
"It's okay, Hedwig. You can live with Ron now. It'll be better that way." said Harry. Hedwig hooted as though to disagree. Harry shook his head and shooed the owl off his shoulder then made his way to the portrait hole.
"Don't worry. It's better this way." said Harry before climbing through the hole for the last time. Hedwig looked around the room and after seeing no one she took off through the window.
_~_~_~_~
Hermione stared around the room. The Great Hall was very well decorated and the music was good but she was still incredibly bored. One dance with Ron and then Lavender had dragged him away with her, leaving Hermione by herself. She was the only person in the entire room without a date. Fred and George were with Katie and Angelina. Ginny was with Colin Creevy and her parents were dancing together on the other side of the room. Sirius was with Professor Whims, Remus dancing with Professor Sprout (AN: Okay, I couldn't think of anyone else. It was either her or Madame Hooch!). Hagrid was attending the Ball with Madame Maxime who was visiting. Heck, even Dumbledore and McGonagall were dancing. Hermione had to admit, she felt rather out of place there. She wondered if perhaps Harry had the right idea with not going. But then again, she didn't spend two hours getting ready for nothing. Lavender had been merciless in her quest for perfection.
"You can't expect to impress Harry if you don't even try to look nice." Lavender had said. "But he's not even going!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Yes, but there's always the chance that he'll see you when we go down and ask you out then!" Lavender had said excitedly. Lavender's reasoning, however, did little good as Harry hadn't even been in the common room when they left.
Hermione sighed. It was her fault. Perhaps if she asked him out he would have said yes. There was always hoping anyway. She got up and made her way to the refreshments table where she poured herself some punch.
"No need to look so happy there." said Professor Whims as she walked over to Hermione with Sirius in tow.
Hermione blushed and looked down into her punch, "There's not much to be happy about."
"What? Harry's not showing you a good time?" asked Sirius.
Hermione blushed deeper, "I'm not here with Harry."
"Really? Then what was Ron talking about?" asked Sirius.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "He's not going around telling everyone that, is he?"
"Well, actually, I overheard him and Lavender talking about it a couple days ago." said Sirius thoughtfully.
"Oh, okay then." said Hermione.
"So where is Harry, anyway?" asked Whims.
"He didn't want to come." said Hermione.
"Why not?" asked Sirius. Hermione shrugged.
"Maybe you should go talk to him." said Whims smiling. Hermione groaned inwardly. This was all she needed. Now her Professors were trying to set her and Harry up. In spite herself, Hermione smiled and nodded then walked off.
Once she was out of their vision she sat down in the chair she was in before. Looking around the room again, she saw everyone laughing and smiling. Maybe she should go find Harry and have a good talk. Hermione bit her lip and was about to stand up when Hedwig came swooping down and knocked her cup over, luckily not onto her.
"Hedwig?" Hermione asked.
The owl gripped Hermione's robes in her beak and pulled towards the exit. Confused, Hermione looked over to the doors and saw Harry standing there for a second then walking away, looking quite grim. Still not completely sure as to what was happening, Hermione started to follow him.
Author's Note: Okay, I know this chapter is super short but there's an upside! For all of you who have been dying to see Harry and Hermione get together, it happens next chapter! Which, by the way, is gonna be accompanied by a song. Okay! Are you ready? Review and then continue!
Ch9: The Halloween Ball
Halloween arrived slowly, first creeping up over the mountain then slowly onto the grounds of Hogwarts and finally into the dorms where the students awoke. All over the castle people, particularly the girls, were talking about what they were going to wear and who they were going with. So it wasn't very surprising that the day sped by rather quickly. With less than two hours to go before the party started Ron and Lavender were busy trying to get Hermione to agree to go to the Ball, even without Harry.
"It won't be that bad, Hermione." said Ron.
"Yeah, you can dance a few with Ron." said Lavender.
Hermione shook her head, "I don't feel like going anymore."
"Well look on the bright side. At least he's not going with anyone else." said Ron.
Lavender nodded, "That's right, so why don't you come. It'll be fun!" Hermione sighed. They had been at this for over three hours.
She was surprised at how persistent they were being, "Fine, I'll go. Are you happy now?" The two nodded.
"Trust us, Hermione; this is exactly what you need. Candy galore!" said Ron.
"Come on, Hermione! Let's go get ready!" said Lavender, grabbing her arm and dragging her up the stairs just as Harry walked down from his dormitory.
"Sorry, Harry, gotta go!" said Lavender as she bumped into him.
"What was that about?" Harry asked as he sat in the chair next to Ron.
"You know, girl stuff. Gonna spend the next two hours up there primping themselves up for the party." said Ron, shaking his head.
"I don't see what the big deal is. It's just a party. Nothing but a waste of time." said Harry.
Ron looked at him, "What are you talking about? I thought you liked Halloween."
"You would, wouldn't you?" asked Harry. Ron gave him a puzzled look. This wasn't the Harry Potter he knew. Come to think of it, Harry had been acting strangely ever since the night Wormtail got captured.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Ron asked.
"Yeah, fine." said Harry.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Harry rolled his eyes and stood up, "Listen, I'm going for a walk. See you later and have a good time at that party." With that he strolled out of the common room with Ron staring after him. Something was definitely wrong with him.
_~_~_~_~
Harry walked through the corridors, not paying attention to where he was going. What was the point of going to the party? It would just get him in good spirits before the trial which would, undoubtedly, drag him back down. So why not just stay in a crummy mood the whole time? Harry's blood boiled once again at the thought of the trial. He couldn't believe they were making him go. He gritted his teeth at the thought. Shouldn't he have a choice?
'They have the bloody Pensieve, why do they need me!?' he asked himself angrily. Frustrated beyond belief, Harry threw his entire weight behind a punch which he sent flying into the wall.
Peeves flew threw it and laughed wickedly, "Ooooh, what do we have here? Is ickle Potter upset?"
Harry sent death glares at him, he wasn't in the mood, "Shut up, Peeves."
Peeves did a back flip in the air and cackled, "I thought so. Worried about what will happen when everyone finds out what your uncle does to you, aren't you?"
Harry's jaw dropped open, "What do you know about it!?"
Peeves smiled, "I know everything that goes on in this castle! I can see it now!"
Peeves broke off to laugh, "Everyone's gonna know soon, and you know it! Oh how I love to imagine the things they'll say! Quite pathetic, aren't you? Can't even protect yourself from a Muggle. Everyone's going to be very disappointed in you."
His nostrils flared in anger for a moment, if Peeves knew there was a good chance that half the people in the castle already did too, but then he cast his gaze downward to the floor as Peeves continued talk. He was right; everyone would be disappointed in him. He was supposed to defeat Voldemort, how could he do that now? Harry felt like screaming in aggravation but suppressed it just barely. Turning around, he made his way back to the common room with Peeves following behind him, still talking.
"Go away, Peeves!" Harry shouted at him.
"Ooooh, did I upset you? So sorry." said Peeves sarcastically.
"I'm warning you, Peeves." said Harry.
Peeves ignored him and continued on. Harry spun around and glared at him then, without warning, a bright red light sparked on Peeves and he screeched and flew away. Harry looked around curiously, did he do that? Forget that, what was 'that' in the first place? He stood there pondering this for a minute but then he heard footsteps making their way to him. A pair of Ravenclaws walked past him, laughing, all dressed up. Was it time for the party already? How long had he been gone? Sighing, he made his way back to the common room. He didn't want to be out in the halls with all the couples being all lovey dovey.
When he made it back to the Gryffindor tower, there was no one there. Harry sighed and sat in the big chair in front of the fire. He had done it again. Unintentionally he had harmed someone else. True, it was a ghost but Peeves still had feelings. Why was it that he could never do anything right? He ran his hand through his unruly hair and sighed again. He was nothing but a burden to the world. He knew it, Voldemort knew it, his uncle knew it, everyone knew it. He just wasn't meant to be there. Someone had to have made a mistake when making him. Biting his lip, Harry came to a decision and went up to his dormitory, grabbed his invisibility cloak and wand then made his way back to the common room. Hedwig was waiting for him on the chair he had been sitting in. Once she saw him she flew over and landed on his shoulder. She nipped his ear affectionately and Harry smiled.
"It's okay, Hedwig. You can live with Ron now. It'll be better that way." said Harry. Hedwig hooted as though to disagree. Harry shook his head and shooed the owl off his shoulder then made his way to the portrait hole.
"Don't worry. It's better this way." said Harry before climbing through the hole for the last time. Hedwig looked around the room and after seeing no one she took off through the window.
_~_~_~_~
Hermione stared around the room. The Great Hall was very well decorated and the music was good but she was still incredibly bored. One dance with Ron and then Lavender had dragged him away with her, leaving Hermione by herself. She was the only person in the entire room without a date. Fred and George were with Katie and Angelina. Ginny was with Colin Creevy and her parents were dancing together on the other side of the room. Sirius was with Professor Whims, Remus dancing with Professor Sprout (AN: Okay, I couldn't think of anyone else. It was either her or Madame Hooch!). Hagrid was attending the Ball with Madame Maxime who was visiting. Heck, even Dumbledore and McGonagall were dancing. Hermione had to admit, she felt rather out of place there. She wondered if perhaps Harry had the right idea with not going. But then again, she didn't spend two hours getting ready for nothing. Lavender had been merciless in her quest for perfection.
"You can't expect to impress Harry if you don't even try to look nice." Lavender had said. "But he's not even going!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Yes, but there's always the chance that he'll see you when we go down and ask you out then!" Lavender had said excitedly. Lavender's reasoning, however, did little good as Harry hadn't even been in the common room when they left.
Hermione sighed. It was her fault. Perhaps if she asked him out he would have said yes. There was always hoping anyway. She got up and made her way to the refreshments table where she poured herself some punch.
"No need to look so happy there." said Professor Whims as she walked over to Hermione with Sirius in tow.
Hermione blushed and looked down into her punch, "There's not much to be happy about."
"What? Harry's not showing you a good time?" asked Sirius.
Hermione blushed deeper, "I'm not here with Harry."
"Really? Then what was Ron talking about?" asked Sirius.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "He's not going around telling everyone that, is he?"
"Well, actually, I overheard him and Lavender talking about it a couple days ago." said Sirius thoughtfully.
"Oh, okay then." said Hermione.
"So where is Harry, anyway?" asked Whims.
"He didn't want to come." said Hermione.
"Why not?" asked Sirius. Hermione shrugged.
"Maybe you should go talk to him." said Whims smiling. Hermione groaned inwardly. This was all she needed. Now her Professors were trying to set her and Harry up. In spite herself, Hermione smiled and nodded then walked off.
Once she was out of their vision she sat down in the chair she was in before. Looking around the room again, she saw everyone laughing and smiling. Maybe she should go find Harry and have a good talk. Hermione bit her lip and was about to stand up when Hedwig came swooping down and knocked her cup over, luckily not onto her.
"Hedwig?" Hermione asked.
The owl gripped Hermione's robes in her beak and pulled towards the exit. Confused, Hermione looked over to the doors and saw Harry standing there for a second then walking away, looking quite grim. Still not completely sure as to what was happening, Hermione started to follow him.
Author's Note: Okay, I know this chapter is super short but there's an upside! For all of you who have been dying to see Harry and Hermione get together, it happens next chapter! Which, by the way, is gonna be accompanied by a song. Okay! Are you ready? Review and then continue!