A/N: WEEEEEEEE!!! Another chapter! Hmm, so what's up with the title of this
chapter? What opportunity? Will Harry possibly be asking Alina out? Ahhh,
well, you'll have to read on to find out.
Not much to say today other than the fact that my computer teacher died on Thursday. The freaky thing is that she was totally...alive on Wednesday at my school's Back To School Night. It came as a shock to everyone, and I'm still trying to fully comprehend everything. It's scary, and it makes you think about how precious life is. As I write this A/N, looking down at my fingers hitting the keys on the keyboard, I can hear her voice in my head telling me not to look down at the keyboard when I type. I still don't touch-type. We were touch-typing in our last lesson.
In loving memory of Mrs. Bruno, the twelfth chapter of "Bouncing Off the Ceiling (Upside Down)" will be dedicated to her. Computer class will never be the same.
Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling (oh yeah, did y'all hear that Joanne is three-four months pregnant? Yippee!!!)
Chapter 12: Don't Let the Opportunity Pass You By
It was quite loud in the Great Hall that Monday morning. Some Gryffindors were buzzing on about the Quidditch try-outs, and who they thought would get the spot of Keeper. Almost all of Gryffindor had found out about the competition between Ron and Alina, and if someone hadn't heard of it, they'll eventually find out.
"I heard Ron Weasley took a Bludger to the head." One third year Gryffindor was telling his friends.
"Well, my sources tell me that Alina and Ron got into a fistfight after the try-outs. The best player would be able to survive the fight." Seamus said to Dean. Harry had to roll his eyes. Seamus couldn't be so wrong.
"What's everybody talking about? Alina and Ron got into a fight?" Hermione said, sitting in the spot next to Harry. Harry was surprised by Hermione's actions because for a while she hadn't been on speaking terms with Ron and him. He eyed her suspiciously. "What?" she asked.
"Well, look who crawled out of her shell. Where have you been?" Harry asked.
"Prefect business. And," Hermione said quickly, "I just needed alone time. Don't question it. But hey! Answer me. What's this with Alina and Ron? Weren't those try-outs over the weekend?"
"You've been keeping track? I didn't know you cared too much about Quidditch." Harry said.
"I care about a lot of things you don't know about." Hermione said mysteriously, "Do I have to ask you to answer me again?"
"Well, yeah, we had try-outs for the spot of Keeper. The best ones that tried out were Alina and Ron. So, we had a playoff. The best player would win. There was no mercy, either. Alina almost fell off her broom, and Ron did take a Bludger to the head. It seemed pretty competitive at first, but believe me it ended nicely. They should be here any minute." Harry explained as the Gryffindor table had all suddenly shushed. Harry and Hermione looked at each other quizzically and followed everyone's gazes over to the entrance of the Great Hall.
Alina and Ron were standing there, side-by-side, clueless as to why everyone was staring at them.
"Uh...good morning everybody." Alina said, smiling suspiciously. Ron stood there beside her, laughing stupidly and scratching the back of his head. The two of them then rushed over to the Gryffindor table and sat across from Hermione and Harry.
"Why is everyone looking at us like we committed a murder?" Ron asked.
"They're all talking about the try-outs." Hermione informed.
"Don't remind me." Alina said, waving her hand in the air before she started putting food on her plate.
"Hermione...what are you doing here!?" Ron asked. Hermione smiled weakly.
"It's nice to see you, too, Ron." Hermione said sarcastically.
"Oh, no! I mean where have you been? Were you ignoring me and Harry?" Ron asked.
"Harry and I." Hermione corrected.
"I wasn't ignoring you and Harry." Ron said. Harry snorted.
"Ron, I've just been busy. I'm sorry I haven't been around. Studying, you know." Hermione explained.
"We have nothing to study for, Herm." Alina said.
"Well...you may never know when a pop quiz turns up." Hermione said, obviously looking past Alina.
"What's..." Alina turned back to see what Hermione was looking at. It was Draco Malfoy looking right at the Gryffindor table. Alina turned back to Hermione and scrunched her nose. "Don't mind Malfoy. He's been holding a grudge against me for a while."
"Why's he all alone?" Harry asked.
"What?" Alina asked and looked back at Malfoy. Surprisingly, he wasn't surrounded with people other than Crabbe and Goyle. Erin and Mikaela were at the Slytherin table, but they were sitting with some seventh year boys while they giggled and spun their hair around their fingers. Camille was at the Ravenclaw table, chatting with some other Ravenclaws in a huddle. But Penelope and Megan were nowhere to be found.
The door to the Great Hall opened and Megan and Penelope strode in, right towards the Gryffindor table.
"Hey Finnigan, scoot your bum over." Megan said. Seamus was sitting next to Alina, and Megan squished between him to get next to Alina. Alina looked at Megan oddly. "Seamus, scoot down one more." Megan ordered, and Seamus did as told. Penelope sat down next to Megan.
"Since when did you sit with the decent people of the planet?" Alina asked.
"Malfoy's been a whiny bitch lately." Megan shrugged as she reached for a piece of toast.
"So you're willing to ditch a whiny baby for another baby." Alina said as she put her goblet down.
"But this other whiny baby we're speaking of is my best friend." Megan said, grinning.
"Okay, you lost me there." Ron said. Alina smacked Ron on the arm.
"I'm the whiny best friend." Alina said as she, Megan, and Penelope giggled. "Girls, I missed y'all. I've been hanging out with these two duds for so long that I almost went to the boys' dormitory one night instead of the girls'." Alina said as Megan, Penelope, Harry, Hermione, and Ron laughed.
"What's Malfoy been whining about?" Harry asked.
"He says nothing's fair. Everything's screwed up. You know, the usual. He wants the whole world dead. But he's been complaining a bit too much lately." Megan said.
"Yeah, Pansy Parkinson doesn't even want to sit with him anymore." Penelope said as Hermione smirked, "What?" Hermione didn't get the chance to answer, though. Professor Dumbledore had silenced the Great Hall.
"It's almost November, and we all know that December will be coming shortly. From all the positive feedback I've received from last year's Yule Ball, I have decided to add a little more merriment to our usual Hogwarts Christmas schedule. So, on December Twenty-Fourth, the Eve of Christmas, Hogwarts will be hosting their First-Ever Winter Ball." Professor Dumbledore happily announced. The silence over the students had ceased as they had begun little conversations amongst each other.
"What are we gonna wear!?" Parvati Patil squealed to Lavender Brown.
"Silence, please." Professor Dumbledore asked, putting his hands in the air to get everyone's attention once again. He cleared his throat. "Unfortunately for our first through third year students, this event is for our fourth years and up. But, if one of our younger students is asked by an older student, they are welcome to attend." Some younger students had groaned, or slapped their hands against their table in distaste. "To answer your question, Miss Patil," Professor Dumbledore had looked at Parvati at the Gryffindor table, and she blushed after realizing she had spoken that loud, "there will be a stretch in the dress code. Students are welcome to wear dress robes, but I encourage you all to dress in Muggle gowns and tuxedos. For further information on gowns and tuxedos, please consult with our Muggle Studies professor or one of your classmates. You will be able to purchase your clothes on our first trip to Hogsmeade, which is this weekend. That is all for now." Professor Dumbledore said before sitting back down in his seat.
"Who're you going to ask, Alina?" Megan asked, looking at her with challenging eyes.
"Yeah, who are you going to ask?" Harry asked, voice full of interest.
"Um...I'm not that type of girl. I want someone to ask me." Alina said, smirking at Megan.
"So you're the old-fashioned type of witch. I'm afraid I can't agree with you on that. I'll go and ask someone myself, without having to worry about all the suspense on whomever is going to ask me." Hermione said.
"Who are you going to ask?" Alina asked.
"Well, I don't know." Hermione said half-mindedly.
"I bet she wishes that Viktor Krum went to Hogwarts." Ron said.
"You have a crush on Viktor Krum the Quidditch player?" Megan asked Hermione.
"More like he had a crush on her. He asked her to the Yule Ball last year." Ron explained.
"What if nobody asks me!?" Penelope exclaimed. She was always the one to worry about boys. She could match to Ron's chick phase any day with all her talk of boys.
"Someone will ask you, Penny, don't worry." Harry assured. Alina was looking past Harry, with a stare cold as ice. "What?" Harry asked, looking back. Cho Chang was behind him, smiling sweetly. Behind her were her Ravenclaw friends, one being Camille. "Hullo, Cho." Harry said.
"Harry, I came all the way over here-"
"We're the table right next to yours. It's not that much of a walk." Alina said, keeping her stare. Cho ignored her and smiled widely at Harry.
"I just came over here to be the first, and only, one to ask you to accompany me to the Winter Ball." Cho said as her group of friends giggled giddily. Megan almost choked on her pumpkin juice, and Ron leaned over Alina to pat Megan's back as she coughed. Hermione finally became aware to what was going on and rolled her eyes, and Penelope sat, looking around, clueless as to what was going on.
"Cho..." Harry trailed. He wanted nothing more than to just reject her on the spot and let her know that the only girl he'd ever want to ask is Alina. But he feared what Alina's response to the whole thing would be. "Cho, I have to think about it. I'm sorry." Harry said.
"No. Don't be." Cho said, her glare growing fierce as she locked eyes with Alina. She wasn't even paying attention to Harry as she spoke. "I get what's going on. But don't worry, I know you'll make a good choice." She looked back down at Harry and smiled her sugarcoated smile, and quickly snapped her head to look back at Alina. She forced her teeth into a smile before leaving.
"That was strange." Ron said.
"I thought you wanted to go out with her. You fancy her, don't you?" Hermione asked.
"Look, I'm going off early. I have a question for Professor Snape about that *Pesticide* Away Potion. See you all down at the dungeons." Alina said briskly as she flung her bag over her shoulder. Soon, she was running out of the Great Hall.
"Now, that was strange, too." Ron said with his mouth full of toast.
"Yeah, I've never heard of a Pesticide Away Potion." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"That's not it. We'll go check on her, then we'll meet you down at the dungeons, too." Megan said as she grabbed Penelope by the arm. The two of them grabbed their bags and headed quickly for the doors. They stopped suddenly, and then Megan came running back to the Gryffindor table. "Say, Ron?" Megan asked. Ron looked up from his plate. His breath had caught in his throat as he anticipated what she was going to say to him. "Would you like to be my date for the Winter Ball?" Ron couldn't answer. He felt like crying tears of joy. Not only that, but he felt like he was going to keel over at any moment due to lack of air. Harry kicked Ron in the shin from across the table. Hermione looked up at Megan and smiled (not one of those sarcastic smiles either. What's gotten into Herm?)
"He'd love to go to the Ball with you, wouldn't you, Ron?" Hermione asked an air-lacking Ron.
"Yeah...I...I'd love to. It'd be an honor." Ron said, finally being able to speak. Megan looked just as shocked as Ron did. She took a couple steps backward before stumbling over her own feet. She recovered, and then started skipping away. "She asked me to be her date!" Ron exclaimed after she had left the Great Hall.
******
"Why did you turn down Cho Chang?" Ron asked Harry as soon as the made it to the corner of the common room and out of earshot of all the other Gryffindors.
"I don't know." Harry shrugged.
"You don't know!? I thought you were completely infatuated with her!" Ron exclaimed.
"Yeah Harry, why did you turn her down?" Hermione asked.
"You like someone else, don't you? Don't you? Why didn't you tell me?" Ron questioned.
"I can... I don't know... I really can't say... I'm not sure... Don't ask. Look, I'm committing, like, this major crime by sitting with her." Harry explained, and Hermione gasped.
"I knew it!" she said, pointing at Harry.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You... You like Alina Halliwell!" Hermione said her name in a hushed voice. Ron gasped.
"Why didn't I see it before?" Ron asked himself aloud. He gave Harry a slap on the back, "Why didn't you say anything? Well, since Megan is my date, I can pull some strings and see if she will get Alina to go to the Ball with you. I could ask Meg for the dirt on whether she likes you or not." Ron said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"But what happened with Cho?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. She's not like Alina. Alina's different." Harry said dreamily.
"Wait, shush!" Hermione hissed as they heard footsteps approaching. They looked behind them and saw Fred and George heading over.
"Mind if we take a seat?" Fred asked. Hermione shrugged and looked to Harry and Ron.
"Not at all." Harry said as the twins sat down across from the three.
"What brings you two down from your dorms? Wouldn't you two be up there working on things for your joke shop?" Ron asked. George blushed and Fred grinned.
"George is waiting for a certain girl. He's going to ask her to the Ball." Fred explained. Hermione and Harry nodded, and Ron tried to keep from laughing. The five of them then looked back to see Megan, Alina, and Penelope entering the common room. Ron's eyes darted to Harry, as did Hermione's. Harry scratched the back of his neck. "Oh well, guess that means we're off." Fred said, "Go on George, don't be a cowardly git." Fred and George got up and started heading to Penelope, Alina, and Megan.
"Oh look, George is going to ask Penelope to the Ball." Ron observed.
"No, Ron! He just asked Penelope and Megan to leave him and ALINA alone! Harry, George is going to ask Alina to the Ball!" Hermione exclaimed, and then she jumped from her seat. "Alina! WAIT! I've got to talk to you right this instant!" Hermione screeched. On her way over to Alina and George, she pushed little Dennis Creevey into another second year, and accidentally bumped into the table Neville was sitting at, causing his bottle of ink to spill into his potions homework, which resulted in a huge explosion.
"Hermione, it's got to wait, I'm talking to Alina right now." George said, trying to shoo Hermione away. But Hermione clung tightly to Alina's arm. She gave Alina a pleading face.
"Look Herm, I don't think George will take that long. When he's done, I'll go check with you pronto." Alina assured before she gave Hermione a small push. Hermione sighed and backed away. At least she could say she tried. "So, what was it you were going to say?" Alina asked, looking up at George. George was quite tall; about a head or more inches taller than she was.
"I," his ears turned pink, "was wondering if maybe you'd...you'd like to be my date for the Winter Ball." George said, sighing heavily after finally getting what he wanted to say out of his system. She gaped at him for a moment. Why was he asking her? A seventh year of all people was asking her! Even though there was something deep down inside her saying she should wait, she couldn't help it.
"I'd love to!" Alina exclaimed with a bubbly smile.
"Whoa...uh... Thank you!" George said awkwardly before turning to leave. But then he turned back to her and gripped her shoulders. He tilted his head and gave her a light peck on the cheek. He then ran over to Fred and then two of them hurriedly returned to their dormitory.
"What just happened?" Penelope asked as Alina brought a hand to her cheek.
"George Weasley just asked me to the Winter Ball!" Alina squealed.
"He kissed you." Megan said in repugnance.
"Oh shut up." Alina said as she almost floated over to the corner of the room where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were seated. Alina, Megan, and Penelope took a seat across from the trio.
"I'm telling you, he's got the face only a mother can love." Megan said.
"You're just jealous that you weren't asked by a seventh year." Alina teased, turning to look out the window.
"Did she really get asked to the Ball by George Weasley?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Yeah, believe it or not." Megan joked. She hadn't noticed the fallen faces of the Dream Team.
Harry heaved a sigh. He had lost his chance. Anybody could say that there's always next year, but it wouldn't be the same. This time next year, Alina would probably be George Weasley's girlfriend. He cursed the fact he spent too much time dreaming and not actually doing something.
He turned to Ron, whom tried to give him an understanding smile.
"Well, I've always got Cho Chang." He thought as he sighed, wishing he weren't in this predicament.
A/N: Ooh, wanna hear something cool? My school is actually going to be having a Winter Ball! Erm...I probably wouldn't have Harry Potter as my date or anything, but I have an idea of someone who I would like to attended the Ball with. ::cough, cough:: JOHN VALDEZ!!! ::cough, cough:: Now, where was I? Oh yeah. George and Alina. Ooh, I'm so bad. I know y'all want to see Harry and Alina, but it ain't gonna happen...YET!!! I guess that's my only spoiler for now. Oh, I've also got another twist hiding up my sleeve, but you'll have to wait for me to post the next chapter to see what's up. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Oh yes, and I have one big announcement before I sign off and go to bed: HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY, TOM FELTON!!! Tom's my sweetie, and I just had to send out the best of wishes to him. Muah! -Gryffindor Heiress
Not much to say today other than the fact that my computer teacher died on Thursday. The freaky thing is that she was totally...alive on Wednesday at my school's Back To School Night. It came as a shock to everyone, and I'm still trying to fully comprehend everything. It's scary, and it makes you think about how precious life is. As I write this A/N, looking down at my fingers hitting the keys on the keyboard, I can hear her voice in my head telling me not to look down at the keyboard when I type. I still don't touch-type. We were touch-typing in our last lesson.
In loving memory of Mrs. Bruno, the twelfth chapter of "Bouncing Off the Ceiling (Upside Down)" will be dedicated to her. Computer class will never be the same.
Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling (oh yeah, did y'all hear that Joanne is three-four months pregnant? Yippee!!!)
Chapter 12: Don't Let the Opportunity Pass You By
It was quite loud in the Great Hall that Monday morning. Some Gryffindors were buzzing on about the Quidditch try-outs, and who they thought would get the spot of Keeper. Almost all of Gryffindor had found out about the competition between Ron and Alina, and if someone hadn't heard of it, they'll eventually find out.
"I heard Ron Weasley took a Bludger to the head." One third year Gryffindor was telling his friends.
"Well, my sources tell me that Alina and Ron got into a fistfight after the try-outs. The best player would be able to survive the fight." Seamus said to Dean. Harry had to roll his eyes. Seamus couldn't be so wrong.
"What's everybody talking about? Alina and Ron got into a fight?" Hermione said, sitting in the spot next to Harry. Harry was surprised by Hermione's actions because for a while she hadn't been on speaking terms with Ron and him. He eyed her suspiciously. "What?" she asked.
"Well, look who crawled out of her shell. Where have you been?" Harry asked.
"Prefect business. And," Hermione said quickly, "I just needed alone time. Don't question it. But hey! Answer me. What's this with Alina and Ron? Weren't those try-outs over the weekend?"
"You've been keeping track? I didn't know you cared too much about Quidditch." Harry said.
"I care about a lot of things you don't know about." Hermione said mysteriously, "Do I have to ask you to answer me again?"
"Well, yeah, we had try-outs for the spot of Keeper. The best ones that tried out were Alina and Ron. So, we had a playoff. The best player would win. There was no mercy, either. Alina almost fell off her broom, and Ron did take a Bludger to the head. It seemed pretty competitive at first, but believe me it ended nicely. They should be here any minute." Harry explained as the Gryffindor table had all suddenly shushed. Harry and Hermione looked at each other quizzically and followed everyone's gazes over to the entrance of the Great Hall.
Alina and Ron were standing there, side-by-side, clueless as to why everyone was staring at them.
"Uh...good morning everybody." Alina said, smiling suspiciously. Ron stood there beside her, laughing stupidly and scratching the back of his head. The two of them then rushed over to the Gryffindor table and sat across from Hermione and Harry.
"Why is everyone looking at us like we committed a murder?" Ron asked.
"They're all talking about the try-outs." Hermione informed.
"Don't remind me." Alina said, waving her hand in the air before she started putting food on her plate.
"Hermione...what are you doing here!?" Ron asked. Hermione smiled weakly.
"It's nice to see you, too, Ron." Hermione said sarcastically.
"Oh, no! I mean where have you been? Were you ignoring me and Harry?" Ron asked.
"Harry and I." Hermione corrected.
"I wasn't ignoring you and Harry." Ron said. Harry snorted.
"Ron, I've just been busy. I'm sorry I haven't been around. Studying, you know." Hermione explained.
"We have nothing to study for, Herm." Alina said.
"Well...you may never know when a pop quiz turns up." Hermione said, obviously looking past Alina.
"What's..." Alina turned back to see what Hermione was looking at. It was Draco Malfoy looking right at the Gryffindor table. Alina turned back to Hermione and scrunched her nose. "Don't mind Malfoy. He's been holding a grudge against me for a while."
"Why's he all alone?" Harry asked.
"What?" Alina asked and looked back at Malfoy. Surprisingly, he wasn't surrounded with people other than Crabbe and Goyle. Erin and Mikaela were at the Slytherin table, but they were sitting with some seventh year boys while they giggled and spun their hair around their fingers. Camille was at the Ravenclaw table, chatting with some other Ravenclaws in a huddle. But Penelope and Megan were nowhere to be found.
The door to the Great Hall opened and Megan and Penelope strode in, right towards the Gryffindor table.
"Hey Finnigan, scoot your bum over." Megan said. Seamus was sitting next to Alina, and Megan squished between him to get next to Alina. Alina looked at Megan oddly. "Seamus, scoot down one more." Megan ordered, and Seamus did as told. Penelope sat down next to Megan.
"Since when did you sit with the decent people of the planet?" Alina asked.
"Malfoy's been a whiny bitch lately." Megan shrugged as she reached for a piece of toast.
"So you're willing to ditch a whiny baby for another baby." Alina said as she put her goblet down.
"But this other whiny baby we're speaking of is my best friend." Megan said, grinning.
"Okay, you lost me there." Ron said. Alina smacked Ron on the arm.
"I'm the whiny best friend." Alina said as she, Megan, and Penelope giggled. "Girls, I missed y'all. I've been hanging out with these two duds for so long that I almost went to the boys' dormitory one night instead of the girls'." Alina said as Megan, Penelope, Harry, Hermione, and Ron laughed.
"What's Malfoy been whining about?" Harry asked.
"He says nothing's fair. Everything's screwed up. You know, the usual. He wants the whole world dead. But he's been complaining a bit too much lately." Megan said.
"Yeah, Pansy Parkinson doesn't even want to sit with him anymore." Penelope said as Hermione smirked, "What?" Hermione didn't get the chance to answer, though. Professor Dumbledore had silenced the Great Hall.
"It's almost November, and we all know that December will be coming shortly. From all the positive feedback I've received from last year's Yule Ball, I have decided to add a little more merriment to our usual Hogwarts Christmas schedule. So, on December Twenty-Fourth, the Eve of Christmas, Hogwarts will be hosting their First-Ever Winter Ball." Professor Dumbledore happily announced. The silence over the students had ceased as they had begun little conversations amongst each other.
"What are we gonna wear!?" Parvati Patil squealed to Lavender Brown.
"Silence, please." Professor Dumbledore asked, putting his hands in the air to get everyone's attention once again. He cleared his throat. "Unfortunately for our first through third year students, this event is for our fourth years and up. But, if one of our younger students is asked by an older student, they are welcome to attend." Some younger students had groaned, or slapped their hands against their table in distaste. "To answer your question, Miss Patil," Professor Dumbledore had looked at Parvati at the Gryffindor table, and she blushed after realizing she had spoken that loud, "there will be a stretch in the dress code. Students are welcome to wear dress robes, but I encourage you all to dress in Muggle gowns and tuxedos. For further information on gowns and tuxedos, please consult with our Muggle Studies professor or one of your classmates. You will be able to purchase your clothes on our first trip to Hogsmeade, which is this weekend. That is all for now." Professor Dumbledore said before sitting back down in his seat.
"Who're you going to ask, Alina?" Megan asked, looking at her with challenging eyes.
"Yeah, who are you going to ask?" Harry asked, voice full of interest.
"Um...I'm not that type of girl. I want someone to ask me." Alina said, smirking at Megan.
"So you're the old-fashioned type of witch. I'm afraid I can't agree with you on that. I'll go and ask someone myself, without having to worry about all the suspense on whomever is going to ask me." Hermione said.
"Who are you going to ask?" Alina asked.
"Well, I don't know." Hermione said half-mindedly.
"I bet she wishes that Viktor Krum went to Hogwarts." Ron said.
"You have a crush on Viktor Krum the Quidditch player?" Megan asked Hermione.
"More like he had a crush on her. He asked her to the Yule Ball last year." Ron explained.
"What if nobody asks me!?" Penelope exclaimed. She was always the one to worry about boys. She could match to Ron's chick phase any day with all her talk of boys.
"Someone will ask you, Penny, don't worry." Harry assured. Alina was looking past Harry, with a stare cold as ice. "What?" Harry asked, looking back. Cho Chang was behind him, smiling sweetly. Behind her were her Ravenclaw friends, one being Camille. "Hullo, Cho." Harry said.
"Harry, I came all the way over here-"
"We're the table right next to yours. It's not that much of a walk." Alina said, keeping her stare. Cho ignored her and smiled widely at Harry.
"I just came over here to be the first, and only, one to ask you to accompany me to the Winter Ball." Cho said as her group of friends giggled giddily. Megan almost choked on her pumpkin juice, and Ron leaned over Alina to pat Megan's back as she coughed. Hermione finally became aware to what was going on and rolled her eyes, and Penelope sat, looking around, clueless as to what was going on.
"Cho..." Harry trailed. He wanted nothing more than to just reject her on the spot and let her know that the only girl he'd ever want to ask is Alina. But he feared what Alina's response to the whole thing would be. "Cho, I have to think about it. I'm sorry." Harry said.
"No. Don't be." Cho said, her glare growing fierce as she locked eyes with Alina. She wasn't even paying attention to Harry as she spoke. "I get what's going on. But don't worry, I know you'll make a good choice." She looked back down at Harry and smiled her sugarcoated smile, and quickly snapped her head to look back at Alina. She forced her teeth into a smile before leaving.
"That was strange." Ron said.
"I thought you wanted to go out with her. You fancy her, don't you?" Hermione asked.
"Look, I'm going off early. I have a question for Professor Snape about that *Pesticide* Away Potion. See you all down at the dungeons." Alina said briskly as she flung her bag over her shoulder. Soon, she was running out of the Great Hall.
"Now, that was strange, too." Ron said with his mouth full of toast.
"Yeah, I've never heard of a Pesticide Away Potion." Hermione said thoughtfully.
"That's not it. We'll go check on her, then we'll meet you down at the dungeons, too." Megan said as she grabbed Penelope by the arm. The two of them grabbed their bags and headed quickly for the doors. They stopped suddenly, and then Megan came running back to the Gryffindor table. "Say, Ron?" Megan asked. Ron looked up from his plate. His breath had caught in his throat as he anticipated what she was going to say to him. "Would you like to be my date for the Winter Ball?" Ron couldn't answer. He felt like crying tears of joy. Not only that, but he felt like he was going to keel over at any moment due to lack of air. Harry kicked Ron in the shin from across the table. Hermione looked up at Megan and smiled (not one of those sarcastic smiles either. What's gotten into Herm?)
"He'd love to go to the Ball with you, wouldn't you, Ron?" Hermione asked an air-lacking Ron.
"Yeah...I...I'd love to. It'd be an honor." Ron said, finally being able to speak. Megan looked just as shocked as Ron did. She took a couple steps backward before stumbling over her own feet. She recovered, and then started skipping away. "She asked me to be her date!" Ron exclaimed after she had left the Great Hall.
******
"Why did you turn down Cho Chang?" Ron asked Harry as soon as the made it to the corner of the common room and out of earshot of all the other Gryffindors.
"I don't know." Harry shrugged.
"You don't know!? I thought you were completely infatuated with her!" Ron exclaimed.
"Yeah Harry, why did you turn her down?" Hermione asked.
"You like someone else, don't you? Don't you? Why didn't you tell me?" Ron questioned.
"I can... I don't know... I really can't say... I'm not sure... Don't ask. Look, I'm committing, like, this major crime by sitting with her." Harry explained, and Hermione gasped.
"I knew it!" she said, pointing at Harry.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You... You like Alina Halliwell!" Hermione said her name in a hushed voice. Ron gasped.
"Why didn't I see it before?" Ron asked himself aloud. He gave Harry a slap on the back, "Why didn't you say anything? Well, since Megan is my date, I can pull some strings and see if she will get Alina to go to the Ball with you. I could ask Meg for the dirt on whether she likes you or not." Ron said, wiggling his eyebrows.
"But what happened with Cho?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know. She's not like Alina. Alina's different." Harry said dreamily.
"Wait, shush!" Hermione hissed as they heard footsteps approaching. They looked behind them and saw Fred and George heading over.
"Mind if we take a seat?" Fred asked. Hermione shrugged and looked to Harry and Ron.
"Not at all." Harry said as the twins sat down across from the three.
"What brings you two down from your dorms? Wouldn't you two be up there working on things for your joke shop?" Ron asked. George blushed and Fred grinned.
"George is waiting for a certain girl. He's going to ask her to the Ball." Fred explained. Hermione and Harry nodded, and Ron tried to keep from laughing. The five of them then looked back to see Megan, Alina, and Penelope entering the common room. Ron's eyes darted to Harry, as did Hermione's. Harry scratched the back of his neck. "Oh well, guess that means we're off." Fred said, "Go on George, don't be a cowardly git." Fred and George got up and started heading to Penelope, Alina, and Megan.
"Oh look, George is going to ask Penelope to the Ball." Ron observed.
"No, Ron! He just asked Penelope and Megan to leave him and ALINA alone! Harry, George is going to ask Alina to the Ball!" Hermione exclaimed, and then she jumped from her seat. "Alina! WAIT! I've got to talk to you right this instant!" Hermione screeched. On her way over to Alina and George, she pushed little Dennis Creevey into another second year, and accidentally bumped into the table Neville was sitting at, causing his bottle of ink to spill into his potions homework, which resulted in a huge explosion.
"Hermione, it's got to wait, I'm talking to Alina right now." George said, trying to shoo Hermione away. But Hermione clung tightly to Alina's arm. She gave Alina a pleading face.
"Look Herm, I don't think George will take that long. When he's done, I'll go check with you pronto." Alina assured before she gave Hermione a small push. Hermione sighed and backed away. At least she could say she tried. "So, what was it you were going to say?" Alina asked, looking up at George. George was quite tall; about a head or more inches taller than she was.
"I," his ears turned pink, "was wondering if maybe you'd...you'd like to be my date for the Winter Ball." George said, sighing heavily after finally getting what he wanted to say out of his system. She gaped at him for a moment. Why was he asking her? A seventh year of all people was asking her! Even though there was something deep down inside her saying she should wait, she couldn't help it.
"I'd love to!" Alina exclaimed with a bubbly smile.
"Whoa...uh... Thank you!" George said awkwardly before turning to leave. But then he turned back to her and gripped her shoulders. He tilted his head and gave her a light peck on the cheek. He then ran over to Fred and then two of them hurriedly returned to their dormitory.
"What just happened?" Penelope asked as Alina brought a hand to her cheek.
"George Weasley just asked me to the Winter Ball!" Alina squealed.
"He kissed you." Megan said in repugnance.
"Oh shut up." Alina said as she almost floated over to the corner of the room where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were seated. Alina, Megan, and Penelope took a seat across from the trio.
"I'm telling you, he's got the face only a mother can love." Megan said.
"You're just jealous that you weren't asked by a seventh year." Alina teased, turning to look out the window.
"Did she really get asked to the Ball by George Weasley?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Yeah, believe it or not." Megan joked. She hadn't noticed the fallen faces of the Dream Team.
Harry heaved a sigh. He had lost his chance. Anybody could say that there's always next year, but it wouldn't be the same. This time next year, Alina would probably be George Weasley's girlfriend. He cursed the fact he spent too much time dreaming and not actually doing something.
He turned to Ron, whom tried to give him an understanding smile.
"Well, I've always got Cho Chang." He thought as he sighed, wishing he weren't in this predicament.
A/N: Ooh, wanna hear something cool? My school is actually going to be having a Winter Ball! Erm...I probably wouldn't have Harry Potter as my date or anything, but I have an idea of someone who I would like to attended the Ball with. ::cough, cough:: JOHN VALDEZ!!! ::cough, cough:: Now, where was I? Oh yeah. George and Alina. Ooh, I'm so bad. I know y'all want to see Harry and Alina, but it ain't gonna happen...YET!!! I guess that's my only spoiler for now. Oh, I've also got another twist hiding up my sleeve, but you'll have to wait for me to post the next chapter to see what's up. MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Oh yes, and I have one big announcement before I sign off and go to bed: HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY, TOM FELTON!!! Tom's my sweetie, and I just had to send out the best of wishes to him. Muah! -Gryffindor Heiress
