Chapter 15:
Red Sky at DawnIn the following weeks after that wonderfully eventful Quidditch match, the weather turned slightly frosty. Since Christmas was fast approaching the weather was making up for lost time. The Hogwarts grounds were covered in large amounts of snow and ice, piling high with snow and ice. Hills became mountains and lowlands became dangerous crevices that the students of Hogwarts had to learn to avoid.
Despite the enchanting glow of the frosted windows and the longing to play in the snow, the students of Hogwarts huddled inside, where they hoped to stay at least remotely warm. Ginny above all wanted to go out into the snow, but the fact of being so cold and becoming lost in the drifts kept her inside. But, as dire times came, the incredibly brave (or the incredibly stupid) wandered outside to seek the wonders of the winter wonderland. Normally, if it was a clear day, and you were situated next to the window in the Gryffindor common room, you would have prize winning seats of watching a crevice of snow open up and see a hat attached to an unlucky head poke out through the soft white fluff. Normally, the crazy patrons of these actions were found shivering in the Hospital wing with a cup of Pepperup Potion clutched in their hands.
Although these distractions were delightful in themselves, a more challenging task awaited to students of Hogwarts. A task that only the daring and confidant would triumph over and the cautious would fall behind. A task that made every thing in their lives seem diminutive and laugh worthy. A task that would seem the hardest in their lives, well, until next year. All Hogwarts males in fourth year and above were nervously walking down the halls, avoiding all eye contact with females. If by chance did they gather the courage to ask the person of their desire, they became horribly clumsy and amusingly mute. The days get on flying by and the date of the ball kept on coming closer to the date on the calendar.
Harry sat on a plush couch in the Gryffindor common room with many thoughts flirting around in his head. The object of most his thoughts sat beside him concentrating on her Potions homework. Harry twirled his quill around in his fingers, muttering under his breath. He knew that he wanted to go with Ginny, and it was pretty clear that she wanted to go with him, yet, despite his reassurances from Ron, he couldn't help but be nervous whenever he got the idea to ask this lovely creature who was his girlfriend.
"Umm… Ginny? Can I, uhh… ask you something?" He managed to stammer.
Ginny looked up instantly. "Sure Harry, go ahead."
"Umm… would you, uh, like to go to the ball with me?"
Ginny leaped towards him, burrowing her head in the side of his neck, hugging him tightly. Harry, shocked at first, began to smile and held her back until she calmed down, slightly. "I'd love to go with you. I could never say 'no'."
Harry grinned and kissed her lips softly. "Great."
Ginny looked quizzical for a moment. "Why'd you take so long to ask me?"
"Fear of rejection." Harry smiled, placing her in front of him to encircle his arms around her. "Why do you think Ron hasn't asked Hermione yet?"
~*~
Ron procrastinated his duty of asking Hermione to the ball until two days before the actual event. Luckily, Ginny took the initiative of telling Hermione of Ron's plans so the girl could politely turn down any offers that might come her way. Both Ron and Hermione played the same scene that happened between Ginny and Harry earlier that month.
Toast, eggs and bacon flew across the Gryffindor table as a squealing Hermione hurdled herself at Ron. Both Ginny and Harry ducked, not letting unwanted eggs settle in their robes.
"Of course I'll go with you!" Hermione grinned, attaching herself to Ron.
"G-good." Ron flushed happily, leaning down to kiss Hermione gently on the lips.
Hermione began to kiss him back and the two teenagers in question quickly became engrossed with each other, oblivious to their surroundings. Looking back towards Hermione and Ron, Ginny flushed red, and strategically averted her eyes. It was one thing to see two other people besides Harry and her involved in, err, activities such as that. But to see her brother and a good friend of hers involved in that and at such an early hour, Ginny wished herself anywhere but there. Also with Harry as a companion.
A groan from the left of her brought her back from her thoughts. Neville was trying, but not succeeding, to get grape jelly from one of Hermione's pieces of toast out of his hair. Ginny laughed, breaking the attention of the couple sitting opposite her.
"O-oops. Sorry Neville." Hermione said, now blushing from a different reason.
Harry smiled, motioning back towards Hermione and Ron with a nod of his head. "You're just lucky Fred and George aren't here, you'd never live it done."
~*~
The day of the Christmas Ball, which was being held on Christmas Eve, instead of the actual day of Christmas compared to the previous year, found that certain quartet of teenagers resting in the common room, talking and watching Ron and Harry duel it out in a ferocious game of wizard's chess. Ron was actively involved in the game, determined to beat Harry. Harry, who was almost as involved in the game as Ron moments ago was now more focused on the redhead that leaned against his chest. Moving his attentions to Ginny, he didn't notice the lucky moves that Ron played, winning the game in two strategically placed moves.
Hermione gave a nod at Ginny, moving her head towards the clock in the corner of the common room. Ginny nodded rising onto her feet. Kissing Harry's cheek softly she moved away, out of reach.
"Hermione and I are going to get ready now." She said, explaining her movement.
Hermione nodded her agreement, moving as if to get up as well. Ginny walked towards the stairs, and then paused momentarily, not turning around. Sighing, she placed her hands upon her rounded hips.
"Hermione." She said, exasperation in her voice.
"Mmm…" Answered the girl in question.
"You'll see him soon enough, and besides, he's my brother…" Harry laughed at that statement.
"Fine…" She followed Ginny up the stairs, and by the top of them, both girls we giggling together, whispering sacred secrets.
Harry sighed and lounged out on the couch, looking forward to a nap before he, himself had to change for the ball.
"Harry?"
"Hmm..." He answered, eyes drifting shut.
"How long do you think it takes them to get ready?"
"What do you mean?"
Ron glanced at the clock in the corner of the common room. "The ball starts in five hours."
~*~
Indeed, it was five hours until the boys began to shift nervously in the common room, waiting for their dates to arrive. The room was filled with Gryffindor boys, as well as some of their dates, waiting until they wanted to grace the ball with their presence. Both Harry and Ron were waiting by the stairs, relishing in the delights of small talk.
Despite the threats to Ron's wardrobe made by Fred and George at the end of last year, Harry had to admit, they had picked well for their younger brother. His robes were a deep sapphire, cuffed with and off-white, and cream lining. The darkness of the blue set off with his hair quite well, and to both Harry and Ron's relief, there was not a bit of lace to be found on them. Even with this calm reassurance, Ron could not help shifting back and forth from his right to his left foot.
Harry also had new robes, due to him growing slightly over the summer. They were green like his previous robes from last year, but they were darker, almost as green as the depths of the sea. The robes set off his eyes, making them seem brighter and more vibrant then normal. The lining of the robes, as well as the cuffs was shiny silver. It added a certain look of sophistication to the complimenting dress robes.
Looking to the left of him, trying not to laugh as Neville almost tripped due to somewhat long dress robes, Harry couldn't help but feel sorry the shy but pretty fourth year that accompanied him to the ball. Glancing back up the stairs for a moment, he had to pause and recollect himself, for his breath got caught in his throat. Standing there were Hermione and Ginny, and to Harry's most collected thoughts, five hours was most defiantly worth the wait.
Hermione was dressed in a dark amethyst, showing off her womanly curves. Her hair was in sleek curls, twisting around into a complicated looking knot. Curls were framing her face, shaped so that they fell around the linear of her chin. Her eyes were brought out with faint and shimmering eye shadow, making them look extra bright. For a moment, he almost wished he wasn't involved with anybody, well, until he glanced at Ginny.
The youngest Weasley was looking like a gift from the mighty Heavens, in Harry's opinion. She wore a amber robe, matching the redness in her hair. It seemed that Ron was not the only sibling to benefit from Fred and George's newfound wealth. Her natural curls were brought back from her delicate face, showing off her high cheekbones. Her eyes were decorated with a shiny gold eye shadow, matching both the gold-ish tint in her hair as well as in her eyes. The thing that caught Harry eyes, was that as she moved down the stairs, the necklace that Harry had given her at the beginning of the year slipped out, creating a twinkle in the firelight. She smiled at Harry as she walked down the stairs.
"Worth the wait." She said, keeping her voice low.
Harry swallowed, grinning at the beauty in front of him. "More then worth it."
Seeing that Ron was greeting Hermione in the same way, he motioned towards the door at the other side of the common room. Ron nodded offering Hermione his arm, smiling she took him, leaning up to kiss him softly. Harry did the same for Ginny and received the same results.
"Shall we go then?" Harry asked, tilting an eyebrow.
Ginny grinned, "Of course."
~*~
When they entered the Great Hall, none of the teenagers in question could help but gape at the brilliant decorations. Christmas trees were placed around the large room, with twinkling lights and decorations upon them. Small tables instead of the long regular table were covering the floor. Boughs of free green pine trees were hung in the doorways, and if the students looked up, it seemed to have the effect of it snowing.
Following both Ron and Hermione to a table, Ginny and Harry had the leisure to look around. Seeing Malfoy and his cronies in the corner, Harry smirked and noted that Ciaran was among them. Since that confrontation between both Harry and Ciaran from weeks ago, Harry noticed a lot of drifty looks coming his way from that exchange student. But deciding that a night such as this was not a night to be to be bothered with such trifle things, Harry just ignored those thoughts and enjoyed his company.
The night was wonderful in itself, and Harry couldn't picture himself enjoying it as much as he had with anyone but Ginny. Much to Harry's disappointment though, he still hadn't mastered the art of dancing since the year before. Ginny reassured him that he wasn't the worst, but Harry made a promise to himself that he would eventually learn how. The night passed quickly, and it wasn't long before Dumbledore created some red and green fireworks with his wand just after midnight, signaling that the night had come to an end.
As students left the Great hall with resigned sighs, Harry pulled Ginny of to the right, escaping the drove of students that followed out after them. Placing a finger on her lips before moving them away, he took her by the hand to a door that led to the outside. A tug made him look back. He raised his eyebrows in question.
"Where are we going?" Ginny whispered, trying hard to keep her voice down.
"Outside." He whispered back.
"But it's cold!"
"Just trust me, I have a surprise." Harry said, smiling mischievously.
Ginny nodded and allowed herself to be shown forward into the cold. Expecting a blast of cold air, Ginny Tried to keep closer to Harry. But to her surprise, she didn't feel a change in temperature at all as she stepped out into the snow. Surprising her even more was the fact that she didn't seem to be stepping on the snow, but overtop of it.
"Harry?" She asked, wondering what was going on.
"We're in a bubble." He answered, knowing what she'd ask. He turned around and grinned. "I know you wanted to come outside, well now you can and still stay remotely warm."
Ginny grinned and stepped forward to hug Harry, "Thank you." She whispered.
"I could never deny you something you wanted so much." He spun around with Ginny in his arms, facing them both towards the open grounds. After a moment or two of silence, Ginny spoke.
"How long does the bubble last?" She asked, snuggling closer towards him.
"Until I vanish it."
"How long will that be?"
"Until you want to leave." Harry said, pressing his lips to the top of her head.
"I hope you like the outdoors."
~*~
I was just before dawn when Ginny woke up; relishing in the fact that she was in Harry's arms still. The sun was just below the horizon, so only a light pink could be seen atop the Forbidden forest. A cut on her arm suddenly made her yelp. She looked down to see a line that appeared to be a paper cut run and inch along her forearm. Searching in the sleeve of her robe for the object that caused her pain, Ginny found nothing.
Harry who must have heard her make some sort of noise woke up, and glanced around them. "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing, I just cut myself somehow." Ginny winced, holding her hand over it.
Harry took her arm and removed her hand. He ran a finger over it, and as the finger moved a patch of fresh pink skin replaced it. Ginny sat there holding her arm in shock.
"What did you just do?"
"Fixed your cut."
"How?" She asked, stilled dumbfounded.
"I don't know yet, but I'm going to find out eventually. I do know that it had something to do with this little medallion thing-a-mid-jig." He grinned, "It's fine now, as long as nothing new decides to jump out at me."
Ginny, being still half asleep lost her attention on Harry and began to look at the rising sun. Pink, red and orange hovered over the horizon, making it seem magical.
"Harry, it's beautiful." She breathed. Ginny turned back to look at her boyfriend, but instead of a look of amazement and delight, she found a furrowed brow and worry in his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"It just reminds me of a old muggle saying," he said. "Red sky at night, sailor's delight." He paused, looking back towards her now healed arm. "Red skies at morning, sailor's take warning." Frowning, he stated. "Do you think somebody's trying to warn us?"
To be Continued….
Author's Note: Due to the unfortunate lack of reviews, I won't answer everyone separately this time. Also, I'd like to apologize to those of you who are reading this for the long intervals between updates again. Partly it is my fault, but this time I am also placing the blame on my younger brother… but I'll deal with him later when I regain my patience. Thanks again, and please read and review.