Chapter 8 ~ The All Hallows Eve Ball

It was the morning of October 31. Harry had been trying all month to get up enough nerve to ask Anistasia to the Halloween Dance. He wasn't doing very well. Ron, Hermione and Anistasia were sitting in the Great Hall having breakfast before their first class: Care of Magical Creatures. Harry sat down beside Ani.

"Hey, Harry," Ron exclaimed.

Harry didn't respond. He just stared at a single spot located all the way across the Hall.

"Hey, Earth to Harry."

Harry looked up quickly, "Um, yeah Ron?"

The bell rang and Harry stood up. Anistasia grabbed a croissant and followed him as he headed towards Hagrid's hut.

"Harry," Anistasia said as she caught up with him, "You didn't have breakfast. Are you feeling all right?"

Harry smiled and took the croissant, "Yeah, I am fine. Thanks."

Anistasia nodded and followed Harry to Hagrid's hut. They had the class with Ravenclaw. Harry stared at the ground the entire class. Same thing happened in Spells. Ani sat with him in both classes and, even though Harry wouldn't tell her, she knew exactly what was wrong with him. She seemed to notice that no one realized that Harry was a bit under the weather, either. They were all too hyped up about the ball. When Spells was over, Ani walked beside Harry. She walked with him as he led her towards Gryffindor Tower. Halfway there, he stopped.

"Anistasia, I am very much capable of going somewhere alone," he told her.

"I am sorry. I am worried about you, that's all," she replied, "Will you tell me what's bugging you so?"

"Nothing," he said, "I am just fine. Give me some time alone, okay?"

Anistasia nodded and walked off towards the library where she knew Ron and Hermione would be.

"Hello," she said walking up to them, "Are you still looking for the meaning of 'OP'?"

"Yeah," Ron replied, "But no luck. Where's Harry?"

"In Gryffindor Tower. Haven't you noticed him acting strangely today?"

"He acts like this every Halloween. Its okay," Hermione told Ani, "On this night fourteen years ago, Harry's parents were killed in Godric's Hollow by Lord Voldemort. He got his scar, defeated Voldemort and lost his parents on this night. I am sure that the events at the end of last school year are probably taking its toll right now as well."

Anistasia got a scared look on her face, "He's not going to do anything rash, is he?"

"Oh, no," Ron replied, "Don't worry about that. He will be just fine in the morning."

Anistasia nodded and continued to help them look.

"I am so happy Divination is cancelled," Hermione exclaimed.

Anistasia sighed, "Man, but I can't believe Astronomy is cancelled. The stars are supposed to be terribly pretty tonight."

The bell rang to signal the beginning of Arithmancy. Anistasia and Hermione looked for the entire hours, but Harry never showed. All classes after Arithmancy were cancelled. Hermione wanted to look more for the "OP" abbreviation.

"Give it a rest, Hermione," Anistasia begged, "we have a ball to get ready for."

"I can't," Hermione, answered, "I am sure we are close."

"Anistasia's right," Ron said, "We can look tomorrow."

"Just an hour, please, I am begging you. All we need is an hour. We'll pull out tons of books and begin looking. What we can't finish there, we can pack up to go."

Ani and Ron looked at Hermione. Finally, they gave in and rushed over to the library for the second time that day.

"Anistasia, you take that section, Ron, you take the section five shelves after that and I will pick up where we left off earlier," Hermione ordered.

They all did as planed and looked for almost two hours for anything that could give them a clue about "OP".

"Hey, guys, we had better pack this up to go," Ani said, walking up to Hermione and Ron who were at a table, reading, "The ball starts in two hours."

Hermione nodded and picked up a stack of about thirteen nice, thick books. Ron followed with about eighteen and Anistasia with twenty-one. Madam Pince gave the three of them weird looks as she took note of the books they were checking out and they were off to Gryffindor Tower.

Anistasia and Hermione laid their books on their beds and began to get ready for the ball. Hermione's robes were scarlet with gold trim. Anistasia's robes were made out of silk and were emerald green colored with black trim. They took a long time with their hair and make up, but they believed that it was well worth it.

Ron had left for the ball without them and Harry was, evidently, still getting ready. Ani and Hermione walked down there with each other.

"Hey, Ani," Fred said when he saw her, "Care to dance?"

Anistasia smiled and nodded. Incubus was the live band that was playing. "I Wish You Were Here" was blasting through the Great Hall. Fred led her out onto the dance floor. Hermione and Ron joined them a bit later.

"Have you seen Harry," Anistasia yelled over "Drive".

"No, he might be in the courtyard," Hermione replied.

Ani sighed, "I am going to look for him. Thanks for the dance, Fred."

Fred nodded and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Ani left the Great Hall, but didn't know where to look for Harry. Therefore, letting her instincts carry her, Anistasia found herself entering Gryffindor Tower. In the Common Room, Harry was sitting on the couch. He was in black dress robes and twirling an orange rose in his hand. Then, he brought his hand to the rose petals and began pulling them out, one by one.

"She loves me…she loves me not…" Harry was mumbling as each petal sailed to the common room floor.

Ani walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Harry…"

He looked startled as he turned towards Anistasia.

"What are you doing in here? Why aren't you at the ball," she asked.

Harry shrugged, "I am trying to work up the courage to ask you to the dance."

Anistasia smiled, "Well, while you work on that, why don't you and I go flying. It is such a beautiful night. What do you say?"

He looked up at her with a grateful look on his face, "Yes, I would like that."

The two of them, with their brooms, headed out towards the Pitch. Halfway there, they decided to take to the air.

"I have never been flying at night," Anistasia told Harry as she gazed at the stars, "My parents never allowed me to. I have always wondered, since I was little, if I could actually fly high enough to touch the stars. Oh, look over there, Harry. Isn't the castle gorgeous?"

"It's a beautiful scene, but not nearly as beautiful as you."

Anistasia turned to Harry, wondering if she had heard him correctly.

"You know, Ani," Harry continued, "Once I laid eyes on you, on the train, I knew that you had to be mine. I thought that I would never have a chance with you. Well, now, I am here, going out on a limb, to see if you feel the same as I do and hoping that you'll be my girlfriend."

Anistasia was shocked by Harry's sudden confession of his feelings for her. They sat there, hovering over the lake. Harry began to get uneasy.

"Well, are you going to say anything?"

"Harry, I," Anistasia began, "I…I do have feelings for you. I do want to be your girlfriend. Yes, I would be honored."

Harry smiled as the two of them flew down to an abandoned area of the grounds.

"Lets go in there and dance," Anistasia said.

Harry escorted Anistasia into the Great Hall.

"This is the last song of the night, so grab your witch or wizard and apparate onto the dance floor," Brandon Boyd, the lead singer from Incubus, announced.

Ani and Harry walked into the middle of the dance floor. Ani put her arms around his neck and Harry put his arms around her waist. He held her close as Incubus began to play "Echo". Ani laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

~*There's something about the look in your eyes*~

~*Something I notice when the light is just right*~

After a moment, Harry looked down at Anistasia and said, "Look around and tell me who we are making jealous."

~*Could you show me dear*~

~*Something I'm not seeing*~

~*Something infinitely interesting*~

Without a moment's thought, Ani replied, "Everybody."

~*There's something about the way you move*~

~*I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing*~

~*More subtle than something someone contrives*~

~*Your movements echo that I have seen the real thing*~

As the song was ending and Harry and Anistasia looked into each other's eyes. Time seemed to stand still. In one swift movement, Harry's lips touched Anistasia's. Nothing seemed to move – nothing but them.