AN: This is a very very short chapter, I know, but I thought it stood on its own. I promise longer chapters in the future. Thanks to all who reviewed!

            Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!

Chapter 13: Jealousy and Payback

            Harry Potter awoke on Sunday, feeling worried. It took him a minute to remember why. Oh yes…a ball had been announced yesterday and the day before he and Ginny had had a fight. They had not spoken since their little spat, both opting to spend time with their friends and pretend like they didn't know the other existed. Now with Valentine's Day and this ball only nine days away, Harry was starting to feel like he might throw up.

            He knew he couldn't apologize to her, though. Apologizing would mean admitting he was wrong, and vowing to correct his error. Neither of these things appealed very much to him at the moment.

            He walked downstairs and joined Ron and Hermione for a quiet breakfast. They were all fairly tired from their romp in Hogsmeade the day before and there was a lot less energetic joking going on.

            Harry went back up to his dorm after breakfast, vowing to catch up on his Transfiguration essay that was due in two days. He had just pulled out his book and a piece of parchment when Seamus, Dean, and Neville walked through the door jabbering loudly about the ball. They're just as bad as the girls, Harry thought to himself. 

            "I asked Lavender," Seamus said proudly. "She said yes of course. Did either of you ask anyone yet?"

            Dean shook his head, but Neville spoke up quickly, wanting to let everyone know he had a date. "I asked Ginny and she agreed," he said.

            Hurt and anger went through Harry's mind at these words. One little fight and she was throwing him away for Neville. And Neville…going behind his back…but, Harry mused, they had never made their relationship very public, choosing to go on late night adventures and express their affections in other places. He had hugged her once or twice in the corridors, but really was it Neville's job to notice that? Still, all the logic in the world couldn't make Harry like Neville at that moment.

            Harry fought to keep the howl of anger inside. He wanted to scream and throw things and hit people…but there was only one thing that he could do now. He needed to find his own date to the ball. And he couldn't let on to Ginny that her date bothered him…she would apologize to him.

            He stomped out of the room, ignoring his dorm mates' queries about his date to the ball and thought back to last year's ball. How had he found a date? He had asked Parvati at the last second. He didn't think she would be too keen to go on another date with him. Fine, just, fine, Harry thought.

            He walked out of the common room and tried to think of a place where he could find a girl, any girl. He found himself wandering to the library. Oh yeah, great place to pick up girls Potter, the library. Not surprisingly, Hermione was there reading her Potions book and muttering about Antidotes. Harry amused himself for a moment, imagining the expression on Ron's face if he asked Hermione to the ball.

            Not even bothering to say hello to her, he left the library and walked to the Great Hall. It was almost lunch time. He could find someone…he would find-

            "Harry?" Someone said.

            He turned towards the voice. It was Lisa Turpin, a Ravenclaw whom Harry had never spoken too. "Oh, hi," he said. She had brown hair and very pretty blue eyes.

            "I was wondering if you had a date for the ball yet?" she asked timidly. Harry got the impression that she wasn't usually this shy, but was feeling kind of nervous. Someone else was like that when it came to him…someone else…Harry shook his head to clear those thoughts away. He didn't want to think of her.

            "No, no I don't," Harry said.

            "Well, I was wondering if you would like to come with me. That is, you don't have to, but I was thinking…just as friends, you know, we could-"

            "That would be perfect," Harry said, without another thought.

            Lisa smiled. "Great. I suppose I'll meet you in the Great Hall?"

            "Yes, fine," Harry muttered quickly. "Er…I have to go. I'll see you later," he said and attempted a bit of a grin.

            He walked away and smiled to himself. He had a date for the ball; a pretty girl had asked him. He sighed and smiled. Ginny would see him with her and hopefully he would be able to contain his jealousy longer than she could contain hers. That had been easier than he thought…getting a date. For once he was glad that he was Harry Potter.

AN: Please Review!