Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note (8/15/03): I will be away for a couple of days but I will update as soon as I can when I get back.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Halloween Ball
As usual, Hogwarts looked very festive when October 31st rolled around. This year was a bit different however, as the teachers and other staff were all preparing the upcoming Halloween Ball. Harry and Ron were completely different than when they were preparing for the Yule Ball; they both had built in dates, and they liked that fact. Dancing didn't seem like it would be too much of a chore with Hermione and Ginny. Basically any excuse to have them closer made Ron and Harry happy.
When the students learned that the Halloween Ball was actually a costume party, they scrambled into Hogsmeade on the first weekend they were allowed to buy costumes. Hermione and Ginny had insisted on keeping theirs a secret from their respective dates, and they told Ron and Harry to do the same. Of course, Ron and Harry were baffled as to what to choose for themselves, but they felt that they managed fairly well.
On the day of the ball, dinner was served early for all the younger students, who were then going to go off and participate in various games on the Hogwarts grounds, on Dumbledore's request that they have something fun to do as well as those attending the ball. Hermione and Ginny headed up to their dormitories to get ready for the party early, leaving Ron and Harry downstairs in the common room, where Ron proceeded to beat Harry in chess a record 12 times (Harry won twice though).
At seven forty five, Harry and Ron were in their costumes (having decided fifteen minutes earlier to get ready) and waiting for Ginny and Hermione. All around them, other people from their year were also getting ready, some waiting for dates, and some leaving to meet dates from other houses.
"They've been up there for hours," Ron complained. "You think they could come down on time." Harry nodded, and he looked up the stairs for any sign of Ginny coming down. Finally, he could see footsteps, and soon the boys were greeted by Hermione and Ginny.
"You look really nice," said Ron when Hermione was in front of him. Then he looked confused. "Who are you?"
"Alice," Hermione said. "From 'Alice in Wonderland.'" Ron still looked confused. "It's a muggle book," Hermione explained.
"Oh," was all Ron said, and he noticed Hermione was surveying his costume.
"Honestly Ron, couldn't you have put more thought into YOUR costume?" Hermione asked, when she noticed Ron - and Harry, for that matter - was dressed as a Quidditch player. "This is your Quidditch uniform."
"Yes, but I improved it," said Ron. "I've made it a Chudley Canons uniform!" Hermione had to smile; he was obviously proud of the effort he had made. "Besides," he continued. "If I have to go to a ball, then I want to wear something I'm comfortable in."
Harry praised Ginny's costume as well. She was dressed as someone from a 1950's sock hop, a concept Hermione had explained to her. Basically Ginny had bought it because she liked the pink skirt with the poodle on it. "Should we go?" Harry asked. He held out his arm for Ginny to take. Ron did the same and they headed for the portrait hole.
* * *
The first thing the four noticed was that the Great Hall was set up very differently from when they attended the Yule Ball. There were no formal tables this time, just benches along three of the walls and a large table filled with food where the staff table usually should. Already Ron and Harry knew that they were going to enjoy this ball much more than the last one they had attended; this was so much more informal, and it was fun to see everybody in their costumes.
"Fred and George would have loved this!" Ginny exclaimed. "Too bad they're here to enjoy it."
"Who says we're not?" came a voice from behind her, surprising the four. They turned to see Fred and George standing in the doorway of the Great Hall.
"What ARE you doing here?" Ron asked.
"Mum asked us to come.. keep an eye on ickle Ronnikins," Fred said, and then laughed.
"Really?" Ron asked.
Fred and George laughed. "No! Professor Dumbledore hired us. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is supplying all the jokes and party favors tonight. And we're being paid handsomely," said George.
"And we get to attend," said Fred. "Along with our dates, of course." Angelina and Katie soon appeared.
"It's good to be back here," Angelina said. "You don't know how much you miss it when you graduate." Then she looked at Fred. "Or just leave in defiance."
"Best decision we ever made," said George.
"Yeah, they're famous around here," said Ron. "I imagine that doesn't hurt business at all."
"No it doesn't," said George. "We're always busy!"
"That's good to hear," said Harry, glad that his investment was being put to good use.
"Well, what are we all talking here for?" Fred asked, as the music started. "Let's dance!" With that, he pulled Angelina onto the dance floor.
"Come on," Ron said to Hermione.
"You really want to dance?" she asked in disbelief.
"Just with you," he said. "I don't have to dance with anyone else, right?"
Hermione laughed. "No, you don't. Let's go."
Harry and Ginny were now standing by themselves. "Well, I suppose that leaves us only one option, huh?" Harry asked.
"Go somewhere more private?" Ginny asked.
"Well," Harry said. "Tempting as that is, I don't really want to with three of your brothers here."
Ginny laughed, "Okay," she said, "but I don't think you have anything to worry about. They like you."
"Still," said Harry. "Let's just dance."
"Great," said Ginny, and she took Harry's offered hand and they joined their friends.
The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. They ate, drank, danced and had a good time, enjoying the magic of the evening.
Author's Note (8/15/03): I will be away for a couple of days but I will update as soon as I can when I get back.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Halloween Ball
As usual, Hogwarts looked very festive when October 31st rolled around. This year was a bit different however, as the teachers and other staff were all preparing the upcoming Halloween Ball. Harry and Ron were completely different than when they were preparing for the Yule Ball; they both had built in dates, and they liked that fact. Dancing didn't seem like it would be too much of a chore with Hermione and Ginny. Basically any excuse to have them closer made Ron and Harry happy.
When the students learned that the Halloween Ball was actually a costume party, they scrambled into Hogsmeade on the first weekend they were allowed to buy costumes. Hermione and Ginny had insisted on keeping theirs a secret from their respective dates, and they told Ron and Harry to do the same. Of course, Ron and Harry were baffled as to what to choose for themselves, but they felt that they managed fairly well.
On the day of the ball, dinner was served early for all the younger students, who were then going to go off and participate in various games on the Hogwarts grounds, on Dumbledore's request that they have something fun to do as well as those attending the ball. Hermione and Ginny headed up to their dormitories to get ready for the party early, leaving Ron and Harry downstairs in the common room, where Ron proceeded to beat Harry in chess a record 12 times (Harry won twice though).
At seven forty five, Harry and Ron were in their costumes (having decided fifteen minutes earlier to get ready) and waiting for Ginny and Hermione. All around them, other people from their year were also getting ready, some waiting for dates, and some leaving to meet dates from other houses.
"They've been up there for hours," Ron complained. "You think they could come down on time." Harry nodded, and he looked up the stairs for any sign of Ginny coming down. Finally, he could see footsteps, and soon the boys were greeted by Hermione and Ginny.
"You look really nice," said Ron when Hermione was in front of him. Then he looked confused. "Who are you?"
"Alice," Hermione said. "From 'Alice in Wonderland.'" Ron still looked confused. "It's a muggle book," Hermione explained.
"Oh," was all Ron said, and he noticed Hermione was surveying his costume.
"Honestly Ron, couldn't you have put more thought into YOUR costume?" Hermione asked, when she noticed Ron - and Harry, for that matter - was dressed as a Quidditch player. "This is your Quidditch uniform."
"Yes, but I improved it," said Ron. "I've made it a Chudley Canons uniform!" Hermione had to smile; he was obviously proud of the effort he had made. "Besides," he continued. "If I have to go to a ball, then I want to wear something I'm comfortable in."
Harry praised Ginny's costume as well. She was dressed as someone from a 1950's sock hop, a concept Hermione had explained to her. Basically Ginny had bought it because she liked the pink skirt with the poodle on it. "Should we go?" Harry asked. He held out his arm for Ginny to take. Ron did the same and they headed for the portrait hole.
* * *
The first thing the four noticed was that the Great Hall was set up very differently from when they attended the Yule Ball. There were no formal tables this time, just benches along three of the walls and a large table filled with food where the staff table usually should. Already Ron and Harry knew that they were going to enjoy this ball much more than the last one they had attended; this was so much more informal, and it was fun to see everybody in their costumes.
"Fred and George would have loved this!" Ginny exclaimed. "Too bad they're here to enjoy it."
"Who says we're not?" came a voice from behind her, surprising the four. They turned to see Fred and George standing in the doorway of the Great Hall.
"What ARE you doing here?" Ron asked.
"Mum asked us to come.. keep an eye on ickle Ronnikins," Fred said, and then laughed.
"Really?" Ron asked.
Fred and George laughed. "No! Professor Dumbledore hired us. Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is supplying all the jokes and party favors tonight. And we're being paid handsomely," said George.
"And we get to attend," said Fred. "Along with our dates, of course." Angelina and Katie soon appeared.
"It's good to be back here," Angelina said. "You don't know how much you miss it when you graduate." Then she looked at Fred. "Or just leave in defiance."
"Best decision we ever made," said George.
"Yeah, they're famous around here," said Ron. "I imagine that doesn't hurt business at all."
"No it doesn't," said George. "We're always busy!"
"That's good to hear," said Harry, glad that his investment was being put to good use.
"Well, what are we all talking here for?" Fred asked, as the music started. "Let's dance!" With that, he pulled Angelina onto the dance floor.
"Come on," Ron said to Hermione.
"You really want to dance?" she asked in disbelief.
"Just with you," he said. "I don't have to dance with anyone else, right?"
Hermione laughed. "No, you don't. Let's go."
Harry and Ginny were now standing by themselves. "Well, I suppose that leaves us only one option, huh?" Harry asked.
"Go somewhere more private?" Ginny asked.
"Well," Harry said. "Tempting as that is, I don't really want to with three of your brothers here."
Ginny laughed, "Okay," she said, "but I don't think you have anything to worry about. They like you."
"Still," said Harry. "Let's just dance."
"Great," said Ginny, and she took Harry's offered hand and they joined their friends.
The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. They ate, drank, danced and had a good time, enjoying the magic of the evening.