Between keeping up with homework and Quiditch practice Harry hardly noticed when it neared the end of October.
"Harry, did you notice they haven't posted a notice for the Hogsmeade weekend yet?"
"What, Ron?"
"The Hogsmeade trip. The first trip to the village is usually Halloween weekend. Halloween is just over a week away and they haven't said anything about a trip yet."
The students that were third year and older could go to the nearby wizarding village of Hogsmeade on assigned days. The first day was usually around Halloween.
"I dunno why they haven't said anything."
"Think they won't let us go?"
"I dunno."

Three days later they received an answer to why there had been no word of a Hogsmeade visit.
Dumbledore stood to make the announcement. "Many of you have been wondering why there has been no mention of a Hogsmeade trip yet. That is because for the time being, all Hogsmeade trips are postponed. There will be no Hogsmeade trips until further notice. It has been deemed by the mayor of Hogsmeade that conditions are too dangerous for the time being to allow you to go to the village. In place of the Halloween Hogsmeade trip we will be having a Halloween Social. We are having a school dance! And I have another announcement."
Excited whispers broke out.
"Quiet, please. It will take place a week from yesterday at eight o'clock and it will end at midnight. The other announcement is that our exchange students will arrive that day. After the dance our students who will be going abroad will leave." Dumbledore was beaming as he sat down.
Ron turned to Harry with his mouth open in horror, "A dance."
"Another one?" moaned Harry. He was getting sick of these things. "This is the third time Hogwarts has been in a dance in three years."
"Students from those other schools are coming?" asked Renata.
"Yes, from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, Angel's Academy, and Salem Institute."
"How do you know, Hermione?"
"I was talking to Neville and the students going on the trip have been meeting with Dumbledore."
"Which four are going?"
"It's Justin Finch-Fletchly, Neville Longbottom, Kimberly Burke and Patrice that are going."
"Patrice who?"
"Clearwater. She's Penelope's sister."
"Do you know which school each of them is going to?"
"Justin is going to the Salem Institute. Neville is going to Renata's old school. Patrice is going to Beauxbatons, and Millicent is going to Durmstrang."
"Do you know the names of the students coming here?"
"Sorry, I don't know. So Hogwarts is having a dance."
"I can't believe we have to go to another one," Ron said in disgust.
Hermione said irritably, "If you don't want to go I don't think you have to. No one will force you. You could mope in the common room while the rest of us enjoy ourselves."
Harry looked at the girls sheepishly, "I don't think I'm going either."
"Why not?"
"I don't dance."
"Harry, you danced just fine last year," Renata told him.
Harry waved his hand dismissively. "It's just too much work."
Renata folded her arms. "Explain."
"Dancing."
"I already told you, you dance fine."
"Getting ready."
Renata laughed. "You could wear whatever you were wearing earlier that day and as for your hair, you never do anything to it anyway."
"Plus," he said uncomfortably, "there's also the trouble of finding a date."
Renata shrugged. "It's not that hard to get a date for a dance. Besides, what wrong with going solo? It's not as if you want to dance anyway."
"It's harder than you say!"
"Harry, what's so difficult about it?"
Harry mumbled something. Unfortunately Renata caught his words.
"Asking someone isn't that bad," she told him.
Ron stared at Renata, "What if she's already got a date? Or worse! What if she doesn't have one but just doesn't want to go with you?" he looked horrified at the idea of it.
"So? Then you ask someone else. Observe: Harry, would you like to go to the Halloween dance with me?"
Harry answered without thinking. "Okay."
"Great. See? Now, was that so bad? Talk to you later. Bye." Renata left the breakfast table.
Ron turned to Harry, "I think you just got a date for the dance you don't plan to go to!"
"What?"
"I think he's right, Harry," Hermione told him.
Harry was stunned. But that wasn't the only surprise. Harry came back into the common room late that night after trying to get Sirius to tell him about the students coming. Ron and Renata were the only two left in the common room. Their backs were toward Harry so they didn't know he was there.
"Ron, why don't you just ask her?"
"Are you crazy?"
"What's wrong with her? She's nice, she's pretty, and you're friends. Why don't you ask her?"
"It's not that easy."
"Just ask her. I'm sure she'll say yes."
"But what if she doesn't?"
"You won't know unless you ask. Want me to ask her for you?"
"NO!"
"Then I think you had better ask her."
Harry sneezed and Renata turned her head.
"Hi, Harry. We were just waiting up for you. I'm going to bed. See the two of you in the morning. Ron, don't forget what I said."
Harry almost asked who they'd been talking about but he thought better of it and silently followed Ron upstairs.
Over the next few days the halls buzzed with talk of the dance. Ginny seemed to try to talk to Harry several times the next day. She was trying to talk to Harry but she never got around to whatever she planned to say. The day after, Ginny came to talk to Harry on his way to breakfast.
"Harry, w-will you.Harry, d-do you want to go to the dance with me?"
Harry didn't know what to say except, "Sorry, Ginny, I'm going with someone."
"Oh. Who?"
"Renata."
"Oh. Okay."
When Seamus and Dean found out Harry was going to the dance with Renata they wouldn't let him live it down. It was even worse that they knew Ginny had asked him and he'd said no.
"So, I heard Ron's sister asked you to the dance," Seamus remarked.
Dean asked, "Did you say yes, Harry?"
"No," he answered simply.
"Why not?"
"Because I've already got a date for the dance." His face began to turn red.
"Who?"
"With Renata," he mumbled.
"I knew it! You like her. You like her."
"I never said that. She asked me to the dance and I just said yes."
"You're lucky though."
"Why?"
"Come on, it's Renata. The girl likes talking about Quiditch and she's pretty. Really good-looking. Didn't you ever notice that?"
"Not really." Of course Harry had noticed that Renata liked Quiditch, but as to whether or not she was pretty, Harry had never really considered the matter. They were friends and he left it like that, he didn't want to start thinking of her any other way.
As Halloween drew nearer the incessant hum of girls discussing their dresses and hair grew ever more powerful. Harry and Ron glanced at Renata across the lunch table. Parvati and Lavender were sitting nearby and were busily discussing how they would style their hair and what sort of dress robes they would wear.
Ron asked, "Renata, you don't seem to be too interested in the dance."
"Sure I am. I went through all the trouble of getting a date, didn't I? Why do you say that?"
"All the other girls are talking about their hair and junk. You're not."
"Why should I be?"
"The other girls are."
"Am I the other girls? I don't think so. But if you're so curious, I'll tell you. I'm dressing more on the casual side, I hate uncomfortable outfits. I'll do something to my hair but I'm not going waste hours on it, nor will I do anything to it that will give me a headache. Does that answer your question?"
"No."
"Too bad." She wouldn't say more on the subject, no matter how much Ron pestered her.

The day before the dance Harry asked Ron, "So, are you going to the dance?"
"Probably not." He shrugged. "I didn't ask anyone. I don't like dancing that much."
Renata said casually enough, "Well you could always ask a friend. I know Hermione doesn't have a date yet either. Although I did hear she got a few offers. Just a thought."
Ron shrugged again.
That night Harry had Quiditch practice. When, exhausted, he and the others got to the common room Renata noticed something. She nudged Harry and nodded over to two particular chairs. Harry followed her gaze.
Odd, thought Harry, Ron usually doesn't look so nervous when he talks to Hermione; he never looks nervous talking to her. Harry turned his gaze back to Renata. She wasn't where she'd been a moment ago. She was much nearer to the chairs where Ron and Hermione were. Harry shrugged and as he came near Harry looked for Renata again. She wasn't where she'd just been a few seconds ago. Harry didn't see her immediately. Harry shrugged and as he came still nearer to the chairs until he could here what was being said.
"Ron, I'm sorry but I don't know if I can go to the dance with you."
"Why? Y-you're going with someone else. Renata said you didn't have a date," Ron muttered.
"I don't have a date. Yet."
"Then why can't you go with me?"
"Because, I have to know. Do you really want to go with me to the dance or do you only want to go with me because it's the night before the dance and you don't have a date yet, Ron?" Hermione looked Ron in the eye waiting for an answer.
Harry watched Ron turn red and he found another direction in which to look. Unfortunately for Harry, it was his direction.
"Harry!"
Hermione's eyes flashed angrily. "You were eavesdropping on us!"
"No, I-"
"Harry, if we'd wanted you in the conversation we would have included you." With another angry glare Hermione left.
After a few seconds of muttering Ron left too.
Harry saw Renata sitting casually, leaning against the back of the chair where Ron had been sitting. Harry sat down on the ground next to her.
"Why did they yell at me and not you?"
"Harry, Harry, Harry, do you know nothing? A good spy is never caught. They couldn't see me sitting here. She wants to say yes, you know."

"Huh?"
"How dense are you, Harry?" She grinned at him. "Don't answer that. If you haven't figured it out, then, I am not going to waste my time telling you."