Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. Sorry, I couldn't think of a poem.

HOLD YOU UNTIL I DIE

Chapter eleven: The Dearest to Me

Winter came and with it, was talk of the Yule Ball. Everyone was excited, as they were every year before. Ginny hadn't much thought about it. Still fresh in her mind was her walk with Harry in Hogsmeade as she sat by herself in the common room.

"Hey, Gin," Harry began, walking up to her. "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Yule Ball with me. It ought to be real fun."

Ginny looked at him in surprise.

"I figured you'd ask Cho," she said quietly, looking away so he wouldn't see her blushing.

"I would have asked her, but-"

Ginny glanced up at Harry.

"But, I think someone already asked her," Harry explained.

Ginny lowered her eyes. She wasn't Harry's first choice. There was this sinking feeling in her heart.

"Anyway, I thought we could have great fun," Harry told her.

Ginny tried to smile, saying, "It does sound like fun. I will go with you."

"Great!" Harry exclaimed, patting her on the head.

He walked over to where Hermione and Ron sat in the corner. Ginny stared after him sadly.

*****************

Ginny opened her wardrobe door and looked over the beautiful light blue dress. Reaching over and gently touching the soft fabric, she knew she would look wonderful in it. It might even give Harry the hint that she was the dream girl. He probably wouldn't even notice, though. Ginny walked over and sat on her bed, staring across the room at the dress. It was likely that Harry would spend the entire night watching Cho.

"You must have gone in debt to get that," Carley muttered as she walked in the room.

Ginny just shrugged.

"Of course, my dress for the Yule Ball is twice as elegant as that one," Carley said snottily. "Yes, me and Edward Fillings will be dancing the night away. Did I mention that Edward Fillings was taking me to the ball? He's one of the richest wizards in Wales."

"Really?" Ginny asked with disinterest.

"Yes," Carley went on. "His friend Robert Burleigh asked Cho to go. I thought it would be great fun, me and Cho having some of the richest guys at the dance, but she refused for some odd reason. And do you know what that reason was?"

"I can't imagine," Ginny said, almost yawning.

"It's because she was waiting around for Harry Potter to ask her," Carley told her.

Ginny glanced at her in surprise.

"Then he went and asked someone else instead," Carley continued. "Can you believe that?'

"Utterly shocked," Ginny said, feeling a tingling feeling all over.

Harry had wanted her. If he really wanted to go with Cho, he would have made sure she had already been asked. But he wasn't sure and asked Ginny anyway. Ginny was so happy she could have hugged Carley. Instead, she ran over to her wardrobe and took the dress off the hanger. She held it up to herself and looked in the full-length mirror.

"What's with you?" Carley asked with an eyebrow raised. "You look like I actually said something nice to you."

"Could you go away?" Ginny requested pertly. "I do have some dressing to do."

"Don't tell me you're going to the ball," Carley laughed. "I mean, who would ask you?"

"You'll see at the ball," Ginny muttered happily.

"Oh, whatever," Carley grumbled. "You're probably going with Neville Longbottom or some such fungus of your same status. It's not like I care at all."

Carley stomped out of the room and slammed the door. Ginny smiled at this, then began to get ready for the ball. She came down to the common room, wearing the blue dress and having her hair curled like in the dreams. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were standing and talking. Ron saw her first and stared with disbelief. Hermione smiled and got excited when she saw Ginny. Harry turned upon seeing the looks on the other two's faces.

"Ginny?" he asked, thunderstruck.

"You look great, Ginny," Hermione complimented. "Don't you think so, guys?"

"Blimey, yes!" Harry exclaimed.

Ron just continued gawking.

Harry walked up to her and held out his arm. Ginny took it, smiling as he looked at her.

"Well, we'll be off then," Harry told Hermione and Ron.

It was an absolutely lovely night. Ginny and Harry glided across the dance floor song after song. Not even once did Harry look for Cho. His eyes remained on Ginny the entire night.

"It's getting hot," Ginny breathed after dancing a certain fast song.

"We could go outside," Harry suggested. "Some air will do us good."

Ginny agreed and they got her wrap. Harry led the way out the main entrance and out onto the Hogwarts grounds. Ginny glanced up at the stars. They shined so brightly. She felt a hand slip into hers. As Ginny looked at Harry, he led her on toward the lake. The night made the lake look black as ink with silver ripples. The giant squid lazily floated near the center.

"Don't you just love it here?" Harry asked.

Ginny didn't answer. She just sat herself down and gently grazed the surface of the lake with her fingertips. She felt the warmth of Harry sitting just beside her.

"Do you think I'm pretty?" Ginny whispered, looking down at the water.

"No," Harry said, putting his arm around her. "I think you're beautiful."

Ginny lay back against him happily.

"You're the most beautiful girl I know," Harry went on, "except for one."

Ginny looked up at Harry, asking, "Who?"

"Only the girl of my dreams," Harry said.

Ginny relaxed and closed her eyes.

"I wonder who she is," Harry mused. "I've never felt so free with someone in real life. I guess dreams change things. I just wish I could remember what she looked like."

"Have you ever thought," Ginny began, twisting his tie around her finger, "that she's someone you know, someone close?"

"You'd think I'd know it if she was," Harry muttered.

"But, say she was a friend of yours," Ginny continued. "Who do you think she'd be?"

"The only person I'd want her to be is you," Harry said smiling.

Ginny turned toward him, put her arms around his waist and began to cry. Harry held her close.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," Ginny sobbed.

Harry lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. The moonlight reflected on his black hair. Ginny smiled at him. Harry gently wiped a tear from her cheek and then he kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Come on," he whispered. "Let's go back to the dance."

Ginny nodded.

A/N: Don't you just feel really good inside?