~Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water~
Disclaimer- Neither the characters nor the setting nor the song are mine. They are the property of JK Rowling and Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle.
~Part One~ A Secret Wish~
Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry was buzzing with the news that there was to be a Valentine's Banquet and Ball the following week. Planning for the decorations and dinner had already begun. The dinner was to be open to all but the ball was to only be for the 4th-7th years. Though the other students were disappointed about the "injustice" of it all, they soon were thrilled to learn of the elaborate plans for the banquet. It's only rival for grandeur was the Sorting Banquet at the beginning of the year.
However the place where the talk of the party was the loudest was the Griffindor common room. The majority of the planning committee was the ladies of Griffindor, the leader of which was Hermione Granger. Everyone was surprised when she volunteered to take this leadership role. Normally she was too focused on her studies to be troubled by such trivial and non-sensible thing as a party. She told all that asked her of her reasoning that she was doing it solely for the fact that leadership roles looked good on one's record. This however, was not her only reason, there was another; a secret wish.
"Alright everyone this meeting of the planning committee must now come to order!" Hermione demanded with hands on her hips. Already she was becoming frustrated with all of the giggling and gossip. Seeing her obvious lack of patience the others immediately quieted. "Thank you. Let us get down to business."
In the following hours the Griffindor girls planned the entire banquet and ball down to the very last spoon. Apparently, the finished just before something occurred that sent the entire room into chaos. The entry of Harry Potter. He had just returned from Quiddich practice along with Ron, Fred and George Weasley.
"Harry did you hear about the Valentine's Ball and Banquet? It sounds so positively divine. Don't you think so Harry? Who are you going with Harry?" Lavender interrogated.
Harry gulps looking very uncomfortable in the situation at hand. He glances over at Ginny Weasley who's face has turned as red as her hair in anger.
"I will be going with Ginny, if she will have me that is." Harry glances over at the young witch in the corner.
She leaps to her feet with joy and runs over to Harry with a huge grin dominating her face. "Of course I will!" She hugs him tightly, which he returns instantly with a smile matching her own. He releases her when he hears the three slightly peeved older Weasley brothers clearing their throats.
Hermione sighs, entirely happy for Ginny and Harry, yet jealous of her friends happiness. She glances sadly at Ron startled to find him already looking at her. Ron smiled nervously before looking back to his twin brothers. George looked at Ron expectantly and Ron shrugged. Fred sighed in exasperation before leading them to the boys dormitories. After they had reached the fifth years' dormitory, where Ron was staying, George hit Ron across the back of the head.
"Ouch! What the bloody hell was that for." He exclaimed rubbing his sore head.
"You twit! If you don't ask her to the Ball soon, someone else will, and then you will be incredibly sorry. You will receive no pity from either of us, nor Harry even I suspect. He is too happy for himself and he, like us, has lost patience with your lack of courage!"
"Yes, yes I know. I will ask her when then time is just right."
"Ah, but Ron the time will never be just right." Informed Fred.