Chapter Eight: "The Golden Couple" and the Yule Ball

It didn't take long for the news of Harry and Ava's relationship to go around the school. Many of Harry's groupies, who had been so since the TriWizard Tournament, were devastated. There were a lot of girls missing from Gryffindors first hour that following Monday. Neville heard that the lot of them were in the girls' dormitories crying their eyes out.

"It was quite a spectacle, Parvati told me. She said it was like someone had died, the way they sobbed." This only fueled Seamus and Dean's teasing of Harry. But Harry could care less. The only problem was Ava getting evil looks from Harry's groupies. But this all amused her. When they would give her evil glances, she would give them all a smile that rivaled Gilderoy Lockhart's and wave like if she was crowned Witch of the Year. This made Harry only love spending time with her more. Hermione had also begun to receive beautiful gifts from a secret admirer. Books bound in gleaming gold covers, enchanted flowers that would sing to her, and candy from Hogsmeade. The girls would squeal whenever she got a package and fawn over its contents. This seemed to annoy Ron immensely. Also, Malfoy and Dinah could now be seen in the halls walking hand-in-hand. They had made their "relationship" (if that's what you called it) public. This seemed to make Ava uncomfortable, seeing Dinah and Malfoy kiss at the Slytherin table. But she acted like nothing was wrong. The only other person who hated Dinah and Malfoy's relationship as much as Ava was Pansy Parkinson. She had been strung along by Malfoy for years and she had seemed to think they were a couple. So she was thrown a curve when she saw Malfoy walking Dinah to class and kissing her in the halls. She was seen sulking, puffy-eyed through the halls. She also was given detention and an order to keep away from Malfoy and Dinah for trying to hex them both in the middle of the Great Hall as Dumbledore was walking by them. But the months passed uneventfully (if you call Gryffindor crushing Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw in Quidditch uneventful) and fall passed into winter. The school was abuzz about the Yule Ball. Rumor was that Dumbledore had booked Celestina Warbeck for the entertainment. Boys walked nervously through the halls and girls would giggle hysterically. Hermione received her last gift, a beautiful heart-shaped oak chest that was locked. There was a note saying that her secret admirer would meet her at the fountain that was set up every year for Yule Ball. He was going to have the key to the chest that would open what was within and he would escort her to the Ball. Hermione thought this was all very romantic. So did Parvati, Ginny, and Lavender. They would all ooh and ah over her gifts in the Common Room. Ron seemed to get anxious around them so he avoided the Common Room if they were all in there together. Ava and Hermione also would run off to unknown locations on their visits to Hogsmeade and would return with bundles wrapped in brown paper. When Harry asked Ava where they went, they would look at each other and laugh. Harry figured it had to do with the Yule Ball or Christmas. Or maybe even both. He stopped trying to figure out what they were doing. Ron lately seemed like he had something weighing heavily on his mind. When Harry asked what was wrong, Ron just shook his head. It seemed he couldn't form the words so he just shrugged it off. So Harry just savored his time with Ava and his best friends. The teachers were seen throughout the school cleaning up for the big event. The coats of armor were all polished, the halls gleaming. Even the paintings were getting in the spirit. The Fat Lady strung up mistletoe in her painting in hopes she would get some holiday cheer. This event was on everyone's minds. The morning of the Yule Ball dawned crisp and snowy. The weather made the Hogwarts grounds look like something out of a fairytale. The atmosphere in the school was anxious but very excited. Even the Slytherins were smiling…well, somewhat. As Harry, Hermione, Ava, and Ron went down to the hall for breakfast, they gasped at the hall. The teachers seemed to have outdone themselves this time. The trees that surrounded the hall seemed to be frost covered. But upon closer inspection, the "frost" was little, white, fairies. Hagrid called them "snow mites". Breakfast was a grand affair with every delicious food imaginable. While Ron and Harry grabbed as much as their plates would hold and stuffed themselves, Hermione and Ava ate minimally. They were worried that they wouldn't fit into their dress robes. As soon as breakfast was over, they all ran onto the grounds and had a snow fight. Ron seemed to be a little happier since the day began. He got Hermione on the side of the head with a snowball and they both laughed so hard that they fell to the ground. By the time they went back in, soaked and chilled to the bone, it was lunchtime. It was savory vegetable stew. It warmed them through and when they were done Ava and Hermione said they had to get ready for the Yule Ball and ran off.

"What? The Ball isn't till tonight!" Ron looked at them in dismay. "Girls," he said, shaking his head.

"Speaking of girls, do you have a date for tonight Ron?" Harry asked. Ron's ears turned red and he became very vague.

"Erm, yeah. Hey, what's say we go to the Common Room and play Exploding Snap?" Without waiting for Harry's reply, he got up and started off to the Gryffindor Common Room. Harry had nothing to do but follow. He decided not to press Ron on the issue. He would find out tonight. Harry, Ron, Seamus, Dean and Neville kept themselves busy playing Exploding Snap and Wizarding Chess to pass the time. When the clock struck six, Harry told Ron to get ready. They went up into the dormitories and Harry had his robes already out on the bed. They were a deep emerald. Ron's robes, not surprisingly, were maroon. However, they were much better than his last ones. They were like his school robes despite the fact that they were colored. They got ready in five minutes and went back to the Common Room to meet Ava and Hermione. Harry sent Ginny, clad in purple satin, upstairs to fetch Ava and Hermione. She was Neville's date, for the third year in a row. When Ginny came downstairs, she was grinning.

"They're lovely," was all she said. Harry soon found out what she meant. The first down was Hermione. She was wearing robes of the softest pink. The robes were made of a light, flowy material. Her hair was straight and pulled back into a sleek ponytail. She was clutching the heart box with a nervous grin. When Ron saw her, his jaw dropped. Ginny closed it for him with a grin. Ginny looked at Hermione and said, "I think he fancies you." Hermione laughed hysterically at the thought. Ron looked like he was about to tell Ginny off when Hermione spoke.

"That's a rich idea. Ron fancying me." Ron's face went blank as he went silent and looked at the floor. Then Ava came down the stairs. It was Harry's turn for his jaw to drop. Her robes were of the same material as Hermione's, but Ava's were a sheer ivory. Her hair, usually pin-straight, was tumbling down her shoulders in waves. It was partially pulled back with some of the waves grazing her face. She seemed to be absolutely glowing. Like an angel, Harry thought fancifully. She was blushing and gazing at the ground when she walked to Harry. Harry's throat seemed to have gone dry. He didn't know what to say. So he said the first thing that came to his mind.

"Wow," he croaked.

Ava smiled at him and said, "Wow yourself." She leaned in and gave him the sweetest kiss. She knew he was nervous, as was she. "We should probably get going," she said, smiling to lighten the mood. They made their way downstairs. The Great Hall looked more appealing than usual with the array of colors the students were wearing. Up at the Staff Table, the teachers were all talking animatedly. Everyone but Snape, but this was how he was naturally so no one expected him to be festive. Even Percy was in attendance, most likely sitting in for somebody at the Ministry. He was in deep conversation with Professor Dean, who was wearing robes of silvery-gray. He kept on blushing deeply when she addressed him. Professor Dean looked only slightly interested in his topic of choice, which, knowing Percy was probably himself. Ron didn't look all too happy when he saw Percy. He looked downright annoyed. They all walked up to the Staff Table.

"Hello Percy," said Harry.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione wanted to know.

"Oh, hello Harry, Hermione" Percy said, smiling at each as he acknowledged them. "Just a moment Priscilla," he said turning to Professor Dean and blushing again. She nodded looking slightly relieved and turned to Professor Sprout. He looked back at Harry. "I am sitting in for Cornelius Fudge," Percy said pompously. "We at the Ministry have a lot on our plate with having to help the American Ministry try to protect Dr. Richardson. Great man, that one." He looked down and just noticed Ava, who now looked worried. "Wow! You're his daughter!" Percy lost all dignity at that moment. "I wondered when I'd be meeting you," he said taking her hand and kissing it. "Your father is a brilliant man. There is nothing to worry about, though. We have your father protected by many charms and spells. Nothing can touch him." Ava breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good to hear," she said. She looked at Harry pleadingly. He got the hint.

"Well, er, it's time to hit the dance floor," Harry said stupidly. Ava and Hermione snorted. They knew Harry didn't dance if he could help it. They said goodbye to Percy and walked off. Ron, looking at the ground, mumbled something about using the boy's lavatory. He walked off quietly. Harry looked worriedly at his retreating figure. Harry looked at Ava questioningly, but she just shrugged.

"Maybe he's annoyed that Percy got to Professor Dean before he did," she said jokingly. When Harry still looked worried, she said, "I'm sure he's fine." Hermione anxiously looked around the Hall for anybody who seemed to be carrying a key. Ava sensing her nervousness said, "You know if you want, we could go with you to the fountain. We'll hide behind the bushes." Hermione smiled gratefully.

"Would you? Thank you." Her face looked relieved for a moment until she looked at the clock. "Oh my goodness! It's time." Ava looked at Harry and he nodded. They walked Hermione as far as the bushes, which were decorated with lights. Harry looked at Hermione. "You'll be fine. Go on. We'll be here." She smiled nervously and walked off to the fountain, trying to remember to breathe.

Hermione's stomach was lurching and her heart was pounding in her chest. She could swear that she could hear it. She walked the grounds and she could see the fountain ahead. It was of a woman on the back of a unicorn. Fairies surrounding the woman's head formed a crown of flowers that lit it up. Hermione could see a hunched figure sitting at the edge of the fountain. He was looking at the ground, digging his toe into the snow. Hermione knew this must be him. "Breathe, breathe, breathe," she reminded herself. She hurried to the fountain, expecting to meet her knight in shining armor and instead it was… "Ron? What are you doing here?" Ron looked up at Hermione. There was a look in his eyes that she couldn't place. Was it determination? She couldn't tell because he looked away as he got up. Funny, how she never noticed how tall Ron was. It made her feel small and… feminine. She snapped her thoughts back into place. "Have you seen anyone out here? I'm expecting someone." When Ron shook his head, her stomach dropped. It couldn't be Ron. Maybe the guy chickened out. Maybe it was all an elaborate joke. Malfoy probably set it up. How could she be so stupid? Her eyes welled up slightly and she started to turn around to head back to the castle. Then she felt Ron grab her arm gently. She turned around to ask him why he was grabbing her when she saw what he had in his hand. He was holding a wrought iron key in the shape of a heart. Her heart fell to her feet at that moment. It can't be Ron, she thought stupidly as he silently grabbed the box from her hands. Her eyes were wide as Ron slipped the key into the box and turned it. He looked at Hermione as he pulled up the lid. Immediately a shower of gold sparks shot out. They swirled around Hermione and then zoomed above her to form the words, "I love you, Hermione." They then dropped down and fell like a shower of gold rain to the floor, where they dissolved. Hermione was speechless. Ron handed her the box and started to walk away. She looked inside the box and gasped. Sitting in the box was a pendant on a fine gold chain. The pendant was made of rose quartz shaped into a small, delicate heart. She looked up to call Ron back, but he was gone.

End Chapter Eight