Begin Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine: Some Solutions Bring More Problems

  Ava and Harry seemed frozen to the spot. They couldn't believe what they just witnessed. Then Ava snapped out of her shock at what had just happened and she told Harry, "Get Ron. I'll get Hermione. They brought us together so know it's our turn." Harry nodded.

"I'll go get Ron," he said. Harry kissed Ava and ran out of the bush towards the castle. Ava walked towards Hermione. She was sitting on the edge of the fountain and looking in the direction of which Ron went, though he was long gone. She was shaking from head to toe and her eyes were spilling over with silent tears. Ava put her arms around Hermione.

"It was Ron. He…he said that he loves me," was all she could say. Ava squeezed her tight.

"Do feel the same way about Ron?" Ava looked at Hermione searchingly. "Tell the truth, Hermione." Hermione's face was pained.

"I have for awhile now," she said quietly, a tear slipping down her cheek. "But he never felt the same way. Or at least that's what I thought. I never knew…" she said breaking off abruptly. "I bet I sound ridiculous." Ava shook her head.

"No. I know how you feel. But why were you so excited about this secret admirer?" Ava asked.

"Because maybe if someone else liked me, then I could move on. Or at least try to. I want to be with him," she said quietly, as if this was a long-held confession she was finally letting out. Ava took Hermione by the arm.

"Then let's go find him. You guys were meant to be together," she said, repeating the words that Hermione had told Ron. Hermione looked at her and she knew that Harry and Ava heard them. Ava gave her a reassuring smile. "We'll find him, don't worry."

"Yes, but will he still want me," Hermione thought, while giving Ava a weak smile in return.

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Ron all but ran back to the castle. She didn't feel for him the way he did for her. How could he be so stupid? He had been in love with her for years and she only saw him as Ron. Freckly, gangly, friendly Ron. Nothing more, nothing less. Maybe she just wanted romance from someone else. Anyone else. How could he even think that she would be happy when she found out that he was the one showering her with gifts? He even went so far as to give her his grandmother's necklace. The family heirloom. The one he was supposed to give to the girl he wanted to marry. He stopped in front of painting of Sir Cadogan, who was asleep by his pony. He didn't even realize that he had roamed this far. He leaned against the wall and slowly lowered himself to the floor.

"Ugh. God Ronald Weasley, you're such an idiot! How could you be so stupid?" Ron started hitting himself on the forehead. Any small pain that could take his mind of the greater pain in his heart was good. He wanted to cry but he'd die if someone saw him.

"You know people will think you're crazy if they see you talking and hitting yourself," Harry said coolly. Ron jerked his head up. Harry smiled at Ron. " You know, there's a search party out for you."

Ron laughed derisively. "Who?"

"Ava and Hermione." Ron flinched at the sound of her name. It hurt him to hear it. He looked at Harry.

"How did you find me?" He wanted to change the subject badly. Harry sensed this and said nothing.

"The Marauder's Map," Harry said simply. Ron nodded knowingly.

"Well, I'm sure Ava's waiting on you. You have a dance to attend," Ron said quietly. "Don't worry about me, I'm fine," he lied.

"Ava isn't waiting on me, she's helping Hermione find you. And you're not fine."

Ron didn't hear the last bit. "Hermione is looking for me? If it's to give back the stuff, tell her to keep it." Harry looked at him, puzzled.

"What are you going on about? She doesn't want to find you for that."

"That's the only reason she'd be looking for me, Harry."

"Ron stop being stupid and open your eyes! She cares about you!" Ron's head snapped up. Harry lowered his voice because he was getting through to Ron and also because Sir Cadogan was stirring. "She wants to tell you that. She has felt this way about you for years Ron. Everybody saw it but you. " They were both shocked at the person who spoke next.

"Harry, I think that's my place to tell Ron," Hermione said quietly. Ron's face was a mix of emotions as he sprang up off the floor. He noticed she was clutching close to her chest. Close to her heart, Ron realized.

Harry cleared his throat. "Well, I've got to go fetch Ava." His words seemed to fall on deaf ears because Ron and Hermione were looking at each other silently. It was as if they were the only ones on the planet. Harry smiled and made his exit quickly. Hermione cleared her throat delicately.

"I need to talk to you," she started. She hesitated for a moment. "Why couldn't you just tell me instead of… all this?"

Ron couldn't seem to look her in the eyes. They were too beautiful. "You said you wanted romance. So I gave you romance." He inwardly kicked himself. That came out so wrong. Hermione's eyes were on the verge of flooding over.

"So, all of this…was a gimmick? Something just to make me feel good…" Ron cut her off.

"No! I really do love you Hermione," he immediately stopped. His ears turned red as he realized that was the first time he said it aloud. Hermione didn't say anything for a moment. It seemed she was thinking something over.

"Ron?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Could you help me put this necklace on?" He looked up at her to see her smiling at him. She had the box open and she was extending it to him. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. He was happy to oblige. He pulled the necklace out of the box and he looked at Hermione. Her eyes were bright but she looked content. He walked behind her and as she held her ponytail aside, he placed the necklace on her. She turned around to thank him; but she couldn't talk because his lips covered hers almost immediately.

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Harry hurried to find Ava. He felt terrible because this was her first dance and she wasn't even there. He found her by the Great Hall doors, peering in at the festivities. She looked a little gloomy. Harry felt like a jerk when he saw the look on her face. He walked toward her.

"Ava?" She jumped, startled. She hadn't realized anyone else was out there with her. She smiled when she saw who it was.

"Oh, Harry. You scared me for a moment there. Where are Ron and Hermione?"

"They made up." Ava smiled broadly. "They should be on their way now. I told Hermione to meet us here." He looked at her beautiful face. He was falling for her but he couldn't tell her that right now. Too much had already happened tonight. "Ava," he started slowly, "I want to apologize to you." Her smile faded instantly to be replaced with a worried look.

"Why do you want to apologize to me? You've done nothing wrong."

"Yes, I have. I should've been with you in there," he said gesturing to the Hall.

"Harry, Ron and Hermione are more important to me than this dance." Harry looked at her surprised. "All of you have found a place in my heart. Ron and Hermione were the first people to talk to me. I care what happens to them. Besides," she said smiling, "I'm sure there are many more dances that I could go to. You have nothing to feel bad for." She cupped Harry's face in her small hands and kissed him lightly.

"Awwww…" Ron started. He and Hermione were walking hand in hand. They had just descended the stairs and heard Ava's little speech. "I'm touched," he said, jokingly wiping away an imaginary tear. They all laughed.

"Come on, to the Ball," Hermione said. "Only two hours have passed. There's about three more hours left and I'm starved."

"I feel your pain," Ava said, clutching her growling stomach. "Let's go inside."

Harry held the door open for everyone and they all filed in. Celestina Warbeck was providing the musical entertainment for the night and everyone was on the dance floor. Ava looked at it longingly but she knew Harry didn't dance. So she settled for just sitting down to eat. Harry looked at Ava, knowing that she wanted to dance. He grinned. He had something in store for her soon. Ava looked at the table, puzzled. It was bare except for a golden plate, utensils, and a menu. She looked at Harry uncertainly. He smiled.

"Just watch," he said simply. He looked at the menu for a moment before deciding. "Pork chops," he said clearly and instantly pork chops, boiled potatoes, and steamed green beans appeared on the plate. He looked at Ava's stunned face. "Got it?"

"Um, yeah, sure," she said still shocked at that amazing display. She looked at the menu, uncertain what to get. So she just followed Harry's suit. "Pork chops." Instantly, her plate was full of delicious food. She dug in right away. Ron was digging into his roast beef happily. Ava looked at him putting the food away quickly. She was wondering how someone so skinny could eat that much that fast. Hermione knew what she was thinking of.

"Ron's hobby is eating," she said, smiling.

"No ifs nod," Ron said, his mouth full of roast beef. They all started laughing and Ron grinned sheepishly. All of a sudden, the upbeat tempo of the music changed to be replaced by a slow, romantic song. Ava looked longingly at the dance floor but only for a moment. She didn't want Harry to feel bad. She knew he didn't dance and that was fine with her. But she just wanted to dance. She loved to dance. Harry watched Ava look at the people on the dance floor, and then back at her plate quickly. He knew it was time for his surprise. He cleared his throat and stood up.

"Ava, may I have this dance?" Harry extended his hand out to her. She looked at it, then at him, in complete shock. Then she smiled so widely that Harry thought it would knock her ears off.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am positive. I want to dance with the most breathtaking girl in this room tonight." This brought a deep blush to Ava's cheeks. "I don't want all the lessons I've been taking to go to waste." Ava's jaw dropped.

"Lessons," she squeaked. He grinned. He wasn't going to tell her that he had been taking lessons from Sirius. Sirius, shockingly enough, was an excellent dancer. Mind you, a little rusty after many years in Azkaban. That isn't exactly a place you go dancing about. So Harry merely nodded. She took his hand and he walked her out to the center of the dance floor. People parted to let them in. Many of the students were shocked that Harry was going to dance. Many of them stopped dancing to watch. Harry expertly twirled Ava into his arms and started to sway slowly to the music.

"Not bad," Ava said, jokingly.

"Not bad? Watch this," Harry said. Without warning, he spun her around and dipped her. Many people started to clap and Harry grinned. "How's that?"

"Nice one, Potter," she said. "But how would you do to an up tempo?" she asked as the slow song stopped and a faster one began.

"I'll be fine." They started to dance. Harry had to admit Ava was amazing on the dance floor. But then again, she was all around amazing, he thought as he watched her. He was snapped out of his reverie when Ron and Hermione joined them. Ron and Hermione started to dance as well, Ron a bit awkwardly. Now they had quite a show going. Harry and Ron dancing? It was almost unheard of. When the song ended some of Harry and Ron's friends started to clap. They looked around, shocked. They hadn't realized that they had an audience. Even Dumbledore was clapping, an extremely amused expression on his face. Harry turned brick red. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Ava saved him at that moment.

"Want to walk around the grounds?" she whispered in his ear.

"Definitely." He looked at her gratefully. Harry, Ava, Hermione and Ron started to walk outside. They were met at the entrance by a very strange sight indeed. Professor Dean and Percy had obviously overdosed on the complimentary mulled mead that Madame Rosmerta gave to the school for the event. They were stripped of their uptight personas and were giggling hysterically. They swayed as they walked on unsteady legs. They were talking incoherently but they seemed to understand each other only. They were also all over each other. Ron looked green in the face as he saw this scene unfold before his very eyes. But the drunken "couple" had swayed away in the direction of the staircase. Ron looked completely disgusted.

"Bloody hell! I won't be eating for a week!" He shuddered violently. He also started to rub his eyes roughly as if to erase the sight of it all. Harry, Ava, and Hermione were all on the verge of laughing but they thought it would be cruel seeing as it was Ron's brother. So instead, they headed to Hagrid's hut. Inside, they found Madame Maxine inside, lying on the bed. She was well into her sixth month of pregnancy by now. If the size of Hagrid was any clue, her belly was huge. Harry didn't want to think how they were going to fit a bassinet that big into that little hut. She smiled when she saw all of them.

"Bonjour 'Arry, Ava, Ron, and Hermoninny." Hermione cringed slightly at the butchering of her name. " 'Agrid will join us any moment." Just as she said that, Hagrid burst through the door, his arms loaded with Honeyduke's sweets. He had obviously just come from Hogsmeade. They were all wondering why he had all those sweets when…

"Ah, 'Agrid. Merci. I 'ave been, how you say, craving these for awhile."

"Aye," Hagrid said, darkly. He looked slightly annoyed but he kissed his wife all the same. Then he patted her belly.

"How's the wee one doin', eh?" Madame Maxine looked at Hagrid lovingly. She looked very tired so Hagrid put one of his patchwork quilts over her. He motioned them over to sit by the fire as Madame Maxine settled under the quilt.

"So," he started, "how's the ball?"

"It's beautiful in there," Ava said. "The decorations are breathtaking."

"Well, Hermione and yer beat those things anyday," Hagrid said, beaming at them both. They both turned a magnificent shade of magenta. Hagrid turned to the fire, where there was a cauldron brewing away. It looked like a nice stew. Hagrid had become much more of an exceptional cook now that he had a wife. Instead of Hagrid's usual pick of things to put in a stew (which nobody wanted to think of), there were potatoes, carrots, celery, and peas. So when Hagrid offered them some, they each obliged even though they were full. It was a delicious stew, most likely Madame Maxime's recipe, not Hagrid's. Hagrid left them for a moment to rouse his wife for dinner. She thanked him graciously and he helped her heave her large mass to a chair by the fire. Hagrid placed a pillow behind her back so that she would be comfortable. She smiled up at him, love in her eyes. Hagrid grinned at her.

"Comfterble?" She nodded and he handed her a bowl. The group decided they should leave the happy couple by themselves. They thanked Hagrid kindly for the stew and they headed back to the ball. As they crossed the grounds, they noticed many couples on the benches, by the fountain, or in the bushes. But one couple stood out so much that it made Ava pull them all behind a tree.

"Shhh," she said as they all asked her what was going on. Then they noticed Malfoy and Dinah strolling around. They looked like they were up to something. They kept on looking around suspiciously. They obviously didn't find what they were looking for, so they ran back into the castle.

Without a word, Ava started for the castle. Harry grabbed her before she could go after them.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ava looked shocked at Harry's question. He had seen them sneaking around! He saw the suspicious looks on their faces! And now he was questioning her?

"Harry, I'm going after them," she said slowly. "I'm going to see what they are up to."

"Ava, you've got to think these things through. You can't jump into something like this like you do everything else. Think this through. We can't have Filch catch us. I have an Invisibility cloak in my room. I'll go get it so we won't get caught. And I have the Marauder's map so that we can catch up with them in an instant." Harry spoke so quickly, he didn't realize what he was saying. Ava just blinked. So Harry took charge.

"Ron, Hermione, I know there's a dance you guys want to be at but…," Harry started.

"Are you crazy? We don't want to miss out on this," Ron said. "Let's go." They all headed up to the Common Room. The only person they encountered along the way was Snape. Snape's lip curled at the sight of Harry.

"What, pray tell, are Potter and his cronies doing not partaking in the festivities of the ball? I wonder if you and your minions are up to your usual mischief?"

"No Professor. We are just heading up to the Common Room. We got tired of the ball," Harry lied quickly.

"I can see why the famous Harry Potter wouldn't enjoy a simple school dance. Well," he said nastily, "off with you!"

"What's got his knickers in a twist?" Ron said once they were out of earshot. Harry shrugged. They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was obviously drunk. A woman that Harry didn't recognize was in the portrait with her and there were flasks of mulled mead littering the bottom of the painting. They were both giggling madly. Harry rolled his eyes. Every year on the night of the Yule Ball, the Fat Lady would always get stinking drunk with a friend.

"Canary Creams," Harry stated the password. The Fat Lady, giggling still, swung forward to let them in.

Ava, saying nothing, ran upstairs. Harry told Hermione to get her as he ran to fetch his cloak. Then he realized that they were going to have a problem. There were four people to hide under the cloak. The most that had ever been under it were three people. This was going to pose a big issue. Harry ran downstairs to tell them when he saw Hermione and Ron around Ava, holding something and Hermione was talking in an excited voice. Harry walked over and was in for a surprise. Ava had an Invisibility cloak of her own. She looked at Harry and then looked away.

"Ava, why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked. She looked at him again, her eyes shining.

"Maybe if you had stopped berating me and listened for a moment, you would have known," she said quietly. She turned to Hermione, whose mouth was hanging open, and asked her, "Want to come with me?" Hermione nodded slowly, looking back at Ron and Harry apologetically. Harry looked stricken. He went to grab Ava, but she and Hermione disappeared under Ava's cloak. The portrait hole opened and they were gone. Ron looked uncomfortable.

"Erm, Harry. We've got to get to the task at hand. Malfoy? Remember?" Harry nodded his head slowly. He pulled the cloak over him and Ron. They climbed out of the portrait hole. Harry looked at the Marauder's map, and saw Malfoy and Dinah lurking around the Defense against the Dark Arts room.

"Come on," Harry said. He wanted to get this over with so he could find Ava and apologize. He couldn't believe how stupid he was. But his thoughts were put on hold when he looked at the map again. This had to be wrong. This couldn't be right. There was one dot with two names on it. Harry didn't dwell on it though. For standing right in their path, was Peeves. He was stuffing Dungbombs into a suit of armor, which was putting up a great fight. Harry and Ron bumped into a door, and Peeves looked up.

"Who's there," he said suspiciously. Then he broke into a nasty grin. "Is it there a wee student lurking around the halls? I must tell Filch, you know," he said, putting on an innocent face. Harry grabbed the doorknob on the door that they bumped into. He quietly pushed it open and he and Ron slid through. They closed it silently. They turned around and were met with the most horrible sight of their lives.

End Chapter Nine