Dance and Beyond

It was 20 till seven and the Gryffindor Boys were up in their room finishing getting dressed before going down to meet their dates. "Nice robes," commented Neville who was watching Ron smooth the wrinkles out of his new chocolate brown robes.

Harry smiled at the proud look on Ron's face, "Yeah Ron they do look great." commented Dean

Harry was wearing dark blue robes and was trying hopelessly to tame his hair. When Harry had tried on his green robes a week or so ago he found out that he had yet again outgrown his old robes. Having no way of lengthening them, Harry wrote Kate and asked her if she could go buy him new robes and these are what she sent him.

"Harry ready to go?" asked Ron.

* * * *

Down in the common room Harry was waiting for Ron and Hermione since they had decided to stick together throughout the night. Different Gryffindors picked up their dates as they came down. Some looked pretty, some did not, but Harry had to admit that Hermione had outdone almost everyone yet again. She was wearing sparkly crimson robes with ruby earrings and a choker. Her hair had different sections twisted back in the front allowing her curly hair to fall down her back.

Harry hit Ron to break him out of his trance, "You look absolutely gorgeous," stated Ron as he took Hermione's hand and kissed it.

Hermione blushed, "Thank you Ron. Both you and Harry look very handsome yourselves. We should leave and go pick up your date Harry."

Down at the entrance to the great hall stood a mass of students waiting for the doors to open and the dance to begin. Harry, Hermione and Ron started looking around for Stephanie but it ended up that Stephanie was the one that found them.

"There you guys are."

Harry turned around and saw Stephanie approaching

through the crowd. She was wearing silver robes, her hair was up in a french twist with jewels decorating her head, and she was wearing a diamond necklace, earrings and a bracelet.

"You look lovely," commented Harry when she reached them.

Stephanie smiled, "You look very handsome yourself. Blue is a very becoming color on you."

Harry held out his arm, "Shall we go?"

Nodding her head Stephanie took Harry's arm and they made their way to the Great Hall, which now was open. For lack of a better word, everything looked so clean. The tablecloths were white, the plates and napkins were white, even the decorations were white. Harry felt as if he was in on of those muggle white rubber rooms.

Up at the front sat all of the teachers and quite a few other people that Harry didn't recognize. Ron and Hermione had sat down across from Stephanie and Harry.

"Who are those people?" asked Harry. Both Ron and Hermione looked up at the head table.

Ron shrugged his shoulders but Hermione looked surprised, "Those are the governors of Hogwarts."

"Uh oh," murmured Stephanie.

"What?" asked Harry and Ron.

"Where is Icicle?"

"I don't know why……… If Icicle isn't around that means that she is up to …..OH, oh…… now I kind of feel bad for Fudge."

Ron snorted into his arm, "I don't, this is going to be hilarious. Fudge is going to be made an ass of in front of the governors."

The four continued to talk and eat until the food finally disappeared. McGonagall stood up with a surprising look of pity on her face, "Tonight we are honored with a string quartet to provide music for the dance. I would like all of you to give them a warm welcome." Four musicians carried their instruments on to the stage set up in front while the students politely clapped, "Prefects and head students would you please open the dance?"

Stephanie started pulling Harry towards the dance floor, "Come on, I am a prefect."

"What?! Stephanie, I can't dance. Didn't you see me last year?" panicked Harry.

"I saw you and you danced fine."

Once again Harry found himself on the dance floor opening a dance. The music was soft and sweet and Harry found that dancing with Stephanie was definitely a lot less nerve-wracking than dancing with Pavarti.

"It's because you have already done this before," replied Stephanie when Harry mentioned that to her.

Pretty soon the dance was under way as the first of several other classical pieces started. Harry could hear most of the students complaining as he tried to make the most of the music. Many people were not even bothering to dance because they found eating the snacks or watching Fred and George trying to trip people more entertaining.

Harry was about to give up and join the food on the tables when a disco ball appeared on the ceiling. Harry looked around and there at the entrance to the Great Hall stood a smirking Icicle who was wearing black pants, a sparkly blue top and she had curled her hair and left it down in a big mane.

"Hey everyone! Don't you think that we should crank this dance up a bit?"

Icicle motioned to some one behind her and in came a bunch of people that Harry had never seen. One of them walked over to a stereo system that had appeared and started playing music, muggle music. Icicle ran out to the center of the room with the guys and girl following her and they started a dance routine. Harry watched as the board of Governors bobbed their heads to the music in their chairs and Fudge started shaking with anger. There was a burst of applause and Harry looked back at the dance floor where the dancers had started break dancing. After a while the music stopped and Icicle yelled, "Go on Fudge. Check it out in the rule book. There is not rule against changing the music at a dance without permission and there is no rule forbidding muggles to come to Hogwarts. Oh, hello Governors! Robert how is your new baby girl and wife?"

A young man with black hair smiled, "They are doing great. Miriam looks just like her mum."

Icicle gave one her broadest smiles, "You have to send me some pictures ok?"

"I'll make sure we do."

The music started up and students started moving towards the dance floor. For what seemed like hours people danced. Harry himself had been on the dance floor for hours dancing mostly with Stephanie. "Hey Harry. I promised a few friends that I would dance with them. Is it okay if I go do that now?" asked Stephanie.

"Sure, I need a break and some water anyways."

Harry left Stephanie and walked over to the side of the room, poured himself some punch that was hopefully not spiked and sat down. People were out on the dance floor and for the most part they looked like they were having fun.

Harry spotted Icicle dancing with Draco who looked like he was having fun despite the fact the dance had turned into a muggle type dance.  Parvati and Lavender looked like they were wearing masks from where Harry was sitting; Neville and Ginny would both turning beat red each time they locked eyes, and there was no sign of Ron and Hermione. The current song ended and Harry felt a tap on his shoulder, it was Hermione, "I was wondering if I could have this dance?"

"Are you sure Ron wouldn't kill me for stealing his date?" teased Harry.

"I don't think so he went off to have a dance with his sister to see how she is doing."

Harry looked over at where Ginny had been and there was Ron asking her to dance. "In that case sure you can have this dance."

The song turned out to be a swing number so Hermione led Harry through the motions. "So how has the night been for you?" asked Hermione as started to laugh at

Harry and most of the other boys who were hopelessly trying to swing dance.

"Well I have had a blast and have even danced almost the whole night. How about you?"

"Great, Ron and I haven't fought the whole night and it is nice that he is a friend so there isn't that uneasy feeling between you and your date." They both continued like so for the rest of the dance.

When the song finished Ron met up with them to pick Hermione up for the slow song that had just started.

"Where is Stephanie?" asked Ron.

"Off dancing with some friends she promised to save a dance for," said Harry.

Hermione was looking behind Harry, "You know what Harry, you should go ask Icicle to dance before someone else sweeps her up."

Harry turned around and spotted Icicle sitting down for probably the first time that night. "Okay." Harry walked over to Icicle, "Have you saved me a dance?"

Icicle pretended to look insulted, "Have you saved a dance for me? Mr. Potter, of course I have." The two friends danced across the floor, "You aren't a bad dancer Harry. From the way you talked before tonight you made it seem like you have two left feet."

"I guess all the practice is paying off. By the way, great job saving the dance."

"Ahhh, anything for you Harry dear. Well actually anything to spite Fudge but that isn't the point."

"Well what is the point?"

"Actually nothing. I just felt like rambling on and saying something of that nature."

Icicle was by far the best dancer Harry had ever danced with. She made everything seem like they were drifting across a lake or the sky.  It must be the countless hours she spends at dance class.  

The song eventually ended and Icicle looked up at him, "You just keep on growing Harry. Every time I stand next to you I keep on feeling shorter and shorter. Well, you better get back to your date, she is over there waiting for you."

Harry bowed to Icicle, "Thanks for the dance. See you later."

The dance continued past midnight. At one, Harry walked Stephanie back to the Ravenclaw common room.  "It's too bad that Ravenclaw and Gryffindor don't share any core classes," said Stephanie.

"I would gladly give up one of my Slytherin packed classes for one with the Ravenclaws."

"I think everyone would give up a class with Slytherins," replied Stephanie as they reached to door to their common room, a picture of a forest full of nymphs, "I had fun Harry; thanks for taking me."

"It was a pleasure." whispered Harry who found Stephanie leaning into him.

Before Harry realized what was happening, he found himself melting into her kiss. After what seemed like an eternity they broke apart. "Good night Harry."

"Night," replied Harry as he watched Stephanie turn around and walk into the common room.

* * * *

"Aww how sweet Harry's first kiss!" exclaimed Hermione later that night.

"Our little baby is growing up," cried Ron as he pinched Harry's cheeks.

"Get off," exclaimed Harry as he rubbed his cheeks.

"It's all right Harry. Ron and Hermione had some action too," whispered Icicle

Hermione turned beet red and Ron jumped up and ran after Icicle, "How did you know that?"

"Well you were in clear view. Ahhhhhhhh…… Help me, someone help me! He is going to kill me!"

Icicle pretty soon lost and was tackled to the ground by Ron who started tickling her. "Come help me," said Ron who was trying to avoid Icicle's punches. Harry and Hermione joined in and pretty soon all four of them laid on the ground trying to breathe.

"My sides, I think I have permanent cramps in them," whined Icicle.

"Well at least I didn't bite you," replied Ron dryly.

"But you wouldn't stop tickling me so I had to bite you. If it makes you feel better I think I bit Harry and Hermione too."

"She got me Ron," replied Harry.

"And me too," said Hermione.

"Aww, sigh, I love biting people. There is something satisfying about chewing on human skin."

Ron shook his head at Icicle, "Sometimes you can be creepy and weird."

"Thanks."

* * * *

The following morning the Gryffindors decided to have a "lay in day". Fred, George and some others snuck down into the kitchens and brought up food for everyone and Hermione and Icicle brought down the TV and a few stacks of movies. Students laid all over the common room snacking, watching the movie and occasionally working on homework that was due tomorrow.

"What movie do we want to watch now?" asked Aggy who was up front with the videos.

"We just watched an action movie so let's watch a chick flick," said some 6th year girl as all the guys who knew what a chick flick was groaned.

Aggy looked though the movies, "Chick flick, chick flick, okay how about this one."

"What is it called?" asked the same 6th year.

"Bring It On."

Most of the girls agreed so the movie began. Hermione, Ron and Harry were sharing one of the couches while Icicle laid on the ground in front of them buried in a mass of blankets.

"What is this one about?" asked Ron.

Hermione shrugged, "I have never heard of it."

Icicle shifted in her blankets, "It is about a cheerleader and what she goes through as captain of her squad."

"What's a cheerleader?" asked Harry.

"A mindless airhead that cheers on sport teams. Basically something that I would dread to be. I feel that I would rather be out there playing the sport and that it is really the crowd's job to cheer on the teams not some girls in short skirts."

Behind the four someone coughed to get their attention so they all looked up; there stood an unwelcome sight; Minister Fudge, "Good morning Miss Vera. I thought that you would like to know that the Governors were highly amused at your antics last night."

"Oh I know, they came and talked to me through out the dance last night."

"They may not see you for the demon that you really are but you can't always win. Thanks to some recent information, I think I am going to start cheerleading squads for each of the houses. After all it would be a nice touch for the quidditch games. Although I can't say this officially, you have just nominated yourself to be captain of the Gryffindor cheerleading squad."

Icicle glared at him, "Is that the best you can do?" Without a response, Fudge turned his back and walked out of the common room.

Ron scratched his neck, "That was kind of creepy. It's like we have our own personal stalker."

"I don't want to be a cheerleader."

Hermione slipped down onto the ground next to Icicle, "You'll be all right. You can always transfer at the end of the year if Fudge gets too bad."

"If Fudge doesn't leave I may transfer at the end of the year," replied Harry as he joined Hermione and Icicle on the ground.

Ron slid off the couch to join them, "Who would want to stay? We'll transfer together."

Icicle poked Hermione in the side, "Just watch Hermione, you are going to be a cheerleader too."

* * * *