After hiding the jewellery carefully up in their room they headed back to Hogsmead to meet up with their girlfriends who were soon found at Weasley Wizard Wheezes, Ron and Ginny's older twin brothers' joke shop.
"Hello Fred? George?" asked Harry questioningly.
"We have nametags for a reason you know. So, read them." said Fred (it said so on his nametag), George stood beside him grinning broadly.
"It's great to see you guys again. I can see business is still great." Harry remarked, of the packed store, and huge line-up of people trying to get in. Harry was very pleased at this, for it had been him that had once made this all possible for the twins.
"So how was your day, after us guys left?" Harry asked Ginny later that afternoon in the Gryffindor Common Room.
"It was fine, but I missed you." she said. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and have her a little squeeze.
"I missed you too, but I had to do some Christmas shopping for you; so you couldn't have come with me. And I really needed to speak to your brother."
"It's OK, I needed to get you your present too." she hugged him.
"Come on guys, dinners ready." called Ron, glancing at his watch, and sticking his head into the doorway.
"Coming." Harry and Ginny called in unison as they followed Hermione and Ron down the stairs and into the Great Hall.
"I can't believe that tomorrow's Christmas Eve Already!" Ron said excitedly, filing his plate with everything he could reach. "I mean it's scary how time flies sometimes."
"I know exactly what you mean!" Harry sighed. He was starting to feel slightly apprehensive about the whole thing, but the thought of Ginny accepting (as he hoped she would) made him smile. Ron grinned back and winked. He was the only person who understood the full meaning of what Harry had just said.
Later that evening the foursome sat in front of the common room fire, Harry and Ginny happily observing Ron and Hermione's chess game. Ginny was sitting on Harry's lap while Harry was inattentively running his hand through her hair, while his other hand was methodically rubbing her back.
Hermione was loosing miserably, but laughing just the same. "How do I stand a chance against someone who beat Professor McGonnagall's 10foot chess game?" she cried, exasperatedly as he stole half her team in one turn. "At the age of eleven?"
Harry glanced at his watch, "Damn Hermione; we're late for Head-Boy duties!"
"That's okay," she replied, eager to get away from her loosing streak.. "By the way, I'm a Head-Girl" she added jokingly.
"Gin, wait up for me OK?" called Harry.
"Sure thing," she smiled, "see you later." Ginny blew him a kiss. Harry pretended to catch it in the air and carefully place it in his pocket – for safekeeping.
Hermione and Harry left; he was trying to ignore the fake gagging noises coming from Ron. "Oh shut up, Ron! I think its cute." said Hermione, as if this settled the matter. Ron seemed to think so too because he desisted.
Being Head-Boy was not all Harry had dreamed it would be. It was basically a job of telling people off if they had still not returned to their respective common rooms by nine o'clock. The only difference between that and being a prefect was that Harry and Hermione were in charge of the prefects.
After a much uneventful evening Harry and Hermione trudged back into the common roo where their friends were waiting. Exhausted, Harry sank into the couch next to Ginny. "Tired?" she asked, walking around behind him, reaching over the couch, and massaging his neck.
"Very!" he said looking at her, "Thanks. But truth be told I like you better right here." patting the couch beside him.
"If you insist." she giggled, as she sat down beside him. Hermione and Ron were making out on the other side of the room, but neither of them paid any attention.
"That's much better." Harry said pulling her onto his lap. She turned around so that she was still on his lap but now facing him. Harry leaned forward, so did Ginny; they kissed.
"Well...I'm going to bed. I'd ask you if you were coming, Harry, but I was see you're a bit busy at the moment." snickered Ron. Harry and Ginny broke apart, but only long enough for Harry to say, "be up in a minute" before continuing. Ron and Hermione went up to their dormitories.
"I've got to go, see you in the morning." Harry said, giving her one last kiss before they too, went up to their dorms.
The next day, the four friends went to visit Hagrid, the Howarts gamekeeper. They also went skating on the frozen lake (Harry was able to borrow a pair of skates from Seamus Finnigan, a fellow Gryffindor seventh year). Harry had never taken lessons, and therefore had some difficulty keeping his balance while Ginny supported him, and tried to teach him how to stop.
"I think I need to learn how to stand still, before I learn to move enough to need to stop." Harry groaned as he fell for the sixth time. Together they trooped up to the castle, soaking and sore yet so excited.
The next day was Christmas and Christmas night was the Yule Ball. Once inside Ron and Hermione headed toward the library, while Ginny and Harry continued onward to the kitchens. They came to a stop in front of a huge picture of a bid silver fruit bowl. Harry stretched out his forefinger and carefully tickled the pear. It giggled and squirmed until it transformed into a large green doorknob. Harry opened the door and gently pushed Ginny inside.
"Harry Potter! Harry Potter has come to visit with Dobby, sir?" squealed the closest house-elf who was wearing a very odd assortment of bright, colourful clothing. The other house-elves, all wearing tea towels wrapped like a toga, were crowding around the new comers. "And Harry Potter has brought a friend, sir. How can Dobby help such a person?"
"How are you Dobby?" Harry interrupted.
"Very good, sir. Very good indeed!" Dobby squeaked with excitement.
"Listen, Dobby" Harry said pulling the little elf out of Ginny's earshot. "I need you to get me some things, OK?" Harry whispered into Dobby's rather large bat-like ear further instructions.
"Oh yes, sir. Right away Mr. Harry Potter, sir." said the house-elf gleefully; he turned to the nearest house-elf and whispered in her ear. She then turned to the one beside her. Soon all the elves began whispering between themselves, before they rushed off to the back of the kitchen, doing whatever Harry had asked of them.
Several house-elves returned shortly, three carrying a large platter of cookies, pastries, and cakes in between them. Two others griped a large pitcher of steaming hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows – while Dobby held out two mugs for Harry and Ginny. Harry took them.
"Pick which ones you like, then we can take them up to the common room." Harry informed Ginny, pointing to the tray of goodies. They began sorting through the cookies and sweets, placing the best one into a large brown paper bag.
"I think that will be enough." Ginny said, cramming the last sugar covered, Christmas tree shaped cookie into the bag.
"Thanks guys." Harry called over his shoulder to the elves. "Bye, Dobby." and he led Ginny back up to the Gryffindor tower.
Together they snuggled – squashed into a small pouffy armchair – in front of the fire, eating Christmas cakes and sipping hot cocoa. "I love you Harry Potter." she whispered in his ear, slowly running her fingers through his messy locks; pulling him into a tight hug.
"I love you too Gin." he replied, leaning in for a good night kiss.
"Save that for tomorrow, will you?" she chuckled, as she stood up. Harry stood up too.
"You mean I have to wait a whole...10 hours before I get to kiss you? Come on! Be reasonable!"
"Well if you put it that way..."she leaned forward and the kissed. "Night." and before he could stop her she disappeared up the right staircase and into her dormitory.
"Night..."he called after her softly. With that, he too ascended to his dormitory. Harry slept uneasily that night, weaving in and out of dreams.
==========Harry's Dream ==========
Harry found himself in the outdoor garden at the Yule Ball. He could see rose bushes with fairy lights twinkling all around him. Ginny was sitting on the edge of a beautiful fountain; Harry was on one knee.
"Ginny Weasley, will you marry me?" he said.
"Of course." she smiled.
Suddenly the dream changed...
Harry was now sitting in an armchair with Ginny. He remembered this, it was where he first kissed Ginny. Him and Ginny were talking; just as they had almost two years previous. "I miss him so much, and I can't help thinking that if I had acted differently, Sirius would still be alive." Harry was explaining to Ginny.
"I realize that. But you have to understand that there are certain things that cannot be helped. I could blame myself for what happened in my first year if I had your attitude."
"No you can't, that was because Voldemort – "
"...manipulated me, just as he tricked you." there was a note of finality in her voice.
"OK,OK" there was a minute of silence. "I love you Ginny." Harry said, moving in for a kiss. Ginny closed her eyes as they drew closer, and their lips met. They kissed.
Ginny pulled away suddenly. "I can't...I can't do this. I have a boyfriend – I'm so sorry Harry" Her hands were over her mouthy, and Harry could see a look of shock, horror and guilt upon her face. She began to cry and ran out of the common room.
Dream change...
Harry was back in the garden, by the fountain. He knew he must have just proposed, because he was down on one knee, holding out a velvet covered ring box. Ginny had her hands over her mouth and her eyes were wide with shock, and she was crying. She looked just as she had years before in the Gryffindor common room.
"I can't...I can't do this. I'm so sorry Harry!" and before Harry could stop her she ran away crying.
==========Harry's Dream Ends==========
Harry woke with a start, he was crying. It took him a while to realize that tonight was the Yule Ball, and that he still hadn't asked Ginny anything. It took him even longer to realize that Ginny hadn't turned him down yet, and that there was still a good chance she would accept; after all, she had said that she loved him. Wasn't that enough? He got up and walked toward the silver water jug beneath the window. With shaking hands, he poured himself a drink. Looking down through the window he could see the garden that had been decorated for the ball, with it's many shimmering rose bushes, bending paths, and the large fountain he had proposed to Ginny near, in his dream. It had seemed so real!
"I love you Ginny Ann Weasley." he whispered into the night.
"Harry are you alright? You look exhausted!" Hermione asked him, looking concerned. Harry and Ginny were sitting across from Hermione and Ron in the Great Hall. It had been decorated for Christmas during the night; for today was Christmas morning.
"No I'm fine, I just had a rough night that's all." he replied, yawning. Harry had not been able to get back to sleep afterwards and instead, had laid on his back, in his bed, staring up at the canopy over his head, re- gathering his courage for what laid ahead.
Ron watched Harry questioningly. "You guys go on ahead," said Ron, noticing that both Hermione and Ginny were getting up, ready to leave. "Harry and I will be right with you."
Once they had left, Ron turned to Harry. "You haven't changed your mind about my sister have you?"
"No of course not!" Harry answered, almost defiantly.
"Good, I was afraid you had changed your mind." sighed Ron, looking relieved.
"Nope, I'm just a little nervous, you know? What if she says 'no'?" "She won't. She's crazy about you." Ron reassured him.
"I really hope you're right" "
Don't worry! So...found a romantic way of popping the question yet?"
"Well..." "Never mind. I don't think I want to know!" Ron laughed, and Harry began to relaxed.
"Let's go, we don't want to keep the girls waiting." The Ball wouldn't begin until eight o'clock and end until after midnight. So that day Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had fun; Harry even forgot to be nervous about the upcoming dance.
"Check mate." said Ginny, grinning. She had finally beat Harry at a game of chess. Little did she notice that Harry was only partially paying attention to the game. His mind was back upstairs in his dormitory with the ring he was soon to give Ginny.
"Can we give out our gifts now?" Ginny asked pleadingly.
"Sure." said Harry, glad to have an excuse to forget about later.
(-)(-)(-)(-)(-) A/N (-)(-)(-)(-)(-)
ok so that was the third chapter...what did you think? i hope u like it and if u did PLEASE REVIEW! if you didnt i'd still like to hear what you have to say...just don't be evil!
thanx! -Lynn :)