Chapter 2
Disclaimer: it's all J.K. Rowling's!!
A/N Thanks to you who reviewed my first chapter. I came back to my computer and I had 4 reviews! I was all excited cuz they were the first reviews I've gotten! Thanks for reviewing. I decided to write this chapter and let you guys know what actually happened at the Yule Ball. Enjoy!
- legolasfan91 - I'm glad you liked it and thanks for reviewing!
- Katy - Thanks for reading it Katelet!!! And thanks for your review! We need to finish "Can't Fight the Moonlight" sometime. I still like the plot! Anyways, you'd be proud of me. This chapter is about 16 pages and I'm not done yet! J
- Sabrina - This chapter's a lot longer and has more depth (well, I think so anyway). You were right; I needed to make it longer…thanks for your review!
- Toriisen - Sorry I only had one chapter! Lol…it was just going to be one chapter, but some people wanted to know about the Yule Ball, so here it is! Thanks for reviewing!
- WickedTeaspoon27 - Hey Quel! Thanks for reviewing and helping me come up with a title for my fanfic! And thanks for the putting me in your favorites list! You need to update Summer of the Phoenix! You can't keep me waiting on that one!
- HGandRHrforever - I'm glad you liked my story! Thanks for you suggestions about getting more into Harry's feelings and emotions. I really appreciate your help. Hopefully this chapter isn't as choppy as the last one, but let me know if it is!
- Lily-Potter8 - Well, here's the Yule Ball…I kind of wanted to write another chapter about it, but I just decided to keep it short. I liked writing the first chapter, so thanks for encouraging me to write the Yule Ball!
- baby blue gal - Thanks for your review and I'm glad you liked it! Apparently I decided to continue it. It will still be a shorter fanfic, but it's fun to write, so thanks for telling me to keep going! Enjoy the chapter!
And now for the Yule Ball………..
Day before Yule Ball
Harry woke up early the next morning and immediately his heart started pounding and his stomach entangled itself into knots. He knew it was because he was nervous about the Yule Ball. Although, he did know that he was nervous as in excited and he wasn't dreading it like he had been during 4th year. He knew that going with Ginny was a major improvement from two years ago. He thought he might be nervous because he wasn't a great dancer too. Well, hopefully I'm not as bad as Neville and I won't wind up stepping on her toes…at least not more than once. It had been almost a week since he'd asked Ginny to the Yule Ball and since then he hadn't really talked to her that much. He hadn't told Ron that he was going with his little sister either…maybe I should tell him after the Yule Ball…that way, Ginny and I can have a good time trying to avoid Ron and so when he kills me, Ginny won't be without a date for the dance…yeah, that's good.
Harry put on his school robes and walked downstairs, through the empty common room and down to the Great Hall for breakfast. He looked around and saw that Ginny was sitting with her 5th year friends and Ron and Hermione were sitting in silence. Harry couldn't tell if they were in silence because they felt awkward around each other, or if it was just because Ron was stuffing his mouth with pancakes.
Harry sat down next to Hermione and looked across the table at Ron. Ron said something that sounded somewhat like, "hey mate," but Harry couldn't be completely sure. The three of them sat in silence for 5 minutes before Harry decided to get Ron to start talking.
"So, Ron, how 'bout those Cannons?" Harry said.
Immediately and almost reflexively, Ron started going on a rant about the Cannons and their current quidditch news. Hermione seemed completely disinterested and decided to take out a book and read. Harry tried to look interested in what Ron was saying, but found it difficult. How can someone be that obsessed with quidditch? I mean, I love quidditch, but he can't know that much about the Cannons…
When Ron finally stopped talking, he looked up at Harry with curiosity and asked, "Do you have anyone to go to the Yule Ball with yet?"
Harry choked on his juice and glanced briefly at Ron and said, "Er, yeah…why?"
A look of amusement came over Ron's face and he asked, "Well, who is it?"
"Since when are you interested in the Yule Ball?"
"Since the attention's left me and moved on to you"
"Well, I'm going with, er, just, just a friend of mine…you'll see tomorrow."
"C'mon Harry! Just tell us who it is!" Ron pleaded. At this point, Hermione had closed her book and was listening intently to the conversation. Harry could tell that she knew that he had asked Ginny and obviously he didn't want to tell Ron yet.
"Oh let him alone, Ronald…who cares as long as he's going?" Hermione chimed in.
"Fine," Ron replied. "But you know I'll find out sooner or later, Harry."
"The later the better," Harry said as he stood up. "I just remembered that I left my potions stuff in Gryffindor tower. I'll see you guys in class."
"Bye Harry," Ron and Hermione said in unison.
Harry left the Great Hall and took a sigh of relief. That was close, he thought as he headed back to Gryffindor tower. He wasn't sure why he was headed that way because he hadn't really left his potions things behind…he just had to escape Ron's prying about the Yule Ball. Harry wondered if Ginny had told Hermione that he'd asked her to the Yule Ball. He knew that Ginny had friends in 5th year, but she and Hermione seemed to be more like sisters than friends. Ginny probably told Hermione things that she didn't feel comfortable telling her friends. Harry would tell Sirius things that he would hold back from Ron and Hermione, so he assumed that they were the same way.
Harry realized that he was climbing unnecessary stairs that would make him even more tired before potions and he needed all the energy he could get to stay awake in that class. So, he turned around and headed for the kitchens. He hadn't eaten that much during breakfast because of how the discussion somehow drifted from quidditch to the Yule Ball in a matter of seconds. I wonder if Ron suspects something. I hope Hermione isn't going to tell him that I'm taking Ginny to the Yule Ball. That's something he needs. Harry could already tell that Ron was very nervous about the Yule Ball. Ron's not very good at hiding his emotions. When he tries to act normal if something's bugging him, he would overdo it and make it obvious that he was trying to act normal. Harry actually thought it was quite amusing.
When he'd finally reached the painting of the fruit, he tickled the pear and was let into the kitchen. Immediately, the house elves came over to him and began to offer him various snacks. Harry asked if he could see Dobby. The other house elves nodded and led him over to a table to wait for Dobby. Only seconds later, Dobby came running over to Harry and bowed.
"Hello, Dobby," Harry said with a smile.
"Harry Potter has come to see Dobby? What can Dobby do for Mr. Potter?" Dobby squealed anxiously.
"Nothing, I just thought I'd say hello. There's a Hogsmeade visit soon after the Yule Ball and I thought I'd ask you if you wanted anything."
"Oh, no!" Dobby started crying, "Harry Potter should not worry about buying anything for Dobby! Dobby is not good enough for that."
At this, Harry knew he wasn't going to get an actual answer out of Dobby, so he just said, "Well, I'll think of something."
"Harry Potter has been too kind to Dobby," Dobby said, wiping his tears. "Can Dobby get Harry Potter something to eat?"
"Do you have any biscuits left over from breakfast?"
"Of course, Mr. Potter," Dobby squealed as he ran to get what Harry had asked for.
When Dobby returned, he was carrying a tray covered in biscuits, butter, jam, and juice. "Is this okay for Harry Potter?" Dobby asked humbly.
"This is great! Thanks Dobby!" Harry said as he glanced at the clock on the wall. He had to be in potions in two minutes. "I've got to go, but thanks for the food, Dobby. See you later!"
Harry grabbed a biscuit and ran out of the kitchen while Dobby yelled, "Goodbye, Harry Potter!"
Harry sprinted through the hallways as fast as his feet would carry him and barely made it to potions on time. During class he decided that he would just buy some socks for Dobby; he seems to favor those. After the class of misery, Harry found his way out of the dungeons and tried to avoid walking with Ron for the fear that Ron might try to pressure him to say that he's going to the Yule Ball with Ginny.
Later that night, Harry was doing homework in common room when Ginny came through the portrait hole with Hermione. They both walked over and sat down at Harry's table together. Harry looked up inquisitively and when no one spoke, he just smiled politely and looked back down at his impossible potions homework.
"Where's Ron?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"In detention with Trelawney. He started on a rampage about how stupid divination was," Harry replied. At the look of amusement on Hermione's face, he continued, "but he didn't storm out of the class like a friend of mine did three years ago."
Hermione seemed to go into a trance of that year and that moment. Harry knew that she had felt so much better after she had stormed out of that class. Harry only wished he'd done it himself. Shaking himself out of the reverie, he returned to his potions homework.
"Need any help, Harry? My best subject is, unfortunately, potions." Ginny asked.
"No, that's alright…I've started making stuff up now, so it wouldn't make sense to put facts in there after I've faked the rest of it. It might contradict and he'll take even more points off for transitioning or something stupid like that. But thank you anyway," Harry replied as he met Ginny's gaze.
"Well, okay then…Hermione, would you help me with some Transfiguration?" Ginny asked.
Hermione opened her mouth to answer when Ron came storming in through the portrait hole muttering curses. He walked over to where Harry, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting and slammed his back down on the table.
"Want to tell us what happened?" Harry asked knowing that Ron would say "no", but would wind up telling them anyway.
"NO," Ron stated angrily.
"Alright then," Harry said as he turned back to do his potions. Right before he started writing again, Ron started his rampage.
"Does she really think that she'll make me like the class better by adding onto my homework load? I mean, honestly, I spent a full detention in that creepy tower and she decides that it's not enough to make me sit up there for more time than the average class period, but that to make up for any missed discipline, she gives me another hour of homework to do. I'm really not a bad student. So I fall asleep every once in awhile in that class and I yelled at her. Does that really warrant all the extra Divination crap I now have to endure?" Ron said as he shook with anger.
"Feel better?" Ginny asked.
"Not really," Ron snapped. "Do you have an hour's worth of fake death scenarios you can come up with?"
"Not if you're gonna ask me like that," Ginny stated matter-of-factly. "So anyway Hermione, about my Transfiguration homework…" she said as she opened her book.
Ron sat there fuming for what seemed like forever until he was sitting still enough to even take out any work to do. As soon as Harry had finished his homework, he decided to help Ron make up death predictions. After all, it wasn't his fault Trelawney was mental.
Day of Yule Ball
The day of the Yule Ball passed rather quickly for Ron, but Harry had been very excited about the dance and thought that the day had dragged by. Harry could tell that Hermione had thought the day had passed quickly too because when Lavender Brown yelled over the banister at the dormitories if she could borrow Hermione's brush, Hermione started freaking out because she noticed that she "wouldn't have enough time to get ready." Harry couldn't tell if Ginny was excited or not. She was the one person he always had trouble reading.
Harry and Ron were talking in the common room when Seamus, Dean, and Neville came and joined in their conversation. They talked and joked until about 5 minutes before they were supposed to be ready. Only then did they decide that they should get ready. So they all went up to their dormitory and changed into their dress robes. Seamus, Dean, Neville, and Ron were all talking about either 1) how excited they were or 2) how much they were dreading the night and just wanted to get it over with.
Harry, however, was deep in thought as he got dressed. He found his mind wandering to what Ginny would look like. He hoped that she didn't try too much to make herself pretty because he thought she was beautiful to begin with, but then again, Hermione had looked completely different at the Yule Ball in 4th year. She had straightened her hair and had looked extraordinary. Harry had thought that she was already pretty before all that. Then again, maybe it was because she was just his best friend.
Harry kept thinking about how much fun it would be to dance with Ginny and be able to talk with just her. He hoped that Ron would be okay with the two of them going together. Harry hoped that he would be able to speak to Hermione and Ron and not have to avoid them the entire night.
Just then Seamus announced that it was time to go downstairs and wait for their dates to the Yule Ball. Harry's heart started racing and he did one last hair check in the mirror before they all headed downstairs.
"Harry, you never told us who your date for tonight is," Dean said.
"You're right, I guess I didn't," Harry replied, trying to avoid being asked.
"Well, c'mon, who is it?" Dean asked.
"Er, you'll find out in a few minutes."
Dean looked utterly dissatisfied with the answer he'd gotten, but he didn't keep asking. After all, everyone would find out tonight. It was just a matter of their reaction, Harry thought. Harry took a deep breath as he sank down into one of the big, comfy red chairs in front of the fireplace and waited.
"So, Ron, who is Ginny going with this time?" Neville asked.
"I don't know. I'm not sure she's going. She wouldn't tell me if she was or not, so she might've been embarrassed that she wasn't going. At least I won't have to worry about my little sister on a date," Ron answered.
Harry nodded in agreement and tried to act as natural as possible.
Just then, the door to the girl's dormitory opened and all the boys heard the clicking of shoes on the stone stairs. They all stood up and waited anxiously. The first to come down was Parvati and Dean quickly went over to greet her. Neville said goodbye to everyone and went to meet his date from Hufflepuff.
Next to come downstairs was Hermione. Again, she looked amazingly different. Dressed in robes of light purple, she'd straightened her hair again and had it half up and half down, softening her facial features. Harry looked over at Ron and saw that he was frozen and his jaw was dropped. Hermione smiled at his reaction and came over to greet him.
"Ron, are you alright?" Hermione asked with a smile.
"F-f-fine," Ron stuttered. "You look…er…beautiful," he managed to say as he turned red.
Hermione immediately started blushing all the way back to her ears like Ron always does. "Thanks. You look great." she replied avoiding looking him in the eye. She looked around and found Harry waiting for Ginny. "You look nice, Harry."
"Oh, thanks, you don't look so bad yourself," he said as he tried not to fidget. "Hermione, do you know if she's…"
"She's just running a little late, Harry. She'll be down any minute now," Hermione answered without looking at Ron. Then she turned to him and said, "Let's head down…I'm sure Harry'll be down in a few minutes."
"Oh no you don't. I'm going to see who Harry's mystery date is or else I'll never know," Ron said firmly.
Harry's heart sunk, but he decided that it was all for the best if he found out now rather than later, so he'd have time to get over it.
Harry heard a pair of shoes running out of the dormitory and sprinting down the stairs. He just saw a blur of red. Then, as she reached the bottom of the stairs, she fixed her hair one last time and straightened out her robes or bright red. Harry held his breath when he saw her face. She looked amazing. Her usually straight hair was curled into tight ringlets and she had two gold clips keeping her hair from falling in her face. She had done her make-up in a way that her facial features looked very appealing. She'd done her make-up in the same way that Hermione had done hers and he guessed that they'd done their make-up together.
Ron looked furious. "GINNY! I thought you weren't going?!"
Ginny walked over to where Ron, Hermione, and Harry were standing and replied, "You assumed. I never said anything."
"Who are you going with?! It better be no one. You are too little to be dating!"
"Oh shove it, Ron. I'm one year younger than you are and you're not my parent."
"Mum and Dad won't approve!"
"Well, actually, I sent them an owl telling them I was going and they said it was fine."
"Did you mention that you had a date?"
"Yes, and when I told them that I had a date, they were fine with it," Ginny retorted. Seeing the look on Ron's face, she answered the question before he said it. "Yes, I did tell them who I was going with and they were still fine with it."
"Well, who is it then?!"
Ginny looked over at Harry amusedly and said, "Harry, breathe."
Harry realized he'd been holding his breath the whole time since she'd come downstairs and finally started breathing again. "Thanks…" he said. He felt much better now that he had some air although he was still terrified of Ron's reaction just to the idea that Ginny was going to the Yule Ball at all.
"You didn't answer my question, Ginny," Ron complained. "Who's your date?"
"Oh Ron, are you really that naïve?" Ginny replied tiredly. "It's Harry, you prat."
Ron turned his attention to Harry and looked at him with disbelief. "You…" Ron sputtered. "You're dating my sister and you didn't tell me about it?! I thought we were friends!"
"Of course we're friends. The fact that I'm going to the Yule Ball with Ginny doesn't make that change," Harry replied calmly.
"And they're not dating," Hermione said. "They're just going as friends!"
"You don't ask someone to a dance unless you like them!" Ron yelled.
Hermione raised her eyebrows at him and was speechless at what he'd just said. "Aren't we going as friends, Ronald?"
Ron looked mortified at the question. "That's – completely – different!" He managed to reply.
"Oh, okay," Hermione said, apparently satisfied that someone had managed to distract Ron from Harry and Ginny.
"Well, I'm in the mood to dance," Ginny said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Me too," Harry chimed. He looked over at Ginny, offered his arm, and said, "Shall we?"
Ginny took his arm and they followed Ron and Hermione out the portrait hole toward the Great Hall. Ginny and Harry inconspicuously walked a great deal slower than Hermione and Ron. Eventually, Harry stopped Ginny in the middle of the hall and looked at her sincerely saying, "You look gorgeous, Ginny. I never got a chance to tell you in the common room before Ron started yelling."
Ginny looked away as the famous Weasley bashfulness overcame her face and he face color match her dress robes. "Thanks," she said as she met his sincere green eyes. "You look great too." Harry re-offered his arm. Ginny took it once again and the two continued walking in silence toward the Yule Ball, neither knowing what to say to the other.
When Harry and Ginny had caught up to Hermione and Ron, everyone was waiting for the doors to open to the Great Hall so they could all dance and have fun. Harry was glad that he didn't have to walk in separately like he'd had to during the Triwizard Tournament. Although, it would've been better, Harry thought, if he could've walked with Ginny at that Yule Ball. Wait, what? She's my friend and my best friend's sister. I don't think of her like I thought of Cho…hang on, that's a good thing. What am I saying…snap out of it Harry! Harry started smacking his forehead with the palm of his hand. But what about what Ron said? About how people don't ask people to dances unless they like them as more than friends? I mean, look at Ron and Hermione. Was he right? No, he couldn't be. I'm perfectly content being her friend…I think. At this thought, Harry hit his head again.
Ginny saw Harry whacking his head. "Harry, are you alright?"
Harry was quickly pulled out of his trance and turned to see two concerned brown eyes looking back at him, "Er, yeah, sorry, I'm okay."
"You're not having second thoughts about asking me to the Yule Ball, are you?" Ginny said jokingly.
"I'm not, but even if I was, do you honestly thing I would tell you…the person I asked?" Harry smiled back.
Ginny laughed and before she could respond, the doors to the Great Hall swung open and all the students excitedly flooded onto the dance floor. Harry was amazed that Dumbledore had somehow managed to get the Weird Sisters to perform for them again like at the last Yule Ball. All the thoughts that had bothered him before melted away as he, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione began dancing, forgetting about everything around them except the moment at hand.
After awhile of dancing, the four got tired and decide to sit down at a table. Ginny noticed that she had sat down right next to the punch bowl and offered everyone a glass of punch. They all drank and before they had started talking, Ron spotted the cookie platters and walked toward them mesmerized by their appeal.
"Could you bring some for everyone?" Ginny yelled to him. "And I want a blue one!"
"Get me a red one!" Hermione called to him.
"I'll take one of each!" Harry shouted over the loud music.
"What do I look like, a waiter?" Ron retorted as he filled another plate with their orders.
When Ron came back, everyone ate their cookies and tried to regain some energy to get back on the dance floor. Just then, a slow song came on and Harry asked Ginny to dance. Then he looked over at Ron and Hermione and before he asked if they were coming, they both shook their heads and said they would sit that one out. Harry shrugged and led Ginny out to dance.
Harry and Ginny both kept a close eye on Ron and Hermione. They both knew that Ron and Hermione weren't tired any more, but they didn't seem to want to dance. Harry knew why as soon as they both stood up and walked out to the entrance hall.
When Ginny saw that they were leaving, she asked, "Do you think he'll actually get past his denial and ask her out tonight? I mean, it's only been, what? Six years since he's wanted to?"
Harry laughed. "Who knows? He probably wants some time to argue in peace and quiet with her when I'm not there to make them stop."
As he said this, the song ended and another fast one began. Harry and Ginny looked at each other and then shook their heads at the same time to show that they were tired and went to sit back down at their table.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Harry wondered aloud.
"Who said they were talking?" Ginny replied mischievously.
"Ginny, this is Ron we're talking about. We're lucky Hermione hasn't come storming in already, upset about how he said something stupid to mess everything up."
"Yeah, you're probably right. I don't know how many times I have to tell her that Ron fancies her. She thinks I'm nuts. I only live with him, but I wouldn't know that he talks about her constantly," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
"What else do you and Hermione talk about?" Harry asked. He and Ron had always wondered what girls could possibly talk about for hours that would bore them.
"Hermione and I talk about everything. She's like my adopted sister. I tell her stuff that's too personal to talk about with my school friends or parents. She's only a year older than me, so most of the stuff that I ask for advice on, she's pretty much covered it with her own experiences. Does that make sense?" Ginny answered.
"Yeah…in other words, Hermione's like your version of Sirius to me."
"The one thing that I still don't get is how it can take so long for them to get together. I think it makes me madder than t makes either of them."
"Same with me. It's just because we can see it and they're too thick to get it."
"You're telling me. I live with one of them!"
"Yeah, that must really bite. Sorry about that."
"It's alright. At least I have examples about Ron that I can give to Hermione," Ginny said.
"Yeah. Whenever I tell Ron, his response is always, 'Prove it, 'or 'An example is…?' It drives me mad!"
Ginny laughed and when she looked up she saw Ron and Hermione walking through the doors to the Great Hall. "Well, well, well, look who it is."
Harry followed her gaze and found Ron walking it with a dazed smile plastered on his face. Hermione was holding his hand with both her hands and her head was rested gently on his shoulder. She, too, had a dazed smile on her face. When they found Harry and Ginny staring at them, they immediately let go of each other and turned red. They went over to sit down at their table and didn't say anything.
"And?" Ginny pushed.
"Are you really gonna make us ask you flat out?" Harry asked.
"Ask us what?" Hermione said, sarcastically acting like she didn't know what on earth either of them meant.
"Tell me you asked her out, you thick prat, or you'll deal with me," Ginny said scornfully to Ron.
"No!" Hermione cried airheadishly. "Don't hurt his adorable face!"
Harry and Ginny stared at both of them with disbelief. Harry opened and closed his mouth several times without saying a word.
"Should we take that as a yes?" Harry asked.
"Are you really that thick?" Ron asked with a smile.
"Just say it," Ginny said. "It'll make us feel better."
Ron looked briefly at Hermione before he said, "Ginny, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Hermione Granger."
Ginny squealed as she ran around the table and pulled Hermione into a tight embrace. "You and I are definitely going to talk later!"
Hermione smiled as Ginny hugged her again.
Harry gave Ron a short, brotherly embrace and said, "It's about time. What took you so long?"
Ron just shrugged and replied, "I wish I hadn't waited so long."
As another slow song began to play, Ron walked over to Hermione, offered his hand and asked, "May I have this dance?"
Hermione smiled from ear to ear and took his hand as they walked out onto the dance floor.
Harry and Ginny looked at each other clearly in shock from what had just happened. "I never thought it would actually happen. They were always too stupid about it," Harry said.
"I know…I thought the same thing," Ginny said. "Wow, that took just about forever."
Harry laughed at her sarcasm and they both sat there in silence until Ron and Hermione rejoined them at the table. "Harry, can I have a word?" Hermione asked.
"Sure, if it's alright with your boyfriend," Harry said, raising his eyebrows at Ron.
"Well, if you must," Ron answered.
Hermione led Harry into the Entrance Hall and turned to face him. "Harry, I have to be honest," Hermione said.
"About what?" Harry asked.
"Look, I know that you and Ginny have both teased me and Ron about taking forever to get together, but what about you?"
"What about me?"
"I meant what about you and Ginny?"
"What about us?"
"You know perfectly well what about. Ginny's been telling me that Ron has fancied me for the longest time and tonight, he actually admitted that he's fancied me since quite a few years ago which is obviously why he was always so touchy about Viktor. Look, I know that you fancy Ginny. Whether you realize it or not, you do. I also know that Ginny fancies you too. Whenever she would tease me about Ron, I'd always reply with 'no, we're just friends,' or some other variation of that, so when Ginny would say the same about you, I'd let it slide because I thought that was all it meant," Hermione answered.
"That's all it does mean," Harry replied.
"Have you not been paying attention? It's what I've said about Ron all this time and I know that's what he's said about me. And look at us, we've figured out that we've actually fancied each other the entire time. We've let six years pass without admitting it. You and Ginny need to get a move on before six years pass on you guys too."
"Even if I did fancy her, which I don't, Ron's my best friend. I can't fancy his sister. He'd kill me before I could," Harry said defensively.
"Let me worry about Ron. Remember, he's my boyfriend now. I can make him sway on certain things. Or at least distract him for awhile while it happens," she said as she winked at him. She started walking toward the Great Hall leaving Harry standing alone. Before she went back inside, she turned around again and said, "And when it's all said and done, I'll be here to say, 'I told you so.'" She smiled knowingly at him as she went back into the Yule Ball.
Harry knew he couldn't stand out there very long or Ginny would think he'd ditched her. He wondered if it was really true. If Ginny really fancied him. He knew she had when he was in 2nd year, but it seemed to have faded out by 3rd year. But then again, what if Hermione was right? Ginny seemed to feel the same way about Harry that Hermione had felt about Ron and look at the two of them now. I can't fancy Ginny…that's like betraying Ron. Although, Hermione does hold certain powers now that she's his girlfriend. What am I saying? I can't be more than friends with Ginny. Wait, what? I can't be? I shouldn't want to be! I hate being a teenager. And why do guys have to make the first move? Wait, I'm not planning on making a movie. Harry let out a frustrated groan as he reentered the Great Hall.
Harry looked around for his table and when he found them, he walked very slowly toward them. He'd never realized how beautiful Ginny was. Well, he'd always seen her face and her hair, but for some reason, he was looking at her differently tonight. When Hermione saw Harry coming, he was snapped out of his trance and quickened his pace toward the table. He still kept his eyes on Ginny taking in how much her fire red hair was accented by her dress robes. Alright, I give up…but what am I supposed to say? Harry thought succumbing to his realization.
When Harry sat back down, Hermione pulled Ron up out of his chair to go dance clearly against his will because she had to drag him by his collar. Ginny looked over at Harry and asked, "Are you feeling up to dancing yet?"
"Actually, Ginny, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something?" Harry asked nervously.
"Sure, is everything okay?" Ginny asked rather concernedly.
"Yeah, everything's fine, but I was thinking…"
"Harry…I can't hear a word you're saying. Let's go outside," Ginny suggested.
Before Harry could respond, Ginny had grabbed his arm and was pulling him into the Entrance Hall and outside onto the steps. She sat down on the stairs and tapped the space next to her gently with her hand, motioning for him to sit down as well. "What's on you mind?" Ginny asked.
"Well, I've just been talking with Hermione, and she was saying – ," Harry began.
"Don't tell me she started going on about you and me again," Ginny interrupted.
Harry opened his mouth to answer, but he didn't know what to say, so he just shut it again.
"How many times do I have to tell her that you and I are just friends? Excuse me, Harry. I need to go kill Hermione, but I'll be back soon. This shouldn't take that long," Ginny said as she stood up.
Harry didn't know what to do. He didn't want Ginny to cause a scene and yell at Hermione, but he didn't want to look stupid in front of Ginny if she didn't feel that same way that he felt about her. Oh well, he thought, I already feel like an idiot for saying anything. I might as well follow through with it.
Before Ginny was out of reach, Harry grabbed her hand and held on gently not letting her go back inside. Ginny turned and looked at him and he could tell she was incredibly confused about what was going on. When he was sure that she wasn't going anywhere, he let go and tapped the space next to him, motioning for her to sit down like she had done before. She obeyed and retook her seat next to him.
"We're friends, right?" Harry asked.
"Of course. That Hermione, ooohh, I could kill her," Ginny responded bitterly.
"Right. So since we're friends, we can talk to each other, right?" Harry continued.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Ginny asked, wondering what Harry was getting at.
Harry stood up so he could think clearly. Apparently, he thought it would help if he could pace while he tried to embarrass himself. He was glad that Ginny had no clue what he was getting at, which is unusual because she's smart just like Hermione. "Hermione's usually right and I…" He started
"Yeah, it's amazing how incredibly off she can be sometimes, isn't it?" Ginny replied.
"Er, yeah, sure. Anyway, the point is, I like being your friend, but I don't think that I can, well, you see, I just think –," Harry tried to say it, but he couldn't seem to just spit it out. He looked at Ginny and she was looking back worriedly. Harry could tell that she thought he'd gone mad. "What I'm trying to say is…"
"You don't want to be friends anymore?" Ginny asked incredibly confusedly.
"YES! That's just it!" Harry replied.
Ginny was apparently speechless and Harry felt incredibly relieved. He felt even more stupid that he had before at the look on her face. She seemed more disgusted than she was happy.
"Did I say something wrong?" Harry asked.
Ginny shook herself back into the present. "Why can't we be friends anymore? Am I not, er, good enough or something?" Ginny asked, slowly getting upset.
"No, Ginny, I think you missed the point," Harry said frantically.
"No, Harry, I got it," she said as she got up and started walking back inside.
How did I manage to screw this up? Harry asked himself. Quickly, he ran in front of the doors so she couldn't get inside. "Ginny listen to me."
"I don't need to, nor do I want to. Just let me go inside. You've already said we can't be friends, so stop acting like you're still my friend."
"Ginny, I meant what I said. And I'll tell you why, just wait."
Ginny stopped trying to get inside and decided to hear him out. Harry took a deep breath.
"Ginny, I can't be your friend because if I'm just your friend, I can't reach out and hold your hand when I want to. If I'm only your friend, I can't just put my arm around you. I can't tell you how beautiful you are everyday. I can't reach out and touch your face for no reason at all,"
Ginny's expression changed from one of harshness to one of shocked amazement.
"And if I'm only your friend, I can't do this when I want to," Harry said as he reached out and pulled her face gently to his as he kissed her lightly and gently, hoping that she wouldn't pull away from him.
To his dismay, she pulled away and looked at him with utter shock. Harry held his breath, hoping that she wouldn't start yelling at him. When she realized that he wasn't breathing, she said, "Harry, breathe."
"I can't," he said as he watched her waiting for her reaction.
"Well, what took you so long?" Ginny asked smiling.
Harry could suddenly breathe again and he took a few deep breaths before he tried to answer. He couldn't say anything. He just shrugged, "I don't know." Then he thought to add, "Sorry!"
Ginny just smiled as she took his hand and they walked back inside to the Yule Ball. Right before they entered the Great Hall, Ginny looked at Harry and asked, "Does this mean I'm your girlfriend?"
"Please?" Harry asked.
Ginny pulled him into an embrace and Harry didn't want to let go. Apparently neither did Ginny because they stood there for possibly minutes. When they finally reentered the ball, Ginny pulled Harry out onto the dance floor for the rest of the current slow song. Harry held Ginny's right hand with his left as they began dancing. Slowly, Ginny wrapped her arm around his neck and leaned her head on the front of her shoulder (she couldn't reach the top of his shoulder because he was taller than she was) and he leaned his head on top of hers, glad that Hermione had been right.
After some more dancing, Harry and Ginny noticed that Ron and Hermione were tuckered out and sitting down at the same table again. This time they looked more drained of energy than they had before. Ron's arms were cradling his head as he laid on the table. Hermione had her feet up on another chair as she leaned back and rested on Ron. Harry wondered if he should tell Ron tonight that Ginny was his girlfriend or if it was safer to wait until Ron was fully alert.
"What do you think? Should we tell him tonight?" Harry asked Ginny.
"Yeah, then he'll be too tired to try to hit you and he'll have the night to sleep on it," Ginny replied.
"Good point. Get him while he's down!" Harry said with a mischievous smile.
Apparently Ron and Hermione hadn't seen Harry and Ginny approaching them because when Harry pulled up a chair for Ginny (Hermione was using one of the remaining two chairs for her feet), they both were jerked awake. Ron had awoken first and his head flung up, and Hermione almost fell out of her chair because she had been leaning on Ron. Once the two were sitting properly in their chairs, Hermione instinctively knew Harry had finally talked to Ginny, but Ron was completely oblivious as usual.
"Well?" Hermione asked.
"Go ahead and say it," Harry said, just wanting to get it over with.
Hermione smiled as she straightened up and said, "I told you so."
"Ouch, that was a little harsh, Mione," Ginny said with a sarcastic wince.
"What did you tell them?" Ron said cluelessly.
Harry, Ginny, and Hermione looked at each other tentatively before Harry spoke.
"I've asked if, well, Ginny said that she would, so there," Harry said. As he reviewed what he just said, he realized he'd skipped the middle part.
"Harry's my boyfriend," Ginny said very matter-of-factly.
"What?!" Ron said bewilderedly. "When did this happen?"
"Er, what do you think? About an hour ago?" Ginny asked Harry.
"C-c-close enough," Harry replied nervously. So far so good…Ron hadn't tried to get up and strangle Harry yet.
"You said you were just friends!" Ron yelled.
"So did we," Hermione pointed out calmly, smiling at Ron.
"B-but, she's too young!"
"Oh shove off, Ron. I'm more mature than you are anyway," Ginny retorted.
Giving up, Ron turned to Harry and threatened, "If you hurt her, I'll kill you."
"There's a shocking revelation," Harry replied sarcastically. "Of course I'm not gonna hurt her. What do you think I am? Stupid?"
"Okay, good. We're all on the same page then?" Hermione concluded. "Congratulations!" she added as she walked around the table to hug Ginny. "Now we're definitely going to have a talk."
Ginny smiled happily as the Weird Sisters announced that they would end the night with a slow song. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all made their way to the dance floor for the final song. In a way, Harry was disappointed that the night was ending, but in another way, he was emotionally and physically drained from the events of the wonderful night. As they danced the last song, Harry looked down at Ginny, who was once again leaning on the front of his shoulder and thought, This is definitely more than 'who fancies who.'
A/N How'd you like it? Review if you liked, if you didn't like, and let me know why!!! Thanks to those who reviewed chapter one!!