Harry had decided that relationships should be left to those who were crazy enough to want them. He now had the problem of how to tell Ron he knew, and Ginny seemed to believe Hermione would be upset for some reason, so he'd have to watch that too...
"Girls" He muttered angrily, as he tried to transfigure his quill into a Swallow. It had formed tiny bird legs, yet this meant it ran around desperately, dribbling ink everywhere, trying unsuccessfully to fly with it's one feathered body.

By the time the lesson was over he had made a decision to just keep his mouth shut. He threw his struggling quill (now with a bent nib- it had walked repeatedly into a wall) into his bag and was beginning to leave. Suddenly the sharp voice of Professor McGonagal filled the room:
"As many of you are aware, the Christmas holidays will be host to the annual OWL's celebratory ball, as we have yet to celebrate your results from last summer. As you all know this is mainly open to the sixth year, as the NEWT's ball will be held later on, however you may invite anyone you wish, either from younger or older years. "

Harry's stomach gave a huge lurch as he stared at her in horror.

"WHAT?" He exclaimed, the memory of the last ball still fresh in his mind. It hadn't exactly been a success and Harry was hardly willing to go through the ordeal again. He glanced wildly at both Ron and Hermione, anxious to see alarm on their faces also, but none came.

"I was wondering when they were going to do it- look- it's on that sign! New Years Eve? That should be interesting..." Hermione thought aloud, now glancing at a large bit of parchment attached to the wall.

"Why do they have to have a ball to celebrate our results? They could have just given us a chocolate frog each and said 'well done you lot' " Harry fumed, viewing the parchment in disgust.

"I'm sure they only do it to see the pain we have to go through to get partners" sighed Ron, as they sat down to eat their lunch.

Harry looked angrily over at him- it would hardly be difficult for Ron to find a partner. Before he had thought about it, he turned to Ron and in an unnecessarily loud voice called out-

"It's alright for you, you've got darling Luna... but the rest of us poor souls aren't as lucky."

He regretted it the instant he'd spoke. The people around them all had gone silent. Seamus and Dean stared at Ron with glee-

"Loopy Luna? You serious, Ron? Well you better watch out, all the Crumple-backed Snorkclups will be after you!" Dean said seriously, whilst Seamus howled with laughter.

Harry stared desperately at Ron, willing to apologise. To his surprise Ron had made no reply, and was instead staring, ashen faced, at his plate. He glanced briefly at Harry with a hurt expression, then stood up and within a second had disappeared from the Great Hall.

Harry jumped up immediately to follow him. This was all, all wrong. Had he even wanted to mention it he would have done it in private, and now he'd just embarrassed Ron infront of everyone.

As he walked out of the Great Hall his eyes met Luna's. Her usual dazed expression was transformed into that of hurt. She had obviously heard their remarks.

"Lovegood and Weasley?" the snarling voice of Malfoy exclaimed with mirth; "Can you believe it? They'll be too poor to have a wedding of course- good job really, no one would want to go anyway..."

Harry closed his eyes in shame. Nothing could make this worse. Or at least that was what he thought unless he reached the bottom of the staircase and received a large shove from behind.

"You- you- WART!" Ginny's face was as red as her hair, contorted in fury. "Guess what Harry? I've just spoken to my brother. Some best friend you are!"

Harry's eyes narrowed, this all seemed spectacularly unfair under the circumstances. As he watched Ginny storm up the stairs, he called out angrily-

"It was your fault I ever found out, you hardly have the right to lecture me do you? Hardly the best sister in the world really, are you?" He was surprised at the sudden cool tone in his voice, considering the hot anger he was feeling inside.
Within a second she had spun round and came storming down until her nose was almost touching his.

"Now you listen here," She spat, in a voice very similar to Mrs. Weasley, "I may not have been guiltless in this, but I would never, never, have done that to a friend of mine. You know how insecure Ron is with things like this. It was a private thing, between you and me, which Ron obviously didn't want us, or anyone to know about or he would have said something."

"I- I just-"Harry stammered, knowing she was right.
"Why don't you sit with Malfoy, Harry? He suits you down to the ground." She said, her voice icy. Then with a glare that made him want to shrink into nothingness, she disappeared, leaving Harry feeling worse than he had felt since he saw Sirius fall into the veil.