Chapter 8
"Sorry I'm late Harry, Madame Pomfrey made me sit in the infirmary for like an hour!"
"You went to see her then?" Mattie shook her head, smiling, as she flew up and leveled with Harry.
"Yes, I went to see her. Look, my wrist is fine!" Mattie held up her hand and waved it around.
"I'm glad. Go on, Ron, Alicia, and Angelina are waiting for you." Harry smiled as Mattie sped off towards the rings. Practice went well and was over quickly; they were in great shape for their first match, which wasn't for another week.
"Psst! Hermione! Are you awake?"
"Yes!" Hermione parted the hangings on her bed and looked around. Mattie was sitting on her own bed, sticking her head through the part in the hangings. She motioned for Hermione to come over. She rose and tiptoed to Mattie's bed, clambering up onto it.
"We should be sleeping."
"But we're not." They both giggled; it didn't much matter anyways; all the classes were cancelled on Friday (tomorrow) to set up for the ball. "I can't wait for the ball!"
"I know!" Mattie beamed thinking about her dress, it was perfect. Hermione looked stunning in her dress, as well.
"Can you imagine the look on Malfoy's face when he sees you?"
"I know! He'll have a fit when he finds out I'm going with Ron!" Mattie and Hermione burst out laughing and a few of their roommates hissed at them to be quiet.
The day passed quickly; they all slept in considerably late and had missed breakfast. By the time they were up and dressed, it was time for lunch. Afterwards they went to Hagrid's for tea.
"What're we going to do now?" Ron asked as the four of them walked back towards the school.
"We're going upstairs to start getting ready, I don't know about you and Harry."
"What?! It's only 3 o'clock! The ball doesn't start until 7!" Mattie and Hermione laughed at Harry's wide-eyed expression.
"And we'll see you at 6:45 in the Common Room!" They linked arms and ran up the hill back to the school, leaving Harry and Ron standing there confused.
"I'll never understand those two." Ron shook his head as Harry laughed.
"I don't think we're supposed to understand, Ron."
Harry glanced at the clock on the Common Room wall; 6:40, 5 minutes left. He and Ron were playing a half-hearted game of Wizard's Chess while they waited for Hermione and Mattie.
"Stop looking at the clock Harry, you're making me nervous." Harry laughed nervously; he couldn't keep his mind off of Mattie's plan. Furthermore, he couldn't stop thinking about how everything was going to turn out, including whether or not he would get to dance with Mattie.
At exactly 6:45, they heard Mattie's voice on the Dormitory stairs, "Wait a second, I need ... okay, let's go." Harry and Ron quickly put away the chessmen and stood at the base of the stairs to wait.
Hermione came downstairs first; Ron resembled a fish, gasping for water. She was wearing a dark green dress that reached just below her knees. It had two thick straps and was sleeveless. The bottom had a little flip to it, making it sway when she walked. The back line rested just below her hair and the neckline was a low, although modest, v shape. Her hair was left down in soft ringlets. Ron recognized the small silver locket around her neck; she had seen it in Hogsmeade last year, but hadn't had enough money to buy it. To make up for the past 2 Christmases they had neglected, Ron and Harry had saved up the entire year and bought it for her. It was circle-shaped and there was a dragon engraved on the front. Inside, it held one picture of Hermione, Harry, and Ron and one picture of Hermione and her parents. The two middle sleeves did not yet have pictures in them. She smiled, seeing Ron's expression, and gracefully descended the stairs. She walked over to Harry and pinned a single pink rose to his lapel. It matched the one that was pinned to the right strap of her dress. Harry nudged Ron, bringing him back to reality.
A few moments later, Mattie appeared at the top of the stairs. Now, Harry was the one that looked like a fish. She was wearing a floor-length maroon dress. In contrast with Hermione's, it had ¾ length sheer, loose, flowing sleeves and a curved neckline. It was low, but modest nonetheless. The dress was backless and her long brown hair hung down her exposed back. Her hair, like Hermione's, was also curled into ringlets, but the front was pulled back into a clip. She also wore a silver locket; it was heart-shaped. It had enough space for four pictures, but only held two. There was the same shade of pink rose was pinned to Mattie's right strap as well. She pinned another to Ron's lapel; it was now Ron's turn to nudge Harry.
"You look ... both of you look ..." Harry stammered.
"Amazing!" Ron blushed immediately.
Mattie and Hermione smiled and blushed. "Not half-bad yourselves." Harry and Ron were both wearing simple, black, muggle suits (Harry's idea) with white shirts. Mattie had picked out their ties; Ron couldn't help but wonder why his tie matched Hermione's dress and why Harry's matched Mattie's dress. If he had thought about it a moment longer, he would have come to the conclusion that Mattie was up to something. But Mattie slipped her arm into his and the four of them started downstairs.
The Great Hall had been decorated beautifully. The ceiling reflected the clear night outside, and the only lights were that of the stars, moon, and floating jack-o-lanterns. The four large tables had been cleared away and replaced by small, round tables. On the right side of the Hall a table with refreshments had been pushed up against the wall. Dumbledore called them all to order just as Harry, Hermione, Ron and Mattie entered. They quickly sat down at an empty table.
"Thank you all for coming to the First Annual Halloween Ball. I trust that I do not need to warn any of you about the proper conduct on such an occasion. The music is about to start, enjoy yourselves!" Dumbledore sat back down in his high-backed chair and motioned to the DJ.
"Come on Ron! Let's dance!" Mattie dragged Ron onto the dance floor and winked to Harry over her shoulder. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and they followed Mattie and Ron. A few songs later, the DJ played a slower song. During a twirl, Harry took advantage of the opportunity and slid between Ron and Mattie.
"Don't mind if I cut in, Ron?" Before Ron could answer Mattie and Harry danced off to the other side of the room. Hermione turned around to find herself dancing with a very surprised Ron. Harry and Mattie smiled as Hermione and Ron blushed but kept dancing.
"Nice work, Harry."
"Thanks, not bad yourself ... I mean the dresses and ties were just icing on the cake. I'm glad they didn't figure it out." Mattie smiled; she knew she would be walking out with Harry and Hermione with Ron, so it seemed appropriate that they match. Mattie pulled Harry closer and rested her head on his shoulder as they danced. For the hundredth time, Harry felt as though he had misplaced his stomach. He whispered in her ear, "You look beautiful."
Mattie pulled back suddenly and blushed. "Thank you, Harry." He smiled and vaguely noticed that they had stopped dancing. He put his hand behind her head and pulled her to him. Both Mattie and Harry wondered how fast their hearts could beat before bursting; they were surely nearing that point. Their faces were inches apart; Mattie leaned forward slightly and Harry's lips touched hers. Reluctantly, Mattie pulled back and looked, surprised, up at Harry.
"Wow."
"Yeah." Harry smiled and led Mattie over to their table. Mattie sat down and turned to face him.
"So what's this mean, Harry?"
"I don't know ..." Harry was about to say something else when Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson walked up behind him.
"Having fun, Potter?" Malfoy's eyes drifted to Mattie. Pansy looked helplessly down at her own dress robes and then at Mattie's long, flowing dress.
"Don't you even think about it, Draco Malfoy!" She grabbed his hand and stormed off, dragging him behind her.
"What is that?" Harry watched as Pansy yelled something at Malfoy.
"Huh?"
"Well, it started out as if you ... liked him ... and then you and I."
"Harry, I don't like Malfoy ..." Mattie was about to say something else when Fred and George came up to them, smiling.
"So I see you finally got Ronniekins –"Fred stopped and let George finish the sentence,
"And Hermione"
"Together!" they said in unison. Mattie and Harry laughed and nodded. Ron and Hermione were still dancing, rather closely Mattie noticed, and talking softly to each other.
"Well, we're being summoned," Fred motioned to Alicia and Angelina, the twin's dates; they were waving.
"Nice work, anyhow." George smiled and he and Fred walked back to join Alicia and Angelina.
"Well, apparently we can't talk without being interrupted here, so let's dance." Harry smiled and offered Mattie his hand; she took it and followed him out onto the dance floor.
"Something to drink?" They had been dancing for a long time and they were both tired and thirsty. Hermione smiled and nodded; she sat down and watched Ron walk towards the refreshment table. Harry and Mattie walked towards the table. They exchanged knowing glances, and Harry turned to follow Ron. Mattie sat down next to Hermione, smiling.
"You are in so much trouble!" Mattie smiled innocently at Hermione.
"Why, whatever do you mean?" The two burst out laughing. "I'm assuming everything went ... according to our plan?"
"Well ... yeah, oh Merlin Mattie! Thank you so much!" Hermione leaned over and hugged Mattie.
"Don't worry about it ... we're just glad you two finally figured everything out." Mattie laughed.
"Why didn't you tell me though?"
"Well if I had told you, then Harry would've had to tell Ron and then it wouldn't have been a secret plan, would it? Despite your shock at first, you both seem to be doing brilliantly!" Hermione blushed and nodded.
"You and Harry aren't exactly at each other's throats!"
Checking to make sure Harry and Ron were still occupied, Mattie leaned over and whispered, "Hermione ... he kissed me!"
"Oh my god! What –" Harry and Ron returned to the table before Hermione had a chance to finish her sentence.
"Uh-oh Ron, whispering. Think we should be suspicious?" Harry sat down next to Mattie and handed her a cup with Pumpkin juice inside.
"You should always be suspicious of me, Harry Potter!" Everyone laughed as Harry raised an eyebrow at Mattie.
"Hey, why don't we go back upstairs before the mad rush?" Harry caught Mattie's meaning; she wanted to talk. He nodded; the ball would be ending in a half hour or so anyways. He walked over to where Ron and Hermione were dancing and tapped Ron on the shoulder.
"We're going upstairs, we'll see you later." Ron nodded and he and Hermione continued dancing. Harry walked back to Mattie and offered her his arm, she took it and they started for the Gryffindor Common Room. "This all turned out a lot better than I had hoped." Harry smiled and pulled Mattie closer to him.
They reached the Common Room and sat down on a couch in front of the fire. Harry draped his arm around Mattie's shoulders. "So what happens next Harry?"
Harry felt himself blush; he knew exactly what he wanted to say to Mattie. The problem was actually saying it. He took a deep breath. "Mattie ... I-I really umm ... I really like you," he blurted out at last. He let out a sigh of relief and looked at Mattie. To his horror, she was giving him a very pale, wide-eyed look. She blinked repeatedly as if not comprehending what Harry had just said. His heart sank as she opened her mouth to say something and then shut it again several times.
"Goodnight Harry." With one last terrified glance at Harry, Mattie bolted up to her Dormitory, leaving Harry sitting on the couch stunned. He felt as if his heart had just been stomped on by a pair of very pointy heels; Mattie's heels.
"Thank you all for coming! Please proceed to your Dormitories." Dumbledore smiled and sat back down. Everyone gathered up their things and started for the door. As they were about to reach the first staircase, Ron pulled Hermione aside.
"I won't get to say goodnight upstairs with everyone there."
"This has to be one of the best nights of my life." Hermione smiled.
"Really? You're not just saying that?"
"Of course not!" Ron smiled and blushed a little.
"Well, goodnight then." Ron wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and pulled her to him, kissing her. Hermione put her arms around Ron's neck and kissed him back.
They proceeded to the Common Room; everyone else was talking in the hallway and they were the first ones there. Upon hearing the portrait hole open, Harry stood bolt upright. Hermione's smile faded as she saw the expression on his face. He looked confused, angry, sad, and shocked all at the same time.
"Harry what's –" Before she could finish her sentence, he ran up the stairs to his Dormitory.
"What was that?"
"I don't know ... oh god, something happened with Mattie! Ron, hurry up ... go talk to him!" Hermione started for the stairs to her own Dormitory, but turned around. Walking back to Ron she kissed him, and then ran up the stairs. Ron stood there for a moment in shock, only coming back to reality when Fred clapped him on the shoulder.
"Did I just see ickle Ronniekins snogging with Hermione in the Common Room?!"
Ron turned around to face his brothers, "Yeah, I guess you did." He turned around quickly and headed up to his Dormitory, leaving Fred and George open-mouthed and wide-eyed.
A/N: Awww poor Harry! I know, I'm so cruel! This is sooooo much better than the first version, because u know, the first version sucked! Many thanks to Mikki who made me change it! Fred and George had a bit of a nasty shock there at the end ... can you say scarred for life? Haha, no, they'll get over it ... eventually. I'll b posting 9 soon and you can find out what happens between Harry and Mattie ... if anything!
Disclaimer: you know the drill, I only own Mattie!