Chapter 15- Cupid's Arrow.
The first and only Quidditch practice was a week before their first Quidditch match of the semester. Unfortunately, that was a week before the Valentine's Day Ball. All the members of Gryffindor's team had other things on their mind rather than Quidditch. Even Ron seemed to have his thoughts elsewhere, rather than on Quidditch, which was first thought Harry. Ron had excused himself from practice, sighting he was not feeling well. Harry had thought he was covering for something else but did not press him on it. He knew that he was depressed because no one had asked Ron to the Ball as of yet. Ron was hoping that one of the Patil twins would ask, but they had asked two Ravenclaw sixth years instead. Harry thought it was wise of them to do so since Ron and wasn't much of a date at the last ball. Harry too hadn't had any luck in the date department since the announcement of the Ball. Two first years had the gall to ask Harry two days after the announcement. Hermione almost died laughing as Harry had quickly ran the other way. He made her promise not to tell anyone about it. She promised not to as long as he promised not to ask who she is going with. Harry thought it wasn't Ron so he didn't care who she asked.
It was the morning of the Gryfinddor's match against Ravencawl. Harry and the other members of the team were waiting for Ron in Gryffindor's locker room before the match. Ron had gone to breakfast early and left before any of the other team members got to eat. Harry was worried if Ron was going to be at his best for the match. It was a minute before they had to enter the pitch that Ron entered the locker room. He was carrying a broomstick covered in the blanket. Harry thought this was unusual but knew that Ron cared a lot for his Cleansweep.
"Are you ok?" Harry asked.
"Um, yeah , I justed bogged down with homework." Ron answered.
"Good, then lets go!" Harry said.
After they entered the pitch,Harry had noticed that Ron wasn't riding his Cleansweep. He saw that Ginny saw the same thing because she was approaching Ron. Harry made sure the Snitch wasn't anywhere to be seen before he approached Ron as well.
"Where's your Cleansweep?" Harry asked.
"Umm." Ron hesitated.
"C'mon Ron." Harry insisted.
"Uhh…"
"He sold it." Ginny said furiously.
"What!" Harry yelled. "Why would you do that?"
"I was just about to ask him myself." Ginny added. "Why Ron?"
"I had too," Ron blurted. "it was the only way I could afford Hermione's Christmas present."
"Oh Ron." Ginny answered.
" You could have asked me for the money." Harry said.
"Yeah…but then I didn't want anyone to know." Ron said sadly. "I wanted it to be form me and then maybe Hermione would realize that I am serious about her."
"Hermione has done a number on you." Ginny said.
"Yeah, but I know she feels the same way." Ron said.
"Hermione's a girl, and girls are complicated." Harry stated.
"Excuse me?" Ginny said in an aggravated tone.
"Not you, I mean other girls." Harry said sheepishly.
"Um, we do have a game to play." Ron pointed out.
Harry had noticed that Cho, Ravenclaws seeker was searching for the snitch on their side of the pitch. He sped toward her noticing that she was waiting for him to get close before she sped up toward snitch. Harry heard that Ravenclaw had scored while he fallowed Cho. For several minutes the snitch stayed out of reach for both of them. Ravenclaw score several more times due to Ron's slowness as keeper. Ron had pulled Dennis Creevy back to focus more on defense. However Dennis was more of an offensive player as was duped several times by Ravenclaws chasers. Harry was able to catch the snitch as Cho celebrated Ravenclaw's nineteenth goal. The score was 150 to 190. Gryffindor had just lost its first Quidditch match this year.
Harry had a hard time to convince Ron to cheer up after the match. He had been in a depressed dazed since then. Harry could understand, first Hermione was barely speaking to him, second, he doesn't have his Cleansweep which Harry thought he loved as much as he loved his mum, and third, he had lost his first Quidditch match as captain. Ron seemed to be avoiding everyone, by getting his meals early and rushing out of class as soon as it ended. Harry thought he would grow out of it, but he got more worried as the Valentine's Day dance approached.
The day before the dance Harry saw Ginny sitting alone at Gryffindor's table before the lunch crowd came. He decided that he would see if anyone else was worried about Ron.
"Hey, Ginny." Harry said positioning himself across from her at the table.
"Hey Harry." Ginny smiled.
"Um have you seen Ron?"
"You mean what's up with Ron right." Ginny answered.
"Yeah, he has been really depressed since the game." Harry stated.
"Before that, since Christmas."
"Yeah, I guess I have been to busy to notice really." Harry shrugged.
"I know, apparition, and the classes with Longbottoms are really tough," Ginny agreed, "and you have Occlumency, too. Hows that going?"
"Well, Lupin is great, much better than Snape. I don't get headaches after our lessons at all." Harry said.
"Hey, have you seen Hermione?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah she headed to the library after class." Harry stated, "Do you know who she asked to the dance?"
"No, I've asked but she darted the question."
"Hmmm, what about Ron?" Harry continued.
"You really haven't been paying attention" Ginny laughed, "I don't think the first years have even tried and I seen a couple ask 5th years."
"Ron's not having a good semester is he?" Harry frowned.
"No, he's not." Ginny said. "Have you been asked?"
Harry hadn't really thought about being asked to the dance until now. His face was giving away the answer?
"No one's asked you, huh?" Ginny said curiously, "Well, I thought you would have been asked by…"
"Asked by whom?" Harry said catching that she stopped herself from finishing the sentence.
"…by Cho." Ginny surrendered.
"Why would she ask me? …I—I thought she was seeing some other Ravenclaw?"
"She was and got dumped last semester." Ginny said with a devilish smile.
"But still I don't think she would want to go with me."
"Yeah she does, she put the word out that you were off limits." Ginny said going into gossiping schoolgirl mode.
"What?" Harry said completely surprised.
"Yeah, I also heard she was worried that Hermione would ask you first."
"What is with that girl! I have tried to tell here that Hermione and me are just friends." Harry said in frustration.
"Well, would you go with her if she asked?" Ginny in a sly tone.
"U—Umm,uh, I don't think I would now." Harry said in disgust. "I—I mean now no one will ask because of her."
"Well, if you want someone to go with someone, you could go with m…" Ginny said before being interrupted by a slender figure standing behind Harry.
Harry had felt a soft hand touch his shoulder before Ginny was about to finish her sentence. He turned to see a smiling Cho standing behind him.
"Um Harry can I have a word with you?" Cho asked gently.
"Uh, yeah sure, one minute Ginny." He replied. Ginny nodded, but Harry missed the face of disappointment she had when he turned toward Cho. They moved to the far end of the Gryffindor table to have some privacy.
"How have you been Harry?" Cho asked.
"Um good I guess."
"Great match last Saturday." Cho said to break the tension.
"Where you at the same game I was at?" Harry said sarcastically.
"I—I mean you did catch the snitch from me," Cho rebutted. "Even if Ron wasn't doing well."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Look Harry has anyone asked you to the dance?" Cho asked if she didn't know the answer.
Harry
knew it was coming. But he didn't know what to say. Cho was
obviously setting him up. He looked at Cho thinking that once he
would have given up Quidditch to go to a dance with her, but now he
wished she had graduated last year so he didn't have to see her. He
could do only one thing, lie.
"U—umm, yeah." Harry answered.
"No, you didn't hear me correctly," Cho said even though it was evident that wasn't the answer she was looking for.
"Uh, yeah I did, and I said yes, someone asked me, and I am going to the dance with her." Harry said with more courage in each word.
"What?" Cho said indignantly, "Who, Hermione? Was it Hermione?"
Harry could tell she was fuming on the inside. "How many times do I have to tell you, Hermione and I are just friends, that's all!"
"Seriously, Harry," Cho said attempting to sound calm, "who?"
"Uh…" Harry could only think of one person he wouldn't mind going to the dance with. It somewhat surprised him. "…Ginny."
"Ginny…Ginny Weasley?" Cho said looking over at Ginny at the other end of the table.
"Yeah."
"C'mon
Harry, wouldn't you want to go with me?" Cho said trying to coax
him into surrendering to her.
"Actually, no, I rather go with
someone more emotionally stable." Harry said trying to get her to
end the conversation.
"What?" Cho said outraged. "I've wanted to go with you Harry, and now I won't be able to get a date!"
"Um you could ask a first year," Harry said mischievously, "I heard there were some that were desperate for dates."
With that, Cho stormed out of the Great Hall. Harry was smiling as he moved back with Ginny.
"I guess you found yourself a date with to the dance?" Ginny said unhappily.
"Uh… yeah about that." Harry started hoping that Ginny wouldn't make him a total liar. "Would you like to go with me?"
"What?" Ginny said confused.
"Yeah she asked me, but I said I was going with you." Harry said.
"Why did you say that?" Ginny asked even more confused.
"Cause when I was thinking of a person I could tell her that I was going with, you were the only one I could think of."
"So I was the last resort?" Ginny asked.
"N—No I didn't mean it like that." Harry said feeling that he was digging himself into a deeper hole. "I want to go with you Ginny, not just because I didn't want to go with Cho. I should have asked earlier…" Harry said sounding defeated.
"Well ask again, properly" Ginny said.
"Ginny, will you go to the dance with me?" Harry asked feeling for a moment that Ginny was going forgive his stupidity.
"No." Ginny smiled.
Damn, I knew it. I don't understand women at all. Harry thought that instant.
"But let me as you a question," Ginny said, "Harry Potter, will you go to the dance with me?"
"What?" Harry said surprised. "I thought you said no?"
"Harry, are you that dense?" Ginny said shaking her head. "The girls have to ask the boys for this one."
"Oh…um, yeah I would love to go to the dance with you." Harry said finally smiling at a very clever looking girl.
"Good, I'll meet you in the Common Room tomorrow?"
"Yeah, 7pm." Harry said.
"No, lets make it 7:15, we can make an entrance." Ginny smiled, collecting her books for her next class.
"You want to make an entrance with me?" Harry said full of himself.
"You wish, I was going to let you make an entrance with me." Ginny said patting Harry on the head.
Harry was attempting an Ironing spell on his dress robes a half hour before the dance. He realized he had read about one last year in his Charms class. It only took him a few trys to get it right, but after turning it green he was able to get it to look as good as it look the day he bought it. He hadn't seen much of anyone that day, students were getting ready for the dance. To the dismay of Madam Pince, some girls were doing each other's hair in the library. He didn't Ron until a few minutes before he was to meet Ginny. Harry was about to leave the boy dorm as Ron entered looking the most depressed he had seen him in weeks.
"Aren't you going to get ready?" Harry asked a disheveled looking Ron.
"I'm not going." Ron mumbled.
"What?"
"Look no one asked me, and I don't feel like it." Ron grunted.
"There will be plenty of people there without dates, you should go." Harry insisted.
"Look I don't want to argue. I really don't feel like it." Ron said sounding defeated.
Harry knew that it was pointless to argue at this point. Ron looked as bad as he sounded.
"Ok, but you should get something to eat."
"I'll sneak down to the kitchen later." Ron said sounding better that he wouldn't have to argue. "So, who are you going with?"
Harry had dreaded this moment. He knew Ron would have his head but there was no way to get out of it.
"I'm going with mmginmey." Harry mumbled.
"Who? What did you say?"
"I am going with Ginny." Harry said.
"WHAT!" Ron said going for his wand.
Harry didn't realize Ron would get this angry. Harry had left his wand out of arms reach on his bed. Before he knew it Ron had cast a spell at him. All of a sudden a flash of green blinded him. But then when his vision came to, he couldn't see that anything had changed. Except for his clothes. They were all wrinkled again.
"Um, a Wrinkle spell?" Harry said confused.
"Yeah, I saw your Charm book was opened to the Ironing spell, I have gotten Fred and George with that a couple of times. To bad most of their clothes are wrinkly to begin with."
"I thought you would be madder than this." Harry said holding a very wrinkled sleeve.
"Well I knew she had a thing for you, and she asked you to the dance." Ron stated.
"Yeah, you know Ginny." Harry said letting Ron think that going to the dance together was Ginny's idea.
"Look just be nice to her, ok." Ron said sounding big brotherly.
"I wouldn't do anything to hurt her." Harry assured him.
"I know, have fun, but not too much fun." Ron said.
"Um, can you fix this?" Harry asked holding up his robe.
"Yeah one sec."
Harry was waiting in the Common Room for Ginny. It was fairly empty with most of the students having already headed to the Great Hall. The first girl emerging from the girls Dormitory was Hermione. She had her hair done the way it during the TriWizard Ball. And her gown was made of silk and had an emerald sheen to it. As it clinged closely to her body, Harry thought it was way more muggle fashion than wizard. She was also wearing the necklace Ron had given, her for Christmas. He wished Ron was here to see her, he could appreciate Hermione this way better than Harry could.
"She will be down in a minute, Harry." Hermione said.
"You look great, Hermione." Harry complimented.
"Thank you, and you look very handsome." Hermione said attempting to pat down some of Harry's hair.
"Um, thanks." Harry said, "So who are you going with?"
"Well, I didn't ask anyone, so I am going alone."
"You could have asked Ron." Harry said.
"Harry, I don't think Ron and I can be serious." Hermione said with a frown.
"What do you mean, he is totally going crazy over you." Harry pointed out.
"I don't want to lose our friendship, and I really don't think Ron can be serious about anything." Hermione argued.
"Look you haven't talked to him in weeks, you are losing his friendship." Harry said. He knew what he was about to say was forbidden by Ron, but it seemed the only bit of hope he had left to see his friends back together. "He sold his Cleansweap."
"What? He would never sell that, he loves it more than he loves eating." Hermione said trying to make some sense of it.
"Yeah, but he did, and he bought you that chain." Harry relented.
"No way." Hermione said grabbing her necklace, it began to glow until she released it.
"Yes, he doesn't want you know about it. That's why he didn't have his broom during our match."
"How could he…it means so much to him…" Hermione said still in doubt.
"He really cares for you Hermione." Harry said.
"I need to talk to him, who is he with?" Hermione asked.
"He didn't have anyone ask him." Harry said sadly.
"Oh…is he going?"
"No, he is in the boys dorm, he looks pretty upset." Harry answered.
"I'm going to talk to him. Oh I hope he doesn't hate me." Hermione said with tears building up.
"Ok, I'll see you later, and try to bring him if you can, looks like he is loosing weight."
Hermione hugged Harry before she ran up to the boys dorm. Somehow seeing Hermione so emotional about Ron made him feel that things might be better between the two. Before he could dwell on the thought Ginny emerged from the girl's dorm. She was wearing a velvet red witch's gown. Red lace covered her mid-section and arms, making it moderately see-through. Her ears were adorned with little red heart earrings and gold necklace with a red heart as the pendant. Instead of wearing her hair straight she had it curled and tied at the end. Harry for the first time thought of Ginny as more of Ron's little sister or a friend. To him, she looked amazing.
"You look really great, Ginny." Harry said.
"That's the tenth time you said that." Ginny giggled.
"Hogwarts isn't known for their English program, so I am rusty on my vocabulary."
Ginny continued laughing as they entered the Great Hall arm in arm. Most of the school had already arrived. Harry could see most of the students turned to look at them. Some of them whispered that they knew they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Some whispered that they would have asked Harry if it wasn't for Cho. A lot of the male students were doing double takes of Ginny. But the most commotion came from a group of Gryffindor boys standing next to the buffet table at the far end of the Hall.
"Way to go Harry!" yelled a 7th year.
"Ginny, you're breaking my heart!" said a 5th year mocking a heart attack.
"See, Harry that's and entrance." Ginny stated making her way to a group of 5th year girls. "I want to mingle a bit."
The Hall was decorated in deep red curtains and white doves fluttering around. At one end of the Hall, there was one of the dinner tables filled with pastries and desserts. The centerpiece of the buffet was an elaborated punch bowl that seemed big enough to bathe in. Harry had made his way to the punch to chat with the group of Gryffindor boys. He noticed Neville and Luna standing at the opposite end of the buffet. They seemed to be in their own world giggling and laughing. Luna had a yellow gown on the seemed a bit loose for her, but Neville seemed to hardly notice. Harry enjoyed watching them from a distance. It was by his second cup of punch that Professor Dumbledore strode onto the floor with Professor McGonagall on his arm. Both were wearing elegant purple robes, almost regal, Harry thought. They began to dance, a simple waltz. Harry was glad that he did not have to lead the school in the first dance as he did for the TriWizard's Ball. He could sense that he was about to join them, as he turned around she saw Ginny striding toward him.
"We have to dance!" Ginny demanded.
"I am not good at all." Harry warned.
"Don't worry, I grew up with Weasley men, I know how to lead." Ginny said with a wink.
As Harry had attempted to dance the waltz, jitterbug and foxtrot with Ginny, he could tell that she enjoyed watching him attempt to dance. She couldn't stop laughing even when a slow song began to play. Harry was having a great time too. He wished the Triwizard's Ball was this much fun.
After the slow song finished Harry began look into Ginny's happy face when he noticed a drop of red liquid fall on her nose. Both looked up out of instinct and saw the large punch bowl hovering above them. They couldn't move fast enough as it began to tip over. As Harry closed his eyes out of impulse, then he heard someone yell 'Umbrelus' from the corner of the Hall. When he opened his eyes, he saw that none of the liquid hit him, he and Ginny were dry. Harry also noticed several Slytherins, including Draco making a hasty exit.
"Draco!" Ginny yelled as Professor Sinistra chased after them.
Dumbledore came over to see if they were ok. After Harry assured them they were, the headmaster cleaned the floor with a flick of his wand. Harry could see that it was only a momentary distraction as the rest of the students began to dance when the music began to play again.
"Hey, do you want to get some air?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, sure." Ginny smiled.
As they entered the garden outside the Great Hall they noticed that several other couples had thought of the same thing. Harry and Ginny took seat on a bench next to several tall buses.
"Besides
the punch, I have been having a good time." Harry said, noticing
Ginny's attention was elsewhere.
"Shhh." Ginny hushed.
"What?"
"Shh, listen, I think that's Luna and Neville." Ginny whispered.
Harry had begun to here the voices on the other side of the bushes. He felt a little guilty listening in on their conversation, but it wasn't the first time he has eavesdropped.
"That was pretty quick thinking, Neville." Luna said proudly.
"My Gran taught me that. She would use it when we went shopping and it rained."
"You know, I've noticed that you're very loyal to Harry." Luna said.
"Yeah, well you know, he's a nice guy, always been nice to me." Neville said sheepishly.
"No, it seems like there is more to it." Luna pressed.
"Well, yeah, there is, but you can't tell anyone about this." Neville said worriedly.
"I would never tell people your secrets, even if my father would pay top dollar for it." Luna smiled.
"I knew about the prophesy for a long time." Neville admitted.
"What? How?"
"My Gran knew about it when Harry's and my parents learned about it. She is very tighted lipped about certain things, but not when she was sleeping." Neville answered.
"She talks in her sleep?"
"Yeah, but not too much. Just cause I have been with her for so long, I've found out about the Prophesy."
"So that makes you so loyal to Harry?"
"Well no. Before Hogwarts I always thought the prophecy was only about me, that I had to defeat V—Voldemort. I grew so worried about this destiny that it crippled me. I was worried and nervous about everything. You should have known me the first four years here."
"Well you had a reputation of being a bit clumsy, not to bad, however, I thought you were cute."
Harry could feel Neville blushing from the other side of the bush.
"Thanks, when I came here I met Harry, and began to hear what he has been doing at school. He had faced Voldemort his first year, version of him the second year, and faced Sirius Black in our third year. It was when he faced Voldemort at the end of the TriWizard tournament in our fourth year that it was clear to me, Harry was meant to face Voldemort. Since then I have felt the burden lift from my shoulders, but I could only imagine how Harry was handling it. I knew he was going to be the one to take down Voldemort, and I want to be there to help."
"You think he can do it?" Luna asked.
"I don't know, but he has done some amazing things so far."
"You know, he is not the only amazing wizard here a Hogwarts." Luna said dreamily.
"Um, Ginny, they are kissing, we should go." Harry whispered.
"Yeah, lets go." Ginny giggled.
Harry and Ginny were one of the first Gryffindors to arrive back to the common room. There were two 4th years snuggling by the fire, which Harry thought was cute. Ginny had Harry almost dancing to every song after they returned from the garden; Harry had never had that much fun with a girl. Ginny didn't care how horrible Harry had danced, and she laughed every time Harry stepped on her foot.
"Don't worry, I don't need that foot." Ginny teased.
They decided to head back early to beat all love struck students that would be crowding Gryffindor's common room. Harry had walked Ginny to the girl's staircase.
"Well Harry, I had a wonderful time." Ginny smiled.
"So did I, a really good time." Harry said. "Look, I told Ron that you asked me to the ball, so let him think that or he might kill me.
"Um, I did ask you." Ginny pointed out.
"Yes, technically, but it was my idea." Harry argued half-heartedly.
"Well, I was about ask you just before Cho interrupted us." Ginny revealed.
"Oh really…well I'm glad it worked out this way, I don't think I would've had this much fun with Cho." Harry said with a grin.
"Harry I did too and who would have had thought you to be the dancer." Ginny joked.
"You bring it out of me." Harry said with a laugh.
Harry was still laughing as Ginny leaned upward and kissed Harry on the cheek, he felt the warmth of her kiss a few seconds afterwards. It was a sweet and unexpected moment. Much better than my first kiss with Cho, Harry thought.
"Ginny…I…I" Harry stuttered.
"I was just saying thank you for a great night." Ginny blushed.
"No, I liked it…it was nice." Harry said touching the spot of his cheek where she had just kissed him.
"Goodnight Harry." Ginny said smiling. She began to walk up the stairs to the girl's dorm.
"Goodnight Ginny." Harry returned.
Harry walked toward the boy's dorm still touching his face. He was smiling as he made his up his way up the stairs and entering the dark dormitory.
"Luminous." Harry said to turn on the magical lamps that lined the walls.
As the darkness faded, Harry was not ready for what he saw next.
"Ron…Hermione!" Harry gasped.
Both were sitting next to each other on Harry's bed, lip locked.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed as she turned the same color as Ron's hair. She quickly got to her feet and almost knocked Harry over as she race out the door. Harry saw that even though she was blushing, she was still smiling. He turned back to Ron who had a bigger smile on his face. Harry quickly understood the situation.
"I guess you and Hermione are talking again." Harry said sarcastically.
Ron nodded with a smug smile on his face, then got up and walked toward his bed.
"Hey!" Harry shouted looking at his ruffled sheets. "Did you have to make out on my bed!"
