Disclaimer: The only character I own is Hope.

A/N:

ONLY HOPE by Lina Shay

Chapter Sixteen: Feel of A Woman In Love

Hope met Luna in the Entrance Hall. They went into the ball together. It was really new to Hope. She had never been to a dance before. She had always imagined how lovely it would be, but she never thought she would be going with a girl on her arm.

"Harry?" Ginny called from the dance floor. She was in Neville's arms at the time and they made such a lovely couple.

"Hullo, Ginny," Hope greeted.

"Came with Luna?" Ginny said, nodding to Luna.

"Yup," Hope said, less than enthusiastic.

"No hard feelings about how things went?" Ginny asked.

"No," Hope insisted. "You two look perfect."

Ginny and Neville smiled at each other.

"See you later," Hope said, taking Luna off toward the punch bowl. "I have to find the loo, Luna. I'll be back in a moment."

Luna nodded and waited near the punch bowl as Hope went off.

Just then, Harry came wandering in, in search of Hermione. He wasn't quite sure where to look because there were so many bloody people around. It as much too crowded. Harry caught sight of Luna standing alone and figured he might as well join her.

"Hey, Luna," he said to her.

"Back already?" Luna asked.

Harry figured she meant back from his hideaway with Remus, so he nodded.

"Aren't you going to ask me to dance?" Luna asked, putting her hands behind her back shyly.

Harry was taken aback by this. He had never known her to be as forward as this. Besides, why would she even want to dance with him? Her interest lay in Ron. Luna looked up at him, her indigo eyes sparkling as a slight blush rose in her cheeks. Luna honestly liked him. Harry was going to review the past events to decipher when this affection might have began, but stopped himself immediately. This lovely, quirky, funny, girl liked him. Why on earth was he analyzing it so much?

"Luna, you want to dance?" Harry asked, finding himself blushing as he said it.

Luna smiled and nodded, maintaining her cute shyness. Harry led the way on to the dance floor. He hesitated a moment, feeling rather foolish, before taking Luna in his arms. She cuddled close to him quicker than he expected, almost as if they were dating or something. Not that Harry was complaining. He wanted to be nearer to her.

"Luna," Harry said, pulled away so he could looked down at her face. "Why this change?"

"What change?" Luna retorted softly. "I love you still. You love me, right?"

Harry didn't know what to say. He barely knew her. But there was a tender feeling there. Harry grazed his fingers against her soft cheek, then leaned down and kissed her.

"Hey, Ron," Hope said, walking over to him. She just hoped that he didn't run away. "Have you seen Luna?"

"No," Ron muttered.

"Ron, I don't know if you heard me that night," Hope began, looking at the floor. "But I want to forget what happened and still be your friend."

"I told you I tried, Harry," Ron insisted.

"Did you try, really?" Hope posed.

"I do want to be friends again." Ron looked over at her.

"Me too," Hope smiled up at him.

The music turned very slow and romantic. Students were dancing around the large room with their sweethearts.

"I'd ask you to dance to show that there's no hard feelings, but, uh, you know," Ron muttered.

"I understand," Hope assured him. "How would it look?"

Ron nodded. He looked over at his friend. Hope was just so sad. Maybe there was a way to make his friend just a little happier.

"Listen, Harry," Ron shrugged, "we could go out in the corridor where we could still hear the music."

Hope took Ron's hand instantly and pulled him from the Great Hall. Ron just stood there, not sure what to do. It was alright because Hope was okay with having to do everything. She expected it. Hope got up close to him, reached her hands around him and up his back. Ron's heart was pounding out of control. What was he doing? He was dancing with a boy. Not just any boy, but Harry. Hope's breath on his neck brought strange sensations that he couldn't ignore no matter how hard he tried. Shaking, Ron slipped his hands around Hope. She smiled at this response and set her head down on his shoulder. Ron's mind was racing. This was the strangest thing he had ever done, the scariest thing he had ever done. Not scary because of the idea of someone coming or because of Harry's feeling. This moment was scary because Ron realized that being so near to Harry had a reaction of blood-pumping heat, of desire. Ron couldn't believe it. He was gay. Seamus was right.

"Harry!" came Hermione's voice.

Ron instantly pushed Hope away, turning red before Hermione had even come into the corridor.

"Harry," Hermione began once she was in sight of them, "What are you doing out here? I've been looking all over for you."

"Why?" Hope groaned, frustrated yet again with the over affections of all these bloody girls.

"I figured we'd dance," Hermione told her. "It's not such a unwarranted request since we came together."

"What?" Hope and Ron exclaimed at once.

"You asked Hermione to the dance," Ron demanded, glaring at Hope, "after all you know of my feelings for her."

"I didn't," Hope insisted. "I came with Luna."

"Harry Potter!" Hermione shrieked. "I can't believe you would two-time! How horrid of you!"

"I never asked you." Hope swore, more to Ron than to Hermione. "I don't know where you could have gotten the idea that I did."

"This is just like men!" Hermione cried. "They make you care for them, then they play you. I thought you were beyond that kind of behavior! I simply must tell Luna of this before she is as cruelly treated as I have been."

Hermione stomped off. Ron turned away from Hope.

"I don't know what Hermione's going on about, Ron. I swear it. I didn't ask her."

Ron couldn't bring himself to believe.

"Harry!" Remus came into the corridor.

"We picked the wrong corridor to be alone," Hope muttered.

"Harry, where is it?" Remus demanded, his eyes crazed.

"Where's what?" Hope asked. "Who are you?"

"Come on, Harry," Ron shot at her. "Don't pretend you don't know Remus."

"Remus?" Hope muttered, trying to think if anyone had told her that name.

"I have no time for game!" Remus shouted. "I need the potion."

"I don't have any potion," Hope insisted.

"You said you would do it!" Remus exclaimed. "You said you would do anything for me. Ungrateful wretch. I SAVED YOUR LIFE!"

Remus held his side and grimaced.

"I'm sorry," Hope told him, her eyes tearing up. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."

"You've been with me for that last month and you don't know what I talking about?" Remus growled.

"Last month?" Ron asked. "Harry's been here at school for much of that."

"I WILL KILL YOU BOTH IF YOU DON'T GET ME THAT POTION!" Remus threatened.