The Yule Ball 2
It's seventh year and things have changed. Ron and Hermione have formed a 'special bond'. Harry is lonely and ends up falling for someone totally unexpected. Ginny has her eye on bad-boy, Draco. Luna has fallen head over heels in love with a wizard she doesn't even know. Cho is so desperate she begins dating Neville. Pansy has tricks up her sleeve to get the boy she loves. Then the much-awaited Yule Ball 2 arrives. Who will end up with whom?
R/He, Ha/Pr, L/S, Lu/Ol, G/Dr, G/N, Dr/Pa, De/C
Chapter One
The glorious season of winter had set in and the castle was filled with warm, comforting air of Christmastime. Wreaths adorned the doors; lively fairies fluttered around, and, of course, mistletoe were hung wherever possible. Harry was glad he was staying for the holidays. Then again, most of the students were staying since, for the second time, a Yule Ball was going to be held at Hogwarts. Harry wandered aimlessly, searching for something to do. He thought of asking Ron and Hermione if they wanted to get a mug of steaming coca courtesy of Dobby, the houseelf. He soon decided against the idea, since he suspected Ron and Hermione were snogging behind a statue or other. Harry smiled to himself; that was what they did nowadays anyway. Deep in thought, Harry strolled blindly ahead. He walked smack into Parvati Patil.
Harry bit his lip. "Sorry!" he cried. He glanced at Parvati sprawled on the floor with an odd expression written in her eyes.
"Well, help me up, Potter," she commented dryly.
Harry blushed, immediately extending his hand. Parvati took it and jumped to her feet.
"Sorry," Harry repeated. To his surprise, Parvati chuckled a bit. "No, it's quite alright. Just watch where you're going…." She smiled at him and Harry experienced a strange feeling at the pit of his abdomen. He cleared his throat. "So…er…you're staying for the ball, I suppose…?"
Parvati's eyes clouded over as she gazed at floor. Harry felt awkward. He wasn't even sure why he asked her that question.
"Are you ok?" He asked finally.
Parvati snapped back to attention. Harry noticed that her eyes were glistening with tears. How did this happen, he thought? One moment she was fine and the next….
"Padma and I have nowhere to go…our mother died t-this summer…." Parvati's shoulders were slouched and her dark hair fell over her face like a curtain. Harry gulped. "I'm sorry to hear about that," he said softly. Parvati raised her head and spoke in hard voice. "She was murdered by a death eater…."
Harry eyes widened, he had remembered reading about that death in the paper. Harry could glimpse the surge of hatred etched on her face. Impulsively, he reached out and grabbed her hand and sort of squeezed it. If Parvati was surprised, she didn't show it. After a few minutes of standing in the same position, Parvati looked up at Harry, her eyes full of gratitude.
"You're really nice, Harry…thank you," she murmured softly and gently let go of his hand. She walked away, her beautiful black hair swinging back and forth. Harry watched her go, the fluttery sensation finally settling in his stomach. He gazed at the hand, which had grazed Parvati's own with utter disbelief. Then, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, he walked back to the Gryffindor Common room. How totally unexpected…. He thought to himself.
In the empty Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory, Hermione and Ron were tangled up in one in other, kissing passionately. They paused and came up for air. Hermione gazed into Ron's clear blue eyes and felt herself falling in love all over again. He was just so perfect for her. She sighed and touched her lips to his, feeling the desire flow through her veins. Hermione ran her hands through his soft red curls gently.
"Oh…Ron…" she gasped. Ron smiled fondly down at her.
"Hermione…I love you," Ron declared affectionately.
They kissed once again and Hermione drank in essence of Ron Weasly willingly.
"I love you too, Ron," she returned, delicately touching his cheek. Ron brought her close. "Will you go to the ball with me?" he questioned, his voice suddenly wavering.
Hermione shut her eyes and nodded contently. Please tell me this isn't a dream, she thought giddily.
Lavender Brown was carefully brushing her silky brown curls when Seamus Finnegan barged into the Girls' Dormitory.
Lavender wheeled around, her heart thudding. "How did you get here!" she gasped when she glimpsed her boyfriend wearing a triumphant smile.
"Borrowed Harry's Firebolt. Don't tell him though." Seamus set the top-notch broom on Hermione's bed and put his arms around Lavender's waist, gently nibbling on her ear. Lavender suddenly jerked away from him. "Seamus!" she cried. Seamus sighed; Lavender was always slightly hesitant to do anything new.
"Sorry, sorry," murmured Seamus, sitting down on Lavender's bed. Lavender kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Good…now why are you here?" she queried.
Seamus put on a puppy dog expression. "What? I can't visit my girlfriend?"
Lavender rolled her eyes. "Of course, you can, Seamy, dear," she purred, tousling his sandy hair. "Well…there is that ball that I want to go to…" Seamus began slyly.
"Hmmm…" said Lavender, continuing to brush her hair.
"Only problem is I need a partner,"
"Really?" murmured Lavender, fully aware what this was leading to.
Seamus slid off the bed and end up on one knee. He took Lavender's hand and gazed into her beautiful eyes. "Will you come with me?" he whispered.
Lavender shrugged. "Actually no, Seamus," she said, smiling to herself.
Seamus's eyes popped. "No!" He gasped.
"Nope,"clarified Lavender.
"Why?"
"I have my reasons, but they do include you, Seamy," explained Lavender, "Don't worry, you'll find out," she added, seeing Seamus's shocked expression. With that Lavender handed Seamus the Firebolt and gently pushed him out of the dormitory.
Luna Lovegood was by herself as usual, sipping on her chocolate milkshake and reading, when Ginny Weasly came to join her. "What's up, Luna?" Ginny asked staring at Luna curiously. Luna hurriedly shut the latest issue of Quidditch Quills and concentrated on her redheaded friend. "Hi, Ginny. How's Ronald?" It almost came naturally, even though Luna no longer had a crush on Ginny's brother.
"Ok, I suppose. What were you reading?" Ginny asked.
"Oh…um Quidditch Quills…" Luna trailed off, her eyes flicking to the magazine. Unexpectedly her heart did a little flip-flop. Whenever she glimpsed his pictures in magazines, her mind went into dreamland and her heart to gymnastics practice. It was not a good combination. It often made Luna seem more flaky and klutzy than normally perceived.
"I didn't know you liked Quidditch!" Ginny exclaimed, genuinely surprised. She pulled Luna's magazine toward her. Luna barely noticed, bobbing her dirty blond head slightly. If I tell her, she'll think I'm crazy, Luna thought inwardly. Then again, most people thought she was crazy…so it wouldn't hurt. Ginny was flipping eagerly, through the magazine. Her eyes fell upon a familiar face.
"Hey, Luna! Isn't that Oliver Wood? He went to Hogwarts!" she cried, prodding Luna. Luna was jerked out of dreamland. When she saw the picture Ginny was pointing at, her large grey eyes widened.
"He went to Hogwarts?" she choked.
Ginny gazed at her strangely. "Yeah…he was on the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
Luna bit her lip. "I-I didn't know that," she stammered. She jumped from the bench, nearly knocking down her milkshake. "I have to go…" she cried, flustered for the first time. Barely thinking, Luna fled from the great hall, Ginny's words running through her mind. He went to Hogwarts…!
Back in the Great Hall, Ginny frowned at picture of Wood. Hmm, that Luna was acting strange…. Ginny shut the magazine, which had the words 'Hogwarts Library' boldly stamped across it. Looks like Luna doesn't want it, Ginny thought, might as well return it, then. Ginny gracefully rose from the bench, clutching the magazine in hand and trudged towards the library. She arrived to find it bolted shut and a sneering Draco Malfoy waiting outside.
"What do you want, Weasly?" snapped Malfoy.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Ginny hissed, resisting the urge to whack him on the head. She folded her arms and gazed sourly about. Where was that Madam Pince?
Appearing to have read her mind, Draco answered icily, "the bookbat's on her lunch break, if you're too shy to ask me."
"What are you doing at the library, Malfoy? I thought you hired servants to do homework for you!" Ginny cried, her temper flaring.
Draco wrinkled his nose. "I might be able to afford servants, Weasel, but I do it all by myself."
Ginny snorted. "I'm so proud of you, Draco," she pretended to whimper.
Draco gave a start. "What did you call me?"
Ginny frowned. "Draco…that's your name, isn't it?" she snapped.
"Very funny, Ginny. It's just that you never call me by my first name."
It was Ginny's turn to be surprised. "Neither have you," she accused, but suddenly she felt strange. Shy, even. And why was Draco Malfoy staring at her like that? The git.
"That's true," spoke Draco, examining his nails carefully. Ginny noticed how sleek his white-blond hair looked and shuddered slightly. What was happening to her? Draco moved closer. "Something wrong, weasel?" he asked. Was he actually concerned? Ginny could feel his cool breath on her neck. Shaken, she stared into his pale grey eyes. "N-No.…' she stammered.
Then all of a sudden her lips met his and they were kissing madly. In front of the library! Draco's lips were warm and delicious on her own and Ginny felt as if she been transported to Loveland. She deepened the kiss, hardly aware of what she was doing. Draco pulled her closer and all she could feel was him…. Deliciously Draco….
Cho Chang surveyed the Quidditch Pitch eagerly. Not a person in sight. Good, now she could go and practice…. That was what she thought, until Neville Longbottom cornered her. Cho wrinkled her nose. What did Neville want with her? She barely knew him.
"Hi, Cho!" squeaked Neville.
Cho smiled weakly in response.
"Could I have a word with you?"
Cho glanced at her watch. "OK," she conceded.
Neville beamed, but then looked decidedly nervous. "D-Do youwant togo withme?' he asked quickly, not making much sense.
"What?" cried Cho, confused.
Neville positively mortified. "To the Yule Ball!" he squeaked.
Cho bit her lip. Clearly no, she thought inwardly. But what the hell…! She hadn't met a decent guy in ages. Her darling Cedric was gone, Harry made her cry, Michael was a moron and Roger was a womanizer. Cho regarded Neville carefully. He certainly won't cheat on me… she smirked.
To Neville, she smiled and nodded. "Of course! I'd love to go with you!"
Neville lit up so brightly, Cho was afraid she would get an electric shock if she touched him.
Pansy was disgusted. Absolutely disgusted. She watched from behind her pillar as her beloved Draco locked lips with that Weasel prat. Pansy's blood ran clod as tears sprang into her eyes. "How could he!" she whispered to herself. She had been following him for days, waiting to spring the question because she knew Draco wouldn't. But now Draco was willingly kissing that horrible Gryffindor. Pansy could think of nothing more revolting. She just wanted to step in and pull them apart, but something stopped her. Don't get mad, get revenge, she thought to herself.
So, clever Pansy came up with a plan. She decided to ask, Dean, Ginny's ex to the ball. That way both of them could work on tearing Draco and Weasly apart. I'll make Draco jealous, Pansy thought bitterly. And I'll make Weasly positively unhappy! Pansy rubbed her hands together, suddenly grinning gleefully.
Oh, this was going to be a very interesting Yule Ball indeed…