Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or "Let Me Love You" by Mario.
A few days later, it was the day of the ball. Lavender, Parvati, Hermione, and Ginny were in the girl's dorm getting ready for the ball. They didn't have to be in the Great Hall until 7pm, and it was only 5:30, but they knew it would take a while to tame Hermione's hair.
Lavender was trying to curl Hermione's hair while Parvati applied her make up. Ginny was in front of the mirror, trying to figure out what she could do with her own hair.
"Maybe I should crimp it," said Ginny. "That would look alright, wouldn't it?"
"But Harry's already seen you with crimped hair, you've got to look different," explained Parvati, while she put sparkly gold eye shadow on Hermione.
"When did he see me with my hair crimped?" asked Ginny.
"Last Hogsmeade weekend," answered Lavender. "You could just leave your hair like it is."
"No, I want to do something to it, I just don't know what yet," said Ginny. "I think I'll put some sparkles in it. Do any of you have spray sparkles?"
"I have some in my trunk," said Parvati. "Use as much as you want."
"Thanks," said Ginny, searching through Parvati's trunk.
"Don't put too much make up on me, Parvati," said Hermione. "I want Ron to be able to recognize me."
"Don't worry, I'm almost done," said Parvati.
Meanwhile, the boys were getting ready for the ball in their dorm.
"My hair still won't lie flat!" complained Harry, combing his hair furiously.
"Why does it matter, it never lies flat anyway," said Ron. "Do my robes look okay? I don't really know if royal blue was the best color."
"You two are mental, obsessing over yourselves like girls," said Dean, smoothing wrinkles out of his scarlet robes.
Harry and Ron went back to fixing themselves up in silence.
An hour later, the boys were waiting for the girls in the common room.
"Why are they taking so long?" complained Seamus.
Lavender came down first. She was wearing silver dress robes and her blond hair was done up with flowers.
"You look wonderful Lavender," said Seamus, as she took his arm.
Parvati came down next. Her robes were pale yellow, and her hair was set in loose waves.
Dean was practically drooling as she took his arm. "Wow, I mean, you look…wow."
Parvati giggled. "Thanks Dean. You look wow too."
Ginny was the next to come down. Her hair, covered in gold sparkles, was in a fancy twist at the back of her head with a few loose pieces curled around her face. Her dress robes were blood red and low in the neck.
"You can't wear that!" said Ron. "It's too revealing! Go upstairs and put on a turtleneck or something!"
Ginny rolled her eyes at him and took Harry's arm.
"I think you look lovely, Gin," said Harry.
Ginny smiled at him, then stuck out her tongue at Ron.
Ron mumbled something and looked away from his sister.
Ron gasped as Hermione came down the stairs. Her hair, no longer bushy, was in shiny ringlets that landed just below her shoulders. Her dress robes were made of a shiny turquoise material that brought out her honey colored eyes.
I hope I look okay, everyone is watching me! thought Hermione, trying not to stumble in her high-heeled shoes.
She took Ron's arm and looked up at him nervously. She felt a bit self-conscious since she almost never dressed up.
"You look beautiful, 'Mione," said Ron, trying to pull himself together.
"Thanks Ron, you don't look too bad yourself," she replied, smiling warmly.
"Do you guys want to go down now?" asked Ginny.
Everyone nodded and they made there way down to the Great Hall.
When they got to the ball, the song "Let Me Love You" by Mario was playing. The girls grabbed the guys and started dancing.
I hope I don't step on her feet! thought Ron, as he and Hermione danced.
He looks nervous, I wonder why? thought Hermione.
Ginny and Harry were dancing nearby, gazing lovingly at each other.
Please kiss me, please kiss me, please kiss me…thought Ginny, as she gazed into Harry's emerald eyes.
I wonder if I should kiss her? thought Harry, trying to make his decision. Ron is right there, he might kill me if I kiss her. I wonder if she wants me to? Girls are so hard to read, why do they have to be so confusing? Oh well, here goes nothing.
Harry lowered his lips to Ginny's nervously. Ginny kissed him back eagerly, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck.
Yay! He kissed me! Harry Potter actually kissed me! thought Ginny happily.
Potter better keep his hands off my sister! thought Ron. Uh oh, does Hermione expect me to kiss her? I've never kissed anyone before. What if she-
But Ron's thoughts were cut short as Hermione stood on tiptoes to kiss Ron.
Dumbledore smiled as he watched the two couples dancing together. It's good for them to have some happiness in the middle of this war. Especially Harry, I'm glad he finally found what was right under his nose all along.
When the song ended, everyone sat down at an empty table.
"Would you like me to get you a drink, Ginny?" asked Harry.
"Yes please," said Ginny.
"Er, Hermione, would you like a butterbeer or something?" asked Ron.
"That would be lovely," replied Hermione, giving him a warm smile.
After the boys left to get drinks, the two girls immediately went over what had just happened.
"He kissed me!" exclaimed Ginny. "I can't believe it; it was like he could read my mind!"
"I kissed Ron too," said Hermione excitedly. "It was perfect."
"Ew, I can't believe you think kissing my brother is perfect!" said Ginny, pretending to gag.
Hermione laughed and got a dreamy look on her face, remembering their kiss.
Meanwhile, Ron and Harry were talking to each other at the refreshments table.
"Are you mad at me for kissing Ginny?" asked Harry nervously, grabbing two butterbeer for him and Ginny.
"No, but you better not hurt her, Harry," warned Ron, also taking two butterbeer. "She really likes you, and I don't want to see her get hurt."
"I know Ron, I feel the same way about her," replied Harry, relieved that Ron wasn't to going to murder him in the middle of the Great Hall.
"Good, let's go back to the girls," said Ron, leading the way back to the table.
Just as Harry and Ron sat down and passed around the butterbeer, Dobby joined them.
"I is hearing that Harry and Miss Wheezy is dating! I is so happy for yous both!" exclaimed Dobby, wrapping himself around Harry's legs.
"Er, thanks Dobby," said Harry. "You look, um, nice tonight."
Dobby was wearing a bright orange sock, a pink and red striped sock, a bright yellow raincoat, a pair of blue shorts with yellow polka dots, and a straw hat with large fake flowers on it.
"Thank you Harry Potter, you is too kind to Dobby," said Dobby, looking as though he was about to cry with happiness. "I has to be going; I is needed in the kitchen."
"Bye Dobby," said Ginny, struggling to hold in her laughter.
As soon as he left, the four of them burst out laughing.
The rest of the night went well, and at midnight everyone was told to head back to the common room. The two couples walked back holding hands.
"Well, I guess this is goodnight," said Ginny, when they had reached the bottom of the stairs to the girl's dorms.
"Goodnight Ginny," said Harry, and then he gave Ginny a quick kiss. "I'll see you in the morning."
Ginny hurried up the stairs, practically glowing with happiness. Harry also headed up to his dorm, leaving Ron and Hermione alone together.
"Did you have a good time tonight?" asked Ron nervously.
"I had a wonderful time," answered Hermione. "What about you?"
"Yeah, it was good," said Ron.
Ron and Hermione kissed, and quickly broke apart blushing.
"Goodnight Ron," said Hermione, her eyes sparkling with happiness.
"Sweet dreams, 'Mione," said Ron, and they each headed to their dorms.
I think I'll end the story here, but I'll probably do a sequel because I had a lot of fun writing this!
Thank you so much to jeevesandwooster for your very kind reviews, you made writing this worthwhile!