A/N: Just a quick note. This is an in between chapter, so you know where it's at. The ball is ever nearing, of course, so i've just got a few more things that have to happen before hand. So give me a hanfull of reviews and i'll update tomorrow possibly, if not the day after. The next chapter is rocking! I love it! It's set the day before the ball. Chapter 33 is the ball chapter, and i promise you fluff and drama! So get reading! Always, Angel.

Chapter 30: One million things

Harry woke up early in the morning to find himself sitting on a particularly uncomfortable chair, in the middle of a girls dormitory. The events of the previous night slowly came back to him, and he turned to check on Erin.

Erin was sleeping in warm peach flannel pajamas, and wrapped up in a cocoon of pastel colored blankets. Her face was still red from crying the night before, but her thick cinnamon hair had had the courtesy to stay neat.

Harry rose tiredly from his chair, and took a look at the other occupants of the room.

A bed along from Erin was Daisy, sleeping like a baby. Her blonde hair was up in two messy buns, and she rested peacefully in a long pop art pink night dress, with a smiling teddy bear in her arms.

In the next bed was Mitzi, who Harry knew very little, wearing a blue silk dressing gown and clumps of smooth dark hair. In the bed across from her was Skye.

Skye slept smugly in red Chinese style pajamas. Her normally perfect blonde hair was curling wispily from the heat, and her skin was shiny and imperfect. It made Harry smile.

'Dean would have been better off with Erin.' He said simply, before moving to the last bed.

Ginny slept soundlessly. Her powder freckles glowed against her pale white skin, and her long red hair sat perfectly in waves. She wore an old fashioned night gown, which was white with long puffed sleeves, and a cute buttoned collar. She looked like an angel.

Harry took a picture of her in his mind, which he hoped he'd keep forever, for he was sure he'd never see something so perfect in his life again.

Harry spent most of the morning alone. He haunted the corridors, looking for adventure. He tried to broaden his mind with knowledge, but found the library quite unappealing. Sometime before lunch Harry made his was back to the common room, hoping for a pleasant game of chess, or a friendly conversation by the fire. He had no such luck.

'Have you seen Dean?' Was Erin's first question when he got inside.

'No, I haven't.' Harry said soothingly. 'And forget about him.'

'I think he's avoiding you, Harry.' Daisy explained. 'Nobody's seen him all morning. They say he's gone into hiding.'

'That's stupid.' Harry said. 'He's one of my best friends.'

'Well that's what Misty said.' Daisy insisted, as she put an arm around Erin. 'And she's food friends with Skye who, you know…'

'I know.' Harry said through gritted teeth. 'Look, Erin. Go outside. Go get your broomstick and fly this out. Daisy, go to Misty and tell her to mind her own business.'

The two girls trooped off in separate directions, and Harry slumped into a seat by the fire.

'Hi Harry.' Ginny chirped, as she sat down beside him. 'How's Erin?'

'She's alright, I suppose.' Harry said restlessly, watching the flames jump in the fireplace. 'She's hurting though. I told her to have some time by herself, sort her head out.'

'Oh.' Ginny sighed. 'Because I've been talking to Skye in our dorm room, and she's worried about what you and Erin think. She didn't want to upset Erin, you see, she just likes Dean a lot.'

'Well tell her that I'm not angry with anyone, despite popular belief.' Harry grumbled. 'And tell her that she's hurt Erin, and an apology would be much appreciated. She'll find Erin on the Quidditch pitch.'

'Thanks Harry.' Ginny grinned, before heading to the stairs. 'You're a star.'

Harry closed his eyes lightly, trying to help the aching go away. He'd been up half the night comforting Erin, and was now paying for his lack of sleep. Luckily all students, apart from Prefects, had the morning off to do as they pleased, as a meeting was being held to discuss the plans for the ever nearing Christmas ball.

Harry keeled over on the sofa, and composed a large yawn.

'Harry!' Ron's voice raged, and Harry sat up straight. 'Malfoy is going to die!'

Ron stalked across the common room, and stood directly in front of the fire Harry was admiring.

'Guess what happened in the meeting?' Ron asked with anger flowing freely.

'A Hippogriff ate Snape?' Harry said hopefully.

'No.' Ron stormed. 'Malfoy, our great and admired Head Boy, put everybody into mixed house groups to work on things for the stupid Christmas ball. So I'm working with some Hufflepuff, which I can live with, but guess who the stupid blond prat put himself with?'

'Hermione.' Harry stated dully.

'Exactly.' Ron said, searing with anger. 'He's got a thing for her. It's so obvious.'

'You know,' Harry said, 'he could've just put himself and Hermione together because they're Head boy and girl.'

'What difference does it make?' Ron shouted, scaring a few passing 2nd years. 'He likes her.'

'Ron, why do you care so much?' Harry muttered, and pulled Ron to sit down. 'You and Hermione aren't really together, if you remember rightly.'

'But what if we were?' Ron asked. 'He can't steal my girlfriend from me. And Hermione can't be with him. He's not good enough for her.'

'I thought you liked him the other day.' Harry mumbled, closing his eyes. 'You said we should ask him to hang out more.'

'Well, that's before I found out he was a girlfriend stealer!' Ron exclaimed.

'Ron.' Harry said, seriously. 'Go to the Quidditch pitch, do some flying and cool off. Then come back here with an open mind, and I'll see what I can do.'

Ron grabbed his cloak gruffly and stormed out of the room, just as Daisy came back in.

'Misty wont be bothering us again.' Daisy smiled. 'I passed Dean on the way over too. He was about to go outside and apologize to Erin, which seems like a wise plan of action if you ask me.'

'Shit!' Harry cursed. 'I just sent Skye over there to apologize! We can't leave all three of them together…'

'Hey!' Ginny smiled, coming into the common room. 'I just left Skye to troop over to Erin by herself. Those two just need to get it out in the open.'

'Problem.' Harry stated. 'Ginny, go outside and get Dean on his way to the Quidditch pitch. Convince him to come to the library with you to discuss Quidditch plans. Daisy, could you please go and find Ron at Quidditch pitch, and tell him to go to the room of requirement at the beginning of lunch. Or all hells going to set loose.'

'Right.' Both girls chorused.

Harry jumped up from his seat, with a plan formed in his head, and missioned it straight to the library. Inside he spotted Draco and Hermione sitting at the back, behind a desk covered with parchment plans.

'Harry.' Neville said shyly, as he walked around the nearest bookshelf. 'Have you seen my sister?'

'Yeah, she'll be back from the Quidditch pitch in about 20 minutes.' Harry explained, before remembering. 'Neville, could you do me a favor? In about two minutes, could you come over to the desk at the back, and distract Draco. Ask him something about the ball or homework.'

'He's in my Charms class?' Neville suggested.

'Perfect.' Harry settled. 'I owe you big time…Hey!'

Draco and Hermione smiled upon Harry's arrival.

'Good morning, Harry.' Draco said pleasantly, rolling up some parchment.

'What brings you to the library?' Hermione questioned suspiciously.

'Just bored.' Harry said convincingly, swinging his arms by his sides.

'Why don't you get some sleep?' Hermione suggested. 'Seamus told me that you didn't return to your common room last night. You must be exhausted.'

'Or you can sit and brainstorm with us, if you like?' Draco asked with a smile. 'We're trying to list all the things that need to be done before the ball, so that we can assign jobs and monitors.'

'That's a good idea.' Hermione said brightly. 'You're bound to think of something we've forgotten.'

'Draco.' The nervous voice of Neville shook. 'I was wondering if you could help me… I'm struggling with that Charms essay, and I know you've already handed yours in, so…'

'I'd be more then happy to help.' Draco said as enthusiastically as he could muster. 'But I'm kind of busy right now.'

'No problem.' Hermione insisted, packing up her things. 'We can come back to this later. Lunch starts in 10 minutes anyway.'

'Talking of lunch.' Harry said, leaning casually on the table. 'Ginny mentioned something about wanting to meet you in the room of requirement then. She said she had a girly problem, and she wouldn't tell me what.'

Hermione nodded knowingly, and started to leave.

'Oh, and if you happen to pass any of the marauders.' Harry called to her. 'Tell them to be in the common room at the end of lunch.'

Hermione signaled that she'd heard, and left through the library door just moments before Dean and Ginny came through it.

'Ginny, our next Quidditch match isn't for ages!' Dean vowed. 'You don't need to worry yet!'

'Hi Harry.' Ginny grinned, mischievously. 'Have you seen Daisy?'

'She's meeting with Neville.' Harry told her. 'They're probably in the Great Hall. Is that were Seamus is?'

'Yeah.' Dean said gruffly, clearing his voice.

'Well could you pass on a message to Seamus for me, Gin?' Harry asked tiredly, so Ginny didn't object. 'Tell him to be in the common room at the end of lunch.'

'But I'm going to the common room now, not the Great Hall…' Ginny sighed. 'I'll only do it if you promise me you'll get a good nights sleep tonight, Harry. You took tired.'

'I swear.' Harry yawned, and Ginny floated away. 'So down to business. I brought you here to discuss Erin.'

'Look mate, I'm sorry.' Dean said honestly. 'I just like Skye too. What am I supposed to do?'

'Be fair and tell Erin the truth.' Harry affirmed. 'You really upset her.'

'I know.' Dean sighed. 'Just give me a break. I'll sort it out.'

'Good.' Harry said. 'Go apologize now. You'll find Erin wondering aimlessly around the Quidditch pitch, if not, check the skies. Tell her you want to go to the ball as friends, and bring her some flowers. Then meet me in the common room at the end of lunch.'

'Sorted.' Dean decided, and rushed out.

Harry decided that now would be a good time to break for lunch, and started to journey towards the Great Hall. Unfortunately, he never made it.

'Ron, you are insufferable!' Hermione screeched down the corridor. 'Who do you think you are?'

'Who does he think he is?' Ron shouted back. 'You're supposed to be my girlfriend, not his!'

'But theres nothing going on between us!'

'That's not what it looks like to me!'

'Stop!' Harry charged, and stomped over to them dangerously. 'You two are making a scene, and today I don't have the patience to deal with it!'

Ron and Hermione both sniffed indignantly.

'Ron, go to the Great Hall and eat lunch with Seamus.' Harry ordered. 'Hermione, go to the common room and eat with Ginny. Now!'

The two of them headed hastily in opposite directions, and Harry stumbled away, feeling more tired then ever. He sneaked some food from the kitchens on his way past, too tired to socialize in the Great Hall for lunch, then wondered back across the Entrance Hall.

As predicted, Dean and Erin appeared perhaps 5 minutes later both smiling sadly, Erin clutching a bunch of lilies. Dean gave Harry the thumbs up, and Harry went wandering again.

He made his way to the common room by the end of lunch, and fell heavily into his favorite chair. His fellow Marauders arrived only moments later.

'So why did you want to meet us here?' Seamus asked, as they all crowded around.

Harry opened his tired eyes, and curled his mouth into a grin, before replying:

'I think it's time to discuss out end of year prank.'

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