The next several weeks passed, rather uneventful, Harry thought. The D.A. members were improving dramatically. Harry was suddenly feeling very proud that he had helped them all to such an extent, and thoroughly looked forward to every one. His practicing Legilimency on Ron continued, though Ron was still uneasy about it. Harry was getting better, now able to get blurry visions of Ron's memories. Kelly kept receiving never-ending detentions. She was so furious with Diane that every Defense Against the Dark Arts she managed to gain another weeks' worth of detentions. She refused to go to half of them, and was then given more.

"That woman…" Kelly was remembered saying after the first night of her first detention. "Writing lines… puh… more like destroying your hand… 'Dolores said' this… 'Dolores said' that… geez, it makes you wonder…."

However, on December thirteenth, Kelly went to her detention with new spirit.

"We will be having a ball on Christmas night," Dumbledore announced. "It will be for fourth years and above. You may invite younger students if you desire. Also, as I may remind you, the trip to Hogsmeade ends half an hour before the dance, so no one can excuse themselves from the dance do to Hogsmeade."

A week went by with people asking others to the dance around every corner. Harry was thoroughly annoyed when Kelly turned out to be around every corner. Everyone seemed to ask her. She politely turned them all down, however, as though she were waiting for someone. Harry nervously exchanged glances with Ron.

Ron was asked by a second year Gryffindor whom Ron had never formally met, only seen around the common room. While blushing crimson, he turned her down. Hermione was asked by Neville once again, but she blushed and said she couldn't. Neville didn't ask for details, and Hermione didn't give him any.

Harry was asked by a first year Hufflepuff whom he had never even seen before, a fourth year Ravenclaw who was shyer than Neville was forgetful, and even Cho Chang. Harry took vague pleasure in unfortunately having to turn her down. He wasn't really interested in her anymore, and he was going to try for someone else this year. Harry gulped at the thought.

"Harry, you can do it," Ron told him.

"Ron, I don't think I—"

"Harry, I promise you. You can do it. Anyone can, it's just really hard," Ron said, trying to coax Harry into entering the portrait hole.

Harry suddenly couldn't do this. There was no way. It had seemed so much easier to do this morning. Even if Ron was asking Hermione to the dance, there was no way that he could ask Kelly. She was gorgeous, fun, and Umbridge-hating. But all the same, asking her to the dance was like committing suicide.

"I can't," Harry protested for the hundredth time that minute.

"Harry, just do it. Come on!" Ron shoved Harry through the portrait hole. Harry went out the other end and glared at Ron as he crawled through. Harry looked around. Hermione and Kelly were both talking near the fire, their fully transfigured swans waddling around them, squawking at everything, especially the fire.

"Do I have to go first?" Harry whispered, extremely nervous.

"Of course!" Ron exclaimed, rubbing his sweaty neck. He'd been acting confident to convince Harry to do this, but it seemed he was just as nervous.

"I'm not going first," Harry said bluntly.

"Er…" Ron said. "Same time then?"

"Sounds better than me going first," Harry said.

The two slowly walked over to the girls, who barely noticed their nervousness.

"Hey, took you two long enough," Kelly said, petting Crookshanks. "We thought you'd gotten lost!"

"No, we didn't get lost," Harry said nervously.

"So what were you up to?" Hermione asked, jotting something down on a scrap of paper for Arithmancy.

"Um… well… do you want the truth?" Ron asked.

Hermione and Kelly both looked up at this, interest alight in their faces.

"What have you two been plotting without us?" Kelly asked, a smile spreading across her face. "And how dare you plan it without me! I can be mischievous myself, you know. I do hold the detention record, remember? Or I'm at least up there with Fred and George."

"Have you two been playing Quidditch hard?" Hermione asked, nodding toward their red faces.

"Well… no…" Harry said, shifting.

"Well?" Kelly asked him, and a truly encouraging smile spread across her face.

"Well… um…" said Ron. "Er… wanna… um…"

Hermione raised her eyebrows, but a smile was spreading across her face as she understood.

"Do you… I mean… wanna go… er…" Harry stuttered.

Kelly smiled politely, but she looked very much like she was trying not to laugh.

"Hermione," Ron said nervously, "do you want to… well, ya know…"

"Hmm?" she asked, in what Harry thought was an evil way, because he knew she knew exactly what they were trying to get out.

"Kelly," Harry mumbled. "Wanna… um… go to the… the… er… dance?"

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "What he said, Hermione."

Harry had thought it wasn't possible, but it obviously was, as both girls' grins grew even wider.

"Of course, Ron," Hermione said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Sure, Harry," Kelly said, smiling at him. Harry felt himself go red, and he thought he could feel the heat coming off Ron's face.

"Thanks," Harry said, smiling in relief.

"I'm glad to come," Kelly replied.

"Yeah, it'll be fun," Hermione agreed.

"I hope so," Ron said, sighing.

While Hermione busied herself petting Crookshanks to hide her reddening face, Kelly leaned over and said, "I didn't know 'fun' was even in her vocabulary."

---

A/N:

Tah. I have absolutely nothing to say right now.

NO, WAIT, I DO!

Have you guys seen Darkness? If so, ARE YOU SEEING SEVEN DEAD CHILDREN EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK IN THE NIGHT? I swear I saw them staring at me through the window last night…. BAH! I'm freaking out. Tah. Ks, NOW I have absolutely nothing to say.

Oh, yes I do. Next chapter is as short as this one, really. It's just a D.A. meeting, and Ron proposes a plan that I don't reveal in that chapter. Ks, NOW I'm done.

Wait, I lied again. Thanks for reading my nonsense, and don't forget to review!

Riles