Chapter 12

Christmas Dance

Obviously, Roxanne and Harry were going to the Fancy Dress Ball together on Boxing Day. Ron and Ginny had gotten into an argument about whom Ginny should go with.

"Just because you're my brother doesn't mean you decide who I can go out with!"

"I just don't want you getting hurt!" replied Ron, his ears going red. "Who are you going with anyway?"

"Mark Evans," she said smugly.

"Oh…well he's ok."

Ginny grinned and hugged her brother.

"I know you're just looking out for me. But I'm a big girl now!"

"Who are you going with, Ron?" asked Harry curiously.

"Dunno," he muttered, his ears going even redder.

"How about Hermione?" suggested Roxanne

"Me go out with Hermione? I don't think so," he said.

"Why not? Just as friends."

"It would be weird," he said, his eyes darting about the Library.

"Fine, it was just an idea. How about Lavender or Parvati or–"

"I don't like any of them!"

"Be difficult then," muttered Roxanne defeated, falling back onto a chair.

"Anyway, Hermione's probably going out with someone."

Just then Hermione walked in carrying about five large books. Roxanne ran up to her, startling the poor girl so she nearly dropped them all.

"Are you going to the dance with anyone?"

"Yeah, Neville asked me this morning," she said, staring blankly at Roxanne's disappointed face.

"Its just Ron's got no one to go with," explained Harry.

"Oh god! You lot are so lazy! I'm going to ask Berenice Tawford for you," said Roxanne, walking out of the Library. She had remembered the looks on Ron's face when Berenice had constantly come up to him to congratulate him on an excellent match.

She heard Ron run after her but she found Berenice before Ron caught up.

"Hey Berenice," said Roxanne, sliding up beside her.

"'Er…hi," she replied, cocking an eyebrow.

"Are you going to the dance with anyone?" Roxanne said again.

"No…" she answered slowly.

"Will you go with Ron?" Just then Ron ran down the stairs and stopped in horror as he saw Roxanne talking with Berenice. Berenice didn't notice him.

"'Em, yeah, ok," she said, blushing slightly.

Roxanne grinned at her and jogged over to Ron.

"She said yes."

"Really? Cool," said Ron, a smile spreading across his reddened face. He caught sight if Berenice, she gave him a little wave and walked off with her giggling friends.

As it was a fancy dress dance people had to dress up to attend. There was no theme but there were a couple of competitions going. For most unusual costume, for most well designed, etc. It took Roxanne a long while to decide whether to wear the magnificent dress Malfoy had gotten her or not. In the end she realised she had no other posh clothes so she did wear the dress. It fitted like a glove. She curled her hair and made her eyes dramatic with dark makeup. She also wore a black velvet choker with a ruby dangling from it. She wasn't exactly trying to look like anything, but people said she looked like some evil queen. She tried to take it as a complement.

She met up with Harry outside the Fat Lady's portrait. Many boys were just wearing a tux but Harry had made his skin pale with face paint and had flattened and parted his hair, making him look like Dracula. He was also wearing a cloak with a large collar, which made Roxanne burst into laugher. Hermione was wearing a very Victorian style dress. It was very wide and the top bit was a corset. Ginny dressed up like Catwoman. She wore a very figure hugging catsuit and stiletto boots along with cat ears, whiskers and a tail that was charmed to move like it was real. Ron had almost tried to tempt her out of wearing it but she wouldn't hear anything.

It was only fifth, sixth and seventh going to the Ball but it was still quite full. It was decorated wonderfully and little faeries swung lights above their heads. Roxanne nearly had a fit when she found out her favourite band, Coffin Crew, were playing along with the Weird Sisters. Coffin Crew got their name from the fact that two of the five members were (controlled) vampires. Roxanne taught Harry how to dance properly and they enjoyed the evening very much. Many people complemented Roxanne on her beautiful dress and after and hour or so Hermione ended up having to loosen the ribbons on her corset.

After all the Butterbeer, Rockshandy and other alcapops, Roxanne had to go to the little girls room. She excused herself and pushed through dancing couples and giggling girls. On her way out she saw Malfoy and tried to avoid his gaze but it was as if he was following her. He asked her to dance and she couldn't refuse, since most of his friends were looking. Her favourite song (Midnight Mayhem) was on. Of course the fear of Harry catching her did worry her, but once she was in Malfoy's arms that thought melted away.

"You're a very good dancer," she said, "or maybe that's just the alcapops talking."

"Probably," he said, laughing.

After that song ended Roxanne said goodbye reluctantly. When she got back to their small group Harry wasn't there.

"You spent a long time in the bathroom!" said Ron.

"It's a girl thing," she said, winking. "Where's Harry?"

"'Um…toilets," Ron said quickly, a little too quickly.

"Ok, I guess I'll just have another dr–" she cut off mid sentence. She had seen Harry, dancing with Cho. Cho was wearing a silver boob-tube and plastic-looking, tight trousers. Obviously she had dressed up as someone from the future but it gave her a cheap impression. Usually Roxanne wouldn't have been annoyed about this, but the fact that Harry hadn't asked her was what made her angry. Even though she didn't ask Harry to dance with Malfoy… She noticed Hermione and Ginny looking at her curiously.

"What?"

"Nothing," said Ginny curtly, looking away.

Hermione coughed quietly like she wanted to say something but wanted permission.

The song ended and Harry game back, a large grin on his face. He saw Roxanne who was trying to hide the look of disgust and his smile flickered.

"Shall I buy you a Rockshandy?" he asked her.

She shrugged moodily.

"Ok, I will then. Two Rockshandy's please," he said to the barman.

When Hermione, Ron and Ginny had left to dance Harry grabbed Roxanne's sleeve and pulled her outside to a large stone reindeer fountain. They both sat down on a beck and Harry turned to Roxanne.

"I saw you, you know," he said sharply.

"Ditto," she said cynically.

Harry gazed at the lights in the rose bushes.

"Do you like him?"

"I only danced with him, Harry."

"Do you?" he asked again.

"Only as a friend," she said, "anyway, I could ask you the same thing about Cho."

"You could," he said blankly, mystified with the lights.

There was something wrong with him.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Quit acting like this Harry! Do you like her or not?"

"No," he said bluntly.

There was a long awkward silence in which Roxanne could not make out whether he was lieing or not. She found it surprising that it almost hurt to lie to Harry, whom she cared about so deeply.

"Loads of people warned me about you," Harry said suddenly, still staring at the lights, which reflected in his green eyes.

"I bet," muttered Roxanne.

"But not about your family," he continued in that toneless voice, "they warned me that you might fall for someone in Slytherin."

"Well I haven't."

"Maybe not now, but you will."

"Would you stop being so pessimistic? It's getting on my nerves!" she snapped.

"Why don't you stop flirting with Malfoy?" he shot back, facing Roxanne.

"I am not!"

"Don't lie. I watched you dance with him. And watched you laugh at his jokes. Now I know what he meant when he said I would regret mocking his father," Harry said, fuming.

"FINE! You want the truth?" Roxanne shouted, standing up, "I do like him, ok? But I like you way more Harry!"

Harry drew back, disgusted. That hadn't been the answer he had expected. "How can I believe you?"

"Because…" she took Harry's hand in hers, "because I don't want to be with anyone but you Harry…"

Harry looked to the ground, avoiding her piercing stare. "He'll try to get you…"

"But he won't succeed," cut in Roxanne, her voice almost pleading. "Harry, I've liked you since I received your first letter! I've never felt like this-"

"I know what you mean," said Harry, holding her hand in his. His feelings for Roxanne were stronger than anything he felt for Cho. With Cho it had been a short obsession, but with Roxanne… He felt like he had known her all his life and he wanted to spend the rest of it with her.

"We were meant to be and no Malfoy will stand between that," spoke Roxanne, interrupting his thoughts. Something told her it was the right time to say those three words. But perhaps this wasn't love she was feeling? It seemed too much too soon and instead she pressed her lips against his and kissed him long and fervently.