CHAPTER 29: The Yule Ball
Harry was tempted to go check out his family vault in Gringotts but realized he was already running late. He stepped into an empty alley and apparated back to his room, where he quickly got dressed for the festivities. Once he had his robes on he decided that he would wear Gryffindor's sword in plain sight that evening, it would look great and he would hopefully be able to see who wasn't surprised that he carried it. He realized the plan was faulty but the fact was unless they got extremely lucky he wasn't finding out who leaked that he carried the sword anyway.
After summoning Dobby to notify him of the extra table setting that would be needed Harry made his way down to the Common room to wait with Ron for the girls to appear. Ron noticed the earring right away and talked about how cool it looked until Harry had to cast the silencing charm on him. Ron got the idea and stopped commenting on it once he regained his voice.
"You two waiting for us?" Harry's eyes snapped up to the landing where Ginny and Hermione stood, both smiling seductively at their boyfriends. Hermione was wearing light blue satin robes similar to the ones she wore in fourth year. She looked stunning, but in Harry's opinion, didn't even belong in the same room as Ginny. The youngest Weasley wore a soft gold colored silk robe that actually seemed to shimmer in different lighting. Ginny giggled at his reaction, which consisted of Harry standing motionless with his mouth wide open. From Hermione's reaction Ron obviously had the same look on his face, but he recovered first.
"Stop gawking at my sister, Harry." He said quietly, pushing Harry's jaw up to close his mouth.
"You look beautiful, Gin, but there is just something missing." Ginny's face, which had lit up at Harry's reaction and compliment, suddenly looked a bit downtrodden. Harry smiled to himself as he made his way to the stairs going up to the landing. He put his hand on the banister before Hermione interrupted him.
"You can't come up the stairs, remember Harry?" Harry just smiled and took the first step. He smiled at her before continuing up the stairs, Hermione just looked confused but let the subject dropped as she walked down the stairs passed Harry. Harry walked the rest of the way up to Ginny, who was still standing on the landing, staring skeptically at Harry. Harry leaned in so close that his cheek grazed hers.
"I mean it, you look beautiful, but I was hoping this would help, Happy Christmas." Harry pulled back and pulled her gift out from behind his back. Harry watched her eyes as she slowly unwrapped the box and pulled out the necklace. She gasped at how beautiful and stared into Harry's eyes before pulling him into a tight, one armed hug and burying her face in his shoulder.
"It's incredible, Harry. Thank you so much!" She let go of him and Harry realized that the reason it was a one armed hug was because she was still clutching the necklace with the other.
"Here, let me do the honors." Ginny turned around and brushed her hair to the side so Harry could put the necklace on her. After clasping the necklace into place Harry conjured a mirror for Ginny to look at herself in. "Lucky I picked something that matches." Harry mumbled as he put his arms around her from behind. Ginny leaned back into him comfortably but didn't respond; she was too busy staring at the reflection of the present. "Come on, Gin, we don't want to be late." Harry released her and put out his arm for her to hold as they descended the short flight of stairs.
"How did you get up the stairs, Harry?" Ginny asked him quietly as the four made their way to the great hall.
"It's just a talent I have, I guess." Harry answered, hoping Ginny wouldn't mind the vague answer, she didn't.
"Well, Mr. Potter, it could be a very good talent to have." She whispered suggestively just before the doors to the great hall opened for them. Harry lost his train of thought, however, when he saw the brightly lit and decorated Great Hall filled with almost all of the students.
Harry made his way into the Great Hall with Ginny on his arm. Following closely behind them were Hermione and Ron. As they walked in the room went temporarily silent, staring at the couples. Harry felt many of the eyes in the room on him, but couldn't help but think there was quite a bit of attention directed towards his date as well. Harry led the rest of his group to a table being occupied by Neville and Luna.
"Hey guys, mind if we join you?" Ginny asked sweetly and waited for a response before pulling out a chair. Ron, however, wasn't quite as subtle as he pulled a chair out and nearly jumped into it before returning Hermione's glare and saying, 'what?'
"Hey guys, no go ahead we were saving the seats for you actually." Harry sat down and glanced up at the head table, where an extremely happy looking Ollivander was conversing excitedly with Professor Trelawney and Professor Flitwick who were sitting on either side of him. He looked down at Harry briefly and gave him a nod and smile before returning to his conversation.
The table chatted excitedly until Dumbledore gave his start of feast announcements. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to welcome you all to this year's yule ball. I'd like to introduce first a guest of honor, Mr. Ollivander of Ollivander's wands. Mr. Ollivander was kind enough to help with an important situation recently and was asked to come here tonight." Dumbledore's eyes glanced around the room, resting on Harry for a minute. Harry smiled and looked away from him towards his date, who was also staring at him.
"Did you have something to do with this?" She asked incredulously.
"Well, I couldn't just let him sit in his shop all alone on Christmas!" Ginny threw her arms around Harry and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You're cute, you know that?"
"No, I'm rugged and handsome, not cute." Ginny giggled at that but then went back to chatting with Hermione as Dumbledore introduced the wizard orchestra that would be playing.
As Dumbledore sat back down Ginny grabbed Harry's hand, "let's dance." Before Harry was able to protest he was on the dance floor with one arm around her waist and one in her hand.
"Gin, I have to warn you, I'm not the best dancer." Ginny giggled again.
"I know, I saw you in fourth year." Harry gave her side a quick squeeze with his hand, causing her to shriek in surprise. She slapped his chest with her free hand before leaning in even closer to continue to dance.
"See, you really aren't that bad, Harry."
"Yeah, as long as they keep playing slow songs I'll be ok." They had another laugh at that before settling back into their comfortable position.
You decided to wear the sword tonight, Harry? Dumbledore's voice rang in the back of his head.
Well, it's not like we were ever going to figure out who the spy was. Plus, I thought it went well with my robes. Harry responded.
Quite right, on both accounts, it matches nicely with your new earring as well.
Harry smiled to himself but continued dancing. It turned out that he was a much better dancer than he had been two years ago. Ginny wasn't the only one to notice either, as Cho Chang had asked to cut in for a dance. Ginny stepped back, as if understanding if Harry wanted to dance with the older girl. Harry politely refused and said that they were just about to go get some drinks and take a break; it was the only time Harry left the dance floor.
During dinner Blaise Zabini caught Harry's eyes and motioned outside. He got up and left but Harry wisely waited for a few minutes before following him. If he left right away it could blow his new friend's cover. When Harry made his way outside he walked straight to the corridor where they had met originally. The Slytherin was waiting for him.
"Nice sword. You're more Slytherin then you look, Potter. I was almost afraid you'd run out right after me calling my name. I'm glad to see you do have some subtlety." Harry smiled.
"Well, the sorting hat did try to put me in Slytherin, but that's a long story." Blaise looked at him incredulously before he continued.
"Samantha and Ryan are making sure we aren't followed right now, following us to see if anyone else is following, if you will." Harry just nodded, not surprised at the precautions they took. "Draco seems to have a thing about going after your girlfriend, don't let Weasley out of your site for too long tonight. I'll let you go back in first, it may be best for you to stay on the dance floor and in a crowd, it'd be hard for Draco to try anything there. Don't get too comfortable though. I'll follow you in a few moments, try to make eye contact with one of the twins, if they won't look at you we were followed and we'll have to be very careful, if you can make eye contact with either than we're okay." Harry nodded and turned to leave.
"That's twice you've saved my ass, Blaise. I'll pay it back sooner or later." He said before turning out of the hallway and returning to the Great Hall. He looked around and found that both twins were looking at him, Harry breathed easy once again as he made his way over to Ginny.
They spent the rest of the night dancing, Harry keeping an eye out for any trouble, but keeping most of his focus on the beautiful girl in his arms. By the end of the night Harry was having too much fun to really think about Draco Malfoy. Just before midnight Harry felt a poke on his shoulder. When he turned around he saw the anxious face of Mr. Ollivander inches from him.
"I was wondering, Mr. Potter, if it would be possible to retrieve that item tonight. I'm very anxious to get started working with it." Harry nodded in the affirmative and told the elderly wand maker to wait for him outside the Great Hall and he'd show him the chamber as well. Mr. Ollivander was simply delighted as he ran back to the head table. Harry realized that the man reminded him slightly of Professor Flitwick when excited, but quickly laughed the idea off.
When Dumbledore announced that the ball would be ending he asked Ginny if she would accompany him down into the Chamber. The redhead looked almost petrified, but Harry assured her he wouldn't let anything happen to her, and that it may help to confront the memories. Ginny reluctantly agreed.
The two Gryffindor's met Mr. Ollivander outside the Great Hall and made their way through the empty corridors towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom when Harry heard a quiet noise. He squeezed his girlfriend's hand to make sure she remained relatively quiet so he could place the noise before they ran into any trouble. Ginny looked around confused, obviously not being able to sense anything, but Harry's training was kicking in. Within another two steps Harry had placed the noise as a quiet breathing coming from behind one of the curtains. Harry knew who it must be, and decided to walk casually as he had been doing as to not alert the young Malfoy to the fact that he had been discovered. As they past the curtain and Malfoy didn't move Harry realized that the Slytherin was waiting for them to pass so he could have a clear shot at their exposed backs. Harry had a plan though.
Just as he reached where the concealed person was standing Harry leaped to his left, tossing the curtain back with his right hand and grabbing the blonde boy with his left and slamming him into the far wall. Before Draco could react Harry had flicked his right wrist, causing the wand to pop out of it's holster, and was pointing it at the boy's face.
"Happy Christmas, Draco." He said coldly.
"Would you please get your filthy hands off of me, Potter?" He asked calmly. Harry realized that technically the Slytherin hadn't done anything wrong yet, so he let his collar go. Harry even lowered his wand slightly, giving Draco the appearance that he had relaxed his defenses. "You really are dumb, aren't you, Potter? I planned on just having a little fun with your girlfriend tonight, but when an opportunity presents itself…" Draco's voice trailed off but he made a sudden movement with his wrist and a wand appeared in his hand. Harry was ready, however, and had spun out of the way of a cruciatus curse before stunning the surprised student.
"Oh my!" Ollivander squeaked. "That was a cruciatus curse! That's quite illegal, despicable that one of my inventions was used for something like that."
"Yes, I'd have to agree. That's a particularly nasty curse, but I'm not sure Draco here really knows how to use it."
"You've been under it before?" The old wand maker asked.
"More times than I care to remember, Mr. Ollivander. Unfortunately we won't be able to make the trip tonight. How about if I drop the fang by your shop in the next few days and I'll show you around the chamber some other time?" Ollivander nodded and promised to accompany them to Dumbledore's office, where he proceeded to give a detailed account of what had happened, glancing over what they were doing by calling it 'a private business transaction.' Dumbledore decided to call an emergency teachers council before interrogating Malfoy, and dismissed the three for the night. Before leaving Mr. Ollivander turned and thanked Harry again for inviting him, Harry simply shook his hand and shrugged it off.
"Anything for a friend." Mr. Ollivander nearly broke down at hearing Harry Potter call him a friend, but held it together until at least he had disappeared from sight.
Harry turned to look at Ginny who was looking expectantly up at him. "I think we should go test out that ability of yours to enter the girls dormitories." Harry blushed but Ginny led him quickly up to the near empty Gryffindor Tower. Ginny went into the girls dorm first, to make sure nobody was awake to see. She signaled for Harry to come in quickly. When she had closed the curtain around them he put up an imperturbable charm on the curtains so they couldn't be heard or disturbed. Ginny ran her hands up from Harry's stomach to his chest, taking off his shirt and sending a tingling feeling throughout his body. She then proceeded to push him down on the bed, where they spent the next hour kissing before falling asleep.