Chapter Twenty Eight

Date Disappointment

"YOU CALL THAT BEATING! SOMEONE OUGHT TO BEAT YOU UP! PUT SOME MUSCLE ON IT, MORON!"

Harry could feel his voice getting hoarse but Ron wasn't stopping. He had been screaming, clapping, jumping and cursing even before the start of the game. He even sent out a few colorful sparks every time someone made a spectacular goal. It was alright at first but after hours, Harry was getting extremely annoyed. He couldn't figure out what was wrong with Ron. He had been acting weird since they woke up this morning. He insisted they work out before breakfast then he wanted to read up on house elves using some of the books Hermione left behind. Ron even picked up a copy of Hogwarts, A History and started reading anything he could find on the subject. It was so boring Harry had

shut out most of it and let Ron do all the work. But Ron had worked on it so diligently in Hermione-like fashion Harry was almost afraid of him. Harry actually fell unconscious for a few minutes and when he woke up Ron was still at it. After that, Ron wanted to practice a few spells but he insisted on doing them alone and he wouldn't let Harry do even one.

By the time they met Maddy at the Quidditch stadium, Harry could feel Ron was getting a bit tired. But still he kept up an active involvement in the game as if it was a Canon's championship match.

"OR FOR MERLIN'S SAKE, THE SNITCH WAS RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE! WAKE UP!"

"Ron what is with you? Could you calm down a bit?"

"Calm down? Harry, it's Quidditch. You don't calm down at Quidditch. You cheer. YOU IDIOT! YOU LET THAT GO! IT WAS LIKE TWO INCHES AWAY!"

"People are starting to stare, Ron."

"I don't see Maddy complaining."

Maddy indeed was far from complaining. She seemed to be having the time of her life and was exerting as much energy on the game as Ron. "KICK 'IM OFF 'IS BROOM! WHAT KIND OF PASS EEZ ZAT!"

Blimey, how these two can run on, Harry thought miserably.

Fortunately, the Tornados' seeker finally caught the snitch at that moment and Harry had to endure one last throat straining cheer from Ron.

"Merlin, that was tiring," said Ron.

"And whose fault is that?" asked Harry.

Ron didn't answer. He just checked their watch. It was past ten in the evening. The game had gone on for almost four hours.

"Thanks Maddy, it was great," Ron said.

"You are welcome."

"Can I take you home?"

"Yes, I would love zat."

They walked together to the apparition site and Ron got his wand out first.

"Ron, let me do it. I think you're too tired."

"Oh don't worry, Harry I can still do it."

"But it's going to drain your energy and you might—"

Too late, Ron had already muttered the spell to apparate and they ended up in front of a nice little flat in a wizarding village in suburban London.

"—fall unconscious. Ron? Ron!"

"You want to come in, Ronald?"

Harry stared at her for a moment and it suddenly dawned on him what Ron just did.

"Ronald, you want to come in?" Maddy repeated.

"I—er…"

"Just for tea? Your throat must be tired from all ze cheering. It will 'elp you."

"Er… okay."

Maddy took his hand and led him in. Her flat was spacious, neat and decidedly feminine with its light yellow wallpaper and floral curtains. It was both elegant and comfortable.

"I will get tea." she said.

"Alright," Harry nodded.

She went to the kitchen to make it, while Harry sat down on her crème colored three-sitter divan and looked around. There were pictures all over of Maddy and her family, as well as old classmates smiling against a backdrop of a shiny palace. Harry figured that was Beauxbatons.

When he thought about it, Maddy wasn't really bad. She was pretty, she was nice. Maybe Ron was right. She was perfect for him. It couldn't be that hard to like her.

Maddy came in with a tea tray following behind her. She set it down on the coffee table and used her wand to pour them each a cup.

"I 'ad fun," she said.

Harry smiled at her. "I had fun too. Thanks for the invite." They fell into silence. He was awfully reminded of his first and only date with Cho Chang. He sipped his cup so he would have something to do.

"Well…" she began.

"Well…" he echoed back.

She slowly moved closer to him. He nervously put his cup down.

"And so 'ere we are," she said coyly. She moved even closer.

"Uh-huh," Harry mumbled.

In the next instant her lips were pressed to his. Harry was conscious that this kiss wasn't like his first awkward moment with Cho Chang. This was no wet kiss that demanded sympathy. Maddy was giving it out of pure desire for him. And her lips were nice. They were softer, more experienced. He was aware that he should be enjoying this but all the time his thoughts were: Do this for Ron, do this for Ron. You have to stop thinking of Hermione.

The thought of her just made him think of Hermione even more and suddenly Harry couldn't stand it. He pulled away.

"I'm sorry I can't do this," he said as he turned away. He didn't want to see if she looked hurt.

There was a long agonizing moment before he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Eet eez alright," she said slowly. "I understand. Zhere eez someone else, yes?"

Harry sighed miserably. "It's not that," he began. He was prepared to give an excuse—some explanation that wouldn't make her feel she was just what he intended her to be: someone to help him forget another girl.

But she cupped his face so he was forced to look at her again. "Zhere eez no need to explain. I know. I should not 'ave asked you out."

"You do?" he asked.

Maddy looked at him straight. "I can feel eet. You are 'esitant. A girl alwayz knows."

"I-I don't regret it, I mean us going out. I really had fun tonight. Watching the match with you was wonderful."

"Yes, I know 'bout zat. I want to go out with you again, but only as your friend. Zat eez all we can ever be, eez eet?"

Harry considered salvaging what was left of his possible attempt to date her but decided it was useless. He nodded.

"I am alright with zat Ronald." She was silent for a moment. He was startled when she spoke again. "You should tell her."

"What?"

"Tell her 'ow you feel."

Harry shook his head. "I can't do that."

"Why? Because you only see 'er four times a year or because she eez your best friend?"

Harry paled.

"So I was right? Eet eez your lovely friend traveling abroad."

Harry nodded again. "Yes, but it's a lot more complicated than that."

"I am sorry, I cannot help you zhere. But I shall still be your friend in every way."

"Thanks, Maddy." Suddenly he felt enormously guilty. Here was a girl who trusted him in every way and he and Ron didn't even tell her the one big secret they had been keeping.

"Maddy, there's something else I think you should know. I trust you, but you have to promise you can't tell anyone."

She looked at him seriously. "Of course Ronald. What eez eet?"

Harry took her hands in his but refused to look at her straight. "I'm not Ronald Weasley. I'm Harry Potter."

Maddy pulled her hands away. "What—what are you talking 'bout, Ronald?"

"Please don't be mad. We should have told you sooner but Moody told us not to."

"We?"

"It's a long story."

So he told her everything, all the while worried of her reaction. Maddy, however, appeared to take everything calmly, though she appeared confused.

"I swear," he said at the end of his explanation. "I'm not making this up. It's not a joke. I know it's a little hard to believe, but it's true."

"Eet eez a bit confusing," she replied. She appeared to be thinking deeply. "But eet does make zense now, yes. I 'ave always wondered why you can do two spells at once and why you use two wands, even two Patronuses." She stopped and her face fell. "But zhen, Ronald… 'e eez not 'ere now?"

"Well he is. We're basically sharing his body, but right now he's unconscious and I have full control of his body. There are times when I become unconscious too so he takes over."

"So, zhere are times you can be alone without ze other?"

"We can't really predict when but yes, when we're extremely tired."

She nodded knowingly. "So you're just 'arry now? Ze whole time tonight of ze match?"

"No, he was still up until the end of the match. He was the one doing all the shouting and cursing and spell casting but he became unconscious after. Look, I'm really sorry. Ron, you see… he er… sort of liked me to like you so he…er…

"Eet was 'im who said yes when I asked, was 'e?"

Harry could feel his face grow redder and he nodded uncomfortably. "Please don't be mad at me, or him."

Maddy shook her head. "I am not angry at you. You are still my friend, zhank you for being 'onest and for trusting me. But tell me, eez Ronald also in love with your friend?"

"Yes," replied Harry, sadly.

"I suspected," said Maddy. "And does 'e know 'ow you feel, 'bout 'er?"

Harry shook his head again. "I can't. He'll hate me and I can't stand that. I'm not worried of getting ejected from his body because of it, but I don't want to lose Ron as a best friend."

"Oh 'arry, I am sorry."

"It's alright. I mean what chance have I got anyway? I'm already dead. I'm not even supposed to be feeling this way. Hermione's for Ron. I know, but I can't help feeling."

"You are 'uman, 'arry. Eet eez only natural."

"I suppose," said Harry. He gave a sad smile. "Thanks for understanding."

"You're welcome. Now, I think you should go home and get some rest."

"You're right." He took out his wand to apparate, but stopped himself.

"Look, I still don't have a date for that Ministry Ball. Would you go with me? I mean we could go as friends?"

Maddy smiled. "Yes, I would love to." She kissed him on the cheek. "Goodnight, 'arry. And I am glad I met you."

"Goodnight, Maddy."

He apparated home and collapsed on his bed, feeling extremely disappointed in himself. Not even a pretty girl like Maddy can ever get his mind off her. He just had to find another way to fall out of love and he hoped he did before Ron ever found out.