---Chapter Three---
The Halloween Ball

Katie sighed, putting down her quill. She couldn't think. Her mind was swimming in thoughts, mostly of Lee. Katie couldn't help thinking about yesterday – he told her he liked her, but she just froze on the spot. She was half-expecting him the entire time to burst out laughing and do a chicken dance or something. Katie had never seen Lee so serious, and when he did ever seem sober, he was usually joking about it.

'Katie, you don't have to say anything if you don't like me. I understand.'

'No! It's not that!'

'No, Kate, I'm alright. You don't have to be nice, just be frank. I'll accept it…eventually.'

'Lee!'

'What?'
'I like you. And if you were joking about you liking me, you just made me feel like an idiot. Or will make me feel like an idiot.'
'I wasn't joking, Katie. I like you.'
'Um…okay. I gotta go now, sorry. Bye.'

Katie slumped in her chair and rested her head on her Transfiguration textbook.

'Argh!' she shouted, frustrated.

That was the perfect moment. She had been waiting for Lee to tell her he felt the same way about her since third year, yet she still ran. Why? She thought to herself miserably. Katie wasn't usually shy or standoffish, but that day she didn't know what came over her. It may have been Lee's intense stare or her heart thumping faster than the speed of a bullet train, but she just didn't know. The second he uttered "I like you" she broke out in a cold sweat and an overwhelming sensation hit her in the head. Her mind went blank after that, and she was lost for words. Not wanting to look like an idiot, she ran off abruptly, leaving both Lee and herself in denial and bewildered.
Katie sighed. She wasn't sure Lee was serious when he had told her he liked her. Katie was a modest person, and she didn't even like admitting to herself that someone liked her. But do you remember Lee's eyes? A small, sudden voice whispered in her head. Yes, she did. How could she forget? His eyes remained still – there wasn't that usual frivolous sparkle of unseriousness in them. Lee's eyes had suddenly flickered with surprise when she told him she was going – it had felt like the world was still for a second, just Lee and her. Then it started turning again, and has been spinning faster than ever, she thought bitterly to herself. Katie suddenly felt like crying. Her eyes filled with tears, but she refused to let them out. Instead, she let out her emotions through anger.

'I hate you Lee Jordan!' she yelled.

The truth was obviously far from that, but Lee was tormenting both her heart and mind with her feelings for him and that was enough to drive her to insanity. She sat up straight in her chair, and rubbed her eyes. Katie was determined she wasn't going to cry because of Lee Jordan.

'Are you okay, Katie?' a voice asked from behind her.

Katie whirled around to see Alicia hovering behind her chair, carrying a load of books.

'Yeah.' said Katie, wiping her eyes on the sleeves of her robes.

'Oh…I've known you too long to take lies from you. What's wrong? Tell me Katie,' soothed Alicia, propping herself down on the floor next to Katie.

'Well – don't laugh when I tell you this but – ' Katie trailed off, unsure how Alicia would react.

'Yes?'

'It's about Lee.' Katie finally sighed, looking away.

'Oh, Katie!' cried Alicia.

Alicia was always one to dramatise a situation like this. Katie flushed, wondering what her friend was going to say next.

'Listen to me, Kate.' A fierceness in Alicia's voice struck Katie with surprise, and she turned to face her friend. 'If he is taking you for granted and isn't doing what he's supposed to be, I swear, I'll twist his neck and break off his limbs – '

This brought a weak smile to Katie's face.
'Oh, Al, it's nothing like that. He told me he liked me, I told him he liked me and then something went wrong in between there. I don't know.' Katie looked miserable again.

Alicia patted her friend's back sympathetically, and said quietly quite unlike her tone before, 'Katie, I know it may seem strange and slightly disheartening for me to be telling you this, but if this doesn't work out, you'll know it wasn't meant to be, and you shouldn't worry yourself. If it does, well, it would be what everyone expected of you two,'

Alicia grinned. 'I know what will cheer you up. How bout we take you to Hogsmeade this weekend, free of charge? Angie and me will get you anything you want, for free, you wont even have to pay a Knut – '

'I cant make you do that!' protested Katie feebly.

'Rubbish. We're going to do that, and you can't stop us,' Alicia flashed her another grin, before picking up the large pile of books again.

'I'll probably be sleeping if you need me. Good night, Kate. I'd hug you, but I've got these sodding books to hold.' Alicia groaned at the weight of them.

'Good night Ali. Do you need any help?' offered Katie.

'Nah, I'll be fine.' and with that, Alicia trudged off to the girls' dormitory, leaving Katie by herself, once again in the silence of the Common Room.
Katie bit the end of her quill. She was lost for what she could write next in her Transfiguration essay. The letters on the parchment just seemed like a jumble of miscellaneous squiggles and lines all over the page. She was too tired, she decided. Katie snapped her Transfiguration textbook shut, rolled up her parchment which her essay was written on, and feeling slightly better, and marched up to the girls' dorm, determined to get a good night's worth of shut eye.

The next morning came, bringing with it a turn of bad luck. The Gryffindors had double Herbology with Ravenclaw first, and Professor Sprout had brought in a new, bright purple plant for them to examine.
Angelina and Alicia were kind enough to 'help' Katie avoid Lee, despite the fact Alicia was itching to go over and talk to George. Although Katie was careful to make sure Lee didn't catch her throwing glances at him, she couldn't help but try getting his attention when he started to talk to Patricia Stimpson.

She didn't mind Lee talking to other girls, but Patricia wasn't like other girls. She was blonde, tall and skinny – she was any man's dream. Katie didn't like to be superficial and hate anyone because they were gorgeous, but she did hate Patricia with a passion. Most of her close friends knew that, especially Lee. And the fact that he was standing there, allowing that freak to talk to him was just unbearable for Katie.

Angelina was the first to notice when she saw Katie watching the two with narrowed eyes and broke off a twig from the plant in front of her without noticing. The plant started wailing, snapping Katie out of her daze. She blushed furiously when the plant started crying louder, sounding awfully like an angry baboon. Soon enough, half the class had turned to Katie's plant, watching it with mild interest as it continued shrieking and howling.
Professor Sprout rushed over, looking worried.

'Oh dear,' she mumbled, her brow furrowed. 'Miss Bell, may you have done anything to it to aggravate it? It seems like it may start Spitting soon.'
Both Angelina and Alicia looked at the little violet plant in shock, backing away slowly.

'Um…I think I may have broken a twig off or something…' said Katie sheepishly, her face turning redder.

'Oh dear.' the Professor said again, and took a step back. 'It's starting to Spit, so, class, get outside now if you do not want to be covered with a stinking yellow pulp for the next few days.'

The class exchanged horrified glances at each and rushed out of the Greenhouse, with Patricia in the lead screaming, 'I don't want it to get in my hair! Not my hair!'

'Not my hair! Oh, not my beautiful hair!' cried Angelina dramatically, sounding so much like Patricia it left Katie and Alicia in stitches.

'Girls! Outside!' warned Professor Sprout.

The three girls proceeded outside, giggling.

Professor Sprout was the last one out, and hurriedly closed the door. SPLAT! Sure enough, most of the glass of the Greenhouse was covered in a thick, brown yellow substance.

'Go back in, I'll clean up the mess,' instructed the Professor.

The class reluctantly went back into the Greenhouse, most people wrinkling their noses at the stench of the substance.

'Ew, what is this?' shrieked Patricia.

'Scourgify!' cried the Professor, giving her wand a flick.

The scum vanished, but left the room in a faint, but recognisable stench of the yellow pulp. BRRRING. The bell rang, and just on time, thought Katie.
The class advanced out of the Greenhouse, quieter than usual. The smell of the yellow substance must of left a lot of people in a stupefied daze, and only Patricia seemed to have returned to her normal self the instant they left the classroom. She was chattering loudly to Lee who looked quite bored.

'Anywaaaaaay,' purred Patricia, her voice dripping in sweetness. 'The Halloween Ball's in six days…'

Lee's heart skipped. Damn. He thought. He was going to ask that girl who he thought was quite pretty from Ravenclaw to the Ball, but it seemed she already had a boyfriend.

'Would you like to come with me?' came Patricia's sappy voice.

Lee blinked in surprise. 'What?'

'Am I not good enough for you?' Patricia said slowly yet teasingly.

'Oh…I'm not sure I'm going – ' lied Lee. He'd hate to be stuck with Patricia for five hours.

'Aw Lee! Are you turning me down?' she battered her long, fake lashes at him.

He felt a bit sick. 'Well, no – ' Lee was actually quite the gentleman, and he was clueless on how he could get Patricia to back off.

'Good. Then it's settled. You're coming with me!' she beamed, and flounced off to a few Hufflepuff boys in front, linking one in her arms.

Lee felt sicker than he did before. He was taking Patricia Stimpson to the Ball? He'd prefer to shoot himself then get eaten by rats than take Patricia to the Ball.

'What have I done?' he muttered to himself, wincing.

'Helloooo darling!' came a squeaky, high-pitched voice from behind him. A great, big hand slapped his shoulder.

'Hullo George,' Lee said, rolling his eyes.

'I saw you talking to Patricia then. What did she say?' his eyes twinkled mischievously.

'She wanted me to go to the Ball with her,' he groaned. 'Blimey, even Crabbe and Goyle over there could think faster than her,'

George burst out laughing, and looked at Lee with something he couldn't quite put his finger on. Was George annoyed that he was going to the Ball with Patricia? He wasn't sure.

'I wouldn't mind taking her to the Ball!' he declared.

'You can have her if you want,' said Lee hopefully.

'I'd love to mate, but I've got plans with Alicia.' George said, his eyes lighting up. 'Speaking of which…oi! Alicia!' he called over the din of the Great Hall.

Alicia poked her head out from a few of her girl friends, and beamed when she spotted George.

'Yeah, well I gotta run. Tell me what happens with Patricia,' laughed George.

'Funny,' Lee said sarcastically, shoving George into a passing first year, who looked quite frightened at the prospect of being crushed to the ground by a tall seventh year, almost two heads taller. The first year quickly brushed off his robes and scuttered away.

The days slowly ebbed by, drawing the entire school closer and closer to the Halloween Ball. It was just another two sleeps until the Ball, but Katie still hadn't gotten a partner. Was Lee going to ask her, or did she have to ask him? She wondered.
BAM. The door from the girls' dormitory to the Common Room slammed close, and in the doorway stood Patricia Stimpson. Katie had to try hard to refrain herself from rolling her eyes.

'Heeeello Katie,' she simpered, her mouth curling into a nasty smile.

'Hi Patricia.' replied Katie, not looking up from the Quidditch book she was reading.

'Guess who's going to the Ball with me?' Her tone was ecstatic.

Katie put down her book. 'No. Who?' she asked curiously.

'Lee Jordan!' Patricia gushed, ignorant of the horrified and disgusted look on Katie's face.

'W-what? He asked you?' she stammered.

'Oh no! He would have though, if I didn't ask him.' a horrible smile came to Patricia's lips.

'Ah. I didn't expect more of Lee,' Katie said curtly, but before Patricia could figure out what she had meant, Katie disappeared into the portrait hole.
The evening of the Halloween Ball had finally arrived, and the three girls were getting ready. Katie was the first of them to finish, dressed in sage coloured robes that trailed lightly on the floor as she walked. Angelina had dressed in flowing, velvety robes of deep purple and had twisted her hair into an elegant knot at the back of her head, while Alicia opted for pastel green robes made of silky, light material, and had left her long, glossy chestnut hair out. Katie thought they both looked a little different.

'Hurry up guys!' Katie called, from the end of the stairs that lead into the Great Hall.

'Coming!' came Alicia's distant voice.

Katie sighed. This was going to be a long night.
When the trio had finally stepped foot into the Great Hall, Fred and George Weasley promptly rushed to Angelina and Alicia's sides.
Angelina shot Katie an apologetic look, but Katie shook her head, and forced a smile. Katie scanned the Hall, trying to find someone she knew; Angelina and Alicia weren't any fun when Fred and George were around.

'Hi Katie,' an overly sweet voice greeted her.

Not Stimpson again.

'What?' she said, a little more irritably than she hoped she would of sounded.

Katie turned slightly to her left to get a better view of Patricia. She was wearing a particularly hideous pink robes that stood out in the dimness of the Hall.

'Look who found me,' she said.

Katie wanted to punch the spoiled brat in the face. Even through the darkness, she could still tell Patricia was smirking, satisified she had Lee. Lee was standing quite some distance away in the shadows, and Katie couldn't see his face.

'Whoopee,' said Katie in a sarcastic tone, and stalked off. She didn't have time for Patricia's stupid taunts.

Lee felt worse than anything that moment right then. He could not believe he was at the Ball with Patricia Stimpson, of all people – he could not believe he wasn't sharing this with Katie. His heart ached with regret – why had he not declined Patricia's invite? Why had he stood there stupidly, his mind blank for words? He knew now he should have asked Katie a long time ago, but it was too late now. Katie had stormed off a few moments ago, and probably would never forgive him for going to the Ball with Patricia Stimpson.
She didn't understand it; Lee had told her he liked her but instead of doing anything about it takes Patricia Stimpson to the Ball? Katie wasn't sure if she was more confused than angry.

'Those prats,' she muttered, now no longer within seeing distance of Lee and Patricia.

'Who's a prat?' a innocent voice asked.

Katie looked up in surprise to find herself staring into the stern, hazel eyes of a tall seventh year. Well, at least she thought he was a seventh year.

'Uh – no one. You aren't one anyway,' Katie said quickly.

The boy's eyes suddenly lit up. 'Oh, I know who you are! You're Katie Bell, one of the Gryffindor Chasers!'

Katie looked at him with surprise. 'Hey…wow! You know who I am!' she felt her inside swell with pride. 'But I don't know who you are,' she added.
The boy laughed. 'I didn't think you would. I'm Tom. Tom Reiner from Hufflepuff,' he outstretched a hand, in which Katie shook in return.

'So, do you play Quidditch?' asked Katie curiously.

'Unfortunately, no. But I like it, and I'm a keen Quidditch fan.' he told her.

The two were soon talking like old friends, mainly about Quidditch. When Katie was just about bored talking about Quidditch he'd change the subject, but would soon switch back to Quidditch. She found this tiresome, but still appreciated his company.

'I'm a Cannons fan myself – ' his enthusiastic listing of his favourite Quidditch teams was suddenly cut short by Dumbledore.

'I'm sure we've filled ourselves well up… ' Dumbledore gave his wand a flick and the gold plates were void of food again. 'So without further ado, let the dance begin.' He beamed and gave his wand another wave.

The lights in the Great Hall automatically dimmed, leaving only the jack-o-lanterns lighting up the place. Dance music flooded the Hall, Katie recognising one of the songs from The Weird Sisters.

'Dance?' Tom shouted over the music.

'Yeah, okay!' agreed Katie, getting up.

They walked gingerly over to the middle of the Great Hall, which had been cleared for dancing. There were already a few couples dancing, and to Katie's exasperation, Lee was already there with Patricia. He had such an uninterested look on his face it seemed as if Patricia had not been dancing with him, Lee probably would've flopped to the ground like a puppet and would have fallen asleep. Tom studied her carefully as shot one last irritated glance at Patricia and Lee before rolling her eyes and looking back up at Tom.

'Old boyfriend?' he inquired, nodding towards Lee.

Katie was both surprised and annoyed by his observances and queries.

'Nah. Never liked him. I just don't like the girl,' she lied.

Through the soft light, she could see Tom give her a grin.

'I'm glad then. I never really liked any of those two,' he informed her.

Katie felt a little annoyed again. He doesn't even know Lee, she thought. What does he have against him? But then again, Lee is a prick. I don't know why I'm defending him.
Whenever Lee found his way into her mind, Katie would feel just a little more depressed and her heart would beat faster. She shook the thoughts of him from her head. NO! I'm going to have a nice evening, without Lee, and that's final.
Katie was now resolved to not let thoughts of Lee ruin her evening with Tom. She grabbed Tom's hand and led him into the middle of the dance floor.

'Don't – you think we need a little – little rest?' Lee panted.

He was exhausted from dancing two hours straight with Patricia, who seemingly had unlimited bouts of energy and just did not stop dancing.

'No! We can't stop!' Patricia shrieked in delight, her hand tightly grasped around Lee.

He sighed. She was determined to keep dancing, so he might as well just dance until his legs snapped off so he would never have to dance with Patricia again.
The quick tempo Latin tune finally came to an end when the last note finally faded away. Lee let out a sigh of relief, and clutched his stomach. His muscles tensed when another song struck up. Lee groaned. What? Lord, help me!

'Oh my God! It's a slow dance song!' screeched Patricia in delight.

'Aggggh. At least it's slow,' moaned Lee, his stomach still aching.

Patricia clutched onto his shoulders with her deep red fingernails, digging them into his robes.

'I don't know how to slow dance…' lied Lee, pulling away from Patricia.

'Nonsense! Put your hands around here! There!' she said, slapping Lee's hands around her waist.

Oh great. This is JUST great. He thought petulantly to himself.
They danced without speaking for a few minutes, and Lee was more than grateful for the silence between them. But then, Patricia, feeling awkward of the silence, leapt on Lee and whispered fairly loudly, 'Kiss me!'
Before Lee could come up with an excuse, her lips had met his in a unnaturally strong force; she had practically toppled onto him. He didn't enjoy her kiss at all. It felt obnoxious – like as if she was annoying him with one of her stupid questions. She was really forceful, and almost sucked up his face. He desperately tried pulling away, but it only made her press her lips harder on his.

'Pfffrishaa!' Lee said, frantically pushing Patricia away.

A small crowd of people were around them now, watching them bemusedly. She finally let go, with a smirk on her face bigger than ever. He felt like heaving. Lee could still taste a repulsive savour in his mouth – what was it? It was so…Patricia.

'Excuse me,' he said thickly, his mouth tinging with the taste of Patricia. Lee bolted into the closest boys' bathroom he could find.

Unbeknownst to Lee, Katie had witnessed the entire kiss only a matter of feet away. Katie's fists slowly clenched and unclenched, her nails digging in deeper into her skin everytime. He…was…kissing…her. The thought replayed itself over and over again in her mind, despite her mind's protests. Katie's heart had just been shattered into a thousand pieces by the only boy who ever held it – and now it was too late to repair it. Katie had first expected herself to get mad over this when she was witnessing the kiss, but as the kiss deepened between the two she could feel her heart aching and tears stinging her eyes. There wasn't any hate in her heart that moment, it was just pain.

'Katie?' came the distant voice of Tom.

She refused to hear him. Tears were involuntarily rolling down her cheeks now, her eyes burning and her heart throbbing painfully. She detested the feeling surging and tormenting herself…why did she have to like Lee? Katie wiped her eyes, and darted out of the Hall back to the Gryffindor's Common Room, despite Tom's pleading calls.


A/N Yeah, I changed the summary a little cos I thought it was pretty important to know for the story. If when the story is set is confusing you, you're right to be confused. I finally decided that it happen's in their seventh year, but it's as if the Umbridge thing hadn't happened at all, and the Weasley twins end up graduating. Hope you don't mind!
Oh and I also wrote up the third chapter so fast because I was feeling bored and thought I'd write. This chapter's very long compared to the other ones too, so this should keep you going for a while until I post up the next chapter in a couple of days. Sigh. I don't really like this chapter, it's so long cos it's going nowhere, and I had no idea what I was doing.

Thanks for reviewing again, Eruaphadriel!

P.S Patricia's actually in the book, mentioned in the fifth, I think. There's no indication that she's blonde and gorgeous and in Gryffindor in the book, but I decided that she would be in my story.