Disclaimer – All of the characters belong to J.K. Rowling and are a product of her wonderful imagination and creativity. Well except for Jaden – she's a product of my imagination and limited creativity.

Dance With Me

The next couple days after the dance announcement were stressful for Ron and Harry. They could not walk to class or anywhere without girls coming up and talking to them, conveniently bringing up the dance.

"This is crazy!" Ron said running a hand through his hair after he and Harry had successfully managed to get out of a conversation about who was going with who to the dance with a bunch of Ravenclaw sixth years.

"I know!" Harry said shaking his head. "Why wasn't it that easy to find a date in fourth year?"

"Yeah! No Kidding!" Ron said with a laugh as he and Harry approached Potions class where Jaden and Hermione were waiting along with the rest of the class. Ever since the announcement of the dance Hermione had started to act differently around Ron. He noticed that she was always around him and would always find ways to touch him, even if it was just brushing up against him when she sat down for a meal. He wasn't sure if she was expecting him to ask her to the dance or not. He would constantly tell himself that the thought was ludicrous because she had broken up with him last year and there would be no way that she would just expect him to ask his ex-girlfriend, the girl who not only broke, but crushed his heart to the dance. However, ridiculous the thought may be it still seemed to linger in the back of Ron's mind.

Potions class was rather uneventful. Ron was still amazed at how much Snape seemed to like Jaden. He would just laugh and shake his head because there was no way that he was ever going to understand it. Potions class took up the entire morning so Ron, Harry, Hermione and Jaden headed right to the Great Hall for lunch afterwards.

"Miss McAllister, Mr. Potter may I please see you both in my office after dinner this evening," Professor McGonagall said as she approached Harry, Jaden, Hermione and Ron as they entered the Great Hall for lunch.

"Yes Professor," both Harry and Jaden said.

"I wonder what we did," Jaden said looking at Harry as they walked to the Gryffindor table.

"I have no idea," Harry said in response.

"Well there has to be something," Hermione said sitting down. "Professor McGonagall doesn't ask to see people in her office for no reason."

"Hermione's right," Ron said helping himself to the food sitting in front on him.

"I dunno," Jaden shrugged. "But I guess we will see tonight."

"I guess we will," Harry said giving her a worried look as he took a sip of his pumpkin juice.

After lunch they had Care of Magical Creatures, which always provide some excitement. The beginning of each class was always a craps shoot about what they would be studying that day. Today, Hagrid had decided, would be a good day to study Merpeople. The class had gathered around the lake as Hagrid interpreted the lesson being given by the King of the Merpeople.

"I'm still curious about what McGonagall wants to see you about," Ron said to Jaden as they walked in from Care of Magical Creatures. Harry and Hermione had stayed back to talk to Hagrid. Jaden and Ron had to go in and shower before dinner, since Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle thought that it would be funny to make Ron trip and fall in the mud. Jaden tried to keep him up, but she ended up in the mud right beside him.

"Yeah me too. I have no idea what it could be about," Jaden said thoughtfully. "I still can't believe that Draco is so immature to think that tripping you is funny. Maybe it would have been in 2nd grade," Jaden said in disgust as she looked down at her filthy robes.

"2nd grade?" Ron asked.

"Muggle school term, sorry."

"That's ok. Yeah I know, Malfoy's a jerk and that's all there is too it. I'm just sorry that you got taken down too. I really didn't mean to bring you down."

"Ron, don't worry about it. I'm just sorry that I couldn't keep you up. Maybe if you weren't so big I would have been able to," she said laughing.

"Well maybe if you weren't so small you could have. You need to gain some muscle there McAllister," Ron said laughing as he put his arm around her and pulled her in for a side hug. Jaden stopped laughing and put her arm around his waist. The two walked in silence into the school and towards Gryffindor Tower.

"Well don't you two make a cute couple," the Fat Lady said as they approached. Ron looked at Jaden who gave a half smile.

"We aren't a couple," Ron said almost regrettably to the Fat Lady.

"Oh I'm sorry. Password?"

"Broomstick," Ron said and the two of them climbed through the portrait hole.

"I can't wait to shower!" Jaden said as they entered the common room.

"I know me too," Ron said flicking some of the dried mud off of his robes. "Hey look, I'm sorry about what the Fat Lady said."

"Oh don't worry she just assumed by the way we were walking. It's cool," Jaden said looking up at him. "I'll meet you back here and we can walk to dinner together. Sound good?"

"Sounds great."

"I'll see you soon Ron," Jaden said as she bit her bottom lip and turned to walk up the stairs towards the girls dormitories.

"Hey Jaden!" Ron said as she was half way up.

"Yes?" She said turning to face him.

"Ummm I was just wondering if…," he started as he walked towards the stairs and leaned on the banister. "I was wondering if… you wanted to…"

"Wanted to what?" Jaden said encouragingly.

"If you want to go to the Hallowe'en Dance with me?" Ron blurted out in a hurry.

"Oh Ron I," Jaden started, but Ron cut her off.

"I know that Dumbledore just announced it the other day, but I learned the hard way in 4th year about asking someone at the last minute and I understand if you don't want to." Ron just kept on talking not listening to Jaden who was trying to answer his question. "Just say the word and we can act like I never asked. I just wanted to ask you before anyone else, because I know that other people want to go with you. Again I understand if you don't want to go with me I just figured that since we are both friends that it would be fun, but if you'd rather go with someone else I understand. I mean you might want to go with Harry, or Seamus or Dean or even Neville. Why would you want to go with me? I'm just the lanky red head kid. Ok I understand forget I asked."

"WHOA!" Jaden said finally getting his attention. "Calm down Ron. Don't worry I would love to go with you."

"Really?" He said with a smile.

"Yes really," she leaning in to give him a hug. "Besides I think that your red hair is sexy." She whispered into his ear as she hugged him. Ron's eyes bugged out of his head as he processed what Jaden had just said. Jaden laughed and walked up the stairs to go and shower.

"I'll see you after you shower," she said as Ron watched her retreating form. It was Harry and Hermione's entrance that broke his concentration away from the stairway.

Title Song – Dance with Me by 112