Disclaimer: I don't own and Harry Potter and all that jazz.

---------------Chapter 17: The Ball

The next two weeks went surprisingly well. With the euphoria of the upcoming ball filled the air. Harry had apologized, so Ginny was no longer giving him the silent treatment. Although he and Ron were still upset about her being friends with Draco; they held their tongues. Ginny was quite excited, not just about the ball, but about Christmas in general. Christmas was her favorite holiday.

Christmas morning she woke up very early, before any of her dorm mates. She decided to take all her present down to open them in the common room, since she could sit in front of the fire and no one would be down there. She settled into the carpet in front of the fire and dug into her presents.

Ginny was not alone for more than two minutes. As she finished unwrapping her annual Weasley sweater, Colin came down from his dormitory. Apparently, he had the same idea she did.

"Happy Christmas!" beamed Colin as he settled himself down next to her digging into his presents.

"Happy Christmas. Oh, thanks for the photo album, Colin!" said Ginny excitedly as she flipped through it. Colin was a very good photographer.

"Your welcome! Thanks for the book!" replied Colin fingering through a photography book.

As they finished opening their presents, Ginny had two surprises. Harry had gotten her a bracelet. He had never given her a Christmas present before. Draco had also given her a present. He had given her an extensive book of hexes. Inside it has an envelope. The envelope contained a necklace and a note:

Happy Christmas. This book will be confiscated if it is used on me.

--Draco Malfoy

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Draco woke to the noise of crinkling paper. He sat up, remembering it was Christmas.

"Happy Christmas, Drakie," grinned Blaise. Draco just threw his pillow at him and then started into his presents.

"Thanks for the broom kit, Blaise. And a Happy Christmas to you, too."

"Welcome, thanks for the great watch."

Draco came to a particularly cheerily wrapped present. It was neon red and green, not the type of wrapping he normally had. Inside were two books, one titled 3,001 Snappy Comebacks and the other was an in-depth book about dragons. Draco actually smiled, the first one made him laugh and the second one was on a subject he was really interested in. He just wondered how she knew.

Draco felt suddenly extremely guilty. He was planning on betraying Ginny, someone who obviously cared about him and trusted him. Someone who he might care for himself. No, I mustn't think like that. Draco shook his head. He had to just do it.

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The rest of the day passed too quickly for Ginny. Before she knew it, the snowball fights and games were over (she, Colin and Neville had beat Harry, Ron and Hermoine). Sometime before the ball even started, Hermoine dragged Ginny off to get ready. For Ginny, it was really odd having Hermoine talk and be particularly friendly to her, but she wasn't about to complain.

A while later they were both ready, Ginny in her green dress robes and Hermoine in her light blue ones. They walked down to the common room to meet Colin, Harry, Ron and Neville. Ron and Hermoine were going together as friends, Neville was going with Hannah Abbot of Hufflepuff, and Harry (not for lack of invitations) did not have a date.

"Wow, you guy look great," said Colin, who was dressed in unique burgundy robes and a black top hat. Harry, Ron and Neville all nodded in agreement, all a bit to stunned to talk.

"Thanks," said Ginny. "Same with you guys. I like the top hat."

With that, they all headed down towards the Great Hall. Once there, Neville departed to find Hannah and the rest went to find a table. The Hall was decorated beautifully, with great Christmas trees and soft snow falling, but never touching anything. Everything was encircled by a golden glow.

A couple tables away Ginny saw Draco, looking stunning, with his date Elise Bole. A shot of jealousy went through Ginny, but she shoved it off. Instead she turned and engaged Colin in conversation. Soon golden plates appeared in front of them and they ordered their food.

"Colin, what's that?" asked Ginny looking at his plate apprehensively.

"It's a pancake...encrusted with candy," he grinned.

"Interesting," said Ginny going back to her pasta.

Soon enough, it was time to dance. She and Colin were most easily the most eccentric dancers there, but eccentric in a good way. Ginny was happy about this, because it gave her a distraction from the pang in her stomach every time she saw Draco and Elise.

"May I cut in?" asked Harry, having escaped the flock of girls trying to ask him to dance.

"Well, I don't know. Do you mind if I go dance with Harry, Ginny?" joked Colin who was currently enjoy a most excellent sugar rush.

"Of course I don't," smiled Ginny. Harry laughed.

"I am sorry Colin, but I meant this lovely lady," said Harry gesturing to Ginny.

"Hey, who are you calling a lady?" smiled Ginny, accepting Harry's hand, as Colin went and danced with Lavender Brown.

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Harry could barely contain his glee as he danced with Ginny. He could not even take his eyes off her; she looked beautiful. Yet, in all his happiness, Harry noticed that she looked a bit distracted.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"What? Oh no, nothing is wrong," Ginny replied.

"Are you sure? You seem a bit distracted."

"I do? I am sorry."

"That's alright. Listen, there has been something I've been wanting to tell you—" Harry cut off; Ron and Hermoine had just walked up.

"Are you guys having a good time?" asked Ron.

"Yep," replied Ginny and Harry.

"How about you two?" smiled Harry, knowing that it was about time that his friends got together, although they had went to the ball as friends.

"We are just great," said Hermoine.

"I am going to go get something to drink," said Ginny. "Oh, Harry there was something you wanted to tell me?" Harry felt himself go a bit red. He urged his brain to think of something, and think of it fast.

"Oh, I just wanted to congratulate you on having the best grade in Potions," Harry said quickly, hoping that his blush wasn't noticeable.

"Thanks, Harry," Ginny smiled. "I will see you guys later."

Harry inwardly sighed. At this rate, he would never get to tell her.

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A/N: Thank you to everyone reading! A special thank you my reviewers: SonMina, louey31, and ice princess grl! I know not much happened in this chapter, but we nearing an end. The next few chapters will be very important.

----Perplexity