Hey people! Thanks for still reading. So sorry about the delay…damn net crashes! Then I moved and lost my access! It sucks! This is the final chapter but there's going to be a sequel out called "Loser's Day Parade." Chapter 3 does not reflect my winning because I never went out with Kyle because the jackass ditched me...on stage. Anyway, I've talked enough. Here's the end.

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Chapter Three- The Date and the Aftermath

Alison stood on the stage stupefied. She thought she might die as she walked off of the steps and over to Harry. She shook hands with Margaret and everyone was applauding and cheering. Harry pulled her into a hug and thanked her for playing. She felt like she was in a dream. They walked over to the winner's circle hand-in-hand. "Hi, I'm Harry. It's nice to meet you," he introduced himself as they sat down. He stuck out his hand for her to shake. "I'm Alison," she said and he nodded. "I know, Hermione was telling me about you. I think we met once before." She smiled at him and whispered barely audibly, "thanks for choosing me. I was pretty surprised." He looked a bit shocked. "Why were you surprised?" She giggled nervously. "I don't really know. I've never won anything before and I've never been on a date before so it's a bit of a double anxiety." The shocked expression hadn't faded. "Why haven't you ever been on a date before? You seem really cool and you're totally pretty." They each blushed at this comment. "You really think so?" She asked cautiously as Colin took the last picture. He nodded. "Hey, I'll see you tonight, alright? Meet me in the Great Hall in two hours." Her heart did a back flip and her stomach threatened the same. "Okay, see you then." She got up and he hugged her again.

Alison didn't even wait for her friends after the game. She had so much to do to get ready for the date that she didn't even realize Cora and Vic come in the room. "I think she's forgotten our existence, Cora, me dear! Oi, Alison, do you reckon you'll throw up on him? Didn't you say you had a dream like that?" Alison walked out to him and rolled her eyes, "Thanks for reminding me, git! Now I'll have to worry about that as well! You really have no tact…and to think I thought it got better with homos!" She stormed back into her closet to pick her outfit.

Meanwhile, in the Gryffindor common room, Harry sat talking with Hermione and Ron. "She's really pretty but she's a…well she doesn't have any self confidence." Harry said, weighing his words carefully. Hermione smiled, "well, you've finally picked up on something! It's amazing! Neville, the pools up! The official winner of the 'who will gain insight first between Harry Potter and Ron Weasley' is Harry Potter!" Hermione squealed with laughter and Neville, looking up from his boyfriend Seamus' chest, giggled along with her. Harry blushed and Ron looked away. "Anyway, Harry, yes, she's very self conscious but I think it's only because of the ridicule she goes through. Pansy Parkinson's always got her riled up. Evil girl! It's really sad too because I know Alison and I think she's a sweetie." Hermione said in a slightly sad voice.

Harry's ears perked up. "That's right! You know her! Tell me more about her so I don't have to be clueless." At this, Neville looked up, "You? Clueless? Well I never would have guessed it!" He said sarcastically. "Well, I suppose she's just like any other girl. She likes Quidditch and chess and classes. She collects chocolate frog cards and loves every flavored beans. She's a prefect and she's really into you. Is that enough information for you?" Harry smiled with relief and Hermione's ever present knowledge of all things…ever.

At last, it was time for the date. Harry had talked to Hermione more about Alison and Alison had gotten away from her friends and her thoughts of vomiting on Harry. They met in the doorway to the great hall at 5:30. Harry was very happy to see that she looked a bit calmer and more confident. Alison was happy to see that Harry hadn't decided to ditch her. "Good evening, Alison. It's wonderful to see you again." Harry offered his arm to his blushing date. "It's wonderful to see you again, too." She smiled as she took his arm. "I was thinking we could go to Hogsmeade. There's a really nice little restaurant near the Shrieking Shack." Alison looked at him warily. "That place it supposed to be really haunted. I don't know if I want to go near it." Harry laughed congenially. "Don't worry about it, it's all rumors. I've been in there before." She relaxed a bit. "I trust you." They both smiled and started their date.

At dinner, they ordered their meals and got to chatting. "So, what's your story? I'm sure you know all about me." Harry asked, placing a hand on his chest. She cast a sidelong glance at his gesture but told him anyway. "I'm a Ravenclaw fifth year, I'm a prefect, I have an older brother in Slytherin, and my favorite class is Potions." He almost choked on his tea. "You actually like potions? You can manage Snape?" She giggled. "That's what happens when you have a brother in Slytherin." Harry nodded in understanding. "Who is your brother anyway?" She twirled a strand of her hair and bit her lip. She knew Harry and her brother didn't get along. "Blaise Zabini," she said uncertainly. Harry looked surprised but he didn't say anything. She seemed too nice to be related to Blaise but he realized they probably had a good relationship and he didn't want to offend her. Alison was thankful he didn't mention it. She spent the rest of the evening listening to Harry talk about himself. Not that she would have said much anyway, but now she understood all of Blaise's warnings. She wanted the date to be over.

When Harry got back to Gryffindor tower, he looked at Hermione in a very confused manner. "Tell me you let her speak, Harry, please don't tell me you messed it up." He shook his head at his friend. "I don't know what I did. I thought I should make some sort of converstation because she was being so quiet. She looked nervous and I felt it. I'm really interested in her but I fucked it up royally." Hermione slapped her forehead. "Oh, Harry, you need so much work. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with you. I'm so lucky my boyfriend knows what he's doing." He sent her a quizical look. "You have a boyfriend? Who? Since when?" She smiled bemusedly. "His name is Goran, we met in Rome last summer and he is a serious violinist." Harry was dumbstruck. "Anyways, my active lovelife with Goran is not the issue at hand. I think you should write Alison an apology note and ask her if she wants to meet you again, in a public setting. That way I can be there to help mutual conversation arise and then we can leave." Again he marveled at the wonder that was Hermione's brain.

The next day, Harry and Hermione worked on a note to send Alison. When she recieved it she shook her head. "Oh, the nerve of that boy! Of all the things to do, to assume the position of the sorry before I even yell at him. He's better at the guilt trip thing than I would have guessed." Vic looked over at her with a silly smirk on his face. "You know, that adds to the homo thing...good guilt tripping, vanity, complete lack of interest in the pretty girl in front of him. I have to say it again...he's GAY Alison!" She threw her hands up in the air and ran out of the room. "I don't need your crap right now, Vic, it's really not necessary." She went into her room to reply to his note. She'd agree to meet with him only to see if things got better. In the meantime, she thoguht she'd talk to Blaise about it.

"Hey, flamer, you busy?" She walked into the Slytherin common room to find her brother lounged on a green velvet chez near Draco. The two boys looked up at her and smiled. "Alison, sweetheart, it's great to see you. Come sit near me." Draco shot her a sly grin and she extended her hand for him to kiss. She sat next to him and draped her arm and head on his shoulder. "I just wanted to let you know how awfully my date with Harry went. He only talked about himself and I had never been more offended than when he insulted Professor Snape." Draco grimmaced and Blaise shook his head. In unison, they answered her. "Could have told you that would happen. Potter is a no good super hero wannabe with nothing better to do than gloat about himself and waste the time of decent people like us." They looked at each other and Alison cracked laughing.

Draco kissed her cheek. "Cheer up, cupcake, I've told you for years that Potter was rotten. It's too bad the others fell into his crowd though, Granger is really cute, and don't you dare tell anyone I said that about her...and Weasley, despite his family's poverty, is a good guy and he knows how to treat people." Blaise nodded in agreement. "Knows his place, he does." Alison looked like the sky was falling. "What the hell has gotten into you boys? Defending Gryffindors. You'd think you were the Ravenclaws." They smiled at her. "We do have souls you know, we're not evil... all the time... and we're awesome judges of character." Draco and Blaise quirked their eyebrows at her and she smiled. "Thanks big brother...boy who never leaves big brother alone long enough not to be called my other big brother...I have to go to another dinner to see what kind of mess Harry makes tonight." She left and the boys sat trying to figure out what she had said.

Alison entered the Great Hall and approached the Gryffindor table cautiously. Hermione saw her and waved her down. She took a seat between Hermione and Ron and across from Harry. She smiled to everyone and opened a small blue leather book next to Hermione. She wrote something on it's first page and the ink disappeared. Hermione noticed and took out a quill to respond. 'This date should go better than last night's. I talked to him about it and he was really sorry.' Alison read the note and rolled her eyes. She replied in the book while listening to Harry ramble. 'He doesn't even notice that I'm not paying attention. I don't want to date him with you mouthing everything he says like some sort of sick Cyrano. I want someone who knows what to do on their own.' Hermione nodded. She understood where Alison was coming from. She smiled to herself at how perfect Goran was and started to eat her dinner.

Alison actually talked to Harry a bit more. They talked about Quidditch and classes and what they were doing for the holidays. Ron jumped into the conversation a while later and Harry was clueless to the fact that his best friend was flirting with his new crush. Ron was quite the charmer and Alison found herself falling for him. "So, Alison, who's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked interestedly. She remembered what Blaise and Draco had said and that made her feel a lot better about everything. "I'm a fan of the Cannons. Good colors, good players. I've seen them a few times but I'd rather be playing," she responded, noticign Harry trying to get her attention. She took the quill and little blue book out again. 'Ron, I think you're a total sweetie. Harry's a bit self-centered. You seem more down to earth...I like that.' She showed the page to Ron before the writing disappeared. She handed him the quill to reply with. 'Alison, I think you seem really sweet, too. Sorry about Harry, he really is a good guy but he just doesn't know when to shut up. You guys will make a great couple once he comes around.'

Alison shook her head and took the quill back, ignoring Harry completely. 'I don't want to date Harry.' Ron looked dumbfounded and Harry looked up when he realized that nobody was paying attention to him. Ron and Alison were wrapped up in their own world and Hermione was watching them with interest. Alison caught Ron's eyes and didn't let her gaze falter. "I don't want to date Harry because I would rather date you." Everyone at the Gryffindor table looked up and gasped. Harry stormed away from the table back to the common room and slammed the door. The others were left dumbstruck at the table. Ron jumped up and ran after Harry. Hermione and Alison looked at each other and sighed then went to follow after Ron and Harry.

The common room was empty but for the three winded and frustrated Gryffindors and the tear-stained, embarrassed Ravenclaw. "Alison, you were supposed to get with me. I'm the crush remember? And making a big scene like that...I would think you were a Slytherin!" Harry shouted. Alison scoffed, "If being a Slytherin means not standing for idiotic self-worship and knowing when something just isn't meant to be than I'd damn well rather be a Slytherin than anywhere near you! And, by the way, I made a scene? Who stormed out? Who started screaming? That, Harry my dear, was you." Hermione stood up and came between her friends. "You both need to calm down. We can talk about this like reasonable people, without coming to insults or blows," she said calmly. "Bullshit, Hermione! This was supposed to be my date. Ron's always tried to get in on my luck..." Ron cut him off right there. "Excuse me? What luck? I'd say you're famous because of being cursed. I have never wanted any of your glory, in fact, I'm usually perfectly content to be happy for you and support you...why can't you be happy for me for once?" He asked, sincerely and hurt. Harry sighed, "because, Ron, you're like my sidekick. I'm not really used to..." "not used to not getting your way," Alison interjected. Harry looked away from Ron's stricken face. "Is that all I am to you? A bloody sidekick? Well I don't need this," he said through tears, "seven years of friendship and that's all I am to you. Fuck you." He walked up the stairs silently, followed by a glowering Alison.

Hermione stared incredulously at Harry. "I can't say that I'm pleased with you right now, Harry, but you need someone to stay with you," she said and sat beside him. "Did you mean all of that? Do you really consider Ron your sidekick?" She asked him softly. "Honestly, Hermione, I don't know. I'm so stupid sometimes. I'm jealous, really. I wanted her to like me...she said she'd had a crush on me and then it's like, 'nope, sorry, on second thought, I'm not interested in you, but you're best mate is cute' and I didn't know what to think. It was rash, I know, and I really didn't mean to hurt Ron," he said, turning his head, "but there's nothing I can do now." Hermione pulled him into a hug, "There is something you can do. Apologize to him when he comes down later, then leave him alone until he's ready to approach you. As for Alison, she'd never dated, you're cute and popular, and she knows how nice you are. Sometimes, though, things don't work out how you envisioned. Be happy that she found Ron, who seems to like her, too.," she said, brushing his hair out of his eyes, "they'll come around eventually." Harry sighed, "I hope so. Thanks for sticking by me, Hermione. You really are a great friend."

Upstairs in the boy's dorm, Ron shoved his head into a pillow, sobs echoing up. "I can't believe he said that. I wonder if he really meant that. I've had some harsh insults slung my way...but that...my best friend...he's worse than Malfoy ever was to me," he cried. Alison sat at the side of his bed and ran her hand up his back sympathetically. "I'm sure he didn't mean it, Ron. He's used to getting everything he wants now. He's become arrogant. Maybe after this resolves itself, he'll have his right head back," she murmered consolingly. Ron looked up, "you think it'll all just blow over? I don't know if I can ever forgive him for saying that to me. He knows I'm sensitive enough about that subject. I won't go crawling back because I'm not wrong and I didn't do anything wrong," he said, drying his eyes. Alison nodded, "you're absolutely right. He needs to realize what he's done and what he put in jeopardy by speaking so rashly. If he tries to apologize, I think you ought to hear him out, but then if you need time, take all of it you need. If he's really your friend, he'll wait." He looked up at her in disbelief, "you don't even care about what he said to you? He acted like he owned you. Doesn't that bother you?" She shook her head, "I don't let petty words of angry people get to me. It's a trick you pick up with...parents like mine. Besides, I already told you that I like you, and it bothered me more to see you upset." He smiled up at her and kissed her softly on the lips. "Do you really think we can all work it out, Alison?" he inquired. "Of course. With Hermione and I working as mediators, we can solve almost anything." He kissed her again, fully trusting in her abilities to help.

Fin!- A/N It's been almost a year since I started this story... so sorry about the delay... hope you read the sequel!- Teagan G.