School was relatively quiet after the Love Potion incident, apart from the two defence teachers successfully changing the Marauder's robes into ballet outfits, complete with tiaras and fluffy slippers. Harry had been grimly happy to ensure that Peters was the frilliest. What was rather disturbing was that Sirius often wore his outfit at weekends, and paraded round in the common room, his tutu proudly bouncing

Harry and Ginny had introduced swordplay into their curriculum, and had stunned their classes into silence at their magnificent demonstration. Most students had been highly disappointed that even after several months' worth of sessions, they would pose no threat to someone with even one hundredth of either teachers skill.

"Right, listen up or I'll hex you!" Harry announced cheerfully at the end of his seventh year lesson. This was easily enough to silence the class, as they had all learned that he didn't make empty threats." Some person who I'm sure you all love very much has decided to arrange a Halloween dance for fourth years and up. For some twisted and unnatural reason, this same person has appointed Ginny and myself chaperones, to make sure you can all control your rampaging teenage hormones."

He smiled at their squirming embarrassment, and Sirius called out to him,

"What about your rampaging teenage hormones, Professor?"

Harry laughed.

"I sent my rampaging teenage hormones on a package tour of Tibet when I got the teaching job."

Ginny snorted.

"Wish I could say the same for some useless assistants who are sitting on my desk," said Harry meaningfully. Ginny stuck out her tongue.

"I rest my case. Now scram."

The class filed out, muttering excitedly. Harry called after them, "Oh, and the Head Boy and Girl are mandatory escorts!"

He stifled a laugh at the frustrated scream that emerged from Lily Evans' mouth. James Potter, however, looked like Christmas had come early, and it had brought Easter and the summer holidays along for the ride.

"Young love," Ginny commented dryly, pulling Harry down on the desk beside her and making a vague attempt to flatten his hair. Remus looked behind him at the two teachers as he left the room.

"I couldn't agree more," he muttered.

§

Harry glared into the mirror at the black shirt he was wearing for no particular reason, other than the dance in general irritated him. He'd never liked social functions, especially after Voldemort's defeat, when balls, parties, ceremonies and just about every other gathering you could think of had been given in his honour.

"Harr-ee!" Ginny called from the sitting room, "Stop scowling at your reflection and come on!"

"Bloody mind reader!" Harry muttered, shoving his feet quickly into the pair of black trainers that lay beside his bed.

Ginny smiled approvingly at his black jeans and shirt, but then glared at his black expression. She crossed the room and attacked his hair violently, muttering, "Have you never heard of gel, Potter?"

Harry pouted.

"Don't want to go to the nasty old dance!"

Ginny flicked him lightly on the nose.

"You're acting like a five year old. Come on!"

Harry reluctantly allowed himself to be dragged along the corridor, and noticed for the first time what Ginny was wearing. Black combats, and a black denim jacket with a flowing silver dragon embroidered on the back over a tight blood red satin top. Heavy jet earrings and a black crucifix on a silver chain completed her look. Her hair was pulled back in a matching red scrunchie, and her nails were painted a glittering black. She looked good.

"You look nice," he muttered, his feet scraping along the floor as Ginny pulled him along behind her.

Her head flicked round.

"Thanks. You don't look so dire yourself."

A voice floated along the corridor.

"I don't want to be killed by the nasty lady!"

"She won't kill you, Prongs, she's too much of a sucker for rules. She'll just think up a cruel and unusual torture for you."

"Like that makes me feel better!"

Harry could make out the sight of James being dragged down the corridor by his best friend in a similar manner to himself. The first thing he noted was that his future father looked as grumpy as he felt, and the second was that Sirius was still wearing his fairy costume. Ginny stopped abruptly.

"Nice outfit, Mr Black!" she called over to him. Sirius smiled happily.

"See? This nice lady likes my clothes. Some people actually appreciate good style!"

Ginny nodded, her earrings jangling.

""Oh, absolutely. I personally think mustard and magenta would do wonders for Harrykins' complexion," she sniffed, "but he sticks to that nasty old black. Very morbid."

"Very useful if you're spying or hiding," Harry interrupted. Ginny sighed.

"Harry, it's a school dance. In this scenario I cannot think of any eventuality when you will be spying on or hiding from Death Eaters."

"That's what I thought about the Third Task!" Harry snapped "Maybe you'd do well to remember that some things aren't as innocent asthey seem!" Ginny stiffened, thenshrugged, but they could all see Harry's curt response had hurt her. She bit her lip and Harry softened,

"Oh, Gods, Gin. I didn't mean..."

Ginny swallowed.

"It's nothing."

"Ginny, I…"

"It's nothing, OK?"

James and Sirius watched the exchange silently. Harry had obviously said something that had upset her, but what an earth could he have implied?

Some things aren't as innocent as they seem…

Shrugging, the two Marauders headed down to the Great Hall, leaving their two teachers behind.

"Ginny?" asked Harry gently. Ginny wiped away a tear rather violently and glowered at him.

"What?"

"I didn't mean to say that. I understand, really I do…"

Ginny pushed him away.

"You don't understand! I thought you understood but you don't, Tom!"

Her eyes widened in shock, and she fell limply against Harry, mumbling, "I'm sorry Harry. You aren't like him. You'll never be like him!"

Harry held her gently as she hugged him tight.

Ginny pulled herself together.

"C'mon," she muttered, wiping away another tear. "Let's go make sure those rampaging teenage hormones haven't broken out of their bodies!"