Posy in his Pocket
Part Four - Ministry Ball
The new Minister of Magic, while conniving and ruthless, could certainly tell a good joke, Harry mused and sipped at his drink. Next to him, Hermione had on her polite smile, through her eyes were dancing into between the political correctness and truism.
It hurt to watch her struggle between what was right and what was very funny, so Harry decided to save her, it was what he did best after all. "Dance with me, Hermione?"
She eagerly accepted, placing her hand in his as they gave back their empty wine glasses back to one of the hovering tray before it whished away. Hermione smiled as the music started up.
The Ministers (or sub ministers, cronies and hangers on) behind them started regaling themselves with more jokes, that were crude and rude. Harry couldn't remember why they had even entered the Minister's company. Harry avoided most government officials, reporters and... pretty much everyone except his friends. Then again... Harry looked at Hermione, she had probably wanted to ask a question.
"How is Neville going?" He asked her and she ducked her head as she tried to hide her laughter. As the recipient of an Order of Merlin, Neville was made to dance the first dance. His date had certainly mourned the lack of improvement since the Yule Ball, all women would, if Neville had not declined all dance partners, intent on blushing in the corner.
"Poor Neville, it's his night and he's stuck over there, lost in his embarrassment. One of us should ask him to dance," was what Hermione said, a regretful expression crossing her face.
Harry blinked, "I certainly don't want to dance with Neville, now that would be strange... Perhaps it would be better, if you asked him...?" Harry weakly muttered, ears pinkening.
"Jeebus, Harry, it's just Neville. You have to be nice to him." Hermione turned away and smiled, "Well, looks like you won't be dancing with Neville, he just got asked by none other than Luna Lovegood." The smile turned edgy, "So... Harry, how did your date go with Luna? I've had to rely on Lavender and her cousin, or friend, or something... "
Taking his eyes off where Luna was speaking eagerly with the blushing gently Neville as he slowly whirled his way around the dance floor, Harry answered, "Fine. We ate, we talked and we left."
Hermione pursed her lips but didn't comment, on his date anyway. "A slower dance suits him, Luna was right to ask him. Seems Neville knows the classics. I'm not surprised, with the age his grandmother is, she seems the type to make Neville learn the waltz."
"Stereotypes, Miss Granger? I shocked, simply shocked. To think the Hermione Granger would stoop so low, it shames me," said a voice from behind Harry.
With a small growl, Hermione seemed ready to kill, she restrained herself however, barely but. So all she said was a harshly muttered, "Bite me, Zabini."
"Miss Granger! The outrage, the shock, the horror! What would your parents being saying about such deplorable words spoken by such a young lady?" The tone, was very mocking, bitingly so.
"Oh, I dare say they would be pleased that I managed to draw blood. They're dentists, you see, Zabini and so my teeth are in very good condition," Hermione says airily.
Blaise Zabini laughs at her comment but, and Harry feels the urge to see an old classmate. Letting go of Hermine, he turns. The former Slytherin seems very amused at the whole matter.
"Ah, so this would be the Zabini that you had wanted to avoid, Hermione," Harry says shooting Hermione a wry glance, full of humour at the situation.
Hermione simply sends him an irritated glance but glares at the still smirking Zabini, "What do you want this time, Zabini? It's bad enough I have to deal with you at work, but please refrain from socializing with me. It's more than a trifle annoying, you've gotten tired quick. Begone with you!"
With a raised eyebrow, Zabini caught the out flung hand Hermione had waved at him and gently kissed her knuckles. "Only, m'dear, after a dance. It would be a pity to leave the evening without having you in my arms."
Noting that Hermione looked ready to strike, Harry backed away from the both of them. Hermione redirected her glare at him, and mouthed, 'Help me!'
Later, Harry would explain that he was hopeless at lip reading. It didn't help that he had to turn his back to hide the laughter that threatened to overcome him as he saw Hermione being swept into the arms of an immaculate Blaise Zabini.
"Ah, the mating cry of a human male. A beautiful thing, yes?"
Harry jumped into the air as a voice whispered close to his ear, he whirled around and stared point blank at a dreamy, tipsy Luna. She saluted him before drowning down her glass and smacking her lips in appreciation.
"Good stuff you know, but poisonous to goblins. Do you think that's why they didn't invite any? Otherwise, it would be awfully rude." She smiled slowly, lips still coated with a mixture of purple lipstick and wine.
"I didn't know... That you were there, Luna," Harry says weakly, rubbing the back of his head and grinning just as unsurely at her.
"Oh, yes. I've been taking stalking lessons from an old groupie. She says she had stalked Muggle band The Who, who I wondered were they?" Luna giggled.
"You've been taking stalking lessons...?" Harry laughed, just laughed at the thought of Luna stalking famous old rockers with an equally old fellow stalker.
Luna gave him a serious look, "It's a important matter, Harry, stalking is a part of daily life. Just yesterday I nearly caught sight of a pair of mating Gisslenods, I could see them... But I sneezed. Spring does that to my nose."
"Isn't stalking illegal? And it's just winter..."
"You should always know the laws and rules of society and when to break them, Harry, otherwise you'll just be running on a treadmill. Winter is a state of mind," she nods.
"Er, yes..." Silence lapsed at she stared at him intently, not saying a word. "So... dance went well with Neville? He seemed okay, happy I mean, erm..."
"Yes, he wanted to dance in a square, but I thought a rectangle would be nicer. Slide, hop, slide, hop... Wouldn't that be good? He insisted on a square, however, and I don't dance much."
"Would you like to dance now?" Harry nervously asked.
A blush covers the top of Luna's cheeks, "No, thank you, I'd rather talk Harry. Physical exercise is not my friend. I expect a Howler any day now," she looked at him wistfully, "It deplores of my broomstick riding. I just can't seem to get a good grip and Madam Hooch," Luna shrugged, "She gave up on me actually. I can hover good, but, the turning just escapes me as does most of the flying."
"Erm, if you don't want to dance. I'll teach you how to ride a broomstick. It's not that hard once you get used to it. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it."
"I'm sure that right now we would get in the way of the dancers, they would mind and would probably cause a scene. People are like that. But," she smiles softly at him, "I'd love to."
Harry finds himself grinning stupidly. "Well that's good, it's a pity you've never flown."
She gave him a sly look, "Yes, I've had much luck with broomstick riding, however a flying carpet can be quite fun, you can snack too, which is a pleasant feeling among the air currents."
"I thought that was illegal too..."
"It is, very much so. However in Bulgaria the laws are still behind the British ones, so owing a flying carpet is quite common, especially with young families and the invalid."
"You've been to Bulgaria?" Harry questioned, curious of her answer.
"Hmm," she whisked a wine glass from a bobbing tray and took a sip. "Time draws near to my departure... Harry, see you soon." She wandered off, still taking small tastes of her wine, in a meandering path.
"Another date Harry? You do move quick... Must be those Seeker skills, no?" Hermione asked from behind him and Harry resisted the urge to jump again.
"Do all women take stalking lessons, Hermione? Because you do have a habit of sneaking up behind me and startling me." Harry said as Hermione walked up to his side.
She smiled mysteriously and laughed. "You do say some of the most hilarious things Harry. Have you been drinking?" She sniffed, "I don't stalk, I..."
"Stalk?" Harry murmured, amused.
"Oh, all right!" Hermione giggled and Harry found himself joining in, abeit, he thought, ina manlier way.
AN: Thank you to the people who have read and reviewed. The next chapter after this one, will not come as quickly, so please enjoy chapter four!
BZ/HG seems to becoming a very nice subplot, they're not a major part of the story however. Remember, Harry and Luna are the focal characters, even if Luna has been remarkably absent from the chapters. I like the mystery Luna has at the moment, some her secrets and her past will be revealed in future characters...
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Harry Potter.
