Disclaimer: I own nothing, of course, except Hailey, some characters, and the plot.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long! New format!

Chapter Five

The Announcement

"Now, now, settle down." Dumbledore said to the Great Hall from his place at the staff table. Everybody fell silent. " I have a very important announcement.

"As most of you remember, Hogwarts held the annual Yule Ball just two tears ago. Now I think it is time that we hold another ball. Not, of course the Yule Ball, that only takes place during a Triwizard Tournament. A Winter Ball will be held in this very Hall."

"The Ball," Dumbledore continued, raising his voice. The conversations going on around the Hall stooped. "Is opened to everybody. Dates are not mandatory." Harry and Ron looked at each other, remembering the Yule Ball disaster. Padma and Parvati never really look at them same, anymore.

" The Winter Ball will be held at Seven o' Clock on December thirty-first. It will go right into the New Year, and ending at 12:30 a.m." Dumbledore declared. " But do not let me keep you away from this wonderful meal. Enjoy!"

Harry and Ron looked at each other. Another ball. Oh great.

xxx

A week passed and Harry had many volunteers that wanted to go to the dance with him. He turned them, though. He wanted only one person to go to the dance with him, Hailey.

But Harry had not seen Hailey since their last encounter in the Great Hall. He sometimes felt like she was avoiding him. But why would she?

It was about to get dark outside when a girl who thirteen years old approached Harry.

" Hey Harry!" She squealed in her high-pitched girlish voice.

"Hello Elizabeth." Harry replied dully, even though he felt dread. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, as that was the name she wanted him to call her, had cornered him six times in the past week. It was always the same question:

"Want to go to the ball with me?

"Elizabeth-"

"Lizzie"

"Right, Elizabeth. I've told you, what? Five times-

"Six."

"Six time, yeah, that I will not, under any circumstances, take you to the ball with me."

Elizabeth looked like she expected no more. She merely shrugged.

" Your mistake." She said pompously and walked off, her too-blonde hair waving in rhythm to her steps.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked, joining him.

"Nothing," Harry said." Just another mental girl."

Ron stopped in his tracks and looked over at Harry with a horrified look on his face.

"N-not Sarah?"

"No, Elizabeth or…" Harry put on a mocking girl pitched tone. "Lizzie."

"They're all mental.

Harry agreed. It seemed that all of the girls in Hogwarts were suddenly interested in him. All except one…

xxx

About two days and twenty-three girls later, Harry still didn't have a date. Every time a girl asked to go with him, Hailey popped into his mind, leaving a very confused girl behind. Harry didn't know why he liked her so much. Maybe it was those big blue eyes, or those cute freckles on her nose. Okay, so she was perfect. Or at least she was to Harry.

But the dance was soon and Harry knew he had no chance of asking Harry. He knew he didn't need a date, but would look like a loser without one.

"Ginny!" Harry exclaimed, seeing her familiar hair bobbing in the hallway. She looked up and shuffled toward him in a nervous way. Funny, that was the same behavior she had toward him when she, no, she couldn't. Hermione said Ginny was over him.

Relieving himself from his own thoughts, Harry remembered what he was supposed to be doing.

"Ginny, will you come to the ball with me? Harry asked. She was the only girl he knew that would make it a friendly ball to be at. Hermione would get mad, thinking Harry just thought her as back-up, Harry knew, remembering their fourth year.

Ginny looked startled but gleeful.

"Oh, what a surprise! Oh, um, of course, Harry, of course!"

Harry watched her red head disappear to the Great Hall. He would tell Ron later. Right now, he just wanted eat.

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