Harry Potter and the Minister's Daughter
Based on the novels by J.K.Rowing.Written By:
Ana Almeida
Rated T
For language
All the characters, locations and general ideas belong to J.K. Rowling. I only own the plot of the story and the character named Any, and or anything you may not recognize .
" I like this chapter." said George
"Yes, but my favorite on is'Dealing with Prejudices'." said Fred
"Fred! You just gave away the name of the next chapter!" said Ana
"Oops, sorry."
The Upcoming Ball
Everyone began to leave the train. Any and Harry made their way toward their compartments. Only having time to get their stuff, they left the train separately.
" Where have you been mate?" asked Ron
" Never mind that now, or we're going to miss the carriages." said Hermione
The carriages were pulled by thestrals, horses that you can only see if you've seen death. Harry was still the only one who could see them between him, Ron, and Hermione.
Hogwarts was still looking the same. The sorting took place, then the headmaster, Dumbledore, made his usual speech before everybody ate. After eating the students made their way towards the common rooms.
" I can't believe we're sixth years." said Dean
" I know, wicked cool." said Seamus
" Hey, did you see Any? I barely recognised her. She looks unbelievable." said Lavender
" I guess she has more liberty to express herself now." said Parvati
" Yeah, but I never thought she was…" said Lavender
" Extremely dazzling." finished Dean
" Don't get your hopes up Dean. Everybody knows she's reserved for Harry." whispered Seamus
" Hey, did you forget I'm going out with Ginny?"
" Oh, right."
They came to a halt in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady.
" Hermione, what's the new password?" asked Parvati
" Crab without Grass." replied Hermione
The portrait swung forward.
" Ok, weirdest password yet." said Lavender
" Yeah, and its in English." said Katie Bell
" Move along, let the first years through." ordered Ron
After showing the first years their dormes, Ron and Hermione sat down with Harry on the chairs in the Common room. Harry told them why he never came back to the compartment. Ron's jaw dropped.
" You drove the train for 30 whole minutes without proffisional help?" asked Hermione with astonishment in every word.
" Yep." agreed Harry
" This is great." said Ron
" Its barbaric! Harry could've crashed, we could've crashed." said Hermione
" The driver knew what he was doing Hermione." said Ron
" His reason shows otherwise." said Hermione
" But still, we're here, aren't we? We didn't crash!" said Ron defensively
" Well, that is thanks to Any's hermione-ish skills." said Harry
" Yeah, good thing it accured to her to go with you." said Hermione
" What did you think of her, mate?" asked Ron
" I haven't thought about it yet." said Harry
" I think she's looking tremendously stunning. If I was you, I would hold on tight to her. I saw some guys checking her out." said Ron
" I don't know what you're talking about." said Harry turning red.
" Anyway, Dumbledore just told us that we're going to have a ball in about four weeks." informed Hermione
" What for?" asked Harry
" No reason at all. He's just in the mood for parties." said Ron
" However, only fourth years and up can attend. No exceptions." said Hermione
" And you must have a partner or you won't be allowed entrance."
" Great, just like the Yule Ball." said Harry sarcastically
" It will be fun, don't worrie." said Hermione as she got up from her seat. " Good night."
"G'night." said Harry and Ron
The first two weeks of school went well. The sixth years started their N.E.W.Ts classes. Dumbledore announced the upcoming ball. Everybody started to prepare themselves. Ron pulled up a great nerve and asked Hermione to go with him. To his surprise, she accepted. Harry was still struggling.
" I hope you're not thinking of asking Parvati again." said Ron with a grin.
" No, but she wouldn't accept anyways." said Harry
" True, well, I'm going downstairs to do corridor patrolling. Coming Hermione?"
" No, I don't really feel like it, you go ahead." said Hermione
Ron left.
" I better get a date fast or I won't be able to attend the ball." said Harry "I think I'll ask Luna Lovegood."
" Actually Harry, I know someone who hasn't got a date yet." said Hermione
" Who?"
" Any."
" Nobody asked her yet?" asked Harry looking stunned.
" A lot of guys did, but not the right one." said Hermione with an evil grin.
" And I suppose I'm the right one?"
" Come on Harry, everybody knows you two are nuts about each other. So ask her out and put a stop to this madness."
She got up and left.
Harry just stared at the fire thinking of Hermione's words. Had he been that obvious?
Any stepped in from the portrait hole. She was carrying a stack of books.
" Oh, hi Harry! I thought I'd catch up on some reading." she said after she noticed Harry.
" Let me help you with those." he said taking some of the books and putting them on the nearest table.
" Thanks."
She put the rest of the books on the said table, then she sat down and started reading. Harry sat back down also. It was after a few minutes that Any spoke again.
" You know… for everything."
" Huh? Oh, uh… It was my pleasure." said Harry, a bit awkwardly, after realizing what she meant.
" You saved me."
" Well, I knew what would've happened if you touched the flame."
" To tell you the truth, so did I, but at that moment all I wanted to do was die with my father." said Any as tears began to fill her eyes. " I was so stupid."
" You weren't. Everybody feels that way when they lose somebody they love. I know I did, after all you weren't the only one who lost someone special at the Ministry that day." said Harry trying not to remember what happened that day.
But he remembered so well. It was pain beyond pain. And it hadn't been any consolation watching Any cry. She, perhaps, had sufferd the most, because of the loss of her father. From the day after they came back from the Ministry until the end of term, you could've found her in the darkest room of Hogwarts lying on her side on the floor, crying. Nobody else had felt sorry for the loss of the Minister.
" I wonder what it would've been like if he had acted differently?"
" We wouldn't've suffered losses." said Harry
" You're right! At least we don't have Umbrigde anymore." said Any drying her tears and forcing a smile. " Did the writing on your hand disappear?"
" No, yours?"
" No, I guess we'll always be reminded of her."
She started reading again. Even crying she looked beautiful, Harry noticed. Then Hermione's words came to his mind again. It was now or never.
" Any, er… there's a ball coming and I was wondering if you would like to go with me?" asked Harry
" Oh, Harry, I would love to." said Any naturally
" Great, so I'll see you then."
" I dare say you will."
Harry got up and left. He felt so relieved. Happiness was filling inside him. He was going to the ball with Any by his side.
By dinner time everybody knew about it. Unnoticed by the two, Nearly-Headless Nick had heard every thing Any and Harry had said to eachother.
" Well done, mate." said Ron
" I swear I heard a second-year telling the other to pay up. Apparently they had bet whether you would take Any to the ball or not." said Hermione
" It's just a ball, it's not like we're going to declare ourselves in love and eventually get married." said Harry
" Do I sniff a bet?" asked Ron
" You need to get your nose checked." said Hermione
" Anyway, has anyone seen Ginny?"
Hermione's eyes widened.
" I'll be right back, I need to do something."
She left.
" Was that a yes?" Ron called after her. " Another mistery of hers."
" I thought you would be used to it by now." said Harry
" Yeah, well, I can't help feeling curious."
" I hear you."
In the second floor corridor…
" Ginny, there you are." said Hermione coming up to her.
" What do you want Hermione?"
" To talk to you, how come you didn't go to dinner?"
" I wasn't hungry."
" Ginny, is there something wrong?"
" Everything is wrong."
" Does it have to do with Harry?"
" Of course it does! I know you were probably the first one to find out about the fact that Harry is taking Any to the ball."
" Well, yeah, I was the one who suggested it to Harry."
" You did what? Hermione how could you do this to me? You know I like him." yelled Ginny
" But you're going out with somebody else, so I thought so should Harry." defended Hermione
" My relationship with Dean is a fakeout! The only thing Harry needs to do is snap his fingers and I'll be right there with him and…" Ginny was cut off by a noise made on the nearest staircase. " What was that?"
" It must've been Peeves."
" Anyway, I knew there was something going on between them, since last year. They didn't knew about it, but I did. I wasn't worried, because Cho was in the middle of everything and later on Sirius died, so Harry wouldn't have the head to think of any relationships. I figured how stupid I was when I realized that in the end of term, him and Any were spending a lot of time together. They were not judging each other by their grief. Instead they were helping each other cry. That's were the strongest love can give birth." explained Ginny
" Ginny, you're over reacting. It's just a ball. And if anything does happen, well, you'll just have to move on with your life."
" You don't get it do you? Nobody does." said Ginny as she walked away.
In the first floor, near the front doors…
" Hey, Any!" greeted a voice
" Oh, hi Colin." she replied
" I thought you might like one of these." said Colin passing Any a badge.
Written on the badge were the words: " Support the Harry Potter Fan Club,"
" Um, thanks."
" We (all the members) meet every Wednesday at 8 o'clock in the Room of Requirement, if you would like to join."
" I don't think so, Colin. Look, I got to go, bye."
Any walked out the front doors. She headed down towards the lake.
" Hey, there Any." said Hagrid
" 'llo."
" Somethin' troublin' yeh?"
" It's nothing."
" Heard yeh goin' to ter ball with Harry."
" Maybe not."
" Why?"
" It's just that people misinterpret what's happening between me and Harry."
" Which is…?"
" I don't know, I mean we're friends and we're going to a ball together, but since people heard about it, some don't want to talk to me anymore. And it's only been six hours since he asked me out."
" They're jus' jealous, ter whole bunch of them."
" That Ginny Weasley doesn't seem like she's playing."
" She's jus' angry, yeh know, she always liked Harry. He never really payed attention to her, though."
" You know, I wouldn't mind going through this if I was sure of what I feel for Harry, but right now I'm confused. Harry has been very nice to me and all, and I don't want to misunderstand his friendship."
" Any, I'm a close friend of Harry's and even if I'm not allowed to tell yeh this, he likes yeh. More then jus' a friend. His eyes sparkle when they see yeh. After all, it was him that asked you to the ball." said Hagrid
" Hagrid, but you do know that I lost most confidence about boys. I'm afraid to risk it again."
" The Malfoy case was bound to turn into pain. Yeh'll get over it soon enough. Harry is different, he will not disappoint you."
" You know what? You're totally right, Hagrid. I should give Harry a chance." said Any." I will go to the ball with him."
" Glad to hear that."
" See you later, and thanks."
She walked back to the castle, feeling a whole lot better.
Please read and Review, love Ana.
