The prank war continued.The twins had jioned James' side.Infact, most of the Weaslys had.Lily and Hermione had better pranks, but not as many of them.One night, Team J returned to 'base' very itchy.Of course, Harry was better, as Hermione had been the one to jynx him, because his mother refused.As it was nearing 9:00,(There were time limits.You could only prank someone from 9 am to 9 pm.)people started clearing out.Soon, Harry was left alone with his father.
"Dad, can I talk to you"
"Of course Harry.Whats wrong"
"Well, I think I have a good idea of who that woman from the Halloween Ball was,but if I go after her, the other Weaslys will rip my head off a few times."
"Oh boy.Ginny, right"
Harry nodded.
"Harry, I am not supossed to tell you this, but there is going to be another ball coming up.Dumbledore wanted it a surprise.I am not sure when.Why not just meet her there?"
Harry thought.It could work."Okay"
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Of course, no pranking on Christmas.Which came and went very quikly.Soon it was the last day and after nagging him to finnish packing, his mother suggested a quidittch game.Harry won of course, but barely because Ginny had taken the beater postion for a change and whaked one after him as he dived.Of course, it was aimed at James, but she said after the fact that if she ever wanted to be beater againg, to admitt her to Saint Mungo's.
One thing that everyone noticed, Ginny seemed to be acting a lot more shy around people, Harry in particular.She was turning to say good morning one time and bumped into the wall instead of the decemeter away door.Ron pulled Harry aside one day, to talk to him.
"Harry, be honest.Is there anything going on between you and my sister"
"What?Ron, no.You should know that you would be the first to know if something like that happened."Harry said.
Ron eyed him for a moment."Alright.But if anything ever does happen"
"You'll be the first to know"
Ron nodded."Come on.Where is the invisibility cloak?Lets watch Hermione fall into the portable swamp outside her door."
"We just had to do that before we went back to Hogwarts, didnt we"
"Of course"
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"Dont get hurt"
"Dont get caught"
"James"
"Sorry Lily"
"Dont bother the Slytherins"
"Remember that hex"
"JAMES"
"Sorry Lily, just dont want him to forget anything"
Harry sniggered as his father started itching."Good luck Dad"
The ride was fairly uneventful, except for Ron giving them all a nap about quiditch.The train ride was uneventful, except for an eating of chocolate frogs match between Ron and Dean, who came on behalf of the DA members asking about this year.Ron won, and Ginny screwed up her face in descust.Harry responed to a near sick Dean that with Dumbledores permission, it would be up and running.Hermione however, scoffed."This is your N.E.W.T year!You should both be studying!"she had said to a Ron who was busy throwing up(to much chocolate frogs because he had swallowed some whole, and they were litterally jumping in his stomach)and a Harry who was talking to Dean.So she then turned to Ginny to complian to, and found that Ginny had busyed herself helping her brother.So then she didnt have an outlet, and just started reading.
When the Slytherins entered the Great Hall, they were all wearing their hats.However, it didnt help the girls that much.Some, especially the ones that had attacked tehm on hte train,still had bright red and green hair, so they walked into laughter.
When Dumbledore got up, the laughter faded."This year, as I am sure at least one of you know, there shall be a Valentines Ball.The Halloween Ball lightened everyones spirits so much, that it shall become annual.However, I am going to ad a twist to the upcoming Ball.Everyone must be masked once again.Dont worry, you will get to take off your masks at midnight.(He responded to loud groans from the Griffindor table).Therefor, instead of on Valentines Day, the Hogsmead trip will be in two weeks.In other words, three days from the Ball.Thank you.Now you may eat."
That erupted in cheers from a certain table,(no one look at the Griffindors) and people (mainly boys) all started stuffing themselves.Harry nearly chocked on his pie to hear that Ron was already full.
Harry fell asleep after reporting to his parents, and, after his mom left, telling his father how he planned on using that hex.
The next morning, the only subject of conversation wasthe ball.Within Griffindor, it had become a fad to wear the same mask you did to the first ball.Harry was very happy about this.He would recognize the mask as soon as he saw it.
Later on, when Lily had nagged him to do his homework, he was very skillfully pretending to because the mirror was watching him.James and Sirius had stuffed their fists in thier mouths to stop them from laughing when Harry started to pretend to answer questions.Lily seemed to buy it though.However, when he had pretended to finish an assingment and she had asked him questions about advanced transfiguration, Harry only passed her little test because James was mouthing the answers behind her.
That night, Harry and Ron snuck down to the Potions room under the invisibility cloak and used 'that hex'.Oooh Snape would have fun tommorow.
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That morning, Ron and Harry went down to breakfast without Hermione, as she had taken to bugging them about exams every chance she got.They went into Potions about 1 minute late, as they had gotten playing chess.Of course, Harry had lost horribly.But that didnt change the fact he was late.
"Well, so nice of you two to join us.Take a seat, and 20 points from Griffindor.Now as I was saying before Potter and Weasly interupted, we will be mixing the Draught of Living Death today, and it is a very difficult Potion.The instructions are on the-"
He had stoped talking to see all the Griffindors holding back sniggers with all thier strength.They were looking at the blackboard.He turned to see something that made his face go red.Instead of the instructions, it was a message.
"Mr.Padfoot would like to take the opportunity to tell Snivelly that he is an ugly git"
"Mr.Prongs agrees with Mr.Padfoot, and adds that he once shrunk his couldron in the 3rd year because he did a shrinking solution wrong."
"Mr.Moony would like to say it was nice to hear of him with pink hair, and clucking like a chicken all day long"
"Mr.Padfoot would like to add some spice to this, saying that Snivelly,also known as Snape, is allergic to pepper.It makes his nose even bigger."
"Mr.Moony says, guys, we better stop here.Mrs.Prongs is coming"
"Mr.Padfoot would like to add, Snivelly, you better be nice to him, you know what Mrs.Prongs's temper can be like."
"Mr.Moony adds, she's here"
"Mr.Prongs adds, oh "
No matter how many times Snape tried to wipe the board, it wouldnt clean.It just got brighter and brighter.
"C-class dismissed.Get out of here"
The very second the Griffindors were out of hearing range, they were all congradulating Harry, as he had become the person everyone looked to when Snape or any Slytherins were pranked.Not to mention laughed themselves crazy.The best line was teh one about third year.That was one to tell Neville.
The hex Harry had used had to be transfered using the mirror as a relay.James,Sirius and Lupin had all been talking in real life.And they would all be very itchy in real life, and Harry would be grounded for a week in real life.But it was worth it.And since Snape was obviously afraid of Lily's temper, as any person with the slightest hint of brains would be, Harry wouldnt lose any points.
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By the end of the day, everyone in the school had heard of 'the blackboard incedent.'Now all the teachers had a sudden need for a Shrinking Solution, and had completely forgotten how to make one.Several people had snuck down to the kitchens to place a ton of pepper on Snapes food.Everyone except the Slytherins cheered when they learned that the next Potions class had been cancelled, due to Snape being in the Hospital Wing.
The ball was coming up, and everyone (mianly girls) was rushing around to get things ready 5 days in advance.Harry and Ron noticed that Hermione even seemed to take a break from studying to get ready.They cornered her about it, and found out that she had met someone at the first ball, and hoped to see him again.Harry couldnt help but notice that Ron looked downcast at the news.Ron looked slightly angry when he learned that Ginny was doing the same thing.
Many boys stayed away from Hogsmead because it was swarming with girls.They didnt want to go to the three broomsticks, so Harry, Ron and the other boys from thier dormitory to went to the kitchens for butterbeer.Apparently, Dean and Neville still hadnt found their 'mystery girls' but Seamus did.He had posted an ad, and Parvati came forward. Now they were dating.
Harry must admitt, he found himself hoping that his 'mystery girl' was Ginny.Of course, this wasnt known to Ron.
The day of the Ball the teachers didnt even try to get them to concentrate.They were set a few questions from the textbook, and got out early.The teachers did seem pleased that everyone was so happy.After lessons, the common room was a disaster.Girls were running around, trying to find their masks, and trying not to let any boys see them.McGonnagle came in and told the girls to stop taking showers, the hot water in the castle was extremely low.
Harry and Ron gave up trying to see which dormitory age their 'mystery girls' came from.Apparently the Griffindor girls had already assumed that this would happen, and came down all at once, in a pack.So, since the boys were gathered in the same way,hopefull of seeing the girls, even if they all had thier masks on.So it ended up all Griffindors arrived in the Great Hall at the same time, trying to squeeze through the doors.
Harry and Ron sat down at their own table, exactly like at Halloween.The houses separated, and boys and girls separated.The teachers shook thier heads in disspointment. Harry glanced over at the girls' table and saw his mystery girl talking to...Ron's mystery girl?He nudged Ron in the ribs, and pointed.However, ALMOST all thoughts of girls were erased when the food appeared.Harry felt nervous actually.In...3 1/2 hours he would see her.
Half an hour later, the food dissapeered and the teachers started hearding people.However, Harry didnt have to gather to much courage as he walked over to the mystery girl.
"Would you like to dance"
The girl smiled."I would love to"
To Harry, she was even more beuatifull than the first time he met her.However, he didnt have the courage to tell her this, so he just enjoyed dancing with her head on his shoulder.
They learned several things about each other.They both loved quiditch.They both hated Snape and most other Slytherins.They were just laughing at a joke that she made, when Dumbledore stood up.
"Now in about 20 minutes, you will remove your masks.Just a reminder"
Harry felt the girl tense.She was nervous too.
"Dont worry.I am probably more nervous than you"
"I doubt that"
"Well lets just enjoy this song"
"I couldnt agree more"
The large clock at the top of the Head table rang.Everyone stopped dancing to see it was signalling 1 minute to midnight.Harry had never felt more butterflies in his stomach.Ron looked the same way.
"Dont worry,I am pretty sure I like you, no matter who you are"
"Same here"
"Ah midnight.The end of something, the begining of something.Now please everyone, remove your masks."Dumbledore said, eyes twinkling.
Harry gulped.He glanced at the girl, and their eyes met.They both removed thier masks at the same time.
"Ginny"
"Harry"
They just stared at each other,untill Dumbledore stood and said,"I hope you all got surprises"
"Er..Ginny, Ron's going to kill me, but here goes.Would you like to come to Hogsmead with me on the next trip?"Harry said, before he realized he was saying it.
"S-sure.And Ron is not going to kill you.I will make sure of that."She said with a smile.
Harry smiled too.He couldnt believe he just said that, but he meant it.
"Just promise me one thing"
"Sure.What is it"
"Be yourself.I have seen boys that try and be someone they arent"
Harry was surprised."Yeah, okay.No problem"
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Ron did have to admitt, he was very surprised at his mystery girl.She was sruprised at him too.However, he was alone now, as she had run off in embarrassment.He was at the table, and looked to the dance floor, only to see something that made him have a heart attack.He saw his little sister,Ginny, with his best mate,Harry.Harry asked her something.Ron could tell by the inquisitive look on his face.And when Ginny answered with a smile, and something that looked suspisiously like 'sure', he knew that his best friend had just asked her out.They talked for a few minutes, and when Ginny stood on tiptoe and gave him a kiss on the cheek,Ron stocked off to the dormitory.There was only one test to see if he was okay for her.If he kept his promise about telling him.
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Harry returned to the common room alone, as Ginny had been pulled back by giggling friends.He was a little dissapointed about seeing Ron stock off to the dormitories.He had expressed his concerns to Ginny, who told Harry to tell him abuot them going out.And that Harry already has some 'brownie points' with Ron, the only Weasly left at Hogwarts to interrigate boyfriends.On his way back to the dorms, Harry had been pondering what he would say to Ron.
"Ron?You awake?"Harry said as he entered the dormitory.
"Yes"
"Er...listen Ron, it seems that Ginny was the girl I have been dancing with"
"I know"
"And I asked her out after we took off our masks"
"I know"
"And she said yes"
"I know"
"And I promissed that you'd be the first to know if something happened"
Ron turned around.Untill now, he had been talking with his back facing Harry."Good"
Now Harry was confused."Huh"
"You remembered the promise.Besides, I would rather have her dating you than someone else.Go ahead.I will convince the others that your okay for her."
"Um..thanks."Harry replied, as he climbed into bed.
"Oh yeah, and Harry?You do know that if you hurt her in any way, you'll have more to worry about than You-Know-Who"
"I dont plan on it"
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW that was sooooo sweet!Well, it doesnt really matter if you like romance in the chapters or not,because I have integrated it into the story line.R&RR&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R&R