"I'm doomed," Harry told Ron.

His best mate was half heartedly reading through his potion's book, eyes glancing up at Harry. "Why? You've got a date. You're past the hard part now."

"I don't know how to dance!" Once, Harry caught sight of a dancing segment on one of the shows that Aunt Petunia watched on the telly, but he was not going to be doing any of that .

Ron shrugged. "Neither do I."

"But you're not being forced to do it in front of everyone," Harry said miserably. "Professor McGonagall says I have to since I'm one of the Hogwarts champions."

"Beg her," Ron suggested. "Maybe if you say you'll do an extra essay she'll let you skip it."

"She won't," Harry sighed. "I've already tried begging. It won't work. She says I have to go." He sunk further in his chair. He was going to embarrass himself in front of the whole school. Malfoy was going to have a field day with this. Rita Skeeter, too, if she managed to find a way into the Great Hall that night. He could just picture the headline: Boy-Who-Lived Incapable of Not Stepping on His Date's Toes.

"Bugger," Ron muttered. "Guess you really have to."

Harry groaned. "I dunno what's worse; having to dance at all or having to dance in front of Malfoy. He's going to have a field day when he sees me."

"Why don't you just have someone teach you?" Ron suggested offhandedly.

"Who do I know that could teach me?" Harry retorted.

"Well," Ron got a strange look on his face. "I could always ask Percy, I suppose."

This made Harry sit up straighter. "Percy knows how to dance?"

"Yeah," Ron shrugged. "He taught himself when he was going to ask Penelope Clearwater out on a date. Bill helped him. M'sure he could teach you if you asked."

"You really think so?" It sounded far better than going off with the very limited amount of moves he knew-which was essentially none. "Isn't he busy with work? He's probably not got the time to teach me."

"Can't hurt to ask," Ron said. "I'll send him a letter tonight. He'll probably send one back by tomorrow." He took out some parchment and began to write. Harry stood watching over his shoulder.

Percy

Harry needs help learning to dance for the ball. Can you help him?

I'll owe you one

Your brother,

Ron

The next day, Harry and Ron were at breakfast. Hermione hadn't joined them; she told them she would be there in ten minutes, maybe less. Something about needing to go to the library for something related to the task. They were eating when the owls came through, dropping off the morning mail. Just as Ron had said, there came a response from Percy. Harry felt a jolt of hopefulness strike his stomach.

Ron,

I'd be happy to be help. Mr. Crouch has me very busy this week but I believe I'm free this weekend. How does Friday night look for Harry? I can come by then.

Your brother,

Percy

/

Harry was standing in the precise location in the corridor that Percy's second letter instructed him to do. He blew out a puff of air from his lips as he waited. He hoped Ron was right and that Percy knew what he was doing. Otherwise this was all for nothing and Harry would end up making himself look like a fool after all.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Percy was breathless as he sped walked up to him. "I completely apologize for my lack of punctuality. I should have sent a letter. Mr. Crouch-"

"It's alright," Harry cut in. "I haven't been waiting that long."

Percy had changed out of his working robes into something a bit more casual. "Right. Well. Follow me."

"To where?" Harry asked and was met with a look from the older boy.

"You'll find out," was the only thing that was said.

Harry, to his puzzlement, was taken to the seventh floor. Percy stood in front of a wall, eyes shut and then a door appeared. The red-head glanced both ways cautiously before he opened the door and went inside, gesturing for Harry to follow him.

"Well come on! Come quickly!"

Harry rushed in, stopping with surprise clouding his face. It was like a ballroom. He'd seen one before briefly. Back when he was with his relatives and they'd stopped at a hotel when Uncle Vernon tried getting away from the letters from Hogwarts that were being sent to Harry. They'd passed by it on the way to breakfast, but he hadn't thought much of it at the time.

It was all rather simple looking. A sleek floor. Lights that hung overhead. Two giant mirrors that were one on either side of the room. Harry blinked. "What is this place?"

"It's called the Room of Requirement," Percy responded. "This room transforms itself into whatever you may need at the moment. In our case, you need a ballroom."

"Wow," Harry murmured.

"It is impressive," Percy agreed.

"I never knew this here," Harry remarked.

"Not many do," Percy said, looking around. "Most people who find it the first time don't see it ever again."

Harry looked at him strangely. "How did you find it?'

There was a brief period of silence.

"Never mind that," Percy eventually said. He clasped his hands together. "Now. I do believe we should start our dance lesson."

"Yeah," Harry said. "I suppose so."

"Before we do-" Percy paused, "I am wondering and do pardon me for asking, but how exactly did you get chosen as a champion when you aren't even of age yet?" Percy asked curiously.

Harry shrugged helplessly. "I've no idea."

"Ron thought you'd put your name in yourself," Percy sounded unimpressed. Harry was more than a bit relieved. And slightly surprised. He'd expected to hear a lecture from him for it.

"You don't think I did?" Harry asked, trying to be casual about it.

Percy scoffed. "Of course not. Both of you clearly don't understand age lines. You can't get past one."

"Yeah well everyone else thinks I've done it," Harry scowled. "Or asked someone to put my name in for me."

"But you haven't," it wasn't a question. Percy already knew the answer.

"Of course not!" Harry exclaimed. "Why would I? I've been in enough danger already. No one seems to understand that."

"Perhaps they will eventually," Percy said as a way to console him. In his own Percy way, that is. It wasn't overly touchy feely; it was short and simple. Harry preferred that. "Think of it this way; Ron's come around, so why wouldn't anyone else?"

"I suppose you're right," Harry said.

"Mind telling my brothers and Ginny that?" Percy said dryly. Then, all kidding aside, he motioned for Harry to come closer. "Alright, let's not waste anymore time. Come here and we'll begin our lesson. Would you prefer music or no music?"

"Oh," Harry didn't know. "Er, no music, I suppose."

"Alright," and then Percy did something very strange. He got right in front of Harry with a nonplussed expression, putting his arms around his waist .

Harry froze, jerking back, looking quite alarmed. "What are you doing?"

Percy stared back with a quizzical look. "I believe I'm teaching you how to dance."

"Right but erm...you were-" Harry went red.

"How did you think I was going to teach you?" Percy's voice was curious, without any judgement. "It's a bit difficult to merely demonstrate without any participation. I thought you understood."

Harry was still uncomfortable. Somehow, he'd missed that part when Ron made his suggestion. "Well, I didn't, I guess."

"That's alright," Percy said patiently. "If you're still up for it, we can. I'll try to make this quick."

Harry inwardly weighed his options. Dancing with a bloke wasn't what he had in mind, especially when that bloke was his best mate's older brother. But he seemed to be the only one that was available to help him.

"Harry?" Percy was wondering what to do next.

"Let's do it," Harry exhaled. Awkwardly, he stepped in front of Percy, his cheeks reddening when he felt the older boy loop his arms back around his waist.

"Put your arms around my neck," Percy instructed.

It was a bit of a task to do. Percy was much taller than Harry was so he had to bend down somewhat which meant that their faces were closer than either of them-mostly Harry-were comfortable with.

"We'll start with a slow dance and then I'll show you how to do the waltz."

"Er, alright," Harry said and then asked with a bit of embarrassment, "You're not going to make me...well, lean on you, are you?"

"What, you mean like couples do when they dance?" Percy eyed him with amusement. "No. We'll skip that unless you'd like to. For practice, of course."

"No," Harry hurriedly said, not understanding that he was joking, making the older boy laugh. "Er, no offense, Percy, but I'd rather not."

"If you insist. Now, we'll start by gently swaying. Don't go too hard, you don't want your date to fall. Do it softly like this," Percy demonstrated. "And now follow my lead. We'll go through the steps."

The steps turned out to be much harder than Harry anticipated. He kept stumbling, nearly tripping over Percy's feet-or stepping on them- and more than once, hitting his face in the red-head's chest. He groaned in frustration. This was not how he thought this was going to go.

"No need to get worked up," Percy told him with a twinge of sympathy in his voice. "You'll get this soon enough."

"I suppose," Harry didn't think so.

"You've just got to slow your mind down and focus. What are you thinking about right now?"

"Err. The dance and homework I've got to do for Snape."

"There's your problem," Percy nodded. "Stop thinking about it. You're distracting yourself. As I said, you need to focus."

"How can I focus when I'm going to humiliate myself?" Harry scowled and let go.

He didn't like how Percy was studying him like that, like he was some ancient arithmancy problem he needed to figure out. "That's not all of it, is it?"

"What?" Harry was irritated.

"That's not all you're thinking about," Percy clarified.

"It's nothing."

"It's got to be something if it's distracting you."

"It doesn't matter," Harry was greatly annoyed now.

Percy shrugged. "Whatever you say. I was simply making an observation."

Harry blew air out from his nose. His nerves, everything he was feeling was starting to catch up to him. He didn't like it. "If only I'd asked her sooner! She might have said yes! Now she's going with Diggory, of all people!"

He stopped talking, feeling more than slightly foolish for going on a rant like he did. He dared to look up at Percy, inwardly grimacing, expecting a lecture to come out of this. Probably for having the audacity to waste his time when he had other things to do than listen to a fourteen year old complain.

But that didn't happen.

Percy looked like he... understood . "I see. That's quite unfortunate. And who is Diggory going with?"

"Cho Chang," Harry couldn't believe he was saying this to Percy .

"Ah. Yes, I remember her. Very good quidditch player."

"Yeah," Harry said gloomily. "Wish I wouldn't of waited. I'd rather go with her than Parvati."

"Patil?" Percy asked.

Harry nodded.

"Well, I'm sure she's a lovely girl."

"She's alright, I suppose," Harry sighed. "But she isn't Cho."

"No," Percy agreed. "But you should try to have fun regardless. At least you've got a date."

Percy was right. Which was not something Harry thought he'd say (or think, technically).

"Would it be a tad nosy of me to ask if Ron has a date? He wouldn't say anything about it."

"He's going with Padma," Harry said. "Her sister."

"Ah," Percy said. "And here I was thinking he was going to ask Hermione."

"He tried. But she's already going with someone," Harry said. "Dunno who. She wouldn't say."

"Oh, he did?" Percy, to Harry's surprise, had a sparkle of mischievousness in his eyes. It was a strange sight.

"Yeah," Harry said slowly. He couldn't understand why he was reacting like that.

"Interesting."

"Why is it interesting?" Harry was perplexed. "Ron had the right idea. Better to go with a friend than dateless." Even Malfoy had a date. That pug like girl Pansy Parkinson.

Percy's lips twitched. "Yes. A friend . I quite agree."

Harry blinked. He had no idea what all that was about. But it didn't matter, did it? "Err, can we get back to it? I still need to learn..."

The amusement vanished. Percy was back in his natural serious mode.

"Of course," he said. "Let's continue."

Harry pushed down the awkwardness he felt once again for being in Percy's arms, trying his hardest to concentrate on the instructions given to him. It went a bit smoother this time. Percy even praised him at the ending for he felt that Harry was picking things up quickly. Then it came time, as the red-head had promised, for him to learn the waltz. It was faster than the slow dancing, difficult too. Harry was, admittedly, impressed with Percy. He seemed to know his stuff, just like Ron said.

"There you go," Percy said encouragingly when Harry successfully performed the moves for a second time. "Brilliant. You've got it."

"You think so?" Harry was unsure.

"Oh, yes," Percy said confidently. "If you wish, we can practice a couple more times. I've got plenty of time."

"Err, okay."

/

Harry was nursing along a cup of punch when Percy approached him, dressed in his nice looking dress robes which were far better than Ron's. "Oh. Hi."

"Hello," Percy stopped beside him, eyes scanning the crowd with his arms folded across his chest. "You did well," he complimented.

"I stepped on her feet twice," Harry sighed.

"It could have been worse," Percy shrugged and then muttered, "You could have leaned too far forward and knocked her down and made her nose bleed."

Harry thought that was oddly specific.

"Did Hogwarts have a dance when you were here too?"

If so, it would have to have been before Harry got there.

"No," Percy said. "Penny and I were dancing once while on a date. We didn't have music but I hoped it was romantic enough she wouldn't care. I ended up embarrassing myself that night."

"Oh," Harry said.

"Yes, well, we're still together so I suppose it wasn't the worst thing to have occurred."

"Right."

Percy smiled warmly at him. "I'll let you get back to your evening. Have a great time, Harry."

"You too," Harry said. "And thanks, Percy for, you know, teaching me."

Percy grinned at him one last time before returning to the back of the Hall to engage in a conversation with Professor McGonagall.