A/N:Hey, everyone! Please remember to leave a review for this story! Also, I have some news! I have started a Spider-Man: Homecoming fic, which I have posted on here. So, if you like Spider-Man, please go and check it out!

It's called, 'Spider-Who?' By brooklynvtc. Here is the summary: "Set after Spider-Man:Homecoming; While out on patrol, Peter gets into an accident that leaves him helpless in an alleyway. What happens when a certain red-head finds him, and quickly realizes that The Amazing Spider-Man doesn't even remember who he is? *Amnesia* *Slow-burn romance*"

Please go and check it out and leave a review! :)

.

.

.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

.

.

.

Harry was leaning against one of the chairs by the fireplace in the common room. Next to him were both Ron and Neville as they chatted about what the ball was going to be like this time around. They had all already changed for the occasion and had been waiting in the common room, passing by the time, ever since. Ron was wearing his orange bowtie with his black dress robes. The orange color clashed with his hair, but was a significant step-up to his ensemble the last time around for the Yule Ball.

Harry had even made a special effort on his hair… using some of the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion that Hermione had handed to him earlier with a very pointed look. Harry had taken the hint and gave the potion a chance, and he had to admit… it worked miracles. It had taken a while to work all of the potion into every strand of his hair, but the results were well worth it. It had caused his hair to not stick up in random and odd directions… and allowed him to push it back so that it looked sleek but with just enough fluff that made him look, well, debonair - as Hermione would describe it.

"This time around for the ball will likely be better for all of us," Neville commented, conversationally, as they waited. "I won't have to worry about stepping on Luna's feet this time, because she'll likely be standing on my feet as we dance, anyways."

Harry couldn't help snickering at that. "Yeah, I remember noticing Ginny wince a lot as you stepped on her toes while dancing at the Yule Ball."

Neville flushed at the friendly jibe, his eyes looking pointedly down at his shoes as he scratched the back of his head. Ron grinned at Harry and nudged his arm lightly with his elbow. "Noticed her even back then, huh, mate?"

Harry shook his head with a regretful sigh. "Not as much as I should have, to be honest. But I still noticed her. Not in the romantic sense, back then, but… you know."
He really wished that he could go back in time and shake some sense into his younger self… just so that they could have both wasted less time. But he doubted that his younger self would listen to reason, he had been so dense…

Ron nodded, before he sighed. "Well, I'd better go. I told Susan Bones that I would meet her downstairs outside of the great hall." He turned to Harry and clapped him on the shoulder. "See you down there, mate."

Harry smiled slightly and waved a hand at him as Ron walked across the common room and out of the portrait door. Leaving both Harry and Neville alone.

As they waited, they chatted conversationally about the D.A. and how it was going so far. Harry could tell that Neville was proud of being a part of the group since its formation and being there as it grew.

"I still have my coin from last year!" Neville told him, excitedly. "I hope to Merlin that I don't lose it. That's something that I want to keep to show-"

"Bloody hell…"

Neville stopped with what he was saying mid-sentence as they both turned to the person who had interrupted him.

It was Collin. He was standing halfway down the boy's stairs, frozen, as he stared at Harry with a look of both shock and appreciation.

Redness immediately overcame Harry's pale cheeks, as he tried to look anywhere except for at his girlfriend's best mate…

"H-Hey, Collin…" Harry forced out, as one of his hands came up to scratch at the back of his neck. "Are you excited about tonight? I know that Ginny is glad that you agreed to go with her."

Collin merely gaped at him, a fact that caused Harry to twitch in discomfort.

"You alright there, Collin?" Neville asked, concerned for the younger boy as he looked from in-between Collin and Harry.

This seemed to finally snap Collin out of his trance, and his cheeks pinkened at having been caught staring. "Y-Yeah… Sorry, I'm just… wow."

Collin shook his head, seeming to get rid of any remaining cobwebs, before he looked up again at Harry and smiled shyly. "You do something different with your hair, Harry?"

Harry swallowed, trying to quell the discomfort he felt in favour of making everything seem normal, as per usual. "Yeah, actually. Hermione forced me to try some of her Sleekeazy's Hair Potion."

Tilting his head slightly, Collin nodded. His eyes roving over Harry's appearance without an ounce of subtlety. "Well… You should think about using it more often. I mean, I love the messy, bed hair look you usually have, but this…? Well, damn…"

Harry flushed under the praise, not quite knowing how to respond. It was true that Harry thought that his hair looked better this way, as well, but he also knew that it took too long to work the potion into his thick strands of hair. For that reason alone, he understood why Hermione only used it for special occasions.

As Collin continued to check him out, the fifth-year boy suddenly brightened with an idea. "I'm going to go get my camera!"

Collin turned, running back up the stairs to the boy's dormitories, to go fetch it.

Harry groaned out loud. "Not that bloody camera, again…!" Harry stressed, much to Neville's obvious amusement. "I swear, that if he asks me to pose again, like he did years ago, I'll-"

A slight coughing noise interrupted Harry's rant. His eyes snapped up before his head swiveled to follow his gaze to the top of the girl's staircase. Hermione stood there, smiling down at him, excitement in her eyes.

Harry smiled, completely forgetting about his irritation, and the camera, at his sister's presence. She looked beautiful. Her hair was sleek and curled, just as it had been for the Yule Ball. And she wore the slightest bit of makeup, her lips painted a dusty pink that matched her gown.

Harry stood fully from his perch against the chair, walking forward to the stairs as Hermione walked down to meet him.

"Hermione, you look beautiful." Harry told her, putting as much meaning into his words so that she knew that he really meant them.

Hermione flushed at the compliment but smiled all the same, taking it in stride. "Thanks, Harry. You look really nice, yourself! I'm glad to see that you listened to me by using the hair potion that I gave you! It really works wonders, doesn't it? I just wish that it didn't take so long to work into hair, because otherwise, I would use it every day, and-"

"Hermione!" Harry laughed, taking her hands in his as he calmed her down from her rambling.

She flushed even more. "Sorry… It's just that, well, I'm really excited for tonight. It will be nice to spend the ball with a friend this time around, rather than being nervous about a date, like I was with Victor."

Harry nodded with a grin, and squeezed her hands reassuringly. "We'll have a great time. I'll make sure of it. And I promise that I won't be a complete dolt and mope the entire time, like I did for the Yule Ball…"

Snorting, Hermione rolled her eyes. "If you do that to me, I may just have to send Ginny after you to set you straight…"

Harry laughed, having no doubts whatsoever that Ginny would do that and so much more if he managed to upset Hermione tonight. And though he got turned on seeing Ginny gloriously angry - he knew that he wouldn't very much like it when it was directed at him, instead of at any other unfortunate soul.

He liked his balls the way that they were now, thank you very much.

"Speaking of Ginny," Harry said conversationally as he peered behind her up the stairs. "Where is she?"

Hermione turned her head and followed his eyesight, before turning back to him and explaining. "She's helping Luna with some finishing touches. They sent me ahead to make sure that you boys wouldn't get too antsy waiting."

Harry nodded, accepting the explanation, before a clicking sound and a bright light caused him to jump back in surprise, his eyes seeing spots from the unexpected brightness.

"That was perfect, Harry!" Collin exclaimed, his face hidden partially behind his camera as he looked through it. "Now, can I have one of just you? Maybe by the fireplace?"

It took a moment for him to blink away the spots, before he turned his head to scowl at the younger boy. It didn't matter that Collin was Ginny's best friend… Harry still found him downright irritating.

Snap!

Another bright flash of light.

"That's it, Harry! Scowl for the camera! Give me your best broody expression!"

…

Ginny and Luna were walking down the winding stairs within the girl's dormitories. She had been helping Luna pin small, yellow flowers and butterfly figurines into her hair. And Ginny had to admit, that it looked really cute.

It was clear that Luna seemed satisfied, as she had looked one last time in the mirror and declared that the evening wasn't going to be ruined after all… then went on to talk about Beltzurts, whatever those were...

When they got to the top of the stairs that led down to the common room, Ginny paused at the top while Luna continued on, oblivious. And Ginny absentmindedly heard Luna comment that they needed to find a good broom closet before all of the good ones were taken...

Ginny froze as she watched what was unfolding in the common room below her… Collin had his camera out and was accosting Harry with picture, after picture, after picture…

Harry looked so irritated as he glared at Collin, and Ginny found the expression on his face to be rather… hot.

In fact, Harry looked more attractive than his usual, everyday appearance. His hair was sleek and smoothly brushed back. Not at all in it's usual disarray of messiness. And his black, dress robes accentuated his broad shoulders quite nicely.

Ginny's heartbeat thudded in her chest as she stared at him, watching as he was still oblivious to her arrival.

But then, he seemed to sense her intense gaze, as his eyes flicked up to meet hers…

She watched as the irritated expression he wore melted off of his face, leaving nothing but awe and raw appreciation in its wake.

"Gin…" Harry breathed, not even paying attention to Hermione as she side-stepped out of the way with a small smile. "You… I… Wow."

A large grin split across Ginny's face. His reaction was well worth the hours that she had inflicted to get in the current state that she was in.

That one look that he was giving her made her feel as though she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

Ginny descended the stairs, having to break eye contact with him just so that she could look at her feet… to make sure that she didn't step on the long fabric of her dress, which would cause her to trip and fall.

As soon as she made it to level ground, she looked up at him again. He still had that awestruck expression as he drank in every detail about her. Until, finally, he came back to himself, and slowly started to step forward until he was right in front of her.

Immediately, he gathered her into his arms. Pulling her close and flush against him as he pressed his face into the curve between her shoulder and neck. Harry inhaled deeply, breathing her in.

"I can't believe that you're mine…" Harry whispered, pressing a kiss on the side of her neck, which caused her to shiver in delight.

"Well, believe it." Ginny replied, breathless. "Because you'll find that you'll have a hard time getting rid of me."

Harry scoffed, finally pulling away just enough so that he was looking into her eyes. "As if I would ever want that!"

Then he leaned in, kissing her. With a feather-light touch of his lips to hers, as though he were savouring her whole being.

A click and a flash of light interrupted them, and Ginny broke away from Harry to turn a cursory look over at Collin. "Collin!"

Collin didn't even have the gall to look sheepish… and, oddly enough, Harry no longer seemed irritated by the intrusion. Instead he looked at Collin's camera with piqued interest.

"Can I get a copy of that last picture?" Harry asked, turning them now so that he merely had one arm wrapped securely around her waist.

Collin froze for a beat in stunned silence, before he positively beamed at Harry. "S-Sure! Absolutely!"

Ginny watched in a side-glance as Harry smiled, pleased. And she found the soft curve of her own lips lift at the mere fact that Harry wanted a picture of them… together. As a couple. Enough for him to politely ask someone who annoyed him deeply for it.

Harry caught her looking, grinned wider, then leaned in to press a chaste kiss to her cheek. When he pulled back, he looked regretful as he sighed. Then he unwound his arm from around her and handed her over to Collin. "I expect you to take care of her, Collin. I'm putting you in charge. Make sure no other boys touch her without her permission. I want her back in the same condition as she is in now."

Collin nodded as he looked at Harry imploringly, willing him with his eyes to trust him.

Ginny went to Collin willingly enough, then she turned back towards Harry. Facing him as she leaned against Collin by propping her elbow onto his shoulder. She watched as Hermione went up to Harry then, taking the liberty of looping her arm through his.

She smiled at them together, not even remotely threatened by it. Before she retorted with a snarky reply, "I'm guessing that includes you then, Mr. Potter?"

Harry rose an eyebrow at her tone of voice, as well as her comment. "No, actually. I get a free pass. I was thinking of more along the lines of Malfoy or Dean…"

Ginny, Collin, and Hermione all snickered at how sour Harry's tone had gotten as he brought up his two rivals. But internally, Ginny mused over how she found Harry's jealousy and possessiveness to be extremely attractive. It just reassured her that he was willing to fight for her, and over her, at any time. Just the thought caused her heart to skip a beat as it made her to realize the depth of Harry's feelings for her.

"Hey…" Collin suddenly mused, looking around the common room curiously. "Where did Luna and Neville go off to?"

They all looked around, and sure enough, both Neville and Luna were gone. And it was then that Ginny recalled the comment Luna made as she was walking down the stairs…

Ginny looked pointedly at Hermione, meeting the other girl's gaze, before she said, "Luna said that they needed to find a good broom closet before all of the good ones were taken…"

Hermione's face darkened to a dark shade of pink at the indication. Harry flushed as well, but not to the same degree… as he was in the dark about the extent of what Luna and Neville were really up to in that moment. And she wasn't about to go and enlighten him.

.

.

.

A/N: This chapter was meant to be longer, as I had intended to write all the way through the ball, but I thought that you guys deserved something…! Seeing as you all have been so patient and faithful with my slow-posting.

Please remember to leave me a review! Help me to reach my new goal of at least 1,000 reviews on this story! Also, be sure to check out my Spider-Man story, which is also posted on this site.