Chapter IV – The Ball

When they got to the entrance of the great hall, McGonagall came over and said, "Mr. Potter, I thought Miss Patil was your date for the ball."

Sticking to what Harry said earlier, Ginny said, "Last minute change in plans; Ginny and I realized we fancied each other and we asked Parvati and Neville if they were willing to switch dates. They agreed the night would be more fun for everyone this way; we're all still friends."

McGonagall said, "Very well, you and Miss Weasley wait here with the other champions until everyone else is seated; then you four couples will walk in and be seated at the head table."

As soon as they walked in the great hall, they knew they were in trouble; Ginny and Harry were seated next to Percy. He told them Mr. Crouch was sick, so as his assistant, Percy was representing him.

They were fairly sure they could keep anyone else from discovering they had switched bodies; but it would be a lot harder to fool Percy who knew Ginny so well.

Percy asked, "Ginny, why are you here as Harry's date? Are you seeing him on a regular basis?"

Ginny thought quickly and said, "Didn't mom and dad tell you? Harry and I started to fancy each other at the world cup. I guess if you spend more time at the ministry than at home, you can't keep up with what the family is doing."

Percy got angry and turned to talk with Professor Vector who was seated on his other side. Ginny whispered to Harry, "I figured if I insulted him, he wouldn't ask me a lot of questions."

They talked casually to each other as they ate; and all too soon for Harry, Dumbledore asked everyone to stand. The dishes disappeared from the tables and with a wave of his arm, Dumbledore made the tables move to the sides of the room to open a dance floor.

He signaled the champions and their dates out onto the floor to begin the opening dance.

Ginny said, "Harry, I'll lead since I'm in your body. All you have to do is follow my feet with yours; if I step back with my right foot; you step forward with your left and so forth."

The music started and Harry did reasonably well following Ginny about. After a minute, more couples joined in and Harry felt more relaxed knowing everyone wasn't watching him now. He actually began to enjoy holding Ginny and dancing.

The first slow dance ended and Harry started off the floor; but Ginny grabbed him and said, "Oh no Potter, I'm here to enjoy myself, even considering the fix we're in. That means you're going to dance with me; at least a few dances."

Harry followed her about the floor and like with the first dance, soon began to enjoy himself. After six dances, Ginny said, "Alright, we can take a break; do you want something to drink? As a gentleman, it's my responsibility to get my date something to drink."

Harry laughed and said, "Thank you Mr. Potter; that would be nice. I'll find two seats near someone that knows about us so we won't have to worry about talking."

Instead, Harry found seats near the twins and their dates knowing they would be dancing almost continuously so there would be empty seats around them and they could talk in private.

As they sipped the punch Ginny got, Harry said, "So far so good, nobody has questioned us and I'm actually having fun. I'm sort of happy to be your date even if we are backward; but I didn't realize all the work I would have to go through as a girl to get ready for a dance."

Ginny said, "Thank you Harry, I'm having a good time too; and yeah, girls do have a lot of work getting ready, compared to guys that is. I hope you're getting to feel what a girl will do for a guy she likes.

As for being backward, maybe we'll be lucky and switch back before anyone else finds out what happened."

He said, "Yes, it will be perfect if Hermione and the twins can only find a way to reverse the curse."

Ginny took his hand and said, "Harry, what do we do if we never get back in our own bodies?"

He answered, "I don't know. Let's not worry about that tonight; let's just enjoy ourselves as best as we can."

Then something happened, for a fraction of a second, Harry was back in his body, then back in Ginny's body again. He asked, "Did you feel that too?"

Ginny said, "Yes, we were normal, then back this way again. Maybe that means the curse is weakening; maybe we'll switch back permanently soon."

Harry smiled and said, "Let's celebrate, come on and dance again. Maybe exercise helps."

Ginny said, "Maybe it's us touching; this flicker into our own bodies happened when I took your hand."

Harry said, "We touched a number of times last night and today while sitting together on the couch; it didn't change us."

Ginny said, "Maybe it takes many touches like when we were dancing; or longer contact to reverse, or maybe it's because we touched and the curse is also weakening. The spell started when we kissed; maybe another kiss will reverse it."

Harry said, "Let's do slow dances and hold hands; I think if we kiss here in front of everyone, Percy and Ron might not like it. If holding hands for a while doesn't work, we can go somewhere private and try kissing. Nobody will think anything unusual about a couple slipping away from the dance; we just can't let Ron or Percy see us go."

The band played two slow dances, and Ginny and Harry held each other tightly, dancing up against each other. In the middle of the second dance, they flicked back into their own bodies for more than a second this time before returning to the other's body.

Ginny said, "It's going to happen, we're going to return to normal; it's only a matter of time. Let's keep holding hands, I think that's helping."

The band started playing fast dances, so they returned to their seats so they could continue touching. After ten minutes, Ginny leaned in and said, "Harry, let's kiss and see if it helps."

He said, "Yes, I think it might help."

They looked around and saw Percy was busy talking to Professor McGonagall, and Ron was nowhere in sight. They leaned toward each other and kissed. As their lips touched, they flicked back to their own bodies and remained there; but as soon as they broke the kiss, they flicked back the wrong way again.

Harry said, "That lasted longer; but we can't stay kissing forever."

Ginny said, "No, I suppose not; but it would be fun to try."

Harry looked at her and said, "Yeah, I had the same thought; maybe this body switch actually did what Fred and George wanted. I did get a good idea about how you feel about me; and I'd like to continue seeing you even after we return to normal."

Ginny said, "I'd like that too; why don't we go somewhere and kiss until we switch back. Then we can kiss some more to celebrate."

Harry said, "We should tell Fred, George, and Hermione what happened when we kissed, where we're going, and why. It will make them feel better if they know, and they can cover for us in case Ron, Percy, or anyone else wants to know where we went."

They found the twins first and explained how they were flicking back and forth between bodies and how they thought touching and kissing was helping the process.

Fred said, "If I were you, I would want to get closer contact than even kissing; …"

George said, "… because if kissing helps, more passionate snogging might help more."

Fred added, "And even if snogging doesn't switch you back; …"

George continued, "… at least you'll have some fun doing it."

Fred said, "We'll cover for you; there's a rarely used shortcut behind the tapestry …"

George said, "… on the third floor near the one-eyed witch statue."

Harry said, "I know it, I found it last year on the map."

Harry and Ginny found Hermione having a drink with her date Viktor Krum, the Durmstrang champion. Ginny said to Viktor, "Excuse us, but we need to tell Hermione something in private for just a moment."

She went to the side with them and they explained what was happening; she gave them an odd look with a smirk on her face and said was, "Well, if you think it helps I suppose you should kiss; just don't get carried away and do something you be sorry for."

They made their way to the third floor, looked to see nobody was around, and slipped behind the tapestry. Ginny pulled Harry into a kiss and the second their lips touched, they flicked to normal.

They held the kiss and Ginny slid her tongue onto Harry's lips; never having kissed like that before, Harry wasn't sure what to do, so he followed her lead and slipped his tongue out in response. They tongue wrestled for a minute before Ginny pushed into Harry's mouth; in another minute, they broke off to catch their breath.

As they did, a few seconds later, they reverted to the other's body, and Harry said, "I wouldn't mind doing that all the time; but I don't think our professors would let us."

Ginny said, "No, they wouldn't; but I wouldn't mind doing it more often."

Harry said, "Your feet are getting tired standing here in Parvati's borrowed shoes; everyone is at the ball, let's go back to the common room. We can snog and talk there until midnight before people start returning."

It was just after ten when they reached the common room and Ginny said, "I'm knackered, we didn't get much sleep last night; why don't we get out of these dress clothes and into our night clothes so we'll be ready to go to sleep.

Then we can come back down here and snog while we wait for Fred, George, and Hermione. I'm sure they'll want to hear if we made any progress getting back into our own bodies. "

Harry said, "Shall I do your face cleansing now, or wait for later."

Ginny said, "Do everything, face, brush my teeth, and bring my hair brush here so I can take those fancy braids out before my hair gets all tangled."

Fifteen minutes later, Ginny was back in Harry's pajama bottoms, night robe, and slippers; five minutes later Harry returned in Ginny's dressing robe, slippers, and wearing hidden underneath the robe, his Quidditch shirt she had taken.

He sat with his back to her and she started undoing the braids and brushing her hair out as they talked.

She said, "The last time we kissed, we kept our own bodies for almost five seconds after breaking off the kiss; maybe we'll stay ourselves if we keep kissing."

Harry said, "We have an hour and a half before people start returning; get your hair the way you want it and let's get back to snogging."

After Ginny finished brushing her hair, they sat close and started snogging again. Each time their lips touched, they returned to their own bodies; but every time they broke the kiss, they went back to the wrong bodies. The good news was, after breaking off the kiss, they stayed in their right bodies longer each time.

In the next half an hour, they went from sitting close while snogging, to snogging while leaning back on the arm of the divan, to lying next to each other on the divan still snogging. Every few minutes, they would break the kiss to see if they would stay in their own bodies. They were to the point where they stayed as themselves for nearly a minute after breaking the kiss.

Between kisses, they talked; eventually Ginny said, "Harry, I have to confess something because I feel guilty not telling you what I did. Earlier tonight, before getting dressed I went to shower, and your roommates were all there, all naked a one time or the other.

I tried to ignore them, but I couldn't help looking and it excited me; or I should say it excited your body. I hurried into the shower stall so they wouldn't see your member like that and think you liked guys."

Harry interrupted, "You didn't have to tell me that; it was my body, but you are a normal girl and couldn't help wanting to check out boys. My body reacted to your girl's mind being excited inside me. I admit, seeing your roommates naked made me excited too; of course they couldn't see that warm feeling I got down here in your body." He touched her body just below her navel.

She said, "I wasn't done Harry. You were still stiff when I washed and when I rubbed it, it felt so good I couldn't stop until I …"

She couldn't finish saying what she did; but he finished for her, "You wanked until I came."

She had tears in her eyes and said, "I'm sorry Harry, I shouldn't have used your body to please myself."

He hugged her and said, "Don't feel guilty; it's a natural thing for a boy to do when he gets that way. Your mind is a girl's mind, but it was in a boy's body at the time. What would you have done if you were in your own body and saw four naked boys?"

She blushed and said, "I probably would have gotten myself off just like I did with your body."

He said, "I have to be honest with you too; I did the same thing in the shower with your body. Washing your breasts made that feeling from seeing your roommates get stronger. By the time I washed your quim, I couldn't stop just like you couldn't stop.

But I do have one question, it felt as good or better when I rubbed the top of your quim as it did when I rubbed near your opening; why is that? Nobody ever talked to me about sex; so I don't know anything about a girl's body or pleasing a girl, but I would like to learn."

She said, "You shouldn't feel guilty either Harry. I know I told you not to enjoy yourself when you touched my parts; but I knew you are a boy and wouldn't be able to resist, no normal boy would.

At the top of a girl's quim is a sensitive spot called the clitoris; rubbing it is one of the fastest ways for a girl to get an orgasm. Did you insert any fingers inside my cunny?"

He turned red and said, "No, I just rubbed over your quim; do girls really put a finger inside?"

She said, "Yes, most girls do that, like most boys wank. Some girls use two or three fingers; during my sex talk, my mother said to expect my husband to do it as a way of leading into actual sex. It's the other fast way of reaching an orgasm."

Harry said, "I really need to get a book about sex; or find someone to explain about sex, especially if we're going to be dating."

She looked at him and said, "You sound pretty sure of yourself Mr. Potter; considering this is our first date."

Harry turned red and stuttered out, "No, Ginny, that's not … I didn't mean I think you'll want to … Oh Merlin, Ginny I respect you and will never …"

"You'll never what?" she asked.

He said, "Ask you to have sex; I mean I think I will someday, but not now."

She said, "Harry stop, I know what you mean; I know you and your sense of nobility. I'm not ready to have sex either; but like you said, some day I will be. Some day, when we're both ready for it, it will happen. But I do think you should learn about sex before that day. Didn't your uncle ever tell you anything about sex?"

He answered, "Merlin no, he never talks to me about anything; he only yells."

She said, "What about my father, he's talked with all my brothers; I'm sure he'll talk with you if you explain you have nobody else."

Harry said, "That would be interesting. I could say, Mr. Weasley, I've started dating your daughter and now I'd like you to tell me about how sex works."

Ginny laughed and said, "I think I want to be there when you say that just to see my father's face."

Now Harry laughed too and said, "Maybe I'll get to see my godfather; I'm sure he would explain things to me."

She said, "I didn't know you had a godfather; who is he?"

Harry said, "I guess I can tell you; if we're going to be dating, you'll meet him eventually. My godfather is Sirius Black."

She yelled, "Sirius Black the murderer that escaped from Azkaban and tried to kill you last year?"

Harry put a finger on her lips and said, "That was all a lie; Ron, Hermione, and I met him last June and he's innocent of everything people say about him. We helped him escape again after Snape captured him. "

She asked, "How can you be sure he's innocent if the ministry said he's guilty and sent him to Azkaban?"

He said, "Because we caught the person that betrayed my parents and he confessed everything to us; he framed Sirius for what he actually did. Lupin and Dumbledore also know Sirius is innocent. We write to each other and I talked with him over the flue network right there in that fireplace just before the first task."

Ginny asked, "If he's innocent, why is he still hiding?"

Harry said, "Wormtail, that's the man who confessed, escaped before we could bring him in to the ministry; so we have no proof we can take to court. That's why we didn't tell you or your parents and you can't tell anyone either.

If the ministry finds out we helped Sirius escape and are in contact with him, we'll be arrested for aiding a criminal."

Harry went to snog her again, but as he did, she rolled so she, still back in Harry's body, was on top of him still in her body. As they snogged, they returned to their own bodies. Their robes gradually worked open, and soon the only things between them were Harry's pajama bottoms and boxers she had put on; and his Quidditch shirt she wore as a nightshirt along with her knickers.

Minutes of snogging passed and Ginny brought her legs up wrapping them around Harry's waist. His member stiffened and was resting on her quim as the continued to snog; she moaned and said, "Oh Harry, I hope we can keep doing this even after we return permanently to our right bodies."

Just then, the door opened and McGonagall came in; they sat up quickly and rewrapped their robes in place, but not quickly enough that McGonagall didn't see the position they were in.

She said, "Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, people have been looking for you; why did you leave the ball so early? Your brother Percy asked me to find you; I believe he doesn't trust Mr. Potter's intentions toward you. And judging from what I see, he is right to worry about you."

Harry said, "We were just tired and decided that, since I fulfilled my obligation as a champion to show up and do the first dance, we would leave early and get some rest."

McGonagall said, "It didn't look like you were resting; that will be twenty points from Gryffindor each, and a week's detention. I will be writing home to your parents Miss Weasley, and to your aunt and uncle, Mr. Potter; and if I ever see such a display again, you will both be suspended.

Now I must get back to the ball so I can't stay here to watch you; and dressed like that, you can't come back to the ball. It is eleven-thirty, can I trust the two of you to go to your own rooms and behave for half an hour until other students begin to return?"

Both said, "Yes Professor, but can we wait here? We need to talk with Fred, George, and Hermione about something very important."

She said, "Very well, but I will ask one of them or your brother Ronald to return as soon as possible so you will not be alone."

She left and Harry said, "Sorry I got you in trouble."

Ginny said, "You didn't make me do anything I didn't want to do Harry; there's no need to apologize.

He said, "My aunt and uncle won't care; but your parents will be furious. They may not let me come visit over the summer. They may even order you not to see me anymore."

Ginny said, "Don't worry, my mom and dad started going together in their third year. I overheard them telling stories about what they did when dating. I'm sure I can get them to understand about us."

They continued to talk about events of the past day and at one point, they got to how they convinced Neville and Parvati that they had switched bodies.

Harry asked her, "Will you tell me what you said to Parvati to convince her?"

Ginny turned red and said, "It's sort of embarrassing, but since we're going together now I guess I can tell you. We were playing truth or dare, and Parvati asked me, when you stayed at the Burrow last summer, did you ever sneak into my room at night so we could snog."

Harry asked, "And did you tell her the truth; that I never did?"

Ginny said, "Yes, I had to. Lavender got hold of some mild truth serum somewhere and we all had to take a sip before we started the game."

Harry asked," So why is that embarrassing? At least she didn't ask if I came to your room to shag."

Ginny said, "Earlier in the game, Lavender already asked if we were shagging; everyone but Hermione was surprised I said no.

They all knew that I fancied you and that you saved me in the Chamber of Secrets; even though none of them except Hermione knew the true story about that. For the last year and a half, all the girls assumed we were together secretly and that was why you came to the Burrow every summer.

Because of the truth serum, I had to say you never came to my room at night; but, since nobody directly asked, I just let them think it was true about us being secretly together. That's why I was embarrassed to say it in front of you."

Harry opened her dressing gown, then said, "I guess you wearing that Quidditch shirt of mine to bed was part of what made them think we were together?"

Ginny turned red and said, "I'm sorry I took your shirt; but I wanted something to remind me of you saving me and it was there in the laundry."

Harry said, "It's okay, it was getting too small on me anyway; I'm glad you can use it."

Ginny smiled, then said, "Harry, we're still in our own bodies; we haven't snogged or touched since McGonagall got here."

Harry looked at his watch and said, "It's midnight, that's half an hour; I think maybe we're back permanently."

Ginny jumped at him and they snogged just as the door opened and Fred, George, and their dates Angelina, and Alicia came in.

George said, "Good thing we got here before Ron; he'd go around the twist if he saw you two snogging like that."

Ginny said, "We just realized we've been normal for more than a half an hour without touching."

Harry added, "McGonagall came here and caught us snogging. She ordered us to stay apart and we got talking and didn't even realize we were normal until now."

Angelina looked at Alicia, then at Fred and asked, "What are they talking about?"

He said, "It's a long sad story; why don't you girls come up to our room and we can talk about it."

Harry got a worried look and was about to remind the twins that they weren't supposed to tell anyone what happened. Before he could say anything, he heard Ginny say to him, "Don't worry, talking about us switching bodies is the last thing they're going to be doing tonight; get it?"

He said, "Ginny, you just told Angelina and Alicia what happened."

She looked at the two girls, but they didn't seem to have heard what she said; so she said to Harry, "Apparently the didn't hear me."

He answered, "I don't know how they couldn't have heard, they were only five feet away; unless Fred and George already told them so they weren't surprised."

George said, "What's with you two? I thought you said everything was back to normal?"

Harry said, "It is; we were just wondering if you told the girls about us since they didn't react to what Ginny said."

Fred said, "Ginny didn't say anything; …"

George went on, "… and neither did you. But both of you have …"

Fred picked up with, "… been making faces like something is wrong."

Harry said to Ginny, "The twins didn't hear us either; I wonder why."

She answered, "It has to be something about the curse, some left over effect."

George said, "There you go again, just standing there silent, making faces like you're sick."

Ginny said, "Harry, we can hear each other, but nobody else can hear us."

Harry said to her, "They have to be able to hear us, they did when we told them the curse reversed, and when I asked if they told Angelina and Alicia."

He said to Fred and George, "Are you saying you can't hear me or Ginny talking?"

George said, "Of course we can hear you talking; …"

Fred finished, "… but we want to know why you're making faces when you're not talking."

Harry thought quickly and said to them, "We're just surprised and happy to be back to normal. You can go up to your room; we want to see Hermione. I wonder why she isn't back yet?"

Fred said, "She was snogging Krum in the entrance hall, …"

George added, "… and when Ron saw them, he went around the twist."

Fred said, "When we left, they were …"

George finished, "… having a first class row."

The twins and their dates went up the boys' steps and Harry said to Ginny, "When we are talking to each other it is in our minds only; that's why they couldn't hear us. We only say things aloud when we mean to have someone else hear. Right now I didn't say anything aloud, but you heard me, didn't you?"

She thought to him, "Yes, not only can I hear you, I can sense what you're thinking about this. You think this is what the twins intended in the first place; for us to sense each other's thoughts and feelings."

Harry thought, "Well, isn't that what they said they intended?"

Ginny thought, "Yes, but Hermione said they mistranslated the curse."

Harry thought, "Maybe transferring souls was only part of it; Hermione said the last part with the warning was torn out. Maybe it was a warning about the two people sensing thoughts.

Just then, the door opened and they heard Ron yell, "He's using you to learn what Harry knows about the clue; and if he can get in your knickers, that would just be a bonus for him."

Hermione came in all red in the face and yelled back, "Well getting into my knickers is something you'll never have to worry about Ronald."

Ginny thought to Harry, "I don't believe Ron said that to her."

Harry thought back, "I don't believe she said that to him. Do you think we should say something to them?"

Before Ginny could answer, Hermione noticed them on the divan and walked over. Ron came in after her, and about twenty other Gryffindors followed him; it seems they were following the pair to listen in on the row.

Hermione asked, "How is it going; any progress?"

Harry said, "Wait until everyone else is gone; we need to talk."

Ron yelled, "Where did you two go when you left the ball? Percy came over and asked me to find you; I looked everywhere, so where were you?"

Ginny answered, "If you want an answer, stop yelling."

Ron tensed up, then asked calmly, "So where were you?"

Harry said, "Right here; we didn't get much sleep last night because of …"

He looked at all the other people still there and continued, "Well you know why. So we were both knackered and decided to come back so we could talk about the situation."

Ron asked, "So what about it?"

Harry said, "Later, when we're alone."

Ginny said, "Why don't you go change into night clothes then come back; everyone else should be gone by then."

Ron and Hermione each went to their rooms; and the others, now that Ron and Hermione's row seemed to be over and there was nothing for them to overhear, also left.

Ten minutes later, Ron and Hermione had returned, Harry and Ginny took turns telling of what happened all night involving the reversal of the curse. They left out what they were doing when McGonagall caught them, thinking Ron would explode again.

Finally, they got to the part of them still being able to hear each other's thoughts.

Harry said, "We don't know if this will fade away like the body switch did, or if is permanent."

Hermione said, "Tomorrow after breakfast, I'll get Fred and George to come to the library and we'll look for another book with the curse. Hopefully the last page won't be missing and we'll get more information."

Ron waited for Hermione to finish, Harry presumed because he didn't want to restart the row. Then he asked, "So what about you two now that you're in your own bodies; do you still plan to see each other?"

Ginny said, "Yes Ron, Harry and I have become close because of this; and considering we still hear each other's thoughts, we will probably get closer yet."

Harry said, "Ron, you know I will never hurt Ginny; so we don't need you or any of your brothers trying to break us up or interfere in any way. I want us to stay friends; don't force me to choose between you and Ginny."

Ron answered him, "I know you wouldn't hurt Ginny, but it's hard for me not to try and protect her. I'll try not to interfere; but I just ask you not to do any snogging in front of me."

Ginny said, "We'll try not to, but no promises if you happen to walk in on us. And we might as well tell you now, McGonagall caught us snogging and gave us detention for a week."

Harry added, "And she said she was going to write your parents; so we could use your support. If they ask you about us, just tell them the truth; we fancy each other, but we're not doing anything inappropriate."

Ron said, "I tell them you're like any other couple; holding hands in the hall and that I never see you snogging. So don't make a liar out of me by actually let me see you snogging."

Harry said, "Good enough. Now we all better get some sleep."

Four days passed before Hermione came to them and said, "We found it; at least I think it's the same curse. I'll know for sure after I finish translating it.

The next day, she got them, Fred, George, and Ron together in the room where the twins first put the curse on Harry and Ginny.

She said, "I have good news and bad news. The good news is the soul transferring part of the curse is permanently gone; the warning was for the dark wizard, that he had to kill the person whose body he was sealing or the souls would revert to their correct bodies after one day.

And your touching and snogging wasn't necessary; your souls would have returned to your bodies even if you never touched. But I suppose neither of you are upset that you snogged for no reason."

Ginny said, "Hermione, there's always a reason for snogging; and I'll never get upset for doing it. You should try it and you'd know what I mean; I'm sure Ron would be willing to help you learn."

Ron got bright red, and Hermione smirked. She said, "The bad news is it doesn't mention hearing each other's thoughts at all; probably because the dark wizard who wrote the curse followed the warning and killed the other person. That means there's no way of knowing if hearing each other's thoughts will be permanent or fade away over time."

Harry thought to Ginny, "Do you mind if it's permanent; can you live with my thoughts in your head."

She thought back, "No problem for me, if you can live with my thoughts too."

He thought, "I think I may actually enjoy that; I never have anyone close to me before, and we can't get any closer than knowing each other's thoughts."

Aloud he said, "We agree we can live like this no problem; it might even be good.

In their minds, he thought silently to Ginny, "Now that we're so close you will be able to help me figure out the clue for the second task. Maybe by sending thought ideas to me, you can even help do the second task."