The hall was everything Ginny could have imagined it to be! It was decorated to look like winter. The tables were covered in silver-white table cloths and snowflakes fell from the enchanted ceiling. The usual Christmas trees were scattered around the hall, but they were changed to white and matched the rest of the hall. White drapes covered the walls and the hall looked like a winter wonderland!
When the champions entered, Ginny suddenly felt nervous. She didn't know if she wanted to see Cedric with Cho. It was her own fault though. He was grinning from ear to ear, in his usual, charming way and it was so strange to see him act like that with another girl. Ginny swallowed nervously as they lined up to dance. Cho was wearing golden, traditional Chinese dress robes.
Next was Fleur with Roger Davies, and behind them were Krum and Hermione. Ginny heard Padma ask Ron, "Is that Hermione Granger, with Viktor Krum?" Ron grumbled, "No, absolutely not." Ginny couldn't help but giggle at his complete denial. Then next were Harry and Parvati and she laughed internally as Harry tried to avoid making eye contact with anyone. He hated being in the lime light. It was even funnier when he tried to dance with the elder girl.
The hall applauded and when Professor Dumbledore led Professor McGonagall onto the dance floor. Neville quickly pulled at Ginny's hand and she stumbled after him laughing, "Wait, wait!" He twirled her around with a slight clumsiness and nearly let go of her hand mid-twirl. After the first few dances, Ginny decided she needed a break. She was exhausted. So Ginny headed for the bar to get some much needed Butterbeer.
When she got to the bar, Ginny found herself some of the wonderfully refreshing drink. A boy about a head taller than herself, with dark black hair and piercing blue eyes smiled at her, "Ginny?" It was Michael Corner who was a year older than her and in Ravenclaw. She smiled at him in return and glanced into his blue eyes that weren't quite as striking as Harry's green ones, but just as good to look into as he asked, "You here alone?" She shook her head and replied, "How do you know who I am? We've never met." Michael chuckled and replied, "It's pretty obvious. Your hair gives you away." Ginny grimaced and sipped her drink, "I'm not sure that's such a good thing." Michael laughed and disagreed, "Nope, it's a great thing! I've always admired your hair. It makes you stand out from the crowd." He seemed like quite the charmer. Ginny giggled as she sipped her drink, "What the crowd of Weasley's?" Michael grinned at her and shook his head, "Nope-from the crowd in general."
Michael smiled a wide, white toothed smile which Ginny found attractive as he continued, "You avoided my question. Are you alone?" Ginny sighed and replied, "I'm here with Neville, but it's not really a date. It's just as friends." Michael nodded and replied, "Hmm, so you don't like him, do you?" Ginny laughed, "I don't fancy him if that's what you mean. Who are you here with?" He shrugged and replied, "Lucy Laurie in fifth year. She's on my Quidditich team with me but to be honest she was picked up by some Durmstrang guy and I haven't seen her in a while, so I think I've been dumped." Ginny couldn't help but smile. At least she wasn't the only one having a bad time.
Michael turned to her and asked, "Hey, want to dance?" Ginny nodded, swallowed the rest of her Butterbeer and replied, "Why not?" As she danced with Michael she realised it was a lot easier than dancing with Neville, a lot more natural and less clumsy. She decided by the end of the evening that she quite liked Michael and she agreed to go and sit at a table with him and be his date for the remainder of the night.
To her horror though, he chose a table which occupied not only a sour Ron, but Harry and Parvati Patil! The boys looked bored out of their skulls and Ron looked grateful for an excuse to talk to Michael. They spoke about Quidditch and Ginny happily joined in the conversation. Michael was talking animatedly about the world cup.
Ginny noticed that Harry was not joining in the conversation. He seemed unusually quiet and serious. Eventually Padma was asked to dance by a Durmstrang.
That's when Hermione arrived with Krum on her arm. He had asked her something in a soft tone, kissed her hand and Hermione looked as if she had just bungee jumped off a bridge-her face was alight with excitement. Then she walked over to them and asked Ron, Harry and herself, "Viktor's gone to go and get drinks. Would you guys care to join us?" Ron remarked snidely, "No, we would not care to join you and Viktor!" Hermione looked perplexed, and said defiantly, "What's got your wand in a knot?" Ron refused to reply, so Hermione pulled him by the arm and out of the hall.
Michael smiled warmly at Ginny and laughed somewhat, "Sounds like your brother fancies her." Harry's eyes widened and he shook his head, "Nope. I'm sure it's not that..." Ginny raised her eyebrows at her friend and retorted, "Oh come on, Harry! With the way Ron has been sulking all night, I bet it's because he never got the courage to ask Hermione first, and now he's jealous of Krum who he idolized for all of these months!" Harry grimaced and shrugged his shoulders, "I hope it's not that." Ginny frowned and Krum appeared then, with two drinks in his hand as he asked, "Vere is 'mione?" Ginny shrugged and replied, "I think she went off in that direction," she pointed to the bar.
Krum sighed and went to sit down and speak to Michael. Ginny turned to Harry inquisitively, "Why do you hope they won't end up together?" Now, for the first time in her entire life, had she even considered the fact that Harry might like Hermione as more than a best friend. Harry sighed and shook his head as he whispered, "Uh...I just don't want to be the third wheel for the rest of my life...you know?" Ginny swallowed and nodded her head, "Yeah. It's kind of how I feel with you guys. Like I'm the fourth wheel." Harry's eyes tightened around the edges as he replied defiantly, "That's not true Gin! I consider you an equal friend to Ron and Hermione." Ginny shrugged her shoulders and replied, "It's just how I feel." He took her hand under the table, squeezed it and whispered to her, "Gin, I feel like you are my best friend. You understand me more than Ron and Hermione ever could, because of what you've been through. You fought him just as much in one year, as I have in my entire life. If I ever had to confide in someone about that, it would be you." He said it with such a conviction that Ginny almost willed herself to believe it.
However at that moment, Cedric appeared and he smiled down at them, "Hey guys! Sorry to interrupt. Ginny, would you mind if I have this dance?" Ginny blushed as Harry released her hand and she nodded, "Okay, but only one." He took her hand and led her onto the dance floor as he whispered, "Why only one?" Ginny looked over his shoulder at Cho, who seemed to be displeased as she sighed, "I don't want to upset anyone." Cedric sighed as they danced around slowly, "I haven't told you this but...she kissed me the other day."
Ginny froze in surprise as Cedric forced her body along the floor. She wanted to break away from him and he held onto her tightly as he whispered frantically, "I pulled away, Gin. I stopped it. I don't feel that way about her. Please believe me." Ginny shook her head and whispered, "I don't believe you. Cho is your best friend, the same way Harry is mine..." as she was saying it, she was realising it. Ginny swallowed hard and continued, "Even if you don't know it...I'm sure you do. It's always that way with a guy and a girl who are best friends." Cedric grimaced and replied, "The same way it's with you and Harry." She glanced at Harry and noticed him watching her, but he quickly looked away when her eyes met his. She smiled at Cedric, "Possibly...we're slightly different to a normal friendship though. Things happened externally that affected me and...well they then affected Harry too." Cedric sighed and whispered, "I'm sorry. I hope we can be just friends for now."
Ginny was surprised that he wanted this. Maybe it was because she was used to Harry always wanting more than friendship from her, up until this point. But this was the one time she wanted more, and it hurt to feel rejected. However, she sighed and nodded sadly, "Alright. If that's how you feel." He sighed in relief, "Thank you for understanding, Gin."
The dance came to an end and Ginny was relieved. She nodded to Cedric, said thank you and returned to Harry, Krum and Michael. She sat down at the table and Harry asked, "How..." she shook her head and whispered, "Don't ask. I need to get another Butterbeer." Once she returned with her drink, most people had left the Great Hall as it was getting late. Hermione hadn't returned and Krum announced, "I'm going to go and find 'mione." That left her alone with Michael and Harry, and suddenly Ginny felt incredibly awkward.
Michael stood up and walked over to her, "Thank you for the evening, Ginny. You made it better than I thought it would be." She grinned at him and replied, "Thank you, Michael. It was nice to meet you." He smiled politely before leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek. Ginny's eyes widened in surprise as she felt an all too familiar blush spreading across her cheeks. Michael winked at her before walking out of the Great Hall.
Harry turned to her, a wide smile spread across his face and he laughed, "I think someone is interested in you." Ginny giggled and replied, "Well, I hope so, since Cedric isn't." She sipped her drink and Harry sighed, "I'm sorry, Gin." She shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Well, maybe it's for the best. By the way, I think you should know that he's interested in Cho." Harry grimaced and shrugged, "Thank you for telling me." Ginny smiled grimly and responded, "Hey, that's what best friends are for."