Sorry this took long to get out

Power went majorlyout around here (St. Louis)andbefore that i was campingfor two weeks

if you have any ideas on how to make this better. Please Email me at BVann1112aol

Chapter 6: Time to Ask?

As Harry awoke to the sound of a door closing he opened his eyes and saw Hermione walking towards him. He stood up and got dressed before they quickly kissed and headed to breakfast. Where as everybody finished eating Dumbledore stood up and announced to the crowd. "This year there will be a ball the day before Christmas Break. I tell you this now because you may need more than one or two months to find a date. Attire is whatever you want." Harry seeing Riku get up rushed to him and told him to wait.

"Riku, I've seen the way you look at Ginny. She has looked at you the same way. Ask her before someone else does. She's way too popular for her own good. But trust me ask her. She'll say yes. See you when you get to class." He left Riku thinking to himself as he exited the hall with Hermione. As they walked she got around to asking him what he was talking to Riku about when he answered she merely grinned and kissed him as they parted ways. Little did they know one Gryffindor and 2 Slytherins saw this display and heard the conversation.

"Welcome class. Riku and Ron step up and give me a duel." Harry began his class today without Remus. (Night before the full moon) As they began Riku parried a couple of stunners and sent a couple of his own one nearly missing Ron the other blocked. Harry and the class watched intently as Ron sent anotherstunner yet this one missed by about 5 feet and headed for Harry who sent a shield charm up just in the nick of time. Next Riku sent a body bind at Ron and was answered with Sectumsempra which slashed his skin. Riku was then covered in blood before he sent a retaliating spell.

"Vulcano" A mass of flames in the shape of a bird hit Ron in the face as they both went down. Riku hurt beyond his imagination. Ron unconscious. Harry conjured two stretchers and sent them to the Hospital Wing before telling the class they were dismissed. Rushing as fast as he could to the transfiguration classroom.

"Professor I need to talk to Hermione and you might want to go to the Hospital wing." Mcgonagall looked appalled but hustled out none the less. " 'Mione I need you to look in the library restricted section or not for a spell called 'vulcano'. I want to know who invented it and wether or not its effects are lasting. Ron is kinda crisp right now and he used Sectumsempra on Riku. I gotta go." He ran to the hospital wing and saw Madam Pomfrey bustling about Riku and Ron. McGonagall looking frantically for a way to help Poppy turned to Harry and asked him to explain it to her. As he did no one interrupted him with questions until he said the spell Riku sent at Ron.

"What did it do." Poppy asked as she gave Riku a potion.

"Watch" Harry replied as he conjured a dummy and sent the firey bird at it. "I have Hermione looking it up for me." Ron finally came around and looked from the blood-stained Riku to Harry to McGonagall to Poppy who was now preparing a potion for Ron. He then looked at himself in a mirror and winced at his crisp face. The bell rang and Hermione was in a few minutes later she screamed at the sight she saw Ron's face then Riku. Neither one looking like themselves. She buried her face in Harry's cloak Pulling herself together the door opened and 6 figures entered. Dumbledore, Melissa, Andy, Erica, Jamie, and Ginny. Ginny looked at Riku eyes full of concern then looked at Ron eyes turning not nearly as concerned quickly. Dumbledore asked Harry to replay the story for the 2nd time and the other 4 were speaking to Riku. As Ginny walked to Ron's bed (making it look like she was worried about him) Riku turned to her.

"Ginny, as odd as it is for me to ask you when I am looking like this but would you go to the ball with me."

"Yes I will." Her reply was quick but Ron still tried to protest.

"Look what he did to me and your still going with him."

"Yes Ron I happen to like him right now more than you. Especially after what Hermione told me you said about Sirius and the fact that you are being a jerk to everybody." She retaliated and had to refrain from what she was going to say due to the fact that Melissa was walking out of the room. "Plus you had no reason to use that spell."

"But it was a duel. I did what I needed to win."

"Ron he is not a freaking death eater. You don't need to treat him like one." Ginny didn't speak this time it was Harry.

"How the Hell do you know. He could be freaking death eater in disguise telling you-know-who what your is up to." Hermione and Harry only heard this much as they exited the room. "It won't be long before you-know-who finds out about Hermione being pregnant." As a sound of Ginny's hand met the only non-burnt part of Ron's face a beetle was sitting on the window ledge listening intently to the conversation before flying off towards the astronomy tower.