Chapter 4

The next morning Harry, Ron and Hermione headed down to lunch.

"Where's Danielle?" Harry asked looking around.

"She was just stirring when I left the dormitory," Hermione explained and helped herself to some bacon.

"Did you find out where she went last night?" Ron questioned.

"No. I fell asleep before she got back and that was at one," Hermione stated.

Just then Danielle entered the Great Hall and headed over to the Gryffindor table. She took a seat next to Ron and rested her head on her hand.

"Morning!" Harry greeted.

"Morning," Danielle mumbled rubbing her eyes.

"You going to eat?" Hermione asked.

"No," Danielle sighed.

"What time did you get in?" Hermione questioned.

"No clue," Danielle shrugged.

"Well you better hurry if you want to make it to first class on time," Hermione stated standing up and leaving the table.

"I hate this," Ron whined and put his head on his arms a month later.

"Honest Ronald! If you didn't leave your homework until last minute you wouldn't be doing it right now!" Hermione said sternly.

"I'm done," Harry said throwing down his quill.

"What?" Ron asked.

"I'm done," Harry repeated.

"How did you get all that done so fast?" Ron questioned.

"I had less to do than you," Harry stated.

"So who are you two going to the Christmas dance with?" Hermione asked.

"What Christmas dance?" Harry said putting his stuff away.

"They're having a Christmas dance in the Great Hall just before break," Hermione stated.

"I don't know," Harry mumbled. "What about you Ron?'

"No clue," Ron sighed.

Just then the portrait hole opened and Danielle entered the common room.

"Hey Danielle," Hermione said as Danielle headed over to the table.

"Hi," Danielle sighed sitting down.

"Where'd you go?" Harry asked.

"Professor Halliwell needed to talk to me about my last paper," Danielle explained.

"Oh," Harry said.

"Well I'm going to bed. Night," Hermione stated and rushed off to the dormitory.

"Did you hear about the Christmas dance?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Danielle answered.

"Are you going?" Ron asked.

"Don't know. All depends on if someone asks me. But Christmas isn't my favorite time of year so I probably won't," Danielle explained.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Long story," Danielle sighed.

"I will expect the essay on my desk on the day classes begin after holiday break," Piper said. "Have a nice holiday."

Everyone gathered their stuff and headed to the Great Hall for dinner. Everyone was talking about the Christmas dance the next night and who was taking who. Danielle couldn't wait until supper was over. She hurried off to the common room and took a seat in front of the fireplace.

"Hi," Hermione said as her and Harry sat down in the other chairs. Ron hurried past them, up to the boys' dormitory and closed the door. "So who are you going to the dance with?"

"No one. I'm probably just going to stay here," Danielle answered.

"What about you?" Hermione questioned turning to Harry.

"No one," Harry sighed looking at the fire.

"I got an idea. What if you two went with each other!" Hermione exclaimed.

Harry and Danielle shot each other a look and then looked at Hermione like she was crazy.

"I don't mean as a date or boyfriend and girlfriend. Just friends," Hermione suggested.

"That's not a bad idea!" Harry said. "Would you? Just as friends!"

"Sure. It beats staying up here all night," Danielle accepted.

"Great! Danielle! Come with me!" Hermione said grabbing Danielle's hand and pulled her to the girls' dormitory.

The next night Harry and Ron headed down to the Great Hall. The boys had to dress appropriately with dress pants, dress shoes and a nice shirt. Girl had to wear a nice dress.

"Look there's Seamus," Ron said as Seamus pushed his way through the crowd.

"Hi Seamus," Harry and Ron greeted.

"Have you seen Hermione?" Seamus asked.

Just then Hermione stepped beside him, "Hi Seamus! Harry. There's someone in the hallway that wants to talk to you."

Harry nodded and headed out to the hall. He looked around and saw no one. He went to enter the Great Hall again but heard someone call his name.

"Harry," Danielle said walking over to him.

'Wow' Harry thought as she reached him. She had a red dress on with diamond earrings and her hair was in a updo with curls.

"You look nice," Harry said once he finally found his voice.

"Thanks," Danielle smiled. "You ready?"

"Yeah," Harry said taking her hand.

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked Ginny looking around. Ginny pointed to the door and Ron looked.

There was Harry who was holding hands with...Danielle!

"Ron!" Hermione said. "You ok? You look awfully pale!"

"Harry didn't tell me his date was Danielle," Ron said. "Wow. She looks..."

"Ron. I didn't know. I mean I knew Harry was taking Danielle but I didn't know you'd be upset. Their only friends anyway," Hermione explained looking at the heartbroken Ron.

"Hi guys," Harry greeted when he reached the table.

"Hi," everyone but Ron greeted.

"I...I got to go," Ron said and pushed past Harry and left the Great Hall.

"What the matter with him?" Harry asked.

"It's my fault," Hermione piped up. "Can I talk to you a second?"

"Sure," Harry said confused.

'Do you know why he left?" Hermione asked.

"No," Harry said.

"He left because he saw you and Danielle enter. Holding hands. He thought you betrayed him and took Danielle, knowing he liked her," Hermione explained. "This is all my fault."

"No. It's mine. I'm going to go talk to him," Harry said and headed back to the table.

"Sorry Danielle. I've got to go. I have to talk to Ron," Harry stated.

"I'm coming," Danielle sighed and followed after Harry.

"It's my fault he left. I need to talk to him alone," Harry said as they walked up the stairs.

"No it's mine, too. I agreed to go with you, knowing that he likes me," Danielle said.

"Wait," Harry said stopping short. "You know?"

"Yeah. It's kind of obvious."

"Come on," Harry stated as they hurried over to the fat lady. The said the password and hurried into the common room. There they found Ron sitting in the chair in front of the fire, head hung low.

"Hey," Harry whispered taking a seat next to him.

"What?" Ron asked without looking up. He didn't notice Danielle had entered with Harry. "Come to tell me more news and dig the knife deeper into my back."

"No," Harry replied. "I came to say sorry."

"You knew! You knew! And you went behind my back and asked her!" Ron exclaimed.

"It's not his fault," Danielle said softly. Ron jumped slightly.

"I didn't know you were here," Ron stated.

"I have to go get something," Harry said and hurried out the portrait hole.

"Listen," Danielle started.

"No...You don't have to say you're sorry. It's my fault," Ron stated.

"Harry and me aren't a couple. We did have a date so we went as friends," Danielle said.

"I know. I guess it was jealousy," Ron sighed.

"You could have told me," Danielle said and stood up. "I'm going to get ready for bed."

"All right. See you on the train tomorrow?"

"No. I'm going by floo," Danielle stated and started walk away. "Dumbledore suggested it be easier since I have to go to America."

"Wait," Ron said jumping up and grabbing her arm. "I...Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas,"Danielle replied and headed up the stairs leading to the girl's dormitory.