Disclaimer: We don't own Harry Potter, but the story is ours.
Co-written by CrystalMoonlightGuardian
CHAPTER 2: The Christmas Ball
Finally, Saturday (the day of the Christmas Ball) arrived. Everyone was very excited and couldn't wait to see whom everyone else was going with to the dance. Ron was so excited, that he woke up extra early. He went to the bathroom to take a shower. In ten minutes, he returned, dressed, to find his best friend, Harry, still asleep.
" Harry, bloody hell, get up, NOW!" Ron whined dramatically.
"Uhhh …Ron, it's Saturday," Harry moaned sleepily. "Why can't we sleep in? Do you realize how late we stayed up doing research last night?"
"Harry, do you even know what today is?"
"Apparently, I have forgotten and I take it you're going to tell me," Harry replied sarcastically, sitting up.
"Today is the Christmas Ball, you idiot!" Ron exclaimed in exasperation.
After hearing this, Harry jumped out of the bed like a firecracker and rushed to the shower.
Meanwhile in the Ravenclaw 7th year girls' dorm, Hermione had just woken up to a pillow in the face.
"Hey Hermione!" screamed her best friend, Padma Patil. " I can't believe that today is finally Christmas Eve."
"Yeah, I can't believe it either!" exclaimed Hermione's other best friend Luna.
While Padma and Luna were brushing their teeth in the bathroom, Hermione tumbled out of bed and ran to the shower. She emerged 10 minutes later trying to decide what to wear.
"Wear your white ribbed turtleneck sweater with the bright red, sleeveless pullover and low-rise blue jeans," suggested Padma.
"Thanks Padma, that'll be perfect."
"Your gold locket will be great with it, too," added Luna.
"You, too, Luna."
She did a quick dry spell for her hair, applied a touch of lip-gloss, and then the three of them went down to the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were already there. As usual Ron was trying to speak with his mouth full of eggs. As Harry looked past Ron's head, he noticed Hermione, Luna, and Padma talking with Ron's sister, Ginny.
Finally, walking away Hermione saw Harry and sat down next to him, as Padma talked to her sister, Parvati. Luna sat on her other side.
"Good morning, Harry!"
"Good morning to you, too! Hey, do you and Luna want to join Ron and me outside after breakfast?"
"Sure, that'll be great," Hermione replied while helping herself to a piece of buttered toast and some pumpkin juice. "What do you say Luna?"
"No, I don't think so."
Approximately 20 minutes later, the three of them walked out into the beautiful, winter wonderland. Hermione threw a small white snowball at the back of Harry's head.
"HEY!" he exclaimed while looking at Ron. "That's cold!"
"Don't look at me, I didn't do it," he replied quickly.
Hermione picked up another snowball and this time threw it at Ron. Eventually, the guys caught on to the game and they started having a snowball fight. Finally when they were freezing from being hit with so many snowballs, they decided to go down to visit the 'Game Keeper', Hagrid.
Harry walked up to the cottage that sat at the edge of the 'Dark Forest' and knocked on the front door.
"Hiya, Hagrid," he said.
"Hello, Hagrid," Ron stated.
"Hello, Hagrid, Happy Christmas," Hermione said politely.
"'Appy Christmas, you three," Hagrid replied. "Care to join me for a cup o' tea?"
"Sure, that would be great," Harry assured.
At about 2:30, Hermione left to get ready for the dance.
"The Ball is not until 7:00, why is she going to get ready now?" Harry asked confused. "I mean it can't take that long."
"Oh, Harry, you've a lot to learn about women!" Hagrid insisted.
Meanwhile, up in the Ravenclaw 7th year girls' dormitory, Hermione and her friends Padma and Luna were busy fixing their hair for the ball. Hermione decided on a French twist with little ringlets framing her face. Padma was just going to have her long dark hair pulled back into a snowflake clip and Luna just left her blonde hair down in loose waves.
When the girls finally finished getting ready, they made their way down to the Great Hall. Harry, Neville, and Ron were waiting in the entryway for the girls to make their appearance. Neville was the first to turn toward the stairway when the girls showed up. Luna descended first in a floor length, spaghetti-strap gown with alternating shades of purple and yellow fringe. Padma followed in a floor length gown of pink and black silk. The sleeves only attached to the dress at the top of the straps and the pink portion of the skirt was studded with black crystals. Hermione followed last in a floor length, sleeveless gown. The bodice was midnight blue velvet with silver embroidery of the celestial bodies, which she had enchanted to imitate to true night sky (shooting stars), and the skirt was royal blue chiffon. Midnight blue chiffon draped behind her, attached to her arms, just above her elbows, with royal blue velvet cuffs enchanted just like the dress bodice.
Neville was the first to notice that the girls were descending the stairs. Ron turned towards them and jabbed Harry in the side to get his attention.
"Hey Harry, look up there!"
He looked at the spot Ron was pointing, and almost forgot to breathe when he saw Hermione come down the last stair.
"Wow! Hermione, you look … Wow!" Harry said very nervously.
"Thanks, Harry! You look pretty wow yourself!"
"You look wonderful too, Luna," said Ron.
"Padma, you're pretty, too," Neville stated.
The three couples then walked into the Great Hall and Ron almost had a heart attack when he saw who was dancing with Ginny.
"Oh, my gosh! No, it can't be!" He cried.
But it was. Draco Malfoy was with her. It took all the strength that Harry and Neville had together to keep Ron from attacking the two people on the floor.
Once Ron had again retrained himself, the group spread out on the dance floor.
Finally, it was the very last dance of the night as Harry led Hermione outside.
"Harry, what are we doing out here? It's freezing!"
He then took off his jacket and gave it to her.
"Here, take this. What do you think Ole'Voldie's got up his sleeve for me come New Year's?"
"I'm not sure, Harry. I mean I'm scared and we know that he must be getting desperate, considering you've destroyed all of the horcruxes. Aren't you scared?"
"Nope. Don't worry though, Hermione. As long as I have you, Voldemort doesn't stand a chance."
"What are you saying, Harry?"
"Hermione, I love you."