Chapter 4

Love Confessions

Harry went the rest of the week hardly seeing Raya. She was in most of his classes and yet he did not speak to her at all. Worst of all Dumbledore kept throwing awkward glances whenever he caught Harry staring at Raya. Finally Dumbledore announced that there was going to be a Halloween Dance.

"So Ron who are you thinking of asking?" asked Harry when he and Ron and Neville were alone in the Boys Dormitories.

"You know Harry," said Ron uneasily.

"Yeah," said Harry, "but its fun making you say it."

"Hermione, okay, you happy," hissed Ron, "but I can't. She told me that Krum is coming over from Durmstrang just to go to the dance with her. I can't believe she got back together with him, after all this time!"

Harry knew Ron liked Hermione. But he really did think I was fun making Ron admit his feelings out loud about Hermione. He also knew that Hermione did not like Krum at all and had just asked him to the dance to make Ron jealous. She succeeded.

"What about you Neville?" asked Ron, trying to change the subject.

"I was actually thinking about asking Luna," said Neville, "I mean I don't think she's expecting anyone to ask her. Do you think she'll say yes?"

"Why not?" asked Harry, "I think she likes you Neville, she is always giving you the glossy eyed stare."

Ron laughed.

"How 'bout you Harry?" asked Ron, "Who are you thinking about asking?"

"Well," said Harry, "I was actually thinking of asking Raya."

"Raya," repeated Ron slowly in disbelief, "Draco won't let her out of his sight, you think he is going to let you take her to the dance."

"Well," said Harry, "its worth a try, she's really pretty."

"Good luck to you then," said Neville.

It was three days before the Halloween Dance.

Ron was walking down the staircase from the boys' dormitories when he saw Hermione in the common room. She was holding a letter. And she was crying.

Ron ran down the staircase, skipping down most of them, as fast as he could and pulled Hermione into an embrace.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" asked Ron, holding her tight.

"Oh, Ron," said Hermione, "this is awful. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"For what?" asked Ron patting her gently on the back, "shh, for what?"

"This letter," she started and then collapsed into tears.

Ron just held her for a little, sort of feeling awkward because he wasn't sure if it was something that he did to make her upset.

Finally Hermione started to speak again.

"This letter is from Viktor," said Hermione, "he said that he found someone else."

Ron, in that moment, hated Viktor Krum more than anything else in the world. More than a bad batch of fudge. More than spiders. More than Snape. More than anything.

"It's not even that I liked him," confessed Hermione and Ron looked shocked though Hermione didn't see, having her face pressed up against his shoulder. "I never loved him, I just wanted to make someone jealous."

Ron's heart sunk, it was probably Harry. Harry was famous. So of course, she would try to impress him by having a famous boyfriend.

"Its just that I hate being dumped," Hermione cried into his shoulder, "it feels so awful."

Ron's jaw trembled with anger. How could Krum do this to her? His Hermione. He wanted to try and make her feel better.

"Look on the bright side, at least you had a boyfriend, I've never really had anyone that was mine," said Ron, hoping they were comforting words.

"What are you talking about," said Hermione, "what about Lavendar?"

Ron cringed remembering his drunken mistake of kissing Lavender Brown and beginning a relationship he never truly wanted in the first place. Well, no, that's not true, he wanted it, but only for the reason that he was so angry that Hermione had kissed Krum that he wanted to get back at her. But the tables turned when Lavender became too attached and Ron fell more and more in love with Hermione.

"She didn't really count," replied Ron, "she was never really mine. I've never really had anything that was mine. I mean totally and completely mine. I came from a household of hand-me-downs and leftovers. Even here most of the things I have to share with Harry. Dorm room, books, you…"

"What?" said Hermione, her head shot up to look at him.

"Um," Ron started to stutter, he hadn't meant to say that, "it's just that, I've always come second, I'm always second and losing to some other bloke -"

"Ron," she interrupted him quietly.

"Yes?" asked Ron, looking down at her.

"It was you," said Hermione, "the one I was trying to make jealous."

Ron went into a state of shock. He had suddenly become aware of just how close he was holding her.

"And if you want something that is yours. Totally and completely yours," she stood on her tip toes and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. She pulled back.

"You've always been first in my eyes," she said quietly looking into his eyes.

Ron didn't know what to say. It was like in a matter of minutes every dream he had ever had since he was eleven was coming true. He knew he had to say something but he didn't trust his voice, so he did the next best thing. He covered her mouth with his and took her into a soft and gentle kiss. He didn't relax until he felt Hermione's arm snake around his neck. After a couple minutes she parted her lips for a second from his yet their lips were still only millimeters apart.

"I love you Ron," she whispered.

No words were ever spoken, or ever could be spoken, that could have made Ron happier.

"I love you too Hermione," said Ron.

And he immediately pulled her back into the kiss.

Little did they know that Harry was climbing through the portrait hole into the common room. Harry then saw his two best friends. Together. Well, very together. And he was happy. He tip toed silently across the common room, up the stairs and shut the door to the boys' dormitories. Then he said out loud, "FINALLY!"

Meanwhile. Neville was looking in the library for ironing charms for his robes. He spotted Luna sitting at one of the many tables all by herself flipping through a magazine, which happened to be upside down.

"Um, hi, Luna," said Neville awkwardly.

"Hullo Neville," said Luna, looking up from the newest edition of the Quibbler she had been reading.

"Well, Luna," said Neville and he sat beside her, "well, has anyone asked you to the dance yet?"

"What do you think Neville?" asked Luna sarcastically, looking back down at her magazine.

"Well," said Neville, "Would you like to go with me?"

Luna's head popped up. She took a sharp intake of breath before nodding vigorously.

"Yeah," said Luna, then a confused and hurt look came over her face, "is this just a joke? Please tell me if it is."

"No," said Neville, "I wouldn't ever play a joke like that on anyone!"

"Okay," said Luna looking deep into his eyes, "I believe you."

"Great," said Neville, "so I'll meet you in the hall in front of the Great Hall."

"Okay," said Luna smiling.

"Alright," said Neville, "bye! See ya later!"

"Bye!" said Luna and she returned to her magazine slowly turning it right side up, however she looked a great deal happier.

It was the day before the dance.

Ron, Hermione, and Harry were walking down the hallway that nice Friday afternoon for lunch.

"I can't believe it," said Hermione.

"What?" asked Harry.

"Did you hear? Pansy Parkinson wasn't getting any invites so she is going with Goyle!" said Hermione laughing.

"Wow!" said Ron, "Pansy finally realized who was on her level."

All three of them laughed.

Then all they made their way down the hallway they heard voices. They were coming from an empty classroom of which the door hadn't been shut the whole way.

"So," said the first voice, which sounded like Draco, "how many invites have you gotten."

"Quite a few," said the second unmistakable voice of Raya, "but I haven't excepted any of them."

"Yeah," said Draco, "me either."

"Do you want to go together?" asked Draco, "we'd go as friends, of course."

"It would be a lot easier going with you than some stranger," said Raya, "I don't know anybody here."

"You know Harry," said Draco laughing. "Why don't you ask him?"

"Draco!" laughed Raya, "you're insane! Ask Harry to go to the dance with me! Honestly!"

"I was only joking!" said Draco, "I have go to lunch."

"And I have to go speak with Professor Sprout," said Raya.

"Alright," said Draco, "see ya later!"

"Bye!" said Raya.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched Raya walked briskly ahead of them and out of the Hogwarts main doors.

"Tough Luck mate," said Ron, "looks like she doesn't like you that way."

At that same moment the trio noticed that Dumbledore was behind them.

They turned around and saw him. He just shook his head and walked away.

"What do you suppose that was about?" asked Hermione, turning to look at Harry again.

Ron sighed and draped his arm around Hermione's shoulder, "Who knows why Dumbledore does anything. The purpose will all be revealed at the end of the year like it always is."

They walked outside and began taking a stroll on the Hogwarts grounds.

"So," said Harry, "I guess asking Raya is out. Well, Ron, um I was kinda wondering something."

"What?" asked Ron.

"Well, I kinda wanted to ask this girl to the dance, even before Raya, but I am not sure if I can," said Harry.

"Why not?" asked Ron, looking puzzled.

"Well let's just say that her brother may kill me if I do," said Harry.

Comprehension dawned on Hermione's face. She smiled at Harry.

"Well he shouldn't," said Ron, not picking up the hint quite as quickly as Hermione, "any girl would lucky to have you for a boyfriend."

"Even Ginny?" asked Harry.

"WHAT!" exclaimed Ron, "OUT OF ALL THE GIRLS OF THIS SCHOOL YOU HAD TO CHOOSE MY INNOCENT BABY SISTER!"

"You just said that any girl would be lucky to have me for a boyfriend!" said Harry.

"WELL NOT GINNY!" yelled Ron his face growing red.

"Oh Ron!" said Hermione, "please. Its not like Harry is going to do anything bad to her."

"Fine!" said Ron, "but if you EVER hurt her, you will have me to deal with!"

"Okay!" said Harry, "I'll go find her and ask her."

Harry left and went towards the Gryffindor Common Room. There were lots of students walking around the common room. Harry searched for Ginny. He spotted her sitting on the couch in front of the fire reading what looked like a card and smiling.

"Hey Ginny," said Harry, making her jump, "Whatcha got there?"

"Oh!" said Ginny, catching her breath from the scare, "just a love note."

"Oh really," said Harry mischievously, but inside he was feeling his heart go into his throat, "from who?"

"From that Ravenclaw, Michael," said Ginny, "he said having an older girlfriend was nice for while but he feels that now that he has seen the rest of the girls and been with them that he thought I was okay! Can you believe that? The nerve of him."

"That is pretty low," said Harry, sitting down beside her, relief washing over him.

"He's asking me to the dance," said Ginny quietly and looking at the letter.

"What are you going to say?" asked Harry.

"No!" said Ginny quickly, "well, maybe yes, I mean I can't get a date otherwise."

"Sound casual," Harry thought.

"Well, how 'bout me?" he asked, trying his best to make it look like he didn't desperately want to go with her.

"You?" asked Ginny, looking taken aback, "don't you have some beautiful girl that is dying to go with you that you could say yes to."

"Well the prettiest girl in Hogwarts is sitting next to me," said Harry, "so how 'bout it? Wanna come to the dance with me?"

"Alright,' said Ginny, blushing and ducking her head down so her hair caught the firelight, making it look even more beautiful than it already was. "Wait! What about Ron?"

"I already got his permission," said Harry.

"You came up here to ask me?" asked Ginny, "I thought you were just trying to be nice!"

"Yeah well," said Harry blushing and looking sheepish, "I really wanted to ask you."

"Well," said Ginny standing up, looking a little flustered, "I gotta get to bed. See you tomorrow night!"

Hey! Guess what! One more time I'm sorry that you haven't found out the big secret yet. I have a lot to write and I do not want each chapter to be too long, or you'll lose interest. So next chapter for sure, for sure. PLEASE REVIEW!