The Ministry Ball
(hello all! I've only received 2 comments on my little story, and a bit more feedback would certainly be appreciated. I hope you are all enjoying it, because it is a pleasure to write it. I, sadly, did not think up Harry Potter. That pleasure goes to J.K Rowling, what a gal. This chapters a bit more fun, enjoy!)
The week before they were all set to go to Hogwarts there was to be a ministry ball. It was Kingsley's idea: To show the ministrys strength and function. Mrs. Weasley went on board to help with the invites, a way to keep her mind off of Fred. Ginny, George, Ron, and Harry kept busy by also helping. They were on a board of other ministry members, surrounded by influential witches and wizards. The goal was to unite the wizarding world under a strong ministry, with no designation between pure bloods, or half bloods. And no supremacy over muggles. In fact, the muggle prime minister was set to appear.
There was a special table set aside for the Weasleys, including the Grangers, Harry, and Tonks' mother. This would be the first time Ron and Harry had seen Hermione in weeks. Harry could tell Ron was extremely anxious.
"you know" mentioned Ron. "Hermione and I had never kissed before that night. Maybe…maybe she just did it under pressure"
"I certainly don't think so." Pushed Harry. "I think she knew she had to do it then because things could've turned out bad. Now she has no worries, so is taking her time. That what I'm doing, at least"
"well either way, I can't wait to see her at the ball…she's gonna look great" smiled Ron dreamily.
Harry rolled his eyes and said nothing. Truth was…tonight he hoped to spend some real time with Ginny. Lately, it had gotten too hard for him to not put his arms around her, or grab her hand. The Grangers were to arrive at the Weasleys before the ball. Ron was gussying up to make his best impression. To emphasize the whole "pro muggle" thing, the wizards planned to dress like muggles. That meant they would wear actual muggle suits and gowns. The boys had gone shopping the week before and had quite a time picking out clothing. George brought a bright purple suit, Charlie a pink one, Ron a blue one, and Harry decided to go with white. He of course knew that black was traditional, but didn't want to spoil their fun. Mr. Weasley bought a green suit with black pin stripes from a Halloween store. Harry just hoped the muggle prime minister knew they weren't making fun.
First, Charlie arrived at the burrough with Hagrid. Hagrid made to real effort to look good, seeing as there weren't any muggle clothing that would ever fit him. Bill and Fleur showed up next, he in a classic black suit as Harry noticed. Fleur however, clad herself in a Versace gown that she later explained was sent to her my her muggle aunt.
"she vorks for ze company" boasted Fleur.
Ginny hurried down the stairs to greet her brothers, and Harry did a double take. She was dressed in a cocktail length, turquoise silk halter next dress. Harry couldn't remember a time where anything looked that good.
"close your mouth" urged Ron, with a elbow to Harry's ribs.
"oh, sorry" murmered harry, dragging his eyes away.
"too late- she saw you staring" Ron coughed back.
Ginny approached them, and Ron darted away.
"Hi harry" she said shyly.
"You look great" blurted Harry, blushing red.
"As do you. Did you actually comb your hair?" she joked.
"actually, your mum did it for me" said harry, smiling.
"So are you going to ask me to dance tonight" asked Ginny bravely.
"I planned on it yes" breathed Harry. "And I'm stuck on that dress ginny. I mean your so pretty, but that dress was just made for you/ if you don't mind me saying"
"I don't mind. Hermione and I went shopping and this was the first dress put on. My, muggles do things in abundance! There were so many. Hermione went through at least 10" exclaimed Ginny.
"true" said harry.
"I was lucky to find the perfect dress so quickly…because I really wanted you to notice me" mumbled Ginny.
"I'd notice you either way. You could've worn a sack and I'd see you clearly" cooed Harry, brushing her hair from her face.
"oh no" mrs. Weasley said from the other room.
"what is it dear?" asked mr. weasley, trying to figure out his tie.
"the grangers won't be attending this evening. Hermione's in St. Mungo's, she's caught a wizards cold. She's coming along well though, she'll be right as rain in a few days. Oh what a shame" expressed Mrs. Weasley.
Ron's face just cried disappointment.
"it's okay mate" said George, patting him on the back. "I can be your date!"
"Alright everyone, I suppose we'd better get going" announced Mr. Weasley.
They arrived to a well lit hall, decorated to the nines. The girls ood and aaahd, while other just as strangely dressed Wizards arrived.
"harry!" called Luna, who has just arrived with her father. Mr. Lovegood gave Harry a strict nod, obviously not forgetting how he had sold them out to the dark lord. Harry gave Luna a big hug, noticing Dean giving him an incredulous look.
"Luna are you with Dean?" asked Ginny.
"Not really but I think he wants me to be" said Luna passively.
George laughed, nudging a disgruntled Ron into the joke.
"ah there's Neville!" said Luna with a bright face. "And Hannah! It's been so long."
"they're holding hands" said Ginny in a girly tone. "awwwwwwe"
It was a wonderful reunion among friends. Harry waved to Kingsley as he passed his table, who returned the favor with a broad smile. He was conversing with a slightly amused muggle prime minister. Harry couldn't help but feel enormous pride over what he helped achieve. He was alive in the best time possible. As soon as the music started up, couples hit the dance floor with a vengeance. George grabbed his old friend Angelina Johnson, and dragged her to the dance floor. She looked absolutely delighted, reminding her of the Yule ball all those years back. Luna grabbed a depressed Ron and forced him to dance.
"well common then" said Harry, holding his hands out to Ginny who grabbed them with a fervor.
They spun around other couples, such as Bill and Fleur, Hannah and a very hyper Neville, and even the Prime minister and his wife. When the music ended it was time to eat. The group sat and exchanged stories, and questions.
"Harry I still don't understand" said Neville scratching his head.
"neither do I" admitted George. "And I've been meaning to ask you but haven't gotten the nerve"
"understand what?" asked harry.
"How you came back from the dead" said Ginny quietly.
"I was wondoring when someone would ask me about this. It is asuch a complicated answer; even I don't understand wholly" said harry, furrowing his brow.
"I'm his best friend and I don't even get it" said Ron honestly.
"I guess the best way I can put it is Voldemort didn't kill me. He killed the part of him that was in me. He weakened himself, and freed me."
"that's strange magic it is" commented Angelina.
They moved on to other topics while Ginny turned to harry.
"Did it hurt awefully?" she asked painfully.
"not awefully." Harry began. "truth is- I thought about you. It kept my mind off of the pain. Because the pain of knowing I'd never be with you was my diversion"
Ginny cuddled into him with a pained expression. Just then, they noticed Viktor Krum arrive with his parents. He made a beeline straight for them with a broad smile.
"'ello!" he said with his arms out in a greeting gesture.
"Viktor it is so good to see you" said Harry Mildly.
They heard a squeal and Fleur threw herself at him with a huge hug.
"I thought you vere dead!" she said. "ve and't eard vrom you!"
Krum patted her on the back, seeing Bill's death glare.
"I vas just at ermionee's. She wrote that she vos seek" he exlplained.
Harry felt Ron's whole body tense up.
"oh no" muttered Ginny.
"relax Ron, you knew they wrote" calmed harry.
"I really didn't know it was deep enough that he would visit." Ron said, with anger in his voice.
"really Ron, it isn't deep. For what it's worth he knows about you" said Ginny.
"I highly doubt that" and with that Ron got up and pushed past the crowd.
"she vasn't there, but she eesn't here" finished Krum, with a confused look.
"She's in saint mungo's" said george. "she's fine though"
"ah goot. Isn't dat her boyfriend?" asked Krum, nodding at Ron's departing figure.
"in a word, yes" said Harry, seeing Cho Chang walk over to them. Harry was very aware of his arms presence around Ginny's shoulder. Cho didn't seem to notice though.
"Hello everyone" she said, with a glamorous smile.
Ginny snorted, and harry stifled a giggle and squeezed her shoulder.
"vell ello beautiful" said Krum with eyebrows raised.
They started an intense flirt session, and everyone else got back to talking.
"I thought she was traveling" said Ginny under her breathe.
"eh who cares" said harry, becoming aware that Ron hadn't returned yet.
"oh lord" Harry heard george say.
Suddenly harry saw what george was referring too. Ron was in deep conversation with Lavender Brown.
"you have got to be kidding me" said Ginny.
"I really wish I was" said george, and Angelina giggled.
"Will you excuse me" muttered Ginny, getting up to give him an earful.
She returned a few minute's later with a moody Ron.
"I'm going home" he announced.
"oh Ron don't" started Harry.
"I am. I'm too much of a buzz kill to be here tonight" Ron sighed. "and my decisions are officially impaired. Lavender asked to hang out sometime and I said yes. I should be shot"
"yes you should" said Ginny with her arms crossed.
Ron departed, and the ball went on. They danced slow songs, fast songs, listened to a lengthy speech, laughed, cried, and had a great time.