Chapter 22:

That Saturday morning was very busy for the female population of Hogwarts. As Harry and Ron observed, they didn't seem to see a girl all day that wasn't in a hurry to get somewhere else.

"Dark magic," Ron said as he looked around the half empty Great Hall. "I mean none of them even want to eat."

"They're afraid they'll look bloated," Neville said matter of factly.

Ron started blankly at Neville. "Thank you for that brilliant observation, Neville."

"It'll all be over tomorrow," Harry said. "We just have to make it though the night."

"I don't see why you aren't looking forward to this," Seamus said grinning. "I mean you're going with Lily. Maybe you'll get…"

"I don't intend on getting anything," Harry said somewhat afraid of what Seamus was going to say next. Ron was doubled over with laughter.

"Well it should be an interesting night," Dean said shrugging.

"They always are," Harry said looking up. He had an uneasy feeling that something interesting was in fact going to happen. "Interesting isn't always good," he thought to himself.

******************

"How do I look?" Ron said turning to face Harry, who was sitting on his bed.

"You're robes match your eyes," Harry said sarcastically as he tied his shoe.

"As do yours," Ron said as he took his hand and messed up his already messy red hair leaving pieces of it sticking straight up.

"Hermione will love that," Harry said as he walked over to the mirror and straightened out his glasses.

"I was thinking about turning my hair blue for the night," Ron said with a mischievous smile appearing on his face. "You know so it'll all match."

"She'd kill you," Harry said laughing as he glanced at Neville who emerged from the bathroom.

"What time is it?" Neville asked.

"Half past seven," Harry said glancing at Ron. "We've got fifteen minutes before we have to go downstairs and meet them."

"All right," Ron said breathing in deeply. "I'm ready."

"I'm sure you are," Harry said grinning. "This night is long over do for you."

"You can say that again," Ron mumbled quietly. "I'll be able to handle it though."

"I'll laugh if you bug out," Harry said laughing.

"That's not going to happen," Ron said laughing too.

"Well I do wish you the best," Harry said sighing. "Whatever that may be. Remember though, she's my best friend and…well you know what I'll have to do if…"

"I'm your best friend too," Ron said looking at him.

"Exactly," Harry said. "It work both ways. She does it to you….I laugh."

"Thanks," Ron said sarcastically. "Are you going to talk to my sister tonight."

"I think so," Harry mumbled quietly. "I mean I'm not going to try and win her back, but I just want to clear things up."

"How are you going to clear things up?" Ron asked. "I mean you're not going to tell her are you?"

Harry just stared blankly at Ron. "Come on, let's go downstairs."

"Wait," Ron said as Harry reached for the door knob. "How do I look? Seriously."

"Fine," Harry said shrugging. "Don't be nervous. It's just Hermione. I mean she's seen you covered in dog salvia and vomiting slugs."

"Not my finer moment, eh?" Ron said as he took a step towards the door.

"Not really," Harry said grinning. "Come on." The two of them made there way down into the common room where they saw several couples standing around talking. Harry noticed that there were several other boys standing around looking hapless, most likely waiting for their dates.

"There's Lavender," said Ron as he watched Lavender walk past them. "Wearing…lavender.."

"Actually," Lavender said turning to face them. "It's lilac."

"Sorry…" Ron said not sounding sorry at all. "Where's Seamus?"

"Around," Lavender said with a casual wave of her hand. "I'm mingling. You look nice though. You'll match Hermione and Lily nicely."

"But do I match my eyes?" Ron said as he widened his eyes and moved inches away from Lavender's face.

"Yes, yes," Lavender said backing up. "Honestly…Seamus!!"

Ron and Harry turned to see where Lavender was yelling to. Immediately they burst out laughing as Seamus approached wearing a purplish robe.

"Shut up," Seamus mumbled as he walked past them and over to Lavender.

"Thank god my eyes aren't purple," Ron mumbled to Harry.

"You are so focused on this eye thing," Harry said glancing up towards the girls dorm. "I know you're nervous, but still…"

"Ginny!" Ron said not paying attention to Harry. Instead he was yelling to his sister who was standing next to Neville.

Ginny smiled awkwardly as she slowly walked over to where Ron and Harry were standing. She quickly glanced at Harry before looking at her brother.

"Well don't you look nice," Ron said looking her bronze robes up and down.

"Yeah," Harry said agreeing. "You look really nice."

"Thank you. You both do as well," Ginny said quietly as Neville came over and rested a hand on her shoulder. Both Ron and Harry seemed to have identical reactions of suddenly wanting to rip Neville's arm out of its socket.

"Neville, I'll warn you now," Ron said. "I know where you sleep…"

"Don't worry," Neville said as he glanced at Ginny. "It's going to be a fun evening. Ready Ginny?"

"Yes," Ginny said as she glanced from Neville to Harry to Ron. "Have fun tonight."

"We will," Harry said smiling slowly as he watched as Neville and Ginny exit out of the portrait hole.

"Those hands better stay north of the equator," Ron said glancing at Harry.

"I hear you," Harry said nodding. "I'll be watching just as closely as you…"

"What are we looking at?" came a female voice from beside Harry.

"Lily!" Harry said turning to face his mum. She sure enough looked beautiful in her emerald green robes. Her hair was all tucked up in an elegant bun and her eyes seemed to stand out dramatically. Harry didn't even have to question as to how his father could have fallen in love with her.

"You both look smashing," Lily said smiling mischievously.

"You look great," Ron said as he looked Lily up and down before he got a look from Harry that made him stop.

"So?" Lily said looking at Harry. "Think you dad would have approved?"

"Definitely," Harry said grinning. "You look fantastic."

"Well thanks," Lily said smiling. "Oh Ron, Hermione will be down in a second. I think she's nervous. She looks lovely though."

"It'll be nice to see what she looks like without all those books," Ron said laughing.

"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised," Lily said grinning as her eyes suddenly focused on something behind Ron and Harry. The both turned to see Hermione standing there in her royal blue robes. Her hair was slick and straight, like she usually did it for occasions, but it looked really pretty with half of it up in a curly cluster with a few tendrils escaping to frame her face. Harry and Ron's mouths both dropped.

She smiled nervously at both of them. "Well, say something!?"

"Wow," Harry finally managed to mumbled. "You clean up nice…"

"Thanks," Hermione said as she blushed furiously. "Ron?" Ron didn't respond. He just stared blankly at her.

"Ron," Lily said nudging him. "Generally, it's a good start to a date when you actually…you know…talk to them."

"I'm not going to bug out," Harry said mocking Ron.

Ron blinked a few times before coming to his senses. "You nice look..!"

"Ok?" Hermione said grinning. "You Tarzan, me Jane.."

"Tar-who?" Ron asked.

"It's a muggle thing," Lily said smiling. "I think you meant to say that she looks nice?"

"Yeah," Ron said somewhat confused. "What she said."

"Well," Hermione said as she stepped closer to him. "You do too. Are we ready to go?"

"Yeah," Harry said as he gestured for Hermione and Lily to walk in front of them. He caught Ron's eyes and gave him a thumbs up as Ron bit his fist. "Good job not bugging out…"

"Yeah," Ron whispered. "You didn't tell me she was going to look like that!"

"She doesn't look that different," Harry said. "You just fancy her so she looks…"

"Shut up," Ron said. "What I say goes right now!"

"Yes, sir," Harry said as they both existed the portrait hole after their dates.

The foursome entered the Great Hall to see lots of Hogwarts students laughing and complimenting each other. The Hall was lavishly decorated in various colors and the ceiling was a lovely shade of dusky pink.

"Looks nice," Harry said glancing around and smiling at Lily. "Don't you think?"

"Yeah," Lily said grinning. "They really went all out. They never used to put this much effort into decorating when we had balls."

"Shall we sit?" Harry said glancing around at his friends.

"How about over there?" Hermione said pointing to a table that had Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, and a Ravenclaw boy whose name Harry couldn't remember.

"Oh fun," Ron mumbled to Harry as Hermione pulled him in the direction of the table. "Let's sit with the happy couple!"

"Hello everyone," Hermione said as she approached the half empty table. "You all look nice."

"Wow," Seamus said wide eyed as he looked at Lily and Hermione.

"Seamus…" Lavender said as she elbowed him hard in the ribs. "You all look nice," she muttered quickly.

"Thanks," Lily said sitting down. "Parvati did you change?"

"I'm Padema," she said smiling. "Parvati's twin sister."

"Oh," Lily said glancing at Harry goofily. "Her twin…"

"Yup," Harry said trying to restrain his laughter. They both looked as if they were going to burst at the seems from something that was obviously funny to them.

"This is Terry," Lavender said pointing to the boy sitting next to Padema. "He's in Ravenclaw."

"Nice to meet you," the four of them said smiling.

"Dean and Parvati should be here soon," Seamus said slowly. "Apparently Dean decided upon a different color than Parvati and him had originally chosen. She made him go and change."

"You're joking," Ron said shaking his head.

"What's so far fetched about that?" Lavender asked confused.

"Nothing," Ron said glancing at Hermione.

"People are starting to dance," Lily said glancing over to the dance floor. "Come on Harry."

"Uhh…" Harry said glancing around. "You see I have this problem, I'm not exactly a good dancer. I can do the slow ones, but the fast ones like this…"

"Don't want to here it," Lily said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him up. She led him over to the dance floor. "If I could teach your father how to dance, I can teach you."

"I'm sure he wasn't as bad as me," Harry said looking around at all the people dancing.

"Harry," Lily said laughing. "I don't think anyone could really be as bad as your dad was. Then again it may have been nerves. I told you how he would not stop stepping on my feet. As long as you don't do that you'll be fine." With that she started instructing him on what to do and soon enough they were dancing and laughing and having a great time.

"Come on Ron," Harry said a little later as he took a break. "You're not going to take Hermione out there to dance?"

"Harry," Ron said as he watched Harry wipe the sweat off his forehead. "Do you realize how ridiculous you look?"

"Why?" Harry asked. "Because I'm dancing at a ball?"

"No," Ron said. "It's just…"

"What's the hold up?" Lily said coming over to Ron. "Why are you sitting? It's called a dance, not a sit."

"Actually," Ron said interjecting. "It's called a ball…"

"Shut up," Lily said pulling Ron up. "Where's Hermione?"

"Bathroom," Ron said.

"Well then," Lily said looking at Harry. "If you could, please tell Hermione when she gets back to join Ronald on the dance floor. I'm going to warm him up."

"I can't dance," Ron said plea fully.

"Doesn't work," Harry said grinning as Lily led Ron out to the dance floor.

"You look like your having a great time," Seamus said looking up at Harry.

"I am," Harry said smiling. "She's a lot of fun."

"Yeah," Seamus said as she watched her trying to instruct Ron on what to do. "She seems to be in a really good mood for once. Usually she's always down and out."

"I know," Harry said. "I don't what's gotten into her, but its fun. Why don't you go dance?"

Seamus made a head movement towards Lavender who was lecturing Parvati and Padema on the essentials of facial moisturize. "Her call…"

"Sorry," Harry said as he noticed Hermione approach out of the corner of his eye.

"Where's Ron?" she asked.

"Lily's warming him up for you," Harry said grinning. "She was tired of watching you two sitting around. Told me to tell you to go out there when you get back."

"Oh," Hermione said as she looked out to the dance floor and started laughing at the sight of Ron and Lily dancing. As silly as it looked they did look like they were having fun.

"She seems happier," Hermione said as she glanced at Harry.

"Yeah," Harry said vaguely.

"You do too," Hermione said smiling. Harry just smiled as he caught Lily's eye. She saw Hermione and gestured for her to come out to the dance floor.

"Should I go?" Hermione asked.

"He's your date," Harry said.

"She's yours!" Hermione said.

"Ok," Harry said as he stood up. "We'll both go." They both walked out there right as the song ended.

"Good timing," Lily said sarcastically. "You all planned this didn't you?" As she said this a slow song came on and everyone just looked blankly at each other.

"You said you could do this," Lily said looking at Harry. "I don't want to hear any complaints."

She walked over and took one of his hands in hers and rested the other on his shoulder. "Don't step on my feet though."

"I won't," Harry said as he watched the ground.

"Look," Lily said smiling as Harry glanced over his shoulder to see Ron and Hermione dancing.

"Awww," Harry said as he caught Ron's eye. Ron made a face at Harry telling him to shut up.

"They're cute together," Lily said as her and Harry danced. "I mean you can just tell that there's something there."

"Yeah," Harry said. "The past few years I've noticed it. They've both been in denial about it though."

"I think they're starting to come around," Lily said smiling. Harry did too, until he caught a glance of Ginny and Neville slow dancing together. Lily followed his gaze.

"What about you?" Lily said looking at Harry. "Your romantic life?"

"What about it?" Harry said shrugging. "There isn't really one to talk about."

"I doubt that," Lily said. "Maybe you're in denial about something."

"What's that?" Harry asked.

Lily glanced at Ginny.

"I'm not in denial about that," Harry said. "I mean Ginny is Ron's little sister. We're friends…well we were. She's been acting weird lately."

"I think there's a little more to it than just that," Lily said sighing. "Your dad was like this too with me. Sirius told me that for months James kept trying to convince himself that we were just friends and nothing more."

"Why would he do that?" Harry asked.

"James Potter have serious feeling for a girl?" Lily said laughing. "Never! Girls were put on this planet so that he could get a quick snog. Relationships were out of the question."

"Oh," Harry said. "Well, I don't see it like that. I mean if the right girl came along, I could see myself getting serious. I've always felt that way."

"That's what makes you different from your dad," Lily said grinning. "You and Ron are a lot like your dad and Sirius. You both hold a lot of power over the other's decisions, whether you know it or not. Sirius likes variety. It's his personality. James did, but he grew out of it. Much to Sirius' disappointment. If Sirius hadn't been there to help James' make his decisions in the first place, who knows how James would have been. It's confusing I guess, but I'm glad it turned out the way it did."

"I bet," Harry said.

"Back to the point," Lily said glancing over at Ginny again. "Hermione told me what happened."

"Not surprising," Harry said shrugging.

"I'm sorry Harry," Lily said. "I never meant to disrupt your life like this…"

"Don't think that," Harry said seriously. "You definitely did not disrupt my life in a bad way."

Lily smiled. "Just the same though, I really think that you should salvage…that," she said as she gestured towards Ginny.

"Well thanks," Harry said as the song ended and another slow song started up again.

"I'm going to go sit," Lily said. "You can keep dancing though."

"What?" Harry asked. "By myself?"

"No silly," Lily said looking over at Ginny. Harry followed her glance and saw Neville and Ginny headed back to a table. "Go ask her," Lily said pushing Harry towards them. "You need to set things straight. I'll be watching."

"But…" Harry said. "She won't want to talk to me…"

"Go!" Lily said as she headed back to the table. She turned and smiled at Harry before sitting down.

Harry stood there for a second before he realized how stupid he must look standing in the middle of the dance floor by himself. Lily wouldn't let him back down, so there was only one other alternative. He took a very large breath before he started to walk over…