DON'T PRETEND YOU LOVE ME

CHAPTER 18

ASKING THE GIRLS TO THE BALL

After the hard fought game, it was time to celebrate their victory. After Agatha and Euan introduced Harry to their parents, Agatha had invited all of the Gryffindors to the Great Hall to rejoice. Harry would have loved to go but he rather be with Ron and the Weasleys instead.

Mrs. Weasley had given them all life squeezing hugs. She gave them all kisses as well which Ron and Ginny didn't approve much of.

"A nice game Harry." Bill complineted.

"Spectacular catch!" said Charlie excitedly " And Ron, your goal keeping was really amazing back there." He patted his youngest brother on the shoulder.

"Ehem," Ginny cleared her throat, which Bill quickly understood. He went over to Charlie and elbowed him on the ribs.

"Oh! And my baby sister!" said Charlie quickly getting the hint.

"Damn it, Charlie! I still have a year hear! Do you think you can try not to humiliate me for a change?" Ginny snapped at him.

Bill and Charlie smiled in unison.

"Aaaawwwww." said Charlie.

"Doesn't she look precious when she snaps like that?" said Bill.

"Kind of reminds you the first time she let out her first swear word." said Charlie.

Ginny glared at the two.

"I'm going to start telling everyone that I'm adopted." she told them.

"Oh come on. You know Charlie likes his little jokes." said Bill.

Charlie chuckled, "I think you were excellent. You really did the Weasley Clan proud Gin."

With that, Ginny's face brightened.

"Oh Arthur, I'm so proud to be the mother of these children. It seems like yesterday that I was changing Bill's diapers." said Mrs. Weasley appearing to be on the verge of crying.

Bill gave a shocked look "MOTHER!" he shouted, Tonks sniggered behind him.

"Mum, don't do that here." said Fred who leaned over to Mrs. Weasley.

"Hey wait, we don't go here anymore Fred." said George.

Fred turned to George and smiled mischievously "Hey that's right, do go ahead Mum." said Fred.

"Fire away." said George.

"Enough of that you two." said Mr. Weasley.

"Harry! Come here! My parents has something to tell to you!" called Neville, Harry sprinted to them and engaged with a conversation with Neville's parents.

"Oh Arthur, they look so grown up now (Sniff)." said Mrs. Weasley.

"There, there dear, don't cry." said Mr. Weasley who hugged his wife.

"You with diapers, there's a picture for you." Tonks told Bill.

"Fine! I'm showing your baby pictures your mother sent me to work." said Bill.

Tonks gasped, "No! I'm sorry, I'm sorry…I won't do it again, promise!" she pleaded with him.

"Cheers Bill! You got yourself a girlfriend." said George.

"Yeah, go in there and give a little Weasley love." said Fred.

Bill shot them glares of death causing them to suddenly find the ground interesting.

"Why are you still here, Tonks? Don't you have someone to stalk and disturb right now? Maybe Remus could use a friend at this moment." said Bill.

"Don't be jealous, Ginger-head man. I know how to manage my time." Tonks told Bill with a grin.

Fred and George celebrated in silent hoorahs at the corner of Bill's eye but stopped when he placed his hand in his wand pocket.

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Oh, he's over there with Neville." said Hermione.

"Tell him I'm going to put the trophy at the common room if he looks for it." said Ron before leaving with the Quiddtch Cup.

"Oh Hermione, I forgot to tell you how thankful I am for that Muggle encyclopedia you gave me last Christmas. I really love it." said Mr. Weasley.

"You're welcome Mr. Weasley." said Hermione.

Mrs. Weasley suddenly became fixated on Harry.

"Harry gave me a picture of you, Ron and him back in your first year in Hogwarts. (sigh) such a sweet boy. You're a very lucky girl." said Mrs. Weasley to Hermione.

Hermione's cheeks turned slightly red. She had suddenly found herself looking at Harry. She was thinking about what Mrs. Weasley had just said. That she was lucky she have Harry as her boyfriend. Now, she was wondering about how would it be like to be Harry's girlfriend for real. She liked the way the public had responded to them... aside from the girls that sent her Howlers every morning. She then shook her head realizing what she was doing.

"Hermione, snap out of it! What on earth are you doing thinking about that! That's just crazy! He's your best friend for Merlin's sake." her mind spoke to her.

"Hermione dear, are you alright? You look sick, is it something you ate?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

Hermione almost jumped in surprise "What! Oh, it's nothing Mrs. Weasley. I was just thinking about something." Hermione told her.

"Well …if you say so." said Mrs. Weasley looking unconvinced "Were going back Home now, Charlie and Bill are heading off to work."

"Oh, let me and Harry go with you." said Hermione.

"It's alright dear. Let Harry enjoy their win for a little longer. You can join him if you want." said Mrs. Weasley.

"Oh, it's quite alright. I'll be with him later." said Hermione. She walked Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to the gates of the school and there she bid them goodbye before they could disapparate.

Next morinng, Harry and the others woke up to the realization that the impending Lunar Ball was just a day away. Harry suddenly found the whole dormitory blanketed by all kinds of trash that was left after some heavy partying in the Gryffindor Tower. He lazily grabbed his wand and cleaned all the garbage in the room. To his surprise, he found Ron completely naked on the floor. He must have passes out last night and used all the crap he could find as a blanket.

"First I see in the morning is your ass." Harry muttered, "Just great."

Ron who just woke up looked around him. "Who took my blanket." Before falling back to sleep."

Harry sluggishly marched to the bathroom to brush his teeth only to see a tired looking blonde already occupying the sink.

"Please tell me that's not my toothbrush." said Harry.

Draco spat on the sink and grinned. "Nope, I'm using Weasley's."

"You're using a used toothbrush?" Harry asked timidly.

"Nope, it's brand new. I think one of his brothers gave it to him as a present." said Draco as he continued brushing his teeth.

Harry let out a big sigh.

"Move over."

A couple of minutes later, everyone was now up and awake and chatting about getting a date to the Ball. To Harry's relief, Ron was now fully dressed.

"What! You lot haven't asked someone to the Ball yet?" yelled Seamus

"Turn down the crazy switch you touchy Irish." said Draco.

"We were all busy practicing for the Finals in case you didn't notice! No offense Draco." said Ron.

"Why don't you remind me one more time so I can put a third let on your forehead." said Draco sipping a cup of coffee.

"How about you, Harry. You've asked Hermione, right?" asked Neville.

"I haven't." said Harry miserably.

"Come on! You can just waltz to her and ask." said Dean.

"You're her Boyfriend for god's sake, how difficult can it be?" asked Seamus, Ron and Draco sniggered while Harry found Neville trying to hide his smile.

"It's complicated." said Harry.

"On a side note, I think you do have a mean waltz." said Ron.

"For the last time, stop watching me while I'm in the shower!" Harry snapped at him.

"How about you Draco, have you asked Luna yet?" asked Dean.

Draco suddenly stopped sniggering as the expression on his face changed.

"Damn!" he shouted, before quickly dashing off the Dorm room

"That was weird." said Ron.

"It's Draco." Harry reminded.

"Oh, then it's normal then." said Ron.

"How about you, Ron?" asked Dean

"Hey, I know who's he going to ask." said Seamus "Parvati."

"Noooohhh." said a surprised Dean as though the subject was completely scandalous.

"Well?" Neville asked Ron.

"I'm a loser." said Ron.

"We all are." said Harry while patting his best friend's back.

"Well what are you lot still doing here? Go out and ask the girl of your dreams to the Ball." said Seamus pointing towards the door.

Harry and Ron looked exchanged looks before jumping to their feet with fire in their eyes. The two then marched out of the room to do their sole mission.

"Neville, I know you haven't asked Ginny out too so get your butt out of here." said Dean, Neville stood up and did the same as Harry and Ron.

"Where will these people end up without us?" said Dean shaking his head.

"In very sticky situations, Dean. Very sticky situations." said Seamus patting Dean's back.

Harry and Ron were walking down the corridor towards the Great Hall as they were talked about how they were to ask the girls to the Ball without fainting.

"So Harry, how are you going to ask Hermione out?" asked Ron.

"If I knew then I'd tell you." said Harry.

"At least you can ask her in private without being rejected. She has to go with you. You two still have that secrecy thing." said Ron.

"Still doesn't change the fact that I'm going to ask her. It's hard too you know." said Harry.

"It's hard? How come?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"Are you going to ask Padma or what?" asked Harry.

Ron looked at him quietly with a hurt face.

"You're mean when you don't eat breakfast." said Ron.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Look, Padma still doesn't have a date yet. Seamus told me that Lavender told her that Parvati told her that Padma told her that she and Anthony Goldstein are have issues." said Harry.

"God, I love issues."

"So, are we going to walk in or what?"

"Right, I forgot, sorry about that." said Ron.

"What are you girls doing here?" came Draco's voice.

"The same thing why you're here for." said Ron.

"You two are going to ask Luna to the Ball! I'll kill you first!" said Draco with his fist up.

"No… you complete moron. We're going to ask Hermione and Padma to the Ball." said Ron.

"Oh." said Draco "Call me a moron again and you'll be asking your date with tentacles coming out of your ass." he added.

"C'mon you two." said Harry.

The three went inside the Great Hall and found their... err ... targets at the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw table eating breakfast.

"Target sighted." said Draco

Harry, Ron and Draco approached the girls. Hermione was done with her Breakfast and was already reading a book (a thick one), Parvati was having a conversation with Lavender, when she turned around, she saw the three heading their way. She immediately knew what they were there for and that was to ask them to be their dates. Luna on the other hand was talking with Ginny at the Ravenclaw table where Parvati's twin Padma looked like she was having an argument with Anthony Goldstein.

Draco reached Luna's table and saw some Ravenclaw Seventh years that was looking smug and arrogant.

"Luna," the Ravenclaw boy said "Would you- Hey!" suddenly he was rudely pushed aside by someone. He looked up and saw Draco looking at him with those dangerous looking gray eyes.

"What do you think you're doing?" yelled the Ravenclaw boy.

"You want to stay alive, little man? Then you better get out of my sight." Draco threatened him. Suddenly, the Ravenclaw Seventh year area of the Ravenclaw table seemed a little empty.

"Draco?" said Luna.

"My love! What are you doing eating alone like that?" said Draco.

The sound of crickets suddenly filled the wind.

"Can I help you with something." asked Luna.

"Uh- ehem-ah-well." said Draco having a difficult time to say what he was suppose to "I was just wondering if someone had asked you the Ball yet?" asked Draco.

"Yes, someone already asked me out." said Luna smiling at Draco.

"What! I'm going to kill him! Give me his name." said Draco.

"Why? What's the matter?" asked a clueless Luna.

"Why! Because he asked you out and now you're going with some freak instead of me, that's why! I'm going break every bone in his body, starting with his legs so he can't run away." said Draco.

"Draco." said Luna.

"Then I'm going to take out his hands so he can't fight back."

"Draco."

"Then his mouth so he can't scream for help."

"Draco!"

Draco turned around and found Luna's smile widening at him. She then started chuckling behind her hand, enough reason for Draco to stop and gaze at the spectacular sight.

"Draco, I said someone did ask me out, but I didn't say that I said yes." said Luna.

"Oh." said a dumfounded Draco. "I knew that, ha ha ha, just playing a little trick on you there, ha ha ha! So would-would you- oh to hell with it! Luna, my love would you do me the honor of going to Ball with me as my date?" Draco asked quickly as his whole face turned red.

"Sure, I'd love to." said Luna.

"Yeah!" shouted Draco punching the air. "Who's the maaaan!" he pointed at Harry.

Harry, who ignored Draco's latest episode of I'M MORE CRAZY THAN YOU ARE, reached Hermione at the Gryffindor table. He sat down beside her and leaned towards her ear and whispered...

"So, want to come with me to the Ball?" whispered Harry.

Hermione smiled at him "It was very nice of you to ask, Harry. But I thought it's understood that we're going to the Ball together. Well, you know, because of my uncle." whispered Hermione.

"Oh." Was the only that Harry could say.

"And if you really needed to talk to me, you could have used your locket."

"Damn it!" he thought.

Hermione laughed at him. Harry realized that she heard what he just said through the lockets. In irritation, he quickly took it off.

"You hungry?" she said sweetly, still laughing at his folly.

"I'm good." said Harry in embarrassment, "I just thought I'd be formal with you and all." he reasoned.

Hermione chuckled "Well, I thought you'd never ask me anyway." said Hermione.

"Why would you say that?" asked a surprised Harry.

"Let's just say you have a thing with girls." said Hermione.

"I repulse them?"

"No, you dolt."

"Well what is it?"

"Well you never seem to be yourself whenever asking someone out, remember Cho?"

"Hey that was a long time ago!"

"Three years ago to exact."

"I'm over that phase of my life."

"Puberty?"

Harry smiled at her, "I think you're making fun of me."

"I might." said Hermione taking another bite of bacon.

"You'll pay for that, Granger."

"We'll see, Potter."

"Get a room you two." said Lavender Brown who was watching them the whole time.

Meanwhile, Parvati combed her hair with her hands with a look of excitement on her face. He's coming, Ron was walking towards her to ask her out. She was making sure he'd be in awe before he could ask her. She looked at him and waited for him to arrive. She smiled at him as he approached her, she closed her eyes and waited, then she heard him say...

"Do you have a date for the Ball yet? Cause I'm wondering if you want to go with me." said Ron.

Parvati opened her eyes and was stunned by what she saw; Ron was at the other table asking another girl out. The worst part of it was she realized that it was her twin sister Padma.

Padma looked surprised with Ron, so did Anthony who was sitting next to her. Padma looked at Anthony and saw jealousy on his face. She turned back to Ron and gave him a smile.

"Sure Ron, I'd love to." said Padma.

"But-" said Anthony unable to continue.

Ron smiled "Great! I'll talk to you later okay." said Ron.

"Okay." said Padma.

Suddenly, they heard someone burst into tears. They turned to see who it was and saw Parvati running out of the Great Hall.

"Parvati!" called Lavender, but Parvati didn't look back. Lavender decided to go after her best friend so she ran after her with Hermione.

"Well guess what, I have good news and I have a bad news. The good news is you successfully asked Padma to the Ball without fainting. The bad news is you made her twin sister cry, which is hell to pay. I just know it." said Harry while patting Ron's back.

"Tell me I'm not going to regret this." said Ron.

"You're not going to regret this." said Harry.

"For real?"

"Oh no, you'll definitely regret this."

"Attention everyone!" called Professor Dumbledore's voice.

Everyone's focus suddenly turned to the school Headmaster.

"I am sorry to announce that tomorrow's Lunar Ball will be postponed… because of…incidents that cannot be helped." He said the last part looking back at the teacher's table where Sirius and Snape were sitting quietly looking sorry.

"The Ball will be move this Wednesday night." said Dumbledore "Thank you, you may all know continue with your breakfast." he said before returning back to his seat.

The students gave moans of disappointment, as some were seen to be jumping with joy. Harry even heard someone in the crowd say "I still have time to ask her out! Yes!"

"C'mon Ron, you look pale. Want something to eat?" asked Harry.

"Nah, I feel like going back to the common room…and die." said Ron.

"I was thinking the same thing…except, without the dying part." said Harry.

(AN Want more of Snape and Sirius, well here they are...)

When breakfast ended, the Staff was just leaving the table when Snape approached his co teacher.

"Professor Smith, can I have a word." said Snape, Smith looked more than happy to.

"What is it Severus?" asked the bouncy flamboyant yet fashionable Muggle Studies teacher.

"I have something to tell you that will make you very, very pleased." said Snape.

Smith smiled at him and scanned him from head to toe, "And what would that be Severus?" he asked playfully.

"Why are you looking at me that way?" asked Snape, he cleared his throat and regained his composure, "Well Pastor, I know this particular man who has… dare I say, a certain interest in you." said Snape.

Smith's smile grew wider. He gently ran his fingers on Snape's elbow, which Snape didn't realize "And would this person's first name start with the letter 'S'?" asked Smith.

"Yes." said Snape stoically.

"And would he be a teacher in this school?"

"Yes." said Snape tilting his head a little in agreement.

"And would he be standing right in front of me right now?"

"What?" said Snape..

He just realized that Smith was playfully stroking his shoulder. He quickly elbowed Smith's hand and took a few steps back "What on earth are you doing, that's disgusting!"

"You were telling me that you like me weren't you." said Smith.

"What! No! No! Not me, I meant Black. He likes you, I can tell." said Snape while patting his shoulder harshly.

"Really? Sirius? What makes you say that he's gay?" asked Smith.

"Well Pastor, I never told anyone about this story I'm going to tell you now, but I am going to make some exceptions since it is for you." said Snape "You see back then when both of us were still students at this very same school, he always had feelings for me. Eventually I said no, and that's why he and his little gang picked on me, because he couldn't have me." said Snape grinning maliciously.

"Really." said Smith brushing his chin as he visualized something interesting in his mind

Snape narrowed his eyes at him "Yes Smith, really." said Snape.

What dastardly plot is Snape up to? What will happen to Harry and Hermione at the Ball?

xxx

Alright everyone! The Lunar Ball is just a few chapters away. I'd like you guys to give me some songs that I can use at the Ball. Thanks and be sure to give it to me at your reviews.

– finally, thank you! Thanks for the follow up reviews, I really appreciated them. Pls. keep reading this till the end. Yeah, Harry and Draco are kind of friends. I'm a Harry/ Hermione shipper all the way. Who's your favorite characters in the story and which are your favorite pairings?

Saki-Hime – no, you're awesome! Great above anything else. Pls enjoy this chapter.

proudtobeatheaterkid – well I can't wait for your review, tell me what you think.

Wolfgirl666 – I know right! It's awesome just like you. (surrounded by FBI asking me about the escaped wolf girl that made them jump at the t.v. "I told you! I don't know squat! It's not my fault you have a lump on your head, nobody told you to JUMP at the t.v.-Hey, what are you going to do with that baseball bat?" Sweats madly.