As I am NOT the original author of the Harry Potter series, who as anyone should know is the wonderful JKR who lets us play with her world. I don't own a darn thing here. On with the story.
Chapter 42 Christmas Part 2
Hermione looked up from talking with Harry catching the entrance of Neville and Ginny. "I wonder if he realizes what she's up to?" she commented to Harry.
"What?"
"Honestly you're going to have to start noticing things more. Do you see how Neville and Ginny are standing?"
"Yes, side by side walking around greeting people just like we did."
"Not quite my unobservant male husband. If you look closely you will note that Ginny is turned towards Neville slightly." Hermione pointed out.
"I can see that. You do the same thing when we are talking with people,"
"Yes I did to a point but I normally am a slight step away from you when I do. Her shoulder is slightly behind his and given how close she is standing his arm is brushing against her… assets."
Harry shook his head saying, "No way am I talking about another woman's assets with my wife. I can't even talk about them with Ron seeing as that's his younger sister we are talking about."
"That's wise Harry I just hope Neville realizes what's going on."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Harry how do you think Ginny will feel if she is going though all this effort to draw Neville's attention and he doesn't react." Hermione explained.
"Oh…"
"I think it would be worse than just Oh."
Dumbledore stood quieting the room as people noticed him, "I just wanted to say welcome to the Yule Ball and Everyone should remember that curfews have been extended by one hour only so please insure you are back to your common rooms by the proper time. With that said let the feast begin." He said sitting back down as everyone's plate suddenly contained a menu.
"That's smart." Hermione said taking the menu in her hand.
"Yes prevents mishaps like Ron ordering his meal before everyone was even in the room." Harry said remembering the previous Yule Ball as he picked his menu off the plate choosing steak and potato's while Hermione went with the fish.
The meal was subdued as everyone was concentrating on eating and not making a fool of themselves with all the extra silverware at each setting. It was obvious that most of the lower grades were watching the sixth and seventh years for clues as to which utensil to use.
Harry happen to glance at Dumbledore and saw a note suddenly appear. Dumbledore looked at it, waited a few more moments then stood saying, ". If everyone would be so kind as to stand away from their table I believe it is time to re-arrange things for the dance" he waited until they were all standing and with a wave of his wand the tables vanished and the chairs made their way to the outer walls navigating around the standing students.
"Quite a good trick, I like this better than what he did last time." Harry said a smile on his face.
With a second wave of his wand a stage appeared off to one side of the head table and out walked several recent 7th years instruments hanging off them. "Hey Hogwarts, We're Ministry Rejects and we've got your number!" The obvious front man yelled turning to the group and wind milling his arm. The rest of the group started playing a song that none of the students recognized but the beat and lyrics soon had most of the students on the dance floor exhibiting various levels of ability.
"They are good!" several of the students yelled to Harry and Hermione who had moved down and were dancing just in front of the head table where the goblins could still protect her.
Harry nodded and continued to dance with Hermione. Much to the amusement of the other professors who obviously felt uncomfortable letting go to the extent the Potters were.
Half way through the dance Harry and Hermione returned to their seats looking out over the crowd. "I see the third year Hufflepuffs are dancing together while their older partners are together." Harry pointed out.
"Yes quite a nice way to get around the age restrictions. I feel bad the Gryffindor's didn't think of it." Hermione complained then pointed out Neville and Ginny making their way to the side door.
Neville and Ginny were headed out to catch some air when Neville intending to tease Ginny about his dancing ability at the Yule Ball two years ago said, "Perhaps I should check to see if I've bruised you,"
"Well after a few more songs why don't we find a vacant classroom and you can check me all over just to make sure," Ginny said smiling back at him.
Neville started to blush and stammered "G… Gin… Ginny!"
"Yes Neville? Is there something bothering you?" Ginny asked looking up Neville through her eyelashes.
'Merlin she's going to kill me if she keeps that up.' Neville thought then his hand brushed his robes and he felt the ring box sitting in his pocket. Looking around he noticed they were alone in a little alcove of bushes. Reaching in his pocket he dropped to one knee in front of Ginny.
'Did he drop something?' Ginny thought for an instant then Neville looked up at her as he pulled his hand out of his pocket, 'Oh Merlin, Oh Merlin, Oh Merlin, He is going to ask me…' Ginny thought as her mind started to race locking up as Neville started to speak.
"Ginny I know you and I haven't been going out that long by some people's standards but I've realized what you mean to me and I don't want to think of a future without you. Will you accept this ring from me with the promise that I will replace it with an engagement ring after school?"
Ginny looked at Neville her mouth opening and closing as she tried to speak, "Ginny you are scaring me here," Neville said his eyes fixed on her awaiting a reply.
"Y.. Yesss! Yes! Neville I accept!" Ginny screamed throwing her arms around the boy who with her acceptance was no longer her boyfriend but her promised.
When Neville finally caught his breath a few minutes later he said, "You had me worried for a moment there."
Ginny chuckled tears of happiness still running down her cheeks as she said, "Me worry you when you knelt I thought you had lost something then you looked up at me with that ring out. My mind stopped working for a moment there."
"So are you ready to return to the dance?" Neville asked several additional minutes later when Ginny had finally pulled herself together.
"I guess we should. I suspect our friends are missing us about now."
"Yea but I'd rather be here with you."
Her mind working Ginny agreed with him she really did not want to return to the ball either. "Let's go in and say good night to everyone and tell them we are headed back to the tower."
"You want to call it a night," Neville asked depression evident in his voice.
Ginny kissed him saying, "Not at all I want to get you alone and spend the rest of this night trying to snog you senseless."
Neville smiled thinking that sounded like a real good plan to him.
Harry and Hermione were waiting in the Gryffindor common room when Neville and Ginny finally returned Ginny beaming and hanging on to Neville like he was the most precious thing she'd ever seen. Harry started to open his mouth but Hermione's thought, 'Wait for the reaction from the girls it will be worth it,' stopped him and he did as she bid. In actuality it took far less time than he'd thought for Lavender to notice the ring on Ginny's left hand it was almost like Ginny had flashed some secret girl signal to her.
"Ginny Weasley what is that on your hand!" Lavender Brown bellowed loud enough to draw the attention of everyone in the common room.
"Uh, this?" Ginny asked coyly glancing at Neville obviously concerned he might leave her alone. Like a true Gryffindor or just an ignorant male he stood beside his love as the female onslaught began.
"Yes that."
"Neville and I just became promised to each other." Ginny said giving him a big hug.
"Promised?" A loud voice with a hint of fear in it came from the corner where Ron was sitting causing Harry to move quickly to Ron while Hermione and the omni present goblin guards moved closer to Ginny and Hermione's main concern Neville.
"Ron calm down." Harry said blocking Ron's view of Neville as he wandlessly summoned Ron's wand to him.
"But Longbottom just…" Ron started in stopping when he realized Harry was standing there holding Ron's wand.
"Give me that."
"No Neville's done nothing but make your sister happy tonight and you are not going to ruin it. If I have to hex you to keep Neville safe until your mother is around I will."
"But Harry…" Ron pleaded.
"No, you have two choices before you either you are going to go over there and wish them well, and not try to break Neville's hand or do anything to ruin it for them, or I will hex you and escort you to your dorm room then silence you and bind you to the bed until I release you tomorrow morning until just before the express leaves." Seeing Ron thinking it through Harry added, "Ginny will have your wand and I'm sure I can convince Dumbledore to allow me to seal you in a train cabin until your mother releases you."
"You don't give a bloke much of a choice do you?"
"Not about this it is too important to your sister."
"Alright I'll be good." Ron said reaching for his wand.
"No, I think this will still go to your sister later."
"Don't you trust me?" Ron replied trying his best to sound sincere.
"Not really." Harry answered honestly.
"You know me too well."
"Ever since that first train ride. Don't forget Neville was always with us, well except for that first year thing."
"True." Ron replied before making his way over and holding out his hand to Neville who after only an instant of hesitation took it, "Neville treat her right and we get along just like we always have." Ron said shaking his hand before he turned to his sister and kissed her cheek. "Congratulations sis. I don't really need to watch the two of you celebrate. I suspect there will be a little snogging involved. If he gets out of hand I'll be in the dorm." Ron said then headed up the stairs.
Ginny just touched her cheek as her eyes followed Ron, "Was that my brother?" she asked quietly.
"Yes but here's his wand just in case." Harry said having followed Ron over and now standing beside Hermione.
As the girls swarmed around and started questioning Ginny further Harry took Neville's arm directing him towards the big couch in front of the fireplace. "Just sit here and wait once they get done grilling Ginny she'll be over and join you for at least a good night snuggle. Don't disappoint her by leaving early." Harry said sitting down beside him.
Meanwhile with the girls swarming around Ginny Hermione decided to have a little fun. "Mrs. Longbottom are you enjoying yourself?" Hermione asked.
Ginny's head snapped up glancing quickly around the common room. "What are you on about she's not here." Ginny asked a large hint of nervousness in her voice.
"Not yet but I'm looking at her." Hermione replied eyes fixed on Ginny.
"What…" Suddenly Ginny dropped into a chair her legs giving out as her eyes were going wide.
'She's just realized it is for real.' Hermione thought to herself remembering the moment her mother had caused the same reaction in her.
'I've agreed to become Mrs. Neville Longbottom. It is not just doodling on a piece of scratch parchment anymore. One more yes and an I do after that and Ginny Weasley will be no more I will be Ginny Longbottom. Speaking of which where is Neville?' She thought and as she did she realized that while scary it was something she was looking forward to even more than anything in her past even her first train ride to Hogwarts.
"Look what you've done Hermione the girl is petrified." Parvati accused looking at Ginny's blank face while she processed all that had happened.
"No I'm fine, honest. Hermione thank you, you made me realize that while chatting with the girls is nice where I want to be right now is on that couch with my betrothed." Looking at the girls she said, "We can continue this later up in the girls' dorm. My man is alone right now and I'm not going to be allowing that much in the future if I can help it, being in different years we aren't able to spend enough time together as it is," getting up and sitting in Neville's lap before putting a lip lock on him that soon had ever girl in the common room blushing with it's intensity including Hermione.
"I guess that's settled. I don't think either of them will be talking much tonight." Harry said.
"They are communicating without words rather well right now. Lavender insure this doesn't get too far out of hand before the younger Gryffindors go to bed. We don't want them seeing things they don't understand." Hermione said heading for the door.
"To heck with them, If they don't let up soon I'll feel like I've never been kissed." Lavender said noticing they had not broken off the kiss yet.
"Lavender if you haven't kissed a boy who you would fight the world for, you haven't been kissed like that." Hermione replied before ducking out the door.
"Sigtug we are ready to leave." Harry said as the walked back to their rooms.
"Everyone is packed. We will pick up the rest of your guards and leave." Sigtug replied.
Griphook was the first to notice their arrival. Rushing over to greet them Griphook said, "Sigtug I have Jimhook and Janehook you may go home to your family on this holiday."
"Thank you both for getting us home in time to enjoy this holiday." Sigtug said with a bow leading the guard detachment away while Griphook walked with Harhook back to their home with Harry and Hermione following along.
"Jimhook and Janehook I hope you will be joining us for this celebration. Harhook it is good to see you again you warm my heart with your presence," Maalhook said greeting everyone at the door. He waited until everyone was inside before he wrapped his arms around his daughter holding her close.
"Maalhook don't hurt her I've still got to say hi," Deklhook said in between her greeting of Harry and Hermione.
Once everyone was in and settled with a cup of tea before them Maalhook set out a plate of biscuits and turned to Hermione, "Janehook you have grown. I take it all is well."
"Very well Maalhook," Hermione said taking Harry's hand.
"How are the little ones?"
"Doing just fine, the Med-witch tells me everything is normal." Hermione replied patting her bulging tummy.
"Are you ready for the festivities tomorrow?"
Hermione smiled saying, "Yes Harhook has been most helpful. She explained just how different you celebrate this season."
"Yes it has always amazed me how much gold is spent buying things when even your version of the holiday is based around love and compassion."
"You are right, Jimhook and I have discussed this and we will be incorporating some of what we learn tomorrow into our family traditions for this holiday."
"You honor us more than you realize with your words. But enough of that I know you are tired from your journey you know where your rooms are we will see you tomorrow morning." Maalhook said.
Knowing a dismissal when they heard one Harry and Hermione made their way down the stairs to their room and the nights rest awaiting them.