Chapter 19: Dates

The last week of the term became rather energetic. The Yule Ball was the number one topic amongst all students. The rumor mill was turning at too fast of a pace. There was talk of Dumbledore getting a hundred barrels of mulled mead – which a day later became eight hundred. The Weird Sisters had been booked as live entertainment, which sent fans into an excited tizzy. Even a few of our professors were excited for the festivities. The desire to impress the foreign witches and wizards seemed to take over a few of the professors. The castle was looking probably better than it had in centuries. All of the decorations were top-of-the-line. Professor Flitwick charmed Everlasting icicles to attach to the banisters of the staircases; the usual twelve Christmas trees were decked out in everything you'd associate with the holiday and lit up so bright that you could see the glowing from the main staircase; suits of armor were bewitched to sing carols whenever someone passed them (this got very annoying). Being so caught up in decorating, Flitwick had given up trying to teach us since everyone was more preoccupied with the ball. But it seemed that other teachers didn't feel the same. Snape and Binns, for example, gave more homework than usual. McGonagall and Moody, although they assigned less homework, kept classes working until the last second.

A few days before our last Potions lesson of the term, my three best friends and I were sitting in the Great Hall. We had a free block together and spent it trying to study. Hermione and I were working on an Astronomy chart while Harry and Ron were whispering together over History of Magic notes. From what I heard, they were complaining about girls. I had to roll my eyes. Harry, who said he'd rather fight a dragon again then ask a girl to the ball in front of her friends, looked around the hall frantically.

"It's maddening," Ron whispered loudly. Some students around us looked up, annoyed the quiet was interrupted. "At this rate, we'll be the only ones in our year without dates!" Snape, who had been walking by, slapped Ron over the head. He grunted and rubbed the sore spot. Snape kept walking. Ron narrowed his eyes but continued in a lower voice, "Well, Neville too I suppose."

Harry chuckled, "Then again, he can take himself."

"It might interest you to know that Neville's already got someone," Hermione bit back.

Ron gasped, "Now I really am depressed.

Hermione made an irritated noise as she frowned at her work. I too was annoyed with Ron's comment. Yes, Neville had asked me to the ball. I had thanked him a few days ago for asking me and I told him I was hoping to go with someone else. A day later, I was in the library with Ginny when she told me that Neville had asked her. She said yes because she wouldn't have been able to have go otherwise. I was a little shocked that Neville had gotten the courage to ask someone else so soon. But I was happy for him.

Just then, a note landed in front of Ron, he opened it and sighed. He looked over to where the twins were sitting. Both rested their chins on their palms, looking at their younger brother with stupid grins. As Snape walked by again, they quickly picked up their quills and pretended to write. Our professor sneered at them as he passed. We too waited for him to pass before looking back at the twins. Hermione, who was almost done with her work by now, nudged me to do the same. But I was too interested in what the twins had to say.

Ron lifted his hands as if to shrug in their direction. "Who are you going with," I thought I heard him whisper to Fred.

My heart nearly stopped beating as Fred grinned wildly. He was looking in our direction. He tore out a piece of paper from his notebook and wadded it up into a ball. Fred looked around, making sure Snape wasn't looking. Then, as if in slow-motion, he threw it. My stomach turned as the paper ball flew passed me, getting someone else's attention. Angelina looked over in the direction she was hit in. Her face was clearly annoyed and ready to bash heads. I was practically shaking my head in disbelief. Fred, who waved at her, pointed at Angelina then mimicked dancing and pointed at himself. With a cocky grin, he lifted his chin up at her as if to say something like 'you-and-me-yeah?'

She gave Fred an appraising sort of look and then bit her lip. She nodded her head a few times and mouthed a small 'yeah'. Angelina turned her back to Alicia and I heard her softly squeal in excitement. I breathed loudly through my nose to keep me from vocally announcing my disapproval. Hermione, who apparently had been paying attention, placed a consoling hand on my knee. She had been the only person who I had actually told about my feelings for Fred. Well, her, Tonks, and Andi. But as Hermione, overlooked her notes, I knew she was trying to comfort me. My whole chest felt like someone had filled it with lead. I don't presume to know what heartbreak feels like, but whatever I was feeling was not pleasant. At least a million questions ran through my mind in the span of only a few seconds. I fought back the prickling sensation of tears as Fred chuckled triumphantly.

"Now we really have to get a move on," Ron whispered to Harry. "We don't want to end up with a pair of trolls, do we?"

"A pair of – excuse me," Hermione sputtered, looking up at our male friends.

"Well," Ron started, looking around the hall. "I'd rather go alone than with someone like – say, Eloise Midgen."

I didn't comment as Ron and Hermione started arguing in whispers about the plainer-looking girls in school. Harry, who I was ashamed to say made a few of his own comments, was clearly on Ron's side when it came to it. I stared down at my hands under the table. Was I considered a troll? I mean, I wasn't the prettiest girl in our year. But I didn't think I was hideous. Definitely not a last resort kind of girl. But then again, I didn't know anymore. Snape had come around again. This time, while Harry and Ron were whispering, he smacked them simultaneously. As they made pained gasps, he walked away smirking. I almost cracked a smile. Almost.

As they rubbed their sore spots, Hermione huffed, scribbling on her paper harder, "Basically you're going to take any girl who will have you, good-looking or not, just so you don't look like idiots?"

"Yeah," Harry breathed.

"You're horrible," she fumed. There was a moment of silence between them. Then Ron made the mistake of speaking.

"So, Cora?"

"No," I hissed a little too harshly. I had gone from upset to pissed off in minutes. There was no way I was going to the Yule Ball with Ron. Not after I had just witnessed his brother – who I liked – ask another girl out. Hermione had slightly stiffened next to me. The reason why I noticed was because I felt her leg tense up next to mine.

"Hermione, you're a girl." My eyes widened in disbelief. Hermione's head shot up.

"Oh, well spotted." Inside, I made wheezing noises.

"Come on. It's one thing for a bloke to show up alone. For a girl, it's just sad." This is going to end badly.

"I won't be going alone because, believe it or not, someone's asked me," she replied squarely. "And I said yes."

Hermione snapped her book shut and whirled around. We watched her as she marched up to Snape, handing him her notebook. Without a glance to the boys, Hermione stormed out of the Great Hall. I suddenly felt upset again as I looked over to Angelina. She was still grinning and every so often she would look at Fred. Fred and George had their heads together – like they normally did when thinking up new joke ideas.

"Bloody hell," Ron finally muttered. He looked at me with a grim expression. "She's lying."

"She's not," I told him.

"Tell me," Ron demanded.

"What does it matter," Harry sighed. "She's already got someone."

"And it's none of your business," I added.

"Then why'd you tell me no," Ron frowned. "Got a date too?"

"No," I responded. One couldn't mistake the sadness in my voice. "I just won't go with either of you. Friends or not. Especially when you're acting like pigs."

"Pigs," Ron huffed.

"Eloise isn't bad. She's just got acne. We're all teenagers for god sakes. It's called puberty, Ronald."

"With a nose like that, puberty probably won't help much," he sniggered, elbowing Harry.

"You're disgusting," I spat. I grabbed my things and threw them in my bag. I wasn't done with my work, but, unlike Hermione, I didn't care if I missed my marks in Astronomy. I slammed my hand down on the table as I left, catching the attention of surrounding students, Fred and George included.

I had stormed out of the Great Hall and was heading to the library when I heard someone shouting my name. I turned around to see none other than John Haring running after me. His hair had grown a little and it was flopping in front of his face. He looked a little taller since I had seen him last. Since the day I told him that we probably couldn't be friends, John had made good on his promise to stop annoying me. He stopped following me, sat far away from me during classes, and even stopped shouting out awful pick-up lines at me. But, from what I'd heard, he had become a little bit of a flirt.

He stopped right in front of me, not even out of breath. "Hi," he greeted.

"Hello," I managed to reply without much malice.

He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "I – uh – well I saw you storm out of the hall and I was wondering if you're okay?"

I blinked. "Oh, well, my friends are just being colossal idiots. But that's nothing new," I told him slowly.

"Yeah, I guess being friends with Harry Potter can be trying," John laughed softly.

"Actually it's Ron who tries my patience, but, you have no idea," I found myself chuckling. I was a little surprised. A few months ago, I would have loathed being in Haring's presence. Now I was joking with him.

There was a few moments of awkward silence. He was just standing in front of me not really making a move to leave. I was thinking about turning to leave and find Hermione or even Ginny when John cleared his throat.

"Look, I know we aren't friends or anything. And we don't have to be if you don't want to be. But honestly, I was hoping you'd want to go to the Yule Ball with me? I'm not the best dancer but Flitwick has us learning and I found some books on the subject in the library the other day so maybe I'll get better. I promise I won't embarrass –"

I laughed out loud. "This isn't one of your jokes, is it?"

"What," John's eyes grew large. "No! I'm one hundred percent serious! Will you go to the ball with me?"

What were my other options? I rather hastily told Ron and Harry that I would not go with them. I turned Neville down too. Fred – I didn't even want to think about that let down. My chest still felt heavy with the weight of rejection. But we were never going to go together, were we? Fred, no matter how much I wanted him to ask me, was never going to. I was his little brother's friend. I was his god-sister. There should have been nothing to feel upset over because nothing worth feeling upset over had happened. But I was still sad. It crushes you a bit when someone you like doesn't like you back. But that doesn't mean you can't move on from the blow.

"If I were to say yes," I started slowly. John's eyes lit up. "Will you not be a creep? Will you keep the jokes and comments to yourself?"

"Of course."

I sighed deeply, "Then I will go with you."

"You will?"

"Don't make me change my mind," I told him softly.

"Okay, well, brilliant! I will see you then, there – there, then. Seven forty-five good?"

"That's fine," I laughed quietly.

"Great," John nodded. He looked around, a little lost at what to do. He moved his books into one arm and stuck out his free hand. We both chuckled at this gesture. I took his hand and gave it a small shake as if to cement our agreement.

The bell tolled signaling the end of the class period. Oh dear, I thought to myself as John Haring walked off in the opposite direction. All thoughts of finding Hermione or Ginny had to wait. I needed to write to Andi and Tonks for advice. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I entertained the idea of writing to my dad. That was quickly shut down. I didn't think I was ready to talk to him about boys and the like just yet. We were still technically getting to know each other.

Before dinner, I found myself heading up to the Gryffindor Tower alone. While Harry and Ron had Divination, Hermione and I were in our other classes. When we had this block, we always met at the portrait before heading to dinner. But none of my friends were waiting when I arrived. I decided to hang around a bit to see if anyone was going to show up. A few of the younger students had come and gone, but not Harry, Ron, or Hermione. I was about to leave when I saw a familiar mop of black hair walking up the steps. I called out to Harry who looked up at me. He had a downtrodden look on his face.

Harry greeted me in a small monotone voice. "What's wrong," I asked softly.

"I asked Cho to the ball."

"Oh! What did she say?"

Harry gave the password. The Fat Lady hummed and the portrait swung open. Harry let out a long breath, "She's already got a date, of course."

We entered the common room together. There weren't many people around since dinner had probably started. But we were both surprised to see a pale and shaky Ron sitting in a corner. Ginny was with him, speaking in a low voice.

"What happened," Harry asked as we joined the siblings.

"He just asked Fleur Delacour out," Ginny told us. Her lips twitched up as she rubbed her brother's arm to sooth him.

"What," Harry and I asked simultaneously. Harry sounded more frantic and I was more questioning.

"What did she say? No," Harry pressed. Ron shook his head. "She said yes?"

"I don't know what made me do it," Ron gasped. "There she was, walking by. You know I like it when they walk. I couldn't help it, it just sort of slipped out."

"Actually," Ginny cut in. "He sort of screamed at her. It was a bit frightening."

It was just then that Hermione came through the portrait hole. "There you three are. I almost left for dinner without you."

Hermione sent a questioning look Ron's way. Ginny explained what happened to her. She looked completely shocked. "What did you do?"

"What else? I ran for it," Ron's head fell into his hands in shame. "I don't know what got into me."

"Don't worry about it, Ron. I'm sure she'll have forgotten all about it by now."

Ron groaned even louder into his hands at Hermione's remark. Suddenly, Harry was gone from my side. He was over by the portrait hole talking to Parvati. He was using his hands in big sweeping gestures, motioning to himself and to Ron. Parvati nodded vigorously. When Harry bobbed his head up and down, she waved and left the common room. Harry bounded back to us with a wide smile on his face.

"Ron, I think I just solved our date problem."