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Save a dance for me
Chapter 1
"Oh!" Cho blurted, turning red. "Oh, Harry, I'm really sorry." She looked genuinely apologetic. "I've already agreed to go with someone else."
"Oh." Harry's heart sank, but he tried to stay composed. "Oh, okay, no problem."
"I really am sorry," Cho repeated, her voice soft.
"That's okay," Harry said, trying to sound casual.
They stood there for a moment, the awkwardness hanging between them, neither sure what to say. Finally, Cho broke the silence.
"Well—"
"Yeah," Harry muttered.
"Well, 'bye." Cho's cheeks flamed brighter as she turned to go.
Just as she began to walk away, Harry reached out and gently took her hand. "Cho, uh... umm," he stammered, his face turning as red as hers. "Would you... would you save me a dance?"
Cho blushed even deeper, if that was possible. "I-I'd really like that, Harry."
They exchanged shy smiles, avoiding each other's eyes. Harry realized he was still holding her hand and let go slowly. "Er, great, yeah, I... I'll see you at the Yule Ball then."
"Yeah, see you then," Cho echoed, her voice soft.
She turned and walked back toward her friends, and Harry couldn't help but watch her until she disappeared behind the door. He hadn't gotten her as his date, but he'd at least get to dance with her, even if it was just for one song. That was enough for him—for now.
…
Harry walked up to Gryffindor Tower, feeling a mix of elation and disappointment. He had asked Cho, and though she had turned him down, she had at least promised him a dance. That was something. But now, he had another problem—who would he take to the Ball? He figured he could ask someone as a friend, someone who wouldn't mind him dancing with Cho. Hermione seemed like the perfect choice.
As he stepped through the portrait hole, he spotted Ron sitting next to Ginny, looking pale and miserable. Harry turned to leave, hoping to catch Hermione before she headed to bed. But as he turned around, he walked straight into her.
"Oh, sorry, Hermione," Harry said, grabbing her hands to steady her.
"That's okay," Hermione said, straightening up. "Where were you rushing off to?"
"I was looking for you, actually," Harry admitted, suddenly feeling nervous.
"For me?" Hermione asked, curious.
"Er, yeah," Harry stammered, scratching the back of his neck. He wasn't sure how to phrase it, so he just blurted it out. "Will you go to the Ball with me?"
Hermione blinked, clearly taken aback. "W-w-what?"
"Would you go to the Ball with me?" Harry repeated, grinning now.
Hermione flushed a little pink, then a shadow of something like guilt crossed her face. "I'd love to, Harry, but... I'm already going with someone else."
"Oh," Harry said, trying to hide his disappointment.
"He asked me earlier today," Hermione explained, looking a little embarrassed. "I didn't think anyone else would ask, so I said yes. I'm really sorry, Harry."
Harry frowned slightly, not at the rejection but at what Hermione had just said. "Why would you think no one else would ask you?"
Hermione looked down, a bit shy. "Well, I'm not exactly pretty, not like Lavender or Parvati. And I don't have many friends outside of you, Ron, and Neville. Most people just think I'm a know-it-all."
"Hermione, that's not true," Harry said firmly. "You're really pretty, and any guy would be lucky to take you to the Ball. And so what if you're smart? They're just jealous because they don't know you the way we do."
Hermione looked at Harry as if seeing him in a new light. "You really mean that?"
"Of course I do," Harry said, offering her a reassuring smile.
"Thank you, Harry," Hermione said softly, stepping forward to give him a hug. "You're a good friend." She kissed him quickly on the cheek before disappearing into the common room.
Just as Hermione walked in, two other girls came back from dinner, walking past Harry. One of them flashed him a dazzling smile, one that would've made any other boy's heart skip a beat. I might as well just ask her, Harry thought, resigned.
"Parvati, would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?" Harry asked, feeling as though he'd said those words a hundred times that day.
Parvati broke into a fit of giggles, leaving Harry standing there, awkwardly waiting for her to calm down. His fingers were crossed inside his robe pockets, hoping for the best.
"Yes, alright then," she finally replied, her face flushed with color.
"Thanks," Harry said, relief flooding over him.
Feeling utterly exhausted, Harry dropped into a seat beside Ron. "So, did you find a date yet?" he asked, trying not to let the day's events get him down.
The look of utter horror and self-disgust on Ron's face was enough of an answer. "It went that well, huh?" Harry said, unwilling to let Ron's bad mood sour his own.
Ginny, who was sitting nearby, jumped in. "First, he asked Fleur Delacour. She didn't even give him a proper response. Then the prat asked Hermione—and said some pretty awful things when she told him she was going with someone else." Her voice rose in irritation.
Ron, face buried in his hands, made no attempt to deny her accusations. He just sighed heavily.
"What am I going to do, Harry?" Ron groaned. "I'll be the only bloke there without a date. Well, except for Neville."
"Actually, Neville's not going alone. I told him I'd go with him," Ginny said pointedly. "So it looks like you're the only one left in your pity party." With that, she stormed off.
"Blimey, has everyone gone mad?" Ron exclaimed, throwing his hands up dramatically. "Did you find a date?"
"Yup, I'm going with Parvati Patil," Harry replied, keeping his voice light.
Ron's eyes widened. "Do you think she can help me find a date?" he asked, sounding a bit desperate now.
"It couldn't hurt to ask," Harry said. "Wait here."
Harry crossed the common room to where Parvati was gossiping with Lavender Brown, both of them giggling.
"Parvati, do you know anyone who might be willing to go to the Ball with Ron?" he asked in a near whisper, not wanting Ron's embarrassment to be overheard.
Parvati tilted her head thoughtfully. "Maybe my sister, Padma—she's in Ravenclaw. I can ask her if you'd like."
"That would be great," Harry said, letting out a relieved sigh. "I could give you Hedwig, if you want to send the letter tonight."
"Sure," Parvati replied, smiling as she reached into her bag for parchment and a quill. "I'll write her a quick note while you go get Hedwig."
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Harry said, heading toward the boys' dormitory.
Half an hour later, Harry was reading Padma's short but welcome reply. Ron was less enthused, still brooding even as Harry gave him the good news. But at least that part was done. Now, all Harry had to worry about was not embarrassing himself while dancing with Cho—and Parvati.
Suddenly, terror gripped him. He didn't know how to dance.
…
Back in the Ravenclaw Tower, Cho collapsed onto her bed, her heart pounding and her mind spinning. She had been holding off on accepting a date to the Yule Ball, secretly hoping that Harry would ask her. She'd known for a while that he had a crush on her; it was hard to miss. What no one knew, though, was that she had feelings for him too, ever since last year's Quidditch match.
When Marietta told her that Harry was probably going to the Ball with Hermione Granger—the girl he always hung out with—she had reluctantly accepted Cedric's offer. That was earlier today. Then, just a couple of hours later, Harry had asked her. She had no choice but to say no. Cho wasn't the type to make plans with one boy, only to cancel them for another. That just wasn't who she was.
But when Harry had held her hand... her heart had skipped a beat. When he asked her to save him a dance, butterflies had erupted in her stomach. And when he smiled at her with those green eyes... she'd felt warm, safe. Now, lying here, she wished she wasn't going with Cedric at all. She wished she could go with Harry. The thought made her feel guilty. Cedric was a nice guy, and he was undeniably good-looking. But beyond that? She hardly knew him. They'd only ever really interacted during Quidditch matches. He was a decent Seeker, but she didn't know much else about him. Why had he asked her? And why had she said yes?
I hope he won't be upset when I dance with Harry, Cho thought with a twinge of worry. She didn't have feelings for Cedric, but she didn't want to hurt him either.
Trying to distract herself, she headed down to the common room and took her usual spot by the fireplace. She had just opened a book when a fourth-year girl walked in, looking utterly miserable. Cho recognized her at once—Padma Patil.
"Is everything okay, Padma?" Cho asked gently.
"No," Padma muttered, sitting down heavily next to Cho. "I don't think I'll be able to go to the Ball. No one's asked me, and the boy I wanted to go with is going with someone else. I'll be laughed at if I go alone."
"I'm sure someone will ask you," Cho said kindly. "There's still plenty of time."
Just then, a soft pecking sound came from the window. A beautiful snowy owl hovered outside, waiting to be let in. The owl looked familiar to both Cho and Padma. A second-year boy opened the window, and the owl swooped in, landing gracefully between the two girls. She extended her leg, where a small parchment was tied.
"It's for you," Cho observed as Padma untied the note from the owl's leg.
Padma read the note quickly, then read it again, a small smile forming on her lips. "Looks like I have a date after all," she said quietly, scribbling a short reply on the parchment before tying it back to the owl's leg. The snowy owl—Hedwig—flew out the window as swiftly as she had come.
Padma stood up, her mood noticeably lighter. "I guess I'll head to bed now," she said, her voice softer. Without waiting for a reply, she disappeared up the stairs.
Cho glanced at the letter Padma had left behind, her curiosity getting the better of her. She leaned forward to read it.
Padma—
Guess what? I'm going to the Ball, and you'll never guess with whom—HARRY POTTER! This is his owl. Her name's Hedwig—she's gorgeous, right? He just asked me! I'm so excited! Oh, would you mind going with his friend Ron? You know, the one with the red hair? I'd really appreciate it. Use Hedwig to send your answer. See you soon!
Parvati
Cho felt a strange pang of jealousy. Parvati Patil. She had heard that Padma had a twin sister in Gryffindor, and if she looked anything like Padma, Parvati must be beautiful. And she seemed to like Harry.
Cho sighed and tossed the note into the fire. This Yule Ball was proving to be far more complicated than she had expected.
…
The next evening, Harry and Hermione were practicing in an empty classroom. As they waltzed clumsily around the room, Harry couldn't help but ask, "Viktor Krum, huh? How did that happen?"
Hermione's cheeks turned pink. "Apparently, he's been coming to the library every day to ask me, but he never quite worked up the courage. Then he just... did. I was so flattered, I said yes. He still has trouble saying my name, though."
Harry grinned. "Well, he's a lucky bloke. But, Quidditch star or not, if he doesn't treat you right, he'll have me to answer to."
He didn't notice Hermione's blush deepen at his words. When he glanced up again, her face was calm. "Thanks again for this, Hermione," Harry added. "I may not be the best dancer in the world, but at least I won't make a fool of myself tomorrow."
"That's what friends are for," Hermione replied, smiling. "Besides, I don't mind getting a little practice myself."
"So... tomorrow night's the big day," Harry said nervously. "Are you excited? I know I'm nervous."
Hermione nodded. "Very much. I don't know what to expect, but I just hope everything turns out okay."
An hour later, they walked through the portrait hole and were immediately greeted by a scowling Ron. "Where have you two been all night?" he asked suspiciously.
"Nowhere," Harry and Hermione said in unison, then burst into laughter at the bewildered look on Ron's face.
Annoyed and still suspicious, Ron turned on his heel and stormed off. Harry started to follow, but Hermione caught his arm.
"Harry," she said shyly, "could you... maybe save me a dance tomorrow night?"
Caught off guard, Harry replied without thinking, "I'd love to dance with you, Hermione." For the second time that night, Hermione kissed him on the cheek before walking away.
…
Christmas night had arrived much faster than Cho anticipated. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, smoothing her dress, she heard Marietta behind her.
"You look absolutely breathtaking, Cho. Can we go now?" Marietta's impatience was evident. "I'm sure Cedric will be drooling when he sees you."
Cho sighed, turning away from the mirror. She had spent the last few weeks trying to catch Harry's eye and avoiding Cedric as much as possible. She wasn't sure how to tell him that she only saw him as a friend. She didn't want to hurt his feelings before the Ball, but she was hoping that maybe Cedric would get the hint and call things off himself.
"Okay, okay, let's go," Cho said reluctantly. "I have to meet him outside the Great Hall. I shouldn't be late."
Marietta smiled as they made their way down to the common room to meet her date. Ten minutes later, they maneuvered through the crowd gathered in front of the doors to the Great Hall.
Cho spotted Cedric before he saw her, and her heart sank. Standing next to him was none other than Harry Potter, with a perfect replica of Padma Patil on his arm—her twin sister, Parvati. She looked stunning. Feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness, Cho straightened up and approached the group.
"Hello, Cedric, Harry... and you must be Parvati. I know your sister Padma," Cho said with a polite smile as she took her place next to Cedric. "I'm Cho." She extended her hand to Parvati, who shook it hesitantly. Cho couldn't help but notice that the smile she gave Harry was a little brighter than the others.
"For a moment there, I almost thought you weren't going to show up," Cedric said with a light chuckle. "I was starting to get nervous."
"I would never stand up one of my friends," Cho said. Harry didn't miss the way she emphasized the word "friends."
A moment later, they were joined by Fleur Delacour and her date, Roger Davies. Roger greeted everyone warmly, but Fleur merely nodded, looking disinterested.
The group fell into an awkward silence until Professor McGonagall's voice broke through the crowd. "Triwizard Champions, over here please!"
As they moved toward Professor McGonagall, Cho spotted Viktor Krum with his date. The girl looked familiar, but it wasn't until Harry walked over and gave her a small hug that Cho realized who it was— Hermione Granger. Only this version of Hermione was much prettier and more elegant than Cho had ever seen.
Watching the easy way Harry and Hermione interacted, Cho felt a pang of something that felt suspiciously like jealousy. They seemed comfortable with each other in a way that made them almost glow in each other's presence. Cho couldn't help but think they'd make a great couple if they ever decided to get together. The thought sent a confusing wave of emotion through her.
I have no right to feel jealous, she reminded herself. Harry's just a friend.
Thankfully, before she could dwell on it any longer, Professor McGonagall called for the champions and their dance partners to line up. Cho glanced around, realizing that she and Cedric were the last to enter the Great Hall.
"Is everything okay, Cho?" Cedric asked, noticing her distraction.
"Oh, yes. Sorry, I must have spaced out for a moment," Cho said quickly, taking his arm. "Shall we?"
…
The Yule Ball was going better than Harry had expected. He hadn't stepped on Parvati's feet, hadn't tripped over his own, and hadn't made a fool of himself—yet. Overall, a decent start. But now came the tricky part: asking Cho for a dance, and then asking Hermione, without looking like some kind of womanizer.
Harry had a plan. The next song would be a more casual one, so he'd dance with Parvati, then suggest getting drinks. Once they were seated, he could ask Krum and Hermione to join them, casually ask Hermione for a dance, and then repeat the process with Cho. Easy, right?
Unfortunately, things rarely went according to plan.
As the third song ended, Harry asked Parvati if she'd like some refreshments.
"That sounds wonderful," Parvati said, fanning herself. "I'll go sit with Padma over there." She pointed to where Ron and Padma were sitting, looking far from happy.
"Okay, I'll meet you there in a moment," Harry said, moving to get drinks.
…
Two minutes later, Harry returned to a scene he'd rather not have witnessed. Hermione and Ron were clearly finishing an argument. Hermione looked frustrated, while Ron seemed downright furious.
"What happened?" Harry asked, sitting next to Parvati.
"I'm not entirely sure," Parvati said, accepting her drink. "But from what I could gather, your friend Ron started an argument with Hermione. Something about 'fraternizing with the enemy,' or some such nonsense."
Harry sighed. "I'm going to go check on her. Will you be okay for a bit?"
Parvati smiled and nodded. "Of course."
As Harry left to speak with Hermione, Parvati turned to Padma. "How's your night going?"
Padma sighed heavily. "It isn't. Ron hasn't asked me to dance all night. He just sits there brooding and hasn't even spoken to me."
Parvati bit her lip, unsure how to respond. She didn't want to rub in the fact that she was having a great time with Harry, so she settled for a non-committal shrug. "The night's still young. Someone else might ask you to dance."
"You're lucky," Padma said miserably. "At least the guy you're here with actually wants to be with you."
"Not exactly," Parvati replied quietly. "I think he wanted to come with someone else."
Padma raised an eyebrow. "Cho Chang?"
Parvati nodded. "I heard from some of the Ravenclaw girls that he asked her, but she turned him down to go with Cedric Diggory."
Padma lowered her voice to a whisper. "I also heard he asked Hermione, but she turned him down too."
At that, Ron—who had been eavesdropping—suddenly stood up, his face red with anger. Without saying a word, he stormed off, leaving Padma looking even more dejected than before.
…
Harry had just caught up with Hermione, who looked deeply upset, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Hermione? Are you okay?" Harry asked softly.
She stopped and turned around, trying to compose herself. "Yes, I'm okay, Harry. Sometimes though... Ron Weasley can be such an insensitive jerk," she muttered, her voice shaky but steadying.
"What happened?" Harry asked, frowning.
Hermione sighed, her frustration clear. "Let's just say he didn't handle me coming here with Viktor as well as you did." She let out a bitter laugh, the edge of hurt still in her voice.
Harry shook his head, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't let Ron ruin your night," he said gently, holding out his hand. "May I have this dance?"
Hermione looked up at him, a small smile breaking through her sadness. "Yes, yes you may," she said, slipping her hand into his. Harry led her to the dance floor.
…
Cho had been having a fairly enjoyable night. She and Cedric had spent most of the evening dancing and chatting, and she liked him—he was easy to talk to—but only as a friend. As the first slow song started, she asked Cedric if they could sit down and get a drink.
It was while she sat next to Marietta that her evening took an unexpected turn. She glanced toward the dance floor and her heart sank. There, in the middle of the crowd, Harry was dancing with Hermione Granger. The way they moved in sync, as if they'd done this before, was hard to miss. Hermione, radiant and graceful, seemed to glow in Harry's arms, their closeness making it clear they had a strong bond.
Jealousy and doubt crept into Cho's mind. They make such a perfect couple. Why wouldn't he choose her? She bit her lip, her heart aching, but refused to let herself wallow. I have to at least try.
As the song ended, Cho rose from her seat and walked over to Harry and Hermione. She gently tapped Harry on the shoulder, her voice soft and a little hesitant. "May I cut in?" she asked, directing her question to Hermione.
Hermione smiled warmly. "Of course. Thank you for the dance, Harry," she said, stepping aside.
The next slow song began as Cho placed her hand in Harry's. Both of them blushed slightly, and Harry rested his other hand on her waist. They began to move, the world around them fading away. The music became background noise as they focused solely on each other.
Cho was the first to speak. "She's beautiful, you know. Hermione," she said, her eyes dropping for a moment.
"Yeah, she really is," Harry said without hesitation, causing Cho to look up in surprise. When their eyes met, Harry smiled. It was a smile that made her heart skip. "But she's my best friend, not my girlfriend."
Cho couldn't help but return his smile. He had seen right through her, and his honesty reassured her. She let herself fall into the warmth of his gaze, and for a moment, they were in their own world again.
…
Cedric returned with drinks, only to find Cho and Harry dancing as if no one else existed. He sighed, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment but quickly brushed it aside. As much as he liked Cho, he had noticed her heart wasn't fully in it.
"They're quite cute together, aren't they?" a voice said softly from behind him.
Cedric turned to see Marietta Edgecombe standing there, a small smile on her face.
"She's fancied him for ages, you know," Marietta added, her voice low. "Since fourth year."
"I didn't realize that," Cedric said, his smile fading. "I suppose she only said yes to me to spare my feelings."
"She would never lead you on. She's too kind for that," Marietta replied, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "It's just... her heart was already set."
Cedric smiled ruefully. "Well, at least I know she wasn't trying to hurt me." He paused, then offered her one of the drinks. "Would you like a butterbeer? Seems a waste to let these go untouched."
Marietta laughed lightly, accepting the drink. "Thank you, Mr. Diggory."
As they sat down, Cedric noticed her date was nowhere to be seen. "Where's your date, by the way?" Cedric asked casually. Marietta's smile turned a little sour. "Oh, him. He disappeared after the first dance. Said he'd find me later.
Apparently, Quidditch talk with his mates was more important." She rolled her eyes. "Not that I'm surprised.
He was more interested in showing off than in actually spending time with me."
Cedric frowned slightly. "Sounds like you dodged a bullet."
"Maybe," Marietta said with a small shrug. "I'm not too upset. I think I'm having more fun here with you anyway."
Cedric chuckled. "Glad I could help salvage your night."
…
Parvati had grown tired of waiting for Harry to return. He had disappeared a while ago and hadn't come back. Her sister, Padma, sat beside her, looking thoroughly miserable.
"Are you ever going to ask me to dance?" Padma asked Ron, her voice tinged with frustration.
Ron, still brooding from his earlier argument with Hermione, didn't even look at her. "No," he muttered flatly.
Padma's patience snapped. Without another word, she stood up abruptly and stormed off. Parvati quickly followed her, catching up as they exited the Great Hall and stepped out into the cool night air.
"Padma, wait—"
But just then, Padma froze, her eyes widening in shock. Parvati followed her gaze and saw what had caused her sister's reaction. Near a beautifully decorated rose bush, a boy from Ravenclaw was kissing a Hufflepuff third year rather passionately. The sight left both Patil sisters stunned.
Before Parvati could say anything, Padma turned on her heel and headed straight back inside. Parvati hurried after her and saw that her sister was now blushing furiously, as an incredibly handsome boy from Beauxbatons had approached and asked her to dance. Flustered but clearly pleased, Padma accepted without hesitation.
A moment later, Parvati found herself in a similar situation as the boy's friend appeared at her side, offering her a hand. She smiled, feeling her spirits lift as she accepted.
The night is looking up, the Patil twins thought in unison.
…
Harry and Cho, meanwhile, had been lost in their own world for what felt like hours. They were pulled from their reverie when they nearly collided with a distraught-looking Madame Maxime. The towering woman hurried through the crowd, followed shortly after by Hagrid, who looked equally upset.
"What do you suppose that was all about?" Cho asked, still dazed from their dance.
"I have no idea," Harry said, watching Hagrid disappear into the Entrance Hall. He sighed. "We should probably get back. Our dates might think we abandoned them."
Cho glanced around, her eyes falling on Cedric and Marietta, who were laughing and dancing together.
"Somehow, I think they've forgotten about us," she said with a smile, pointing them out. Nearby, Parvati was twirling with a boy from Beauxbatons, equally unconcerned about Harry's absence.
Harry's smile brightened as he turned back to Cho. Blushing slightly, he extended his arm. "Would you like to take a walk with me, Cho?"
"I'd really like that, Harry," Cho replied, taking his arm as they left the Great Hall together.