They Shook Hands: Year Four (Original Version)

They Shook Hands : Year Four

An alternate (but realistic!) universe Harry Potter fic
by Dethryl

Chapter Fifteen - On Romance and Such Things

They got little sleep that night, and Harry was glad for his lay-in in the morning. Tim's alarm woke them, as it always did. He took great pleasure in taunting Tim, who had to get up for Care of Magical Creatures, before rolling over and catching another forty winks.

Friday passed only with a great deal of fuss. The school was abuzz with the excitement of the first Task and the announcement of the broom race. What's more, the first snow had fallen during the night, putting everyone in the holiday cheer.

Harry's stunning victory over the dragon seemed to have silenced his most vocal critics. Professor McGonagall offered rare praise on his botched attempt at Transfiguration -- apparently even the little bit he'd managed had surprised her -- and she instructed him to apply himself more. Professor Flitwick complimented Harry on the quality of his Summoning Charm and tried to recruit him for the Charms Club. Bletchley, team captain, knew what Harry could do on a broom (having played with him for three years) and still made sure to say good things about his flying.

The only one who really kept on Harry's case was Ron Weasley. His mocking admiration was totally insincere. He kept asking for autographs and how he could join Harry's fan club, despite the humiliations galore that they'd given him so far this year. The best way to shut Weasley up was to start talking about his sister. Harry talked to Ginny multiple times a day, so it was easy to insert her in to the conversation. It worked brilliantly every time. Harry could do as little as mention that he was helping Ginny with her Transfiguration homework, and Ron's head exploded.

Viktor Krum and his fellows from Durmstrang sat at the Slytherin table for meals, but they usually kept to themselves. So it was a great shock to Harry when Krum sat down across from him at dinner on Friday evening.

"You fly very veil."

"Were you watching?"

"I saw vith Omnioculars. Vill you play for England?"

Harry had no idea if he wanted to play Quidditch for a living. It was fun -- okay, loads and loads of fun -- but did he want to play every day? Rise at half four and trudge to the field to practice in the drizzling rain? Or any of the other wonderful training ideas Flint had used?

"I wouldn't mind. I think I'm a bit young yet."

"In two years, they vill be talking to you. The minimum age is sixteen. I first played for Bulgaria at that age."

Harry considered that. "Well, I guess I've got time to think about it."

Krum laughed sharply. "You do."

"Any luck on the egg?"

"No. You?"

"Not even worried about it," Harry said casually. "Plenty of time."

* * *

On Saturday, they were lounging around the common room relaxing. Harry and Draco started up a game of Exploding Rummy, and Crabbe, Goyle, and Millie joined them. Jenna and Pansy opted out. Blaise and Tim were not to be found, and the third years were holed up in the library.

"Oi, Jenna," Pansy whispered suddenly. "Look at this!"

Jenna leaned her head in to look at the magazine Pansy had been idling flipping through.

"Would you look at that?" Pansy pointed to the picture. It showed Elan and Percy out at some swanky club surrounded by all the other lads from their form. Every single one of them was escorting a beautiful woman.

"Hey, it's old Palce. Wow, who's he with?" The quieter lad chosen to replace Elan as prefect two years ago had been a decent fellow. Raucous parties didn't seem his thing. Maybe he'd loosened up since finishing school.

"Eleanor Weiss," Pansy replied. "She was a seventh year in our second year. I hear she's become a Healer now. But never mind that. Look who Elan's with!"

A stunning girl with dazzling green eyes and a fury of reddish-blonde hair dancing around like flames winked up from the picture.

"Bridget Sawyer?"

"Jamie Zabini's best friend."

"Not if she sees that. I notice Little Miss Sobs-A-Lot isn't present."

"Astute as ever, Jenna."

"Thank you, Pansy."

"I wonder if Blaise has seen this."

"She's going to hex Draco when she does."

Pansy laughed wickedly. "Let her try. I'm just about done with Blaise. She just can't get it through her head that Harry's not interested. She's become so dreadfully boorish and common. Don't let her see this. She's had her head together with Tim so much lately, she doesn't pay any attention to the news any more. I want to save this for when she needs putting in her place."

Jenna smirked and clapped both hands to her mouth.

After a peek at the picture, Harry kept his eyes on his cards. He had no desire to feel guilty about Blaise for something he had no part in. She still kept her distance from the group, but the wistful looks she directed his way made it clear that he couldn't reach out to her. She'd totally get the wrong idea if he tried to tell her about this. She'd think he was rushing to her rescue like some damsel in distress. He absolutely could not encourage her. If he paid no attention to what the other girls were doing, he would be safe.

* * *

A week in to December, after double Potions on Wednesday, Professor Snape asked all the Slytherins to remain behind after class. They all submitted their samples of Stomach-Calming Draught and sat around waiting for the Gryffindors to finish and leave.

Most of the Gryffindors weren't too horrible at brewing, Professor Snape's comments notwithstanding. Only Weasley routinely earned failing marks, and on more than one occasion, Snape had threatened him with Remedial Potions. The idea of spending even more time with Snape had apparently motivated him, because from the looks Harry snuck of his papers, Weasley had managed to scrape "Acceptable" for several weeks now.

When at last Weasley had finished up and departed, the Slytherins all leaned forward with interest to hear Professor Snape's words.

"Is all well?" he began. "Not too overwhelmed thus far?"

"No, sir," they replied.

"Excellent. I hope I will not suddenly have a crowd at my door come the last week of term, yes?"

"You mean you won't be in the common room, sir?" Jenna asked cheekily.

Snape allowed himself a small smile. "Miss Moon, if you applied the time you spent coming up with clever remarks to your studies, you would be at the top of every class."

Jenna grinned and nodded sharply. "Yes, sir."

"On Christmas Day, we will observe a fine old tradition of the Triwizard Tournament, that of the Yule Ball. It is open to students fourth year and above, though younger students may attend if invited by an older student. Mister Potter, your attendance is mandatory, as it is customary for the champions to open with the first dance."

"Ho-ho, Harry!" Draco chortled. "Good luck picking just one girl to go with."

Blaise was not very appreciative of that comment, because she looked away from Draco as though he were offensive to her sight.

"The ball is a chance for everyone to have a great deal of responsible fun. In addition to our guests from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, the school governors, assorted Ministry officials, and other notable persons will also be in attendance. I do not need to tell you that I expect only your most civilized behaviour. I will not have any of you tarnish the noble reputation of Slytherin House with childish antics. I will be on patrol that night, so make sure I don't find you."

The news of the Yule Ball spread like wildfire through dry grass. Every single girl in the school was delighted, it seemed, and about two-thirds of the blokes were terrified by the prospect.

Harry counted himself amongst the terrified. It was bad enough that he would have had to ask a girl to the ball in any event. Had he not been a champion, the girls would have wanted to attend the ball all the same, and Harry would have ended up having to take someone just to avoid taking Blaise. Though they had started making small talk again, it was still very hard to be around her. Now though, being required to open the ball with a dance Harry was under immense pressure from the get-go.

Harry didn't have a clue who to ask. There were so many possibilities. Padma was pretty, but Susan laughed more. Hannah had more curves, but Jenna was taller. And there were lots of other girls in his vicinity too.

Surprisingly, Blaise had not reacted much to the announcement. She made non-committal remarks, but she didn't talk about her dress robes or her hair or anything else the other girls were discussing.

That evening in the common room, Veronica Sawyer, a girl one year ahead of Harry, joined the table where he, Draco, Jenna, and Pansy were hard at work on their assignments.

"Hey, Pansy, got a minute?"

Pansy, who had been reading through Draco's Astronomy essay, looked up. "Yes. Is it gossip?"

"Better. Were you planning on going to the usual affair this New Year's?"

"Unless there is another opportunity. Is there something illicit going on?" Pansy asked breathlessly.

"Perhaps. It all depends on who you intend to tell."

"Who's the host?"

"My sister Bridget."

"I remember her. She was in Elan's year."

"Yes," Veronica said. "Our parents are going to Australia for a private holiday, and they said she could have some friends out on the yacht."

"Wicked!"

"In exchange for my cooperation, I get to invite several of my friends. Since I know you and I would never let one other miss out on such a good time, I'm telling you to bring whomever you want."

Blaise had emerged from the dormitory and approached their table. "Bring who where?"

Veronica appraised the younger girl thoughtfully. "My sister is having a small gathering on New Year's Eve. It's invitation only."

Blaise looked at Veronica evenly. "Well?"

"Well, what? Do you mean are you invited?" Veronica laughed mockingly. "If you elfed for me for the rest of the year, I might consider it. But I don't think anything will get your sister an invitation."

"Jamie? What about her? Why wouldn't Bridget invite her? They're best friends!"

Veronica looked immensely pleased with herself. Her expression reminded Harry of the time Blaise's cat Argent had brought her a dead bird and placed it at her elbow.

"Oh, you don't know?" Veronica asked incredulously.

"Know what?" Blaise snapped angrily.

Veronica smirked. "Well, it appears that Jamie, much like you, Blaise, has managed to push all of her friends away from her." Pansy reached in to her bag and pulled out the issue of Witch Weekly. She flipped to the picture of Elan, Percy, and all their friends out on the town.

Blaise scanned the picture frantically. Bridget Sawyer and Elan Malfoy were obviously together. She was sitting on his lap, and they were laughing with each other. The other lads and ladies of their circle from school were all having a blast -- without Jamie.

"Shall I draw up a list of duties for you, elf?" Veronica asked nastily. "I'll send an owl to Bridget tonight."

"Bugger off, Sawyer!" Blaise shouted. "Stuff your snotty invitation!"

Veronica continued smirking. "Suit yourself. Have a fun time hanging out with the adults." She stood up and sashayed away.

Blaise looked ready to hex people. "Did you know about this, Malfoy?"

"Everybody knew about it, Zabini. Take your nose out of the books every once in awhile and get a breath of fresh air."

Blaise looked around for support, but Pansy and Jenna were completely indifferent. Harry refused to meet her eyes. Without another word, she exited through the wall.

Harry retired early and pulled out his magic mirror.

"Sirius Black!"

"Harry Potter!"

"Hi, Sirius."

"How are you, Harry?"

"Nervous. There's to be a Yule Ball, and I have to ask a girl. No doubts about it, this is a date."

"Who are you going to ask?"

"I don't know. I just don't know."

"Well, you can't go too wrong. You're a champion. They'll be falling all over themselves to say yes."

"I was sort of thinking of asking Jenna. She's been a solid friend lately. It's hard to worry about imminent death when she's snarking away."

"Do you like her?"

"She likes me. At last year's party, she put quite a snog on me. She told me to never tell Blaise and hasn't said anything since. But I'm not involved with Blaise, so maybe she's just waiting for me to make a move."

"Entirely possible. Don't forget about those Hufflepuff girls."

"Susan and Hannah? Yeah, I've thought about them. But there's also Padma, maybe Mandy, Laine, Ginny. I just don't know."

"Well, Harry, my best advice is that you should take the girl you really like and would like to know better. If you can't figure out who that is, go for style and ask the prettiest girl in school, even if she's a seventh year. Have fun. If you have to do it anyway, have fun with it."

"Thanks, Sirius."

"You're welcome. Any progress on the egg?"

"Not yet."

"Never fear, Harry, we'll riddle it out. Marauders are good at riddles."

"How's Moony?"

"He was fired last night. Foreman didn't give him any good reason. The other workers just plain didn't like him, apparently, and they used a pretext to complain about him."

"That's awful."

"Moderately. He says not to worry, that he's used to it by now. We ought to figure out something that he can do for himself. I've got tons of money, but he's too proud to take a handout. If we can find a business he'd like to run, maybe I can buy it and hire him as the boss."

"Would you be a good boss, Sirius?"

"Probably not. I'd have to play all fierce and demand status reports and so on. He'd see right through me."

"Maybe you could just give him a loan then. If he knew he had to pay you back, that wouldn't be so hard for him, right?"

"We'll see. Don't worry yourself about it. You've got enough to distract you right now, okay?"

"Okay, Sirius. I know you'll look out for him."

"I will. And together we're going to look out for you. We'll get through this damned tournament."

"Somehow."

"Back to this ball for a moment. Are all manner of Ministry muckety-mucks going to be there or is it just for the students?"

"Professor Snape said the governors, some Ministry people, and some other important people will be attending."

"I hope I get an invitation. I'm an important person."

"Yeah, you are."

There was a very quiet pause.

"Okay, we'd better end this before I start getting sloppy."

Harry grinned. "Yeah, me too. It's almost time for bed, and it's Arithmancy in the morning."

"Pleasant dreams, Harry."

"You too. Good night."

* * *

All day long on Thursday, Harry wondered who he was going to ask to the ball. All the girls were preening, hoping to attract the attention of the boys. Harry noticed that Blaise had started wearing make-up. Without her older sister Jamie at Hogwarts to stop her, Blaise had thrown her mother's orders about no make-up out the window. She looked very pretty, but Harry felt nothing but sadness because she was setting herself up for disappointment.

Even if he had known who he wanted to go with, Harry would never have been able to ask. Girls travelled in packs! All over the castle, clusters of three or four girls were constantly giggling over the antics of the boys who fell all over themselves to get a date.

Then other boys were completely forward about it. One of the Weasley twins asked out Johnson, a Chaser for Gryffindor, at the table in the Great Hall during dinner. They hadn't been sitting very close, though, so the whole school had heard him. They'd hushed to total silence to hear her say, "Yeah, all right then."

Plenty of girls, too, weren't at all shy about approaching certain boys and asking them out. Harry found himself fending off girls he didn't even know. It seemed like there was a steady stream of them waiting for him outside the Great Hall for every meal, and at the entrance to the dungeons in the afternoon when classes were over. Wherever he went, someone tried to entice him in to asking her to the ball. Harry couldn't even study in the library on Saturday for all the attention and had to spend the weekend in the Slytherin common room.

The one thing that would cure his ills, asking a girl to the ball, was terrifying to him. Harry didn't know how he would be able to go through with it even if he did decide on who he wanted to ask. He complained about it nightly in the common room and dormitory. Sunday night saw Harry in fine voice.

"We have to dance," Harry declaimed, feeling almost personally offended. "How awful can it get?"

"You like dancing." Draco was being remarkably unsympathetic.

"But you have to dance with a girl. Real dancing, not just jumping around like at a show."

"I thought we'd established that you like girls."

"But to have to ask one of them?" Harry said agonizingly. "I mean, they want it all proper and such, right?"

"Doubtless."

"Well then!"

"It's not like it's a big deal."

"Oh yeah?" Tim spoke up suddenly. He had hitherfore remained silent, studying at his desk, and Harry had been ignoring him. "Then put your words to action, Malfoy, and ask Pansy to the ball."

"I don't need to ask her," Draco declared haughtily. "Pansy just expects that we're going together."

"You really ought to just do it. You're going with her anyway."

"She thinks so."

"You're not?" Harry was amazed. Pansy and Draco had seemed rock solid, a few arguments aside.

"Harry, I hate being told what to do. With the rare exception, I have always been free to do what I choose to do and not do what I have not chosen to do. I have had the freedom to make up my own mind, and these ridiculous expectations everyone has of me make me laugh. Pansy seems to expect that we're going, but what makes her so certain I would even want to go to this thing? Just because I can dance doesn't mean I like to. She wants to parade me around like something she caught and show me off to everyone. I would rather spend time alone with her, comparing her eyes to precious gemstones or the stars or some rot."

Was there a genuine romantic thought buried in that snark?

"But we're not talking about my reluctance to ask Pansy to the Yule Ball. We're talking about who you're going to ask and how she won't be able to say no."

"So who would you ask, then?" asked Harry. "Sirius says I should ask the prettiest girl in school."

"In our year or the whole school?" Draco interrupted.

"School. But it's not like some bird in seventh year would ever be seen in public with a kid. Because that's how they look at fourteen-year olds." Harry didn't even know who "they" were, but it was true.

"Okay, so below O.W.L. level then." Draco conceded. "No question at all that it's Cho Chang."

"Only if you like that type," Tim scoffed dismissively.

"We are not talking blood status, merely appearance," Draco replied snootily.

"Damned colonial trash!"

"You'd be interested in hearing Father talk about the fine business he's been able to do in the former colonies, then." Draco had adopted the insulting drawl that he usually reserved for Weasley or Thomas or Finnigan.

Tim snorted, but he let the subject drop. "Padma Patil. And by extension, Parvati Patil as well."

"Agreed," Goyle chimed in. "Those girls make you see double and it doesn't mean you've got a head injury."

"I agree with Goyle," Crabbe said, to the surprise of nobody. "Those Patil twins are saltaceous."

"That's 'salacious', you twit," Tim enunciated, sarcastic acid dropping off every syllable.

"That too!"

Draco turned to Harry. "Well, mate? Laine? Jenna? Weasley? It would kill Ronald if you went to such a high-profile event with his baby sister."

"No, I don't think so."

"Blaise?"

"You must be joking. Besides, I think Padma shines Blaise on a good day."

"Oh ho!" Draco chortled. "Well then. You are in a situation. If Padma's the prettiest girl in school, and Sirius says to ask her, then only one question remains: when are you going to do it? Because if I don't ask Pansy first, she'll go spare again."

"Yeah, that. Best place might be Herbology," Harry speculated.

"No way."

"Right, she'll be surrounded. I'm not seriously going to walk up to that flock and ask Padma out."

"Why? What's so hard about it?"

Harry boggled. "You did not just say that."

"Sure I did. I was thinking more that you want to set the mood a bit more. You should get her in the library or at lunch."

"Her friends will still be around."

"So? You're not asking them."

"Maybe you should ask one of them."

"Maybe I should ask Parvati."

"Pansy would kill you."

"Pansy's always saying things she doesn't mean. Do you think Parvati would go with me?"

"Draco, Pansy hates Parvati. There's nothing worse you could do to her."

"I know."

Harry would never do that, but talking Draco out of anything was usually a day and a half straight. "As long as you know. It's not right."

"Neither is her assuming that I'm taking her. Honestly, if I have to hear one more time about her bleeding pink lace and how lovely her robes look, I'll scream."

"If Padma says yes to me, should I find out if Parvati is available?"

"Sure. I don't know what I'll do about it, but sure."

Harry was determined to not let this whole thing drag out any longer than necessary. One way or another, by Monday night, he would have his answer from Padma.

Padma wasn't taking Ancient Runes, but Harry did learn something interesting in Potions. Professor Snape paused in the middle of his lecture and twitched his wand towards Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. A bit of parchment soared in to the air. The girls cried out is dismay as it floated gently over to Snape's waiting hands.

"What have we here? Passing notes in class, Miss Patil? Dear, oh dear, what a shocking lapse of discipline. Well, I'm afraid there's nothing for it but to read your little missive out loud. 'Lav', by which I assume she means you, Brown," he said. "'You've got to help with Ron. He asked me again on the way to class. I don't know how else to tell him no. How can we get it through his thick, potato-shaped head that I don't want to go to the Yule Ball with him?'"

Weasley started turning red, and he looked like he wanted to hide under the bench. Parvati also blushed as Pansy and Jenna began snickering.

"Weasley?" Professor Snape inquired, looking up from the note. "Four points from Gryffindor for harassing a fellow student. Patil? Six points for passing notes in my class. Brown? Six more. You will all keep any talk of the Yule Ball outside of this classroom."

Snape carried on with his lesson, and Harry filed the tidbit in his memory. He shared a speculative look with Draco. They didn't speak about it on the way up to lunch, nor at the table. Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw table but quickly looked away. He was nervous enough about her friends being around, never mind her house and the whole school!

Harry was thoughtful during History of Magic with Hufflepuff. He hurried with the others as they headed to double Herbology with Ravenclaw to round off their Monday classes. To his irritation, Padma rushed off as soon as the lesson was over.

At dinner, Harry was quite upset with himself. He'd resolved to ask Padma today, but he hadn't had a chance to try to speak to her quietly. The timing hadn't been right at all. Should he swallow his fear and just walk over to the Ravenclaw table and ask her in front of everyone? With all that pressure, she might say no. With all that pressure, she might say yes.

Harry could not decide, and so he chose not to decide. He didn't want to force the situation and have it go badly. The next morning after Arithmancy, he again wasn't able to speak with Padma. Now it was Harry who needed to hurry off to the next class, Astronomy, a long walk away.

After class, Harry ducked in to a handy broom closet and flipped open the Marauder's Map.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Harry said as he tapped it with his wand. He didn't know Padma's schedule, and he needed to find her before she got to the Great Hall for lunch.

The filling in of the castle on the map was always impressive to him. He couldn't get over the fact that Sirius and his dad had invented such an awesome magical artefact. Not only did it show all the secret passages, but it had a labelled dot representing every student, ghost, and pet in the castle. Now he used it to find Padma.

By Merlin's good fortune, she and her twin sister were together in the library. Harry wondered if they were in Padma's secluded nook where she liked to study. He tapped the map again.

"Mischief managed."

Harry emerged from the broom closet to see Jenna standing there.

"Anyone in there with you, Harry?" she said snarkily.

"Hush, you. Just plotting a bit."

"Oh? Going to ambush someone? Weasley? Or someone more pleasant?"

"Padma. I've decided to ask her to the ball."

Jenna grinned at him. "Good luck. I'd be hurt that you're not asking me, but I'm already going with Warrington. He asked me this morning in the common room."

"An older man, Jenna?"

"Hush, you."

"I've got to run. Cover for me?"

"Sure."

Harry pulled back a tapestry and entered the secret passage. Practically running up the incline, he peeked out from behind the painting. The coast was clear. Padma and Parvati had left the library and were walking away from him. Harry swallowed his nervousness. It was now or never. He stepped out of the secret passage, hurried down the hall, and caught up in the vast entrance hall as they waited for the stairs to shift.

"Hi Padma, Parvati," he said casually. "How are you?"

"Hi, Harry." The twins smiled at him, and Harry felt his stomach doing flip-flops. His composure deserted him.

"Padma, do you have a date to the Yule Ball?" he blurted, unable to make any sort of small talk.

"Not yet. Several boys have asked me, but I haven't said yes to anyone."

"Would you like to go with me?" Harry was amazed at his own boldness.

Padma giggled slightly. "That would be very nice. I accept."

And it was done. Harry could have collapsed. But he forced a smile. "Excellent. I look forward to it."

Parvati was eyeing him speculatively. "Zabini is going to go spare."

"Blaise and I are just friends," Harry said, for what felt like the hundredth time. He wondered when it would start to sound true.

"Parkinson going with Malfoy?" she asked.

"About that," Harry segued. "Are you going with anyone?"

"Not yet."

"If Draco asked you, would you say yes?"

Parvati's eyes flew wide open. "Does he want to ask me?"

"I think he might. He thinks you're pretty. But he doesn't want to look foolish. He won't ask unless he knows the answer."

"I don't know what that answer is," she mused, shooting her sister a glance. "Malfoy is fairly handsome, but do I really want to be known as the Gryffindor who betrayed her house and went to the social event in Hogwarts history with a Slytherin?"

That didn't sound positive at all. "I think it's a smashing idea, myself," he said.

"Parkinson will freak. That's worth it right there. Still, I don't even really know Malfoy. I don't think so."

Harry's smile shrank a bit. "I'm sorry to hear that. I wish I didn't have to say this now."

"Say what?"

"I seem to recall that you owe me a small favour. It was at the Wand Smasher concert last summer, remember?"

Parvati didn't look happy with her recollection. "A favour now for a favour later. Are you kidding?"

"Not in the least. Would you rather I asked you to perform the Dance of the Seven Veils?"

"You wouldn't!"

"I wouldn't," Harry agreed amicably. "But my best mate ought to go to the Yule Ball with the other prettiest girl in our form."

Mollified by the compliment, Parvati shook her head. "I feel like I'm been Slytherined," she complained.

"You have, sis."

"I knew I'd have to pay up someday, and I knew it would be more than I wanted to pay. Okay, I'll go with him. But!" she emphasized with a raised finger. "He has to ask me. I won't go with a boy who can't summon up the courage to speak for himself."

Harry happened to agree. "Deal."

Now that he had a date to the ball, Harry found he didn't dread facing the public. He walked in to the Great Hall with the twins, bowed slightly to them, and joined his fellow Slytherins with a satisfied mind.

"I asked her."

"And?" Jenna said.

"She said yes."

"Well done."

"Whom?" Pansy asked curiously.

"Padma."

Blaise swallowed her pumpkin juice the wrong way and started to cough. Harry ignored her.

"Very nice, Harry. Padma's a nice girl."

"I know. That's why I asked her."

"See that, Draco?" Pansy said. "Harry knows how to ask a girl to the ball. Is it really so hard? Why can't you just screw up your courage and ask me?"

Draco swallowed a mouthful of food, took a long sip of pumpkin juice, put down the glass, and wiped his lips on his napkin.

"Pansy? I have no desire to go to the Yule Ball with you."

Pansy's jaw dropped, and Draco stood up. He sauntered casually across the Great Hall to the Gryffindor table where he sat down next to Parvati and said something that made her giggle.

Tim reached over and plucked the knife out of Pansy's hand as she tried to get up from the table.

"None of that. No killing Malfoy for being a git."

"That cad!" Pansy whispered furiously. "He's been leading me on and now he asks someone else? And he asks Patil? This is humiliating!"

"I suppose this is where I come riding in like a knight on a white horse," Tim said blandly. "Pansy, I know we've been a bit on the outs this year, but we share a long history. Will you do me the honour of allowing me to escort you to the Yule Ball?"

Pansy's jaw dropped again. She stared at Tim, completely struck dumb. They shared a history of mutual hate. They'd talked about poisoning each other, throwing each other off the Astronomy tower, and drowning each other in the lake.

But there was also some form of affection. In their first year, when fighting across the giant chessboard, Tim had had to sacrifice Pansy in order to win, and it had pained him. She had been scared senseless, but when Tim had promised to stay and take care of her, she had found the strength to complete the move.

All of that and loads more from their early childhood was doubtless flashing through Pansy's memory. The look on her face gradually changed from shock to something indescribable.

"Tim," she said in a clear voice. "I accept."

"Good," Tim said, looking relieved.

There was silence at the table.

"Remember," Tim said, a bit of a glint twinkling in his eye, "I asked you before Draco did. He had to settle for asking Parvati."

Pansy's face grew a beatific smile. "That's true, isn't it? Tim, you're such a nice boy. Now if we could only clean up your language."

Draco did not return to the table, and it wasn't until much later in the common room that they saw him again.

"Well?" Harry asked. He looked up from his History of Magic assignment.

"Harry, you and I are going to the Yule Ball with the prettiest girls in fourth year."

Harry grinned. "Up Slytherin."

"Up Slytherin."

Michelle Holt, one of the second year girls, emerged from the dorm and sat down next to him.

"Hello, noble Slytherin Champion."

"Hi, Michelle."

"Asked anyone to the ball yet?"

"Actually, yes. I'm going with Padma Patil."

Michelle's face fell. "Oh. How unfortunate. I was hoping you'd ask me."

Harry blinked twice. "Michelle, I-"

"Oh, I know you've never looked at me twice. Laine's more your type. But she's getting entirely too full of herself acting as your public relations agent. It's time to knock her down a peg."

Harry didn't know what Michelle was talking about, but he didn't like the hard set of her face. "Laine wants me to ask her?"

"Yes, but you're not going to. Do you remember about a year ago, how you asked us girls for a favour?"

Harry nodded slowly. He was liking this conversation less and less.

"You agreed to owe me a favour, and I've decided to cash in. I want you to ask me to the Yule Ball."

The cleverness of Harry's idea was now biting him on the bum.

"I've already asked Padma," he repeated dumbly.

"Her loss, then," Michelle declared. "You're just going to have to cancel."

"Now wait a minute," Harry protested. "I can't tell Padma I've decided to ask someone else instead! She'll kill me."

"I want what I want. You gave me your promise. You're not a welcher, are you, Harry?"

"No." Michelle really had him over a barrel. "I need to think about this."

Michelle smiled. "Of course. Shall we say, by Friday evening?"

"Fine."

When she had gone, Harry looked at Draco. "What do I do now?"

"I have no idea."

"I need to talk to Sirius."

Harry dashed to his trunk and took out his magic mirror.

"Sirius Black!"

"Harry Potter!"

"Sirius, you're never going to believe this. I asked Padma to the Yule Ball, and-"

"Way to go, Harry! She said yes, right?"

"Yeah, but that's not the incredible part."

"Sounds pretty incredible to me."

"Well just now, Michelle Holt said she wants me to ask her."

"Michelle, have I met her?"

"I don't think so. She's a third year."

"So you told her you're going with Padma?"

"Yes. She didn't care. She wants me to cancel and take her instead."

"I see," Sirius said. "And did she say why you should do this?"

Harry grimaced. "Well, I sort of owe her a favour. See, when I asked all the third years if they'd be willing to let Ginny join their group, everyone else wanted a bribe, but Michelle just wanted a favour. Now she's cashing it in."

"How very Slytherin of her."

"That had occurred to me."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't think I've got any choice. I've got to keep my promise. If I don't, she'll make trouble for Ginny."

"And how were you planning on telling the prettiest girl in fourth year that you've decided to take a third year instead?"

"I was sort of hoping you could help me figure out what to say."

"I wouldn't even know where to begin."

They thought in silence for a moment.

"Who else has dates?"

"Draco is going with Padma's twin sister Parvati because he's hacked off at Pansy."

"Wait, come again? You and Draco are going with the Patil twins, the prettiest girls in your year?"

"Yeah."

Sirius laughed uproariously. "Stunning, Harry, absolutely stunning! Well played!"

"Thanks. Now help me figure out how to get rid of Michelle so I can enjoy it."

"There's nothing else Michelle wants?"

"She's been holding on to this for awhile now. I think it's safe to say I can't buy her off."

"No, probably not. You might try the truth. I think it's the only way Padma might not hate you. They say the truth will set you free."

"The truth is that I'm trapped."

"It's reasons like this that I hate the game of favours. You end up having to do things you didn't want to do."

"Yeah, you could be right."

In need of further advice, Harry sent off an owl to Elan Malfoy. Closer to his own age than any of his other role models, Harry looked up to Draco's older brother immensely. Elan's advice was utterly practical. He suggested simply taking both girls to the ball.

Harry turned the idea over in his head a few times. It would let him keep his promise, and he wouldn't have to be beastly to Padma. All he had to do was convince her.

He called Sirius and told him of Elan's idea. Sirius laughed a bit and said that it was certainly viable. With tacit approval, Harry decided to try.

On Thursday after Arithmancy, Harry pulled Padma aside while everyone else headed to lunch.

"I should never have tried to get Parvati the way I did."

"Now you realize it."

"I do, and I'm sorry. Someone did the same thing to me."

"What do you mean?"

"Michelle Holt, a third year, is cashing in a favour I owe her. She wants to go to the ball with me."

Padma laughed merrily at him. "How deliciously ironic."

"And I don't want to cancel on you, because I like you, and I want to go with you. But I need to keep my promise."

"So what do you have in mind?"

"Would you mind being one of my dates? I think it's the only fair thing."

Padma snickered. "Only because you're getting what you deserve. One condition."

"Name it."

"You dance the opening dance with me."

"Deal."

They shook on it.

"I'm really sorry about this. I did ask you first. Please remember that."

"Not to worry, Harry. If nothing else, this will be one heck of a story to tell my grandchildren someday."

Harry felt himself start to flush, and she laughed at him again. He ran away to double Charms, and after dinner, he sat down next to Michelle in the common room.

"Hi."

"Hi, Harry."

"Here's how this is going to work. I'll take you to the Yule Ball, but I'm also taking Padma. You'll both be my dates. I will dance with both of you, but I'm saving the opener for Padma."

Michelle considered the idea. "I guess it will have to do. Very well then."

"After the Yule Ball is concluded, my debt will be repaid."

"Yes, provided I have a good time. If I don't have fun, you'll still owe me, and I promise to be honest about my experience. Just treat me right. One thing: I want you to ask me. Say the words."

Harry tried very hard not to swear at her. Why did girls always have to have everything just so? "Michelle, will you be my second date to the Yule Ball?"

She really didn't like his wording; he could see that plainly, though she said, "I will," without hesitation.

Harry just hoped he didn't live to regret this.

to be continued...