Risking True Feelings

Tuesday

The Tuesday before the next Midnight Madness meeting, Ginny called the players to a meeting in the common room, after their classes.

"Now, for this week's meeting, I thought it would be interesting if we each invited someone from a different house to join us in the Room of Requirement at eight," Ginny told them.

There were miscellaneous whispers from the rest of the Gryffindors. The comments sounded positive, so Ginny continued, "I wanted this club to be for more people, I mean, more than just our house. In a way, this is obeying Dumbledore's orders about interhouse unity.

"The rules are, you need a person from a different house with you to enter the Room of Requirement. Also, if you invite someone, and they have already been invited, you need to invite someone else."

The Gryffindors nodded in agreement and headed to their dormitories.

Wednesday

By Wednesday afternoon, almost all of the Gryffindors had found a guest to bring to the Room of Requirement on Thursday.

Ginny immediately confronted Luna, who had been invited by Neville, Hermione, Ron, and Harry. She was going with Neville because he asked first. Ginny considered telling her about Neville's dream, but thought the better of it.

Harry seemed to be having just as much difficulty finding a guest. All of the D.A. members had already been invited.

Hermione, not having any friends outside Gryffindors, except Luna, was having a very difficult time, but finally ask Hannah Abbot, whom she barely even knew.

Conveniently, Hannah was in the D.A., so Hermione could make conversation with her and gradually started mentioning Midnight Madness.

Ron invited a Ravenclaw named Terry Boot, who was also in the D.A. Ron had never even spoken to him, but asked him so he could attend the meeting that Thursday.

Ginny and Harry met in the Great Hall around lunchtime. "Found anyone?" Ginny asked him.

"No," he answered. "All of my friends are, either, in Gryffindor, have graduated, have already been invited, or have died.

"What about you?" Harry inquired.

Ginny shook her head. "The only people who haven't been asked seem to be-" Ginny suddenly stopped, getting a brilliantly terrible idea.

A grin flooded across Ginny's face.

"Ginny, you're not thinking what I think you are, are you?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Whatever are you talking about?" Ginny said, acting oblivious to what he was asking.

"You're not thinking about inviting Slytherins, are you?"

"What other hope do we have, Harry?"

"You could change the rules," Harry told her.

"Harry, that wouldn't be fair. Everyone else has already invited someone, and so do we," Ginny stated, sounding very serious.

"Fine," Harry mumbled. "But, I'm not inviting Malfoy!" he added.

Ginny thought for a moment, about whom Harry could invite. "I guess Crabbe and Goyle are out of the question, too?" Ginny assumed.

Harry glared at Ginny and she assumed that meant, 'yes'.

"Invite Pansy Parkinson," Ginny ordered him.

Harry made a face of total and complete disgust. "How am I supposed to get Pansy Parkinson to listen to a word I say?"

"Just mention that Draco will be there, and she'll come running," Ginny told him, knowing exactly what she was doing.

"How are you going to manage that?" Harry asked, astonished that Ginny was this calm about asking Slytherins.

"Don't you worry about that. If I can trick you into asking me out, then I can trick Draco Malfoy into going to our meeting."

"You didn't trick me into asking you out!" Harry argued.

"Yes, I did," Ginny insisted. "With the help of Hermione."

"I'm going to kill her," Harry mumbled under his breath.

"The men may be the head of the house but the woman is the neck and she can turn the head anyway she wants."

-Maria Portokalos My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)