Circle's Close

Chapter Seven: The Hallowe'en Ball

***

October 31st. The Halloween Ball.

Harry stood in front of his mirror, in his single room, frustrated for more than one reason. First: He couldn't seem to get his robe fitted just right. He struggled with the material that seemed to want to go one way, when he wanted it to go the other. Second: Hermione had locked herself firmly in her room with the firm promise to curse Harry if he tried to get in. She obviously wanted to be alone to get ready, which left his frustration number three: he needed her help, and she wasn't there to give it. Cursing his robes, he jumped when a desperate knock came at the door.

"Come in," said Harry, from his spot at the opposite side of the room.

Ron stepped in, and Harry could swear he had never seen him looking so excited and flustered in his whole life.

"She said yes," he blurted, sitting on the corner of Harry's bed. But immediately the red head stood up again as he paced the room.

"Who's 'she'?" asked Harry, as he turned from his mirror to his best friend.

"Leah."

"Leah?" Harry asked in bewilderment. He hadn't even known that Ron was interested in Leah York, their Gryffindor Chaser for the Quidditch team.

"Hey, don't look so surprised," Ron said, mistaking the look.

"Sorry," Harry said quickly. "I just never saw that coming." And indeed he hadn't. Leah was pretty and had a wonderful personality. Being able to make anyone laugh, (she was as funny as Hermione was smart) and all in all, she was a very lovable person. Not to mention that she was an excellent Chaser.

"It just sort of--happened," Ron admitted in a highly anxious voice. "Well, I can't stay. I just thought I'd let you know. I have to get ready too, you know," he added as he made his way to the door.

"Hey, Ron."

Ron turned back to Harry, who smiled.

"I'm happy for you. Really. She's lucky to have a guy like you," he said.

Ron smiled back.

"It's just a dance. Nothing more." But he looked disappointed at the prospect.

"This is the last Ball you'll ever attend here at Hogwarts. Make it more," insisted Harry.

Ron smiled and left, only to leave Harry to his own devices. He cursed his robes again.

"Yes," said his mirror in an amused voice. "You'd think a Head Boy would know how to dress himself."

"Shut up."

*

The late hour was approaching, and with Ginny's help, Harry managed to fix himself up. Now all he had to do was wait for the girl of his dreams (and reality) to finish getting herself ready.

"Girls will be girls," cautioned Ginny, who also waited completely ready. She chose to wear a deep sapphire blue gown, her straight, red hair swept back into a twist, the ends of her hair sprouting out at the top. Harry had to admit that Hermione wouldn't be the only one attracting all the attention tonight.

"You're not bringing anyone to the dance?" asked Harry.

Ginny shrugged. "I didn't really want to. I don't mind going alone," she said.

Harry raised a brow, just as Hermione finally exited her room, and appeared at the top stairs of the common room.

In Harry's opinion, the wait was well worth it.

A long flowing gown, like Ginny's, cascaded to her ankles. Her dress, a spaghetti strap, flowed down to her ankles in a deep crimson shade that matched the ruby which dangled from a fine chain that hung around her neck, and the rubies that decorated her lobes. She chose not to wear a stitch of make-up, though her lips did look a deeper shade of red, probably to match her dress. Her hair was not as straight as it had been the night of the Yule Ball in their 4th year. Instead it was curlier, with tiny ringlets swept back, a few left astray, tickling her shoulders.

By the time Harry had finished memorizing every last detail of the way she looked, Hermione had made her way to him and Ginny, a sweet smile playing on her face.

"Are we ready?" she asked.

Harry was speechless. He felt like he was standing in front of a temptress. His temptress. He wasn't jealous by nature, in fact he scorned jealousy. Irrational behaviour was Ron's department. Harry's was to be fair and logical. But right now all of that seemed to fly out the window. But a voice in his head kept reminding him that he was not in the least possessive, and that Hermione would inevitably catch most of, if not all, everyone's attention.

"You're breathtaking," sighed Harry, pulling her into an embrace. She giggled softly, running a hand through his soft and naturally wild hair.

"You don't look so bad yourself, love," she drawled seductively.

From behind them, Ginny giggled. She could just imagine Harry's rambling, incoherent thoughts in response to Hermione's teasing voice.

Harry held out both elbows. Hermione latched onto his left side, while Ginny slipped her arm through his right. The two girls exchanged broad grins.

"I'll consider myself the luckiest guy in the school," Harry announced, as they made their way to the portrait hole.

"Let me guess, smooth talker that you are. You get to escort the two loveliest girls in Hogwarts?" wondered Ginny.

Harry smiled knowingly. "I was actually going to say 'two loveliest girls in the wizardry world'."

Ginny sighed impatiently. "Always trying to out-do the other, aren't we, Harry," she said.

Hermione sent Ginny a teasing grin, and squeezed Harry's arm playfully.

Harry laughed. "I could never out-do you, Ginny. You have a bit of a nasty streak when the occasion arises."

"And don't you forget it," was her quick reply.

They made their way to the Great Hall, which Ginny had decorated with the help of Dumbledore and Hermione. The Hall was a flourish of black and orange, and all around, Hagrid's giant (magical grown) pumpkins were visible to everyone's eye. Over a thousand bats fluttered high above their heads. They had decorated right after the feast, when the younger students had trudged out of the Great Hall with much reluctance. Their desire was to stay for the Ball, but they knew that it was against the rules, unless invited by a student in 4th year or older.

"Fashionably late, are we?" asked Sirius.

Harry and Hermione, as Head Boy and Girl, had seats at the High Table. Sirius and Dumbledore served as chaperones, The Weird Sisters provided the music, and the House Elves supplied the food. The students provided everything else: Dancing, laughter, chatter, and the overall cheery atmosphere.

All of Harry's nervousness ebbed away, and he grew comfortable sitting next to Hermione at the High Table. Even the worries of the previous two weeks couldn't take away from how he felt tonight. Harry looked across the room and found Ron and Leah dancing to one of the Weird Sisters slower tunes. They seemed to be having an in depth conversation as they moved closer together.

Harry smiled and nudged Hermione. She looked in Ron's direction, then looked back at Harry and smiled.

"It's about time, don't you think?" she asked.

"They seem happy," he replied.

Hermione slipped a hand into his, and their fingers interlaced. "We seem happy, don't we?" she asked.

Harry nodded and brought their entwined hands up to his lips to kiss her fingers. "We are happy, love. I just hope Ron's happiness can match our own, because right now, I doubt I could feel any happier than I already am," he told her, feeling impulsively romantic.

"Oh, you're that happy, are you?" she replied coyly. She kissed him softly before he could reply.

"Hey, there's a time and place for everything," Sirius teased.

Hermione turned a thoughtful gaze to Harry's godfather. "I see you haven't brought a date. Why's that?" she asked.

Sirius's light eyes widened, and he exchanged looks with his godson.

"I'm a professor, Hermione," he said, taken aback.

"So? Since when can't professors date?" she asked.

"Well, there are many reasons," and he began to tick them off with each finger. "One: A professor doesn't have enough time to date. Two: It's unprofessional for a professor to bring a date to a Ball that is meant for students. Three:--"

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Sirius," said Dumbledore, overhearing their conversation. "Tell them the truth. You know as well as I do, that professors are allowed to date. And I was the one who insisted that you bring one. You simply refused."

For the first time in Harry's life, he saw Sirius go red with embarrassment. His godfather avoided the look of amusement that appeared on Harry and Hermione's face.

"Thank you for that, Headmaster," replied Sirius. Dumbledore chuckled in return.

"I don't see why not," continued Hermione. "You're still young. You've still got your looks."

"Is she always this incorrigible?" Sirius asked Harry with a look of disbelief on his face.

"Did he just say incorrigible, or absolutely adorable?" Harry cooed, his hand resting on the swell of Hermione's hip.

"Speaking of incorrigible," Sirius muttered, shaking his head at Harry in mock wonder.

Harry and Hermione both laughed as they ate and talked some more. Harry then led his girlfriend out onto the dance floor once another slow tune started up.

They danced to the rhythm of the music, doing a minor impression of the waltz.

"Are you alright?" Hermione asked, looking up at him with a frown of worry.

He met her gaze, and nodded firmly.

"I can tell, you know," Hermione pressed. "You can't hide it from me. What's wrong?"

"Does it show? I thought I was doing a good job of keeping my thoughts in the dark," Harry admitted.

"You probably are-- to everyone else. Is it the hole? The unicorn?" Hermione guessed.

Harry nodded. "I can't help it. Even tonight, when I want everything to go as smoothly as possible, it's still there in the back of my mind. What do you make of it?" asked Harry for the millionth time in the two weeks since they had come across the mystery in the forest.

"Of what exactly?"

"Everything, all of it. The hole, the prediction, the unicorn blood," Harry said in a low voice.

Hermione stayed silent for a moment, pondering her answer in a way so she wouldn't sound redundant to Harry.

"It matches, doesn't it? 'Silver points on a field of black'? But the question is, what does it mean?" Hermione replied.

Harry shrugged, looking as confused as he felt.

"I have some theories. None of which are on the positive side," Harry replied darkly. "A unicorn is dead. Someone needed the blood. Do you remember the last time we heard a unicorn was killed?"

"Yes. I remember. Don't forget who you're talking to," replied Hermione. "What do you think, then?" she asked.

Harry sighed, and shook his head, not wanting to answer.

"You should go to Dumbledore," Hermione suggested with a sudden inspiration.

"No," Harry shook his head firmly. "Not until there's something to worry about." Harry looked up as though a voice in his head told him to. He saw Malfoy standing nearby, regarding him with a curious, but equally knowing look. There wasn't the same coldness in his eyes, but nevertheless, Harry shivered.

He looked back down at Hermione.

"I think we should talk about this later. There's a lot of people around. People could unintentionally eavesdrop," he said, looking back up at Malfoy.

The blond boy took this as a sign, and started to move through the sea of dancing couples. Harry lost sight of him, and finally regained his composure. There was something going on...something he couldn't put a finger on. He would find out, he knew. Inevitably, he always found out. But he'd do anything to at least have a clue, so he could wash away his curiosity and confusion.

Sighing with agreement, Hermione rested her head on Harry's shoulder, placing their entwined fingers against his heart.

"I love you," she said.

Harry looked down at her, feeling his heart swell with a love that would run deep for all of eternity. This love was for real, and how lucky he felt. How privileged.

"Back atcha, love," he said. Soon the dance came to a close.

They shared another dance, which was longer than the last, and then they made their way to the High Table where Ron and Leah sat side by side in Harry and Hermione's chairs, talking to Sirius and Dumbledore.

"Trying to replace me, Ron?" asked Harry, a teasing grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I would never dream of it, Harry. Have you guys seen Ginny?" Ron asked.

The Head Boy and Girl both shrugged.

"The last time I saw her was when she was dancing with Dean. That was...when...?"

"More than half an hour ago," Hermione answered for Harry.

Ron looked puzzled.

"That's quite a while," he said, then shrugged. "She'll be back. I'm sure she's fine."

"Do you want to go look for her? I could, if you want," offered Harry.

"No, don't worry yourself. I'm just being paranoid," Ron insisted.

Harry exchanged looks with Hermione.

"You sure about that, Ron? Hey, maybe she made off with a Slytherin," Harry joked.

Ron scrunched up his nose, and made some gagging noises to go with it.

"Don't joke about that," Sirius said calmly, and it appeared that he was trying not to laugh. "Mr Malfoy is missing as well," he told them.

Hermione saw the humor in this, and burst out laughing, along with Harry.

Ron shot them deadly glares.

"Well you're both wrong, because there he is now," Ron said, pointing.

Draco Malfoy had just walked into the room, apparently searching for Crabbe and Goyle, though he didn't have to search long. His two goons were massive.

Not two minutes after Malfoy had walked in, Ginny appeared.

"It's about time. Where have you been?" demanded Ron, as Ginny made her way to the High Table.

"None of your business, dear brother of mine," Ginny replied with annoyance laced in her voice. "But if you must know, nature called. These gowns are a pain to get back on, which is why it took me so long to get back," Ginny explained, as though she had rehearsed this phrase from a textbook.

"I suppose using a Charm would be out of the question?" asked Ron mockingly.

Ginny's face grew blank, and finally she shrugged.

"I left my wand on my nightstand. But what does it really matter? I'm here now. Did you miss me that much?" she asked. Everyone at the table sniggered.

Ron scowled. "Don't get coy with me. When you're gone for no apparent reason, and for longer than half an hour, I worry," he said.

"Well... don't worry. I'm a big girl. If I get into trouble, I know how to defend myself. And I highly doubt that a bathroom stall is going to attack me in the middle of a Halloween Ball," Ginny shot back.

Everyone at the table watched with amusement, listening to Ron and Ginny's petty bickering. They were so alike it was scary.

"Don't be so sure," Ron replied coolly. "This is a Wizardry castle, is it not? Anything can happen. Just forget I mentioned it. I'm not going to get sucked into your games tonight."

"Well, goody," Ginny replied sarcastically. She turned to Harry then, dismissing Ron.

"Harry, would you care to dance? Unless, of course, Hermione isn't willing to share."

"Just bring him back in one piece. It's all I ask," Hermione said with a smile.

Harry happily led Ginny out onto the dance floor, where another slow tune curbed the pace of the previous fast song.

"So let's hear the truth now," said Harry, placing a hand around Ginny's tiny frame, clasping a hand in her spare one.

"The truth?" Ginny asked.

Harry's emerald eyes twinkled down at her. "I'm not as blind as you might have assumed me to be, Miss Weasley. Out with it," he said.

Ginny's face contorted to so many different emotions, Harry couldn't decide which one was the dominant. Nervousness, confusion, secrecy, or even relief.

"There is something, isn't there?" Harry said in a rhetorical tone. There was no denying it. She had a secret.

"No, there's nothing. Nothing big. Please, just don't ask me. Not right now. I promise that when the time comes... I'll tell you. Right now I'm just not ready," Ginny replied in a rush.

Harry stared at her long and hard. He could keep pressing it, or he could let her confide when she was ready. What to do?

"You can't even give me a hint?" he asked.

"You're not stupid, Potter. If I gave you one hint, you'd figure out the truth in an instant. This is something I'm not prepared for. But--if it makes you feel any better, you'll be the first to know when the time does come," she promised.

That was good enough for Harry. He dropped the subject.

"You do realize that you have attracted a lot of attention here tonight?" he asked.

"Oh," Ginny waved a dismissive hand. "That's because I came here alone. You see, even if every guy in here was taken, a single girl will always look attractive. Not to say that they'd approach me, or want to leave their significant others for me, but that's just the way it goes. Attached guys will always have that secret desire for a single girl," she explained.

Harry smiled. "Is that a fact?" he asked.

"It is. Though we have our few exceptions. For example, you and Hermione. I, on the other hand, am not looking. And you, Mr. Potter, had better stop flattering me so much this evening," Ginny warned, grinning.

"I'll stop if you pay me," Harry suggested lightly.

Ginny laughed. "I'm not going to pay you," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Well...if you won't pay me, then I'm afraid I'll have to decline your request."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I don't know what has gotten into you this evening. But I would suggest you stay away from the snacks and the drinks."

Harry laughed. "Well, at least we know it's not Fred or George spiking the punch this year."

"Hear, hear!" Ginny's giggles soon disolved into a serene smile as she looked up at Harry in wonder. "She's so lucky, you know."

Harry returned the smile, thinking that it was really the other way around. "Same to the guy that eventually steals your heart."

"But what about my brother and Leah? What's going on with them?" Ginny asked, hastily changing the subject. She nodded towards the High Table where Leah, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Dumbledore seemed to be in a very amusing conversation.

"They're very cute, aren't they?" said Harry, storing away in his mind Ginny's abrupt change in subject.

"I'm happy for them both. Though, I'm sure that they haven't even realized just how wonderful they are together. They came as friends, you know," Ginny said.

"Yes, Ron told me as much. Won't it be interesting when it turns to something more? We all see it. I look forward to the day when Ron realizes it."

"Leah, too. She's very pretty, don't you think? Oh, don't answer that. I wasn't trying to trap you. But I'm sure you know what I mean," said Ginny, slightly flustered.

"That Leah could have nearly any guy in school?" Harry elaborated. "She's got everything Ron needs, I think. And I honestly didn't even realize that until this second."

"Me, too."

The dance came to a close.

"Harry, please don't mention anything to the others, over what we talked about," Ginny said.

"You have my word," promised Harry. And he meant it.

"Thanks. I'm going to find someone else to dance with! Thank you for the dance, Harry," and she kissed him on the cheek.

Harry watched her saunter across the dance floor, making her way to Colin Creevey, then Harry made his way to his own table. Across the room Harry spotted Draco Malfoy dancing with a good-looking Slytherin Harry recognized as Jessica Williamson, and Harry realized with a certain amount of amusement that Malfoy didn't seem to be enjoying himself.

"Where's Ron?" Harry asked, taking notice that Hermione was now sitting where Ron sat, talking with Leah.

Harry took the seat on the other side of where Leah was sitting and leaned over so he could be included in the conversation.

"He went to get some drinks," answered Leah.

Harry took notice of the permanent smile that had appeared on her face since the beginning of the dance, and said, "you both seem to be enjoying yourselves."

Leah grinned, her face turning slightly pink.

"The truth is, I've liked him since as far back as I can remember," she confessed. "There's just, something about him, isn't there?" she said in a softer voice that Harry wasn't used to hearing from her.

Harry nodded. "He's a great friend. I think you two would be really good together," he told her.

Leah's face fell. "I don't think he's in it for that. I think he just wanted me as a date for the Ball, you know? But that's OK. That's good enough for me. Maybe someday..." and she trailed off, looking straight ahead, avoiding Harry and Hermione's puzzled looks.

Obviously, Ron had feelings for Leah, and apparently Ron hadn't done anything to make that obvious to Leah. Leah had just confessed that she had liked Ron for (what it seemed) years, and though she had an outgoing personality, she was undoubtedly shy about telling Ron how she felt.

Harry grinned. This could prove to provide endless amounts of amusement: to set Ron and Leah up. Ginny would want to take part in this as well.

Then Leah continued, not speaking directly to them. She spoke as though she were writing in her diary. "Out of all the guys I've ever been interested in, he's the only one who's ever made me feel this way. It's so confusing, yet it's so wonderful. I feel so warm when he's around," she said, in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

Hermione nodded. "Yes," she said, and caught Harry's eye. "I know exactly how you feel."

To Be Continued...