The Winter Ball

    "Gin! Wait up," called Hermione Granger. Ginny looked over her shoulder and saw Hermione running up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. She stood still, and Hermione caught up to her asking,"Have you heard who Ron's asking to the Winter Ball?"

    "Nope. But I could find out,"Ginny told her. She knew that 'Mione had a crush on her brother, and had hopes for him asking her to the Winter Ball. The Ball was the most socail occasion in Hogwarts. Students, professors, ghosts, and ghouls all participate in many events, such as a dance, carriage rides in the snow, or whatever one wishes to do.

    "No thanks. If he asks, he asks. If he doesn't, then I'll just be crushed," Hermione said quickly. Harry Potter, a sixth year also, was heading their way with Luna Lovegood, a fifth year Ginny's age. Ginny stared at Harry in awe, taking in Luna and Harry walking together. "Gin, they were STUDYING. Not making out, or something," Hermione added.

    "Yeah, I know. Luna is always needing help. She just had to pick the guy that's no good in that subject, and the boy that I like," Hermione's best friend responded as the two continued up the stairs.

    "Gin, don't be mad at her. Harry is the crushee of almost all fifth year Gryffindors. But, he IS no good at Potions," Hermione said. Ginny nodded and Fred Weasly and Alicia Spinnet came out of the boys' dormitory.

    "Hey Hermione. Hey Ginny," Alicia said. Fred waved and took Alicia's hand as they descended down the stairs.

    "Hello and goodbye," Ginny called. "Those two make a great couple. Quidditch loving, outgoing, handsome, and pretty dumb. Yes, they were meant to be."

    "Mhm," Hermione said distractedly. Ron was entering the common room, which Hermione and Ginny had done a few moments ago. "Hey Ron," she said.

    "Hey Ginny. Oh, hey Mione."

    "Hey Ron," his sister replied. Hermione was staring at Ron, who was looking at George and Parvati.

    "Parvati? How'd you get in here," he said. It was quite obvious that Ron didn't like Parvati, being that she cheated on him with Crabbe of Slytherin.

    "She's here with me, Ronald. We were just leaving," his brother said.

    "Come on, George. Let's go. I don't want to run Ron out of his own common room,"Parvati said, taking George's hand, and tugging on it.

    "Okay," he said. The two exited the room, leaving Ron, Hermione, and Ginny alone.

    "Hey Ron," Hermione said. "I never got around to saying that when you came in," she added.

    "Oh, hey," he said. Hermione knew that he was feeling pained about Parvati and George being an item now. What she DIDN'T know was how George could do that to Ron, or why he'd date someone 2 years younger than him.

     "Well, I'm going to my dorm. I need some time alone to study for our Divination exam, so if you don't mind, if you have to come in, come in quietly, please. Tell that to anyone else in our dorm that wants to come in, too, if you don't mind," Ginny said. She worked hard to keep up with Hermione in look-wise, but book-wise, it was one of the easiest parts of being in Hogwarts. They were both very pretty and smart, and everyone thought that that made them such great friends.

    "Okay, Gin," Hermione said. Ginny smiled and went into their dorm, closing the door behind her.

    "So... Have you found a date, Mione," Ron questioned. Hermione nodded, and she saw a glint in Ron's eye.

    'Hermione, he wasn't hopeful for YOU. He's WAY out of your league. Stop this nonsense,' she scolded herself.

    "Neither have I. I'm so darn scared that I'll be going with Millecent Bullstrode again. She couldn't dance last year, and the fact that she spilt punch on me is a total turnoff," Ron said with a grin. 'That's good. She laughed, AND she hasn't found a date yet,' he thought. Harry and Luna walked into the common room and Harry took a seat on the couch. Luna headed towards the girls' dorm, and Hermione relayed Ginny's message. Luna did so, and as soon as she was gone, Harry said,"Gosh, I'm glad that's over with. She needed help with EVERYTHING! But, Hermione has--"

    "Nope, Ginny hasn't been taken yet. Ask her, already, Harry," Ron said in Hermione's place. The bright 6th year sat quietly, watching the two talk.

    "Good."

    Hermione laughed and said,"Well, I'm going to send her out, and Ron is going outside for some reason. You're GOING to ask her. Neville told me this afternoon if YOU didn't, HE would."

    "Hermione! No! I PROMISE I will tonight. Too many people are coming and going right now," Harry argued, blushing.

    "Okay. But you WILL ask her tonight. You're lucky she didn't ask ME who you were asking. I tell her EVERYTHING, even if I DO promise someone I won't tell," Hermione said.

    "Well, I AM going outside. I'm going to annoy Moaning Myrtle again," Ron said with a grin. Harry laughed and Hermione giggled.

    "You really SHOULD stop doing that. You're a PREFECT Ron," she said.

    "I know, but it's so darn FUN! You really should try it," he told her.     

    "Maybe I will some day," she replied.

    "Okay. You can come with me if you want,"Ron offered.

    "I'll do that," she called as he left the room. "Harry, who is he going to ask?"

    "Hermione, I promised him I wouldn't tell. You know I would if I could," he said. She sighed and stared at the crackling fire, where she and Seamus had sat two years before on the night of the Winter Ball.

    "I know. Well, I guess we better get going," she responded.

    "You go ahead. I'm sure you'll meet Jen on the way. I'm going to skip dinner."

    "You sure," she asked. Harry nodded. Hermione shrugged and opened the Fat Lady portrait, climbing out. Ginny heard the door open and close, and came out of the dormitory about fifteen minutes later. She knew that Ron hadn't gone to bother Moaning Myrtle, he had just gotten an early start to dinner. When she entered the common room, she found a silent Harry.

    Ginny took a seat on the couch beside him and asked, "What are we staring at?"

    "Oh, nothing. I'm just thinking. I didn't notice you came out. Sorry," he told her.

    "It's okay. I won't ask what you're thinking about," Gin joked.

    "Well, you'll find out. Can I ask you a question, Gin," he questioned.

    She was stunned that he called her Gin. He had never called her that. But, she managed to tell him he could.

    "Well, I, um, see, erm, you're, I--"

    "Spit it out, Harry," Ginny said playfully.

    "Well, Ginny, the truth is... I really like you. And you don't have a date to the Ball yet... And um. I wanted to know if er, you'd consider uh going with me," Harry said, stumbling.

    "Harry... YOU like ME? I mean, I'm not pretty like Fleur... Or whatever.. Yeah, I'll go with you," she said, shocked. Harry smiled, and Ginny took in his beautiful grin, black, thick hair, and gorgeous blue eyes. He stopped smiling, and stared into Ginny's hazel eyes. He took in her blond hair, wonderful eyes, and exsquisite smile. Harry pulled Ginny into his lap, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, as he kissed her gently on the lips. She closed her eyes, and leaned back on him. He kissed her neck and held her close.

    "Harry? How long have you liked me," she asked after a few minutes as she pulled herself away to look at him.

    "A very long time, Ginny. I just thought you didn't like me."

    "Of course I did," she said, as he drew her closer again, kissing her. Harry just couldn't get enough of Ginny. She smiled and returned the kiss. Just then, Hermione and Ron walked into the room, watching in suprise.

    "Harry? Ginny? Do you guys know what you're doing? You're KISSING," Hermione said. Ron laughed, and Ginny giggled as Harry nodded. Ginny filled the two in that they'd agreed to go to the Winter Ball with each other.

    "So you two are, like, dating," Ron asked. Harry looked at Ginny, wishing inside his head that Ron had not asked that.

    "Are we, Harry," she asked with a confused face.

    "Um... Do you want to decide NOW," he asked, blushing.

    "Nah," Ginny said, kissing Harry again. "Oh, does that clear it up?" Everyone laughed. Harry nodded 'yes', his stomach doing butterflies. "Well, I'm going to go to bed. I'll see you guys in the morning," Ginny told them.

    "Goodnight, Gin," Ron called.

    "Night Ginny," Hermione said.

    "Sweet dreams," Harry told Ginny. She called goodnight to everyone and shut the door to the girls' dorm. Everyone in the room, including Alicia and Fred who'd just entered, smiled at Harry.

    "Well, we're off to bed. Goodnight everyone," Fred said. Alicia waved goodnight as everyone wished the two good dreams. Hermione trotted off with Licia to their dorm, Fred and Ron likewise. Harry fell asleep on the couch about 20 minutes later, and woke to find himself there. 'Since everyone's in bed, I'll go talk to Gin now.' He got up and tiptoed to the girls' dorm door. Harry opened and shut the door quietly, went to Ginny's bed and gave her shoulder a slight push. 'I'm glad she's easy to wake,' he thought. She rolled over and smiled at him. He put his finger over her lips, and pulled her out of bed. She followed him into the common room and sat in his lap.

    "Harry? What is it," she asked. He smiled.

    "Nothing bad. I just wanted to talk to you." Harry's lips met her's and the two stayed like that. He wrapped his arms around her waist, her arms finding their way to his neck.

    "I love talking, then," she said after the kiss ended. He grinned.

    "Well, since the Ball is two days away, we need to get Hermione and Ron together. Ron is too shy, and Hermione still isn't out of the stage about girls-asking-boys-out. AND, I want YOU to come with ME on our Three Broomsticks trip tomorrow," Harry told Ginny.

    "Yeah... I know. And I'd love to go with you," she whispered. Gin smiled.

    "Okay. Meet me at 6:45 in the morning here... And we'll get an early start."

    "Well, I have a better idea." Ginny's lips met his cheek as she reached back and grabbed a blanket from behind them. Harry smiled and leaned back, bringing Ginny with him. She rested her head on his chest, and fell asleep.

    "HARRY JAMES POTTER! YOU BETTER NOT HAVE... YOU KNOW... WITH GINNY! IF YOU DID, I'LL KILL YOU," George yelled about two hours later when he came in with Parvati. Ginny sat up immediatly, trying to calm George down.

    "GEORGE! I didn't! I wouldn't do that! Ginny means alot more to me than that," Harry shot back. Parvati stood quietly, holding George's hand.

    "George... GEORGE! I have to get back to my house," she said.

    "Okay. Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you and Ginny were dating now... My bad," he said as he and Parv walked out of the common room.

    "Harry, I am SO sorry," Ginny said, almost in tears. Harry drew her into his arms and kissed the top of her blond head.

    "Ginny, it is okay. You know how George can be. It honestly didn't bother me. Alright," he asked.

    "Okay. Yeah, but do I REALLY mean THAT much to you," she replied. Harry nodded and laid back on the couch again.

    "Yes, Virginia Weasly, you do," he told her as he brushed the front side of his hands against her cheek. She shivered from the feel of the touch. It was the best thing she'd ever felt. Ginny smiled, and Harry pulled a lock of hair from behind her ear. She smiled, and fell asleep, her head on Harry's shoulder.

    "Gin. Ginny... Wake up," Harry whispered. "We've got to get going." Ginny sat up groggily on the couch and pulled the covers off of herself. She slipped on her bedroom shoes and trudged up to her dormitory to get dressed. When she came back down, Harry was sitting on the couch with George, Fred, and Ron.

    "Has anyone seen Hermione? I haven't seen her," Ginny asked.

    "Nope. I know she's coming to Hogsmeade, though," Fred told his sister. Alicia followed by Luna and Jennifer came out of the dorm, dressed and ready to go.

    "Maybe she's in the Great Hall already," Luna suggested. She had obviously overheard the conversation.

    "Maybe," Ginny said. She looked at Harry, wondering if their plan that they had discussed earlier could still work. The Ball was a night away, and Ron still hadn't worked up the courage to ask Hermione.

    "Well, I'll go look," Alicia said. Jennifer Spinnet and Luna headed out of the common room to go and meet Tyler and Baylor, two 5th year Ravenclaws.

    "Okay. We'll search the boys' dormitory," George and Fred offered. Ginny nodded. She, Ron, and Harry were left alone.

    "I hope she's okay. Last time we couldn't find her she was sick with VVV," Ron said.

    "Well, that was after she came home from Christmas Holidays... She was around Muggles... I'm sure she's okay," Harry reassured Ron. Ron nodded and forcing a smile. Harry took Ginny's hand and pulled her into a position so that she was resting on him. "I love you," he whispered to Ginny. True, they hadn't been seeing each other for a full day, but it was true.

    "I love you, too," she told him. Ron was too busy daydreaming to notice the two, so they didn't worry about him.

    "I TOLD you! I knew it! She was in the Great Hall," Luna said. Hermione laughed as she was shoved into the doorway.

    "Yes, I WAS in the Great Hall. We had a great breakfast. You guys missed it," she said.

    "Well, now that everyone's here, can we get going," Jennifer said, as she entered the room with Hermione, Luna, her sister, and everyone else. Everybody headed out of the common room. Harry took Ginny's hand and lead her out of the room.

     "Ron. Here's a quill and a piece of parchment. Write Hermione a note. Do it now," Ginny said. Ron reluctantly took the two and wrote her a note.

    'Dear Hermione. I can't believe I'm writing this, but since I am, I need to tell you how I feel. Every time I'm around you, I feel like I'm in love. I want to take you, and hold you close, and never let go. I can't put it into words how I feel about you... But even if you don't return my feelings, Hermione Granger, I will always love you. So, with me telling you this... Would you go to the Winter Ball with me?

    Sincerely,

     Ron'

    "Here. Don't you DARE read it! Hand it to her and tell her to give it back to me after she's done with it, okay," Ron asked. Harry nodded. Ginny sat on a table outside beside Ron, waiting for Hermione's yes. As Hermione read the note, her stomach done somersaults. She smiled, and shook her head yes. Ron stood up and started walking towards Hermione.

    "You really meant all of that," she asked when they stood face-to-face. He shook his head and hugged her. Ron kissed her cheek, and Harry walked back to Ginny.

    "Those two make an even better couple. Smart, cute, and best friends," Ginny said.

    "Not as good as us, of course," Harry teased. He sat his forehead on Ginny's and stared into her eyes. He put his arm around her shoulder and together they walked to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade.

    "Ginny? Are you ready to go," Harry asked. She nodded, and they went outside to meet Ron and Hermione. They'd went to have a walk in the snow before they left.

    Ron leaned in and kissed Hermione passionatly. She kissed him back and took his hand. They walked back to the path back to Hogwarts and met Harry and Ginny on the way.

    "Hey Gin. Hey Harry," Ron said. Hermione smiled and told them 'hi'. "Since we're all on the Decoration Crew, we'd better get going."

    "Yeah," Hermione agreed. The four all headed back to Hogwarts. Ron took Hermione's hand. Ginny laid her head on Harry's shoulder and shivered from the cold.

    Ron kissed Hermione on the lips, and ran his hand through her golden blond hair. "Goodnight, Mione," he told her.

    "Night Ron. See you bright and early," she replied. It was well past 11:00 p.m. and the two were just heading to bed. George, Fred, Alicia, Jennifer, Luna, Harry, and Ginny had all said goodnight much earlier, because they had to get up much earlier than Ron and Hermione. She went into her dormitory and shut the door.

    "Gin. Wake up," Jennifer said. She pulled Ginny out of bed and made her go get dressed. Ginny showered, got dressed, and headed down to the Great Hall to help decorate.

    "Ginny! Over here," Harry called. Jennifer ran to catch up with Baylor, Tyler, and Luna while Alicia, Fred, and George all went to the 7th year meeting place. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were already at the 6th year meeting place.

    "Hey guys! I would've been late if Jen hadn't have woke me up," Ginny said, out of breath. Everyone laughed.

    "I'm going to create an alarm for you Gin... If someone doesn't do something about you, you'll be late for EVERYTHING," Hermione said.

    Dumbledore cleared his throat. "Everyone. I'm going to turn the instructing of the upcoming activities over to Professor McGonagall. All students, please keep in mind that the festival begins at 6:00 sharply. The dance is optional, and for the Carriage Carouseling, you MUST have a partner. All other times are up to your decision. No bed limit tonight, however, I must ask you to please limit yourselves. I will be walking around the grounds, making sure nothing that is being prohibited is taking place. Please bear in mind, also, that you MUST have fun! Professor McGonagall will take over from this point." Professor McGonagall told the students the information about all activities, times, and prohibitions. The Decoration, Clean Up, Food, and Games Crews were released to do their jobs. Three hours later, all pupils were allowed time to shower, get dressed, and return to their common rooms for Optional Times.

    "Ginny! You look stunning," Harry said, as a 5th year with flowing, honey blond hair and sparkling blue eyes in a silk, blue dress dress descended down the stairs. Hermione, in a pink dress with crinkled blond hair and hazel eyes walked with her. The girls met Harry and Ron at the bottom of the stairs and headed towards the Womping Willow. All fourth years and above who had dates were to meet there for the Carriage Carouseling. Harry and Ginny climbed into a black carriage and strolled around in the white snow.

    "Harry," she started.

    "Yes?"

    "I'm really glad you asked me to the Ball... I couldn't have beared you going with Hermione or anyone else," Gin confessed.

    "I'm really glad I did too," he agreed. "But, what would have been worse was Neville asking YOU and YOU agreeing." Ginny laughed and cuddled next to Harry.

    "Hermione," Ron asked.

    "Huh," she replied. Her stomach did butterflies.

    "How long HAVE you liked me," he asked with a smile.

    "Oh... a PRETTY long time. I just never told anyone besides Harry and Gin," she replied.

    "Oh," Ron said. He kissed Hermione's lips and she snuggled against him.

    "I love you, Ron."

    "I love you, too."