The True Story Of The Yule Ball

Chapter One: The Real Story Of How Ginny Ended Up Going With Neville To The Yule Ball

Ginny sat on her four-poster bed, staring into space. Chewing on the tip of her new quill pen, she sighed deeply. She had been sitting there for over twenty minutes thinking about the same thing that had been occupying all of her thoughts for the past two weeks: The Yule Ball. Ginny knew that many of the girls in her year had gotten dates with older boys so that they would be able to attend. There was now only four days left and Ginny was kicking herself because she still hadn't made any move towards asking anyone. Of course, she thought to herself, I know the real reason why I haven't asked anyone. I keep hoping that Harry will ask me. I know I am being totally ridiculus, because he is all caught up in his quest to get Cho to go with him. But, you know what? He needs to wake up and realize that she DOESN'T like him. Maybe I should just go ask him right now. Nodding her head resolutely, Ginny picked herself up off the bed and descended down the spiral staircase of the third year girl's dormitory. Entering the Common Room, she caught sight of Hermione, smiled, and walked over.

"How's it going Ginny?" Hermione called over. Rolling her eyes, Ginny slumped in the chair next to her and let out a small moan.

Hermione leaned over and hurriiedly whispered, "Honestly, Gin, what's the worst that could happen if you ask him? At least you'd know and then you could stop torturing yourself over this!"

Blushing a deep crimson, Ginny widened her eyes and squeaked, "Hermione! Someone could've heard you! And HOW do you know that's what is bothering me?"

Chuckling devilishly, Hermione grinned, "You aren't as subtle as you think Gin, usually the blushing and stuttering give it away."

Hiding her face in her hands, Ginny groaned once again, "I am hopeless, completely and utterly hopeless, why do I even like him? It's not like he'd ever like me. He'll always only ever think of me as Ron's little sister! I have got to take a walk."

Getting up out of the chair, Ginny ,marched across the Common Room, and pushed out of the Portrait Hole.

"You look upset, Honey", the Fat Lady said sympathetically, "Is it boy problems?"

Whilrling around, Ginny burst out, "God am I THAT transparent?? You'd think I was walking around wearing a neon sign on my head!" Whirling back around, Ginny stomped down the hall, leaving the Fat Lady looking properly scandalized, staring after her.

Fuming, Ginny marched down the long corridor, barely noticing where he was going. Her face was flushed and sweaty and she felt like crying, or cursing someone, for that matter. Fingering her wand thoughtfully, she tried to think of a curse that would cause someone an immense amount of pain. However, before she got too far in her thoughts, she heard voices. Listening hard, Ginny recognized Professor Snape's scornful voice, and Draco Malfoy's lazy drawl. Knowing that she could not handle herself right now if Draco started to make fun of her, she quickly ducked behind a large statue of a humped witch as the voices drew nearer.

"Malfoy, I assume that you have found yourself a date for the dance?"

" Ha, of course, Professor, you didn't think I would be one of those prats who have no date, did you? Plus, the girls were begging to go with me, I had to fend them off with the leg-locker curse."

Chuckling evily,Snape replied, "I am sure they were, but how many of those girls actually wanted to go with you, and how many did you curse with that potion I gave you?"

Grinning, Draco mumbled something that Ginny didn't catch as they rounded the corner. Coming out from behind the statue, Ginny felt oddly calm, Why couldn't I brew one of the love potions? No one would ever know...

Ginny turned and hurried towards the Library. As usual, it was silent and still, Madam Pince looked up and smiled as Ginny walked past, sending a silent warning that she would not tolerate any noise. Plunging into the nearest row of books, Ginny paced up and down the isle, muttering to herself as she read the titles of the books. Stooping suddenly, Ginny grabbed a book called, Enchanting Potions For The Romance-Challenged by L.U.Vee. Picking the nearest table, Ginny started frantically rifling through the pages. Finding what she needed, she studied the page:

Traditional Love Potion

Having trouble getting a date? Know that the one you want is out of reach? This potion is for you!

---Mix one tablespoon of dragon blood, two unicorn hairs,

three dung bettle eyes, four ounces of newt tongue,

powdered horn of a bicon, and six lacewing moths in a cauldron.

---Bring to a boil and slowly add porcupine quills

until the potion turns bright pink. After the color change,

continue stirring, potion should start to thicken

until it is like a paste.

---Immediately rub the potion on your right shoulder. Let

the potion sit for no more or less than forty-five minutes.

---When forty-five minute's time has elapsed, immediately find the one who

you want to spell to work on, if you are able to get them to touch your

shoulder in the place that you have rubbed the potion,

they will be enraptured with you.

*Caution, the effects do wear off in one week's time, and this will ONLY work for the first one to touch you.

This doesn't seem like anything harder than we've been doing in Potion's class, Ginny thought to herself. The only hard part will be where to brew it, and whether or not I will be able to get all the ingredients I need. Good thing Dumbledore made Snape add powdered horn of a bicon to the students supply closet last weekI should probably get started as soon as possible, though. Quickly copying the recipe onto a spare piece of parchment, Ginny left the library and headed for the closet where the ingredients for students were stored. There she found everything she needed excpet for the powdered horn of a bicon. That's funny, she thought,I know I heard Dumbledore say that Snape had added it. I'll just go ask him for some. Ginny headed down to the Dungeon, getting more nervous with every step. What if Snape knows what I need it for? Don't be stupid, there have got to be trillions of potions that require powdered horn of a bicon. Nearing the Dungeon, Ginny heard voices coming from inside. Peering in, Ginny saw Flitwick and Madam Pomfrey chuckling merrily.

"Poppy, do you remember when we were students going to the Yule Ball?"

" Of course I do, it was the highlight of my fourth year! I do feel sorry for all those who are too shy to ask someone, it was the time of my life!"

This whole stupid school is obsessed with the Ball. This better be worth it. Taking a deep breath, Ginny walked into the Dungeon.

"Erm, excuse me, I was just wondering if I could have a powdered bicon horn, the student supply closet is all out."

"Miss Weasley", Flitwick cheerily greeted, "Of course you can, just as long as you're not using it to do anything sneaky." Madam Pomfrey giggled.

Blushing deeply, Ginny managed a weak laugh. Taking the horn Flitwick offered her, she bolted from the room. On the way back up to Gryffindor Tower, laden down with her many ingredients, Ginny contemplated where to brew it. She decided on the nook behind the hidden staircase she had found near the third floor. Lost in thought, she continued up the stairs.

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Ginny was kneeling over her cauldron, stirring rapidly. Beads of sweat were trickling down her face. The potion had just turned a bright pink, and she was now waiting for it to thicken. Minutes passed, Ginny's arm was beginning to ache, and she was starting to have doubts about whether this would actually work. Even if this does thicken, how the heck am I going to get Harry to touch my shoulder??!? Snapping out of her thoughts, Ginny looked at the potion , and to her relief, it was gradually growing thicker. When it reached the desired consistancy, Ginny put out the fire and let it cool. Sticking her fingers in, she took a glob, pulled down her robes, and spread it over her freckled shoulder. It glowed bright for a second, and then seeped into her skin, until it was completely gone. Only a strange warm sensation remained. Cleaning up the mess she made, she made her way back to Gryffindor Tower.

~*~ *45 minutes later*~*~

Ginny had been sitting in her dormitory for the last half an hour, wringing her hands. She had decided that she would just start up a perfectly normal conversation with Harry, and then just happen to mention how her shoulder had been hurting her lately, and that it felt really weird, like a bone was out of place. Then hopefully, he'll want to feel if it is out of place. Oh man, so much could go wrong with this. Looking at her watch, Ginny gulped nervously, and tried to slow the frantic beating of her heart. Bracing herself, she entered the Common Room. A quick glance told her that Harry and Ron were sitting over in the corner, playing chess. She walked slowly over.

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Harry was relaxing in a comfy chair by the fire in the Gryffindor Common Room. As usual, Ron was killing him in Wizard's Chess. Part of the problem, Harry thought to himself, Is that I can't keep my mind on this bloody game, I keep thinking about Cho. I really should get a move on it and just ask her to the Ball.

"Oh, great, look who's coming", Ron groaned. Looking up, Harry watched as Ginny made her way over to their table.

"Does she look a bit green, or is it just me?" Ron muttered quietly.

"Hi, how are you?" Ginny greeted them.

Why does she look so nervous?

******************

Don't stand there like an idiot, say something!

"So, how's the chess game going?"

Oh yeah, That was real intelligent! I should've just kept standing there with no sound...

"Well, I am beating Harry, as usual, but look Ginny, are you feeling okay? You look a bit green." Ron responded concernedly.

"Well, actually, now that you mention it", Ginny said quickly, taking the chance, "My shoulder has been hurting me for some reason, I think a bone might...

BANG!!

Ginny was interrupted by a huge crash as Neville collapsed onto the floor in through the Portrait Hole. Gee, thanks, Neville, was that perfect timing or what? His legs were bound tightly. Whimpering, he explained that Malfoy had caught him once again down a deserted corridor. Hermione jumped up and performed the counter-curse. Exhaustedly, Neville limped over to Ron, Harry, and Ginny. Ron and Harry were laughing hysterically. Neville looked miffed.

"You'd think it wouldn't be funny anymore, it's not like this is a rare occurence!", Neville muttered, "Of course I happened to be three floors up this time, Do you know how exhausted I am from all the hopping?"

This just made Harry and Ron laugh all the harder.

"It's okay Neville", sympathized Ginny, "You can have my seat". She started to rise.

"Thanks Ginny, but that's okay, I am fine now."

"No, really", Ginny insisted, once again trying to rise.

"Ginny!" Neville exclaimed, "I said I am fine, now sit!", he said pushing her gently back down into the chair.

It took a minute for Ginny to realize what had just hapened. OH MY GOD! Neville just touched my shoulder! What the heck am I going to do! I have to get out of here! Maybe it didn't work... But Ginny could feel the warmth spreading out from her shoulder and through her whole body as the potion took effect. I have to get out of here, she thought frantically. Getting up quickly, she started to leave.

Neville turned around, "Ginny, I told you to....G-Ginny?" Neville's eyes seemed to glaze over for a second. He shook his head as if to clear it.

"Neville, what are you doing?" Ron inquired, "Why do you look so strange?"

"I feel strange", Neville replied dazedly.

Ginny stared at what was going on before her. She was horrified, What have I done? She was rooted to the spot.

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Something really strange is going on here, Harry thought. Neville looks like he just got hit by a stunning spell, and why is Ginny as white as a ghost?

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Neville could feel a warmth spreading through his body. I don't feel sick, in fact, this feels nice. Neville looked around. Suddenly he caught site of Ginny standing there staring at him. Is that Ginny? Soince when was she so incredibly gorgeous? Why do I feel the urge to just go over and take her in my arms??? What is wrong with me? I have never felt this way before! She's just so incredibly beautiful. I don't know why I haven't noticed it before......

"Ginny, dear, would you go for a walk with me?"

Did I just say that OUT LOUD???

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"Did he just call Ginny, DEAR??!!!!!???" Ron hissed at Harry.

" Uh, yeah, I think so", Harry replied incredulously. He watched with greater awe as Neville walked, no, pranced, over to Ginny and kneeled on one knee before her.

"What is he DOING??" Ron gasped.

*****************************

OH MY GOD, HE CANT DO THIS IN FRONT OF EVERYONE!!!

"Neville, get up, let's go for a walk RIGHT NOW!" Ginny snapped.

"Anything for you, sweetums" Neville gushed.

Looking mortified, Ginny rushed out of the Common Room, Neville close on her heels. The minute they were outside, Neville once again took to his knee.

"What are you doing??!!!!??" Ginny hissed.

"I just want you to go to the ball with me." Neville gushed, smiling up at her.

"Uh, I guess so..." Ginny replied. After all, what other choice did she have?

***THE END***