The Dementors' Kiss

Chapter Twelve: Ron's Triumph

Harry left the medical wing later that evening, having sat with Ron until he had been reluctantly shooed away by Madam Pomfrey. Ron was staying. He had made it perfectly clear that even a direct order from Professor Dumbledore wouldn't move him. Harry had wanted to stay, and had even extended his stay by half-an-hour past visiting time, but had eventually decided he was needed elsewhere. Looking back at Ron as he left, he knew that Hermione couldn't be better looked after. He made his way up to the Owlery, and sent Hedwig off to Remus and Sirius with a full account of the day, even mentioning the arrangements for the Ball, in case they might be interested.

As he climbed through the portrait hole, he was met by a very grim common room. Everyone was sitting quietly, conversing in whispers or not at all. Harry went quietly up to Fred and George's dormitory, and picked up a box of Filibuster's fireworks. Coming back down stairs, he took a deep, steadying breath and threw one of the rockets up into the air and pointed his wand at it, muttering an ignition charm just as it reached the top of its arc.

The explosion made everyone jump and stare in amazement at Harry. Fred and George in particular looked astonished as Harry grinned. He took more of the fireworks out of the box, and passed them around, before walking over to the fireplace.

"We won," he said, loudly. "No-one is hurt too much. We beat the worst that Voldemort can throw at us short of coming here himself. Madam Pomfrey says that everyone will be fine, though Hermione might be in the hospital wing for a few days. That's okay, she's been there before. Remind me to tell you about our experiment with Polyjuice potion sometime. Now, Parvati," he said, looking down at her. "Who're you going to the Ball with this year?"

"Er... Dean," she replied.

"Great, that's wonderful. You'll make a fantastic pair. I expect to see you on the dance floor, alright? Neville," he called out. "You'll be at the ball, I hope?"

Neville nodded hesitantly, looking at Harry open-mouthed.

"Wonderful. Everyone who isn't going because they haven't got a partner, forget it. Ask someone. Now. You have ten minutes."

Harry walked over and sat down beside Ginny, who was looking at him as though he'd gone mad.

"Harry, what-"

"Shh," he said. "One of my resolutions." He smiled. "So, will you go to the Ball with me?"

"Er, of course. I said yes earlier," she replied, now thoroughly confused.

"I know, but I wanted to make sure. Plus it makes it look as though I'm asking you for the first time. It encourages people. It'll probably even encourage Fred and George to come and thump me for asking you. And at times like this, we need Fred and George back on form," he added, grinning at her. She smiled.

"All these years, and I never knew," she said.

"Knew what?"

"That you're crazy. It must have been all those times you've fallen off your broomstick."

"I never fall off my broomstick," Harry said, indignantly.

"You reckon, Potter?" Fred said, sitting down in front of them.

"Every practise we've been to, you struggle to say on. Half the time you get the Snitch, it's 'cause you caught it on the way down," George added.

"And now you look like you're asking our sister out," Fred noted. "I think you're right, Gin. He is crazy."

Harry grinned, and stood up. "If I was going to ask Ginny out, do you think I'd do anything in front of you two?"

"Maybe he's not so crazy," George said to his siblings.

"We'll have to see," Harry replied, standing and waving his hands. "Now, has everyone got someone?" he called. "Now, lets take these fireworks, and celebrate."

"Celebrate what?" Seamus called out.

"Celebrate being here, alive, in good company, not being in Slytherin, all that sort of thing," Harry replied. With that, he pulled a firework from the box, and lit the end, sending it streaking up at the ceiling, where it exploded in bright red and gold stars.

*

Outside the common room, Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore stood listening silently. They had been touring the houses, talking about the events of the day. At Gryffindor tower, they decided, it wasn't necessary.

"Just like his father," Professor McGonagall said, her voice cracking slightly.

"He is a fine young man," Dumbledore agreed. "A shining light, which is what the world needs now."

"A lot to ask of one young man," Professor McGonagall replied. "I worry, Albus. I know Harry is becoming more mature and, as you say, more and more like his father, but it's a great deal to ask."

"He has a lot of support," Dumbledore said, smiling. "And the amazing thing," he added, his eyes crinkling as the smile widened, "is that he is doing it all by himself. No prompting from anyone. Maybe he has been paying attention in some of our classes."

*

Ron spent the next three weeks pacing the floor of the hospital wing. One by one, the other patients had recovered from the Dementor attack, and had left. Only Hermione remained, more than a week after the last of the others had left.

"Come on, Hermione," he whispered, over and over.

"She'll wake when she's ready, Professor Dumbledore says," Harry said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Ron had eventually been given full permission to stay in the hospital wing rather than attend classes, and Harry had brought him his work again.

"Every time she moves, every time she makes a noise. . ." Ron trailed off. "It's not fair, Harry."

"It's not, Ron. It's not fair that Hermione should get caught between Voldemort and me. It's not fair that the one spell in the world that Hermione can't do is the one that she needed most of all. It's not fair that you're stuck in here when you should be outside preparing for the Ball and wondering if your robes will clash with Hermione's or not."

Ron stooped pacing. "I heard about what you did in the common room," he said, quietly. Harry looked at him nervously.

"I wasn't trying to make fun of Hermione or anything-"

"I know," Ron said. "I think you did the right thing. People will beat themselves up over stuff like this."

"Yeah, even you," Harry said.

"I couldn't hold them all off," Ron said, sinking into his chair. "If I'd been faster, or stronger. . ."

"Ron, I had Ginny and Madam Rosmerta helping. Even with them, we were still really lucky that there were a few undercover Aurors there in case of more 'fragmented activity by You-Know-Who's former followers'. They were incredible, but you did it all on your own, and protecting Hermione the whole time. That's beyond incredible. I don't know how you cast that Patronus. I think I'd have been beaten."

Ron shrugged.

"Me either. I don't think I could've done, normally. I mean, I know I've been able to do it in class the last few weeks, but that was a full scale fight. I think it was only because I knew I had to protect Hermione." Ron sighed. "How do you do it, Harry? How do you keep on, keep positive? You have to deal with this, all the time. And now you're here, trying to cheer me up."

"It's just the right thing to do," Harry said, a little embarrassed. "I just think what my Dad would have done. I think about what Cedric would have done, too," he added, sombrely. "What would your Dad do?"

"If my mum was hurt? He'd be worried as anything, but he'd get through."

"So will you," Harry said, as he got up to leave.

*

The next day, Harry received a letter from Remus and Sirius. He sat alone in his dormitory while he read over what the two old friends had to say.

Harry,

We want you to keep working on your spells. Sounds like the Patronus Charm came in useful again -and Moony is grinning like an idiot while I write this- but you can't always rely on it being Dementors you face. You're getting old enough now to try some of the more advanced spells. Impedimenta and Expelliarmus won't cut it against Death Eaters too often. Try to get Dumbledore to teach some of the N.E.W.T. level spells to your year. Probably the best defence is to have friends with you wherever you go. You say Ginny Weasley did well keeping your back in Hogsmeade, so it sounds like that family's doing okay for itself.

By the way, did you ask her to the ball before or after the fight? There's money riding on this, Harry, so let us know. Oh, and I'm sure we don't need to tell you to treat her right. Not with three brothers there to keep an eye on you.

Even so, have fun. It's amazing how persistent love can be in the face of adversity.

Hope Hermione is feeling better. If ever there was proof that Muggle-borns can make great wizards, she's it. Her and your mum, anyway. . .

Keep in touch. We might not be able to reply immediately, but it's nice to know life goes on.

Mooney & Padfoot

P.S. What is it about Potters and redheads?

*

"Ron." Ron awoke, shaking his head muzzily as he looked about the hospital wing. Something had changed.

He looked at Hermione's bed, and was shocked to see her smiling weakly at him.

"'Mione!" he blurted. "Madam Pomfrey! She's awake!"

He jumped out of bed, and was beside Hermione in a heartbeat. He took her hand in his, and grinned down at her, completely lost for words.

"How long have I been here?" Hermione asked, as Madam Pomfrey checked her over.

"Almost four weeks. It's two days before Christmas," he replied.

"Oh no," she said, looking close to tears. "I must have missed so much!"

"Nothing, really. I reckon I've about caught up to you in Charms though." He squeezed her hand. "Come on, Hermione, you're here, you're alive, don't worry about anything else." He looked at Madam Pomfrey, who took the hint and wandered off to update Hermione's chart.

"Hermione. . ." Ron took a deep breath. "When the Dementors attacked, the worst thing I could think of was at the end of the second year, with you in here, and Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets. Then, when you got hurt, I was living my worst fear. I was so scared you were. . . During the second year, I always hoped, even when things really went wrong and there was that mess with that prat Lockhart. But this time. . . The thought that I'd failed you, that it was my fault. . ."

Hermione squeezed his hand. Ron let out a great, shuddering breath.

"Anyway," he went on, his voice under tight control. "What I wanted to say was: Will you go to the Ball with me?"

"Ron. . ." Hermione was genuinely surprised. "I, I can't. I mean. . ." she gestured with her free hand at the ward.

"Madam Pomfrey says it's okay," Ron said. "Provided I don't tire you out too much."

"But, I mean, I don't have robes, or anything. . ."

"Don't worry about that. Just answer me, yes or no."

"Yes."

*

A few days after Christmas, Ron left the hospital wing for the first time in nearly four weeks. Collecting Ginny and Katie Bell, he went to Hogsmeade and spent a great deal of time in the robe shop. Katie, it transpired, was the same size as Hermione, and Ron and Ginny finally agreed on a set of robes, which they rushed up to Hogwarts.

New Year's Eve dawned bright and clear, the snow on the ground becoming quite dazzling as the sun glinted off of it. A sumptuous breakfast was laid out, and virtually the whole school had stayed for the holidays, even some of the lower years who couldn't go to the Ball, but were still keen to enjoy the Hogwarts holiday atmosphere.

A lazy day followed. And Ron and Harry sat nervously by the common room fire, their stomachs churning as they played game after game of wizard chess. Eventually, Ginny, Katie, Angelina and Alicia left the boys and went to get ready, all their things having been placed in the hospital wing so they could help Hermione.

Harry grinned at George. "You know, if things work out with you and Alicia, and Neville and Daniella, you two'll be brothers-in-law."

"Yeah, I know," said George. "Of course, if things work out between you and Ginny, we'll be brothers-in-law too."

"Nothing's going on between me and Ginny," Harry said, calmly. "We're friends."

"Who're going to the Ball together," Fred added.

"So're Katie and Lee Jordan," Harry replied.

"Who got together back around Hallowe'en time," George grinned. "Keep up, Harry."

Ron was watching all this in bewilderment. "You're taking Ginny to the ball? Why?"

"Because I like her!" Harry snapped. "Look, I like Ginny," he repeated, a lot calmer. "A lot, really I do. But she's my friend. That's all. I asked her because I knew we'd have fun together."

"Watch it, Potter," Fred said, with a mock scowl. "I don't want to think about any man having fun with our little sister. He'd have a lot to answer for."

*

Eventually, the boys went to get ready too. Harry and Ron grinned at one another nervously, their dress robes much fancier then the previous year's. Ron was now bedecked in dark red robes, Harry in black. They brushed their hair silently, unable to speak for nerves. Looking at one another one last time, they walked down the stairs to find Fred, George and Lee all waiting, each tugging nervously at their robes. In contrast to their brother, Fred and George wore identical bright scarlet robes while Lee wore a deep navy blue. The five exchanged nervous grins, and set off for the hospital wing.

The site that greeted them simply took their breath away. Katie was wearing robes of bright sunshine yellow, Angelina was in a fetching pink, Alicia in a deep chocolatey brown which perfectly matched her eyes. But Harry barely registered these, for Ginny was simply glowing in simple robes of the purest white. Ron, meanwhile, looked at no-one but Hermione, who sat in a wheelchair, wearing robes of palest blue. Ron walked forward, and knelt next to the chair.

"Hermione, you look amazing," he said, taking her hand in his. Hermione, for her part, looked to be on the verge of tears, she was so happy.

"I'm sorry I can't dance, but Madam Pomfrey said-"

"Shhh, don't worry about it," Ron said. "I have a little trick up my sleeve to take care of that."

"What?" Hermione asked, her natural inquisitiveness taking over.

"You'll see," Ron said, standing up and grasping the handles of the chair. "Everyone ready to go?" he asked.

Harry extended his arm to Ginny, who took it nervously.

"You look incredible," he said. She grinned with sheer relief.

The group of friends made their way down to the Great Hall, where people were already gathered. The Hall quickly filled, and everyone took their seats. For the evening, the house tables had been abandoned, allowing everyone to sit with their partner, regardless of allegiance. Harry waved to Fleur, who was accompanied by a Hufflepuff sixth year. She waved back happily, and exchanged a huge smile with Ginny.

The meal was, if anything, even more sumptuous than that served up at Hallowe'en. No one seemed to eat much, they were far too busy staring happily at their partners. Finally, the last plate was cleared and Celestina Warbeck (The Singing Sorceress) stood to a huge round of applause.

"Thank you," she said. "I have been instructed to invite the house Quidditch captains to come forward with their partners for this first dance."

Spotlights suddenly shone out, picking Harry and Ginny, Fleur and Hufflepuff's Justin Finch Fletchley, Cho Chang and Ravenclaw's Roger Davies, and Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.

Fleur positively glided onto the floor. Her long robes of palest pink trailing elegantly behind her as she took her position. Cho looked a little red-eyed, but waved at Harry and Ginny as they took their place. Malfoy scowled at Harry as he and Pansy took up their own position.

"Everyone ready?" Celestina asked.

"No!" Ron yelled. "One minute."

Another spotlight lanced down from the ceiling, illuminating Ron and Hermione, who was looking as though she had frozen again. Slowly, she shook her head, and Malfoy laughed nastily. Then, Ron pulled out his wand.

"Wingardium Levitaté," he said, his voice clear in the silent Hall. Hermione's eyes widened as she rose slowly from her wheelchair. "Insiste Incantatem." Ron waved his wand again, and Hermione hung in mid air, her head level with Ron's. Slipping one arm around her waist, he led her gently to the dance floor, where they took up position in the centre of the floor, ringed by the other four couples. Harry could see Hermione grinning ecstatically. Then the room began to fill with applause, beginning with Fred, George and the others, and then spreading all through the tables.