Just Plain Harry

Chapter 17 The Old and the New

The next week seemed to Harry to be filled with nothing but the Yule Ball. He remembered what it had been like the year before, and this was better, but at the same time worse. It was better, because he didn't have to ask a girl to be his date. A few girls did ask him, and he thought that if anyone who he was actually friends with did, he might even say yes. Since he couldn't go with Ginny, it didn't really matter if he went with someone or alone. But he didn't want to spend the whole evening with a girl he barely knew. Of course, now that he was forced to think about it, he realized that he didn't really have many girl friends. There was Hermione, of course, and Ginny, but that was about it. He knew Lavender and Parvati pretty well, since they were in his year, but they weren't really friends. Besides, Lavender was going with Seamus, of course, and Parvati was telling everybody who stood still long enough about the seventh year Ravenclaw who had asked her. So Harry resigned himself to going alone, thinking that he would probably spend a lot of the evening staring at Ginny and trying to make the time go faster so that they would all be at the Burrow.

This year was worse than last, though, because of Ginny. Not that she was flaunting her status of having a date, like Parvati was, but just the knowledge that she was going with someone else wore on Harry. He found himself thinking up excuses not to be alone with her, and he could tell that she had noticed, but she didn't say anything. Harry wasn't sure whether that was a good thing, or a bad thing.

Another vexing problem - as though Voldemort, end-of-term exams, a Yule Ball, and unrequited love weren't enough - was presents for Christmas. Harry didn't know why it was, maybe the impending war with Voldemort, maybe the knowledge that they would sacrifice themselves for him if necessary, maybe just growing up, but he felt closer to all of his friends than he ever had before. He wanted to get them something better for Christmas than the usual candy or luxury eagle quills, but he didn't know what. He also wasn't sure who exactly he should be getting presents for. Ron was right - he had never been to a wizard family Christmas, so he didn't know what to expect. But then, he had never been to a Muggle family Christmas, either. The Dursleys had a tree - artificial, of course, since Aunt Petunia thought that needles were too messy - and they had presents under it, but not for Harry. They went out for most of the day, too. Was he supposed to be getting presents for Bill and Charlie? Even Percy? The Grangers, who were coming for Christmas Day?

He finally broke down and asked Ginny. He thought about asking Ron, but he didn't want to make Ron feel badly about money even more than usual. Besides, he hadn't asked Ginny yet how Hermione had reacted to Winky. She hadn't said anything to Ginny in public, but Harry had a feeling that she wouldn't, anyway. They had become quite close in the past year, and Harry thought that they would present a united front to most people, and, in this case, especially Ron. So, after their session with Miss Stuart that Thursday, he asked if he could talk to her.

"Harry, you know you don't have to ask! What is it? You've been distant ever since the day the Yule Ball was announced - is it because I yelled at you? I'm sorry about that, I completely misunderstood the situation." They had stayed behind in Miss Stuart's classroom, and Ginny curled her feet under her in her armchair and leaned forward.

"Oh, no, that's okay," Harry said, but he didn't look her in the eye. After all, she really hadn't misunderstood the situation.

"There is one thing, Harry. See, I already have six brothers, who all fill their positions quite well. I was really hoping we could be more like..." She trailed off, and Harry felt that he physically couldn't lift his head to look at her. He also stopped breathing.

"Friends," she finished.

"Oh," Harry said, letting his breath out in a puff. "Right. I'll try to remember that, and not be too brotherly." He somehow managed to smile, and was rewarded by Ginny's own smile. He hadn't needed Dean pointing it out to realize that she had a wonderful smile.

"Now, what did you want to talk to me about?" Ginny asked, after he had stared at her for a few moments.

"Erm...actually, it's about Christmas. I obviously don't have too much experience with this family Christmas thing, so I was wondering who I'm supposed to get presents for."

"Oh, Harry," Ginny said, reaching out and touching his hand. "It's awfully sweet of you to worry, but Mum invited you to our Christmas so that you can enjoy yourself. You get presents for the people you want to, and you don't for the people you don't. Simple as that."

"Right," Harry said. Then he could get presents for everybody, and if Ron complained, he could just say that he had wanted to. That would go over well.

"Speaking of Christmas, Mum wrote to ask if you were planning on bringing Dobby with you."

Harry made a grimace. "He's planning on coming, I can tell you that."

Ginny giggled. "I know how you feel. I thought that having Winky around would be nice for her and for me, but I hadn't reckoned on how much she was going to order me around! It's "Miss Ginny must do this!" and "Miss Ginny must not do that!" all day long. But it'll be nice for Winky to have Dobby around at Christmas."

"Yeah. By the way, how did Hermione react to your...adoption of Winky?"

"Not as badly as I'd thought she would. I think I've convinced her that it's best for Winky, individually, as opposed to house elves in general. But she's not happy. She even offered to pay Winky's wages, but of course I couldn't let her do that." Ginny turned a bit pink as she said this. It was the first time that Harry had ever noticed her being embarrassed by her poverty, except for what Tom Riddle had said down in the Chamber of Secrets. He did what he normally did when Ron acted like that; he ignored it.

"I think Ron was hoping for a big blowup," he said instead.

"I'm sure," Ginny said. "And he'd better be ready for one, if he doesn't behave himself at the ball."

Thinking about the ball annoyed Harry, so he got up and said that they should head back to Gryffindor.

Two days later found him in Hogsmeade, standing in the jewelry shop, trying to decide on a present for Ginny. He had actually found most of his shopping quite easy - once he'd decided to get something for absolutely everyone, he had a lot of fun. Not that he'd bought anything really elaborate, but he thought that everyone would like their gifts.

Ginny was a problem, though. He'd found exactly what he wanted to get her, but as he stared down at it in the display case, his courage failed him. It was a small, clear quartz crystal pendant on a delicate gold chain. He thought it would suit her, and it reminded him of all of their sessions with Miss Stuart. But was it too much to give to a girl, when he was determined not to show how much he cared about her? He just wasn't sure. Luckily, as he stood there deliberating, and seeing only the crystal, he felt a touch on his arm.

"Harry? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

It was Cho Chang. She had obviously just come into the shop from outside, because the snow was still melting into her black hair. She twisted her mittened hands together in front of her, gazing anxiously at him.

"Sure, Cho," he said, surprised. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing's the matter," she said, but then didn't seem to want to go on. She looked down at where he had been staring before she interrupted him, and smiled. "So, who's it for?"

"What? Oh, the crystal. Say," Harry said, suddenly realizing that here was the perfect opportunity to get an unbiased opinion. "You're a girl, Cho. Tell me, if I gave that to a girl, would she think it meant...well, more than friendship?"

Cho looked like she was trying not to laugh, but she answered him perfectly seriously. "Well, it would depend on the girl, and on your relationship with her. I take it you don't feel more than friendship towards her?"

Harry looked away from her, back down at the crystal pendant. He tried to cool down his cheeks by sheer willpower."I don't want her to think that I do," he muttered finally.

"Oh," Cho said, looking down at the pendant, too. "Well, if the fact that it's a crystal means something - something to just the two of you, but not anything romantic, then I think it's a great gift. She'll love it, whoever she is."

"Really - you think so?" Harry said, turning back to her with a smile. "Then I'll get it." He motioned the shop assistant over from where she had gone once she'd given up on him making up his mind. She looked very relieved, and smiled thankfully at Cho, who did, finally, let out a little giggle.

Only after Harry had paid for Ginny's gift and left the shop, with Cho following after, did he remember that she had wanted to talk to him, not the other way round.

"Erm, Cho, what was it you wanted to talk about?" he asked.

She looked down at her feet, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Then she looked back up at him, sideways through her lashes, as they walked along the street.

"Are you looking forward to the Yule Ball?" she asked.

Now it was Harry's turn to look down at his feet. "Not really."

"Me, either. All of my friends seem to think that it's a great opportunity for me to get some...well, closure." She gave a half-snort, half-sigh. "That I should go with one of the boys who's asked me, enjoy myself, and just get over Cedric."

Harry stopped walking. "That sound a little...insensitive," he said. He didn't want to say that it sounded really rude and mean, because, well, they were her friends.

"I know, but, Harry, they are only sixteen, and most of them haven't lost anyone really close to them. I'm trying to be understanding, and I do see where they're coming from. It's been more than six months, I should be able to go on a simple date by now."

Harry shook his head. "You shouldn't do anything you're not comfortable doing."

Cho stared up at him, shaking her own head in disbelief. "How do you do it? How do you deal with all the grief you have to, and still be understanding and nice towards other people? That girl who's only a friend doesn't know what she's missing."

Now, Harry shuffled his feet, again feeling his cheeks going red.

Cho laughed, a genuinely happy laugh that Harry hadn't heard since before Cedric died.

"Well, anyway, I suppose that's really why I wanted to ask you if you'd go to the Yule Ball with me," she said. "I don't want to go with someone who wants more from me than I can give, and I know you'll understand. And if I talk about Cedric some, you won't mind too much, will you?"

Harry wasn't sure what to say. First of all, how did she know that he'd understand if all she wanted was to be friends? He didn't have a sign saying "I love Ginny Weasley" around his neck, did he? And he wasn't sure that he wanted to spend the Yule Ball thinking and talking about Cedric. On the other hand, Cho sounded like she really needed him, and he could never resist that.

They had reached the door of The Three Broomsticks by now, which they had gravitated towards without mentioning where they were going. Cho stopped just outside, and put her hand on Harry's arm.

"If you already have a date, or don't want to go, just say so, Harry. It's no big deal, obviously, but I thought we could have a nice, friendly time together."

Harry had to grin, thinking of Ron asking Hermione as a friend, but he put his hand over hers on his arm.

"I'd love to go to the ball with you, Cho," he said. "And if you'd rather talk about Cedric than dance, that's fine with me. I don't dance very well, anyway."

"Oh, we'll dance, don't you worry about that," Cho said, returning his grin. "You won't get out of it that easily."

They were still smiling at each other as Harry opened the door to the pub and motioned for her to precede him. They split up then, giving each other small waves as Cho went to join her Ravenclaw friends, including Brenna, and Harry followed the sound of arguing to find Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

On his way there, he passed the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, sitting at a table planning strategy. Angelina saw him and, raising both arms over her head, pointed rather ostentatiously at her watch. They had a practice later that evening. Then she turned back to whatever the rest of them were discussing. At least, everyone except George and Katie Bell was planning strategy. They seemed to be having a very animated conversation apart from the others. Harry didn't know what that was about, but they both seemed to look over at Brenna pretty often.

As Harry threaded his way through the crowded pub, he noticed that Ginny's eyes were on him. She didn't look away when his eyes met hers, instead she gave him a welcoming smile, and he had to chuckle. She was probably overjoyed to see him, since she had been putting up with Ron and Hermione all on her own for most of the afternoon. Her first words confirmed his impression.

"Thank goodness you're here, Harry, so I can hear some sensible conversation for once," she said, pulling him down next to her on the bench. She leaned in to whisper in his ear. "They haven't stopped fighting at all. I really hope this gets better after the ball."

"Here's hoping," Harry whispered back, then turned to the other two and raised his voice. "Oi! Think you two can lay off for a few minutes?"

Ron just glared at him, but Hermione said serenely, "There's nothing to 'lay off' of, Harry. Did you find everything you needed?"

"Yeah," Harry muttered, trying not to blush. He thought he could feel the package with the crystal burning a hole in his pocket.

Ron must have noticed the blush, or else he just wanted to get back at Harry. "So...was one of those things a date to the ball?"

"I think that's another thing you need to lay off, Ron," Ginny started to say, but Harry put a hand on her arm, which felt wonderful, to interrupt.

"Actually, Ron, I do have a date for the ball. Cho Chang just asked me, and I said yes." He didn't look at Ginny, but he also didn't remove his hand from her arm. He didn't think he could have if he tried.

"Nice work, mate!" Ron said. "The exact girl you wanted to go with, and she asked you. How do you do it, so I can learn?"

He didn't seem to notice Hermione stiffening beside him, and Harry could feel Ginny stiffen as well - she was always protective of her friends. Harry didn't want to look at anyone at his table during the ensuing argument, so he looked around the pub. Katie Bell had joined the Quidditch conversation, but George wasn't at their table anymore. Harry looked around for him, and spotted him next to Brenna at the Ravenclaw table. Interesting, he thought. I wonder if Katie had been telling him off, or urging him to go? As the argument proceeded without him, he continued to look around until he met Dean's eyes. At that point, he realized that he still had his hand on Ginny's arm, and jerked it away as though he'd scalded it. She didn't even seem to notice; she was too busy telling Ron that it wasn't his business whom she went to the ball with. How had the conversation turned in that direction? Harry wondered. He looked back over at Dean, who was still watching their table. Then, he noticed why - Lavender and Seamus were enjoying some not-so-discreet snogging, and Dean and Parvati Patil, who were at the table with them, were obviously uncomfortable. Harry gave a small, snorting laugh, and waved at Dean to come join them. He'd felt like a third wheel often enough with Ron and Hermione, who hadn't even reached the snogging stage yet, to knew how Dean and Parvati were feeling. Ginny noticed his gesture, followed his eyes to where he was looking, and then turned to him with her wonderful, lit from within smile. Harry smiled back, but as he did so, he couldn't help but mentally kick himself. If she's that happy at seeing Dean now, you certainly don't want to do things to encourage it, he told himself.

By that time, though, Dean and Parvati had reached their table.

"D'you guys mind if we join you? We're not feeling exactly welcome over there." Dean gestured back at Lavender and Seamus with his mug.

Ron and Hermione finally stopped arguing - "Honestly, Ron, what makes you think that's who Harry wanted to ask?" was the last zinger that Hermione got in, making Harry blush again - and looked where Dean was pointing. Ron stared, actually open mouthed, until Ginny reached over and gently shut his mouth. Hermione made a 'tsk' sound, and then smiled in welcome.

"Of course you can," she said, pushing out a bench for Parvati with her foot.

"Thanks," Parvati said. "You have no idea what those two are like."

Everyone nodded, but no one said anything after that. They all knew each other, of course, and they were more than acquaintances, but that particular group had never been together just for fun before. It was Ginny who stepped into the breach.

"So, has everyone found all of their Christmas presents yet?"

"Oh, yes," Dean said, turning to her. "And I wanted to thank you for your wonderful idea! I'm giving Fred and George's picture frames - filled with pictures, of course - to my parents and both sets of my grandparents. They're going to love them!"

"Fred and George's picture frames?" Parvati asked. "What do they do, blow up when you try to look at the picture? Why would your family love that?"

Everyone else at the table laughed.

"Believe it or not," Ginny said, "Fred and George have actually invented something that doesn't go bang, bump, or pop. It's a picture frame that holds lots of pictures, and all you do is tap one corner of the frame to change from one picture to the next. And it wasn't my idea," she added, turning to Dean. "They invented it long before I needed it for Harry's birthday present."

"That sounds wonderful," Parvati said. "It would make a great present for my parents, and for Padma. I'll have to talk to Fred and George when we get back."

Harry smiled. Fred and George had been busy making lots of picture frames, and they'd made quite a bit of money because of this Christmas. Hermione had bought one for her parents, Ginny had made one herself for Miss Stuart, and Seamus was giving one to Lavender. He himself had bought one for Ron, and one for Hermione - Ron's had only pictures of Hermione, and Hermione's only of Ron. They were joke presents really, in addition to his real presents for his friends, but if they brought things to a head between them, so much the better. Ginny, who was in on the plot, seemed to be holding back giggles as well. Harry had even considered getting one for Aunt Petunia, who had really been quite decent to him during the summer holidays, but then he couldn't figure out what pictures to put in it. The only ones he thought she would like - of Remus Lupin - would be too cruel, and probably get her in trouble with Uncle Vernon, as well. He'd fallen back on a scarf that Ginny had helped him pick out - whenever it snowed, the scarf seemed to glow. He didn't know if she'd actually wear it, but at least he would send it to her.

Ron seemed to be sick of talking about Christmas presents, because he asked Dean his now standby question.

"Who're you going to the ball with? We all know Parvati's date," he added, rolling his eyes. Everyone except Parvati laughed.

"I'm going with Susan Bones," Dean said. "She was actually supposed to come with us today, but she had a bit of a cold, and Madam Pomfrey ordered her to stay inside. I'm not sure I understand exactly how Pepperup Potion works, but apparently it helps to stay inside." He shrugged, looking fairly indifferent.

"That's great - now we've all got dates," Ron said, smiling slightly maliciously at Harry, who knew what was coming next.

"Really? Harry, you've got a date? Which of the many girls who've asked you did you finally accept?" Dean asked.

"And will you treat her better than you treated me last year?" Parvati added, but she smiled at Harry to show that there were no hard feelings.

"Erm...yes, Cho, and yes, definitely," Harry said, smiling back. "Not that I could possibly treat her worse."

"Wow!" Dean said. "Cho Chang, huh? I actually thought you were over her."

Harry looked around. "We're going as friends. She said that she needed someone who could understand that she didn't want a real date, because of Cedric, and she thought that I would understand. We're just going to try to enjoy ourselves as friends."
Parvati and Ginny smiled at him, Ginny a little misty-eyed he thought. Hermione did more than smile, she reached over and hugged him.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron both said.

"Oh, stuff it, you two," Hermione said. "I can hug one of my best friends when I think he's being sweet, can't I?" Ignoring the looks on Harry and Ron's faces, as well as Dean, Ginny, and Parvati's laughter, she stood up. "Come on, we need to get back. You two have Quidditch practice, and I'm getting so excited for this ball, I think I'll...I'll try different hairstyles! Ginny, Parvati, want to help?"

"Can't I help, too?" Dean asked plaintively, which made everyone's shocked expressions at Hermione's words dissolve into laughter again. The six of them trooped back to Hogwarts, enjoying the day to the fullest.