Second Door to the Right

Chapter 7: The Christmas Ball

After a rushed dinner, Celeste headed back up to the Ravenclaw Tower, where Cho was waiting for her in the dormitory.

"Hey, I'm ba - WHOA! That is one hell of a dress!" Celeste exclaimed, eyes popping.

"Does it look okay?" Cho asked, turning her head to examine the back.

"Hell yeah! It's bloody awesome! Damn, even Hermione'll have a hard time looking as good as that."

Celeste was now walking around Cho, inspecting every detail of the dress and robe, occasionally pointing and muttering to herself. Cho felt exactly like a show dog, revolving slowly.

"Well?" she asked Celeste.

"Just wondering...how you fit into that. It's awfully narrow about the waist."

Cho's heart leapt forward. If what Celeste said was true...then...the diet worked! The hunger, the pain, it had all succeeded. Did it matter what Celeste and Harry thought as long as something became of my work and dedication, Cho thought, bubbling over with happiness. It's worked...it was all worth it...

"So, what do you think?"

Cho turned around, gazing at her friend. She was donning a dress of dark green, a color she thought went very well with Celeste's light brown and springy curls. Ron should be pleased, Cho thought.

"It looks great. It think that was one of the dresses I considered buying - you got it at Gladrags, right?"

"Yeah, it was one of the last ones left."

Cho checked the clock in the dormitory, and with a sudden jolt, she realized she was late.

"Oh, damn! I was supposed to meet Harry ten minutes ago! How could I have forgotten?"

Celeste looked slightly puzzled for a moment before glancing up at the clock.

"Shit! I'm late too!"

"WHAT?"

"I'm going with Ron, you knew that. I was supposed to meet him at seven."

"Me too, but with Harry obviously..."

"THEN WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?"

As the two sprinted out of the Ravenclaw Tower as fast as their dresses would allow them, Celeste was waving her wand madly at her hair, attempting to put it up in some style. She probably could have done it had she not been hurtling down the stairs at around a hundred miles per hour. Cho would have tried to do the exact same thing had she not seen Celeste poke herself in the eye first. Better to have slightly disheveled hair than a swollen eye, she thought sardonically. However, Cho had already gotten on her makeup and her hair, though it could have used a little more work, was acceptable enough.

"Nearly - there - dammit," Celeste panted, finally getting her hair to stay, only to see it fall apart again.

* * *

"So that's what you and her were talking about then."

While waiting anxiously for his now-tardy date, Harry had finally managed to worm out of Ron with whom he was going to ball and Celeste's plan.

"You think it's going to work?" Ron asked, who was already sweating slightly and tugging at his collar.

"'Course it will. She's a Ravenclaw, isn't she?"

Ron said no more and instead diverted his glance over at Hermione, who was chatting lively with Malfoy. If this works, he thought, if this mad idea actually works, she might be mine before midnight, and little Draco'll be dancing by himself.

"Hey, look, there she is," Harry muttered.

Whipping around, Ron found a very breathless Celeste in front of him.

"Er - hey," he said, turning red.

"Sorry about being late. Cho and I sort of lost track of time," she managed to say between huge gulps of air.

"S'okay."

"So, uh, where's Cho?" Harry interjected, trying to hide the fact his heart was now beating uncomfortably fast.

"She's still somewhere upstairs, fixing her hair 'cause she thinks she looks like a hag."

Harry highly doubted she looked like a hag.

* * *

Fearing her wand was about to soar out of her hand she was waving it that fast, Cho was rearranging her hair at a speed that would have impressed even Celeste. She quickly Summoned a small mirror from her room, amazed the glass didn't crack, and studied herself. Though there were bright pink patches from running quite a distance, she thought she looked fine. After Banishing it back, she walked to the staircase and looked down.

Even after living through the Yule Ball, it was still quite a sight, seeing such a riot of color when her eyes were accustomed to the everyday black-colored robes. She spotted Celeste, standing with Ron (who looked as if he was about to retch) and next to them was...

Cho gulped, feeling a pang of nervousness.

Here goes.

* * *

Harry watched silently as Cho glided down the staircase, one had perched upon the railing, an angel floating down from above, descending on the pitiful mortal word...

He had never seen anyone as beautiful and graceful. Her dress and robe seemed to be made of a very flowing material, and the dark blue was most complementary. The robe came together at a point near her waist (Had she always been that slim around the waist? And if so, why hadn't he noticed it before?) and then spread out from there...the dress billowed out, trailing slightly behind her...Harry didn't know when he'd seen anything that'd looked less like a hag.

"Hi, Harry," she said softly as she came near. "Sorry for being so late. I had to fix my hair and..."

She stopped. Harry was looking at her with a rather dazed look, his eyes glazing over. Sadly, Cho was unaware of the intoxicating effect she was having on Harry...

"Harry?"

"Yeah?" he said, snapping out of his reverie.

"Should we go?" Cho indicated the departing couples. She was glad to see, though, that Ron and Celeste were still here.

"Okay then."

He took her arm and they began walking away. Ron and Celeste soon followed.

"So, what's up?" Harry asked, wishing he could find something more interesting to say. He was finding Ron's constant (and uninhibited) chatter behind him incredibly irritating.

"Well, yesterday, I got this long lecture from Davies - you know, Quidditch captain. Said I'd be kicked off the team if I didn't improve. Well, it's not my fault our Beaters can't tell the difference between blue and yellow," she said, scowling.

Though he hadn't been at the Quidditch match (he had been slaving over Snape's latest piece of homework), he had heard bits of what happened. The two Ravenclaw Beaters, recently acquired, had sent a Bludger flying in the direction of Cho's head just as she was about to grab the Snitch. Not wanting to sustain a major concussion, she had veered out of the way, and when she turned around half-falling off her broom, the Hufflepuff Seeker had captured the Snitch.

"Think they're colorblind?" Harry asked.

"No, more like they're stupid and they can't aim properly. So how did your match against Slytherin go? Sorry I didn't go. I was slaving over Snape's latest piece of homework."

Talk of Quidditch sustained them until they had reached a room Harry, despite being in his fifth year, had never seen before. It was near the nurse's office, and despite having been in this corridor many times, he had never noticed this room. It was rectangular and very long; he could hardly see the other side of the room. From the ceiling hung red and green baubles, strands of garland, mistletoe, and twinkling lights (which probably weren't lights at all, Harry reminded himself). Christmas trees were placed at the four corners of the room, all glittering with such splendor. Even after four years at Hogwarts, the decorations left him speechless. From next to him, he felt Cho cling tighter to him and heard a sharp intake of breath.

"If you could please direct your attention up here, please," said Professor McGonagall in a loud voice.

Harry turned his head to the left and saw the teachers sitting on an elevated table, Dumbledore obviously in the middle and McGonagall to his left.

"Thank you. Professor Dumbledore would like to you have a couple words with you before the ball begins."

The headmaster stood up and cleared his throat. Harry found it amazing that was all it took for much of the babbling crowd to quiet down, but that was the way Dumbledore was. Always calm and always in control.

"Welcome, all, to the first annual Christmas Ball." Everyone broke out clapping and whooping, and it took quite a while for it all to end. Dumbledore, however, remained as placid as ever, looking almost uninterested. "Before the dancing and celebration begins, I would like to say just a few things. Dinner - for those who have yet to eat or would wish to eat more - " (His glance fell on Crabbe and Goyle) " - will be served in the room off to your right. Refreshments can also be found there. Anyone desiring a stroll in the chilly air is very welcome to do so. The door leading out to the garden can be found at the end of the room. Now, I shan't take away anymore of your precious time. Enjoy!"

A platform began to rise in the middle of the room, and many people turned to see what was happening. The very top of a pointed hat appeared...then a tall blonde witch dressed in green and red...Harry heard excited screams from all around him.

" - It's her! - "

" - can't believe it's Celestina Warbeck - "

The music began from nowhere and she struck up a slow tune. Harry felt a tugging at his arm. Cho was beckoning him to dance. His heart lurched; he thought he'd at least have a little bit of time to become acquainted with his surroundings. But seeing Ron and Celeste dancing peacefully nearby caused him to move his legs - almost painfully - in Cho's direction.

* * *

She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt his hands fall upon her waist. Cho could sense he was tense but could not decide why that would be. They had been dating since September, and one would think he'd be used to this sort of thing by now.

Her head fell upon his shoulder, and she thought she felt Harry relax - a little. This is the way it's supposed to be, she thought, just Harry and me, no one else. No stupid diet to worry about, how many calories I'm taking in, just this...dancing...maybe with people around us, but they aren't bugging the hell out of me, are they? Sure, Othello and Solara are over there...but he can have his hands on her derrière all he wants. Doesn't matter to me at all, as long as either of them comes over here.

Oh, Harry, if only you knew what I think about everyday, every second of my sometimes and more often than not worthless life. But I could never bring myself to say this. Oh no, I couldn't ever, not even to Celeste. But just in case you can read minds, I'd like you to know something.

I care for you and I love you to the point of insanity. I'd do anything to make you happy. And I think I'm not good enough for you, not at all good enough. Just tell me that I make you happy...that I -

"Wanna go get a butterbeer or something?"

"Fine," she said heavily, still leaning on his shoulder...

* * *

What is she doing, Harry thought. Though the song had ended and a much brighter tune was being played, Cho's head was still resting on his shoulder.

"Cho?"

He tried to pull away from her, wondering what had happened, and imagine his shock when he discovered she was crying.

"Cho? What's the matter? Should - do you want to go outside for a little?"

He saw her shake her head obstinately, and almost to defend her action, wiped the tears off with her sleeve.

"I'm fine, Harry," she said, smiling slightly.

"Sure?"

"Yes, I am."

She probably just started pining away over Cedric again, he thought bitterly, thinking of that damned Yule Ball...again.

"Is there something the matter?" she asked.

"Er - not at all," he replied, trying to mask his anger.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to talk to Celeste."

* * *

He's probably thinking I've been crying over Cedric, just like I was on the train. Like I would be doing so! I would think he'd know better than that by now. If I hadn't gotten over Cedric, I wouldn't be dating him, eh? Feeling absolutely furious, she decided to take a shot in the dark.

"Harry," she said, barely concealing her frustration with his inability to understand, "if you think I've been crying over Cedric - "

"What made you think that?" he snapped back, but afterwards, he was much warmer to Cho.

* * *

"Ron," Hermione murmured, wondering why she was watching her once-friend while in the arms of her enemy.

"Did you say something?" Draco asked.

"Um, no," she replied a little too quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed where her eyes had been this evening...Ron was walking out to the garden with this girl...Harry and Cho behind him...wait...

A girl on his arm!

And I'm sure I've seen her somewhere, but I can't quite remember.

Suddenly, Draco was leading her away from the dance floor and to a shadowy wall. She wanted to follow Ron, but the almost vice-like grip on her arm was more than she could bear.

"Ow, Draco, it hurts," she muttered, trying to wrench her arm out of his grasp.

"I'm not letting go until we get a few things straight," he hissed, ignoring Hermione's watering eyes. "I know what you're doing, and I'd think someone as prudent as you would stop it, especially after the letter I sent you and what we talked about in Hogsmeade. I know who you've been watching and if it doesn't stop now, something's going to happen that won't make you all too happy."

He threw down her arm and she rubbed it, wincing. Why did he have to be so evil, she thought, but maybe a bigger (and better) question is this: What have I gotten myself into? Is this really worth it?

With a jolt, she remembered who Ron's date was. It was Cho's friend, the one that had been there when she realized that she might have fancied Ron all along and was blinded by - well....

But really, it was all a matter of keeping Malfoy's big mouth shut. That was most important. Ron could think horribly of her, it didn't matter (well, yes it did, but she wouldn't ever admit that), but if Malfoy told everyone...let everyone know what had caused her to act so funny this year...

* * *

"D'you think it's working?" Celeste whispered eagerly.

"I really hope so," Ron said, his face tinted a light green. "I don't know if I can stand being in the same room as those two," he added, shuddering slightly.

Celeste had no need to ask to whom "those two" referred. She could pretty much guess from the bitterness in his voice.

"Well, I can't either."

"Don't like Malfoy much?"

"Obviously, and I don't like Hermione very much either."

Ron shot a glance of pure hatred at Celeste.

"Why's that?" he asked suspiciously.

"Well, not to offend you, but her know-it-all attitude really irritates me, and I know I'm not the only one." Her mind lingered on Cho for a little, and was about to ask her to back up her argument, but then remembered she was sitting a distance away, doing something (Celeste was quite sure what) on a bench. "I mean," she added, seeing the horrified and offended look on Ron's face, "I'm sure she's nice and all - I wouldn't know, I'm not in your house - but like this, with that Malfoy crap, she's - can't put in any other way, Ron, but she's no better than he is."

After looking like he swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro, Ron took a deep breath and told Celeste he thought she was right.

"So, what do we have to do next?" he asked, still thinking of those days when Hermione wasn't such a - well, you know...

"Well, she's bound to come out her and snog behind a tree or something. Hope it doesn't take a while. It's damn freezing out here!"

"It could be colder," Ron said, taking Celeste's hand and rubbing it gently between his own.

"Still...she better come out soon, just so we can get this over with." Seeing the confused look on Ron's face, she raised an eyebrow and said, "You know what I'm talking about..."

Ron felt his heart drop to the bottom of his stomach. Yes, he knew what she was talking about, but he wasn't looking forward to it. Oh, not at all, especially in front of Hermione and him.

* * *

"Harry, stop it!" came the playful voice behind the bushes, giggling.

After a very bumpy start, Cho thought everything was back to what she would have called normal had she not somehow found herself pressed against the bottom of a bench with Harry on top of her. Her dress was incredibly wrinkled.

"Why?" he teased. "You seem to be enjoying yourself."

He brushed a strand of loose hair from her face and savored the feeling of her soft skin against his hand. Her eyes were alight with a mirth he had never seen before; they outshone the stars twinkling above them, a canopy that stretched infinitely. He wanted to freeze this moment, to carry it with him everywhere, to remind himself in these dark times that happiness indeed existed, and could be even be found in a pair of eyes.

* * *

Hermione saw them out of the corner of her vision, kissing, lying on the bench. She couldn't say anything though; her lips were locked onto Draco's and she had tried only feebly to release them. While these kisses used to leave her breathless and wanting more of his mouth, now the thought of them brought only repugnance and disgust to her mind, and she could picture herself shrinking away from Draco, bracing herself against a wall of sorts, Draco with a malicious grin on his face.

Thought it wasn't Ron snogging but Harry, she had a strong urge to give Malfoy a good slap before marching into the garden, looking for Ron and telling him she was sorry. But she couldn't do that. Malfoy, for sure, would discover what she had done and he would exploit her tale and ruin her.

No. She'd have to suffer then, suffer for her own sake, for her reputation, and for the hope that Ron's opinion of her wouldn't sink even lower.

Then again...it wouldn't hurt...but...

"Draco," she said as soon as she got the opportunity to pull away from his embrace, "it's rather stuffy in here. I - I was wondering if we could go out into the garden, get some air..."

And maybe, along with some air, I'll get what I really want.

Now if only I could somehow persuade Draco to leave me alone.

* * *

"Cho? Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"Could you come over here for a sec?"

Reluctantly standing up, she and Harry left the reclusive bench they had been occupying and followed Celeste. After sitting down, she faced them.

"Okay, you all know my plan to make Hermione jealous right?"

They nodded. Cho saw Ron with his face in his hands, and it appeared he was really dreading what was coming.

"I was thinking I could do with a little...more. She's going to come out, sooner or later, and until then, could you sit near us? And when she does come outside - with or without Malfoy, it doesn't matter - just start kissing."

"And why would this help what you're doing? She doesn't want me, she wants Ron," Harry said skeptically.

"Because simply seeing people snogging'll remind her of wanting to kiss Ron," Celeste said in a superior and almost exasperated tone.

The quiet that followed was awkward but soon broken.

"There she is! Hermione!" Celeste hissed. "Ron! Come over here!"

He stumbled over, still not looking resolved. Celeste immediately placed her mouth on his; Ron looked like he was about to be sick.

"Nutter, that's what she is," Harry muttered.

"Don't say that about my best friend," Cho said, putting her arms around Harry. "Well, here goes then...I've never had to kiss on cue before...it's almost like a - what do Muggles call it again? Where people pretend to be other people and there's something recording them doing it, then they sell it?"

"A movie?"

"Yeah...that's right..."

* * *

What a prat, Hermione thought as she strolled into the garden...with Draco. Can't he just leave me alone for a damn second? Though I suppose...someone as suspicious as he is...if I was in his shoes I'd probably be doing the same thing...

"Sit down," Draco said. It was not a request but an order.

She did as she was told, only to notice this was the same bench Harry and Cho were...where were they anyway? Because wherever there was Harry, there was Ron. She wanted to see Ron even if he refused to acknowledge her existence. It was plain and simple, really. She loved him. Where is he?

But she didn't have to look far. Beyond the rose bushes were Harry and Cho, kissing as usual. And next to them -

She hoped Draco didn't hear that sudden inhale.

How dare she, that little - ugh! What was that girl doing with Ron? They couldn't possibly be - my eyes must be malfunctioning - they can't be...

But the truth stood. She had lost Ron because she had been blinded, and now he was in the arms of another. If only I hadn't been so stupid, so mindless, it might have worked out fine...I could have had both of them. Yet she had complied with what Draco had asked, in hopes of achieving what she wanted...

Oh, Ron, Ron! Can't you see me here? Will you come to me? I could go over there, talk to him, maybe jinx that little bitch, if only...

DRACO!

How can I get rid of him without him noticing I'm looking for Ron?

Suddenly, Crabbe soared out of the garden door (which had magically popped open for him) and landed in a crumpled heap right at Draco's feet.

"What the hell are you doing, Crabbe?" Draco asked, rolling his eyes.

"That Hufflepuff - Macmillan - I just sort of bumped into him by mistake and he spilled his bloody drink, got all riled up and blasted me right out of the ballroom."

"Well, with someone as clumsy as you, I'm hardly surprised."

"I think he wants me to duel..."

"No, really?" Draco sneered sarcastically.

"Can you help me?"

"Can't you see I'm busy?"

"I can see you're sitting on a bench but you don't look busy."

Draco scowled and swore under his breath, but he stood up, nevertheless.

"Hermione, I'll be right back after I've sorted all of this rubbish out, alright? Don't move."

"I won't," she said breathlessly, trying to keep the excitement from showing.

As he stormed away, she crept behind the rose bushes, keeping an eye on Ron (still snogging). She tried not to make too much noise as it might give away her presence, but as Hermione was positively shivering with delight, she found it very hard to keep still. Then she heard a voice that sent her stomach plunging, all happiness extinguished, an ice-cold feeling spreading through her entire body.

"Do you hear something?" Cho murmured, finally breaking away from Harry.

"By the bushes, you mean?"

Hermione's heart leapt. I have been heard, she thought frantically, and I might ruin everything!

There was total silence, and she was sure even Ron had stopped kissing. Thus, she was caught entirely off guard.

"HERMIONE?"

"Oh, Ron!"

Giving up all pretense of being hidden, she threw herself at him, hoping to be welcomed with open arms. Instead, however, she was thrown back roughly to the ground.

"Ron?"

"What, done snogging Malfoy already?" he yelled.

"I - I wasn't - I would never..." she whimpered, tears stinging her eyes.

"So what are you doing, hiding behind the bushes? Hoping you could curse my girlfriend, eh?"

Celeste stepped forward, head held high.

"You...you...bitch..." she tried to say, but words were being caught in her throat.

"Don't bother, Hermione. You could call me a - " (She said something that made Cho's hand fly to her mouth and shriek, "Celeste!") " - and I wouldn't give a damn."

"What?"

"Want me to put it in simpler terms? Has your brain rotted due to excessive exposure to darling Draco? Ron will never be yours."

"But...Ron, surely you still care," she choked, tears staining the ground.

"Why should I, when you've completely disregarded me this whole year?" he spat, though his eyes clearly showed his concern for Hermione. Celeste, noticing this, nudged his foot.

"Ron...I'm - "

"There you are, Hermione!"

She looked up, unable to stem the flow of uncontrollable crying, and was unable to make out much of what was standing in front of her. That's it then, she thought. I've lost to this Ravenclaw I don't even know, I've lost Ron. Her vision cleared slightly; she could recognize a familiar looking silver hair...

Oh, damn!

"Hermione, what did this bastard do to you now?" Draco said flatly, showing no compassion for the girl that lay prostrate with grief before him.

What am I supposed to say?

"He - he jinxed me..."

"Which jinx, dear?"

What's Hermione doing, Ron thought, thoroughly puzzled.

"Trip - Trip Jinx, and I landed here. Could I just go to Madam Pomfrey? I might have twisted my wrist."

"Would you like me to come with you?"

"No, no, just...I'll go by myself, thanks."

With an effort, she got onto her feet, still shaking. Attempting to put on a brave face (though the longing in her eyes did not disappear), she turned around and headed back inside. Harry didn't think he'd ever seen Ron that mortified.

"Weasley, what did you do to her?" Malfoy said angrily in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, don't you listen to your own girlfriend? A Trip Jinx!"

"Likely story. She probably came out here - "

"How would I know what she was trying to do?" Ron snapped back, his ears turning red. "She looked like she was going to attack me (probably on your orders) so I had to defend myself."

"Sorry, Weasley, but I'm going to have to curse you for that. Locomotor mortis!"

Ron's legs suddenly snapped together but, miraculously, remained standing, albeit wobbling slightly. He pointed his wand at Malfoy and yelled, "Petrificus totalus!"

Malfoy toppled over.

"Here, let me help," Cho said, looking horrified.

She muttered the countercurse and Ron was then free to walk.

"He'll probably get trampled if we leave him here," Celeste remarked.

"That's what he deserves anyway," Harry said, looking at Malfoy with great disgust.

"Well, let's go inside then," Cho said.

She and Harry reentered the ballroom and resumed dancing. Ron, however, lingered.

"Aren't you coming in?" Celeste asked, holding the door open.

"Yeah, but I'm just thinking...D'you think it worked? The plan?"

"I'm sure it did. Did you see her? She was bloody crying!"

"But..."

Celeste sighed and let the door close.

"Look, Ron, I know that, for you, seeing Hermione like that was, well, unsettling, but if you want the plan to work you've got to live with it. Suck it up, okay? It'll hurt now, but in the end, everything will be just fine."

"It's just - "

"I know, Ron, I know."

With that, Celeste put an arm around him and led him back indoors. Meanwhile, the party raged inside, involving a more than a couple spilt butterbeers, five people leaving the dance early sprouting elephant trunks from their noses, and Celestina Warbeck marching off the platform, declaring she couldn't work in these sort of conditions.