The Yule Ball

The First chapter

"Right," says Ron, who looks extremely put out, "this is getting stupid. Ginny, you can go with Harry, and I'll just-"

"What?" Harry and I gasp at the same time. I blush and continue talking. "Ron, that's preposterous, you can't just make dates for us. It's-it's-" I glance at Harry, who seems curious about what I'm going to say. "It's not a bad idea, I'd love to go to the ball, but-"

"Right then," Harry interrupts. "Ginny, will you go to the ball with me?"

"Wha-yes! Yes, sure!" I splutter, suddenly turning into first year Ginny, the one who couldn't talk in front of Harry Potter to save her life.

"Excellent." Harry runs a hand through his hair, a nervous habit of his that I've noticed. "You can really do whatever, you just have to sit with me at the beginning and then dance with me for the starting dance, but that's it, really, then you can do whatever you like, I guess-"

"Harry," I shush him. "It sounds fine."

"Oh. All right. Great. That's great." Harry grins sheepishly. "I should stop talking now, shouldn't I?"

"Yes, yes you should." I pause and try to remember where I was heading before I saw Ron. "Dinner. That's where I was headed. All right, see you two later."

"Bye," they chorus.

I find Hermione in the dinner hall and sit down with her. "I got a date to the ball."

My friend pulls herself out of her book instantly, all ears. The reduction of her teeth is more noticeable than ever. "So you're going? With who?"

I ladle some soup into my bowl and take a piece of bread before answering. "Harry."

Hermione looks stunned. "Harry as in your brother's best friend Harry?"

I nod, my mouth full of hot chicken noodle soup, which is especially delicious tonight. I swallow to answer Hermione's questioning look. "Ron suggested it himself. He was trying to figure out his and Harry's date situation, and at first I though he was joking, but he wasn't so Harry asked me and I said yes. That was it." I shrug. "Not very exciting, I s'pose, but I don't care. At least I'm going."

"That's great!" Hermione beams. "You two'll be so cute together."

"Um...thanks." How do you respond when someone tells you that you and a guy you are not dating will be 'cute together?' I shake off the awkwardness and eat some more of my soup. Seconds later Colette sits down, looking flustered. She runs a hand through her messy ponytail, mussing it even more, and announces: "Neville just asked me to the ball."

"What?" I ask, surprised. Colette just nods. "He was sitting in the common room looking dejected, so I asked him what was wrong and he said he'd just been turned down when he asked a girl to the ball. To cheer him up I said, 'well, there's always Ginny and me' and he asked me! I couldn't believe it! But I said yes."

"That's great!" I exclaim. "Guess who asked me? You'll never get it."

Colette's brow quirks as she thinks. After a few moments she has a guess. "Harry Potter. You got asked by Harry Potter."

I gape at her open mouthed, nodding. "How did you know?"

Colette smiles. "That's someone I would never guess."