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Author: Zelthian Story: Lady's Choice Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 25 Words: 13,374
The dance had been a huge success. Ignoring the chaos and mayhem leading up to the dance itself, the event had gone off quite smoothly. It was beginning to get late and the dance was just starting to wind down. As sixth-year Prefects, Ron and Hermione had already finished their chaperone shift and had spent their free time dancing, chatting with friends and enjoying the refreshments. Dumbledore himself attended and danced the opening song with McGonagall. Draco kept his distance from Ron and Hermione but didn’t make a scene with Dumbledore and McGonagall present. Hermione suggested to Ron that they might want to return to Gryffindor Tower ahead of the crowd and check up on Harry and Ginny. Ron thought this was a great idea, adding that they should sneak out some refreshments to take to them. Having stuffed as much food into his pockets as he dared, Ron grabbed two Butterbeers and headed out of the Great Hall with Hermione on his arm. “Do you think they’ll still be up?” Hermione asked as they walked. “I hope so. I wanted to ask Harry if I could borrow his Invisibility Cloak,” he replied as casually as he could. “Oh? And why’s that?” Hermione asked suspiciously. Ron’s ears went a bit read. “Well, we have rounds tonight, and I was going to suggest we use it to take a quiet walk around the lake.” Hermione blushed and smiled. “Why Ronald, how very romantic of you.” Ron smiled back. “Speaking of romantic, can I ask you a question about Ginny?” Hermione gave Ron an uncertain look. “I suppose…” “Does she still like Harry? I mean, I know she had a crush on him when she was younger, but how about now?” Hermione made the connection quickly. “So that’s who you meant when you said ‘somebody better’ on the train.” “You guessed it. Well?” Ron asked anxiously. Hermione looked away a moment, then turned back. “If it were anyone else I wouldn’t be telling you this, but this is Ginny and Harry we’re talking about, and I care about both of them as much as you do. Well, maybe not Ginny, she’s your sister and all. Anyway, I can tell you that Ginny did confess to me that she was over Harry, but then she changed her mind. During her first two years here she thought she liked him just because he was famous and handsome, but over the last year or so she’s finally started getting to know him, and she’s realized for herself what a great guy he is. Now she’s frustrated because she’s back to liking him but doesn’t want to impose. In fact, she was buttering him up Halloween night so she could ask him to the dance. You can imagine her disappointment when he said he didn’t want to go.” “I would have thought Harry would have wanted to go if Ginny asked him, if just to go as friends. It would have solved his problem with the other girls asking, and they both would have been able to go.” “Yeah,” Hermione agreed just before a thought struck her. “Unless…” Ron could tell Hermione was thinking. “Unless what?” “Ron, did you tell Harry that Ginny really wasn’t seeing Dean Thomas?” Hermione asked, somewhat alarmed. “No, did you?” Ron replied, catching on. “Oh no! I bet Harry thought they were still seeing each other! Oh, poor Ginny! She’s missed another opportunity with Harry!” “I’ll have to talk to him,” Ron sighed. “He hinted at a few things on Halloween night. It’ll give me an excuse to bring it up.” “Now Ron, do it gently. Harry’s very sensitive about girls who treat him like he’s famous or something. I had a talk with Ginny about that after she started liking him again. I think they’ve gotten on well since then, but we don’t want to push things too quickly, especially if Harry has come around and noticed her. And give Ginny some room, will you? She’s not a child anymore, and your interfering is what pushed her to lie about Dean in the first place.” “I will, I promise,” Ron agreed. “I guess I have been a little overly protective of Ginny lately, especially since she started seeing that Michael Corner git. I still don’t understand what she saw in him.” “Me neither, though I let her figure it out on her own, which she did. I still find it somewhat poetic that he and Cho are together now.” Hermione said. Ron nodded. They walked in silence for a few moments before Ron asked, “Do you think Harry likes Ginny?” Hermione sighed. “I can’t be sure, but like I said, they’ve gotten on pretty well in the last year. I suppose it’s possible. I mean, look at it this way... Ginny is very attractive, she’s funny, she’s witty, and she stood by Harry all the way through to the Ministry. As I recall they’ve spent more time in each other’s company since summer last year than they have since Ginny started at Hogwarts. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he has thought about her that way.” Just then, they arrived at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Ron uttered the password and they entered to find the common room empty. “He must have gone to bed already,” Hermione guessed. “Or he’s out under his Cloak,” Ron added. “Maybe. Think we should check his room first?” “Sure. Coming up then? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.” “Okay.” Upon reaching the sixth-year boy’s room, Ron peered in to find Harry sitting on his bed still in his clothes. Ron motioned Hermione in as he entered. “Hey, Harry.” Harry turned towards the door. “Oh, hi Ron, hi Hermione. How was the dance?” “It was a lot of fun, actually,” Ron admitted. “I managed to learn a few dance steps from Hermione. I’m still amazed I didn’t spend the night stepping on her toes.” “We only wish you and Ginny could have come. It’s the only thing that would have made it better,” Hermione said. “We brought you two some refreshments to cheer you up.” Ron handed a Butterbeer to Harry. “Wow, thanks!” Harry said, taking the glass and sipping from it. “Anything interesting happen?” “Not really,” Hermione said. “We only had to remind half a dozen couples about the no snogging rule. Malfoy even behaved himself, though I think that was mostly Pansy’s doing. All in all, it was a most enjoyable night.” Harry said nothing, but took another sip of his Butterbeer. “Where’s Ginny?” Ron asked casually. “She said she was going to bed, so she’s probably in her room,” Harry said. Ron nodded. “So, what did you do to pass the time?” “Not a whole lot. Ginny conjured some sandwiches, and we spent most of the night just talking.” Ron and Hermione glanced at each other. “Oh? What about?” Hermione asked. Harry eyed them suspiciously. “Everything and nothing. She’s quite the conversationalist.” Ron decided to take a first step. “She wasn’t the first time you came to the Burrow. She couldn’t string two words together, remember?” Harry chuckled. “Yeah, I remember. That was four years ago, though. She’s changed a lot since then. I understand now what you meant when you said she normally wasn’t that quiet.” Hermione and Ron glanced at each other again, this time letting a smile form on their faces. Harry noticed. “Why do I get the feeling I’m being analyzed?” Hermione cleared her throat. “Well, we weren’t going to say anything, but we were wondering how you felt about Ginny.” Harry gave Ron a hard look. “You were, huh? ‘Choose someone better next time,’ eh Ron? Had someone in particular in mind, did you?” Ron smiled. “Guilty as charged.” Harry gave Ron a knowing look. “Well, I have to admit I’m honored that you think highly enough of me to try to pair me up with your only sister.” “So, what do you say?” Ron joked, provoking Hermione to elbow him right in the gut. Harry looked thoroughly amused. “Since it seems you’re not going to let up, I’ll tell you. I think she’s great. She’s very pretty and I enjoy spending time with her. We had a great time tonight. I’d have to say I like her a lot.” Ron and Hermione’s jaws dropped. They looked at each other in shock. Harry took another sip of his Butterbeer. “Well, Harry, as your friend, I think I should tell you that Ginny likes you, too,” Hermione said. “And before you ask, no, it’s not a crush, and no, it’s not just because you’re famous. She’s had a chance to get to know you over the last year or so, and she’s sure her feelings for you are genuine.” “Well that’s good to know,” Harry said a little too casually. “So let me get this straight.... The two of you took time out of your fun tonight to discuss how Ginny and I feel about each other, then decided to come up here to see if I liked Ginny, knowing she still liked me, with the hope that you might be able to get us together?” Ron blinked. “Yeah, something like that.” “I see,” Harry said, looking thoughtful. “Well, in that case, I’m afraid there’s something you two should know.” Just then, Ginny walked in. She had her night robe on over her nightgown. “Oh! Hi Ron, hi Hermione, how was the dance?” Harry stood up as Ginny came in. “It was great! We had a great time. We only wish you could have been there,” Hermione said. “We brought you some Butterbeer,” Ron said, handing her the other glass. “Oh wow, thanks!” Ginny said, taking the glass and sipping some. “Harry told us you were going to bed,” Hermione said. “Oh, I am, I just came to say good night to Harry.” Ron and Hermione watched as Ginny walked up to Harry and put her arms around his neck. Harry put his arms around her waist and they hugged each other for a couple of moments. Then Ginny pulled back a little and planted a much-more-than-friendly kiss right on Harry’s lips. Before Ron and Hermione could react, Ginny let go and said, “Good night, Harry.” “Good night, Ginny,” Harry replied Ginny waved sweetly at Harry and turned to leave. “Good night, Ron! Good night, Hermione!” she said as she left the room. Ron and Hermione stared at the door for few moments, then turned to each other, both in obvious shock. “Ginny! Wait!” Hermione said as she ran out the door after Ginny. Ron turned back to discover that Harry had a huge grin on his face. “I guess you discovered how Ginny feels about you without our help,” Ron said, starting to grin himself. “Like I said, we talked,” Harry shrugged. “So what happened? I wasn’t sure you felt that way about Ginny. What about all that stuff you said two weeks ago?” “I wasn’t sure how I felt, either, Ron. I guess I was afraid to get close to anyone knowing the danger I’d be putting them in. I never got around to sorting things out with Ginny until tonight. I didn’t think she’d ask me to the dance because I thought she was still seeing Dean. She told me about that whole thing tonight, too.” “Hermione and I were wondering about that,” Ron said. “We thought we might have forgotten to tell you. I can’t help but think if we had remembered to tell you that you would have been able to go to the dance with Ginny tonight. I’m sorry.” “It’s okay, Ron,” Harry said. “Besides, I got to punch Malfoy, and Ginny and I got some quality time alone together.” Ron’s Ginny Alarm went off. “What do you mean ‘Quality Time’?” he asked defensively. “Oh, Ron, come on, you know I wouldn’t try anything funny. This is me we’re talking about!” “You just take care of her, okay?” Ron said, forcing himself to relax. “She’s had her heart set on you for quite some time, and I won’t have you breaking her heart.” Harry nodded. “Ginny is truly a wonderful and unique person, Ron. I was honestly quite flattered that she still liked me. Now, not only has she become a really good friend, but we have something special together.” “Speaking of something special, I wanted to ask you a favor,” Ron said. “Sure, what is it?” “Can I borrow your Invisibility Cloak?” Harry didn’t know whether to be amused or concerned. “Why?” “Well, Hermione and I have rounds tonight, and I thought it might be nice to go for a nighttime stroll by the lake,” Ron said sheepishly. Harry decided to be amused. “Well, I guess that would be okay, then.” Harry retrieved his Cloak from his trunk and handed it to Ron. “Just don’t get caught, okay? Snape will have all of our heads.” “You have my word, Harry. Thanks a bunch!” “Anything for a friend, Ron. Now, I’m heading to bed. It’s been quite a day, and I’m really tired.” “Sure thing, Harry. Good night, and thanks again.” “Good night, Ron.” Harry slipped into bed as Ron left with the Cloak. As soon as the door closed Harry got back out of bed and tried to straighten his hair. Failing that, he straightened his clothes instead. He sat back down on his bed just as Ginny entered the room. “They’ve gone out on their rounds,” Ginny said, sitting on Harry’s lap. “I know. Ron borrowed my Invisibility Cloak so they could ‘take a walk’ around the lake,” Harry said, putting his arms around her. “Well what do you know,” Ginny said playfully “Ron’s a Weasley after all.” “Brilliant plan, by the way. It had exactly the effect we hoped it would,” Harry said, smiling widely. “Did you see their faces? It was precious!” Ginny laughed. “I only wish we had a camera,” Harry chuckled. “Well, enough about them. Where were we?” Ginny asked seductively. “Right here, I think,” Harry said, putting his finger on his lip. “Oh, right, thanks,” Ginny said leaning into him and kissing him mercilessly. Unable to keep his balance, Harry fell backward onto the bed taking Ginny with him. She didn’t let up, keeping her lips pressed to his all the way down. They snogged relentlessly for the next half hour before finally falling to sleep together on Harry’s bed. Had they not been awakened by the commotion of several dozen students arriving in the common room at the same time they might have been found that way.
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