HP 6 - A different Half-Blood...

The Easter Ball

Harry stared up at the ceiling above his head. He had woken up early from restlessness. Tomorrow was the Ball. Was he going to ask or not? Time was running out. Ron was snoring loudly and the sun had started to rise. He exhaustedly threw off his blanket and got dressed. No one was even stirring, so he went down to sit by the fire. He still wanted to ask Ginny to the Ball, but he just needed to find the right time.

A few people had started wandering down from their dormitories, ready for another day of gossip and exciting mutterings. Hermione came down, with Crookshanks trailing at her heels, and sat on the couch across from him. Crookshanks jumped onto his lap.

"I think Crookshanks has really grown on to you," Hermione said.

"Yeah," he mumbled, not really interested in small talk.

Hermione caught on and did not say anything else until Ron finally came down and they went to breakfast. Ron and Hermione chatted all the way through breakfast. He did not want to eat, so told them he would see them later and headed back up to the common room. Ginny was at one of the tables by the window, studying. There were only a few people in the common room. He slowly walked over to her table. Now was the time to ask. She did not notice him walk over.

"Hey, how's it going?" he asked, keeping his voice as even as possible. She looked up slightly surprised, but smiled.

"Fine, where's Ron and Hermione?" she asked.

"They're still eating. I wasn't hungry, plus they were talking," he said, starting to sweat.

"Oh, well, they do make a good couple," she said, slightly turning pink.

It was now or never, he thought.

"Err... Ginny... err... I was just wondering..." he started.

"Hey! Ginny! You coming down!?! Luna, Neville and Susan are waiting to help us study!" Colin yelled from the portrait hole. Harry and Ginny both looked over and then at each other.

"You should get going," Harry said, trying to avoid looking into her eyes.

"Err, yeah, Harry..." she said, and when Colin asked again, she said goodbye and headed out the door, glancing back at him again before disappearing out the door.

He sighed and sat down. That went great, he thought. She did not say no, but I never got around to asking. Maybe, it is not meant to be. No, he said, arguing with himself. I didn't even ask.

Ron and Hermione came up soon after and he did not see Ginny again until they went to lunch and she was leaving with her study group. He caught some of their conversation when they passed, and they were going to study more in the empty classroom they usually commandeered. He thought about going to help them, but he decided against it. He ate his sandwich, but escaped upstairs before Ron and Hermione were done. He was on the sixth floor when Ginny came rounding the corner and stopped, when she saw him.

"Hi, Harry, done with lunch already?" Ginny said, equally surprised.

"Err... yeah..." he said, trying to think of something else to say. " What are you doing up here, I thought you were studying downstairs?"

"I was, but I needed a book," she said, breathlessly.

"Well, err..." Harry started, but then he starting thinking.

Should I ask her out now or not? He had another chance. No one was going to call her away this time. The Ball was tomorrow, and this was probably going to the last time he would be able to ask, but should he? What if she said no, or had already been asked by someone else? He was starting to have second thoughts, but then his mind flashed to the prophecy... he needed to say something as she was watching the dilemma in his eyes....

"Do you want to..." he said, but his confidence broke, "...want me... to help you study?"

"Oh," she said, sounding a little disappointed. "Err... no... I... err... think we'll be... alright..." she mumbled.

"Ok... well... err..." he rambled.

"Yeah, I'll s-see you later," Ginny said, sadly.

"Yeah, bye..." Harry said.

They both left quickly in opposite directions. He had blown it. He was furious with himself. He had faced Voldemort and seen his family and friends die, but he could not work up enough courage to ask Ginny out? What was wrong with me? he thought angrily. Was it the prophecy or was he just afraid to ask?

No, I just chickened out, responded the nasty little voice in his head.

By the time Hermione and Ron got back up to the common room, he was not remotely interested in talking. It was a very quiet afternoon and when dinner came around, they had to drag him downstairs to eat. Ginny was already there. He looked over and she was sitting with the other Gryffindor fifth years, but she looked over to him. He did not want her to think he was staring at her, so he did not look over any more, but he had a feeling that she was watching him. He managed to eat something at dinner, and he went back up with Ron and Hermione before Ginny had left.

The rest of the night passed uneventfully. He thought maybe he could get another opportunity to ask Ginny out, but she went to bed early. Ron and Hermione did not say much to him, though they did realize that he was not participating in their conversations anymore. Therefore, in an effort to include him, Harry assumed, they played Exploding Snap with Dean and Seamus until well past midnight. Harry was not really into the game and he only won once. After Dean won five times in row, Seamus quit angrily and he went up to bed. The others soon followed, and the room was almost empty. Tomorrow was the ball and everyone wanted to get some sleep. He really did not care to sleep, but Ron and Hermione headed up to bed. It was going to be a big day for them.

As he watched them separate and go up their respective stairs, his thoughts came around to Ginny, again. He had missed his opportunity. There was nothing to be done now. There was not going to be another chance. It was probably for the best. Everyone closely observes everything that he does, and Ginny did not need that kind of attention, especially Voldemort's attention.

But... she is already a known target of the Death Eaters. She is a blood traitor and fought them in the Department of Mysteries, Harry thought. Would she be risking anything more by going out with him, when everyone knows how close he is to the entire Weasley family?

He thought no, but he then realized that this kind of thinking was pointless, now. His chance was gone, but he was so deep in thought that he did not even hear everyone else leaving, or more importantly anyone coming down the stairs.

"H-Harry?" a voice asked suddenly, making him jump out of his seat and turn around.

"Ginny? W-what are you doing down here?" he asked, while noticing that she had not changed into her pajamas, yet and her ears were already a deep shade of red.

"Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Yeah... fine, I just didn't feel like sleeping. What are you doing?" Ginny asked awkwardly.

Oh... just was thinking... about... things..." Harry managed to say, already sweating bullets. He had wanted to say about you, but decided against it.

"Oh... I... umm... hope... I'm not bothering you," Ginny said, slightly bashful.

"No-no, not at all," he stammered.

What am I going to do? Should I ask? he thought. Say something....

"Umm... how's studying going?" Harry blurted out.

"Alright... I guess," she said, quietly.

How's studying going? He was choking again. His throat was tightening. This was it. His last chance. He looked into her eyes and found the courage he was desperately looking for.

"Gin-" he started, but Ginny cut him off.

"Err... Harry...do you wanna to go to the ball with me?" she said, turning redder, but not breaking eye contact. Last minute thoughts flashed into his head, but he pushed them out. She had asked him... he was completely surprised.

"Really? You want to?" Harry asked, in disbelief.

"Well... yeah, Harry," she said, sniggering. "I've been waiting for you to ask... forever."

"Sorry..." he said, as he sat down. " It's just... Voldemort...."

"Why do you want to go to the ball with him?" she said sarcastically, sitting down next to him, as he gave a reproachable look. "I thought that was it... Harry, I have fought against him. My parents are fighting against him. I know the risks Harry, and just because I am going out with you isn't going to make Voldemort want me dead. He already does."

Harry looked at the floor, as she reached over and took hold of his hand. It was amazing how Voldemort's name calmed him down and made him focused. It made him seem insignificant. It was also the first time she had said Voldemort's name.

"I know this is a hard time for you, but you can't protect everybody by pushing them out. He destroys everything and anybody that he doesn't like. I'm already on his list," Ginny said, and Harry could not deny it.

"I know... but I don't want anything to happen to you because of me... my parents and Sirius..." Harry started.

"... weren't killed just because of you. If the Death Eaters ever had a chance to kill them, they would have, whether you were there or not," Ginny said, with confidence.

"Yeah... you thought about everything, haven't you?" he said, shaking off this depressing talk.

"Of course I did, and besides is there any better way to look out for me than going out with me?" she said, smiling and then looked into his eyes. "So, do you want to go to the ball with me?"

"Yeah, I really do, but don't say I didn't warn you. Everyone will be talking about it," Harry asserted, with a half-laugh.

"Let them talk. I don't care, but we should get to bed. It's going to be a long day tomorrow!" she said, excitedly, standing up. He was still holding her hand as he stood up, too and smiled.

"Everything's going to be fine, I can feel it," Harry said, walking her over to her stairs. "Well, goodnight. See you in the morning."

"Goodnight... Harry," she said, with an intense desire not to leave.

"Night," he said, finally letting her go and then watched her ascend the stairs.

He stayed there until he heard her footsteps fade away and practically ran up to his room. He changed his clothes and fell exhaustedly into his bed. He was actually going out with Ginny. He could not believe it. There was no turning back now, but he did not even want to. He was about to fall asleep, eagerly waiting for tomorrow, when he realized he almost had forgotten to do his Occumlency. Then it was very difficult to fall asleep.

* * * * *

He woke up with a start, when Dean roughly woke up Seamus by jumping on him. Ron was already sitting up in his bed, and Harry managed to find his glasses on the floor, because he had forgotten to take them off when he went to sleep. He put them on and saw Neville nervously looking into his mirror. It was earlier than they usually got up, but it was almost like Christmas morning, when everyone was too excited to sleep in.

Ron mumbled a 'good morning' when Harry got out of bed. After they got dressed, Harry and Ron went downstairs and went over to Hermione. Harry did not see Ginny and almost tripped over Crookshanks as he scanned the room, looking for her. He sat down across from Hermione and looked over to the girls' stairwell. Hermione, of course, was watching him.

"Ginny said she was going to be down in a moment," she said, smiling slightly and drawing Harry and Ron's attention. Harry just nodded and went back to staring at the stairs and Ron caught the implication.

"You asked her out! Why didn't you tell me? Did she say yes?" he said, smiling.

"Yes, well, actually... she asked me," Harry admitted.

"Really? That's great, mate!" Ron said, and Ginny came down the stairs, quickly finding Harry eyes and walking over to him.

She greeted them all and went downstairs to eat breakfast with them. It seemed as though no one noticed anything out of the ordinarily, but Harry knew they would find out soon enough. She sat next to him at breakfast and lunch, and they made small talk and discussed different spells, but did not go into deep conversation with Ron and Hermione there. Ron actually managed to keep his jealous nature in check as he said he would.

It was a great day outside, bright and warm. They all went outside and played Exploding Snap, but with the Ball only a few hours away, Hermione and Ginny went up to get ready. Harry and Ron went up shortly afterward.

"You think everything's going to be alright?" Harry said, as they climbed up to the seventh floor. Ron stopped when they got to the top floor.

"It WILL be fine. I had the same thoughts when I started going out with Hermione. Yeah, there was talk, but who cares. And if Nott tries anything, just hex him. It's worth a detention," Ron said, grinning in his victory.

Harry grinned at that too, and they continued up to the portrait hole. As they climbed through, Harry stopped and went over what Ron had said. Ron said Nott, not Malfoy, he thought. He does not even think Malfoy is a threat anymore. Harry did not think that it was a good idea to underestimate Malfoy just because he was keeping to the shadows nowadays. Malfoy was just as dangerous as he was before, if not more, because now, no one even paid attention to him. Harry did not think Ron's omission of Malfoy's name was a good sign, but as they climbed to the top of Gryffindor Tower to their room, he pushed it out of his mind and focused on the Ball.

They had finished getting ready long before the girls would be done. Harry almost went down to the common room to wait with Ron, but he remembered Sleekeazy's Hair Potion Hermione had given him for Christmas. He wondered if it would actually keep his hair flat as he poured some out and smoothed his hair down out. It had worked, surprisingly. He looked in the mirror and he looked very different. After sixteen years of his hair wildly sticking up on his head, it was weird to look at his perfectly flat hair.

He was the only one left in the room when he descended down to the common room in his green dress robes and both his wands on him. Just in case. He carried his mother's wand with him as much as possible and no one had found out about it, yet. He did not expect trouble, but his earlier thoughts about Malfoy had made him paranoid.

Harry walked down the stairs and found Ron, who had on his new dress robes. They were plain black robes with deep red cuffs and silver fastenings. He looked good. It was even fitted to his size and not several inches too short like his old ones. It was a definite improvement. He was sitting in their usual seats by the fire, which now everyone avoided, because they usually claimed them. Ron was twitching nervously, but stopped when he noticed Harry sat down.

"You look good," Ron said, still jittering anxiously.

"You, too," Harry said, smiling. "Why are you nervous? You two have been going out for a while now."

"Well... it's the Ball," Ron said, slightly worried about the situation.

"Yeah," Harry added nervously, glancing over to the stairs.

They waited another hour without talking. Most of the other Gryffindors had already gone downstairs to wait in the entrance hall. Ginny and Hermione both came down at the same time and Ron and Harry got up to greet them.

Hermione was wearing light blue robes that matched her eyes and her hair was done up more elegantly than it was at the Yule ball, but Harry was not looking at her. Ginny was wearing silvery silk robes that fit around her fittingly and yet loosely, flowing behind her as she walked down the stairs. Her hair, usually straight, was full of curls and drawn back behind her head. There was also glitter in her flaming red hair, which it almost made it seem like her hair was moving flames. Harry stood at the bottom of the stairs gaping up at her as she came closer to him.

"Harry, your mouth is open," she said, softly to him and smiling.

"Sorry... you just... look.... Wow... you look... great," he babbled.

"Thank you, and you, too," she said, blushing. "Your hair looks nice," she said and reached up to brush his hair. "It looks so weird."

"Yeah, I thought so, too," he said, smiling.

Ron and Hermione were mumbling to each other under their breath and were very close. However, Harry turned his attention back to Ginny. He raised his hand and took hers, leading her down the rest of the stairs and then they started toward the portrait hole. Ron and Hermione managed to separate enough to follow them and all four of them went down to the main hall together. It was buzzing with students waiting for the doors to open, and they were searching through the crowd trying to find their friends and groups.

Harry led them off to a side corridor to get out of the way. They let out a breath of relief that they were all here. They did not have a long time to reflect before Neville and Luna hurried over to them. Amazingly, Luna was not wearing her pineapple earrings and was instead wearing mango-colored dress robes that clashed incredibly with Neville's dark blue robes.

"Hey! Wow, you all look great! We've all been talking to the rest of the DA and everyone wants to sit together! Is... that alright?" he added nervously.

"That's great Neville! And you both look very nice, too!" Hermione said, and Ron just grinned at the mismatching pair. "It's fine with you guys?"

They all murmured in agreement and Neville and Luna went up through the crowd to grab some tables for all of them. However, the doors of the Great Hall opened and the crowd surged through them. The Great Hall was lit entirely with the low flame candles on the tables. The ceiling, normally occupied by hundreds of candles, was filled with fireflies and reflecting the clear starry night sky. The walls were covered with thousands of red, yellow and white roses blooming from the interweaving rose vines that covered the whole length of the walls. The white drapes were around the windows that matched with the pure white tablecloths, and the traditional four long House tables were gone and were replaced with small round tables that would seat twelve people.

Neville and Luna had grabbed three tables to the right of the head table, and Seamus, Lavender, Dean, and Parvati had already sat at one. Ernie and Hannah had also arrived and sat at another. When they said hi, everyone's mouth dropped when they saw Ginny with Harry. She was beaming, but as the other seats were filling up, they decided to get their seats. They went over to sit with Ernie and Hannah and were soon joined by Justin Finch-Fletchly and his date Katie Bell, Neville and Luna, and Susan Bones and Anthony Goldstein.

Roger Davies and Cho, Patil and Michael Corner, Terry Boot and Lisa Turpin, and the Hufflepuff Seeker, Summerby and his fellow teammate Bethany Wilder sat at Seamus's table. The last table was filled by Colin and fifth-year Ravenclaw Sarah Nottley, Dennis and Laura Madley, Sean Williams and fourth-year Gryffindor Samantha Redding, Sloper and Hooper and their dates, and lastly Zacharias Smith, whom Harry was glad to notice, did not have a date.

By the time everyone filed in from the main hall, the Head table was completely full. Harry had not seen Dumbledore that much this year, but he was not any more energetic than the other times Harry had seen him. To others, who had not seen him up close numerous times, they would not have noticed the difference. To Harry, it was Dumbledore's eyes that showed his diminished presence. His normally radiant blue eyes that sparkled with furor and penetrating comprehension were now dim and scanning the crowd as though his was searching for answers that would never come. The sparkle was gone, but he stared intently at the crowd when he gave his speech and put emphasis on the right words to make everyone feel like nothing was wrong. However, under the words was well-hidden exhaustion.

As members of the Head table opened their menus and requested their meals, which appeared instantly in front of them, the students began to do the same and soon the Hall was filled with the chatter of silverware and plates.

Almost everyone was shocked that Harry and Ginny were together. Harry was even astonished. He had been thinking about her constantly for the last few weeks, and she had actually asked him to the ball. He had a passing thought about Occumlency and tried to control his emotions, but it was hard. She was gorgeous and he could not stop smiling.

She, of course, could not help noticing him, blushed a slight shade of red, and leaned in to whisper about it. They talked through most of their meal and really did not say anything to anyone else. Ron and Hermione were just as self-absorbed. As well as Neville and Luna, the most clashing pair, who were also in a deep conversation about recent appearances of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. Ernie, Hannah, Susan and Anthony were talking about how beautiful the Great Hall was. Everyone pretty much left Harry and Ginny to themselves, until Neville got up with his glass.

"Hey, listen up," he said loud enough to get the attention of the other two tables. "I know not everyone here was part of the DA, but this includes you, too. The DA was not just about fighting Death Eaters or getting good O.W.L.'s. It was our group and we all became friends."

The members of the DA smiled and nodded to each other, but returned their attention back to Neville.

"I know it's the most important thing that happened to me here and I can't thank you enough Harry, but this is everyone's success, too. To the DA!" Neville said loudly.

They got up and raised their glasses. Harry knew most of the Hall was watching them and he caught the eyes of Professor McGonagall, who had an unusual, quaint little smile across her face.

They sat back down and congratulated Neville on his speech. The DA might be gone, but they all still felt that connection. In fact, the only one who had not left school and was not sitting with them was Marietta Edgecombe.

She was across the Hall with a third year Ravenclaw boy. Harry smiled because she still had to wear a balaclava to cover the word 'SNEAK' written across her face by purple pustules. He turned to Hermione to congratulate her again, but she had finally snapped out of her and Ron's world.

"Harry, this is amazing. Look at our three tables," she said and he glanced around.

"What about them?" he asked, slightly puzzled.

"They all got couples from different Houses," she said, incredulously.

It was true. All three of their tables had Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff students, and a lot of them were mixed-House couples. Even more than that, he looked farther outside their tables and noticed quite a few couples were from different Houses. In your House, you ate, went to class, hanged out with, and roomed with the members of your House. It is only natural for students to date the people they spend the most time with. Hermione had paused to let him contemplate what she had said, but continued.

"And it's all thanks to you, Harry," she said.

"Me? You're the one who came up with the DA idea," he laughed.

"Oh yeah, and the DA would have listened to me?" Hermione asked, skeptically.

"No one can not listen to you," Ron said, sarcastically and Hermione gave him a look of annoyance. "But she's got a point, mate. You made the DA what it is and its influence has gotten around."

"Yeah, my O.W.L. study group is like that, too. We never use to study with people from different Houses. Face it, Harry. The idea is spreading because of you," Ginny interjected and Harry just shrugged, not knowing how to respond.

"Most people only kept to their House because of that a stupid ancient boundary line," Hermione said, critically.

Ancient boundary? Harry thought. Those words stirred in his memory. The Sorting Hat had said similar words at the Welcoming Feast. "Unite under one House," it had said. Were they doing it? Even with their mixed-Housed tables. "While three Houses are one, it is not four," the Sorting Hat's message had said.

Slytherin. They did not have any members of Slytherin at their tables, and there were not that many Slytherins dating non-Slytherins. They had a few tables to themselves around where their usual House table was. He glanced over to their tables and saw Nott was with Pansy Parkinson. He then quickly scanned the Hall and realized Malfoy was not there. He knew he had not gone home, but where was he?

"Who are you looking for?" Ginny asked, curiously.

"Malfoy. He's not here," Harry said, slightly put off.

"He probably doesn't have any dress robes... or a date!" Ron laughed ecstatically and then everyone joined in. However, Harry then he felt a strange stab of sympathy for Malfoy, which he inattentively pushed out of his mind.

They then went back to their own conversations until the band came in. Of course, Harry had never heard of them, but they were called the Blazing Warlocks. Ginny pulled him up from his seat and they walked over to the dance floor. He danced, much better than at the Yule ball, mostly because no one was watching him, but also because the only thing he was looking at was Ginny. They never sat back down and only stopped to get something to drink.

When they actually did go to get drinks, he noticed that Ron and Hermione so were entranced that they never came over to talk to them. Seamus and Lavender were sitting back down and were watching the dancing intently. Neville and Luna were still dancing, though very oddly, and Colin was floating around taking pictures and ignoring his date. As soon as Harry and Ginny got their breath back, they went back to the dance floor, and spent most of the time whispering in each other's ear.

When the dance was nearly finished, many students had already left out of exhaustion and knowing that classes start the next day. Ron and Hermione had left out the front doors into the yard, but Harry and Ginny were content in the Great Hall. The last song was a slow one, blissful and dreamy. Harry pulled Ginny closer and she rested her head exhaustedly on his shoulder. There were maybe only thirty people left in the Great Hall.

As they turned in the spot, he whispered, "You looked amazing tonight. Your gown is gorgeous."

"Thank you, I spent about half my life's allowance on it," Ginny said, quietly.

"It's beautiful. Why'd you get a new one?" he asked, remembering her Yule Ball gown.

"Well, it was on list of things to bring and I was hoping that maybe I'd be able to go with you to the ball.... It was a silly hope," she admitted.

"No, it wasn't," he said, affectionately. There was a moment's pause and Ginny held her breath in.

"Harry, do you still want to go out after this?" she asked, whispering quietly and clinging tightly on his arm as they turned slowly in circles.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said without hesitation.

"Neither am I," she said joyfully, letting a tear fall down her cheek.

When the song ended, a tipsy Professor McGonagall sent them off to bed. They went up to the seventh floor very slowly as though treasuring every minute of the night they had left. When they got to the portrait hole, the Fat Lady was already snoozing a very drunken sleep, but managed to wake her up enough to allow them to enter. The common room was empty. Harry was in no mood to sleep and neither was Ginny, so he sat down on the couch by the low, crackling fire and she sat next to him and leaned up against his chest. As they watched the fire, they talked about random things.

It was about twenty minutes after they came up when the portrait opened up, again and Ron and Hermione came in laughing. Hermione was carrying her shoes and they were holding hands. When they saw Harry and Ginny, they walked over. They were both shaking with exuberance. Hermione was the first to regain her composure.

"We just had the most wonderful walk in the gardens! But my feet are killing me! I don't think I can wear these, again!" she said, brandishing her shoes, but without any sign of anger over this fact. Harry and Ginny had already sat up.

"How was your night?" Ron asked, smiling.

"It was great! The dance ended a little while ago and we were just relaxing here till you two wandered up!" Harry energetically. "You're lucky Filch didn't catch you. He's still sore from last year... and all the other ones, too... I suppose."

"We were careful, but I did hear him yelling at some people on the fourth floor... well... classes do start tomorrow," Hermione said, and Ron let out a groan. "We better head up to bed."

They said their goodnights, and Ron left her at the stairs and waved goodnight to them as he went up. Harry and Ginny began to see it was a mistake to stay awake any longer. They slowly got up and walked to the stairway. Ginny turned and looked up at him with a yearning desire to stay.

"Your hair is starting to stick back up," she said with a slight giggle.

"It is?" he said, smiling, his hand naturally reaching up to touch it. "You were the most beautiful girl there tonight."

"Seriously? Should I tell Hermione that?" Ginny giggled.

"I don't care," he said leaning closer. "This has been the most wonderful night of my life."

"Oh, Harry. This has been the most wonderful night of my life, too," she said happily, and rose up and wrapped her arms around him.

Her eyes found his, and she leaned closer and kissed him. They embraced for a long time and finally, after what seemed like eons, they separated and whispered goodnight. Harry watched her walk up to the stairs and when she disappeared, he went slowly up to his bed. He changed and lay down.

Ron was suspiciously quiet, but the others were fast asleep. He tried to fall asleep, but he was still humming with the exhilaration from the dance. He pushed his emotions out of his mind as best he could, and pure exhaustion made him fall into a deep and thankfully, undisturbed sleep.