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SIYE Time:22:24 on 28th March 2024
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Snowed In
By Ravenclaw

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Category: Hogsmeade Challenge (2005-1)
Characters:None
Genres: Fluff, General, Humor
Warnings: None
Story is Complete
Rating: PG
Reviews: 9
Summary: Hogsmeade weekends have been canceled because the war is growing, and Gryffindor must decorate their version of Hogsmeade for Valentne's Day.
Hitcount: Story Total: 4018



Disclaimer: Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K.R. Note the opinions in this story are my own and in no way represent the owners of this site. This story subject to copyright law under transformative use. No compensation is made for this work.



Author's Notes:
I am in a bit of a slump on this one. I had been looking forward to writing it for a while, and I had three terrible starts at it before I settled on the fourth one, which is why it is probably one of the last entries. Unfortunately, it is unbetaed because of my lack of time. I self betaed it and am somewhat satisfied with it. I used all of the phrases except the one about someone snogging Dumbledore. Thank you for reading, and I would appreciate a review if you read it. Thank you!




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It was two days before the scheduled Hogsmeade weekend, but just hours earlier, Dumbledore had announced its cancellation and its proposed substitute.

“Unfortunately,” he had started, “Due to increased Death Eater attacks on surrounding areas, we’ve had to cancel the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend for safety reasons.”

A collective groan could be heard throughout the Great Hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, on the other hand, was feeling good about the cancellation, as he still had not asked anyone to attend with him.

Figuring that last years Valentine’s Day trip to Hogsmeade was enough embarrassment to last him until he was at least thirty, Harry had postponed the asking someone until last minute. He was sure that she was already attending with someone else; someone who deserved to be with someone as wonderful as her.

Harry glanced down the line at Gryffindor table where she sat with her nose scrunched up at the announcement. She absently swiped a stray strand of red hair from her cheek and paid keen attention as Dumbledore continued with his announcement.

“However, the faculty, prefects and I have discovered a way to bring Hogsmeade to the Castle. Each house will be given a day, starting tomorrow, to use a Room on the third floor that can easily be transformed into the Hogsmeade that we all know and love.”

Many of the students in the hall scoffed at his announcement, mostly those clad in the silver and green of Slytherin.

“The fifth years and above will be in charge of festive decoration, as their entire house will be visiting (yet another advantage to this is that even the first and second years may attend).” His eyes twinkled merrily as he looked around the Great Hall. “Now that is taken care of, starting tomorrow the order is as follows: Gryffindor Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw. The prefects know more about the plans and will share them tonight in house meetings. Porple Opotimis and cheers, that is all.”

For the rest of dinner, the whole hall was abuzz. The girls at the table made outlandish decorating plans that would require all fifth years and above to arrive at seven in the morning in order for students to start arriving by ten.

“What about classes?” Neville had worried.

“Been canceled.” Ron said triumphantly. “Four day holiday for us.”
After dinner, the lot of Gryffindor piled back through the portrait hole and into the common room. The noise was uproarious, and Harry knew that he couldn’t sneak away.

Shortly after seven-thirty, Hermione stood on a chair in the center of the common room, but had to send red and gold sparks into the air in order to get anyone’s attention. “Listen up, please? Everyone, may I have your attention?” she squeaked. Ron however stood up on the table.

“Everybody, shut your traps!” he bellowed in a deep voice.

“Er, thank you, Ron.” said Hermione, while the tips of Ron’s ears went pink and Ginny giggled from her seat next to Harry.

Hermione proceeded to explain how the process would work in the morning, and that if anyone was late, she would send Professor McGonagall up to pull them out of bed. Ron blanched at the though causing Dean and Seamus to snigger at him.

She continued to pick two names out of a hat and a place for them to work on. When she paired Neville Longbottom and Collin Creavey to work in Zonko’s Joke Shop, Ron nearly made her draw again, but with a glare, she silenced his protests.

Harry’s heart hammered in his chest when Ginny’s name had been chosen. He begged the stars that she wouldn’t get paired with Dean Thomas, as Harry knew that she had been eyeing him since last year. Something about that made Harry very jealous, and he didn’t like it at all.

While he had been praying for her to get paired with Hermione or one of the girls from her year, Ron announced proudly that it was Harry’s name that had been chosen. While his heart soared for a moment, it quickly plummeted when the building they were chosen to work on happened to be Madam Puddifoot’s.

Harry almost stood to refuse, but he caught Ginny looking at him curiously and sank into the chair instead. His heart was racing and blood was pounding in his ears, how could the honestly expect Harry to go in that place with Ginny. Sure, Cho had dragged him in there, but Ginny was nothing like Cho, and he was certain that she wouldn’t like the land of lace anymore than he.

After the last four groups were set up, Ginny stood go get her notebook. “We’ve a lot of planning to do.” she said brightly. Harry nodded, numbly, in agreement while bit his cheek in frustration.

Hermione walked over and flopped on the couch next to him. “You alright, Harry?” she asked him with a sideways glance.

“I’m doomed.” He replied solidly.

Being Hermione, she worded her phrases very carefully, as to not sound nosey. “You still haven’t asked anyone to Hogsmeade, have you?” glancing surreptitiously toward the stairs.

Harry laughed grimly. “Why, would you like to go with me?”

For a second, Hermione looked horrified, then slapped him lightly on the shoulder, “No, I am still waiting for that insufferable friend of yours to ask me. Absolutely clueless, the lot of you are.”

Harry nodded in agreement. “One would think that after the Yule ball that at least one of us would have a clue.” He said as watched Ginny come back down the stairway from her dormitory.

“Yes, one would think, Harry.” Hermione said in a whisper as she patted him on the knee and stood to go talk to Ron. “We need to discuss the weather.” She said offhandedly as she moved toward the ottoman that Ron was perched on. He was waving his hands animatedly discussing Quidditch, as usual.

“So… I was thinking…” Ginny started as she sat down next to him on the couch with a fresh parchment and quill. The night went quickly as Harry let Ginny do all the thinking. Mostly, he nodded and agreed while stealing glances in her direction.



The next morning, Harry dragged himself out of bed far before the crack of dawn. Neville was staring groggily out the window, while Seamus Finnegan was shaking Dean Thomas, and Ron could still be heard snoring under his covers. Even through his slippers, Harry could feel the chill of the stone floor under his feet. He was glad that he didn’t have to walk all the way down to Hogsmeade, there was bound to be fresh snow on the path after a night like last.

After washing up, Harry opened his trunk and pulled a package wrapped in red lace out. It was a bundle of sugar quills that he had purchased for Ginny Weasley during the last Hogsmeade weekend, and had just now gotten the courage to give her (or so he hoped). The white feathers peaked out of one end, while the satchel was tied shut with a white ribbon that had been transfigured from an old shoelace. Taking a deep breath, Harry shrunk the treats and put them in his trouser pocket carefully.

A buffet style breakfast consisting of bacon sandwiches, toast, hot cereal and fruit had been set up in the Great Hall for the older Gryffindors to enjoy before heading off to work in the Room of Requirement.

Inside, Harry was battling on whether to look forward to this day, or to file it away with things that he would rather face Voldemort than do. On one hand, he would be spending an entire morning in the room where he first kissed his girlfriend (and he used the term lightly), Cho, and not only that, the room would be posing as the place he took her on their first and only date. On that same hand, he would be spending it there with Ginny, the girl he fancied far more than he had ever fancied Cho. But still, on the other hand, Harry was just happy to have a couple hours with Ginny to himself.

Harry groaned miserably as he headed up the stairs to the corridor where the tapestry of Barnabus the Balmy and his ballet of trolls hung, conflict ringing in his mind. The plan was for the teachers to have set up a basic version of Hogsmeade, but the students were to band together to decorate it festively.

Ginny, who was behind Harry, sighed at the sound of Harry’s groan, her cheeks growing rosier by the second. She slowed her pace and waited for Harry to reach the door before she slumped against a wall biting her lip and hanging her head.

Harry skulked around the corner noticing that the door was already in place on the wall opposite the ridiculous tapestry. Taking a deep breath and steeling his resolve to make the best of this day, he opened the door and headed straight for the little shop just off of High Street.

As he entered, he noticed that normal for this shop, was almost over the top for Valentine’s Day as well. When Ginny arrived, he felt that she would be pleased at what little work needed doing.

Harry sat at one of the round, white tables in the shop, in a corner with is back to the one that he had shared with Cho Chang last Valentine’s Day.

About fifteen minutes later, Ginny made her appearance in Madam Pudinfoot’s shop. Harry noticed at once that her mood seemed to mirror her own, and wondered what had happened between her excitement last night and this morning.

She sat the plans down on the table and looked around the room. “Looks like you got a head start on me.”

“Actually,” Harry said, “this is what the place looks like normally.”

Ginny gasped in horror, causing Harry to chuckle. There was light pink gingham check on the curtains and valances, the walls were also pink, and there was lace, tons and tons of lace.

“We just need to charm the cherubs, hang some hearts and we’ll be out of this place before you can say ‘Quidditch’” Harry assured Ginny.

While they worked in silence, Harry was desperately trying to work up enough nerve to give Ginny her present or ask her for her company for the remainder of the Hogsmeade day.

Moments later, Ron burst into the shop, followed by Hermione hot on his heals. “Harry!” He said hotly, “What do you think: Snowing or not snowing?” but before he could answer, Hermione cut in.

“Snow would be romantic, something that you, Ron Weasley have NO clue about.” She huffed.

Ron crossed his arms over his chest, his cheeks were burning red. “I think snow would be lovely.” Ginny said, nudging Harry in the side.

“Oh, yes, um, I agree completely–very romantic.” He said in a mock serious tone, glancing at Ginny who was pressing her lips together tightly in an attempt not to burst out laughing. Ron just glared.

“I still think it’s stupid.” He complained, and Hermione argued out the door that just because it wasn’t his opinion, didn’t mean it was stupid. In fact, she felt that he was being a childish, selfish prat. The moment that they knew Ron and Hermione were out of earshot (though they could still be heard arguing), they dissolved into peels of paralyzing laughter. When they could no longer stand, they took to the floor.

Laying side by side, staring up at the Cherubs throwing confetti (that seemed to dissolve just before it hit any surface), Harry let out a sigh of relief. Despite the rampaging hippogriff in his stomach, he felt so comfortable around Ginny, sprawled out on the floor of an all frills tea shop.

“Ron still hasn’t asked Hermione out on a date.” Ginny said after a lull of comfortable silence. “She’s about to give up on him all together.”

Harry knit his eyebrows in confusion. Those words sounded familiar, and pulled a particular string in his heart. “W-what do you mean give up?” He asked her. “I mean–everyone knows they like each other.”

“Everyone knows, but she won’t believe it from everyone, only if she hears it from Ron… But Hermione is too proud to admit it, and Ron is too stupid.” Ginny said quietly. “If he waits around forever, she is just going to give up, maybe start dating someone else or something.”

“You mean, just like that?” Harry asked.

“Well, I don’t think she’d really stop–you know–liking him or anything, but if he won’t go out with her, she won’t want to spend her life alone.” Ginny explained softly, staring up at the cherubs.

Ron and Hermione could still be heard arguing down the street.

“Oh.”

As Harry lie there on the floor, his mind wandered over the circumstances of the past few months that managed to get him in this uncomfortable position.

Sometime in the fall, Ron and Hermione’s constant bickering had caused Harry to become a bit scarcer when he could, and Ginny just seemed to be there. When Dumbledore had come to Harry and asked him to not wander the castle alone, Ginny was there too.

Rather quickly Harry had started to notice that she wasn’t justRon’s sister, and that she was actually a bit more like Fred and George. All in all, however, she wasn’t enough like anyone else to lump her in a category. She was Ginny, Ginny Weasley: unique, adorable and a darn good Quidditch player.

Harry was fairly certain at this point, that if given any time, it was impossible for someone to not fall for her. With the way the boys in his dorm talked, they had all (save for Ron) had a crush on her at one point or another.

Reaching in his pocket, Harry felt something there, and pulled it out as he sat up. Noticing that it was the red lacy package for Ginny, he tried to shove it back in his pocket.

“What’s that?” Ginny asked curiously, following suit and sitting up.

“Oh, er, nothing…” Harry replied as he tried desperately to shove it back in his pocket to no avail. It just wasn’t the right time, he reasoned.

“Are those my knickers you’re trying to hide?” Ginny roused him with a smirk.

“Uh, er, oh…” Harry stuttered as he turned red at the thought of Ginny in red lace knickers, finally, he shook his head and handed her the tiny packet. “Sugar quills.” He said defeated. “They’re for you.

Ginny eyeballed them for a second in disbelief before Harry realized they were still shrunken and he took out his wand to set them right.

“That’s so sweet. Thank you.” She said quietly, turning a touch scarlet herself. However, she looked a little crestfallen.

Harry looked down at his hands and wrung them in his shirt tail. “Do you like them?” He asked, a little unsure of his choice.

“Of course I do, you know I like sugar quills, silly. It’s just–just I didn’t get you anything for Valentine’s Day. I really wasn’t expecting anything. I mean, well, would you like to share one?” Ginny rambled.

Harry nodded with a smile, “If you don’t mind.”

Ginny nodded and took a lick before handing it to Harry, who had expected for her to break a piece off. As Harry placed the quill between his lips, Ginny took a deep breath and closed her eyes. He had the chance to briefly wonder if everything was okay before she scooted closer and took a suckle of the sugar quill that was still in his mouth.

Harry froze.

Ginny opened her eyes and locked onto Harry’s. Inside, his mind sped a thousand times faster than ought to be legal. His breaths increased and his heart thudded hard against his ribcage, his mouth was going dry as his lips lingered a mere inch from hers.

“Gin…” He started as he pulled back slightly, but she silenced him with a finger pressed against his mouth.

“You have something on your lips.” She whispered breathily, as she moved closer, looking as though she wanted to lick whatever it was off.

Suddenly, a loud thud shook the walls of the shop and the room went dark as pitch.

“What the…” Ginny said. Just as sudden as the darkness, the temperature in the room dropped dramatically.

After some stumbling and bumping, Harry and Ginny were on their feet. “Lumos” Harry said forcefully.

Ginny went to the door cautiously, wand out. Slowly, she opened the door. “What the bloody hell?”

”What’s the matter?” Harry asked, shivering slightly.

“Ice! Solid, cold, ice!” Ginny exclaimed disbelievingly. For a moment, she thought for a spell and cast a heating charm on it, however nothing happened. She slammed the door in aggravation and sat back on the floor lighting a small blue fire which didn’t emit much heat, so she conjured up a small blanket as well.

“There is a loo in this building, isn’t there?” Ginny said worriedly. “I had a lot of tea with breakfast.”

Harry laughed as he headed toward the small kitchen, his stomach was in knots. Ginny Weasley had nearly kissed him.

“I think there is one back here.” He called to her from where he was getting out two tea pots. A moment later, she walked past him in silence headed for a small wooden door.

Harry was done and back in the dining area when Ginny returned from the loo. There was a saucer with tea on the floor near the blue flame. Harry was leaning up against a half-sphere dome that was a bout three feet high, four feet in diameter and covered in pink paisley quilting sipping at a cup of tea.

“Are you sitting on what I think you’re sitting on?” Ginny asked, surveying the scene.

Harry grinned and patted a spot next to the spout. “It’s nice and warm.” He announced with a cheeky grin. Ginny complied and he floated her warm tea to her, sloshing it minimally.

The twosome began speculating about what happened to cause the sudden frost, and Harry was convinced that it was Ron and Hermione arguing, while Ginny agreed, she also speculated that it may have been a Slytherin plot to ruin Gryffindor’s day, which Harry agreed was plausible.

Trying to act normal was hard after what they had almost shared. He was fighting not to kiss her, or ask her about it, or anything when she broached the subject herself.

Ginny flicked her wand at one of the cherubs that still fluttered above spilling confetti. It suddenly burst out singing in the most horrid of voices.


His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
The hero who conquered the Dark Lord.


“Ugh! Will you please stop that thing from singing!” Harry cried out laughing and covering his ears.

“What, you don’t like my choice?” Ginny replied in mock offense. With a flick of her wand, the cupid stopped singing and went back to sprinkling confetti silently.

“It was you, then!” Harry said laughing.

“Ah, no. I wrote it…” Ginny blushed, “It was Gred and Forge who sent it.” She corrected him. “They owned up to it that summer while trying to cheer me up. It was a right mess. I chased them around with a trick wand for days. Mum couldn’t understand what I was so upset about.” She giggled shyly.

Harry watched her with keen eyes. Even in the light of a wand and blue flames, he could see her cheeks glowing. The smile on her face was sheepish as she closed her eyes. “So, earlier, that was okay?” she asked him, eyes still closed as if she were afraid to look at him.

“Yeah, it was okay.” He said quietly, but what he had intended to say was something more along the lines of, “It was more than okay, it was splendid, brilliant, amazing.” Never in a thousand years would Harry have thought that Ginny might still be interested in kissing him. He thought for sure that she had given up on him for good.

“Good.” Ginny said as she stood to face him, biting her lower lip. “Then you won’t mind if I try again?”

Harry shook his head vigorously. She stood in front of him and leaned forward. “Wait, you have something on you nose.” He smiled as he removed a piece of confetti that hadn’t dissolved. “Now you can kiss me, Gin–“ But before he could finish, he felt her lips press to his in a clumsy kiss.

Unsure and awkwardly, Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny’s waist. He felt as though a thousand Filabuster’s Fireworks were exploding in his stomach as Ginny’s soft lips caressed his own.

A loud crack sounded from outside the shop and unexpectedly, they were bathed in bright sunlight as they door blew open.

Both of them froze, eyes wide and trained on the door.

“You two can come out from hiding now…” Professor McGonagall said as she entered the room and stopped in her tracks. For in front of her sat Harry and Ginny, lips locked, embracing, and leaning on a giant tea kettle. Harry could have swore he saw her smile for the briefest of moments. “Alright you two, out of here.” She commanded. “The other students are about to arrive.”

With blushing faces, the two quickly banished the extra items and shrunk the tea kettle back to size while their professor supervised. “Thanks for getting us out.” Harry mumbled on the way past. Ginny nodded in thanks as well as they went out into the blinding light.

The entire village was white. There were snow drifts with signs posted on them, and tunnels into the buildings. Ron was sitting with his back to Hermione on a bench in front of the Three Broomsticks, arms crossed defensively.

“This is your, bloody fault!” Hermione said.

“Don’t swear, Hermione.” Ron said pointedly, a triumphant smirk.

Ginny took Harry’s hand and led him to the quarreling couple. “This could be interesting.” Ginny whispered.

Blood rushed in Harry’s ears. He still couldn’t believe that he had just kissed Ginny, and now he was holding her hand. The way he felt now was nothing like how he had felt with Cho. This was much, much bigger, and better, Ginny hadn’t cried when they kissed, or stomped away at his inexperience.

As they approached Ron and Hermione, Harry started laughing happily. The three of them stared at him for a moment.

What did you two do?” Ginny asked them, while pointing around.

“I’ll tell you what HE did!” Hermione jumped at the chance. “Your git of a brother asked me to go to Hogsmeade while I was performing the spell to make it snow!”

Harry and Ginny dissolved into peels of laughter, hanging on to one another for support. “At least he asked you!” Ginny said after a bit, playfully glaring at Harry.

“Yeah!” Ron said in defense.

“I guess I never did properly ask you, did I?” Harry said to Ginny. “In which case, would you like to visit Hogsmeade with me today?” He said offering his elbow.

“Of course I would.” Ginny replied, linking her arm through his. “But I think with this weather we are having, we are awfully underdressed.”

Harry nodded in agreement “Shall we?” He said grinning.

“We shall.” She replied as they started toward the exit.

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