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HB Prince: Year of Love | ||||||
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Category: Post-OotP Characters:All, All Genres: Angst, Drama, Fluff, Humor Warnings: None Rating: PG Reviews: 309 Summary: *** The author has been reminded via the e-mail address on file that this story is listed as incomplete and has not been updated in over 2 years *** This story starts at the end of Order Of The Phoenix. Although this story starts as the usual Harry/Ginny romance, I believe after several chapters, you will find that Ancient Dark Magic takes on a whole new meaning to our Harry and Ginny. Will Harry discover the key to the Half-Blood Prince?* * * *American Edition *** * * * Hitcount: Story Total: 196474; Chapter Total: 3710 Author's Notes: SUMMARY: The end of summer party. Who will take who?
Has Fred and George been up to something?
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Chapter Ten - The Party The plan was that the girls were going to get dressed at Grimmauld Place. After the party, everyone was going to spend the night there. The next day, the boys were up in Harry and Ron’s room. They heard the girls come up the stairs and enter the “girls room”. They could hear them from there, laughing and talking. They decided that writing a note asking would be the best way to go about it. They all sat with their quills posed. They really didn’t know exactly what to write. Finally Harry wrote his note and wrote Ginny’s name on the outside. “What does yours say?” asked Ron. “Dear Ginny, Will you attend the party this evening as my date? Harry” “That’s brilliant!” said Ron. Neville agreed so they each wrote the same thing but the names were changed. “Now, who is going to deliver them?” asked Ron. The boys all fussed about who was going do this task, when Harry came up with yet another brilliant idea. “We’ll have Winky deliver the notes.” Ron and Neville agreed. Winky took the notes. The boys put their ears to the slightly open door of their room to see if they would hear any reaction. Sure enough, a minute later they heard squeals coming from the girl’s room. “Why do girls squeal?” asked Harry. “Don’t know, mate,” said Ron. “It’s part of what makes them different from guys, I guess.” The boys waited, and waited and waited. “What is taking them so long to reply?” asked Harry. “It’s not like they don’t want to come with us. I mean, they squealed. Right? I mean, the squeal was a happy squeal, wasn’t it? They don’t squeal if they are mad, do they?” “Maybe they don’t like who asked who,” said Ron seriously. “You think they squealed before they read who invited who?” asked Neville. “Naw, that would be the first thing they would check. I don’t know much about girls but I’m sure of that. Besides, they had to know who invited who before they squealed. They wouldn’t know what they were squealing about until they read our invitations,” said Harry. “They are punishing us,” said Ron wisely. “We waited until the last minute to invite them. So we must pay the price.” Neville and Harry agreed. They may even refuse just on principle. After a hour, Winky finally appeared and handed each boy their note. YES ! They all got a yes. The guys did a “high five” and laughed. They were really happy. Harry thought a moment and couldn’t understand why it seemed so important they were accepted. It was not like they had looked forward to this date for a long time. It was a last minute thing, but Harry admitted to himself that being refused would have really hurt bad. Harry noticed that he was not the only one who was dressing carefully for the evening. They all wore their new Muggle suits. Even Ron spent more than his usual two minutes on his hair. Harry was spending more time with his hair since he had it styled. At least now when he fixed it, it actually looked like it was supposed to stick up. He did look better. His hollow cheeks seemed to have filled in quite a bit. He didn’t look gaunt anymore, just thin. His ribs were not so pronounced now. His suit fit him well enough that it didn’t look “too big”. The boys drew straws to see who would go pick up the girls first. Neville won, Ron second, that left Harry for last. Harry waited patiently for Ron and Hermione to descend the stairs before he went to the door. Harry tapped lightly, then the door quietly opened and Ginny appeared. Harry was dumb struck. Before him was Ginny but not the same Ginny. This was a much older version. Her face looked different. Her eyelashes were darker, her lips looked a bit darker too. It must be makeup but it was subtle. If he didn’t already know what she usually looked like he would not be able to tell that she had on makeup. Her flaming red hair was not changed in color, but it was styled different. The top was fluffed up a bit and she now had fringe. Not cut straight across like most girls with fringe, but it was uneven, shorter in the middle with a bit longer on each side of her temples. It looked like it grew that way. No straight edges. The rest of her long hair flowed over her shoulders and down her back. It curled under at the ends. It looked so soft and silky. He started to raise his hand towards her hair. He wanted to touch... but he must not touch. What would she think if he did that? Her dress was a filmy chiffon material in a beige color. It was decorated with small fall colored leaves. The neckline was rounded off, not cut too low. The sleeves were strange, they started a bit below her shoulder and draped off. They went to below the elbow in some parts and a bit above in others. They were almost like short hanging scarves. The bodice was form fitting. Harry tried to move his eyes away from THAT area. There were definitely curves. Somewhere near the waist/hip area the dress flared out a bit and hung in the same way as the sleeves with some parts hanging below the knee and some parts above the knee. So the dress as her hair had no straight lines. She was wearing brown satin slippers with slightly raised heels. He was not sure if it was the dress, the hair or the makeup that made her appear older. It could have been the combination. All he knew is that she didn’t look like the girl he had been dancing with all summer. All this, he took in within seconds (he hoped) because he knew that his jaw had gapped open. He swallowed hard. He was afraid that he would drool all over the floor if he didn’t. Then he heard her voice. “Hello Harry,” she purred. Harry wasn’t sure exactly what happened to him. He was sure that something had happened to him. Sort of like some magic charm or spell was put on him because he felt very weak. Whatever it was, it felt good and bad at the same time. He uttered the only thing that came to mind. “You look pretty.” WHY did he say pretty? he wanted to say beautiful but pretty is the word that came out. He stammered for a bit and then said, “I didn’t mean that. Your dress is pretty. YOU are beautiful.” Ginny blushed a bit and smiled very sweetly. Her smile melted his heart. He was a goner! “Shall we?” he said as he offered her his arm. When she put her arm through his, her merest touch sent a shiver through him. As they were walking towards the stairs he said to himself “I will consider this date a success if we get to the bottom without tripping.” And indeed they did make it without mishap. Ginny was quietly talking to him as the made towards the kitchen. Harry don’t remember what she was saying but he must have been giving the right responses because she didn’t seem to look as if he said anything wrong. When they entered the kitchen, she indicated what seat she would be sitting in. He lead her to the chair and held it for her. He would be sitting across from her. As he was walking around the table to his seat he met up with Mrs. Weasley. She looked gorgeous and he told her so. Her make-over was perfect. She blushed and gave him one of her famous Weasley hugs. Harry wiggled his eyebrows at Mr. Weasley. He wiggled his back at Harry as if to say that he liked the “new” Mrs. Weasley too, Harry grinned. Harry walked over and sat across from Ginny. Without looking at her, the first thing he did, was take a large gulp of water, then he looked at her. He couldn’t help but stare. He didn’t know how long he was staring but finally George said “Oy Harry! You’re gonna burn a hole right through Ginny’s face!” Harry turned crimson and stared down at his plate. He put a fork full of food in his mouth, it could have been mashed potatoes, he was not sure. Then he took another large drink of water. He decided that he was just gonna have to get a grip! He looked over at Luna. Luna looked pretty with her now blonder hair. Harry just figured out what they must have been talking about when they said stripping. Because her hair now was basically dark blonde with streaks of lighter blonde highlighting around her face. It looked very nice. “Luna, I really like your new hairstyle,” said Harry. “Daddy will be pleased. When I told him that we were going strip it, he thought they were going pull out big chunks of my hair,” laughed Luna. Everyone else laughed too. But Harry’s laugh was the kind of laugh that was covering for his guilt of thinking the same thing as her dad. “Hermione, your style is real pretty too,” said Harry honestly. “In fact I think everyone’s make-over has been a success.” Harry smiled. There were little conversations around the table as the meal went on. Fred and George kept making comments to Harry about how his face kept going white then red. “Harry do you have a fever? Harry do you think that Ginny will have to nurse you tonight?” said Fred or George. Harry was now afraid to look at Ginny and he surely couldn’t think of a thing to say to her. He just knew that he would embarrass himself. It finally dawned on Harry that the twins were up to something. He felt strange. That’s it! The twins must have put some kind of “Love Charm” on him. He hadn’t seen them until he got to the kitchen, but they could have somehow did it. With this thought, Harry started to feel a bit more confident or maybe the charm wore off, because he finally got the nerve to ask Ginny a question. “Ginny, did you get a chance to look at the broom that Ron and I had the shop manager put back for you? We thought you would like it?” asked Harry. “Oh yes! I did look at others, but the “Lightening Lady” is really the best one for a female Chaser. That one was the exact size for me so we didn’t have to order one. We bought it,” said Ginny happily. “I can’t WAIT to try it out!” “My ‘Hover’ is really gonna make my job as Keeper easier,” said Ron. “Too bad that Fred and George won’t be back this year. With them, we would probably have the best Quidditch team Hogwarts has ever seen,” said Harry wistfully. “Flattery will not get you out of the teasing we have prepared for you tonight, my young friend,” said Fred with an evil grin. “Absolutely correct, my dear brother. Harry has dues to pay,” said George with an equally evil grin. Harry got a clue that whatever these “dues” were, they were not going to be anything that Harry would be happy about. Ginny smiled mischievously. Harry ate lightly. It’s not like he could have eaten much anyway. He knew if he would be dancing tonight that it was better not to be over-stuffed. The females in this house have been over-stuffing him all month. Every time he turned around one of them was handing him a biscuit. If he had tea, one of them would be adding sugar and cream to it, same with coffee. If he had hot chocolate someone was adding whipped cream. Even during his dance lessons, when they took a break, Ginny would have some kind of ice cream drink for him. Of course Harry knew that they were all trying to “fatten him up” and Harry wanted that too, so there really wasn’t any battle over it. When dinner was FINALLY over, Harry made a special point to thank Mrs. Weasley, Winky and Dobby for the wonderful feast. He had really been trying harder to be more appreciative to everyone. He was always thankful but in years past he often forgot to personally thank people. He promised himself that he would not do that anymore. He walked over and held Ginny’s chair for her and they went up to the Defense Room to the party. Fred and George were already behind their instruments, grinning. They started out the music with a peppy comedy tune. Harry grabbed a butterbeer smiling, he leaned against the table watching. Next Ginny sang a sweet ballad. When she finished Harry handed her an open butterbeer that she took gratefully. Ron belted out a fast rock song, then Harry and Ginny began to dance. They were doing some pretty advanced moves. Mr. Weasley sang a slow love song. Harry pulled Ginny into his chest and they began to slowly dance. He could smell her hair. He wanted to touch her hair and put his face into it, but he restrained himself. Mr. Weasley liven things up with a cha cha. Harry and Ginny were dancing perfectly together. A few eyebrows were raising around the room. Mr. Weasley’s next one was a romantic two-step. Harry and Ginny were gliding around the room in perfect step. Then Ron sang a Latin, fast tempo’d song. Harry and Ginny were at their best with Harry’s hand upon Ginny’s hip and both of them swaying their hips in tempo. Harry would toss Ginny out and she would twirl back into his arms. When the song had finished the whole room were clapping for Harry and Ginny’s dance. Fred and George gave each other a “high five”, then Ron and George gave each other a “high five”. “What’s up with the “high five’s?” asked Harry curiously. “I won the bet against Fred,” said George. “I won the bet against Fred,” said Ron. “I’m afraid to ask,” said Harry. “But exactly what were you betting on?” “Fred bet that you and Ginny were using your ‘dance lessons’ as a cover-up for...” ‘wiggles eyebrows’ Harry’s jaw dropped and his face went scarlet, then asked “But what about Ron?” Ron bet that you WERE taking dance lessons,” said Fred. “Then why are you giving George a ‘high five’? You lost both bets,” asked Harry. “Yes, but still made a profit with side bets,” said Fred, smiling. Mrs. Weasley stepped up, “Shame on you boys, it is NOT proper to be betting on your sister like that!” “Ron!” shouted Hermione. “What?” said Ron. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I bet AGAINST Fred.” “You shouldn’t be betting on what your sister will or won’t do with a boy. It just isn’t right,” said Hermione. Harry glanced over at Ginny, who was listening intensely to the conversation. She smiled at him. Fred was smiling broadly. Harry had to ask “Who were the ‘side bets’ with?” “Bill and Charlie,” said Fred with an evil grin. “Serves them right!” said Mrs. Weasley. “Tonks, Mad-eye Moody, and Lupin,” added Fred. “What? My own GUARDIAN ?” asked an astonished Harry. He looked over at Lupin who was seeming to be carefully picking out a drink from the ice tub. Everyone was laughing hysterically. Harry looks over at Ginny in disbelief, she was laughing too. “Doesn’t this bother you?” he asked. “It’s Fred and George. What do you expect? They bet on anything that amuses them. It’s nothing new. Don’t take it personal,” said Ginny. Harry’s eyes seemed to have glazed over. “By the way, how do you know who won the bets?” he asked George. “Well... you can dance, can’t you? Five song test... You passed,” said George. Harry thought, “this has got to be the craziest family in the world.” He loved them. For the rest of the evening, Harry danced in turn with Hermione, Luna, Molly and Ginny. He spent a lot of time laughing and talking with Ginny. When he was dancing with Ginny it was like he was somewhere else. She smelt so clean... like soap. Harry was about a head taller than her and he could actually see the top of her head if she stood close enough to him. Her hair was so shiny, he just wanted to touch it. He had a very good time. This had to be the best ‘date’ ever. * * * * |
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