money from it, so please Mrs. Rowling if you read this
don’t sue me. A comment or two would be welcome
though.
Please, if you read, take two minutes to review.
Harry and Bridgette were sitting in the clearing by the lake, Harry was trying to help her with her potions essay.
“Erm….Harry?” Ron interrupted. Harry turned around to see that Ron and Hermione had managed to sneak up on him and Bridgette.
“How did you find…” Harry trailed off as he looked at the ground and saw two sets of muddy paw prints on the rock behind Ron and Hermione. He shook his head at them.
“Having fun then, are we?” he asked as he watched Hermione subtly send a cleaning charm at the paw prints.
“Um….yeah,” Ron replied, his ears turning slightly red.
“I tried to get him to leave you alone, Harry,” Hermione said. “Sorry, Bridgette, sometimes my boyfriend is a little insensitive,” she added. Ron ignored Hermione’s comment.
“It’s ok, Hermione. Harry and I were just about to head in anyways,” Bridgette replied.
“Good, you and Hermione can head up. We’ll catch you up in bit,” Ron interjected. Hermione looked at him, puzzled by his statement. “Sorry, Mione, I wanted to talk to Harry alone for a minute….If you don’t mind?” he added a second later.
Hermione looked at Harry to see if he had any idea what Ron was going on about. Harry shrugged.
“Sure, Love,” Hermione said giving Ron a quick kiss on the cheek. “Come on, Bridge. Let’s leave the boys to their little talk.”
“Come find me later, Harry? I wanted to ask you something too,” Bridgette called to him as she walked off with Hermione.
“Sure, Bridgette, I needed too talk with you too,” Harry replied. Ron waited until they were out of earshot before turning back to Harry.
“Good, she’ll have to get rid of Bridgette if she wants to change into a lion and sneak back here.”
“What’s the big secret, Ron?” Harry asked. His curiosity was getting the better of him. Ron pulled his hand out of his pocket and held it out to Harry.
“This,” he replied. Harry blinked in surprise. It took him a full minute to recover.
“Well say something, Harry,” Ron pleaded with him.
“You’re kidding, right?” Harry asked.
“No, I’ve never been more serious in my life,” Ron answered. Harry looked up his best friend.
“You are serious,” he said still shocked. “How, you’re under age?”
“Hermione isn’t and I turn seventeen pretty quick. It doesn’t matter anyways. I asked Dumbledore about it. If you have your parent’s permission you can get married when you’re fifteen.”
“I asked him at Charlie’s wedding. I also talked to my parents and Hermione’s mother and father,” Ron added when he noticed Harry’s confusion.
“That’s why you disappeared for so long that night,” Harry remarked quietly, comprehension dawning on him.
“Yeah,” Ron replied. And then, suddenly turning red again dropped his eyes to stare at the ground.
“I guess everyone must have said yes then?” Harry asked. Ron nodded.
“Have you asked Hermione yet?”
“I’m going to at the ball next week,” Ron replied. He looked like he was going to be sick.
“Why now, Ron?” Harry asked waving his hand around. “With all of this.”
“Because of this, Harry,” Ron replied angrily, and then continued more calmly. “Hermione is the one, Harry. We could all be killed tomorrow. If I lose her, I want to have been married to her, even if it is for just one day.” Ron’s voice trailed off as he finished.
“But you’re so young, we’re all just kids.”
“Come on, Harry. You, me, Hermione, some of our friends, we’re only young on the calendar. Blimey, the three of us were forced to grow up during our first year. I’m more than old enough to make this decision,” Ron said in exasperation. Harry looked at Ron, considering what he had said.
“You must have used this same argument with Molly and Arthur. How did Hermione’s mum and dad react when you asked?”
“Actually they were easier to convince than our parents. They actually told me they had been expecting it,” Ron replied, shaking his head.
“I was too, Ron. Just not quite so soon, I guess,” Harry commented. “So why are you telling me all of this?” he asked a moment later.
“Because, regardless of how you feel about Hermione now, I know how you did feel. It is important to me that I have your blessing. And if she says yes, it will be important to her too." Ron watched Harry nervously, the only thing he thought he had done more difficult than this was to tell Hermione he loved her in the first place.
“I guess that depends,” Harry replied evenly.
“Depends on what?” Ron was confused now.
“On whom your best man is you git,” Harry said grabbing hold of Ron and lifting him off the ground in a giant bear hug.
“Well, I was planning to ask Neville, but if you insist,” Ron said laughing.
“I accept,” Harry replied dropping Ron in a heap. “Of course if she says no, I’m going to steal her from you,” he added, giving Ron a shove.
Ron had changed to his animagus and was on top of Harry in and instant, standing on his chest.
“Gerroff, you flea bag, I’m only joking. Of course she’s going to say yes.” Ron changed back and helped Harry to his feet.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Harry.”
“Just so you know, Ron, I really don’t think of Hermione like that anymore,” Harry said as they stood there looking at each other. Ron nodded at him.
“So is there anyone who I can talk about this with yet, or is it top secret?” Harry asked, as he headed for the trail to the school.
“It’s top secret still,” Ron replied falling in next to him. They walked in silence for a short ways before Ron spoke again.
“So how are things with you and Bridgette?” Harry smiled, and walked in silence for a moment longer before replying.
“Well, you guys wanted me to let her in….I wanted to let her in, and I have. She is too close now. We don’t have the bond that you, Hermione, Ginny and I do. But she is closer than I wanted her to be….I’m not sure if much else will come of it or not,” he replied.
“You two have seen each other every spare moment for the last four weeks, have you done anything besides go for walks and talk? Not that it’s any of my business,” Ron added hastily. Harry laughed.
“We’ve held hands once or twice. That’s about it.” They walked together in silence for a while.
“Harry, I’m not saying she’s not. But you know she doesn’t have to be the one. There is someone out there for you,” Ron offered quietly. Harry regarded Ron for a moment.
“You’ve changed a lot in the last year, Ron.”
“Yeah….well, that’s what happens when Dumbledore tells you there is a prophecy about you,” Ron replied, without looking at Harry.
“I wish he hadn’t done that to you, Ron.”
“I wish there wasn’t one about you and Voldemort too, Harry. That’s the way it is. It won’t do us any good to cry about it,” Ron answered.
“We’ll find a way, Ron. Together you and I can do it.”
“Yeah, Harry, I reckon that Voldemort has no idea what he created when he marked you. And I don’t care what the first prophecy says. Because the second one says I can fight him to a stand still. I will beat him to the ground myself so you can deliver the final blow. But he will not harm Hermione,” Ron finished vehemently. Harry had stopped walking and was just watching Ron walk away from him now. Ron stopped and turned around when he realized Harry was no longer next to him. He seemed to realize that their conversation was going in places neither wanted to discuss right then.
“So are you going to ask Bridgette to the ball?” Ron asked changing the subject. Harry sighed.
“Yeah, I owe it to myself to keep trying. There will be life after Voldemort,” Harry replied.
“Good choice Harry.”
“Hi, Mione,” Ron said dropping down in the seat next to Hermione.
“Hi, Love….Harry,” she added a second later.
“Hey,” Harry replied smirking at her.
“What?” Hermione asked.
“Nothing, where’s Bridgette?” Harry asked trying to avoid looking at Ron.
“She went to the library.”
“Thanks,” Harry said walking away.
“What did you two talk about, Ronald?” Hermione asked turning to him.
“Guy stuff, you and I have been spending so much time together, that I hardly get to see Harry anymore,” Ron lied.
“I’m sorry, Ronald,” Hermione said softly her gaze shifting from his face to the plate of food in front of her. She began to pick at it, but her appetite seemed to be gone. Ron realized he had made a mistake.
“Mione, I’m sorry,” he said reaching for her face and turning her so she had to look at him. “That came out wrong, I wouldn’t trade a second of your attention. It’s just hard. It was always the three of us, and now with you and me, it kind of leaves Harry out in the cold. I just wanted him to know that he is still my friend, that I still need him.” Hermione’s eyes brimmed with tears as she wrapped her arms around Ron’s neck.
“He knows he is your best friend, Ronald.”
“No, Hermione, I might still be Harry’s best friend. Though I think it may be Ginny right now….Unless Bridgette takes her place. But I’m in love with my best friend,” Ron replied. Hermione let him go. His words had truly surprised her.
“You really mean that don’t you?” she asked her eyes dancing brightly.
“Yes I do,” Ron replied gazing into her eyes. He found himself drowning in their depths.
God how could it have taken me so long to really see her? he asked himself silently.
“Puhleezze, will you two go find a closet or something,” Ginny said, sitting down across from them. Ron and Hermione jumped
“Ginny, you can be a real pain sometimes, and others, well you’re just over the line,” Ron snapped at her. Hermione was trying to stop from blushing. Ginny’s eyes grew wide. She realized she had crossed a line with her brother.
“I’m sorry, Ron. Look I’ll make it up to you. I’ll go study in the library, you and Hermione will have the room to yourselves all afternoon,” she said trying to placate him. Ron glared at her. He wasn’t about to let her off the hook yet.
“Just don’t bug Harry and Bridgette while you’re in there. I think he is going to ask her to the ball,” he said evenly.
“Oh….mm..maybe I’ll go in the common room then,” Ginny replied quietly before looking down at her plate. Now she seemed to be the one who had lost her appetite.
“Ginny, are you sure you’re ok with Harry seeing Bridgette?” Hermione asked cautiously.
“Of course I am, I pushed him into it remember,” Ginny said lightly. “It just gets hard to find some place to go around here sometimes. All my friends are dating someone. I feel like I’m intruding all the time. Besides that, I worry about Harry.”
“Gin, isn’t it enough that you are trying to save him from Voldemort?” Hermione asked.
“I guess it has to be. He won’t let me protect him from anyone else.”
“Gin, if you keep storming around threatening every girl who looks at him. You’re the one who is hurting him,” Hermione replied. Ginny scowled at her plate.
“I only did that once, and I apologized,” she said quietly.
“Look, Ginny, threaten him in the DA if you want too. Challenge him to do better on his homework. Throw tantrums at him if he fails you. I don’t know why, but he responds to you. But leave Harry’s love life alone,” Ron said forcefully.
“Ok, Ron. I’m sorry,” Ginny said in defeat. They sat in silence for minute or two.
“Ron, I know this is a lot to ask. But at the ball next week, will you two hang out with me a little bit? There isn’t anyone I want to ask, and I don’t want to spend the whole night standing in a corner by myself,” Ginny asked quietly.
“I think Ron and I can manage that. Can’t we, Ronald?” Hermione replied for him digging her nails into his leg under the table.
“Sure, Gin, I might even dance with you once,” Ron added. He noticed Ginny visibly relax.
“Thanks you two. I’ll guess go study now.” Ginny smiled gratefully at them before leaving.
“She’s lying, isn’t she?” Ron asked, as he watched her go.
“About what?” Hermione asked.
“Harry and Bridgette not bothering her.”
“Just like you think no one will ever be good enough for Ginny, she will never believe that someone is good enough for Harry. She is actually worse than you ever were,” Hermione replied.
“Thanks a lot Hermione.”
Harry stood off to the side of the dress shop with Bridgette. They were trying not to laugh at Ron. He was sitting with his head in his hands groaning to himself about how many dresses Hermione had tried on.
“Why do you need a new dress anyways, Mione?”
“Because you have already seen the one I have, Ronald.” This argument was completely lost on Ron, and for that matter Harry too. Harry however knew better than to say anything, apparently Ron didn’t.
“That doesn’t make any sense. I’m wearing the same used robe that I wore to Charlie’s wedding. Why can’t you wear the same dress?”
“Because women are different, Ronald,” Hermione said patiently from the dressing room.
“You!” the lady who was helping Hermione snapped at Harry.
“Me, what did I do?” Harry asked defensively.
“Nothing, but he! Is driving me nuts,” she said, pointing at Ron. “Take him out of here. Go to the Three Broom Sticks, or Zonkos. I don’t care but don’t come back for at least two hours,” she growled at Harry.
“The ball starts at 6:00 you know,” Harry replied tugging on Ron’s arm. Eyeing the shop lady warily, he didn’t want to make her any madder than she already was.
“Exactly, that will leave her four hours to get back to the school and get ready. Now get him out of here before he wastes any more of my time.” Harry pushed Ron out the door, Bridgette started to follow them.
“Oh no you don’t young lady.” Bridgette froze in her tracks. “You come back here and help me with your friend. Honestly, buying a new dress on the day of the ball.” Harry turned around and shrugged his shoulders at Bridgette.
“I guess I’ll see you in a couple hours,” he said to her.
“I didn’t have a choice on when I could come buy the dress. This is the first Hogsmeade trip of the year. I can’t help that the Headmaster schedu….” Harry heard Hermione protesting before her voice was cut off when the shop lady pulled Bridgette back in and closed the door in Harry’s face.
“Women!” Ron huffed, when Harry turned around.
“Zonkos or butterbeer mate?” Harry asked clapping his hand on Ron’s shoulder.
“Butterbeer I guess,” Ron replied as they turned and walked down the street.
“And to think, you’re going to ask one of them women to marry you tonight,” Harry teased.
“Shut it Harry,” Ron snarled, elbowing him in the side rather hard.
“Think it’s safe to head back now?” Ron asked, polishing off his third butterbeer. Harry checked his watch.
“Its only been a little over an hour,” he replied doubtfully.
“Come on lets just go look in the window, Harry.”
“If you wanted to watch her try on dresses, what did you get us kicked out for?”
“Are you coming or not?” Ron asked standing up.
“Hold up, you better let me look first. That shop lady will have you belching slugs if she sees you. That will make your proposal really beautiful tonight,” Harry said, grabbing Ron’s arm.
“Yeah you’re right, Harry. Look I’m sorry, but I’m scared,” Ron said quietly.
“It’s ok, Ron, she’s going to say yes,” Harry replied. “Come on let’s go get them.”
Harry looked around the corner of the building peering into the dress shop.
“Do you see them?” Ron asked.
“Give me a minute will ya.” Harry turned back to the shop again.
“Wow!” Harry gushed softly. If there was ever a moment Harry was going to be jealous of Ron, this was it. He was glad to find he wasn’t.
I guess she found a dress for the ball, the first voice offered to him.
Looks like she found another dress she likes too, the second voice put in.
Hermione was twirling in front of the window. She was wearing a long white dress with a strap over only one shoulder. It clung tightly to her chest and stomach and then fell loosely around her legs from the waist down. Her brown skin contrasted with it perfectly. She was, Harry thought, the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He could see her laughing with Bridgette and the shop lady.
Looks like she found a wedding dress to me, Ron is going to die when he sees her in it, Harry told both of them silently.
Ron can’t see her. He’ll think we told her, the voices panicked in his head.
“What? Let me see,” Ron said, trying to push Harry aside. Harry snapped out of his thoughts.
“No wait, Ron, she saw me. Quick run,” Harry yelped forcing Ron back.
“I want to see, Harry!” Ron snarled, as he struggled against him
“Remember the slugs, Ron. Bugger, here she comes.” Ron came to his senses and let Harry lead him to Zonkos.
“What did you see?” Ron demanded, after they ducked into the shop.
“Let’s just say you’ll be very happy tonight,” Harry replied.
“Harry, tell me what you saw.”
“No, you’ll just have to wait, Ron.”
“How come you get to know what she is wearing and I don’t?”
“Because she is not my girlfriend, Ron, that’s the way it works.” Ron glared at him but didn’t put up any more of a fight.
Harry walked along with Bridgette, trailing behind Ron and Hermione on their way back to the school.
“Will you just tell me what color the dress is, Mione?” Ron pleaded with her. Hermione was having fun goading him. She sighed. Harry could just imagine her rolling her eyes before she answered. He was having a hard time keeping a straight face himself. Bridgette wasn’t faring much better.
“It’s green, Love,” Hermione teased.
“Oh.…” Ron replied, surprised.
“That won’t match his robes,” Harry said under his breath to Bridgette.
“Wait for it, Harry,” she replied, hooking her arm in his.
“Um….Mione, you do remember my robes have a maroon stripe….Don’t you?” Ron asked nervously. Hermione stopped and turned to face him. Harry almost plowed into them before he could stop too.
“Well actually, Ron. Bridgette confessed to me that she really loves you and not Harry. And I’ve decided that I really do want to go out with Harry anyways now. So, since her dress is maroon, you and she will match really well tonight. I bought a green dress so I could go with Harry.” Hermione said all of this while sliding up to Harry and taking his hand in hers. Bridgette had done the same to Ron.
“Hi, Love,” Hermione said brightly and kissed Harry on the cheek.
“Bridgette did the same thing to Ron but winked at Harry, just before she kissed Ron’s cheek.
“Hi, Mione,” Harry said brightly and kissed her on the top of the head. Ron’s mouth hung open.
“I’m go….You’re Harry….She’s my….,” Ron stammered falling hook line and sinker for the joke. Hermione handed her dress box to Harry and grabbed hold of Ron kissing him deeply on the mouth. Ron managed to push her away after a second while Harry and Bridgette howled with laughter.
“Next time you go to the dress shop with me, behave yourself, Ronald Weasley.” Hermione whispered to him. Ron still could not get over the shock.
“I….That wasn’t very nice, Hermione,” he whispered. Hermione slid up close to him again.
“Forgive me?” she purred at him. Harry was bent over double laughing at how easily Hermione wrapped Ron around her finger.
“Shut it you,” Ron snapped quite angrily at Harry. Harry stood up trying to wipe the smile off his face. He sensed something had gone wrong with their practical joke.
“You picked up really quickly, Harry. I though Ron was the master chess player, able to pick out a bluff a mile away,” Bridgette said teasing Ron some more. Harry tugged on her arm and shook his head at her when she looked at him.
“Love?…” Ron turned back to Hermione. “Forgive me?” she asked again more seriously this time. She sensed that she might have gone too far too. Ron gave just a little.
“Don’t ever do that to me again, Mione,” he said to her.
“I do love you, Ronald.”
“I almost thought you didn’t, Hermione,” Ron answered quietly. Harry and Bridgette both felt their stomachs turn at Ron’s words. Hermione was positively stricken. She sank to her knees in front of Ron wrapping her arms around his legs, she looked up to his face.
“Ronald, I’m so sorry. I just wanted to teach you a lesson for the way you were behaving in the dress shop. I really had no idea that this would hurt you so much. If I had thought it would hurt you at all, I never would have done it. Please forgive me.”
Hermione wasn’t trying to wrap Ron around her finger anymore. Her voice was trembling with fear and she had tears beginning to form in her eyes. She looked terrified that Ron would turn away from her. Harry had never seen Hermione look so vulnerable. Ron pulled her to her feet.
“I promise, Hermione, to never complain no matter how long it takes you to find a dress ever again. I told you once there was only one thing I was scared of anymore. Please don’t do that to me again.” Hermione nodded her head at him. She was biting her lip to keep it from trembling. Ron pulled her into his arms.
“Ron, we’re sorry,” Harry said quietly.
“Yeah, Ron, I’m sorry too,” Bridgette added softly.
“It’s ok guys. It would have been a funny joke if you could have just been a little less serious. You all just acted your part a little too well for me,” Ron replied. They stood there for a moment or two before Harry broke the silence.
“Ron, please don’t let this stop you from going ahead tonight,” Harry said quietly.
“Don’t worry, Harry,” Ron replied. He then turned Hermione back towards the castle. That Harry had just said something to Ron didn’t even register in Hermione’s mind.
Harry and Bridgette let Ron and Hermione get ahead of them a ways before setting off to the school themselves. They didn’t say much until they got to the doors of the castle.
“Her dress really is green, Harry. We decided that you and Ron would just switch robes.”
“I’ll tell him when I get up there,” Harry replied. “I guess I’ll have to deliver this to her.” Harry still had Hermione’s dress box.
“I saw the white dress, Bridgette,” Harry said a moment later. Bridgette looked shocked.
“We came back early. I scoped the place out and saw Hermione in a wedding dress. I managed to keep Ron from seeing it. He thinks I saw this dress,” Harry indicated to box he was holding. “Did she like it?”
“We got done early, Harry. We were on our way out the door when Hermione saw the dress. She fell in love with it instantly. I managed to get her to try it on. But it was really expensive - she said that she and Ron would never be able to afford it even if they combined their money, that and the fact that they’re not engaged yet.” Harry smiled.
“Thanks, Bridgette, I better get going. I need to send an owl quick. Meet you back here at six?”
“Wait a second, Harry, what did you mean when you told Ron not to let our joke mess up his plan for tonight?” Harry tried to look away from her, playing for time to find a way out of giving her an answer.
“You’re going to send an owl to the dress shop aren’t you? He’s going to ask her tonight and you know it. You’re going to buy her that dress, Harry. I know you are,” Bridgette said, her excitement building. Harry groaned.
“Keep your voice down, I’ve already done enough damage to my friendship with Ron today. He’ll kill me if it gets out before he asks her.”
“Harry, that dress was really expensive,” Bridgette whispered.
“I don’t think it will be a problem, Bridgette,” Harry replied casting his eyes to the floor.
“Harry, I’m not kidding.”
“Bridgette, my Godfather was Sirius Black. He was the last in a long line of wizards, who believed in the pureblood creed,” Harry said looking up at her again. “I’ll let you put the rest together.” He then turned to walk away. Bridgette caught up to him a moment later.
“Here take this,” she said grabbing his hand. “It is all I have right now.” Harry didn’t look at how much she had given him.
“You don’t have to help me.”
“I want to help. Regardless of where you and I end up, they’re my friends too,” Bridgette replied. Harry smiled at her.
“Thanks, Bridgette, I’ll see you tonight,” he said and then he walked off.
Harry danced slowly with Bridgette in his arms. It was nice to hold her there and feel her warmth. He played his fingers through her hair a few times to see what it felt like.
“I like that, Harry,” she murmured softly to him. “You don’t have to stop you know.”
“I’m trying, Bridgette,” Harry whispered back to her.
“I know you are, Harry. I am too you know.”
It had been a long process for either of them to open up very much. Bridgette had been protecting herself as much as Harry had, not wanting to fall for him before he would let her in. Harry played his fingers through her hair again.
“Were Ron and Hermione ok when you got up there earlier, Harry?”
“I’m pretty sure Ron is fine. Hermione is still pretty upset with herself. She was having a hard time looking him in the eye. I think she would have skipped the ball if he hadn’t told her he was going without her.” Bridgette’s eyes opened wide.
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“No, he took a page out of Ginny’s book. Told her that he had accepted her apology, and she should quit acting like a baby and go get dressed. That if she wouldn’t dance with him, he would spend the night dancing with Ginny. I could see her start to argue. I thought they were going to have a huge row, but she shut her mouth and did what he told her to. I think Ron was as shocked as I was. You don’t know about it because this is your first year at Hogwarts. They have a history like you wouldn’t believe. They used to fight just for fun.”
“It looks like she is still pretty upset, Harry. Do you think we should go say hi?” Harry looked over at Ron and Hermione, thinking about it for a moment. Hermione appeared to be sulking.
“Yeah, if we go over and cut in on them, maybe pick on Hermione a little we might help her realize she is being silly.”
“I don’t know, Harry, that didn’t go over to well this afternoon,” Bridgette answered cautiously.
“Trust me; Ron said we were just too serious about it. Come on follow my lead,” Harry said dragging her off.
Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder.
“Excuse me dear fellow,” he said, adopting the best imitation of Percy that he could. Ron turned to look at him. Harry jumped back
“Good God you are hideous, aren’t you.” Ron blinked, Hermione’s mouth dropped open.
“Too right you are,” Harry continued, and then abruptly turned to Hermione. He swept her hand in his and while gazing intently into her eyes, held it delicately in front of him.
“My dear lady, I cannot have helped but notice that the most beautiful woman of this whole evening,” Harry said while sweeping his free hand around in an arc, “has spent the entire night dancing with this….this hideous creature.” Harry had turned to Ron again. Looking him up and down with what he hoped was a look of contempt. He turned back to Hermione again.
“While I, the most handsome and eligible bachelor here,” Harry bowed slightly to Hermione locking his eyes on hers again. “Have spent a horrendous evening with this miserable old hag,” he said, while disdainfully waving his free hand in Bridgette’s general direction.
“Please, allow me to rescue you.” He finished with a flourish by raising Hermione’s hand to his mouth and kissing it, while giving her the most genuine smile he could manage.
Harry was surprised to see Hermione actually blushing, but then realized his performance had caught the attention of a few nearby people. And possibly, he found out a second later, raised the ire of Bridgette, who grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around.
“Miserable old hag am I?” she screeched and slapped him across the face, rather harder than necessary Harry thought too.
“Why you contemptuous, arrogant, headline seeking prat, I wouldn’t dance with you again if you paid me.” She grabbed Ron by the back of his head kissed him full on the mouth and dragged him off behind her.
“Come, Ronald,” she said loudly as she led him out the door. “I could use the attentions of a real man tonight.”
Harry stood there with his hand on his face where Bridgette had slapped him. Hermione stood behind him looking around self-consciously at everyone staring at her and Harry. Harry turned around and smiled at her.
“She rather gets into her role, doesn’t she?” he commented, rubbing his cheek where Bridgette had slapped him.
“Bravo! Bravo! Mr. Potter. I did not know, that there was theater on the agenda for the evening,” Professor Dumbledore was standing up at the head table clapping.
Harry looked up to realize that most of the people in attendance had caught the end of Bridgette’s performance. Harry figured there was nothing for it, so he bowed graciously towards the head table before turning back to Hermione, who appeared to want nothing more than to disappear from sight.
“How about it, Mione, may I have this dance.” Hermione glanced nervously around at the people standing near them.
“Mione?” Harry asked again holding his hand out to her. Hermione stepped close enough to take his hand but kept a little distance between them.
“What was that all about?” she hissed at him, making sure not to make eye contact with any of the people around them who happened to still be staring.
“We were just trying to help you see how silly it was to keep beating yourself up for today. You, me, Bridgette we all made a mistake today. Ron loves you Hermione. I don’t think you even realize how much, and he has forgiven you. You should forgive yourself too.” Hermione moved in closer to Harry letting her head rest on his chest.
“Thank you, Harry.”
“You’re welcome Mione.”
“You know, Harry. I know you just made all of that up as you went along. But Bridgette is going to make you pay for that miserable old hag remark.”
“If it patches things up for you and Ron, then it will be worth it,” Harry replied. “Come on let’s go make sure the two of them are not off snogging somewhere. She really laid it on him if you didn’t notice.”
“What are you insane?” We have to go to classes with these people next week - I can already hear Malfoy,” Ron ranted at Harry and Bridgette.
As if on cue Harry heard the familiar drawl of Draco coming from behind him.
“Nice one, Weasley. Next time you hit him, close your hand into a fist. Maybe you can give him a matching scar above his other eye.” He bumped into Harry as he walked by.
“Shut it, Malfoy,” Bridgette snapped at him as he headed down the hall. Malfoy stopped. He turned around, Crabbe and Goyle flanking him, their dates standing beside them. He started to open his mouth but Ron simply reached his hand out towards Malfoy. Harry watched in astonishment as Ron just twitched his fingers slightly.
“Can you feel it, Malfoy?” Ron asked dangerously. Malfoy blanched. “How about you, Crabbe?” Ron’s gaze shifted and his hand rose slightly. Harry watched Crabbe lift up onto his toes before Ron dropped his hand.
“Bridgette told you to shut it. I’m telling you to keep walking,” Ron snarled at them. Crabbe and Goyle took off along with the three girls as fast as they could run. Malfoy, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance, turned and walked slowly away.
“Well that should keep them shut up for a while anyways,” Harry remarked dryly. Ron rounded on Harry again.
“They’re nothing; Snape is going to have a heyday with this. What were you two thinking?” Harry blinked.
“Really, Ron, you need to make up your mind. Our acting this afternoon is too realistic for you and now we’re too over the top,” he replied grinning at him.
“I just made out with my cousin. She tried to slip me the tongue,” Ron stammered. Harry laughed; he could feel Hermione next to him trying very hard not too. Bridgette smacked Ron.
“I most certainly did not,” she said in indignation. Then, leering at him lecherously she added, “It might be fun though; Hermione sure has you trained well.” Ron’s eyes bugged out of his head. Bridgette tried to grab him.
“Here let me try again.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Hermione snapped, stepping in her way. “You want to kiss someone, here you go.” She grabbed Harry and shoved him into Bridgette’s arms. “No one is going to be giving Ron kissing lessons but me.” She turned around and shoved Ron up against the wall, Harry heard his head smack into it.
I’ll bet that hurt, the voices commented to Harry.
“Ouch, Hermmmuph.” Now it was Harry’s turn to have his eyes bug out of his head
“Haven’t seen that from them before,” Bridgette remarked. Thanks to Hermione shoving him into Bridgette she was only inches away now.
“Yeah,” Harry replied quietly. He was feeling slightly warm.
“So are you two going to complete the show tonight?” Ginny asked from the doorway.
“What do you mean, Gin?” Harry replied. Bridgette pulled away from him a little bit.
“You know, oh for goodness sakes,” Ginny said rolling her eyes. She quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching before casting her invisibility spell over Ron and Hermione. “There, that is much better.”
“Mmuph, Thanks, Gin,” Harry heard Ron say.
“Shut up and kiss me, Ronald!” Hermione snapped at him.
“Merlin’s Beard! Do I have to give you a silencing spell too?” Ginny asked in exasperation. Harry couldn’t help laughing.
“Gin, how did you do that spell?” Bridgette asked in awe.
“I worked at out, Bridgette. It took me a year to master it.”
“A year?”
“You could do it too. I’ll teach you if you want, but you better keep your mouth shut about it. It’s really advanced; I could get in a lot of trouble for it.”
“Good night all.” Harry jumped. Somehow Professor Dumbledore had snuck up on them.
“Goodnight, Professor Dumbledore,” he replied hoping that their conversation had not been over heard.
“Ronald, Hermione,” Professor Dumbledore said, as he walked by the place where Harry knew they were standing. Harry felt his heart beginning to beat much too quickly.
“Impressive spell Miss. Weasley, see that you do not abuse it….Five points to Gryffindor,” he said clearly, as he turned the corner. Harry let his breath out in a rush.
“Do you think he saw you cast it or could he see right through it?” Harry asked.
“Where did he come from?” Ginny hissed. “I know there was no one here when I cast the spell.”
“He told me once that he didn’t need an invisibility cloak to move around unseen,” Harry answered.
“Maybe he was bluffing,” Bridgette offered. “He knows that where ever Harry is, Ron and Hermione are not far away.”
“He wouldn’t have given Ginny points if he was bluffing,” Hermione remarked.
“Right, forgot about that,” Bridgette replied.
“Do you think he saw the whole thing with Malfoy?” Ron asked.
“Gin, will you drop the spell. It’s kind of weird talking to them when I can’t see them.” Harry commented. Ginny raised her wand.
“Wait a second!” Hermione shrieked. Harry could hear her and Ron shuffling about. “Ok, Ginny,” Hermione said. Ginny looked around, more carefully this time, and waved her wand. Ron and Hermione appeared holding hands with red faces, and not so innocent looks.
“Whatever Dumbledore saw, it doesn’t look like we are in trouble for it, or that he is even mad. I suggest we call it a night. Ron, good luck, I’ll be waiting for you in the common room,” Harry said taking Bridgette’s hand in his and heading for the stairs.
“Right, Harry, I shouldn’t be to long. Come on, Mione.” Ron led her out the front doors.
“Harry?”
“Yeah, Gin, what is it?”
“If it’s ok with Bridgette, I was wondering if you would dance with me once tonight.”
“Sure, Gin, you can have him. Harry, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Actually, Bridge, would you wait for me?”
“I won’t keep him, Bridgette,” Ginny urged.
“Well hurry back then,” Bridgette said, sitting down on the stairs.
“Did you have a nice night, Ginny?”
“It was ok. You and Bridgette spiced it up a bit. I’m glad I’m not one of you four. You’re going to take a lot of grief over it.”
“It will be worth it if things go well for Ron tonight.”
“What’s he up to, Harry? It looked to me like things were going pretty well for him out in the hallway already.” Harry broke away from her as the song ended, holding her hand as they walked to the door.
“If you wait up for me when you get upstairs, Gin, I’ll tell you then. I have to go catch up Bridgette. I won’t be long ok?”
“Sure, Harry. Good luck.”
Harry walked out the door shaking his head.
Harry sat down on the couch next to Ginny.
“So?” she asked.
“What?” Harry replied innocently. Ginny smacked him on the arm.
“Did you kiss her you prat?” Harry grinned.
“And?”
“And what?” Harry asked, knowing he was pushing Ginny’s buttons. Ginny glared at him.
“I have veritaserum hidden in my room, Harry. I’ll get it out of you one way or another.
“You’re bluffing,” Harry replied. Ginny folded her arms across her chest.
“You’re not bluffing.” Ginny just smiled at him.
“It was nice, Gin.”
“Nice….Nice is not what a girl wants to hear you saying about kissing her, Harry.”
“I don’t know what else to say, Ginny, it was nice. You know how hard this is for me,” Harry said in exasperation. Ginny softened.
“Did she like it?”
“I don’t know. I couldn’t tell if she was happy or confused when we said goodnight.” They sat quietly together for a minute.
“Will you sit with me tonight, Harry?”
“We’ll see, you may have to settle for Hermione tonight, Gin.” Harry saw the disappointment on her face. “I didn’t say no, Gin. But if I don’t there is a good reason. You’ll find out soon enough. If you want to lean up against me until Ron and Hermione get here you can.” Ginny moved up against him. Harry could tell she was still pouting.
“Why don’t you just tell me what he is up to?”
“I promised Ron I wouldn’t say a word, Gin.”
“I’ll”“
“Don’t threaten me the veritaserum, Ginny. I will keep my promise to Ron. You don’t want to make me fight you on this, you won’t win.”
“You don’t scare me, Harry James,” she said firmly.
“Now I know you’re bluffing, Ginny.”
“Shut it, Harry.”
“Whatever you say, Ginny.”
“Wake me when they get here ok?”
“Sure, Gin.”
Ron kicked Harry in the leg. Harry’s eyes bolted open.
“What?”
“You fell asleep mate,” Ron said cheerfully. Harry shook his head trying to clear the cobwebs.
“What time is it? You said you weren’t going to be long. Arrgh it’s 2:00 am,” Harry grumbled looking at his watch.
“Harry….” Hermione squealed. She was bouncing up and down on her toes. Harry looked from her face to her hand.
“I guess this means I’m going to have to buy some new dress robes,” he said grinning from ear to ear at her.
“You’re happy for us then?” Hermione gushed.
“Happiest day of my life, better than going birthday shopping, Hermione, I would get up and hug you but,” Harry indicated towards Ginny with a nod of his head.
“Well wake her up already,” Ron demanded.
“Put your silencing charm on her first, Hermione. McGonagall will kill us if she starts screaming.” Hermione waved her wand at Ginny.
“Ok, Harry.”
“Gin,” Harry shook her. Ginny blinked her eyes open confusion on her face. She started to ask what was going on and then realizing something was wrong, sat up in alarm fright evident in her eyes.
“Gin, look at me,” Harry said quickly. Ginny’s eyes focused on his face. “It’s ok, Gin. You have to stay quiet. We put a silencing charm on you ok?” Harry saw the fear fade from her face. He felt horrid about having caused it.
"You’re ok, Gin.” She nodded at him. “Ron and Hermione finally came back. Remember I told you they had a surprise for you?” Ginny nodded again. Harry moved to the side so she had a clear view of Hermione.
“Look at her hand, Gin,” Harry whispered into her ear. Ginny’s eyes opened wide she leapt off the couch and grabbed Hermione in her arms.
“Glad we put that spell on her. The whole dorm would be awake without it,” Ron said dryly. He was tackled by Ginny a second later. Harry couldn’t believe how strong she was because she took him down to the floor and planted a huge kiss on his cheek.
"Geeroff, Ginny,” Ron said as loudly as he dared. Ginny finally let him go and waved her wand at her mouth.
“I think I can keep it down now.”
“I didn’t teach you the counter spell to that curse, Ginny,” Hermione stammered.
“You’re not the only one who sneaks into the restricted section, Hermione. Come on.” She grabbed Hermione’s hand and dragged her into their shared bedroom. “Tell me all about how he did it.” Hermione closed the door behind them.
“She didn’t even say goodnight to me,” Ron said in stunned voice.
“I told Ginny she was going to have to settle for Hermione tonight,” Harry replied shaking his head again. “Nutters, both of them,” he added. Harry started to push him to the stairs.
“Quick we’ve got to get out of here, Ron.”
“Why?” Ron asked, reluctantly moving up the stairs.
“Because I think it is about to get very loud down here and I would like to be able to tell McGonagall I had nothing to do with it.”
“Do with what?”
“Can’t tell you, mate, you’ll have to wait for your wedding.”
“Harry.”
“Sorry Ron, it’s bad luck if you know.” Harry shoved Ron through the door to the dorm and then closed and locked it behind him.
"Recognition!”
“That should keep them out even if Ginny has polyjuice potion hidden down there somewhere. She would still need my wand right?” he mumbled to himself.
“Whooo…”
“Go ahead, Hedwig,” Harry said. The owl hooted again and flew out the window.
“Harry what the heck are you doing, what was that package?”
“I’m not going to tell you, Ron. Now you can either shut up and listen to see if they get in trouble, or have me try a memory charm on you.” Ron sat down on his bed.
“I’ll get it out of them tomorrow anyways,” he grumbled.
“I doubt it,” Harry replied.
Hermione had no more than sat down on her bed with Ginny, when Hedwig swooped into the room and dropped a package between them on the bed.
“Arrghhh, Hedwig, you scared us,” Ginny and Hermione snapped together.
“Whoo…” Hedwig gave a short hoot and clicked her beak at them.
“Oh come here you silly bird,” Ginny called. Hedwig turned her head the other way.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I’ll scratch you in that spot you have trouble reaching,” Ginny cooed, trying to entice the owl down. Hedwig floated down on her shoulder. Ginny reached up and found the right spot on the birds back.
“Honestly, you’re almost as stubborn as Harry.”
“Whooooo.”
“Well go on, Hermione. It has your name on it. Though I don’t see how your day can get any better than it already is.” Hermione untied the string and lifted the top of the box. There was a card on top of the tissue paper.
“All it says is. Ron doesn’t know. Love Harry and Bridgette.” Hermione handed it to Ginny.
“Well see what it is, Hermione,” Ginny said getting up on her knees so she could see better.
“Sorry, Hedwig,” Ginny said as the bird floated back up on her dresser.
Hermione began to unfold the tissue paper. She let out a small yelp and clasped her hand over her mouth. Her other hand started to beat against her chest as she bounced up and down on the bed. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked at Ginny.
“What is it, Hermione? What did they do?”
“He must have seen me, or Bridgette told him about it. I don’t know. I tried it on today at the dress shop. I had no idea that Ron was going to propose to me tonight, Ginny. It was beautiful, but it was just a whim. And it was so expensive Ron and I could never afford it. Harry must have known that Ron was going to propose and Bridgette must have helped him.”
Hermione was rambling on and on. Ginny couldn’t make sense of what she was saying, so she pulled the box away from Hermione and looked for herself
“Oh my….” Ginny reached into the box and lifted the dress standing on the bed so she could see the entire length of it. She stared at it for a moment and then looked at Hermione. Hermione’s eyes were glazing over with longing as she looked at the dress
“Put it on Hermione!” Ginny said, shoving it at her. Hermione shook her head.
“I can’t,” she squeaked.
“You will not insult him by taking this back, Hermione,” Ginny growled at her.
“Ginny, you have no idea how much this cost. I was there when he bought those brooms for you and Ron. This is ten Firebolts,” Hermione pleaded with her.
“Harry doesn’t care about money. He cares about you, Hermione. I know you want to. Now try it on.” Hermione shook her head again. Ginny glared at her.
“Fine, if you won’t, then I will,” Ginny said dropping the dress on the bed and pulling off the gown she had worn to the ball. Hermione gapped at her, clearly struggling with herself and Ginny’s boldness.
“No, Gin,” Hermione stopped her as she started to lift the dress over her head. “Only the bride should wear her wedding gown.” Hermione stood on the bed and pulled off her dress.
“Thank God,” Ginny gasped. “I thought you were going to make me put it on, Hermione. Here let me help you,” she said, as she pulled the dress down around Hermione’s waist, smoothing it out for her.
“Turn around so I can get the zipper for you.” Hermione turned her back to Ginny.
“There, now let me see you.” Ginny jumped down on the floor, leaving Hermione standing radiantly on the bed.
“Turn around for me Hermione.” Hermione spun around in a circle on the bed, a Queen on her pedestal.
“It’s perfect, Hermione. You were born to wear that dress. Ron is going to die when he sees you in it.” Hermione blushed furiously red at Ginny’s praise. She jumped of fthe bed and stood in front of the mirror. Ginny came up behind her and hugged her tight.
“You really will be my sister now won’t you?” Ginny whispered
“Oh my, aren’t we beautiful,” the mirror commented at Hermione.
“We’ll have to hide it because he can’t see it until our wedding day,” Hermione gushed, as she turned to Ginny.
“Why not?” Ginny asked puzzled. Hermione stared at her.
“Right, you wouldn’t know. It’s considered bad luck in the non-magic world for the groom to see the wedding dress before the wedding, Ginny.”
“Really? That is so odd.” She grinned mischievously. “It is going to be so much fun teasing Ron about it.” Hermione sank to her knees in front of Ginny holding her hands in hers and looking up at her.
“Ron is my best friend in the whole world. I am going to marry him. You and Harry share the same place in my heart. Harry has already agreed to be our Best Man. He is the brother I never had; you are the sister I never had. Will you be my Maid of Honor Ginny?” Ginny sank down on the floor with Hermione and pulled her into her arms. She was happily crying
“I thought you would never ask Hermione.”
Harry was starting to wonder what had happened.
“Looks like whatever you did, didn’t upset them too much,” Ron grumped at Harry from his bed.
“Yeah….I guess,” Harry replied eyeing the door warily. Hedwig floated back into the room dropped a note in Ron’s hands and settled in her cage.
“Hedwig, did you deliver the package to Hermione?” Harry asked.
“Whoooo.”
“Bloody Hell! That’s twice now,” Ron yelped. Harry turned back to see the last of the parchment in Ron’s hands go up in flames.
“I’ve got to be nut’s asking one of them, any of them, to marry me,” Ron mumbled before lying down on his bed.
“What was in the note, Ron?”
“Sorry, Harry, can’t tell you. Ginny said if I opened my mouth she would force feed me polyjuice potion with essence of Millicent Bulstrode.”
“Oh….” Harry sat back down on his bed feeling very nervous.
Maybe we should just go get it over with? the voices asked. tentatively….No on second thought that might be a bad idea, they decided.
Harry groaned out loud.
“Harry?”
“Yeah, Ron?”
“Hermione says thank you.”
“Oh….good,” Harry said relief flooding over him.
“But that you’re still in trouble for spying on her,” Ron added.
“I….But it was your idea,” Harry stammered.
“Sorry Harry, she’s a girl. I have no idea how they think….Better you than me though.”
“Thanks a lot, Ron,” Harry snapped. Ron didn’t reply and a few minutes later Harry heard him start to snore.
“Bugger, now I’ll never get to sleep,” Harry sighed to himself as he fell back on his pillow.
Author's note:
I thought I would address this now, as some people may not like the idea of Bridgette kissing Ron. So you know, Ron was overreacting, she did not try to french kiss him, and Bridgette only teased him about doing it again because she knew he would freak out. The concept in JKR's world that Ron and Bridgette could actually have been placed together, should not be a shock. Look at the scene with the Black Familly tapistry. I think it is in Order of the Phoenix. The concept of married cousins is alive and well. I think the quote is from Sirius. "The purebloods would have died out if they did not intermarry." Something to that affect. For those of you who are angry about this, I am sorry, but I am working in the world JKR created.
One last thing, everyone seems to be catching that Ginny, with a few choice words, can send Harry soaring or plummeting. He has the same power over her, only he exercises it less. Notice how quickly she caved to his demand that she appologize to Bridgette. Also look at her initial reaction to these words from chapter 15.
“I’m not very happy with you, Ginny. I’m not sure you should talk to me right now.”
I just wanted to point out that it it is not a one way street in their relationship.
I received an e-mail from a dedicated reader with a question on the multiple voices concept in my story. She had become confused as to who had them and who did not. Apparently, I have become to accustomed as the writer to functioning in that manner, and with my writing style had confused her into thinking Bridgette has multiple voices in the chapter titled Bridgette.
To clarify: In chapter one, I state that there are three wizards and two witches with multiple voices. They are.
Dumbledore: Developed who knows when and used extensively.
Voldemort: Developed who knows when and used extensively. We find out about Voldemort having the voices from Harry in the chapter titled, Ginny.
Harry: First developed forth year while the imposter Mad-Eye has him under the imperious curse. The voice lies dormant until chapter four of this story.
Hermione: First developed, third year while using the time turner. The voice went dormant during her fourth and fifth years and resurfaced in chapter five of this story.
Ginny: First developed her first year while fighting against Tom Riddle’s diary. She has used her ability and developed it ever since.
At the time the voices are introduced in chapter one, the three wizards and two witches statement is true. Ron first develops his ability with multiple voices in chapter five, of this story. He becomes the fourth wizard with the ability alive in the world today.
These six sorcerers will be the only ones to have the multiple voices in this story, and in my version of year seven. At times, there will be other witches or wizards who have a conversation between themselves, and the one voice that lives in their mind like Bridgette does in chapter fifteen. You can tell the difference in the speaker tags. Bridgette’s conversation with the voice will look like this.
What can I do? Bridgette silently asked the voice.
Luna told you what to do, the voice responded.
For Harry or any of the others with multiple voices, the conversation would look like this.
What can I do? Harry silently asked the voice.
Luna told you what to do, the voices responded. Or
Luna told you what to do, the second voice responded.
I hope this clarifies things for people.