Harry looked at Ginny, still behind the tree for the moment. He’d been a little relaxed, when it came to the rules of the snow ball, freely using his wand for cover, and distractions. She of course, had started on minor hexes, which he was dodging, or blocking with flurries of snow.

‘Cheater!’ Ginny shouted, before laughing as she was covered in snow from tree she had taken cover behind.

‘I’m just being creative,’ Harry shouted back, running as Ginny returned the favour. He dodged to the side, snow covering his shoulders. He shook it off, only to feel a large snowball run down his back.

‘I’m being twice as creative,’ Ginny said, twirling a piece of hair around her wand. ‘Did I get you?’

‘You’ve got me twice,’ Harry complained.

‘Six brothers teaches you alot,’ Ginny said, stepping towards Harry. ‘I’m the Queen of...’

Harry started to laugh as Ginny fell forward, landing face first in the snow.

‘Living with the Monkeys,’ Harry countered, almost expecting to have to duck a spell. Instead he found Ginny charged towards him, both of them landing in the snow by the Great Lake.

‘Creative?’ Ginny asked, sitting on Harry’s chest.

‘Very,’ Harry replied. ‘Almost time for the ball, isn’t it?’

‘Almost, I can’t believe Lavender, she’s already started to... I’m going to have go soon so there’s still hot water.’

‘None for me?’

‘Some, not much.’

‘Then we better get ready.’

‘You’ll ruin the suit.’

‘No I won’t, wrinkle it, yeah.’

‘Yeah, ruin it,’

‘Difference of opinion,’ Harry said, pulling Ginny down, then rubbing snow through her hair. She shrieked for a moment, then laughing, she returned the favour.

Hermione looked out of the Great Hall, Harry and Ginny returning sodden, but in good spirits. They pushed each other gently till they reached the table, entirely dry.

‘Going to get ready for the ball?’ Hermione asked, sitting opposite Ginny.

‘Soon, can’t believe Lavender’s been at it for an hour already,’ Ginny complained. ‘I mean...’

‘Some take more work than others, a few, none at all,’ Harry said, Ginny blinking than smiling.

‘Now that is a compliment,’ Ginny said, leaning over the table to kiss Harry.

‘Not at the table,’ Ron complained.

‘What about tonight?’ Ginny asked, Ron kissing Hermione. ‘Hypocrite.’

‘Not over the table then?’ Ron asked.

‘That’s acceptable,’ Ginny said, then shifted to Harry’s side, squeezing in between Ron and Harry.

‘My plate, Hermione?’ Ginny asked. Hermione passing the plate over quietly, smiling slightly.

‘Thanks,’ Ginny replied, quickly eating her lunch.

‘What about your dress?’ Hermione asked.

‘Harry got it the other day, after practise,’ Ginny said. ‘No-one’s every stopped him, so it’s got to be okay, right?’ Hermione just blinked, before Ginny pulled her away, both of them having lighter meals than their boyfriends. ‘Come on Hermione, before Lavender and Parvati steal the hot water. Hermione shook her head, agreeing with Ginny entirely.

‘You really just leave whenever?’ Ron asked.

‘Pretty much,’ Harry replied. ‘Dad said we could.’

‘Yeah, how do you think they’ll take?’ Ron asked.

‘As long as they need, no more, or less,’ Harry replied. ‘Ginny...’

‘Don’t start, but I agree, Hermione...’

‘See, you’re learning, that’s a good sign,’ Harry, patting Ron’s back.

Ginny looked at the mirror, struggling with the zip in her dress. She spun around, the shimmering black fabric flowing around her legs. She again pulled the zip up, reaching halfway up her back. Hermione looked at Ginny struggling with the zip.

‘Can I help?’ Hermione asked.

‘Yes, thank you, Harry just does something, and...’ Ginny said, before the zip moved effortlessly upwards, reaching the top of the fabric.

‘Like that?’ Hermione asked.

‘Yeah, just...’ Ginny muttered.

‘One less secret?’ Hermione asked. ‘How much has he told you?’

‘Everything, as far as I know, it’s like he working up to something, can’t wait for holidays,’ Ginny answered. ‘I’m going to Australia with him.’

‘Really? Isn’t that sudden?’ Hermione asked, a tiny part of her worried about how fast the relationship progressed. On the other hand, Ginny was a vibrant person, even more so with Harry at her side.

‘It felt that way at first, but... I really want to go, I’ve told Mum and Dad, they’re happy with it,’ Ginny continued. She reached for a brush, teasing some knots loose. She smiled, thinking about the ball. Harry had seemed calm about it, looking forward to it by his expression in the morning. ‘He’s just the guy for me.’

‘You’re the sister I never had, I just... let’s just our enjoy ourselves,’ Hermione said. She smiled when Ginny laughed.

‘You’re going to be a sister to me, after what Ron said about you last holidays,’ Ginny teased. ‘Something about trying to get a loan.’

‘Don’t tease,’ Hermione pouted. ‘What about Harry? Anything?’

‘He’s Harry,’ Ginny replied, finding a new knot to tease out. ‘What do you think?’

‘You’re right,’ Hermione said, shaking her head.

‘When do you think the girls will be ready?’ Ron asked, pulling at his collar. He looked at the chess board, Harry looking to be in a bad place, but looks were always deceiving.

‘When they’re ready, soon I hope,’ Harry said.

‘We’re ready,’ Ginny called out from the top of the stairs to the girls dorm. Harry whistled softly, offering his hand to Ginny when she reached the bottom of the stairs, Ginny spinning slowly as Harry admired the dress.

‘That looks amazing,’ Harry said, brushing away a few strands of hair way from her lips before he kissed her gently. ‘May I escort you?’

‘You may,’ Ginny said softly, admiring the suit Harry was wearing. It was an equal mix of wizard and muggle, the pants and shirt, with tie, muggle, the outer jacket almost a long robe. Ginny looked back to see Ron offering Hermione his hand, trying to copy Harry.

‘Still needs polishing?’ Harry whispered.

‘Alot,’ Ginny replied quickly. ‘You’ve got something up your sleeve?’

‘Of course, but then, so do you,’ Harry replied. Both smiled at each other, no more words needed.

Minerva was not fond of the idea of holding the ball in the first place. She felt it was a bad idea, even the explanation she was given still didn’t deter her feelings. That changed in one moment, seeing Harry and Ginny walk into the Great Hall side by side. She didn’t think they noticed the looks they were getting. Another second passed, the light caused Ginny’s hair to glow in the light. For a moment time froze, another couple appearing in her mind. She could almost see James and Lily during their final year of Hogwarts, they attracted similar looks for less it seemed. Even Ginny was attracting looks from Slytherin’s, something she’d not seen before. Draco Malfoy, perhaps the worst behaved student at Hogwarts, was focused on her, and her alone, before glaring at Harry. She looked away, not daring to be caught seen staring, as did many of the students.

‘Your seat,’ Harry said, pulling out the chair for Ginny.

‘Thank you, I didn’t think they’d go for such small tables,’ Ginny said, Harry seating her.

‘All the better, if you ask me,’ Harry said. They both looked at the Headmaster, who was clearly trying to get everyone’s attention. Something close to a cannon firing echoed in the Great Hall, Harry and Ginny one of the few to not be started by the noise.

‘If I could have everyone’s attention,’ the headmaster started. ‘We’ll have the Weird Sisters playing tonight, but first dinner.’

Muted applause met the Headmaster’s words, menus appearing in front of every person. Ginny looked at hers, seeing things she only remembered from the Tri-Wizard Tournament. She chose something she remembered from the menu, barely remembering what it was, Harry meanwhile had already chosen, a deep bowl of pasta appearing in front of him. He started to eat it, the white wine sauce liberally covering each strand. She looked down a second after finally touching the menu, the most ornate plate she had seen, the stew, while simple, was something that sent her stomach wild.

She started to eat slowly, occasional bursts of conversation in between mouthfuls of food and drink. Harry finished his meal only a few moments before Ginny did, Harry wiping his mouth with a napkin. Ginny couldn’t help but laugh, a final trace of the sauce still on his chin. He wiped it away quickly, smiling back.

‘Enjoying yourself?’ he asked.

‘Very,’ Ginny replied, both of them one of the first couples to reach the dance floor. It was Ron and Hermione who found themselves to be the first, their table vanishing as they were on the edge of the area decided to be for dancing. It caused some excited laughter through the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs houses sitting freely intermixed, unlike the Ravenclaw’s and Slytherins. Ginny didn’t expect Harry to know how to dance, yet when he spun her around it was with a precision she couldn’t believe.

‘How?’ she asked, barely believing what she was doing.

‘Allie wanted classes, I said I was interested, she dragged me along, they were fun,’ Harry replied, the current song far more sedate than the previous.

‘Did you see Allie, Colin seemed really interested,’ Ginny said, this time after a minutes.

‘Yeah, guess I’ll have to have a little chat with him,’ Harry replied.

‘Not the serious one?’

‘Broken heart equals broken neck? Nah, I’ll just leave him to the Monkeys.’

‘Harsh.’

‘Very.’

Again, Harry and Ginny lost themselves to the music, one of the few couples to stay on the dance floor. As time flew by they didn’t see the moon fully rise, nor it start to set. As they danced, so did the stars in the ceiling of the Great Hall, whispers among the staff talking of another couple, looking so similar, yet having so different a path. While both had been meant for the other, the road the second couple took would have been their choice every time. Again, the Headmaster had to nearly deafen everyone.

‘I’d like to thank the Weird Sisters for playing tonight, and ask them for one last song,’ the headmaster said, sounding as happy as he could. It was clear to Harry, at least, he wanted the music he grew up with. Applause followed the end of his words, the lead singer taking two steps forward, revealing just how high the cut in her robe was.

‘Hello Hogwarts, we’d like to say thanks for the chance to play by playing for you a new song of ours,’ the lead singer started. She counted the beat and the band started.

(Insert ‘I’d Rather be in Love,’ The Spirit Room, Michelle Branch, released in 2001 or so, I think)

Harry and Ginny listened to the lyrics, and looked at each other as the song finished. Both of them looked at the other pensievely, before blushing slightly. Harry tilted his head in the direction of the nearest exit, and Ginny nodded. Together they walked through Hogwarts, stopping outside a blank wall with a painting of a man trying to teach trolls to dance. Harry paced in front of it till a door appeared. He led Ginny inside.

Behind the door was a simple bedroom, looking over a farm, the soft noises of the live stock echoing faintly in the room.

‘My room back home,’ Harry said, with a wave of his hand. He steered Ginny over to the bed and sat down, Ginny dropping across his lap.

‘Thank you for tonight, somehow I think they just noticed our absence,’ Ginny replied. Harry chuckled then kissed her lips. Little did the two know they were noticed, by their absence, as they were meant to receive two prizes, Bell and Beau of the Ball. Albus, unfortunately, said he would hand the prizes to them tomorrow at breakfast.

Ginny pulled away from Harry and stood up, Harry following her.

‘What is it Gin?’ Harry asked.

‘Do you love me?’ Ginny asked. ‘I listened to the song, it sounded like us, didn’t it?’

‘I guess it did. Look at us, the so called married couple of Hogwarts...’ Harry started.

‘We’re called that?’ Ginny asked, almost ashamed.

‘Yes, Padma thought it would annoy me, I like it,’ Harry replied, smiling. Ginny couldn’t help as she started to smile.

‘So do I...’ Ginny started. She stopped speaking as she felt Harry’s lips pressed against her own. They stood like that for a few minutes. Ginny noticed Harry’s hand on the side of her gown where the zip was.

‘Harry, there was something I wanted to say...’ Ginny started.

Harry silenced her by placing a finger over her lips. ‘I love you too Gin, I guess I just never knew the words before.’

Ginny smiled and pulled Harry’s face down onto hers. They kissed for a few more minutes.

‘I take that’s a yes,’ Harry said, pulling his face away slightly.

‘More than you could believe,’ Ginny replied, feeling Harry’s hand running up and down her waist. She body jumped into overdrive, all of her senses tingling. Harry smiled at her, his eyes sparkling.

‘You know it’s rude to stare,’ Harry joked. Ginny blushed, deeper than she felt was possible. Ginny felt herself pulled closer to Harry and into a deep, passionate kiss. Her body felt something around Harry’s belt, and looked over Harry’s shoulder feeling his kisses on her neck.

‘I want to Harry... so badly,’ Ginny moaned softly. A hand gently caressing her breast was his reply.

‘If you want to stop, just say so,’ Harry said, finding the zip to her gown.

Ginny looked up at Harry, her hair spread out across his chest and Harry smiled back down at her.

‘I feel sore Harry, no more,’ Ginny muttered. ‘You were wonderful.’

‘I try to please,’ Harry replied, kissing Ginny.

‘You did that, and more,’ Ginny sighed, contently.

‘We should get some sleep, it's late breakfast today,’ Harry said, his arms wrapping around Ginny’s waist.

‘What time is it?’

‘About two in the morning.’

‘Good,’ Ginny muttered, before closing her eyes. ‘I love you Harry.’

‘I love you too, Gin,’ Harry replied, brushing her hair till he felt sleepy.

A/N: Thanks to Mrs, or Miss, I have no idea, Michelle Branch, and anyone involved in making, performing and producing that song, and I love the album.