Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.

Author's Note: Some people have suggested that I have Ginny and Harry snogging too young (13 and 12) in my "If You Can Help Her" story. Perhaps this story, (where they're 14 and 13) will be more to their liking.

Alternate Universe

Learning to Dance

Chapter 1 – Ginny's Opportunity

Set in GoF. Harry is trying to find someone to go to the Yule Ball with. Neville has not asked Ginny to go with him yet.

Starts in Goblet of Fire, Chapter 22 – The Unexpected Task

-LTD-

"I'm not telling you, it's her business," said Ginny, in response to Ron's inquiry about Hermione's date.

"Right," said Ron, who looked extremely put out, "this is getting stupid. Ginny, you can go with Harry, and I'll just go alone."

Ginny went scarlet. She looked down at the table and muttered, "If Harry wants to go with me, he can ask me."

Harry, looking extremely desperate, nervously asked, "Ginny, would you please go to the ball with me?"

With a sheepish smile, not looking directly at Harry, Ginny answered, "Hm. I don't know if I should."

Harry pleaded, "I would consider it a huge favor if you would come with me. The champions have to start the dancing off. If I don't have a date, I'll disgrace all of Gryffindor, if not the whole school! Please say yes!"

"Well, when you put it that way," Ginny responded, finally meeting Harry's eyes, "I don't want Gryffindor to be disgraced, and if I don't go with a fourth year or older I won't be able to go at all, and you did save my life a few years ago, so I guess I'll go with you."

Harry's expression changed immediately from desperation to relief. With a broad smile he exclaimed, "Thanks, Ginny! Now, you've saved my life!"

"Now that that's settled," commented Ron, who had sat through the whole exchange, "Isn't it about time for dinner?"

Both Ginny and Harry joined Ron on the way out of the portrait hole toward the Great Hall.

-LTD-

Hours later, Ginny was sitting alone in the common room looking at the fire, when someone put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Hermione, looking down with an odd expression on her face. She greeted, "Hello, Ginny. I heard that you're going to the ball with Harry."

"Yes I am," replied Ginny, blushing, "but don't get the wrong idea. He only asked me because he's desperate to get a partner, and Cho already had a date. I know he's not interested in me!"

"But you said yes anyway," countered Hermione, smirking. "Why?"

"He needed a date and it should be fun. Anyway, I needed a fourth year to ask me there anyway! Although Neville just asked me a few minutes ago. I felt bad when I had to say no. He really wanted to go with me."

Hermione looked like she was deep in thought when she asked, "Ginny?"

"Yes."

"How do you feel about Harry?"

Ginny blushed again and answered, "You know how I feel about him! I have fancied him since I first saw him at King's Cross. I wish I didn't, but there you are!"

"And now you're going to the ball with him," added Hermione, now beaming.

"Yeah, but it's just as friends. He doesn't think of me as…"

"Not yet!" Hermione declared. She looked into the other girl's eyes and explained, "Ginny, you can just go to the ball with him feeling defeated and probably be miserable, or you can use this as the opportunity you've been waiting for, to change Mr. Potter's perception of you. You can try to get him to start fancying you!" Ginny smiled briefly at this idea, but then frowned. Hermione looked concerned and asked, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know? Do you really think? What do I do? What if it doesn't work? What if he hates me afterward?"

Hermione assured her, "I can guarantee that he won't hate you, but I can't promise that it'll work. If it fails, you might feel worse than ever. So, you've got to ask yourself this question. Is Harry Potter worth the risk?"

Ginny started to giggle and answered, "He's definitely worth it! What do I do?"

Hermione joined her giggling and replied, "I've got a few ideas."

-LTD-

Term ended shortly after that conversation, and on the first day after the break started, about a week before the Yule Ball, Ginny found herself walking with Hermione to breakfast in the Great Hall with a mission. She saw Harry already sitting down with Ron on one side of him, and an empty spot beside him, where normally Hermione would sit. However, this morning Ginny sat there while Hermione sat across from them.

Harry looked up at Ginny and greeted, "Good morning, Ginny," then looked toward Hermione and added, "Morning, Hermione."

Ron, with his mouth full of eggs, said, "Gmrng gls."

Hermione sighed, while Ginny replied, "Good morning, HARRY! I was, er, wondering something. Are you feeling as nervous as me about dancing in front of everybody?"

Harry looked at her appraisingly and quickly answered, "Yes."

"I, um, thought it might be a good idea to practice before the ball, er, so we don't make fools out of ourselves," suggested Ginny nervously.

"What a great idea!" exclaimed Hermione enthusiastically from across the table. "You should do that, Harry! Harry, Ginny, do you know how to dance?"

"I do," answered Ginny, "but I'm probably rusty."

"I kind of, maybe," Harry started to say before deciding to admit it, "I don't." Harry hung his head down.

"Then I've got to teach you, Harry!" announced Ginny. "No offense, but I don't want you stepping all over my feet."

"That sounds perfect, Harry! That way, you'll be used to dancing with each other for the ball!" explained Hermione. "Most importantly, you won't make a fool of yourself in front of the whole school!"

"Um, well, I guess I can try to learn," agreed Harry, looking extremely nervous.

"Great!" replied Ginny, with a triumphant look in her eyes, "Then, we've got no time to lose! Once we're done with breakfast, we'll go back to the common room to get our dancing shoes and find a place to practice."

-LTD-

Chapter end