How Harry Got a Date
Well, my friends, this will be my first Harry Potter Fanfic. Not gonna lie, part of me is worried on how well this will be received. With that being said, this is just a fun little one shot I had on my mind for a while but never thought to write out. I do not own Harry Potter or the cover image. R&R and Enjoy.
***In the Halls of Hogwarts, a Week before The Yule Ball***
The student population seemed to be more lively and festive for this Christmas than any other year because of the up and coming Yule Ball. The young men and women were looking over at each other and talking about who to take to the dance. A few of the brave souls or those pressured by their peers made their best advances on the dates of their choice. To those that managed to claim a date, there was much celebrating and giggling. To those that were turned down, the awkward pauses were lengthy.
For the average student, the pressure in finding a date was somewhat uncomfortable. For the Fourth Champion of the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Harry Potter, the pressure was substantially great.
For one thing, he had been considered an outcast by most everyone in school (including his supposed best friend, Ron) for having cheated his way into the tournament. Even now, after his performance in the first task, many students continued to leer at him and flash those damnable 'Potter Stinks' badges at him. Ron seemed to have come back around to believe him, if only just. He would stick up for him if Malfoy's ilk or some other scornful students claimed him a cheater. Yet if people were to congratulate him, especially those of the fairer sex, Harry could see the jealousy in his eyes and occasionally hear the barely restrained scoff.
Normally, Harry would try to brush this off. Why try and ruin their recently fixed friendship by bringing up his jealousy?
Unfortunately for Harry, this tactic was doomed to fail.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione finished up their breakfast in the Great Hall, they began to get ready for their upcoming Transfiguration class.
"Were you two able to complete your essays?" The bushy haired girl asked.
Harry nodded his head while Ron's face paled. This caused Harry and Hermione to laugh.
"Could I quick borrow your's so I could at least hand in something to her?" The redhead asked.
"Ron! We are not giving you our homework so you can copy it! Not only is that cheating but all three of us could get in trouble!"
He ignored Hermione's answer before turning to his black haired friend.
"Come on, Harry. Help a mate out?"
This caused Harry to cock his eyebrow. Before he could answer, however, he heard someone call his name.
"Harry. Could I talk to you?"
Turning around, Harry saw Susan Bones waving him down. Besides the obvious fact that she was in Hufflepuff, she had a lovely mane of red hair and a polite smile on her face when she saw that he had noticed her.
"I'll catch up with you two in class." Harry said before walking over to Susan.
"Ok but hurry up, Harry. Class starts in five minutes." His bushy haired friend said.
Chuckling at her concern, Harry fought his way through the crowd of students before finally making it to Susan.
"Good morning, Susan." The boy greeted.
"Good morning to you too, Harry." She replied. "Congratulations by the way on your completion of the First Task."
"Thank you." Harry said, blushing a little at her compliment. "But I really didn't do anything that impressive. I thought I was just lucky not to be roasted alive or impaled by the Horntail."
"Ever the modest one, Harry." She giggled. "You are tied for first place, even beating out Cedric."
"Sorry bout that." He mumbled.
"What do you have to be sorry for? You beat Ced fair and square."
"Just for being in the tournament in general. Taking the glory away from your house." Harry continued.
"After hearing about the crazy adventures you and your friends get up to every year, I doubt you intentionally joined this tournament." Susan reassured him.
"Thanks for that." He said. "People are only just coming around to realizing the same."
"Yeah. I'm sorry to say that I initially agreed with them when your name first came out. But then Ced reassured the house that you were unwillingly entered. It didn't stop most of the house from bullying you but it got through to some of us."
"It happens." Harry chuckled. "Mob mentality and such. So what did you want to ask?"
"Oh!" Susan said, blushing a little for forgetting her original purpose in talking to Harry. "I was wondering if you might..."
"Oi! Harry! You never answered me if I could copy your essay." Ron interrupted, much to the annoyance of Harry and Susan.
"The answer is no, Ron." Harry said, thinking his friend would take the answer and leave. "Sorry about that, Susan. What were you going to ask?"
"Quite alright, Harry. I was going to ask if you would like..."
"Hey, Susan. Since you have a different Transfiguration period than us, could I copy your homework instead?"
"No, Weasley! You can't copy my homework! Now please, leave us alone!" Susan snapped, glaring daggers at the freckled redhead.
"Fine. Don't go getting your knickers in a twist." Ron said before turning away.
"Sorry about that. He can be a bit of..." Susan began to say.
" An annoying git?" Harry interjected.
"I was going to say an arse but that works too." She said before they both chuckled.
"Now hopefully nobody will interrupt us again so you can ask me the question on your mind" Harry said with a smile.
"Yeah. So I wanted to know if you would like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Harry was elated. Somebody wanted to go to the dance with him! Sure, Cho Chang would have been his dream girl to take to the ball but he had heard through the grapevine that Cedric had already claimed her as his date. Still, he, like other boys in his year, fancied Susan nonetheless.
Unfortunately, just as he was about to say 'yes', Ron decided to cut in one more time.
"Ha! Like Harry would want to go out with a backstabbing 'puff like you! Your lot teased and made fun of him with those stupid badges and such."
"Ron, shut up!" Harry hissed, only for it to fall on deaf ears.
"Isn't the pot calling the kettle black, Weasley? You did the exact same thing to Harry, didn't you?" Susan shot back.
"Yeah...Well..." Ron spluttered, trying to come up with a good comeback.
Wether it was to Ron's good fortune or Harry's bad luck, the warning bell rang out. The halls suddenly flooded with students, separating Harry and Ron from Susan.
"Come on, mate. Lets get away from that bint." The redhead remark as he pulled his friend along.
"No! Wait!" Harry struggled, trying and failing to fight his way up the current of students back to Susan. Yet the crowd was too much for him and he was pushed back to Ron. Crestfallen, he made his way to Transfiguration class.
The class itself was fairly boring, simply a review of the topic of their essays before they were given a half an hour to practice. During the practice, Harry was lost in his own little world, trying to think of when he might be able to talk to Susan again. Unfortunately, his schedule for the day for packed until lunch. Sighing in resignation, he returned to his work.
***12:30, The Great Hall***
"Harry, you're doing it again." Hermione said.
"Huh? What?" The boy in question said as he turned his head away from Hufflepuff table.
His bushy haired friend chuckled at his ignorance to his own actions.
"You were looking for Susan again, weren't you." She stated, knowing the answer before even asking.
Harry nodded his head.
"Go and talk to her. You said she asked you out. Just tell her yes." She said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"Yeah." He replied nervously. "I guess I'm still annoyed about Ron interrupting us and the things he said."
"I would say I can deal with Ron," She said as they looked over to the third member of their trio. Currently, he was shoveling down a plateful of Shepherd's Pie like it was going out of fashion. "But I have a feeling he will be properly distracted for the next couple of minutes."
Chuckling at the truth of her statement, Harry stood up and made his way over to the table of badgers. Most of them ignored him, some of them leered at him, and a few even flashed their 'Potter Stinks' badges at him. Yet the boy didn't care. He had his eyes on one person.
"Hey Susan." The boy said in as confident a voice as he could muster.
"Oh!" The redheaded girl said, surprised that Harry would try and find her again after her disastrous attempt at asking him out in the morning.
"I wanted to start off by saying I'm sorry for how Ron treated you this morning. He was a right git and you didn't do anything to deserve that."
"I appreciate your apology, Harry. It bothered me for a little while but, like you said, he's an annoying git."
They both had a bit of a laugh at this before, giving Harry a moment to prepare himself before giving her his answer.
"As to your question on if I would like to go with you to he ball, my answer is yes." He said, mentally patting himself on the back for not stumbling over his words.
Yet he was surprised to see the girl frown at his statement rather than smile.
"Is...Is something wrong, Susan?"
"I'm...I'm sorry, Harry." The redhead said, on the verge of tears as the words came out. "After our confrontation with Ron and not getting your answer, I wasn't sure if you would still want to go with me to the ball. So when Ernie asked me to the ball, I accepted. If I would have known you would have come to find me afterwards, I would have said no. I'm so, so sorry, Harry."
"No. Its not your fault. I should have given you my answer before Ron interrupted. I'm the one who should be sorry." Harry said glumly.
"No! I will not let you put the blame on yourself!" Susan said passionately. "Ron is the one at fault. If he hadn't cut in, then we could be together. As it stands now...it would be rude to Ernie to say no to him now."
"I understand." The boy said, giving her a sad smile.
"You are a true gentleman, Harry Potter." She replied before standing up and embracing him. "I envy the girl you take to the ball."
Before he could reply, however, the 5 minute warning bell rang. The two sighed in frustration before separating.
"I'll see you later, Susan. I've got Potions with the Slytherins next." Harry said, reluctance evident in his voice.
"Goodbye, Harry." She said softly before watching him walk away.
Susan sighed. She knew she should have waited, knew she should have told Ernie no. Yet she had been so worried about Ron's words and insults affecting Harry's decision that she had decided to go with someone else.
"I know this may seem like a small consolation, but you do gain Harry's love and affection in another world." Came a voice from behind her.
Turning around, the redhead was surprised to see a young Ravenclaw talking to her.
"What did you say?" Susan asked.
"I said that you and Harry get together in another world." The girl replied before skipping away, her blonde hair swaying too and fro.
The Hufflepuff was confused by the girl's statement but decided to brush it off. It was silly to thing that she and Harry Potter could become a couple in another lifetime...wasn't it?
*** An Hour and a Half Later***
"Cheer up, Potter. At least he gave you an Acceptable today." Daphne Greengrass chuckled as they packed up their potion station.
"Only because you were my partner today." He fired back teasingly. "Besides, that didn't stop the greasy git from taking 50 points from me. Speaking of which, how can he take 10 points from me for sneezing?"
"Maybe he just doesn't like you?" The Slytherin teased.
"What was your first guess?" He retorted before they both started laughing.
"You know the House point system has been broken since our first year, right?" She asked when they had calmed down.
"Yeah. First year had to be the most ridiculous come from behind victory for Gryffindor. 50 points for a game of chess? Really?" He added.
Now most students at Hogwarts would find it odd to see a Lion and a Snake getting along because of how deep the house rivalry ran between the two. What made the scene even more strange was because of who the people were. Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived and Gryffindor's Golden Boy, talking with Daphne Greengrass, The Ice Queen of Slytherin. Yet it appeared that the two were talking as if they were childhood friends.
By the time they exited the Potion's classroom and into the dungeon hallway, there were only a few people mingling instead of rushing off to their next class or to their common room. At one end of the hall stood Ron and Hermione, presumably waiting for him. At the other end stood Daphne's friends, Tracy Davis and Pansy Parkinson. The two groups were staring each other down while waiting for their third to join them.
"The tension is so thick, you could cut it with a knife." Harry joked, looking over to see an annoyed Ron and a concerned Hermione
"You could say that again." Daphne replied, seeing her friends giving her a questioning look.
The two turned to look back at each other.
"Thanks again for being my partner today." He said.
"No problem." She replied, giving him a small smile before it fell from her face. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something but with Snape hovering over us the entire time, I never got the chance."
"Probably he was trying to see if I would 'Sabotage his perfect Slytherin's potion'." He chuckled. "What did you want to ask me?"
The girl took a deep breath before asking, "Would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
For the second time today, Harry was delighted that someone wanted to go to the Yule Ball with him. While it was true that he rarely talked with Daphne due to the house rivalry, he hoped that this might lead to a new friendship for him and possibly break down the stupid game of Lion v. Snakes.
Yet right as the word 'yes' began to flow from his lips, one Ronald Weasley decided cut in.
"Oi, Harry! Can we get out of here now? I don't like being in the Snake Pit any longer than I have to." The redhead said, giving a disgusted look at Daphne.
Harry let out a growl of frustration.
"In a minute, Ron. I was just about to tell Daphne that..."
"What, that she should sod off for asking you to the ball?" The boy said, laughing at the joke he thought he had made.
"No! Ron, bugger off. I was going to say..."
"Oh. You were going to tell the slimy snake yes and then leave her high and dry at the ball for another girl."
"NO! Daphne, I would never do that to you! My answer is ye..."
"I understand, Potter." Daphne interrupted, putting on the emotionless and cold mask that came with her title of Ice Queen. "I take back my offer and bid you good day."
"Yeah! Good riddance!" Ron said before hooking an arm around Harry and dragging him towards Hermione.
Harry was angry at Ron's second interruption but was more concerned with the girl who had received his friend's scorn. Looking over his shoulder, he saw that her mask remained. He mouthed 'I'm sorry' to her, hoping she would see and understand.
Perhaps it was a minor consolation to this otherwise gloomy encounter, but Daphne did catch his silent apology. For a brief moment, she dropped her mask and gave him a sad smile before mouthing 'I know'. Then the mask was put back in place before she turned and made her way over to her friends.
"Well, how did it go?" Asked Tracy Davis once Daphne joined them.
"Couldn't you tell by Weasley's bellowing? Its obvious Potter turned her down." Pansy Parkinson huffed.
"I wasn't asking you, Pansy! Besides, it looked like Harry really wanted to accept but was cut off when the Weasel lumbered over." Tracy countered.
"It doesn't matter now. I took back my offer and that is that." Daphne said before her friends could get into another argument.
"Honestly, I don't understand what you two see in him." Pansy said.
"Malfoy isn't around, Pansy. You don't have to act like a stuck up bitch with us." Tracy said.
"Besides," Daphne said, cracking a knowing smile. "we know you have three moving snapshots of Potter trying to secretly wank off in the showers that the Creevey fairy managed to take. By the way, you should really work on those silencing charms around your bed when you're trying to get off."
"Its really not that difficult to get the spell down right." Came a voice in front of the girls. "You just have to remember a sharp flick of the wrist at the end."
Startled from their conversation, the girls noticed a blonde Ravenclaw standing before them, smiling innocently.
"What...What did you hear?" Pansy asked.
"Oh, there is no need to worry. Most of the girls have a picture or two of Harry. Though its a shame Colin doesn't sell the juicy pictures often. They say you can see his moment of release as cum shoots out."
The girls blushed deeply at the mental image before coming back to their present situation.
"As much as we like discussing out interest in Potter, was there something you wished to tell us?" Daphne asked.
"Oh, yes! I just wanted to tell you that while the three of you might not get Harry in this world, there are others where you do. In some of those worlds, the three of you even get to share him."
With that, the blonde Ravenclaw smiled at them before merrily skipping away.
"What was that? What did she mean by different worlds?" Pansy asked.
"You don't think she might have been a seer, do you?" Tracy added.
"I can't say for sure. But if what she says was right, I never had a chance at Potter. None of us did." Daphne answered.
***5:30 PM, In the Gryffindor Common Room***
"I'm telling you, Hermione, he still hasn't gotten over me being in the tournament. The only difference is now he's found a new outlet in which to get back at me." Harry said as they got ready to head down to dinner.
"I'm not saying that I condone Ron's actions. It was very rude of him to interrupt you and insult two girls. Still, there are other girls in school looking for a date. At least you didn't say no to girls just because of their house."
"Why would I? Its not like every Hufflepuff wears those stupid badges nor does every Slytherin support Malfoy and his hate." Harry replied.
"Still, I would have liked to go out with either Susan or Daphne." He sighed as an afterthought as the two friends stepped through the portrait hole.
"Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure another girl will ask you out..." Hermione began to say.
"Hello, Harry." Came a voice in front of the two.
"Soon?" She finished.
Recovering his senses, Harry took a moment to look over the girl before him. She was a head shorter than him, had long blonde hair, and was wearing the robes of a Ravenclaw."
"Hello. You seem to know who I am but I'm afraid I don't know who you are." The boy said, giving her a polite smile.
"I'm Luna Lovegood. And you must be Hermione Granger." The girl replied before turning to look at Hermione. "Is this one of the worlds where you go to the ball with Viktor Krum?"
This threw the two Lions for a loop.
"How...? Who told...?" The bushy haired girl spluttered.
"Wow. Good for you, Hermione." Harry said.
The girl blushed profusely before speeding off towards the Great Hall, leaving Harry with Luna.
"So...Harry said, turning back to the Ravenclaw. "What can I help you with, Luna?"
"I have a question I wanted to ask you." She said simply.
"Oh. Well, ask away and I will answer you as best I can." He replied.
"Silly!" Luna giggled. "I can't ask you yet. Its not the right time yet. Besides, I want to talk with you before I ask my question."
Harry was a little curious as to the girl's words but simply nodded his head.
"Come on." She said, taking his hand and pulling him down the hall. "I can tell you on the way to the Great Hall."
At this point, Harry didn't know exactly what to think of the girl taking him to the Great Hall but he was curious to find out.
Upon getting on the rotating staircase, Luna decided to speak up.
"Have you ever wondered what it would be like if something in your life changed?"
This threw Harry for a loop but he managed to hide his confusion and give her an answer.
"Yeah. I wish there were several things I could change."
This caused Luna to smile. "With how many things you would change, how different do you think your life would be?"
"Very. I guess even the smallest detail could become something major in time."
"Astute observation." She said, giving him a dreamy look. "Now what if I were to tell you that each of the girls that you talked with today and even some people you have never met could end up becoming lovers and wives to you in these parallel lifetimes?"
"I would say it might be possible but I would guess some event or changes would need to occur if that were to happen here. Why are you asking me these things?"
"Because," Luna said, her smile fading a little, "There is a part of us in this reality that like you very much, maybe even love you. But very few, like myself, can see the reality that will play out here."
With that, she stood on her tiptoes and captured Harry's lips in hers. The boy was surprised by the girl's unforeseen gesture. Yet, before he could fully react, it was over.
"Now," She said, pulling him a couple of steps before stopping before the entrance to the Great Hall. "I can ask you my question."
"Luna, do you want to..."
"Harry!" The girl giggled. "I'm the one supposed to be asking you."
"Right." Harry chuckled. "Go ahead."
"Would you like to go to the ball with me, Harry?"
Finally. This was his chance to accept an offer to the ball without Ron's interference.
Oh, how wrong he was.
"Yes, Luna, I would..."
"Oi! Harry! Where have you been?" Interrupted the voice of Ron Weasley.
"Not now, Ron!" Harry hissed.
"Why are you talking to Looney Lovegood? Has she tried telling you about her made up creatures?"
"Shut up, Ron! I was about to accept her offer..."
"You were thinking of taking Looney to the ball?" The redhead asked before breaking down laughing.
This made Harry furious. Here he was about to accept an invitation to the Yule Ball from this girl and Ron decides to insult her with names and laughing at her.
Yet before Harry could react, he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Its alright, Harry." Luna said, the dreamy look in her eyes. He could tell that Ron's words had hurt her yet she was more concerned about him at the moment.
"But...We could still..."
"We can still be friends, Harry. Maybe in another lifetime we can be more. But this isn't one of them."
With that, she released him and walked away.
"Yeah. Go find one of those Crinkle Horned Snorkels." Ron called out to her.
"What the hell, Ron!" Harry yelled at the boy.
"What? I just did you a favor." Replied Ron. "Why are you complaining? I've done nothing but saved you from going to the ball with terrible girls."
"Saved me? They weren't going to stab me in the back if that is what you are implying."
"Those sound like fighting words, Potter."
While this was going on, a set of twins were making their way towards the Great Hall for dinner. No, these weren't the infamous Weasley Twins. They were Padma and Parvati Patil. Currently, they were discussing who they would like to go to the Yule Ball with.
"I don't know. I know Lavender is going out with Seamus. I think Dean is still available but he's almost as big a horn dog as Seamus. Every girl has asked and been rejected by Krum. You think I should ask...Padma! Are you even listening?" The outgoing Lion asked her sister once she noticed she wasn't paying attention to a word she was saying.
"Oh! Sorry." The introverted Eagle replied.
"Well, since you don't seem particularly interested in the options I've been naming off, is there anyone in particular that you want to take to the ball?" Parvati asked.
Padma mumbled a name that her sister couldn't hear.
"Gonna have to speak up." Her sister teased in a sing song voice.
"Harry Potter." She said, her cheeks darkening as she said it.
"Damn! I should have thought of him sooner." Parvati said.
"See? Right when I say who I want to take, you start cooking up plans to take him for yourself. You've always been the more sociable one. That's why you usually get what you want." Padma sighed.
"I do not!" The Gryffindor Twin said indignantly.
"Really?" The Ravenclaw countered, her eyebrow raised. "1st year. You introduce me to Susan and Lavender then completely ignore me while you go off on the latest fashion in Witch Weekly with them."
"You can't blame me for that! They were just as interested in the new..."
"Second year!" Padma interrupted. "Mum bought me new casual robes. First day I want to wear them, you beg me to let you borrow them so you could look good for the fraud Lockhart in the halls and them ruin them by spilling ink on them!"
"I told you I was sorry about that and I did buy you..."
"Last year!" The twin continued. "I told you that I was thinking about taking Ernie to Hogsmeade on a date. What do you decide to do? You crash my date in the Three Broomstick and then decided to take him to Madam Puddifoot's for a snog!"
That shut Parvati up.
"Now do you expect me to let you ask Harry to the dance and leave me high and dry?" The Ravenclaw twin asked.
Her Gryffindor sister sighed.
"Look...I'm sorry for everything. I didn't think my actions had affected you as much as they have. I just don't want to end up going to the dance with a ponce like Weasley."
Now it was Padma's turn to sigh. "No. I suppose I wouldn't want to end up with him either. I...I just want something for me. Just this one time."
"No. I understand. We've always had to share or it would always come off as favoritism. Now that we are away from home, equal attention is much harder to get."
Now it was Padma's turn to feel guilty. Yes, her sister did tend to outshine her publicly and be more sociable to people. But Parvati had always been there for her when she needed it. Had helped her make new friends when she was too shy to speak. Had helped her with her wardrobe and picking out dress robes for the ball this year. Maybe...
Yet before Padma could continue with this train of thought, the twins had arrived near the entrance of the Great Hall. A crowd had formed and there appeared to be the beginnings of a fight.
"You've been an absolute prat, Ron! What makes you think insulting girls that want to go with me to the ball is the right thing to do?" Came the voice of Harry Potter.
"I did what I thought was best for you!" Came the reply of Ron Weasley.
"Best for me? Did you think it was in my best interest to turn your back on me when my name came out of the Goblet? To ignore me?"
"Shut up, Potter!" Yelled the redhead.
"You know what you are, Ron?" The black haired boy asked.
"I said shut it!"
"You are just an insecure..."
"I'm warning you!"
"...stuck up..."
"I mean it!"
"...selfish, jealous git!"
"SHUT UP!"
With that, Ron rushed forward and threw a punch at Harry. For the most part, Harry manage to escape the assault thanks to his many years of fleeing from Dudley. Unfortunately, his former friend nicked his glasses with his knuckles, tearing them off Harry's face and causing them to clatter to the floor.
Before Harry could summon them back, Ron crushed them beneath his feet. He cursed under his breath before dodging out of the way from an incoming curse. The spell hit a bystander and put them in a body bind.
"Stand still, Potter!" The redhead snarled, tossing a stunner at Harry only to hit another bystander.
"Cut it out, Ron! You are hitting everyone but me!" The black haired boy replied, putting up a quick shield charm and allowing the hex to harmlessly hit the ceiling and dissipate.
Yet Ron was far from done.
"Eat slugs, Harry!"
Thinking fast, Harry put up another shield. While he was able to successfully deflect the curse, it didn't fly into the ceiling. Instead, the spell ricocheted to the right and struck Padma Patil, who had just made her way through the crowd.
The Ravenclaw twin stumbled back a few steps. Then, without warning, she threw up a mouthful of slime and slugs.
"Hah! So that's what I looked like." Ron mused.
He might have said more had he not been hit by two stunners, courtesy of Harry and Parvati. As soon as he boy hit the floor, Harry walked over and quickly repaired his glasses before returning to the twins. Padma was on her hands and knees, another wave of slime and slugs flowing from her mouth. Her sister knelt beside her, rubbing her back gently while looking disgustedly at the mess her sister was unintentionally making.
Harry was mortified. He hadn't wanted anyone to get hurt. He hadn't even wanted to fight to begin with. Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything to fix what had happened. All he could do was try to make things better now.
"I'm so sorry, Padma." He said, kneeling down before her.
The Ravenclaw Twin looked up at him and nodded her head before retching again.
"We appreciate it, Harry." Parvati spoke up, giving the boy a small smile. "Still, I'm sure Padma would like to thank you in person without puking up slugs every few seconds."
Nodding his head, Harry gently picked the girl up, bridal style, and began to carry her to the Hospital Wing with Parvati following behind.
As they passed through the halls and climbed up the stairs, Padma continued to vomit, covering the front of both their robes in slime and slugs. She felt disgusted with herself when she saw them crawling all over both her and Harry. Yet he didn't seem to care. On the contrary, the black haired boy continued to hold her close and whispered reassuring words to her.
When they finally made it to the Hospital Wing, Harry gently placed her on one of the many unoccupied beds before going off the get Madam Pomfrey.
"I expected you to return to me some time this year, Mr. Potter. I didn't, however, expect you to be bringing me someone that needed healing other than yourself." The resident healer remarked as she made her way over to the twins.
"First time for everything, madam." Harry chuckled.
"Oh dear." Madam Pomfrey said as she approached the bed with Padma. The girl had just thrown up another mouthful of slugs and was trying to catch her breath.
"That prat, Ron Weasley, was trying to hex Harry. Padma just got caught in the cross-fire." Explained Parvati.
"Nasty little curse." The healer said as she passed her wand over the ailing girl. Several odd symbol with different colors flashed before her once her scan was complete.
The madam then tried to vanish away the slugs and slime but only managed to make the slugs disappear.
"Curious." She said, turning to Harry and doing the same thing to his slug and slime covered robes. Again, the slugs vanished but the slime did not.
"It seems that I can stop the slugs with simple vanishment but you will have to take a potion for the continuous vomiting of slime." Madam Pomfrey concluded. She directed her wand at Padma's stomach before muttering a spell. A faint blue light glowed from her wand before she gently touched the girl's stomach.
"Now you just need to relax, Ms. Patil. I will get a potion to stop the vomit but it will take an hour for it to become fully effective.
"Thank you." The Ravenclaw twin said silently before turning to the side of the bed to throw up again. Thanks to the Healer's quick reflexes, the slime landed in a basin instead of the floor.
As she went of to check her potion stores, Harry walked over to the bed.
"I'm really sorry for this, Padma." The boy said.
"I don't...blame you, Harry." The girl replied, trying to catch her breath.
"Still, I feel I should make this up to you in some way." He said before a thought slowly formed in his head. Upon hearing his words, Padma was also having the same thoughts.
"Would you like to go to the ball with me?" The asked each other simultaneously.
Immediately, they both blushed at their bold statements before realizing what the other had said and then bursting into laughter.
"Yes." They both said before laughing again.
"And here I thought that twins were the only ones that could speak in stereo." Chuckled Parvati.
Before the two could reply, Madam Pomfrey returned, potion in hand.
Padma drank the potion, gagging a little at the taste.
"The potion should work its way quickly into your system so you don't have to worry about throwing it up. Still you will have periodic bouts of vomit for an hour before it completely stops. As for your robes, the house elves should be able to remove the slime when you take them to laundry." The healer said before making her way back to her office.
"Oh. Before I forget, take 20 points, Mr. Potter, for aiding a fellow student." Madam Pomfrey added.
"Feeling any better?" Harry asked.
"Yeah. Starting to." Padma replied.
Before she could react, Harry pulled her into a warm embrace.
"I know this might not have been the best way you wanted to ask me to the ball but I promise to try to make it the best night you will ever have." He said.
"I wouldn't expect anything less from the great Harry Potter." She teased back, earning her a groan in response. She laughed before adding. "Just be yourself, Harry. That is all I want."
When they separated, they were both smiling at each other before Harry's fell.
"Oh no." He moaned.
"What is it, Harry?" Padma asked.
"I...I can't dance." He mumbled.
It took a moment for the two sisters to realize what he had said before they burst out laughing.
"Oh how the mighty have fallen." Parvati teased. "The boy that can outfly a dragon can't dance.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." He said, half heartedly glaring at them.
"I can teach you to dance, if you would like." The Gryffindor twin suggested when they finally calmed down.
"That sounds great!" Harry said, relief evident in his voice. "I owe you one, Parvati."
That piqued her interest. Maybe she could take Harry to the ball after all. Teach him a few dance moves and he might...
Then she looked over at her sister. Padma looked crestfallen when Harry had accepted her offer and told her that he would owe her a favor. That reminded her of the conversation they had been having before this whole mess began.
Sighing, Parvati said, "Just promise me you will treat my sister like the lady she is and we'll call it even."
"I promise." Harry said.
Nodding her head, Parvati turned to head out of the Hospital wing and leave the two be before she felt someone grab her gently by the wrist.
"Wait." Padma said.
The Ravenclaw twin leaned towards Harry's ear and began to whisper.
"You sure?" He asked once she was finished.
Padma nodded her head before turning back to her sister.
"Harry has agreed to take you to the ball..."
"That's wonderful! Thank..." Parvati interrupted, a smile blossoming on her face.
"Under the condition..." Padma continued, "That I will get the first dance."
Parvati sighed. Being the first to dance with Harry would mean she would be considered the primary date.
"Will we each get an equal number of dances with Harry?" The Gryffindor asked.
"Naturally." The Ravenclaw replied.
"You'll be seated to his right while I will be to his left?"
"Of course."
"And you'll be wanting to look through my wardrobe so we will both be matching?"
"Now you are catching on."
The corner of Parvati's mouth twitched up in a grin.
"I guess I can accept these terms." She sighed in an overly dramatic way, much to the amusement of Harry and Padma.
"So its a date." Harry said, wrapping an arm around each of the twins' shoulders.
"Agree." Parvati said.
"Agr..." Padma began to say before she threw up again...onto the front of her sister's robes.
"Padma! These were my favorite robes." The Gryffindor said, trying and failing to wipe the slime off her front.
"At least we will all match when we finally go down to dinner." Padma said.
There was a moment of silence before the three teenager burst into laughter.
Outside the Hospital Wing, Luna Lovegood closed the main door before turning to the 4th wall and giving it a wink before skipping down the hall.
Author's Note: First I would like to apologize to my readers. I was not able to fulfill my one shot per week this month and you have my humble apologies. Also, as hinted throughout this story, I have several ideas for other short Harry Potter stories that I will publish when I have some free time.