Chapter 22 - The Valentines Day Ball
The Great Hall was set up just like the Yule Ball was: the four house tables were gone, and filled with about 20 smaller rounder tables that looked to fit about 10 people. The only area unoccupied by tables was a square at the center of the Hall, which Harry assumed was for dancing. At the far end of the Hall where the staff table usually was, there was a stage and a group of 5 people made up of witches and wizards dressed in elegant robes, setting up instruments.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Rachel, and Ernie sat themselves at a table not to far from the dance floor, but not at a table that was on the outer edge of the hall. Harry felt somewhat grateful; it would be hard for people to spot him as the Hall got crowded. He sat between Ron and Hermione, their dates on the other side of them.
"Looks pleasant enough," said Ron absently, gazing around the Hall. Harry groaned.
The Hall was still somewhat empty with a few students scattered here and there at tables. The Hall was decorated with banners that skirted the ceilings, magical colored chains that hung on the wall, and floating paper hearts that were in the same familiar red and pink that made Harry sick. Some cherubs were tossing confetti of the same color as they soared above students heads; some looked irritated, others beamed at them.
The five of them sat comfortably at their table and others soon joined them. Dean Thomas sat down along with his date, Parvati Patil and Seamus Finnigan sat down, accompanying Lavender Brown. They all greeted each other and soon the table was filled with conversation. At one time when Harry wasn't saying anything, he glanced round the table; Ron on his left, and his date Rachel at his left. Then sat Dean and his date Parvati. To Parvati's left was Lavender who sat next to her date, Seamus. There was an empty chair between Seamus and Ernie, who sat next to Hermione, on Harry's right.
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair and sighed dejectedly; he was the only one at the table without a date and he never felt so alone in his life. He wished that Hedwig hadn't flown away.
The Great Hall gradually filled with students and soon everyone was seated and there was hardly an empty seat at tables (Harry stared at the empty one between Ernie and Seamus). When it looked that everyone that was attending were seated, Dumbledore stood at the foot of the stage where the witches and wizards where setting up instruments and held out both arms. The Hall fell to a silence as everyone looked at him.
"Welcome, welcome," said Dumbledore, looking thoroughly up and down at the students, a calm and innocent look on his face. "Welcome to the Valentines Day Ball."
Dumbledore went into his usual speech of behaving themselves and told everyone to just have a good time. He turned ninety degrees and put an arm out introductionately.
"I, and I'm sure most of you, am honored to have Wizandwitch as guests to play songs for us tonight," he said, motioning behind him. There was an excited stir of murmurs and whispers from among the students.
"Who are they?" said Harry absently.
"They're a new wizarding band," said Hermione, matter-of-factly. "They're becoming famous for bringing Muggle music to the Wizarding world."
Dumbledore silenced the students and continued.
"May all of you have a wonderful and lovely Valentines Day," concluded Dumbledore. "And now… let the Ball begin!"
The tops of the tables (once empty) suddenly was filled with plates, forks, knives, spoons, and napkins. Harry gazed fixated on what was on top of his fairly large plate; it had all kinds of his favorites feasting foods. He glanced at everyone else's plates and noticed that they didn't contain the same food as was on his plate, in fact, every person had a plate of food unique to them. Everyone at their table was looking at each others plates, just as astonished as Harry was.
"This is my favorites!" he heard Dean say and he began digging into his food.
"This is my favorite!" Parvati said next to him. There were nods of agreement round the table. Evidently, the plates knew exactly what kind of foods the person sitting in front of them liked.
Soon after, everyone dug into their foods. Harry absently looked up and one of the wizards in the elegant robes who was setting up instruments stood at the edge of the stage. He was wearing deep sky blue dress robes.
"I hope you all are having a pleasant evening," he said, his voice echoing the Hall magically as if he were talking into an invisible microphone in front of him. He glanced the Hall and most of the students were now half looking at him and half eating their food.
"He's cute," Harry heard Hermione say.
"Yes he is!" said Rachel in agreement. Ron snorted, choking on some food.
"My name is Ando Barras and I am one of the members of Wizandwitch," he said. He looked to at the two witches to his right. "That there is Mai Dellers -" he motioned to the witch in champagne colored dress robes, " -and that lovely young lady there is Malia Gorin," he motioned to the witch in pink dress robes. He looked in the direction to his right to wizard and another witch. "That's Juss Sane -" he motioned to the wizard in black dress robes, "- and that is Nelora Raines," he motioned to the witch in a cream dress robe. "And we are Wizandwitch!" There was a polite and enthusiastic applause.
"You headmaster, Albus Dumbledore," continued Ando, "invited us to play for all of you when it would be time for dancing. But for now, we will keep you all entertained by playing a few songs here and there while all of you lovely witches and wizards dine. I'm sure you won't mind?" Once again there were enthusiastic and excited cheers.
"So I call upon Malia to sing the first song!"
Ando walked away from the edge of the stage and sat on a stool an held a guitar in position to play. Mai was playing what looked like a wizarding keyboard, Justen was behind a magical set of drums and other percussion looking instruments, and Nelora looked to be playing some sort of bass instrument.
There was some sort of magical spotlight on Malia now just when Mai started to play a piano introduction. It was gentle, calm, and almost in a dreamlike way. Malia started to sing, her voice sweet, soothing, and serenading.
"Late at night when all the world, is sleeping,
I say up and think of you.
And I wish on a star, that somewhere you are, thinking,
Of me too…"
Harry's ears twitched to the song. He ate at his food and listened secretly to the words, suddenly interested in the lyrics.
"Cause I'm dreaming, of you tonight,
Till tomorrow, I'll be holding you tight.
And there's no where in, the world, I'd rather be.
Than here in my room, dreaming about, you and me."
Harry crewed absently on his food and glanced swiftly at Hermione; she was engaged in conversation with Ernie.
"Wonder if you ever see, me, and I,
Wonder if you know I'm there.
If you looked in my eyes,
Would you see what's inside, would you, even care?"
Harry continued to steal glances at Hermione when he felt no one was looking. The song and lyrics had a very powerful force on Harry. His mind raced with images. Back when Harry's love had first blossomed for Hermione, he wondered if she ever saw him as more than a friend at any point in her life. He also wondered if she could tell (because of his hints of love toward her) that he was there, right in front of her face, loving her. If she did look into his eyes, which was a gateway to his soul, would she see his love for her? And how would she feel about it… really?
He had an image of he and Hermione standing somewhere outside by the lake. Hermione looked flustered, as if she wanted to get away but he was grasping her wrists tightly, holding her close to his chest and staring deep into her eyes as if forcing her to look at him… to read him…
"I just wanna hold you close, but so far,
All I have are dreams of you.
So I wait for the day, And the courage to say, how much,
I love you."
Harry ate his food, his mind wondering. It was as if the lyrics of the song were triggering something in his head. Harry's image of he and Hermione at the lake changed quickly into the Great Hall, Harry standing at the entrance and peering inside. He was watching Hermione giggle at something Ernie had said at one of the tables. Harry swallowed the food in his mouth.
"I'll be dreaming of you tonight,
Till tomorrow, I'll be holding you tight.
And there's nowhere in, the world, I'd rather be,
Than here in my room dreaming about you and me."
Harry could feel his eyes water for a moment. He rubbed then from behind his glasses and fixed them on his nose. Now he could see himself lying on his bed in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling. His eyes were watering behind his glasses. The real Harry shook his head violently and grunted. He removed his glasses, shut his eyes, and pinched himself between them.
"Haa Ahh,"
"Harry?" he heard Hermione say.
"I can't stop dreaming of you…"
"Huh?" He had opened his eyes and looked at her blurry figure. He replaced his glasses.
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked, looking alarmed. Harry hoped his face didn't look to revealing.
"I can't stop dreaming…"
"Nothing," he lied. "Just… rubbing my eyes."
"You look… disturbed - about something," said Hermione uncertainly. She was leaning close to him now, one of her arms wrapped comfortably around him. Ron and the others were looking at him, wondering what was wrong with him.
"Is it the food?" asked Ron, looking at his own and looking nervous, as if he were going to suffer the same way as Harry.
"The food's fine Ron," assured Harry. He looked at Hermione. Their she was, twinkles in her eyes, cute as ever, even if she was worried about him.
"I can't stop dreaming of you…"
"I'm fine Hermione," said Harry, looking at her and then at the others to confirm. "I just have a light headache…" The song went into a light a cappella.
"Late at night when all the world, is sleeping,
I stay up and think of you.
And I still can't believe, that you came up to me and said,
I love you… I love you too."
Harry stared at Hermione and wondered, when was she ever going to say that she loved him? Not as a friend, but more than that…
"You should to go to the hospital wing," said Hermione apprehensively.
"Now I'm dreaming, with you tonight,
Till tomorrow, and for all my life.
And there's nowhere in, the world, I'd rather be,
Than here in my room, dreaming with you, endlessly."
"It's just a small one," said Harry patiently. Another image of he and Hermione popped in his head. They were in his Head Boy Room, lying on his bed. Harry as on his back while Hermione was on her side snuggled against him. His arm was comfortably wrapped around Hermione, her head was on his shoulder and her right hand flat on his chest. They were sleeping…
"Dreaming, with you tonight,
Till tomorrow, I'll be holding you tight,
And there's nowhere in, the world, I'd rather be,
Than here in my room, dreaming with you, endlessly."
"Are you sure?" said Hermione, in the same tone she used when she was talking to him outside the Great Hall.
"Dreaming, of you tonight,
Endlessly… I'll be holding you tight,
Till tomorrow… Dreaming… with you, tonight…"
"I'm sure," said Harry, trying to regain his composure. The others at the table were looking at him still as if he were about to explode. The song had ended with the fading of instruments and as soon as the music stopped and the Great Hall erupted with applause, it was a though something had hit an "off" button in Harry's head.
He stared back at his plate, filled with about a third of food, and felt his face going red, trying to avoid any eyes. He had images of himself and Hermione, right in front of her. It wasn't that she could read his mind or anything, but the song had somehow triggered something in his brain that made him think… about Hermione… and gave him, what looked like, graphical images of the lyrics in the song. None of the scenes he saw in his head happened, but they seemed and felt so real…
Harry tried to eat to get himself occupied again, but found himself looking at the stage, the Hall still filled with applause.
"Thank you," said Malia blushingly, smiling. The applause didn't stop though; she was receiving special whistles from some boys that were up front close to the stage. She backed away from the edge of the stage and the magical spotlight disappeared, making it impossible to see what was happening at the stage.
"That was beautiful," sighed Rachel dreamily. "It was beautiful, wasn't it Ron?"
"Huh?" said Ron, looking up on stage, trying like the rest of the boys in the Hall to get a glimpse at Malia. "What Rachel?"
"Ronald!" she exclaimed, hitting him on the arm.
Harry grinned while Hermione bent over him still, trying to console. Harry loved it; he would rather Hermione comfort him than to stare at a beautiful girl for hours, unless Hermione was the beautiful girl. There was about a five minute break in which Harry ate a few more bites of his meal, when suddenly the magical spotlight appeared onstage along with Malia, who was greeted with whistles.
"I'm going to call upon Ando for the next song," she said happily, smiling at the crowd.
Ando stood up professionally and picked up his stool, putting it where Malia was standing and sitting on it, then placed his guitar on his knee. Malia took Ando's preoccupied spot and with a wave of her wand, another keyboard that looked like Mai's appeared in front of her.
"This next song is dedicated to all you wizards out there who have a special place in his heart for that certain witch," said Ando, the magical spotlight now on him, "maybe even the witch you accompanied here this evening."
Harry slumped slightly into his chair. Now they were going to play a song that was dedicated to a perfect description of him. There were some small and respectable murmurs as Ando started an intro with a guitar solo.
"To really… love a woman,
To understand her… you gotta know her deep inside,
Hear every thought… see every dream,
N' give her wings when she wants to fly.
Then when you find yourself lying helpless, in her arms,
Ya know ya really love a woman."
The lyrics scrambled through Harry's head and clicked the "on" button. More images swam
through his head. Did he really love Hermione? He saw Hermione looking disheveled when her dress was destroyed (though
she didn't admit it) because of him. Then the image changed to the end of the year, where Hermione was giving some
sort of speech to a crowd because she had graduated with the highest marks in her class. Then suddenly, he saw himself
back in Ashley's shop, Lynda's Wizard Anythings, handing over his Firebolt broomstick, his wings… so that he
could get her dress…
"When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted.
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one.
Cuz she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever.
So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?"
"Nice song," said Harry, not aware that he had said anything out loud.
"It is isn't it?" said Hermione dreamily. She was done eating and propping her chin in her hand, looking at the stage.
"Ron, how come you never sing to me like that?" said Rachel, her voice in the same dreamy tone as Hermione. All the girls seemed to be transfixed on the edge of the stage.
"Me? Sing!?" said Ron incredulously.
"To really love a woman,
Let her hold you - till ya know how she needs to be touched.
You gotta breathe her - really taste her,
Till you can feel her, in your blood.
When you can see your unborn children, in her eyes.
Ya know ya really, love a woman."
Harry now had an image of himself, his head in Hermione's lap somewhere in the Gryffindor common room. Then he was hugging her tightly in his arms, blinded by her hair, and he inhaled deeply, breathing her in. Then he pulled his head back a little and placed his lips on hers, kissing her in a warm and passionate way, just as a little boy with brown unruly hair and a little girl with bushy black hair and green eyes were tugging at Hermione's skirt and Harry's pants going, "Mommy! Daddy!"
Harry gave a lopsided grin and felt himself going red. Everyone was too busy listening to Ando to notice.
"When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted.
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one.
Cuz she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever.
So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?"
Harry found himself somewhere outside by a rosebush outside the castle. He was kneeling in front of Hermione, who was looking flustered and nervous, and bearing a ring. "You're all that I want," he heard himself say. "You're the one I love Hermione. And my love for you will last forever."
Harry felt himself going even more red than Ron's hair.
"You got to give her some faith - hold her tight.
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right.
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you.
Ya really gotta love your woman…"
There was a break in the song, with Ando playing some sort of guitar solo. Harry discreetly glanced the table. Ron was kissing Rachel, Seamus was holding Lavender's hand, Dean was hugging Parvati close to his body, and Ernie had just given Hermione a kiss on the cheek. Harry grimaced and felt as if a huge boulder fell into the pit of his stomach.
"And when you find yourself lying helpless, in her arms,
Ya know ya really looooooooooooooooove a woman…
"When you love a woman, you tell her that she's really wanted.
When you love a woman, you tell her that she's the one.
Cuz she needs somebody, to tell her that it's gonna last forever.
So tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?"
Harry saw flashes of Hermione run in his head. He was taking her out on dates and giving her a bouquet of roses on Valentines Day. Colin Creevey was giving him a picture of Hermione. He was trading in his Firebolt for a dress.
"Just tell me have you ever really - really really ever loved a woman?"
Hermione had done something she had never done before and kissed him on the cheek in fourth year. This was the first time she had kissed him; what incidentally started this whole Harry falling in love…
"Just tell me have you ever really - really really ever loooooooooved… a woman?"
"Yes I have," said Harry, before he knew what he was saying.
"What?" said Hermione, looking at him.
"Nothing," replied Harry quickly, turning a shade of pink.
Ando finished the song with an ending guitar solo. There was a split second silence before the Hall again erupted with cheers and applause. Ando stood up along with the rest of the band and they all bowed. The Hall roared even louder. Harry felt the "off" button go in his head. He suddenly felt dizzy.
"Now is the time you all have been waiting for," said Ando when the cheers died down. "If you would like to head to the center of the room and onto the dance floor…" There were squeals from several girls already pulling their male partners, looking embarrassed and flustered, onto the dance floor. Two of the girls being Lavender and Parvati, dragging Seamus and Dean behind them.
Ando laughed quietly to himself. "Looks like they got the picture." He turned around and handed his guitar to Mai, who took it and moved the stool to where she was sitting and sat on it, propping the guitar on her knee.
There was a quiet piano intro by Malia. The Great Hall's light went dim, except for the magical spotlight on Ando. Harry, who was getting mysteriously dizzier by the second, put his head down on the table.
"Look into my eyes - you will see,
What you mean to me.
Search your heart - search your soul,
And when you find me there, you'll search no more."
The familiar switch in his head was put into the "on" position and a similar image of he and Hermione
standing somewhere outside by the lake. Harry was holding her close to him, clutching her robes by her waist as if
pulling her into him. Hermione looked flustered, but this time, she was holding his upper arms, clutching his robes
between her fingers and staring deep into his eyes…
"You ok Harry," Harry heard Hermione say, shaking him gently. He lifted his head just enough to catch her eye; he knew that he couldn't conceal the way he was actually feeling for much longer.
"I'm still a bit dizzy," said Harry, feeling the room twirl in violent circles. "But I'm ok."
"You ok mate," said Ron, standing up with Rachel. They were heading to the dance floor.
"Fine," said Harry shortly, sitting up in his chair and trying not to sway. "Go and dance."
Ron and Rachel, thought reluctantly, headed to the dance floor like many of the students were doing.
"Don't tell me, it's not worth trying for.
You can't tell me, it's not worth dying for.
You know it's true,
Everything I do, I do it for you."
"What are you waiting for?" said Harry looking at Hermione and Ernie.
"You all right Harry?" said Ernie frowning. It was the first genuine feeling Harry felt all day from him.
"You don't look well."
"I'm just a bit dizzy," said Harry automatically. "You two go and dance."
"But what about you?" said Hermione tentatively.
"What about me?" answered Harry coolly. HE motioned toward the dance floor. "Go dance. Go."
"But you -"
"Just go Hermione," said Harry in a persuading way. "Ernie, drag her to the dance floor please."
"Look into my heart - you will find,
There nothin' there to hide.
Take me as I am - take my life,
I would give it all, I would sacrifice."
She looked like she didn't want to leave Harry at all, but gave in and followed Ernie to the dance floor, leaving Harry alone at the table. He slammed his forehead on the surface., just as another image of him giving up his Firebolt swam in his mind.
"What is wrong with me?" Harry said, staring into the table cloth. He ran what could possibly be wrong with him like a list in his head when he realized, that suddenly he didn't feel dizzy anymore. He lifted his head and almost gasped in shock, a sinking and dreadful feeling coursing through his body.
"Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for,
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more,
Ya know it's true,
Everything I do, I do it for you."
Rachel and Hedwig were wrong: Every single student that attended the Valentines Day Ball was now on the dance floor, dancing with their partners. Harry was apparently the only one who had attended the Ball without a date. He was the only one sitting at a table, with the exception of a couple at the far end of the room, both occupied in conversation, the girl beaming at her date. Because of the lighting fixture, it looked impossible to see the tables from the dance floor. It was a good thing: Harry didn't want a hundred pair of eyes looking at him at the table. He never felt so alone before.
"There's no love - like your love,
And no other - could give more love.
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way,
Yeah!"
There was a break in the song with an instrumentals now.
He looked at everyone at the dance floor and saw many of the girls, wrapping their arms comfortably around their date's necks, all whom were holding them close; some were kissing. Harry saw Hermione and Ernie dancing at the edge of the dance floor and felt a tug at his heart, pouring with jealousy. He felt empty and also his eyes getting watery again.
"What am I doing?" Harry whispered to himself as if someone were going to answer. "I don't belong here."
Hesitating for a second, Harry got out of his seat and tiptoed unnoticeably to the Great Hall's main entrance, moving swiftly through the tables and pass many chairs that were not pushed in. He opened the door, stepped halfway into the corridor, turned around to look at Hermione and how beautiful she looked, sighed miserably and closed the door softly behind him. He could still hear the music.
Harry leaned against the Great door, resting the back of his head on it also, closing his eyes and letting out an audible and distressing breath. What was he thinking, going to a Valentines Day Ball dateless and expecting to have fun? Who was he kidding?
"Oh, you can't tell me, it's not worth tryin' for.
I can't help me it, there's nothin' I want more.
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you.
Walk the wire for you - Yeah I'd die for you."
An image of him cornering Hermione, blurred the insides of his eyelids. He was telling her that they should
themselves give it a try, that he wanted this more than anything. Then an image of him running with all his might
toward Hermione, jumping in front of her just as a beam of green light struck his chest…
"You know it's true,
Everything I do, ohh, I do it for you…"
Harry paced slowly down the corridor and toward his Head Boy Room; the Valentines Day Ball was over for him. He laughed softly through his nose as he thought about the last few words of the song. He would give anything to make Hermione's life a better one, even if it meant his own…
A/N: Credit to Selena and Brian Adams for "Dreaming of You" and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" with "Everything I do".
I hope ot makes sense to everybody; I wrote the lyrics to whatever the singer was singing and the next paragraph or so that follows, is what's happening at the same time the song is played. Hehehe hoped that made sense, and hope all of you like the chapter…