Harry and Ron headed on down to the dining hall by themselves. As they entered, Ginny Weasley came running up to them.
"Hey, Harry," she said.
Ron groaned. "Don't tell me you're going to ask him to the Mazel Ball! I thought you were over him!"
Ginny gave him a very scathing look. "For your information," she said, "I wasn't going to ask Harry to the Mazel Ball. I was just saying hi. And, by the way, now that we're on that subject, why would you not want me to ask Harry to the Mazel Ball? As I remember, you seem to like the idea of us two together very much indeed."
Harry and Ginny both burst out laughing as a wildly blushing Ron tried in vain to justify his actions.
"Don't bother making excuses, Ron," chortled Harry. "You've always wanted us two together, don't deny it!"
"Uh, whatever," stammered Ron, now very red indeed, "can we go now, please?"
Harry grinned at Ginny as he and Ron made their way to the Gryffindor House table. "I'll see you in my bedroom tonight, sweetie!" he called after her, winking. Ginny burst out laughing again as Ron's mouth fell open and his face turned red once more.
The two mistakenly sat down next to the Creevey brothers.
"Harry!" squealed Colin Creevey, sounding remarkably like a girl. "Harry, hi! Hi, Harry!"
"Hello, Colin," Harry muttered.
"Harry, I heard that you- that you- that you are going to the Mazel Ball!" Colin shrieked.
"Um," replied Harry, frowning, "it's a requirement, Colin. Everyone has to go."
"Hey, Harry!" squealed Dennis Creevey, Colin's younger brother.
"Hi, Dennis," replied Harry.
"Harry, you can- you can- you can do a Disarming Charm?!" exclaimed Dennis. "Can you, can you, can you?!"
"Er- yeah," said Harry. "Yeah, I can."
Colin and Dennis's mouths both fell open in adoration and amazement.
"Wow," Colin breathed, "you're amazing, Harry.
"You're my hero!" proclaimed Dennis in a squeak.
Harry felt himself turning red. "Oh, er- no, really, Dennis-"
"Hey, Dennis, Colin!"
Harry, Ron, Dennis, and Colin all turned at the sound of the voice. Luna Lovegood was standing behind them.
"Dennis, Colin," she continued, "someone's looking for you in the trophy room. I- uh- think they want to interview you about Harry for an article they're writing."
Dennis and Colin both gave out equally high-pitched squeals.
"Let's go!" shrieked Colin, and with a quick "See you later, Harry!", the two brothers got up and ran head over heels out of the Great Hall.
"Whew," said Harry to Ron and Luna, "thank God something came up that got them away from here. Those two are the most annoying little people I have ever met in my life!"
A very mischievious smile had appeared on Luna's face.
"What?" asked Harry, staring at her.
"Well," began Luna slowly, "it hardly seems likely that an appropriate diversion could have come up at the exact moment that the Colin-Dennis situation was going to push you over the edge, now could it?"
Ron wheeled around in his seat and stared up at Luna. "What- you didn't- you didn't-you so didnt- you... did..."
Grinning broadly, Luna nodded. "Yup," she said. "A little order from Luna's White Lies, shall we say?"
Harry, now grasping what she had said, wheeled around and stared up at Luna, too.
"Luna, you're a lifesaver," he said. "How on Earth did you know I needed that?"
"Well," replied Luna, sliding carefully down onto the bench between Harry and Ron, "I happened to look over here when I was sitting at my House Table, and I saw the Creevey brothers excitedly chattering, you turning red, and Ron sniggering behind his napkin. So, I put two and two together and arrived here."
"God, Luna," exclaimed Harry. "I can't thank you enough. You are so smart!"
Luna blushed and smiled. "S'okay," she replied. "And, speaking of smart, where's Hermione? I thought she was always with you two."
"She went up to the dorms to get something," replied Ron. "She'll be down here soon, I guess."
Luna nodded. "I was just worried about her," she explained. "Seems like she's been kinda down these past couple of weeks. Sometimes she doesn't even hear, or respond, when people say stuff to her."
Harry frowned, looking worried, too. "I'm going to go see what's wrong with her," he announced, getting up from the bench and slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Thanks, Luna. Later, Ron."
"See you in a bit," Ron responded, and he and Luna started chatting as Harry walked away.