Compaq Normal Preferred Customer 2 204 2003-07-21T18:31:00Z 2003-07-21T18:31:00Z 4 999 4491 Puget Sound Refrigeration 140 50 5449 9.3821
Disclaimer: If you've made it this far, then you already know the deal.
~*~
Sitting down at her usual spot at the Gryffindor table, Ginny frowned slightly. After everything they had talked about this morning, Ice hadn't shown up to meet her. She was disappointed. Hermione noticed that she was only picking at her food.
"What's wrong, Gin?" she asked in a concerned voice.
Ginny dismissed her with the wave of her hand. Like Hermione would understand anyway, Ginny thought. Her friend shrugged and went back to her food.
"Attention Hogwarts Students." Dumbledore said in a loud voice. He stood up in his chair, ready to speak to the group of kids. "As you know, it is the first day back to Hogwarts since Winter Break. Because we want to do something new and exciting for all of you, we are going to have another ball. This one will be taking place on Valentine's Day, and it's up to the girls this time to pick their dates." He winked slightly, as if very pleased with this idea. "You have over a month to get ready. Attire will be dress robes and masks, as it will be a Masquerade. Please, get as creative as you want. That is all." Stepping down from his chair, he resumed eating his breakfast.
Excited murmurs could be heard from around the Great Hall. Ginny was still upset about getting shown up, but felt her mood perk a little at the news. Dances were her favorite social thing to do at school; there was just something about getting dressed up and going to a dance that she loved.
She looked around the room she was in, at the faces of all the students, sitting with their houses. She wondered which one of these people was Ice. No one really looked the part. She was stumped. Suddenly, frustrated, she grabbed her bag and stood up from the table.
"Ginny, where are you going?" Ron questioned her absently.
She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not very hungry. I'm going to go back up to my room for a little while before classes. See you later." With that, she left the Great Hall without looking back.
The computer was sitting open on her bed, as if waiting for her. She jumped on the bed behind it, and sure enough, "IceyGaze" was logged in. I knew it, Ginny thought triumphantly.
Firefly: I thought you'd be online.
IceyGaze: Well did you really expect me to go into the Great hall, after you stood me up?
Firefly: What? I didn't stand you up, you stood ME up!
IceyGaze: I didn't see any girls by the Dungeons.
Firefly: That's odd. I was there.
IceyGaze: So was I.
Firefly: But then again, I didn't really see any guys either. Maybe we just missed each other?
IceyGaze: Perhaps.
Ginny was confused. So she was wrong. She knew she shouldn't have overreacted, there had to be a reason he hadn't met her like he'd promised. This news cheered her up greatly.
Firefly: Well that's not all you missed. Guess what Dumbledore told us today?
IceyGaze: What?
Firefly: There is going to be a ball, on Valentine's Day! A masquerade!
IceyGaze: [sigh] I hate dances.
Firefly: Really? They are my favorite! How could you hate them?
IceyGaze: I always end up going with someone I don't like, I have to dress up, and I hate asking girls to go with me.
Firefly: Well, today is your lucky day. This ball is going to be Lady's Choice. And this Lady is choosing you.
IceyGaze: I don't think so.
Firefly: Are you kidding me? Why not?
IceyGaze: I just don't think it's a good idea. We hardly even know each other. This could end up horribly.
Firefly: You are always so pessimistic. I think it'll end up wonderfully. There are no guys I would rather go with than you.
She thought about what she was doing. It was true; she really had no interest in any of the Gryffindor guys. Lately her mind had been on Ice, and Ice alone. Why shouldn't she go with him?
Firefly: And another thing. Don't you find it odd that I'm the first person you met online? The first person you could really talk to? We go to the same school? Nearly the same age? I think its fate that brought us together. We're supposed to go to this dance together.
Realizing she was sounding almost desperate, Ginny backed off a little bit, waiting for his response. She wished he would reconsider. All she could think about recently was who this mystery guy was.
IceyGaze: Well. I've decided.
Firefly: You'll go with me?
IceyGaze: No, I'm going to test this so-called fate. In my hand right now I have the school library's only copy of Melissa Evergreen's new romance novel, "Magic and Lust". Do you know how long the waiting list is for this book?
Firefly: No, I don't. Why?
IceyGaze: It's about 8 feet long. Everyone in the school is dying to read this book.
Firefly: So? What does that have to do with the dance?
IceyGaze: I'm going to write my screen name on the inside cover of this book, and write, "Yes, Firefly" underneath it. If you can get your hands on this book between now and valentine's day, then sure, I'll go with you.
Firefly: Well how hard could it be to get the book?
IceyGaze: [laughs]
Firefly: Well?
IceyGaze: Oh, you'll see. Melissa Evergreen writes amazing books, people have resorted to bribing me to give it to them next, before I return it. I even heard of someone stealing it from the person who had it before me.
Firefly: Wow. Well, anyway, you underestimate me. I've been put up to much harder tasks than this.
IceyGaze: We'll just see when the dance comes around. Well, I'm off to my classes. You should be too.
Firefly: Right. Oh, and Ice?
IceyGaze: Yes?
Firefly: You'd better start dress-robe shopping. [wink]