May I Have This Dance?

Getting ready for the ball was easy. Harry put his dress robes on and left the changing room. Ron was already in the main room, looking at himself in a long mirror.

"What're those? What're those!?" Ron asked with a start as he turned away from the mirror, staring at Harry's dress robes like they had offended him.

"My ... dress robes?" Harry replied, a little startled and confused as to what Ron was on about.

"Well they look alright. No lace, no dodgy little color. Mine are ANCIENT." He turned back to the mirror. "I look like my great Aunt Tessie... Smell like my great Aunt Tessie. Murder me, Harry." Ron said dejectedly.

"Well, look at it this way. At least you've got yourself a date. Everyone'll be too busy laughing about me to even think about your robes." Harry tried to console his best friend.

"Right. Harry, I am sorry about what I said. If anyone can show up to this dance without a date and NOT look pathetic, its you Harry. I mean, you're The Boy Who Lived. You dont need a date for this dance, Its a load of rubbish anyways." Ron said as he put an arm around Harry's shoulder. "Now, lets go show 'em how its done yeah?"

"Yeah." Harry smiled as he put his own arm around Ron's shoulder. Then they headed for the Great Hall, ready to face the music.

The walk to the Great Hall isn't as long as Harry thought it would be, but he's ready... or as ready as he'll ever be anyway. During the walk, Harry tuned Ron out as he rambled on about what his date, Seamus, would think of his robes. Instead he thought about what Ron said. Harry didnt need a date to have a good time, that was kind of true. But forgetting about the whole date thing for a moment, there was another matter.

The matter of his feelings for George Weasley. 

During his time at the Burrow this summer, there were moments. Blink-and-you-miss-it kind of moments.

George would hand him a steaming cup of tea in the morning and his fingertips would brush the back of Harry's hand. The whole gang would go shopping and George would walk beside him, and as they walked they would get close enough and their hands would brush against the other. But then George would smile, apologize, and widen the space between them. When these kind of things happened, the touch always seemed to linger just a moment too long, then it was gone.

There were looks as well. Their eyes would find each other across rooms and dinner tables and George would wink or smile at him. Harry's heart would beat a bit faster, but he just smiled back and dismissed it as Georges usual flirty behavior.

Then there were moments where it was just them talking. There would be a pause in conversation or Harry would catch himself rambling and he would look over at George only to find that George was already looking at him. In his eyes, fondness and that ever-present twinkle of mischief could be found, but in these quiet moments when he's just looking at Harry there's something else there. But its gone before Harry can even blink. 

Moments like these give Harry hope and let him think maybe hes not the only one with feelings in this situation. 

But he quickly smothers that hope, because in what world would the beautiful and witty George Weasley want Harry Potter. Its not possible. It was just his mind playing some cruel trick on his heart.

He forces these terribly depressing thoughts to the back of his mind as he and Ron come to a stop at the top of the stairs, overlooking the dance.

It was truly an amazing sight to behold. Music was playing, people were dancing and chatting. All the guys from Durmstrang wore long red capes while the girls from Beauxbatons all wore dresses of various shades of blue. 

At the end of the Great Hall was the biggest Christmas tree Harry had ever set eyes on as it filled the entire space between floor and ceiling. It was elegantly decorated with only blues, silver and white. Long icicles hung from the ceiling and glittering snow danced in the air but it wasn't really cold in the Great Hall. It must be Magic.

Harry and Ron share a look of awe before making their way down the stairs. 

They get themselves something to drink and Ron excuses himself so he can go find Seamus, leaving Harry alone by the punch table. He stood there for a bit, losing himself in thoughts about nothing in particular when he's pulled from it by a soft, melodic voice. He looks over to see Luna Lovegood.

"Sorry, what was that Luna?" Harry asked.

"I was just asking if you were alright? You seem a bit ... lonely." She finished softly as she looked him in the eye.

"Oh. No, I'm alright."

"I can see you're lying, Harry. But I wont push as I can see this is a rather uncomfortable subject for you." She said as she turned to look at all the couples dancing.

When she turned back to Harry she wasn't looking at him, but at something over his shoulder. Harry turned to see what she was looking at. 

"Shes beautiful, isnt she?" Luna asked, not really expecting an answer as they watched Hermione Granger walk down the stairs with all the grace in the world. She really was. Harry couldn't have been more proud, as he considers Hermione the sister he never had. Luna waved as Hermione spotted them and made her way over. 

"You look wonderful, Luna." Hermione said as she reached the punch table. "You as well, Harry."

"Thanks Hermione, but you and Luna are far more beautiful than I could ever hope to be." Harry replied as he kissed them both on the cheek and excused himself so the couple could have a bit of privacy as they giggled and talked amongst themselves.

Harry wandered around the Great Hall, talking to a few people who along the way (thankfully, none commented on his lack of a date). He even sat on the fountains edge watching couples dance. He caught Cho looking at him over the shoulder of her date, Cedric Diggory. He smiled at her. Eventually, he made his way back to the punch table. He was refilling his cup when someone came up behind him, 

"Careful Potter, one might think you're trying to steal Cedrics title of Hogwarts resident Pretty Boy." Said an amused voice, one he would know anywhere. He responded,

"Careful Weasley, one might think you've just complimented me completely of your own will." Harry turned from the punch bowl to look at George, also to hide the blush creeping up his neck.

"So what if I have? I was under the impression that it was common practice to compliment beautiful people?" George said with that look in his eyes as he looked at Harry. The glittering snow in the air reflected in his deep brown eyes, making the ever-present sparkle of mischief that much more prominent. 

"I suppose so" Harry responded dumbly. George was just being nice, he didn't really mean it. He couldn't.

"It is, and I wanted to ask... May I have this dance?" George said as he offered Harry his arm, uncertainty is his eyes even as he smirked at Harry. 

Harry didnt know what to say so he just nodded and took Georges proffered arm. He honestly couldn't believe this was happening. George    had asked Harry to dance with him. As George led them to the dance floor the song changed to a much slower one. He looked to George, who was looking at the DJ with a smirk on his face. He turned back to look at Harry. When he realized Harry was already looking at him, the smirk was quickly replaced with an innocent look.  

When they got to the dance floor George took the lead and started a beautiful waltz.

"I didn't know you could dance." Harry said, surprised.

"I know, I'm just full of surprises." George said as he winked at Harry. 

Halfway through the song Harry gives in to the warmth that radiated from George. He lets his head rest on Georges shoulder as they sway to the music. Harry begins to doubt his reality and discreetly pinches himself to make sure this is really happening. It is. 

When the song was over George leads him from the dance floor. He leans over closer to Harry and whispers,

"Whaddya say we ditch this party?" He straightens back up. Hes got that look in his eye again as he waits for Harry to give his answer. And really, how can he say no to an offer like that. He cant help the smile that breaks across his face as he looks George in the eye,

"Lets do it." 

Its a bit of a process, getting away unnoticed by McGonagall and Snape as the students arent supposed to leave the Hall until much later. But with Georges knowledge of the secret passages in Hogwarts, they manage. Behind one portrait that contains a knight, is a little tunnel. After apologizing to the knight for moving his portrait, Harry finds himself coming out of the other end of the tunnel, which apparently led the the DADA Classroom.

To get to the Gryffindor Common Room, they cross multiple freezing corridors only to run into Filch, who is patrolling that halls, on the lookout for 'lost' students. As Filch knows all the secret passages as well its a matter of whos faster. They turn back down the hall theyd just come from. They run a little ways making turns here and there until they come to a stop outside another painting. George chats with the lady for a minute, but Harry doesnt hear what they're saying. He's too busy looking over his shoulder for Filch.

Hes still looking when Georges hand wraps around his wrist and yanks him the through secret passage. They'd made it to the common room.

"Merlin, that was fun!" George said breathlessly as he shut the portrait and slid down the wall, slowly catching his breath. Harry slides down next to him, trying to catch his own. 

Harry and George looked at each other and Harry realized just how close they were, breathing each others air. Their thighs were flush against each other as well as their shoulders. They just sat there on the cool stone floor, catching their breath. 

Harry's heart raced as he saw George's eyes flick down to his lips and linger there. They were both leaning in, then George's lips were on his. For those few seconds the world stopped turning, everything was perfect. Georges lips were soft and fit against his just right. 

George brought his hand up to cup Harry’s jaw. His thumb sweeping across Harry’s cheekbone. The kiss was short and sweet but it still left Harry breathless. It was everything.

Harry pulled away first, but not completely. He rested his forehead against Georges as they both tried to catch their breath once again. They smiled at each other. 

All was silent. All except for their breathing. George was the first too break this silence.

"I really like you, Harry." He said as he pulled back so he could look at Harry without going cross-eyed. "I've really liked you since the Quidditch World Cup. I've been trying to find a way to tell you ever since, but every time I got close I chickened out."

Harry blushed deeply at this confession. 

"I really like you too, George." Harry confessed. "I think I always have."

George started to say something else but was interrupted by the sound of the Fat Lady letting students into the common room. How long had they been there? They stood up and put a (sadly) respectable amount of distance between themselves, not quite ready for the beast that is the Hogwarts rumor mill. They shared one last smile as they bid each other goodnight promising to talk more later. They made their way to their own dorms and each collapsed into their own bed. 

They both laid in their beds with lovesick smiles on their faces, events of the evening on replay in both of their heads. 

Eventually sleep claims them and they both fall asleep with the same thought floating around in their head, 

"I cant wait for tomorrow."