章節 62: CH 62
It wasn't as uncomfortable as Harry normally found such closeness. She was warm, very soft, and pressed in against him in a way that seemed quite natural. He had never realised the feeling of having another person so closely moulded to the contours of his body would be so pleasant.
There was only a moments delay before he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her closer still, bending down slightly and inhaling the fragrance of her hair. Katie smelt like grass and broom polish. It was a smooth, sporty, but still natural scent that rather suited her.
She didn't let go for a long time, even when people nearby started to stare and whisper, and it was only when Harry reminded her that lunch was almost over and she hadn't eaten anything yet that she released him and stepped back, still blushing madly.
'I'm sorry,' she apologised. 'I've never asked anyone on a date before and I sort of expected you to say no.' She was speaking very fast, the words rushing over each other in a happy tumble. ' I need to get some food, and go find Angelina and Alicia and…' Katie's words blurred together into an ecstatic, but unintelligible burble.
For a second she looked torn and Harry half-expected another hug, then she gave him a wave and a smile before skipping happily away after her friends.
'Hogsmeade with Katie Bell,' Ginny spoke up from a few places down the table.
How long has she been there?
Harry had not even noticed her. He felt a little guilty about that.
'Yes,' he responded, the guilt doubling as he remembered their last conversation.
'I was going to ask you if you'd take me to the Yule Ball,' Ginny continued in an unsettlingly happy tone, 'but if you're going on dates with Katie then you'll be going with her.'
Harry honestly had no idea what the Yule Ball was or what it entailed. He could guess from the name it was both at Christmas and involved dancing in the style of the Jane Austen novels his aunt was so fond of.
'I guess I will be,' he realised. It would be a bit strange if Katie wanted to go on dates with him and not accompany him to this Yule Ball.
'I suppose I've missed my chance then,' Ginny said, rather too cheerfully for Harry's liking. Her happiness about something that should have definitely upset her was ominous. Harry felt there was a whole storm of unspoken words waiting to break from her lips.
'Sorry,' he began, but Ginny cut him off.
'I can go with Dean, or with Michael,' she smiled. 'I'll enjoy myself with either of them.'
'Don't make any decisions with me in the back of your mind,' Harry told her, finally understanding the reason for her odd cheer. She would not provoke the jealousy or regret from his that she hoped for. Ginny was no longer Ron's little sister to him, but she would never be anything more than a friend. There was no feeling between them like Harry felt with Katie.
'Ah,' Ginny's happiness vanished abruptly and left a very sad, small smile in its place. 'I hope you enjoy going with Katie.' She sounded surprisingly genuine. There was a note of bitterness when she said Katie's name and her eyes were looking a lot more liquid than normal, but she managed a smile as she turned to walk away.
I'm sorry, he wanted to say, but the words died in his throat. He was sorry that she was unhappy, but nothing more, and he didn't want to give her false hope. It would be far better for Ginny's feelings to fade away completely than survive and fester.
Harry decided, as he watched Ginny's back recede away, one sleeve pressed to her face, that the Yule Ball, whatever it turned out to be, was going to cause a great deal of trouble for him and many others. He really wanted no part of it. The Yule Ball would be loud, close and everything that Harry hated, were it not for Katie it might be unbearable.
A thousand possible scenarios for the Ball paraded through his head, each more uncomfortable than the last until he finally decided that thinking on it was only making things worse.
Katie will make it bearable.
The Chamber of Secrets was far removed from this newly unfolding drama and Harry could not be more eager to return there. Salazar was very unlikely to cry, ask him on a date, or invite him to a ball.
He made it halfway across the hall, walking along the length of the Gryffindor table, before Ron rose from his seat to block his path.
'What did you say demanded furiously.
to
my
sister?'
he
Harry noted that Dean was similarly incensed. He must have already asked Ginny and just worked out her delay was to see if Harry would go with her before falling back on Dean if he would not. It was no wonder Dean was angry.
'I told her something she knew I would, but hoped I wouldn't,' Harry answered vaguely. Hopefully Ron would let him pass and vanish before he worked it out.
'Was she not good enough for you?' Dean said loudly, setting his goblet down with a bang.
.
.
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