22 chapter 22 : The Idiot and the Lover

The next day, Professor McGonagall gathered them in a room for an important thing, the Yule Ball which everyone was going to attend because it was a tradition of the Triwizard Tournament.

 She announced that it was going to be a dance and that everyone had to rise to the occasion, this session was apparently going to be a dance class.

 She talked about it a bit before Filch sent music. Ron, completely bored by the whole thing and tired from his recent activities, yawned before wiping the tear in his eye when he heard...

 "Mr. Weasley, please join me." It was McGonagall's voice.

 Ron: Who? Which Weasley?

 McGonagall: You?

 Ron: Me?

 McGonagall: Absolutely!

 Ron: Why me?

 McGonagall: To serve as my partner! Stop being stupid and come!

 He stood up like the weight of the world was on his shoulders as everyone started laughing at him.

 Harry, Fred and George particularly made fun of him together and he looked at them swearing to make them pay for it later and the trio felt a shiver run through them.

 McGonagall and Ron got into position without her even telling him what to do, one of her hands held Minerva's hip and the other held her hand.

 They started dancing and McGonagall was surprised by Ron's dexterity.

 McGonagall: You dance wonderfully Weasley!! Where did you learn this?

 Ron: My parents are eternal young lovers and on several occasions I have seen them dancing together.

 McGonagall: You learned by just watching them?

 Ron: That's it, professor...

 Minerva:…

 The others who initially laughed when he was selected remained frozen looking at them and McGonagall asked all the boys and girls to get together.

 This session, they had for a whole month where Ron went through real hell because he was harassed by almost all the girls including the girls from Beauxbatons, he was also treated to Hermione's moods who 'was annoying with him for nothing.

 In the meantime, Neville had gathered up the courage to approach Ginny and ask her to be his date.

 The afternoon of the day of the ball, he looked for Luna and she was sitting alone somewhere in the woods throwing bits of meat to animals that apparently only she could see.

 Ron knew she was used to being there but when he walked up to her with a package, her eyes were a little wet as if she had been crying.

 "I've been looking for you, I didn't even see you yesterday..." He said surprising her and she quickly dried her eyes.

 Ron: Is there a problem? Are you okay Luna?

 Luna: It's nothing Ron, I'm fine...

 Ron: Luna, why try to lie to me when you know very well that it's impossible? What's wrong ?

 Luna: It's nothing, I tell you. Should you go find your date, is it almost time for the ball?

 "Of course, of course I did!" He said in an amused tone.

 "Alright, Go ahead then…" She said with a trembling voice.

 Ron: Luna, it's a bit ridiculous to send me where I already am, isn't it?

 Luna: What are you talking about?

 Ron: You're my date for this damn ball! Wait…is that why you were crying…?

 Luna:…

 Ron: What on earth made you think I was going to go with another girl?

 Luna: You haven't asked me since it was announced.

 Ron: Because I thought it was obvious!! You know me better than any girl in this school, I thought you did and-(interrupted)

 Luna: Ron you are the smartest boy I know but sometimes you can also be as stupid as a Belark! Sometimes girls need boys to take initiative to feel reassured.

 Ron: How do you want me to know that? I'm not a telepath! And then what is a Belark?

 Luna: Idiot…

 Ron: YOU...! (sighs) You're driving me crazy, but if you insist I'll propose. *Ahem* Luna Lovegood, will you be my date for this damn ba-(stops)…for this wonderful Christmas ball?

 Luna: I want to but it's too late!

 Ron: What else? Are you going with anyone else?

 Luna: No, I just don't have a dress because some idiot was late in proposing.

 Ron: Oh, is that it? Problem fixed ! (hands over the package) You will put on this dress for tonight and I will wait for you at the bottom of the stairs. After that…

 He came up to her and gave her a kiss on the lips, the girl turned into a real tomato and Ron himself had his face red.

 Ron: This is to make things clear once and for all, it's you I want and only you. You see ? I'm not that stupid.

 He left while Luna stood there in a daze as her fingers moved uncontrollably.

 At ball time, all the students were already in the Great Hall and Harry was at Ron's side waiting for his date.

 The two boys were dressed similarly because Ron had ordered his mother not wizard ball gowns but muggle clothes for special occasions.

 They wore an elegant black frock coat each with a black silk waistcoat and a different colored shirt for each, dark red for Ron and dark blue for Harry with black pants and smart shoes. A lot of eyes were on them because they looked very good.

 Harry had his hair a little longer and styled like Snape's but more elegant and Ron had opted for a back bun with several strands of his hair in the front (I remind you that he has long hair here and doesn't hasn't cut them for almost two years, Harry did the same for a year).

 While they were waiting, they suddenly saw Hermione coming down from the stairs in a beautiful dark pink dress as she had a beautiful smile on her lips.

 Ron hissed when he saw her but for Harry, it was like he was seeing her for the first time or in a new light. Ron bumped Harry's shoulder with his own teasingly as Harry came to take Hermione's hand.

 Ron: Is she your date!? Harry you are formidable!!

 Hermione: Viktor Krum made me this request and I waited for something else until Harry made me his too.

 Ron: I have to say that you guys look really good together, I mean it.

 Harry: Thanks Ron.

 Hermione: Yes…thank you. Where is your date?

 Ron: (looks at his pocket watch) She won't be long...I hope.

 McGonagall immediately came to Harry and Hermione

 McGonagall: Ah! Here you are ! Quick, come Potter, the tournament champions must open the ball! Didn't I tell you?

 Harry: No...

 McGonagall: Well come on then! (Looks at Ron) Weasley, you look very elegant! Where is your date?

 Ron: I'm still waiting for her, I hope she will come...

 McGonagall: I'm very curious to know who it is...

 "See you later bro" Harry said as he and Hermione were taken away by McGonagall. Ron waited some more and began to despair.

 If Luna didn't come, he wasn't going to blame her because that sort of thing wasn't really his thing, but just as he wanted to go upstairs to take a nap in his room, she came and started to walking down the steps in a beautiful, body-hugging white and blue dress with embellishments.

 The beautiful blue-eyed blonde wore her long, loose hair which cascaded over her shoulders and back. (You see Elsa in her outfit in the Snow Queen? Well it's Luna but without the braid. Well, now you have an image especially since she's a little bigger than in the films. It's the same actress but with growth similar to the golden trio).

 Ron: You're late, miss...

 Luna: This is a first for me, I had to do my hair and do lots of other things…I'm sorry.

 Ron: It was worth the wait. Even a thousand years would have been worth the cost of what I see now. You are beautiful Luna.

 Luna: You are very handsome too.

 There were other couples downstairs but they froze looking at these two and a lot of the boys wondered who the girl with Ron was, no one could recognize Luna because she was so beautiful.

 Coming down the steps, she saw Ron hold out his hand to her and she wanted to grab it but the moment they touched, flames burst from Ron's suit and ice dust emanated from Luna's white dress. who flinched and immediately withdrew his hand.

 Ron: Don't worry, it's an illusion enchantment that I've been working on for almost two weeks. It is triggered when we touch each other and the effects are only illusions, the flames are not real.

 She simply nodded before taking her hand back and the Illusions of Fire and Ice manifested again before the amazed eyes of the others.

 Hand in hand, they immediately headed towards the dance room where the champions had already started dancing.

 Harry with Hermione, Viktor with Fleur and Cédric with Cho, the champions had barely started dancing in the large hall decorated with an ice theme when people started exclaiming and murmuring as they moved aside that Ron with all his sass invited himself and Luna onto the floor in the middle of the champions who even unconsciously moved aside and they began to dance there gracefully.

 McGonagall watched Ron and Luna dance in fire and ice as she placed her hand on her chest to take a deep breath.

 Fred and Georges, whose riders were the twins Parvati and Padma Patil, watched their little brother steal the show from the champions and began to applaud him, Ron knew how to cause trouble better than them and in a more subtle way.

 "Stick to me" Ron said to Luna.

 Luna: What?

 Ron: Come closer!

 They got closer and the fire and ice effects became louder as did the music to the amazement of the others.

 Dumbledore and McGonagall also went onto the track and the others applauded before following.

 Ron looked among the other dancers and he saw Neville who had his face completely red dancing with Ginny, he was intimidated by the girl's beauty and when Ron saw him he winked at her to give her a little courage because he liked Neville.

 He wished it was Harry for his little sister but Neville was just as good.

 When the waltz ended for Rock'n'roll music to take over, Ron and Luna were no longer there because one didn't want to gesticulate and then sweat to music that was too tiring and the other just liked calm. They were on a balcony at the moment not far from the others but they were quiet.

 Ron: It wasn't so bad for a first dance, was it?

 Luna: I had fun and the others looked at me strangely.

 Ron: It's because for the first time in their lives they saw an embodiment of purity.

 Luna: You and your mouth can make people explode with anger, but you can also say...crazy things.

 Ron:…

 Luna:...What you did to me earlier in the forest...

 Ron: It was sudden, I should never have done that without your permission. I don't know what came over me...sorry Luna.

 Luna: That's not what I meant, stupid...!

 They looked into each other's eyes for a few seconds and Ron kissed him again on the lips but longer.

 Hermione, Harry and other students saw it but the young couple didn't care, there was only them in the world at that moment.

 [ The entities]

 Death: THAT'S MY BOY! DID YOU SEE THAT ?!!

 Eternity: Well, I have to say that I was waiting for this too.

 Reality: He's doing really well, I'm glad I made this boy better and Luna deserved it too.

 Death: They are beautiful to look at but I prefer Danielle and Jacob. Best couple, I don't want to know.

 Eternity: They are just starting out and they are much younger. Their start to the relationship is better than that of Jacob and Danielle, which was a night of debauchery because Jacob had discovered that there were other women besides Bella.

 Reality: She has a point there! Ron and Luna have known each other since childhood.

 Death: Who cares at the beginning! I hope now that their romance won't clutter the story...

 Reality: We will see that.