Opened At The Close...

9:The Ball

  Notice- Longer chapter. (Thought you ought to know. *faints*)
    "What kind of meat would you rather me cook, Master Harry? There's chicken and porkchops in the refridgerator,"  Kreacher informed Harry, as he polished Regulus's locket with his toga.
"What do you want?" Harry asked the room at large. That night, only Ron, Hermione and Ginny were sleeping over, because Mrs. Weasley and Mr. Weasley insisted that they liked to have the house to themselves.
"I'll have chicken," said Ron. "Hermione? Ginny?"
  Hermione looked up from Most Advanced Arithmancy  and said distractedly,
"Uh, yeah sure. Chicken,"
"Chicken," agreed Ginny with a nod.
  After Kreacher had fixed dinner and brought it to the table, excited talk about the ball the next evening began.
"So how is your speech coming Harry?" Hermione asked eagerly, digging into grilled chicken, salad, and roasted potatoes.
"I'm done with it, and I think I did a pretty good job, " Harry said, passing her the folded up piece of parchment. As she ate, Hermione scanned it carefully. Finally, she nodded.
"It's brilliant, Harry," she said earnestly.
"Let me see," said Ron from beside Hermione.
  By the time everyone had read it, they had all reassured Harry that it was a very good speech that was just the right length.
"Thanks," Harry said happily, slumping in his chair while Kreacher took their plates.
"What do your dress robes look like Harry? I can't remember," asked Ginny.
"They're dark blue with silver stars on the sleeves,"Harry reminded her."I can bring them in here of you want."
"I'm good. I can't really remember them that well, but I like to be surprised," she said, winking at him. The wink went unnoticed by Ron (thankfully) but not by Hermione, who smirked at them both.
"I think I should put some of that SleekEezy's potion on my hair before bed," Hermione said, clearing her throat.
"Your hair looks good whether it's bushy or staight," Ron said inconsequentially.
"Yes, well," Hermione said, blushing. "I like it to be straight on formal occasions."
"After that,  it's that matter of who we're going with," Ginny said. Harry and Ron stared at her.
"Well, we're going with you two, of course," Ron said incredulously.
"But you haven't asked us yet," said Hermione slyly. Just as Ron was about to reply, however, a grey screech owl knocked on the window with his bony little foot. Harry walked over and took the letter which said:
  Dear Mr. Potter:
We have taken the liberty of writing a speech for you to say in the ball tomorrow. We hope you will find it beneficial.
  His eyebrows knitted, Harry opened the letter further and found a speech. A speech that said nothing at all about Voldemort or the lives lost in the Battle, nothing about the past. This speech only focused on the future, and Harry thought this strange and stupid, for the only way to face the future properly was with the knowledge you gained from the past. Things that happened in the past effect the future; they effect you. Disgusted by the speech, Harry passed it to Hermione.
  "What do you think about this speech?"He asked her. "The Ministry wants me to say this at the ball tomorrow."
Hermione's brow furrowed in concentration as she read it, and then she snorted.
"This is so stupid!" She retorted with a disbelieving smile. "They can't seriously want you to say that!"
  Ron and Ginny read it and were equally disgusted and derisive. Perhaps this will tell you why. The speech read:
  People of England and the countries surrounding; we are gathered here today to think of what happens next. It matters not how Voldemort was destroyed, the point is, he is destroyed. Now we must plan for the days following, as out futures now lay undetered. I hooe you will agree with me in saying that this country will heal rapidly thanks to our strong new ministry. Thank you.

    "It's so horrible that they still want you to be their little poster boy," Ginny said angrily.
"It'll be fine, because I'm not going to say it," Harry said defiantly.
"Don't you have to?" Ron asked nervously.
"It doesn't say anywhere on this letter that I do," Harry said simply.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked as nervously as Ron.
"I think Harry should say his own speech," voiced Ginny."It would be more crowd-pleasing, and after all, that's what the Ministry wants, right?"
"Yeah...you're right!" Hermione said, realization pouring into her face.
                          *_____*_____*
   Harry promised himself that day that he would go to bed early, for the next day was sure to be tiring, but he could not manage to keep this promise. He sat with the other around the fireplace for hours, laughing and talking, drinking hot tea and eating treacle tart.
"That's not true, Ron!" Hermione said shrilly.
"Yes, it is!" Harry laughed, putting an arm around Ginny.
"Everyone could tell you had a thing for Lockhart! But don't sweat it, Hermione, you aren't the only one," Ron said reasonably.
"Yeah. Just look at Mum, for instance," Ginny said, leaning against Harry and curling her legs up to her chest.
"Well, okay, maybe I liked him a little," Hermione admitted.
"Yes, maybe, " smirked Ron from the cushion at the end of the sofa they were sitting on; Hermione at one end with her legs stretched out, and Ron at the other end with her feet in his lap.
"Well, I'm going to bed," Hermione said, yawning and taking her feet out of Ron's lap.
"Me, too," Harry said, glancing at his watch. "It's nearly midnight."
"Yeah, think I'll get some sleep, too," Ron agreed, stretching.
"S'bout that time," said Ginny sleepily.