The corridors of Hogwarts castle had never been so alive with gossip, students forming little groups in the corridor, passing around their own rumours while picking up new ones. Not even when it had been rumoured that He-should-not-be-named had been in the back of Professor Quirell's head 3 years ago, or that Harry Potter had fought with a huge snake, or that Professor Lupin was a were-wolf. There hadn't actually been that much gossip with the last one because the students had admired him so much.
No, this time, it was the biggest news anyone had ever heard. According to many reliable sources, such as the Weasley twin's best friend- Lee Jordan- there had been an almost massive duel in the transfiguration courtyard because around 20 guys had all wanted to ask Hermione Granger to the Yule Ball. Hermione Granger, Harry Potter's clever, book obsessed friend? The girl who hung around with one of the Weasley clan? Since when had boys found her good looking?
Harry Potter banged a large heavy book onto the table in front of him, calling for order. The Transfiguration classroom was pretty crowded with people, nearly all of them interested in being Hermione's date at the Yule Ball. Every school was represented, and all 4 houses of Hogwarts had some representation as well, though why a Slytherin would want to go to such a public event with a Gryffindor was beyond his reasoning. But they were there and McGonagall had told them that they should have a fair chance at what ever it was they were trying to do.
It had been so embarrassing, being caught in the middle of a duel, hanging upside down by Professor McGonagall. She had been a little bit more than shocked when she found out why they were duelling, in fact, she had looked ready to faint, but she'd told them to sort it out like gentleman.
So there they were, gathered in her classroom, trying to come up with a solution on how to sort out this problem.
"Has anyone got any ideas? Anything. I don't care how stupid it sounds, but we need some way of resolving this."
There was silence for a moment while they all looked at each other, thinking of someway to get out of this situation that didn't involve beating each other to death ad getting into a lot of trouble with Dumbledore and McGonagall. Though, Dumbledore would most likely find the funny side to all of this. McGonagall hadn't.
"Each of us could have one dance with her." They all looked around at Eddie Carmichael, a Hufflepuff 5th year with slightly short black hair and a smile that was far too perfect. Harry raised an eyebrow, thinking about it. But before he could answer a number of protests rose from the group.
"In case you haven't noticed, there are 18 of us. We'd get about 2 dances each."
"Plus, there's 3 of the 4 champions in the room, they can't all turn up with out a date and then wait in line to dance with her."
Eddie shrugged his shoulders, pulling a face at them all. "It was just an idea." He muttered, slouching further down in his seat beside Cedric Diggory, still muttering under his breath.
"Why not put all our names into a hat and let her pick one out." Terry Boot was silenced by a glare from Ron Weasley.
"What if she picks out a Slytherin!?" George and Fred pulled their brother back down onto his seat, holding him in place as he tried to break free of his grip.
"Democratic, and logical, but might not work, unless you want Ron to bash your head in." George said, kicking his younger brother in the shin to shut him up.
"How about just asking her who she'd prefer to go with." They all looked around at the speaker.
Cedric Diggory got to his feet, turning to Harry. "She's a human being, and a highly intelligent one at that. She should have a say in this, shouldn't she?" All of them looked up at him, turning around in their seats so as to get a better look at the Hufflepuff.
"Each of us could put forward a case as to why she should go with us, and then after we've all told her she can pick. That way she has adequate information to choice from the 18 of us, and everyone stands a fair chance."
There was silence for a moment, all of them glancing at each other, trying to find some fault with the Hufflepuff's plan. After a couple more minutes Harry nodded.
"Alright, we have a week to present ourselves to Hermione and at the end of the week she will tell us who she choices. May the best man win."
Ron glared at the handsome Hufflepuff.
"I indent to," he muttered under his breath pushing past the tall Hufflepuff out into the corridor, hurrying off to find Hermione.
Neville Longbottom nervously glanced across at Hermione in Herbology, his attention drawn away from the plants that they were supposed to be replanting.
"Um, Hermione, I was wondering if you could help me with something." She looked up from her own planet, smiling kindly at him, as she always did, and every time she did it made his legs feel like jelly and he wanted to flop down onto the floor.
"Sure Neville, what do you need a hand with?" He looked down at his plant, suddenly very aware that he was sweating quite a bit and his hands were shaking.
"Um, well, I was wondering if you had a date to the Yule Ball." She stared at him, slightly taken aback. Obviously she had not been expecting that. He swallowed, waiting for her to laugh at him at how stupid it sounded, that he, stupid Neville Longbottom, good at nothing Neville Longbottom, had asked her to the ball.
"Oh, no Neville, I don't have a date. Why? Are you offering?" He dumbly nodded. She smiled at him again, that same sweet smile that look like sugar. "I'm sorry, Neville, but I don't really think I was going to go. I'm not really into dances. But I heard Ginny was interested in going." She added the last sentence on quickly, trying to cheer him up, which it kind of did. He nodded, a slight smile spreading across his face as she went back to her work.
After the lesson he caught up with Ginny. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
Hermione just smiled when her friend burst into the common room grinning like a Cheshire cat, not knowing that this was only the start of a long long week.
Harry looked down at his list of names. So far only Neville's name had been crossed off the list, a big cross by his name. He'd felt sorry for Neville. They poor bloke was so shy it must have almost killed him to ask her. But she had told him that Ginny wanted to go, and now Neville was walking about with a smile on his face. There were only 17 more names on the list. Yeah, it was going to be a very long week.