Disclaimer: don't own, don't sue.

Author's Notes: I'm very truly absolutely sorry if the story comes of dull and boring at the beginning. It will get better as it goes on… I think.

Prologue: Shaking Up The Night's Uncertainties

You know them. The Terrific Trio, inseparable as the Weasley twins are with their mischief. Wherever one went, the other two would follow. Who would have thought that one night, just one night, would ruin them all?

It happened the night of the Yule Ball in their fourth year. Ron and Harry weren't exactly having the time of their lives, seeing as the girls they were crushing on were paired up with someone else. Someone better than them.

'Someone better than Harry potter, the Boy-who-Lived?' you ask. Well yes, it is quite possible. Cedric Diggory, I am certain you knew him (or about him). He was the cutest and sweetest prefect Hogwarts ever had. Who cared if he was from Hufflepuff? He was, as the elders would say, a dreamboat. Not to mention "the true Hogwarts champion," that is according to the Slytherins, along with a couple more students from other houses. And going to the Ball with Ravenclaw's Cho Chang made matters worse for Harry. Why did he have to be so damn perfect after all?

And what about poor Ron? A bit insecure of being, well, not well off, and overshadowed by his brothers big accomplishments. And being in competition with Viktor Krum, the young Bulgarian seeker, drooled over by millions of fans didn't help him any.

That night ended with Ron and Hermione's non-violent fight and Harry's tight-lipped muteness in order to "preserve" the still standing friendship he had with Ron.

As Ron said his last words (angrily I might add, though he didn't have the right to be) 'Your completely missing the point!' Hermione ran back to her sleeping chamber in anger (now she had every right to be mad, in my opinion that is) and left the two boys in the Common Room. Harry was struck dumbfounded at his friend's lack of common sense but kept quiet. As I have said, to stay in good terms with Ron.

That much is known, for it had been told in a story to non-believers of magic. For muggles, this story was a fairytale, a childish yarn to delight upon. And for years, they have kept censored what happened after. But here I reveal to you, what had happened that night. The one thing that led destruction to their friendship years after…

Ron (like Harry) stood in silence, then after a while, realised his foolishness. But still mustering his remaining ounce of pride and dignity, he glared at Hermione's retreating back and headed to his dormitory.

Harry heaved a sigh and fell back on the sofa behind him. He continued staring into the flames in the fireplace minutes after, his mind contemplating over that night's event. Images and faces flashed through his mind. Cho's smile Cedric's annoyingly smug face, Padma's angry scowl and the recent fight between Ron and Hermione.

'Uh, Harry,' a voice interrupted Harry's deep thinking. It was Ron.

Harry looked up in surprise, his jaw slightly opened. 'Yes?' he asked Ron who was dressed in a rather flattering bunny pajama with matching bunny bedroom slippers.

'Well, I can't sleep at all, with tonight's wonderfully happy catastrophes,' Ron said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. 'I need to go down to nick a couple of tarts and pumpkin juice. But I can't risk getting caught. Mind if I borrow your invisibility cloak?'

'No, not at all. But still be careful okay? I've been caught by Snape a few times already.'

'Sure. Thanks Harry.'

Meanwhile in the girls' dormitory, Hermione was sited on the bay window gazing out into the star-clad sky. Her cheeks were glowing red with anger, lips pursed together. But tears were streaming down her face. How confusing the whole evening was for her. Even though no one had told her, it was seemingly obvious that Ron showed fanciful feelings towards her. Shame he didn't admit it, because Hermione (at that time, she "sort of") liked him too.

'Why Ron? Why? You had all the time in the world to tell me, and you never did. Not once,' Hermione whispered into thin air. Then she burst out into sobs with hiccups in between and buried her face in her hands.

She suddenly had a small feeling of regret in going with Viktor, now that she knew that she could have actually gone with Ron. Besides, Viktor asked first.

Tap-tap-tap, came a, well, a tapping noise from the window. Hermione looked up to see what it was. She saw a large, handsome owl flapping its long wings. It was a beautiful color of glittery purple-silver, which shimmered in contrast to the light of the moon.

Hermione stared in awe. Never has she seen an owl as beautiful as this. Then realizing that she had long been gaping at the owl, she stood up and quickly fumbled with the window's latch to let the bird in.

'Hey there owl,' Hermione said, letting it in, then wiped her tear-stained cheeks. The owl perched on top Parvati's bed and stuck out its left foot for Hermione to get the neatly rolled parchment.

'Thank you,' she whispered. Therewith, she took out the parchment and released from the tight knot and unrolled it. And in gleaming orange ink, the note said:

Hermione,

Meet me in the Forbidden Forest.

There is a situation I have to ask you. I'll

be waiting.

Yours,

Viktor

A small smile touched Hermione's lips after reading the letter, suddenly forgetting about the complicated Weasley boy. Why waste time with him after all? He was hard to understand and very much timid in facing the world of women. She slipped on her slippers and walked out her bedroom and into the Common Room where she saw Harry in some kind of a trance.

Weird, she thought. 'Harry? Hello?' she said, waving her hand up and down in front of Harry's face.

'What?' Harry said looking up, snapping back into reality.

'What are you thinking of Harry? You seem really out of it,' Hermione said.

'Nothing really. So what are you doing up at this hour? Have a slight case of insomnia?'

'No, not really. I'm just in the mood for a stroll, you know get some fresh air and clear my mind of this whole argument…' she lied.

'Well, be careful okay?' Harry said, ever the caring friend.

'Of course.'

Now as Hermione was creeping around the dark hallways of Hogwarts, Ron had just finished nicking food from the house-elves that were still awake. He was already climbing up the stairs when he saw a girl that seemed like an angel to him. She had her long maple brown wavy hair loose and wore a white flowing night-gown that reached her ankles. His jaw gaped open when he realized that it was Hermione.

'Where is she off to?' he asked to no one in particular.

Hermione slowly crept quietly down the stairs and out a huge door, which led to the outside grounds. Quick on his feet, Ron followed the quick paced Hermione. She went to a stop when she reached the Forbidden Forest. Was she waiting for someone? Who knows?

'Herm-own-ninny?' a deep voice called out.

'Krum?' Ron whispered.

'Viktor, where are you?' Hermione whispered, looking around. Then yelped when she was suddenly face to face with Krum.

'You look very beautiful tonight,' he said softly, looking down at her and tucked her hair behind her ear.

'Thank you,' she said in return.

They were close, so close. Too close for Ron's comfort. Ron took a step closer towards them. He was looking at Hermione with so much love in his eyes. Then looked over at Krum with hatred, jealousy and sadness. He wanted to hurl Krum out into outer space. He was mad at him for "stealing" Hermione from him.

'So what was it you wanted to say?' Hermione asked.

'I need to know, do you love me the way I love you?' Krum said. 'I have seen you everyday, ever since I arrived. And with you, I feel like I have everything that I could need, I couldn't keep my eyes off you during the dance. I love you Hermione.'

While Ron was ready to throw every tart he had brought with him, Hermione was struck with panic.

He loves me. Viktor Krum loves me, she thought. 'I think I do,' she said in response.

Ron's heart pounded hard, he was breathing in deeply and shaking his head.

'Would you like to be my girlfriend then? I know that I'd soon be leaving, but I need you in my life. You are the one that makes me happy, and the Ball will forever be one of my happiest memories.'

'I-I…' Hermione was speechless. Just one night with him, and suddenly he was so mushy? Krum looked expectantly and Ron looked at her with hurt written all over his face. Too bad she didn't see it, if she did, well that would make all the difference in her answer. 'Yes,' she said at last and sealed her answer with a kiss.

Krum kissed back a deep, searing kiss. A kiss that made Ron's heart writhe in pain and plummet into the ground.

'I promise you my heart,' Hermione said after the kiss was over. That was too much for Ron to take. The girl of his dreams, the girl he wanted to be with forever, the girl he wanted to say sweet things to, sweeter than what Krum had said promised her heart to someone who could barely speak in English. Ron ran as fast as he could up the Gryffindor Tower, dropping his tarts and pumpkin juice along the way.

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