1.
"Harry, who are you taking to the Christmas Ball?" Hermione asked nonchalantly as the trio tredged through the 3-foot potions essay. Ron looked up wildly at Hermione, nearly spilling his ink well on her, if it was not for the lightning reflexes of the Gryffindor seeker. "Ronald!" She snapped. "It was an accident!" He yelled back in defense of being called by his first name. "Ugh. Please don't start now guys. It's been a long day and I have an interview with that horrid Skeeter woman in the morning." Harry interjected almost bored, but mostly annoyed, after growing tired of their antics.
"Sorry." Two-thirds of the Golden Trio said in unison, looking slightly ashamed.
"Alright mate, back to Hermione's question. Who are you planning to ask?"
"Fine! If it's so important to you, I wasn't even planning on going. The girl I was working to ask is already taken. Besides...I don't even know how to dance. No girl would want to go to a ball with a guy who can't even dance." Harry's hard outer-shell dissolved, and he looked utterly miserable. Hermione quickly put down her quill and set her essay aside and placed both hands on Harry's shoulders.
"Harry James Potter, look at me." Her tone was soft, yet commanding, so he complied.
"I will say this once, and once only, so you better be listening. No girl in her right mind would turn down a guy as brave, thoughtful, generous, clever, and pretty darn good looking as you, just because you have two left feet! As long as you can show her a good time, while still being the respectful gentleman you are, dancing would be the least of her worries!" She was beaming at him with a barely noticable glint in her eyes.
"What Hermione said man, totally spot on. A bloke as humble as you could score any girl you want! Besides, you could always learn how to dance before the ball." Ron was equally as enthused as his friend, their attempt to cheer Harry up was gaining strength.
"You...you guys really mean all of that?" Harry asked quietly, feeling small as they described this awfully admirable person to him, with the expectation that he'll actually believe they were reffering to him.
"Of course!" They said in unison again. Hermione pulled him in for an embrace. Later that night they would discuss how much they are becoming like Gred and Forge.