All Ron and Harry seemed to do these days was chatter incessantly about Quidditch much to Hermione Granger's dismay. She needed a distraction from studying for the NEWTS and her best friends sure weren't helping.
"Honestly, can you both just shut up and talk about something besides Quidditch?" she whined. Ron paused his relentless rambling about the Chudley Cannons for a moment to give her a distracted confused look before continuing his conversation with Harry. Hermione rolled her eyes and looked around the Gryffindor table. Every seventh year boy seemed to have slowly descended to the spot where the golden trio usually sat, and were joining in on the quidditch conversation. Seamus Finnigan seemed to be a particularly enthusiastic participant as he kept fanatically promoting the Irish National Quidditch Team every chance he got. Unfortunately for Hermione, he was sitting right beside her. Ron was on the other side, and Harry was on the other side of Ron.
She was completely isolated. She didn't know a darn thing about Quidditch. She got up and moved to where Lavender and Parvati were giggling. "Ah, the great Hermione Granger finally graces us with her presence!" Lavender Brown said, smiling up at her. Hermione sighed. There's nowhere better to sit you bimbo. She sat down throwing her heavy rucksack onto the floor, and smiling at the two popular Gryffindors. Oh fuck, I could have just ate dinner quietly and left, what on earth compelled me to come sit down next to two of the shallowest people of my year.
Parvati suddenly frowned and Hermione panicked thinking she had voiced her thoughts accidentally.
"Who are you going to the ball with, Hermione?" she asked looking very interested. Lavender gave her a pointed look. Hermione had reason to suspect they had talked about this before.
"Er, I don't know yet," she replied honestly. She had better things to think about and the ball was a month away.
"Move fast! Or all the good ones will be gone!" Lavender said cheerfully. She turned away, looking dreamily at the Hufflepuff table. Hermione knew that Lavender was going with Ernie Macmillan and Parvati with Justin Finch-Fletchley. Not that she paid attention to useless gossip, but due to the fact she shared a dormitory with both the girls and they loved talking into the night.
Parvati was staring at her. Hermione pretended not to notice. "I suspect you and Malfoy will start the dance," she said, her eyes wide with mirth. Hermione nearly choked on the pumpkin tart she had been eating. "Hardly! I believe we are free to dance with whom we please," she replied nastily. Parvati laughed. "You obviously didn't go to any of the dances last year! The Head Boy and Girl always shared the first dance!" It was true that Hermione hadn't gone to any of the dances last year or the year before, or the year before, not that she had wanted to anyway. The Yule Ball had been a disaster.
Parvati stopped talking to her and started discussing the next Hogsmeade Trip with Lavender, pulling out a quill and writing down all the things she needed to prepare for the ball. Hermione rolled her eyes. She relished in preparation but a month's preparation for a stupid ball was just too much. They should be focusing on their N.E.W.T.S. not dances in their seventh year. Hermione was about to open her mouth and let them know that there was only seven months until the exams when Dumbledore stood up. "Students of Hogwarts, I would just like to remind you that you have just under a month to find dates for the Christmas Friendship Ball! Remember, that you may not attend with someone from your own house." His deep blue eyes twinkled with happiness as he sat down again.
Hermione found it a bit odd that he had made an announcement in the middle of dinner. No one else seemed puzzled though as excited chatter sprung up around her. Even the Quidditch enthusiasts seemed to be talking about the ball. She was pleased to see that most of them looked rather put out. Needless to say, most of them preferred girls from their own house.
She caught Harry glaring at Ginny while she was talking animatedly with her friends and stealing glances at the Ravenclaw table.
The Friendship Ball was a stupid idea. Hermione could hardly imagine any Gryffindors and Slytherins to come to the ball together.
There was one exception though.
Dumbledore grinned to himself, mischievously, chewing on a lemon drop. Ah, this is going to be fun, he thought to himself.
end of chapter 1
Author`s Note: I know this chapter is fairly short, but the next one is nearly triple this one`s length! This will probably be the shortest chapter. :) Anyway, review! I would love hearing what you think :)