"Second Choice" by Quidditch, Anyone?
Plenty Of Time, Right?
It was day two since Professor McGonagall's announcement, and both Hermione and Ron couldn't be more anxious. They scarcely talked to each other, and when they did the word 'ball' was the last thing to be mentioned. Harry didn't press the issue, partly because he himself was worried about asking the girl he wanted, who was... well, nevermind. The other reason was because he thought the slightest touch could set either one of his friends off. So, as stupid as they were acting by not acting, Harry simply shook his head and sighed in between them. Walking down the halls, what seemed the question from hell was asked.
"Oy! You three got dates for the Ball yet?"
Harry groaned. Oh, how perfect was this...
Hermione whipped around to face the owner of the voice and his evilly grinning twin beside him. Ron just did what he did best and turned his signature crimson.
"No." In answering, Harry hoped he could mentally tell the twins to shut up unless they wanted the stuffing knocked out of them. Unfortunately, explaining a year's worth of bad experience couldn't be said in one syllable.
"Well, better get a move on! You don't want to be stuck with some troll like Millicent Bulstrode. Or worse," George gave a short laugh. "Each other!"
Fred doubled over with laughter and slapped his twin on the back and they made their way down the corridor, which echoed their laughs greatly to the annoyance of everyone.
For once, it was hard to tell whether or not Ron's face was lighter than his hair. Hermione looked similar to when she had been Petrified in her second year.
"Er, hi Justin!" Harry hollered. Phew! A change in subject.
"Hullo, Harry. Ron," Justin nodded to each hesitantly as he drew closer.
"Something wrong?" Harry asked. Apparently, he was the only one out of the three who still had a voice.
"Er, well, yes. I mean, no, not at all..." he stammered. Quite suddenly he said breathlessly, "HermionecouldIhaveawordwithyou?"
"Erm, pardon?" Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"I-I just need a private word for a moment, that's all." He was now shifting his feet.
"Okay," she answered slowly. With a puzzled look at Ron and Harry, she followed Justin.
Ron watched the two of them retreat to a deserted hall. In short, let's say he looked capable of murder.
"What does he think he's doing?" Ron demanded.
"How 'm I s'posed to know?" Harry asked.
"Well... that Justin kid... he-he'd just better not be-" Still looking at the place Hermione and Justin disappeared, he clenched his fists till his knuckles whitened.
"If you're so upset about her getting asked to the Ball, they why don't you just shut up and bloody ask her yourself!" Harry found himself bursting.
"I DON'T WANT TO GO WITH THAT... THAT... BUCKED-TOOTHED BOOKWORM! WHY SHOULD I CARE WHO ASKS HER?" Ron bellowed. He turned away and retired to the Common Room. He only stopped to kick at random places on the wall and curse to himself.
·~··~··~·
Hermione's face felt flushed as she entered an empty classroom with Justin. The way he was acting she would think he was about to ask her to the ball, that is if she hadn't found out the previous day he was going with Hannah. So, what was this about?
"Er, Hermione, do... do you have a partner for the Ball yet?" Justin asked timidly.
"Oh! I, well, er... I though you were going with Hannah?"
Justin looked as if he had had a heart attack. "Oh, no, Hermione! You misunderstood. I'm not asking you! I just... well, know a friend who really wants to ask you, but doesn't think you'll say yes."
Hermione felt both embarrassed and relieved. "Oh! Well, umm, okay." Then she remembered what had just been said to her. "So, who's your friend?" She hoped it sounded off-hand.
"Well," Justin looked tense again. "Keep in mind, Hermione, that he's a really nice guy and all-"
"Yes?"
"Er, Ernie Macmillan," Justin said quietly.
"Ah, well... yes, he is a very nice guy," Hermione admitted. Oh, that bloody oaf Ron! She had a chance to go with an extremely polite and rather good-looking boy who actually fancied her, and she was chickening out because of him.
Justin apparently took her hesitation as a no. "Yes, well," he coughed. "Just asking. It's no big deal, really."
Hermione felt very bad. "I'm sorry, but it's just that-"
"Oh, no explanation necessary! But, er, if you don't mind, could you, ah, not mention this to Ernie? He doesn't know I asked you for him and he'll be upset if he found out."
"Right, right," Hermione patted her hair nervously. "You know, I'm really, really sorry, but I'm sort of in this situation..." she faded away.
"It's okay," he shrugged. "Still plenty of time to keep asking around."
"Right," she said, thinking more of her and Ron than poor Ernie.
This whole idea came to me in a sort of half- dream. It relates to something I hope to happen in my own life, but I won't get too much into that (hehe). Anyway, special thanks to jaffacake, who read all of my stories and took the time to review and say extra-nice things. A million Galleons to you, hun!
