'Harry pass us the toast will you?' Ron called across to the other side of the table, as Harry passed the toast rack across. 'Cheers mate' he said, before digging into a plain piece of toast.

'Here she comes Ron' Dean warned Ron, before hurriedly turning to Seamus. 'I say Seams, the toast this morning is really… hot'

'not obvious at all guys…' Ron muttered under his breath, before looking up. 'Hermione! I am so sorry about last night! I didn't mean that-'Ron started, but Hermione broke him off.

'Ron, you didn't say anything?' Hermione said, bravely. 'I just suddenly felt really tired, so I had to go' she paused. 'You know how it is' she concluded with a smiley air.

'Oh. Cool.' Ron felt instantly relieved, although he knew that she was just putting this on. 'Toast?' he offered, holding up his half eaten piece.

'Erm' Hermione laughed, 'no thanks?'

'SO… You got a date for the yule ball Harry? Champions have to dance first remember!' Seamus asked harry, grinning.

'Gah, don't remind me!' harry remorsed. 'I know who I want to ask though' he added, staring a little too unsubtly at Hermione, who reddened.

'Cho Chang?' Ron asked, knowing, like everyone else in the conversation, that she was not who he meant.

'Yeah… Cho Chang' Harry agreed, distractedly.

'What about you Ron?' Dean asked. Hermione was suddenly more alert. What if he HAD got someone? And he just hadn't mentioned it? Or maybe this was when he'd ask her… He would lean across, and tell her that he'd been waiting for the right moment, and that she was the one for him, and would she go to the ball with him? No Hermione, back into reality.

'Nah… I asked Fleur the other day though' he said, grimacing ever so slightly. 'Did NOT go well' the others laughed. 'It's a bit of a stupid tradition, having to have a partner to dance with. And I don't know any girls really, do I?' Ron quickly realised he did it again, SITTING next to a girl. How could he make it up?

'Hey, Hermione, YOU'RE a girl! Why don't you go to the dance with me?' Ron asked, then realising that it didn't sound as nice as it did in his head.

'I'll have you know RONALD that I already have a date' Shrieked Hermione, before running off again.

'Oof… Ron…'

'PISS OF DEAN'