"Oh, I can't wait," beamed Luna on the morning of the Hogsmead trip.
"Have fun Luna, you gonna get a dress for the ball?" said Ron as he bit into his toast as he sat at the Ravenclaw table, Beauxbatons girls surrounding him.
"No, I already have one; it is sunshine yellow, so that it brings happiness and peace," she said dreamily, "do you have dress robes Ronald?"
"Firstly, Luna its Ron, not Ronald – how many times do I have to tell you?" lately Luna had taken to calling him Ronald, "and yes I do have, it's muggle though."
"Oh that is nice, is it yellow?"

*

Ron sat cross-legged on his new bed, staring at his potions book not paying any attention to the words on the page; he had reread the same line ten times now, yet he had not taken in one word.

"Why you still here?" asked Draco, when he popped his head around the door.
"I don't need dress robes, its cold outside, I have homework and I ain't going alone," said Ron simply.
"Oh...how do you mean "I ain't going alone", what about those friends and ladies of yours?"
"I'm not speaking to Harry, Lavender and Seamus have just started dating so I'm not going with them as a third wheel, even though they did invite me along, same with Pavarti and Dean, Neville has asked Luna and I'm not going to tag along with them, the French girls think that they are going to get attacked if they go outside the castle walls and Durmstrang are spending the day sleeping in their boat," he said, Draco took a few seconds to analyze the information.

"What about Granger?"
"...I lost her,"
"You "lost her?"
"Yep, I lost her,"
"Right, that makes perfect sense," replied Draco sarcastically, "Wanna come in with me?" he said quickly.
"If you're sure," shrugged Ron, he did need to get outside Hogwarts, even if it was too a boring little village, "give me a minute to get ready and we can head off,"
"Thanks Ron," smiled Draco, as he grabbed his sweater.

*

"So you have dress robes for the ball?" said Draco as they walked down the main street of Hogsmead.
"Yeah, it's second-hand though, my father got it when he went to a muggle store. Have you noticed that?"
"Noticed what?"
"People keep staring at us and giving us dirty looks," Ron said as he looked around, someone turned their head quickly so that Ron wouldn't catch them looking.
"Yeah...slimy gits" said Draco under his breath, Ron laughed, "It's just because we're in Slytherin and Gryffindor, and tradition mentions Slytherin and Gryffindor are enemies for life."
"Well, then let's change it," said Ron and they continued in to Hogsmead.

*

"How long does it take you to get your robes Draco? We went in at 10 and we come out and it's twelve!" said Ron coming out of store completely annoyed. "You are worse than women."
"Well, I'm sorry; I wanted to make sure it was the right one!"
"Oh Merlin, hide me!" Ron made an attempt to hide behind Draco, but Ron was taller than Draco, so his plan failed miserably.

"RONNIEEE" yelled a blonde girl with a French accent; she giggled as she ran towards him and Draco.
"Oh Merlin, save me," muttered Ron as he stood up,
"Why were you hiding baby?" said the girl pouting. Draco hid a smile. "I am looking for you all over thzee village."
"I wasn't hiding, I thought I dropped something," even though Draco knew they were lies, he was half believing what Ron said; Ron was one amazing liar!
"Oh, ok baby! Sooo, who you are going to ze opening ball with?" she giggled and smiled sweetly, obviously implying he was going with her.
"Not you," muttered Ron to Draco, Draco coughed to hid his laughter, "erm, I dunno yet, it's a bit early yet,"
"Oh My God! It'z a week away and I aven't got anyone to go with yet," she beamed.
"Really?! Oh, I am sorry, but I'm sure I could find you someone to go with, I'll ask around for you! But it was good speaking to you, we've got to go now, tournament things to sort out...bye," Ron smiled facedly at her and pulled Draco along with him.

"Who the hell was she?" laughed Draco when they had reached Hogwarts.
"Urgh, some girl, I snogged her once...or maybe twice, I dunno, but now she thinks I like like her, which I don't," complained Ron, Draco just smiled.

*

It was feeding time at the zoo and all the animals had come to the Great Hall to be fed; some ate like monkey, throwing their food at anyone; some ate like wild dogs, ripping apart their food and getting it on everyone else; some like gazelles, gently and politely; others like boars, shoving in their food, not caring what they ate; and some ate like annoying-little-children-who-press-their-noses-up-against-the-glass, they got their food everywhere but in their mouths.

Ron belonged to the boars and wild dog type of animal, he was messy and really didn't care, Hermione, who was a gazelle, rolled her eyes and sighed loudly.
"Ron, what are you doing?"
"Euwwinhh?!" said Ron, like it was the most stupid question to ask, his mouth still full of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full," Hermione ordered and Ron swallowed hard, before replying.
"Eating, what does it look like?"
"It looks like you're trying to see how much food you can get on me and how much you can manage to fit in that huge mouth of yours!" she said in her motherly tone.
"Ooooh," Ron stuck his tongue out at her, like he was a five year old, "what's Potter looking so cocky about?"
A group of French girls were standing by the great hall doors and Harry had just strutted in.

"Shh," Ron said shh-ing everyone near him, they pointed to Harry and shh-ed the people around them, soon only a gentle hum was left and most people were looking at Harry.
Harry coughed, indicating he wanted the group of French girls' attention, they turned around, looking Harry up and down, but they didn't look very happy at what they saw.

"Can I speak to Cleo?" he said arrogantly, the girls pushed a blonde, pretty girl forward.
"Erm, yez, I'm Cleo, what do you want?"
"I'm Harry and do you want to go to the opening ball with me?" he said smiled cheekily at her, his voice was arrogantly, thinking she was going to giggle and say yes.

Instead she laughed and the girls around her laugh.
"EEW....I wouldn't go with you for anything! I don't think I would go with you if I waz blind," she now almost crying with laughter and soon the rest of the hall was laughing at Harry.
Harry went red and was about to walk out when Draco walked over, Ron shh-ed people around him, the gentle hum returned.
"I'm Draco Malfoy," he bent down and kissed her hand, he had been taking lessons off of Ron, "and I was wondering if you would like to go to the dance with me?" he asked her in a seductive tone and smiled.

"Oh yez, I would love zat," she and her friends giggled and walked out with her group of friends.
"You just didn't do that?!" yelled Harry, now the hall was silent and the teachers watched, hoping a fight didn't break out; they knew they wouldn't be able to separate it.
"Yes I did," smiled Draco, "and we're gonna have a great time," winked Draco, annoying Harry greatly.
Harry swung a punch and hit Draco,
"You'll pay for that," Draco bellowed and jumped on Harry, suddenly a fight had broken out and the hall was on its feet, they had also blocked the rows in between the tables making it impossible for the teachers to get pasted.

"Shiit," whispered Ron, as he pushed his way through the crowd, the last thing he needed was his team mates ripping the brains out of each other.
"STOP THIS NOW, OR I'LL JOIN IN!" shouted Ron, but they still continued, "Oh fuck this!"
Unlike the teachers, Ron was stronger and bigger than the two teenagers put together and he wasn't afraid to get involve.
Ron took his wand and yelled 'Protego' which threw them apart and the shield stood in their way of getting at each other again, he gave them both looks, which would make Voldermort tremble.

"He started it," yelled Harry aggressively, anger took him over and he went for Draco again.
With one punch, Harry ended up on his bum, his nose pouring blood.
"Now stay there you piece of ugly shit," spat Ron, Harry stood up slowly.
"I can't believe you just did that to me! I'm your best friend and you just took Malfoy's side -,"
"You say one more word and I'll be the one starting on you!" he growled angrily, "And to answer your "questions"; I did just do that too you, and no, I'm not your best friend anymore and yes I did just take DRACO's side, he's proving to be a better friend and a team mate than you are the moment!"
Harry stood there looking hurt and betrayed, but Ron didn't care anymore.

"You ok Draco?" Ron turned to Draco, looking a bruise he had.
"Yeah, fine thanks," smiled Draco; Ron had just taken his side over his 'best friend's'.
"Hm, I didn't think much would be wrong, that twat can't punch to save his life," a few people laughed, quite a few smiled, but most tried to hide their grins.

**

Ron didn't speak to Harry for the rest of the week and he doubted if he would speak to him ever again. Harry had taken to sleeping in his normal dorm and wouldn't enter the champions' quarters ever, but no one missed him. Ron and Draco still shared a room, they had gotten used to it, and they were able to keep all of their stuff in there.

All of the champions, except Harry, had a mini party, celebrating their achievement on getting to be the champions.
But, it was soon the night of the opening ball.

"The name's Weasley, Ron Weasley," he grinned as he walked into his room's dining room, were Draco was sitting.
"What the fuck are you on about?! And that isn't a dress robe!" said Draco as soon as he saw Ron.
"Oh, you wouldn't understand," Draco looked at him, "Ok, ok, I'll tell you, the line is a line which a muggle fictional spy says, he wears suits," said Ron, knowing Draco wouldn't get it still. Draco just shrugged like he didn't care.
"Stand up let me see you then," Draco was in a simple but powerful wizard dress robe, it was black and looked very smart and high-class, "spin then," laughed Ron, Draco did a mock fashion walk.
"Oh My God, that is simply fabulous," said Ron in a high-girlish voice, a good impression of Lavender.

"I'm meeting Cleo here...who are you going with?" said Draco, when he realised he hadn't found out who Ron was going with, "are you going with that annoying girl in Hogsmead...OH I KNOW...Granger! You're going with Granger!" yelled Draco, attracting a bit of attention, Ron shook his head, "well I'll see later, hi Cleo," he smiled at Ron and walked off arm in arm with Cleo.

Everyone looked stunning at the ball and it plain to see that everyone had made some kind of effort to look good.
Dumbeldore stood next to McGonagall, they had gone together, he tapped a glass, "You all look wonderful tonight, and so to start the evening we have the champions' opening dance and after that you can all join in. So have a good night, I know I will," he smiled at McGonagall, she blushed slightly.

Ron looked around and saw the other champions with their dates; Victor Krum was with Hermione, who did look quite pretty and she blushed when she Ron looked and winked at her; Fleur was with some Huffelpuff guy, she had told Ron his name earlier but Ron hadn't been listening; Kamen Von-Shön was with a beautiful brunette called May, Ron had been introduced to her earlier; Draco was with Cleo, who looked stunning, Ron might have to see her 'privately' later; Rosse Joli, a Beauxbatons champion, and Vincent Vamp, the other Durmstrang champion, had gone together; and the last Beauxbatons champion, Gabrielle Soeur had gone with a guy from Durmstrang. But there was no Harry in sight

Draco smiled at Ron as he danced. Ron was dancing with Luna.

"Thanks Neville, for lending me Luna, thanks Luna for dancing with me," smiled Ron, as the music finished and he walked Luna back to Neville.
"That's fine," he smiled
"Oh it is fine Ronald, you are a great dancer and your aura is looking very nice today," she said simply and walked with Neville back on to the dance floor as the music started up again.
"You didn't get a date did you?" laughed Draco as he walked over to Ron.
"Nope," he smiled, "I'm going to get my hands on as many girls as I can," he smiled cheekily and walked over to a pretty French girl standing by herself, She blushed when Ron asked her to dance but accepted happily.

"Right, it's been four hours and how many girls have you had Von?" smiled Kamen, as he stood next to Ron at the punch bowl.
"I don't have a clue, but quite a few,"
"Oh and before I forget, have you seen a tabby-coloured male cat?"
"Erm, no sorry mate, I don't know how you can differentiate between a male and female cat, what's his name? I'll have a look with you later if you want,

"Mr. Norris," Ron burst out laughing, nearly dropping his drink.
"What's so funny?!"
"We have this evil cat that belongs to that grouchy Flinch, and that's called Mrs. Norris," Kamen smiled, and walked off towards May; it was time for the last dance. Ron looked over to Hermione who was sitting by herself.

"Hi 'Mione, where's Victor?"
"Oh, hi Ron, he went to bed, he felt ill," Ron knew this was a pure lie on Victor's part; he had seen him walk off with a good-looking girl, five minutes ago.
"Oh, do you wanna dance then?" Hermione blushed but nodded happily.

As soon as they reached the floor, the slow romantic music started. Hermione hesitated.
"We can still dance 'Mione," smiled Ron, he put his arms around her waist but she didn't know what to do, "put your arms around my neck," he whispered. Soon they were dancing away blissfully, Ron pulled her closer and Hermione rested her head on Ron's chest, she sighed peacefully; this is what she craved so much. Ron's touch.

She could hear Ron's heart beat, it was slow, calm and to the music, she couldn't wish for anything more but the music faded to a halt. People clapped and Hermione slowly pulled her head away from Ron's chest and looked up at him longingly; she wanted him so much but knew so many others did.

"Thanks for the dance," he whispered close to her ear and kissed her gently on the forehead, before smiling gently and walking off.
Hermione span happily, a huge beam across her face; yes it was over, but maybe, just maybe, in the future there was a chance for her and Ron again.

"CHO IS MINE!" yelled a voice, as Ron walked back to his room, he was tired to do anything but he stopped and walked to a fountain, were the shouting voices were coming from.
Cho was standing behind Harry and Cedric Diggory, who was fighting over her. Ron waved and she smiled back, beckoning him over.
"Hm, I think we should stop their fighting," she smiled, Harry and Cedric were so deep in their fighting that they didn't notice Ron standing next to Cho.

They didn't even notice when Ron starting snogging her senseless and only noticed when they saw some Durmstrang laughing and pointing at them; they had realised what they were fighting about and how ironic it was that she was snogging Ron right behind them.
Cedric pulled them apart.

"I think we succeeded in stopping the fighting, I'd dump Cedric if I were you and give Harry a nice big slap," Cho did just that, right in front of the big crowd of tipsy Durmstrang boys, who were now crying with laughter, "nice "speaking" to you Cho."

Cho blushed and Ron walked off smoothly back to his dorm; tonight had been a very good night!