Ginny swirled around in the yellow dress and looked at Hermione.
"I prefer the purple one." Hermione told her honestly.
Ginny nodded and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Yeah I do too. You still definitely having the pink one?" Ginny asked, going back into the changing.
"Yep." Hermione answered.
She waited for Ginny to finish in the dressing room.
Ginny came out and handed the lady behind the counter the purple dress.
"So, who's the lucky man?" Hermione asked smiling.
Ginny turned a bright shade of red.
"Promise you won't laugh." Ginny said.
Hermione crossed her heart.
"Harry." Ginny whispered.
"Awwwww." Hermione said.
"HERMIONE!"
"What I didn't laugh?!"
"Yeah but still…" Ginny smiled.
"It's cute." Hermione said, holding back another aw.
"Not as cute as you and Cedric. When are you pair gonna get together?" Ginny asked.
Hermione shrugged her shoulders as she paid the woman.
Ginny looked at her and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't look at me like that!" Hermione felt herself go red.
Ginny just smiled smugly.
"Well you do fancy him." She said.
Hermione stopped just outside the shop door.
"No…. who told you that?" Hermione said.
Ginny carried on walking so Hermione ran to catch up.
"No-one needed to tell me, it's blinding obvious."
"Yeah well… he is Cedric Diggory, every girl at school fancies him." Hermione said glumly.
"Not every girl at school has learnt to fight dragons with him, or shared a bath with him or… are going to the Yule ball with him?" Ginny said.
Hermione thought about what Ginny had just said. It was true. She had spent a lot of time with Cedric and now she was going to the biggest event of the year as his date. And he had asked her.
"I'd make a move if I were you." Ginny said, awaking Hermione from her thoughts.
Hermione looked at her.
"I am old fashioned. He needs to make the move."
Ginny sighed.
"Well then at least give him a hint you want him to make a move." Ginny said.
Hermione just nodded.
She had never really had a crush before so she wasn't entirely sure how to flirt or how to get someone to "make a move" on her.
But she wasn't about to tell Ginny this.
Hermione finished putting the last grip into her before she looked at herself in the mirror.
Her long pink gown fell all the way to the floor and her hair was tied into loose girls. Maybe she would look like a girl worthy to be on the arm of Cedric.
She took a deep breath as her mouth went dry.
She didn't understand why she was so nervous.
There was a knock at the door and Hermione managed to croak a "come in".
Ginny quietly entered the dormitory.
"Let's have a look at your dress." Hermione whispered.
Ginny had left her hair naturally straight and she looked gorgeous in her floor length purple gown.
Hermione was jealous of how naturally pretty Ginny was.
"You look great." Hermione told her.
"So do you! Your hair looks awesome." Ginny exclaimed.
Hermione smiled a little embarrassed.
"So Ron's not too happy about me and Harry…" Ginny said, looking down at the floor as she did so.
Hermione just raised an eyebrow.
"Oh ignore him, he is stupid. I'll make him realize Harry is good for you."
Ginny smiled.
"Come on, let's get dancing." Ginny smiled, grabbing Hermione's arm and pulling her down stairs.
Hermione watched Ginny and Harry laughing together as they walked down the stairs.
She smiled at how cute they looked.
"So you waiting for Cedric?" Ron asked her.
Hermione just nodded, to nervous to speak.
"Luna should be here in a moment to." Ron said, pretending to look for her.
"Luna? As in Luna Lovegood?" Hermione asked him, smiling.
Ron just nodded.
"I didn't even know you liked her." Hermione said, curious.
"Yes well… You are going with Cedric." Ron said, avoiding Hermione's gaze.
"Excuse me?" Hermione said getting confused.
"Hey." Luna came to Ron's side wearing an unusual netting dress that just reached her knees.
"See you in there Granger." Ron said, taking Luna's arm.
Hermione looked after them, choosing to ignore what Ron had just said. She caught a glimpse of Cedric waiting for her.
She hid away from his sight trying to grab some composure.
He looked stunning as usual.
Hermione took a deep breath and finally told herself to get a grip.
She held her head high and walked down the stairs towards Cedric.
His mouth fell open as he watched Hermione walked towards him.
She reached him and giggled, his mouth still open.
"Shut your mouth, it's rude." Hermione said, putting her hand on Cedric's chin and gently pushing his mouth closed.
Cedric cleared his throat and put his arm out for Hermione to put hers through his.
"I am sorry." He said.
Hermione just giggled again.
Professor McGonagall came out to all the champions. Hermione hadn't noticed Viktor Krum with Cho Chang, or Fleur with some seventh year she recognized but couldn't put a name to.
She smiled at Viktor but he only slightly smiled back.
"OK champions are you ready for the first dance?" McGonagall asked them.
Hermione took a deep breath and looked into Cedric's blue eyes.
He smiled at her and her nerves seemed to disappear.
The Great Hall doors open and Cedric and Hermione were first through.
They walked through the crowd towards the dance floor as every Hogwarts student cheered for them.
They were quickly joined on the dance floor by the other champions and their dates.
"To warn you in advance I am a naff dancer." Cedric whispered into her ear.
She smiled as the music started.
Cedric grabbed her hand and slipped the other round her waist as she put hers on his shoulder.
They glided round the dance floor to the music.
"You're not that bad." Hermione smiled at Cedric.
"Just don't allow me to look at my feet." He said.
Hermione laughed.
"Then keep your eyes on me." She said.
"That I can do." Cedric smiled.
Slowly more people filled the dance floor including Ginny and Harry who Hermione smiled at.
Luna led Ron onto the dance floor as he awkwardly grabbed her.
Hermione smiled at them too.
By now the ball was in full spring with Hermione even getting a dance from Hagrid.
She had just got some food when she saw Ron sitting on his own. She made her way over to him.
Sitting into the seat next to him, she sighed.
"Luna's really nice. So she's a bit weird, there's nothing wrong with that." Hermione said, watching Luna talking to Ginny and Harry.
"And you couldn't trust Ginny with any other guy that your own best friend." Hermione said, turning to Ron.
"And you could do worse that Cedric." Ron said, smiling at Hermione.
"You didn't mean what you said earlier did you?" Hermione asked him.
Ron raised an eyebrow.
"I was only asking you as a friend." Ron said, laughing slightly.
Hermione smiled.
"I knew that." She said.
Cedric came over and bent down to lean into her ear.
"Come outside." He whispered.
Hermione said bye to Ron and followed Cedric outside the grounds.
"Are we even allowed to be out here?" She said, hitching up her dress in hands so it didn't get muddy.
"Probably not." Cedric laughed.
He stopped by the lake and Hermione stopped next to him.
"You nervous?" He asked her.
"I was more nervous about tonight to be honest." Hermione smiled.
Cedric turned to her.
"Why?"
"Because we have this all figured out but tonight… well that we didn't."
"I think we had it figured out." Cedric smiled.
"I'm glad you did." Hermione said, turning to look at him,
Cedric turned to look at her as well and he smiled.
"Can I ask you a question?" He said.
Hermione nodded.
"Can I kiss you?"
Hermione nodded again.
Cedric grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him.
Slowly their lips met and they kissed.
Hermione's heart raced as Cedric wrapped his arms around her waist.
She placed her arms around his neck as they continued to kiss.
