It was less than a few hours later when Hermione finally awoke, determined to find some way to get Harry through the First Task alive.

She sat up, her brain flitting from asleep to awake in a nanosecond, and saw that only Ginny remained in the dorm room, already dressed and waiting for her.

"Harry's waiting for us in the Common Room." Ginny told her quietly. "He says we need some place to talk privately."

"He's right." Hermione grimaced. The lake was far too open for this conversation, and even the Map only helped when you found the hidden rooms. Without knowing where they were, they could wander around all day and not find anything. "Where's Lily when you need her?"

"Lily?" Ginny questioned, and Hermione realised that she'd never told Ginny about the Potters.

"It's long story." She said as she ducked into the bathroom to shower.

When she emerged, Ginny hadn't moved. "We've got time."

"It's my empathy." Hermione said, dressing quickly. "I can speak to James and Lily – you know, Harry's parents."

"They're alive?" Ginny whispered.

"Yep. Don't ask me where they are though, because I have no bloody idea." Hermione admitted, pulling her cloak from her trunk. "But I bet Lily would know somewhere we could talk privately."

"The Room of Requirement." Lily provided, appearing out of nowhere.

Ginny must have seen Hermione jump, because she asked, "She's here, isn't she? What did she say?"

Hermione didn't answer, frowning at Lily in confusion. "Where's that?"

"Seventh floor." Lily answered with a smile. "Find the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy – you know, the one trying teach the trolls ballet. Walk up and down three times in front of the wall and ask it for what you need."

"Won't need this then." Hermione tossed her cloak on her bed. "C'mon, Gin; I've got somewhere."

The two girls jogged down to the Common Room, where Harry was waiting, holding a bundle of toast. "Lake?"

"No." Hermione couldn't help laughing. "The roles have reversed."

"Well, you claimed panic last night." Harry reminded her. "So I had to take the calm and logical one. Not my best role, admittedly, but someone has to do it. Where are we going then?"

"Somewhere more private." Hermione told him, taking a slice of toast. "Follow me." She led them out of the Common Room and through the corridors until she found the tapestry Lily had identified.

The corridor was empty, but for a cool breeze emanating from one of the windows. The footsteps echoed off the cold stone and Hermione ran a hand along the wall, frowning. How odd … Maybe the room's been removed since Lily was here.

"Hermione?" Harry whispered. "It may be deserted, but the corridor's not the best place to talk."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Thank you, Harry." Remembering Lily's instructions, she began to pace up and down. We need a place to talk privately.

Ginny gasped suddenly and Hermione spun on her heel to see a door appear in the wall. She pushed it open to find a room not unlike the Gryffindor Common Room.

"This'll do." Harry remarked, pulling the Marauders' Map from his pocket as the door closed.

"Tell him not to bother, Hermione." James advised, appearing on one of the sofas. "It's not on there."

"Your dad says don't bother – it's not on there." Hermione repeated, not looking at Harry, but smirking at James instead. "You do realise you're a spirit, don't you? Therefore sitting down has no affect on you."

"Yeah, but it gets a bit boring just standing around all the time." James responded. "This is the Room of Requirement; turns itself into anything you need."

"If the Marauders knew about it, why isn't it on the Map?" Ginny asked.

"My guess is that it's Unplottable." Hermione said, glancing at James, who nodded. "But we can talk privately here."

"What happened last night?" Ginny asked immediately, when Harry looked at her. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Nothing like you're thinking." Hermione said quickly, seeing the smirk beginning to form on her face. "Sirius managed to get to a fire and flooed us."

The smirk and the colour promptly disappeared from Ginny's face. "Oh, Harry, I'm sorry! You must hate me!"

"Gin, don't be ridiculous!" Harry said, rolling his eyes with a fond smile. "It's not like you knew what we were doing down there. But we found out a few things last night and we think you should know."

"First of all," Hermione continued flawlessly, "Karkaroff was a Death Eater."

Ginny looked stunned. "What?"

"He was a Death Eater." Hermione repeated. "He was in Azkaban, gave the Ministry a load of names and was released."

"That…That…That…git!" Ginny hissed finally, unable to vocalise her anger any better.

Harry sniggered. "Well, you're taking it better than Hermione."

Ginny glared at him. "Do you have any idea what this means? Sirius was charged with the murder of thirteen people. Do you think that Karkaroff killed less than that? If Sirius had 'confessed', he would have had more chance of getting out; it's crazy!"

"Focus please, Ginny." Hermione sighed. "I'm with you all the way on this, believe me, but we've got bigger things to worry about. Hagrid showed Harry the first task last night."

"It's dragons." Harry told her.

Ginny's face, which had regained some colour in her anger, promptly turned white again, and the slice of toast she was holding slipped from her numb fingers. "Dragons? You can't fight a dragon!"

"No, I think I just have to get past one." Harry corrected. "I assume to retrieve something."

Ginny laughed humourlessly. "Harry, getting past it will probably mean fighting it, whether you like it or not."

"Damn." Harry muttered. "I was worried about that. I need help, girls."

Ginny frowned in thought. "What did Sirius say?" She asked finally, taking another piece of toast from the pile, ignoring the piece that was now butter-side-down on the floor.

"Don't try stunning it." Harry recited. "And a simple spell's all I need." He winced. "And that's when you came in."

"Sorry." Ginny murmured absently, staring into the fire. "Charlie never talks about how to knock dragons out; he loves them too much."

Hermione stretched out on the sofa so she was staring at the ceiling. "James, what do you think?"

"I think you just put your feet through my legs." James answered moving to the arm of the sofa.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Again, you're a spirit. You can't actually feel it."

"It's the principle of the thing." James said sniffily; she lifted her head to glare at him. "A dragon's eyes are its weakest point, but I've got nothing aside from that. COMC was never my strong point; Lily was pretty good at it, but even she has a problem when it comes to dragons."

"Eyes are the weakest point …" Hermione repeated thoughtfully.

"Oh yeah …" Ginny whispered. "I remember Charlie saying that now."

"How's that going to help?" Harry asked blankly. "Is there a simple spell I can use to blind her?"

"Her?" Hermione questioned.

Harry nodded. "They're nesting mothers, Charlie said."

"Charlie's here?" Ginny asked, looking hurt. "Why hasn't he …? Hang on, back up a second! Nesting mothers?! Are they crazy?!"

"Probably." Hermione said, turning her head to look at her. As she did, she spotted a book on the coffee table that certainly hadn't been there two minutes ago. "Where'd that come from?"

Ginny picked it up and flicked through it. "They're all spells related to sight. It must have appeared when Harry asked."

Hermione grinned. "I love this Room!"

James snorted. "Funny – that was Lily's response as well."

Ginny turned to the table of contents and grimaced. "It's no good – the simplest spells in here are NEWT level – Harry's only got two days."

"Okay." Hermione ran a hand over her face, thinking hard. "Okay." She sat up. "Let's look at this logically for a minute. Aside from the size and the strength, what can the dragon do that Harry can't?"

"Breathe fire." Harry answered immediately. "And fly." He added as an afterthought. "Oh, and one them has these great big spikes on her tail that could …"

"Stop." Hermione cut in, cringing at the very thought. "So there's only two things a dragon can do that Harry can't …" She trailed off, realising that the exercise had done nothing but make the task seem even more impossible.

"Really, it's only one thing." Ginny observed. "Because Harry's a damn good flier himself."

"Yeah, on my Firebolt." Harry snorted.

Ginny suddenly made a noise that was halfway between a yelp and a squeal. "Firebolt! Harry, you could fly past the dragon!"

Hermione stared at her, intending to shoot the idea down, but the more she thought about it, the more she realised … "That might actually work."

Harry, on the other hand, stared at Ginny like she'd suddenly grown another head. "Ginny, I'm not allowed a broom, remember? I'm only allowed my wand, so …" He broke off abruptly, gaped at her for a few more seconds, then turned to Hermione. "I need you to help me."

"Harry!" Hermione sighed irritably. "What in Merlin's name do you think I've been trying to do?"

"No!" A smile slowly spread across Harry's face. "I need you to teach me how to do a Summoning Charm by Tuesday!"


"Dragons!" Ginny whimpered for what felt like the thousandth time in an hour as Viktor Krum left the arena, golden egg safely under one arm. "What were they thinking?!"

Hermione winced as the redhead's nails dug into her arm. "Gin, could you loosen your grip a bit?" She hissed, as ten dragon-keepers led in a very large, very angry Hungarian Horntail. "I have a feeling things are about to heat up and I'd rather you didn't cut off my blood supply in the progress."

"Let's just hope that 'heat up' is just a term of phrase in this instance." Ginny muttered, loosening her grip nonetheless.

"Hermione …" A sheepish voice said from behind her.

Both girls turned to glare at their 'brother'. "What?!"

Ron blinked at the word, hissed in unison with no small amount of venom. "I wanted to apologise …"

"It's not me you have to apologise to." Hermione told him coldly. "It's Harry. Weren't you the one who said that none of us would betray him?"

Ron flinched as though he'd been struck. "I was …"

"Jealous, I know." Hermione turned her gaze back to the arena, where Harry had just appeared, looking ridiculously small. "Doesn't seem like such fun now, does it?"

"No." Ron whispered. "He'll be alright though, won't he?"

"I hope so." Hermione said quietly. "Now ssh!"

Harry had raised his wand and was mouthing something - Accio Firebolt, she assumed – and then there was nothing.

Sniggers started to erupt from around her. The Slytherins down the row, smirking, pressed the buttons on their robes so they flashed Potter Stinks at her.

"Come on …" Hermione whispered.

Suddenly, she heard an odd noise, like that of a wand swiping through the air, but this was continuous and she squinted in the direction of the castle to see Harry's broom speeding towards him.

Hermione could hear Ludo Bagman shouting something from the commentators' box, but she paid him no heed, solely focused on Harry, who seized his Firebolt and swung his leg over it.

He kicked off hard, soaring into the air, high above the Horntail. He hovered there for a second, and Hermione could almost see the Quidditch moves ticking over in his mind. His face was more serene than it had been for weeks and, despite her worry, she couldn't help smiling fondly – trust Harry to use flying to relax, even under these circumstances.

Then he dived, faster than he ever had before, and the Horntail's head followed him. She unleashed a great ball of fire and he pulled out of the dive just in time.

With a scream, Hermione's hands flew to her mouth. Her nails were digging into her cheeks hard enough to leave marks, but she didn't care.

"Great Scott, he can fly!" Bagman cried. "Are you watching this, Mr. Krum?"

Later, Hermione would endure hours of discussion between Harry and Ron about how Harry had been compared with The Viktor Krum, but right now, the words seemed to wash over him as he soared higher in a wide circle, like a bird of prey coasting the thermals.

"Take it easy, Harry." Hermione murmured through her fingers. "Don't worry about being the fastest. Just take it slow and steady."

In some ways, she envied James and Lily who, as spirits, could soar alongside him, but their words of comfort did nothing to soothe him.

The Horntail's head swivelled round, watching Harry's every move, keeping a very close eye on this threat to her nest. He plummeted again, just as another fireball erupted. He missed the flames, but the spiked tail flew up to meet him and Hermione screamed again as the spikes caught Harry's shoulder, ripping his robes.

"He'll be fine!" Ron grabbed her waist as she momentarily lost her control over her empathy, and staggered at the wave of emotion that hit her. "He'll be fine. And I'm sorry."

Hermione shook her head as she gratefully accepted his hug. "Forget about it, alright? Just concentrate."

Ron nodded in agreement and they turned their eyes back to the sky. Harry's face was twisted in pain, but he was flying steady, which was a good sign, and his face soon cleared.

Harry flew around the Horntail again, this time staying just high enough to prevent her from throwing another fireball, although close enough to remain a threat.

Yellow eyes remained fixed on his tiny form as he edged slowly higher, weaving this way and that, until she finally snapped, rising up from her nest, her wings unfurling, each the size of a small aircraft.

And then Harry dived, before anyone could realise he'd moved. He dived faster than his first dive, faster, even, than Viktor Krum had at the World Cup, and he was closer to the ground. Even if he could manage to get his hands on the egg, he was going to crash.

The crowd roared, their shouts escalating to screams, as Harry scooped the egg into his arms, pulled out of the dive millimetres from the ground, and sped towards the exit to the arena, landing safely outside the blast zone.

Heart thudding in her chest and trying desperately to steady her breathing before she started hyperventilating, Hermione lowered her hands, barely flinching as Ginny threw her arms around her in relief.

"Thank Merlin …" Ron whispered, embracing both of them. "Come on!"

The three Gryffindors raced along the row, down the steps, around the chain-link fence – pausing for a few seconds to greet Charlie, who looked as relieved as they did – and into the medical tent.

Harry was sitting on one of the cots, his robes torn where the Horntail had struck, but the skin beneath was mercifully undamaged.

Lily was standing at his side, berating him in a voice so high-pitched that James, who seemed to be speechless with shock and relief, frequently winced.

"Harry, you were brilliant!" Hermione cried. Her voice was squeaky, but she ignored it, hugging him with trembling arms, and whispered, "You mum would like to request that you never do something like that again."

"Done." Harry grinned. "Thanks for the message."

"That was amazing!" Ginny hugged him as well, her movements just as shaky.

Hermione saw James narrow his eyes and followed his gaze to where Ron was standing awkwardly in the entrance of the tent. She cleared her throat and nudged him forwards.

"Harry," Ron began seriously, "whoever put your name in that Goblet … I recon they're trying to do you in."

"Caught on, have you?" Harry asked coolly. "Took you long enough."

Hermione and Ginny both stepped back, exchanging a nervous glance.

"Look, mate, I'm sorry." Ron sighed. "I've been a complete and utter prat, alright? I know that. I should have known you wouldn't have entered your name, and I'll understand if you never talk to me again."

"Forget it." Harry told him.

"But …" Ron began.

"Brothers fight." Harry interrupted. "Don't they?"

Ron nodded with a faint smile. "But they're still brothers."

"Right." Harry agreed. "Just trust me in future, alright?"

"I will." Ron vowed. "I knew I was being irrational … and when Charlie told me about the dragons …"

"He told you?!" Ginny demanded. "Why didn't you say anything?!"

"I did!" Ron protested. "Remember? I told Hermione that Seamus had told me that Parvati told Dean that Hagrid wanted to see you. Well, Seamus never told me anything, so it was me all along. I thought we'd be alright once you'd figured that out."

Harry stared at him. "Who could possibly figure all that out?"

Ron sighed. "It was a bit mental, wasn't it?" He shrugged. "I guess I was a bit distraught."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys."


By the middle of December, things had mostly returned to normal for the 'Golden Trio', with the only noticeable difference being that Harry was more inclined to listen to Hermione when she urged them to do their homework.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the golden egg.

The prize from the first task turned out to contain a clue leading to the second, but opening it at the Gryffindor after-party had done nothing but release a high-pitched wail that had Seamus guessing at a banshee, Neville worried about the Cruciatus Curse, and Fred and George warning Harry that he'd have to attack Percy in the shower, because it sounded like him singing.

Satisfied by Harry's insistences that he was working on it, Hermione found herself in the library, a week from the end of term, trying to finish her Transfiguration essay. She still had a bad feeling, but Harry's outstanding performance in the first task had provided her with a boost of confidence, and the only things worrying her now were Rita Skeeter, Hagrid's Skrewts, Karkaroff, Hogwarts' apparent problem with Dumbledore and, of course, the Yule Ball.

Professor McGonagall had announced the Yule Ball at the end of their Transfiguration lesson, although Hermione wasn't altogether sure Ron and Harry heard her, because they were having a sword fight with Fred and George's fake wands, which had turned into a tin parrot and a rubber haddock respectively.

Everyone else had certainly heard though; nothing else was talked about anymore, especially among the female population.

Everywhere Hermione looked, the Yule Ball seemed to have taken over, especially in her dorm room as gossip about dresses, make-up, hair and boys (of course) seemed to reverberate through the walls.

There was nowhere she could escape from it, even here in the library, she realised as giggles arose from the table behind her. She glanced up, exchanging a small consolatory smile with Madam Pince, who was glaring at the girls in question, and sighed, trying to focus on her work. She couldn't care less about who had just asked whom to the Ball, but she couldn't help but feel slightly envious. She doubted anyone was about to line up to ask her out.

Hermione's empathy picked up a hint of irritation, and she looked up again, raising a questioning eyebrow as Harry collapsed into the seat opposite her.

"This is hopeless!" He proclaimed loudly, causing Madam Pince to look over and hiss a warning at him.

Hermione sighed. "What's wrong?"

"This bloody Yule Ball, that's what's wrong!" Harry told her heatedly, but in a quieter voice.

Hermione heaved another sigh as Madam Pince glared in their direction again. This was hardly the place for this conversation – the table behind her had suddenly gone quiet as the girls began to eavesdrop. Yet another annoyed sigh slipped past her lips as another group of girls filed in, one of them with a Bulgarian scarf tied around her waist.

Great. Just what I need.

Viktor Krum spent a lot of time in the library. Normally, Hermione wouldn't have minded – he was quiet and didn't disturb her, so why should she? Unfortunately, he also had a self-proclaimed 'fan club' that followed him everywhere and it was impossible to concentrate with them around.

"Come on." She muttered to Harry, closing her book. "Let's go somewhere else."

Apparently, she wasn't the only one trying to avoid them. The two Gryffindors reached the doors just as Viktor Krum did. He held the door for them, acknowledging his fellow champion with a nod.

It was Hermione he spoke to, though.

"Excuse me, may I haff a vord?"

Hermione glanced at Harry, who shrugged at her. "Alright," she said slowly. "I'll meet you under the beech tree, Harry." Adjusting her Transfiguration book in her arms, she followed him to an alcove, where he turned to face her, his smile making him look far less surly than he had at the World Cup.

"Ve met at the Vorld Cup." He said unnecessarily. "Herm-own-ninny?"

"Hermione." She corrected, shaking his offered hand. "Yes, we did." Out of the corner of her eye, she could see James and Lily unashamedly eavesdropping and resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"I vas vondering," Viktor continued, "if you vould accompany me to the Yule Ball."

Hermione's eyes widened with shock and she only just caught her book before it fell to the floor. "Wh-what? Out of all the girls in this castle, you're asking a fourth year who barely glances in the mirror before she leaves the dorm?"

"You haff a best friend who is famous also." Viktor pointed out. "You do not get … vot is the vord?"

"Star-struck?" Hermione suggested, knowing that it was true. "Look, I'm flattered – really, I am – but …"

"I do not mean this to be a date." He interrupted. "I haff a girlfriend in Bulgaria I love very much, but as a champion I need somevon to accompany me. I vould rather it be somevon I can talk to and is not using me for my fame."

"Just as friends?" Hermione clarified.

"Just as friends." He repeated.

Hermione hesitated, her eyes flickering towards James and Lily. Unable to ask aloud, she casually lifted her left hand and scratched her temple.

What do you think?

At the end of third year, after Sirius had escaped with Buckbeak, the trio had decided that it might be a good idea if they had some form of sign language that they could use, just in case something like what happened in the Shack happened again.

("Yeah, but Sirius and Professor Lupin are the good guys," Ron had argued. "But they might not have been," Harry had retorted.)

Harry had admitted to them that there were a few gestures that he seemed to associate with different messages or phrases. When he had mentioned this in his letters to Arabella and Mandy, they had told him that the Marauders had also used a form of sign language that used those very movements.

Hermione guessed that he had picked it up subconsciously around his parents, the same way he had begun learning to talk.

"Go for it." Lily said with a smile.

"Don't trust him." James disagreed instantly.

With a barely audible sigh, Hermione extended her empathy, finding nothing that would suggest Viktor was a threat to her. "Okay then." She agreed. "Where should I meet you?"

"Outside our ship." Viktor told her. "I haff to valk in vith my school."

Hermione nodded understandingly. "That makes sense. Alright, I'll see you then." She departed with a wave and headed outside, to where Harry was lounging under the beech tree.

"What did he want?" Harry asked as she approached, obviously trying not to sound suspicious and failing miserably.

Hermione shrugged, her expression blank. "To hex me until I was unconscious and stuff me in a broom cupboard – I only just got away."

"What?!" Harry jumped to his feet, drawing his wand. "Where is he?!"

"I was being sarcastic, Harry!" Hermione sighed, settling down on the grass and tugging him down beside her. "Flattered though I am that you're willing to curse someone older and with more training just to defend me."

Harry scowled at her. "Don't do that."

"What's bothering you, Harry?" Hermione asked, ignoring him.

Harry sighed. "The dance thing. And the date thing. I can't dance. And how are you supposed to ask a girl out if they move in packs all the time?!"

"I've failed my son!" James wailed. "How could this have happened?!"

"Oh, shut up!" Lily said, rolling her eyes. "It's not like you were a Casanova yourself!"

"Excuse me?" James looked affronted. "I'll have you know, Lily, that women threw themselves at my feet."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I ignored them, of course." James amended instantly, with a charming smile. "How could I not with you around? But they were there, all the same."

"Nice save." Lily remarked, her lips twitching. "But that doesn't change the fact that it took you a year and a half to get me to go out with you, whereupon you told me you were in love with me and ran away."

Hermione burst out laughing. "You're kidding me?!"

"Hey!" Harry protested, looking hurt. "It's a valid question!"

"Sorry, Harry!" Hermione said, still giggling. "I'm not laughing at you, I promise. Now," she turned to him, giving herself a moment to order her thoughts, "let's take the dating thing first. If you were Ron, I'd ask you who you want to ask, but you're not Ron, you're you."

"And that changes things?" Harry asked blankly.

Hermione smiled at him. "Not usually. But you have to open the Ball, Harry. Everyone is going to be watching you – do you really want the added pressure of a first date? You're better off asking someone you know quite well, who you can have a laugh with. Plus, you're guaranteed that they're not there with the Boy-Who-Lived." She glanced at Lily, who was nodding emphatically. "Your mum agrees with me, if that means anything."

Harry considered this for a few minutes, staring out across the still surface of the lake. A large tentacle lifted lazily into the air, snagged a passing bird, and sank below the water again, leaving only ripples in its wake.

"You're right." He said eventually. "As always." Turning to face her, he gave her a charming smile that made her stomach seem to vanish. "Mione, you know you love me …"

The sentence trailed off, and Hermione fought to catch up with his implied question. Good Lord, I'm his best friend and he can throw me off-guard with a smile. If he ever figures this out, no girl in Hogwarts would be able to resist.

"Er, yes, Harry, I do, and if we were having this conversation yesterday, I'd have said yes in a second, but … I already have a date. I'm sorry."

"You …" Harry broke off, his face a palate of emotions. "Krum?"

"Yes." Hermione confirmed cautiously. "I'm a big girl, Harry; we're just going as friends." Dimly, she wondered why she had told Harry that, then remembered what he'd said about Ron when he'd nearly cursed her.

"Hermione, what you do is up to you." Harry told her. "As long as he treats you well, I don't have a problem with it. It's not like he could lie to you, is it? Not with your … gift." He grinned suddenly. "Do you want to tell Ron or shall I?"

"I'm not saying anything until the Yule Ball." Hermione smirked. "Hopefully, he won't kick up as much of a fuss with that many witnesses."

"Don't count on it." Harry muttered, shifting slightly. "Hermione … you don't think … I mean … he doesn't … you know … like you, does he?"

Hermione frowned. "Harry, I know he's been a bit horrible to me in the past sometimes, but we're still friends."

"No," Harry sighed, his face rather red, "I mean like you, like you."

"Oh." Hermione was silent for a few seconds. "No." She said finally. "At least I don't think so. I certainly haven't picked anything like that up. Why do you ask?"

Harry dropped his gaze, pulling at the grass by his side. "Just that … Ginny mentioned something the other day about you two bickering like an old married couple."

Hermione pulled a face. "When we bicker we might sound like a married couple, Harry, but then we could also sound just like Ron and Ginny do – like brother and sister. Most of our arguments are just that – arguments. Far too damaging and far too long to be healthy in a romantic relationship. Hell, it's a miracle a platonic relationship has lasted, if it weren't for you, I really don't think it would have done."

Harry nodded, looking slightly relieved. "That's good. I was worried that you two would hook up, break up and then I'd have to take sides."

Hermione smiled softly. "Even if he did have feelings for me, Harry, he put me through too much over the last few years for me to be able to think of him that way. He's like my brother, and I love him despite every single one of his flaws, but that's all." Her smile shifted into a smirk. "Not a word about Viktor, understood?"

"My lips are sealed." Harry assured her. "So who do you think I should ask?"

Hermione thought about it for a few seconds, running through all of the girls in their year. It was probably best if it was someone their age.

Let's see … Can't be a Slytherin. Daphne Greengrass is the only decent one that I can think of, but it would be social suicide for her and he'd never hear the end of it.

Ravenclaw … Let's see, that's Mandy Brocklehurst, Su Li, Padma Patil and Lisa Turpin. Well, Lisa's got nothing in common with him at all – they'd have nothing to talk about even if he did know her. Mandy and Su are both too shy, they'd never handle the attention … or the gossip. Padma could work, but … No, she might be the smarter sister, but she's still far too shallow.

Hufflepuff then … Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott and Megan Jones. Megan's too shy, so she's out. I think Susan's got a thing for Neville and Hannah's dating Ernie Macmillan, so it can't be either of those. Pity, really, because they'd both have been a good choice.

As for Gryffindor, I've got a date, Lavender's going with Seamus and Parvati's worse than her sister. Plus, I think Dean's got his eye on her. Last thing we need is another fight in the boys' dorm.

Hermione sighed, shaking her head. "I can't think of anyone right …" She trailed off, catching sight of Neville and Ginny making their way towards her, laughing about something. "What about your sister?"

"I don't have a …" Harry stopped, following her gaze. "There's an idea."

"Hi." Hermione greeted as their classmates reached them. "You two have dates for the Yule Ball yet?"

"No." Ginny answered, as Neville blushed and shook his head. "Boys have asked me, and I'd love to go, but I don't feel comfortable dating yet, so …"

Harry cleared his throat. "In that case, Miss Weasley, care to solve two problems at once?"

Ginny sat down on the grass beside him. "That depends entirely, Mr Potter, on what you have in mind."

"Would you go to the Ball with me?" Harry elaborated. "As friends, obviously. That way, you can go to the Ball, without having to start dating before you feel ready, and I can open the Ball without worrying about being on a date."

Ginny smiled. "Thanks Harry. That sounds great. Who are you going with, Hermione?"

Hermione grinned and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Viktor Krum."

Ginny gasped. "No way!"

"Who?" Neville asked.

"Don't ask." Harry warned. "First of all, you won't believe it. Second of all, you want plausible deniability for when Ron blows up at her."

Neville winced at the thought. "Fair enough."

"What about you, mate?" Harry asked. "You got your eye on anyone?"

Neville flushed slightly. "Not really. I was going to ask Hermione, you know, as friends, but …"

Hermione smiled apologetically. "If I didn't have a date, I'd have said yes, Neville."

"Really?" Neville asked, sounding surprised.

"Of course." Hermione said truthfully. "Why wouldn't I? You're a great guy, Nev; stop selling yourself short. What about Susan Bones?"

Neville looked thoughtful. "I suppose I could ask her … Might look a bit weird though …"

"Why's that?" Hermione asked with a frown. "You spend a lot of time together."

Ginny chuckled. "They're cousins, Mione. At least I think they are."

Okay, so she doesn't have a thing for him. But Harry knows Ginny better anyway.

"My mum and her dad were brother and sister." Neville confirmed. "But we could just go together like Harry and Ginny are. Means she's not being taken advantage of, I suppose."

"Good on you, mate!" Harry called as Neville jogged away.

Ginny and Hermione exchanged an exasperated glance, but didn't comment on the male mind-set. Instead, Hermione prompted, "Harry, I think you had another problem, didn't you?"

Harry looked confused for a second. "Oh yeah. I can't dance."

Ginny rolled her eyes and got to her feet. "Come on. Get up."

"Are you going to teach me?" Harry asked, scrambling up after her.

"No, I'm going to make you hop on one leg and sing the national anthem." Ginny said briskly. "Give me your hand."

As she began to teach Harry a basic waltz, Hermione leaned back against the tree and chatted to Lily, who was reminiscing about the Christmas Ball in her seventh year.

After half an hour, Ginny called for a halt. "My feet are killing me."

"Sorry." Harry muttered sheepishly.

Ginny smiled at him. "It's not your fault; you're actually pretty good. I'm just not wearing the proper shoes to dance in."

"What are you doing?" Ron's voice asked. He was standing on the path leading down to the lake, watching Harry and Ginny with a bewildered expression.

"Teaching Harry to dance." Ginny answered, spinning out to face him. "Harry has to open the Ball, remember?"

"Oh yeah." Ron sank down next to Hermione, squinting up at them. "Got a date then?"

"A friend." Harry corrected, exchanging a smile with Ginny.

"Alright for some." Ron grumbled.

Ginny smiled sweetly. "Still reeling from the Fleur disaster?"

"Fleur disaster?" Hermione repeated.

"He asked Fleur Delacour to the Yule Ball." Ginny elaborated.

Ron glared at her. "Thanks a lot."

Harry gaped at him. "You what?"

"I don't know what came over me!" Ron groaned. "She was standing there, talking to Diggory, and I just blurted it out!"

"What did she say?" Hermione asked sympathetically.

"Nothing!" Ron cried. "She just looked at me like I'd crawled out from under a stone or something! Then I came to my senses and ran for it!"

"Oh, she is part-Veela." Harry told him. "You were right; her grandmother's one. She told Ollivander during the Weighing of the Wands – one of 'grand-mere's' hairs is her wand core."

Hermione flinched. "Harry, remind me to teach you French – you'll probably need it one day."

"He will." James confirmed. "One of our villas is in France."

While Hermione was sufficiently distracted by staring at James, Ginny patted Ron's arm sympathetically. "See? She was probably turning on the charm for Cedric and you got a blast of it. She's wasting her time anyway – he's going with Cho Chang."

Harry looked up. "Is he?"

"Yeah." Ginny's expression cleared and she winced slightly. "Sorry, Harry. You like her, don't you?"

Harry shrugged, making a non-committal noise in the back of his throat.

Ron hesitated, clearing his throat awkwardly, then cracked a smile. "Hey, you'll never guess who Neville's going to ask!"

"Susan Bones." Ginny answered. "He just left."

Ron frowned. "No. Hermione."

"Yeah, he said he'd thought about it." Hermione agreed. "But I told him I already had a date and …"

Ron snickered. "I don't blame you."

Hermione glared at him. "Ron …"

"Hey!" Ron interrupted. "Neville's right, Hermione – you are a girl!"

"Thanks for noticing." Hermione said coolly.

"Well, then you can go with one of us!" Ron said, gesturing to himself and Harry.

"Leave me out of it, mate!" Harry said hurriedly. "I'm taking your sister!"

Momentarily distracted, Ron narrowed his eyes at them. "Oh are you?"

"Harry needs someone who's not using him and I can't go unless a fourth year or above asks me." Ginny said, in the same tone as Hermione.

"Fine." Ron shrugged, turning back to Hermione, either misreading or ignoring the murderous look on her face. "Me then. Come on, Hermione! We're going to look really stupid if we don't have dates!"

"We?" Hermione asked acidly. "I have a date!"

Ron laughed, though not unkindly. "Come on, Hermione! You and I both know you just said that to get rid of Neville!"

"Actually, I mentioned that before he even brought it up!" Hermione snapped. "And if I didn't have a date, I would have said yes …"

"No you wouldn't." Ron disagreed. "Who would? So are you going with me?"

Hermione jumped to her feet, shaking with both anger and suppressed tears. "Just because it's taken you four years to realise I'm a girl, Ronald, doesn't mean it's taken the rest of the world that long!" She turned on her heel and ran for it.

It wasn't the dramatic exit she'd have preferred, but anything was better than staying and crying. She rounded the greenhouses and let herself collapse on the lawn, burying her face in her arms, too emotionally drained to run any further.

Lily crouched next to her. "Are you alright, hun?"

"Of course." Hermione lied, wiping her eyes. "It's not like Ron means to be like that."

"But that's the way it sounded." Lily sympathised, patting her arm pointlessly.

"Is everyone else going to think like that?" Hermione whispered. "How on earth could she get a date?!" She fell silent abruptly, partly due to the sobs that overtook her voice and partly due to the footsteps that approached.

She could only hope it wasn't someone who would carry this image to the rest of the school or a Slytherin who might not say anything to anyone else, but would never let her live it down either.

So it came as a relief when a gentle arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her into a comforting hug. She leaned into it gratefully, feeling someone else rub her arm softly.

The tears dried after a few minutes and Hermione pulled away, accepting the tissue that was handed to her.

"Do you want me to get Harry?" Neville asked in concern, his hand resting on her arm.

"I don't need anyone else to see this." Hermione whispered, drying her eyes. "I'm being silly, that's all."

"If you're sure …" Susan said uncertainly from her other side, her arm still around her shoulders.

"I am." Hermione smiled weakly. "Silly."

"What happened?" Neville prompted.

"Nothing." Hermione sighed. "It's nothing. Just Ron being … Ron. That's all."