˜ Chapter Nine ˜

" Hermione? ….Hello earth to Hermione Granger." Harry laughed while poking his friend. " What?" she asked slightly distracted as she was turning a page in her book. " Harry wanted to know if you are planning to come to the Quidditch game." Ron grinned. Hermione nodded " Of course , I'm coming I wouldn't want to miss it. ".

Ginny leaned from across the table towards Hermione " What are you doing?". " I'm just working ahead on my schoolwork." . Ron and Harry both rolled their eyes at her and Ginny quickly grabbed the book away from her.

" Hey ! Ginny give that back, I'm not done yet. Come on give it.", Hermione stretched her hand out but Ginny didn't give it back instead she put it in her own bag. " I don't think so. Today is not about school. We are going to have fun." , Ginny stated, earning a growl from the other side of the table. " Come on Hermione, we are going to the field. I want to have good seats. Good luck boys."

The girls waved them goodbye and headed to the quidditch field.

The grandstand was already packed with students. The whole stadium was turned yellow and black, resembling Hufflepuff .

Gryffindor was represented by the colors red and gold. Hermione and Ginny were sitting on the front row next to Neville and Luna.

The crowd went wild when the players of both teams appeared on the field . Ginny and Luna were probably the loudest of them all. Every time Gryffindor made a point, they rose to their feet cheering and dancing around. The disapproval whispers of the Slytherin base didn't bother them. " They just don't know how to make fun" Ginny spoke loudly making sure they would hear her.

Hermione wasn't as exuberant as her friends but she too was yelling in delight when the final flute signal was made. Gryffindor had won by a short lead.

"That was so close, I really thought we would lose." Ginny was still analyzing the game and Hermione was trying to respond as enthusiastically as possible. To be honest she only watched quidditch because her friends played it. " Me too, if Harry hadn't caught the snitch, we wouldn't be the once cheering." She smiled, earning an approving smile from Ginny. " Exactly, Harry is the hero today." , Hermione laughed at her friend, of course she would say that about her boyfriend.

Sadly enough for the two girls, there were a few eavesdroppers walking behind them.

" Why don't you two make an altar about Harry Potter?" Pansy's voice mocked. Ginny and Hermione turned around to see Blaise, Draco and Pansy standing a few feet away from them. " Why don't you just leave?" Hermione hissed.

" No Pansy, they don't want an altar. They want a large bucket to catch their drool in it." Blaise grinned. Ginny went a few steps closer " And do you need a leash so that you can follow everyone around much easier?".

Hermione suppressed a giggle as she watched the scene before her. Blaise was a little taken aback by her response and it was Pansy who jumped in to reply. " If I were you I'd better shut it, redhead. Or do I have to show you what we do with blood traitors?" Pansy snorted. " You are good in making empty threats." Hermione came to stand next to Ginny. Pansy wrinkled her nose a little " Oh god, why are you talking to me."

Hermione rolled her eyes at the black haired girl. " Some people just don't know their place.". Pansy continued. " Is that the argument you are going to use all the time? I have to say it's getting a little old." Hermione retorted . Blaise walked in front of Hermione " Someone has a really big mouth. I think we have to take care about that. What do you think?." , he turned his body slightly towards Pansy and Draco. " I completely agree." Pansy said.

" Oh just bugger off , go annoy someone else." Ginny yelled but they didn't listen to her. " And what about you Draco, it is your call."

Draco took his time answering , grinning wickedly. " Well, it's all for you Blaise, do what you want. I don't want to waste any of my energy on unimportant things." Pansy and Blaise laughed loudly .

" Typical, always letting someone else solve your problems. That's where you're good in. I wonder if you are just too scared." Hermione bellowed, Ginny was staring at her with disbelief, this was the first time she had heard Hermione picking a fight with someone .

" What did you just say?" Draco's voice sounded dangerously. " you …are…scared" Hermione repeated with no sign of hesitation.

" Who gave you the permission to talk to me like that.", " I don't need to get any sort of permission. I can talk how and when I want." Hermione snapped. " You'd better apologize.." but before Blaise could finish his scentence, Draco broke him off " Shut up Blaise….How dare you talk to me like that." She merely shrugged " I believe I just said I can talk to you like I prefer." . A dark glow spread over his face. " You have no such rights, you have nothing to say here. It's really time that you conform to your role in this world, filthy mudblood.".

It all went death silence after Draco spoke his words. There was an itching feeling growing inside Hermione and this time she didn't hold it back. Without given it another consideration, she lifted her hand and hit him hard in the face.

Blaise, Pansy and Ginny were looking astonished, Draco's hand was resting on the same spot Hermione just hit him. " Didn't expect a mudblood doing that, did you?" she fumed before walking away from them with a widely grinning Ginny following her .

" you did what?" Harries mouth dropped almost at the floor as he faced Hermione. The moment Harry and Ron had entered the Great Hall, Ginny started telling about the events that occurred after the game and now the two of them where looking at Hermione with proud. " It's no big deal." She said, moving her food around her plate.

" No big deal ? Blimey, Mione you punched the guy." Ron pointed out. " It was just a moment of weakness." . " You had to see her, she was on fire." Ginny giggled with the glance Hermione gave her. " You don't have to look at me like that. It is true. I thought you were going to rip his head off or something." . Hermione sighed " You are exaggerating." . But Ginny shook her head " Say what you want, I know what I saw."

Harry saw the frustration in Hermione's eyes and decided to change the subject.
" So what did you think of the game?" , This question was a welcome gift for Ginny, who happily talked every detail over with Harry. The whole punching accident was pushed into the background.

When everyone finished their meals, professor Dumbledore stood up from his chair and approached the speech table. With one gesture of his hands, all students went silent and watched him.

" I hope you all enjoyed your dinner and I know some of you are eager to get some sleep –" he smiled friendly " – but I have a few announcements to make. First mister Filch asked me to once again point out that the forbidden forest is indeed forbidden for all students. He also wanted me to inform you that nightly strolls in the castle will be extremely punished from now on. With that said I am happy to tell you that over a week the Yule Ball will be held in Hogwarts. I'm looking forward to seeing all of you on your best." Professor Dumbledore said amused " All that's rest for me to say is goodnight everyone, have a good sleep." . Hermione stood up to fulfill her duty as head girl and led the first year students to their rooms.
After the announcement for the upcoming Yule Ball, it had become the main subject of every conversation. Girls were wondering who would ask them and the boys were gathering all their courage to ask their dream girl. But not everyone had the luck to find someone. Seamus had asked Luna to go with him but she already said yes to Neville. So he eventually ended up, asking Lavender who eagerly said yes. And Thomas wanted to go with Hannah but after she said no, he settled with Padma.

The dance was almost there and Ginny was all excited that she could spend the dance with Harry. She was still a little worried that Hermione still had no date . " Ginny, I really don't mind if I have someone to go with or not. It's sweet that you worry about me but it is needless I am okay." Hermione offered but she saw in Ginny's eyes that she felt bad for her. Hermione wanted to let her know that she was fine going on her own but she didn't have the chance as Parvati came in dancing and singing. " What's gotten into you?" Ginny laughed. " I just had the most wonderful evening." Parvati mused. Both Ginny as Hermione looked curiously at her. When Parvati didn't continue, Ginny couldn't take it any longer. " Come on, tell us. We want to know what happened." " Alright, alright. Someone asked me to the dance." . The girls squealed in excitement " Who asked you? Was it Fred or George or was it Leo?" . Parvati shook her head fiercely at the mention of those names but her face glowed " You will never guess it." Ginny was starting to lose her patience " Apparently not. Who asked you?", she urged. " Okay, I'm going to the dance with Draco Malfoy. Can you believe it." " You are going with Malfoy? But he is a Slytherin. I mean he is pure evil." Ginny couldn't understand why she was happy that she was going with him. " I don't care. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn't make a fuss about it. I believe I'm old enough to chose with whom I go." . Hermione stood up " We are happy for you. Now if you excuse me, I have to do something." . She walked out the door, straight to the Gryffindor common room. "Ron can I have a word with you?" . Ron looked up from his chess with a what-have-I-done-know look . He followed Hermione to a corner and crossed his arms, ready for sermon; he definitely didn't expect the question that came out of her mouth. " Do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

" What? You…ask me? Are . urhm you serious?"he stammered. " Well yes but if you don't want to…". " No no, I do want to go with you. I'm just a little shocked that you asked me, I didn't think you would.". Hermione nodded in comprehension " I know I did. So that's settled then. We are going together. I think Ginny will be pleased to hear the news."
" What has Ginny to do with this?" Ron asked confused. Hermione laughed out loud
" Forget I said that, it's a girl thing.". She kissed him on the cheek as a thank you and returned to her room, where she had to tell the whole story to Ginny.

' This was going to be a long night'