Ch 9:

The day before the ball arrived quickly. Before Hermione knew it, she and Richard were sitting in the library studying for potions when Ginny walked up to them.

"Hermione," she said, "Harry and Ron will be here in a few minutes."

"Where are they?"

"They just apparted into Hogsmead," Hermione sighed.

"Thanks Gin," she turned to Richard, "wait for me in the common room please,"

"I will," he agreed, giving her a quick kiss before she walked away with Ginny.

"Have you decided what you're going to say?"

"No, have you?"

"No," Ginny said, "I've been talking to Zeek for the past week. Cassie told him to owl me and since then we've been talking constantly, getting to know each other and such. I just hope Harry understands, I mean, I don't think I'm going to fall in love with Zeek, I just want to play the pitch a bit, you know?"

"Yea, I understand."

"Anyways, we're supposed to meet the guys in the Great Hall."

"Alright," the girls walked silently from then on to the Great Hall. When they entered, they found the two guys already there, seated at the Gryffindor table as if they still belonged there, as if nothing had changed.

When Ron spotted Hermione, his face lit up into a huge grin and he instantly jumped up off the seat. "Mione, it's been to long!" he exclaimed. Rushing up to her and giving her a big hug, Ron couldn't stop smiling.

"Hey Ron," Hermione said with less enthusiastically then he showed. She glanced over at Harry who gave her a, tell him now before it goes to far look. Ginny had the same sort of expression and Hermione gave her a why don't you take your own advise look.

"So," Ron said finally releasing her, "what's new at old Hogwarts?"

"Actually, Ron, I have some interesting news for you." Hermione replied.

"Oh yea," he said, "Well, I want to hear everything that's happened so far this year. Tell me what you're learning this year?"

"Oh, well, I guess the story starts from the train," Hermione said glancing at Ginny who gave her a reassuring nod as if to say you're on the right track. Hermione continued. "I had no one to sit with at first because I didn't know where Ginny was so I took a seat in an empty compartment and then Richard joined me."

"Who's Richard?" Ron asked, he tried to make it sound as if he couldn't care less but there was a hint of jealousy and defiance.

"You know, he's a Ravenclaw, had top marks, close call to mine and all. He was third best in our year in most classes."

"Oh,"

"Anyways, he sat with me and then Ginny and Luna joined us. We spent the ride talking and catching up. When he got back to Hogwarts we met the new teachers and then were led to our common and dorm room, you know returning Seventh Years have our own place.

"Anyways, we've had classes and everything, Richard and I are in a few classes, we became friends over the last little while." Hermione stopped here and glanced at Ginny again. She smiled at her, encouraging her to go on and Harry nodded. "Well, after a while we grew a little closer and he asked me to Hogsmead and one thing led to another and well…" she hesitated for a moment and then continued, "and now we're sorta going out."

Ron was quiet for a while, shocked by the news. He opened his mouth a few times as if to say something but closed it changing his mind. Finally he cleared his throat and spoke. "That's great Mione, I'm really happy for you."

"Really?" she asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know…" She answered. She was glad the air was cleared finally however.

"So, I take it you and Richard are going to the dance thing tomorrow?"

"Of course," Hermione replied.

"Will you save me and Harry a dance at least?" He asked. You could tell he added Harry's name in at the last second, trying not to make it obvious he wanted a dance with her.

"If you really wanted me to, I guess I could."

"Great!"

"So Ginny, why don't you tell everyone your big news?" Hermione asked turning the spot light off her and onto her best girlfriend.

"About me and Zeek?"

"Yea," Hermione replied shocked she wasn't hesitant about saying the name aloud in such a way.

"Well, Zeek, one of Cassie's boyfriend's friends, asked me to the dance. He's a great guy."

"Wonderful," Harry replied.

Hermione looked between the two of them confused.

"Oh, I didn't tell you, I met this girl during Auror Training, amazing really, smart, talented and a great duelist. She's from Canada, but she's transferred over here to a private school for her education and has applied as an Auror, and they greatly accepted her."

"Really?" Hermione asked.

"Yea, Ashley is amazing. She'll be coming to the dance as well."

"That's great!"

"Yea, I was just telling Ginny yesterday. I didn't want there to be any hard feelings or anything."

Hermione glared at Ginny. "No, you wouldn't want that."

"I'm happy you're both happy though, and I'll save a dance for each of you."

"Great, but I have to get back to Richard now. I'll see you guys later."

"At dinner," Harry said.

"Sure," Hermione replied before walking out and back to the common room. When she entered she found Cassie, Richard and Dean seated on the couches.

"Hey," Cassie squealed when she noticed Hermione, "I was just going to look for you."

"How'd it go?" Richard asked as Hermione took a seat on his lap.

"Really well actually, he didn't seem to take the news as hard as I thought he would."

"Did he say anything?"

"Not really, he said he was happy for me… and that he wanted to save a dance for him and Harry."

"Well, I guess I can let that happen," Richard replied with a smirk.

"How about with Ginny?" Cassie enquired.

"Well, apparently Harry already told her he was seeing some girl from Auror Training so it didn't come as a big shock."

"What?"

"Oh yea, he said he didn't want any hard feeling so he told her earlier and she didn't tell me because she wanted me to tell Ron everything," Hermione sighed, "at least it's over and done with."

"That it is," Richard said kissing the top of her head. Just then a knock on the door and Dean got up and let Ginny in. She took a seat on the couch next to Cassie.

"Well, Damien is arriving with everyone tomorrow morning at ten, I'm supposed to meet them at the gates and escort them to the headmistress's office. Care to join me Ginny?"

"Sure," Ginny said with a huge grin.

"Great!"

"Lots of work to do tomorrow then," Hermione said.

"Yea,"

"I guess I better finish my homework. I've still got that essay for Sturgis and that potions report."

"Yea, we should get a move on our homework and stop with all the distractions," Richard replied kissing Hermione.

"No PDA!" a voice hollered from the other couch.

"What happened to no more distractions?" Hermione asked grinning at Richard.

"You're the one exception,"

"Well, too bad for you I have no exceptions," Hermione said picking up her potions text book from the table. "And we have a lot of work to do."

A/N: Well, wasn't that exciting? So, harry has a girlfriend… bet you weren't expecting that lol. And what did you think about Ron… I bet his reaction sucked but whatever. Anyway, let me know what you thought…review please!!