It was now five minutes till half past eight. Letting her conscience get the best of her, Hermione told Viktor where see was going as not to be rude. After cordially inviting them to join, Viktor promptly said it "vas indecent to be seen in the vorking quarters", however he kissed her hand and told her to have a lovely time.
Hermione felt a bit giddy sneaking to the servants' quarters, which she knew quite well because she used to visit Wendell and Monica down there when Hermione visited McGonagall as a little girl. As it was customary in the community, servants traveled with the master or mistress of the house so Hermione always had Crookshanks, Miss Wilkes, and the two younger apprentices with her. Needless to say, this bit of rule breaking thrilled Hermione, until she turned the corner and bumped into a man with greasy hair and fine black robes.
"Lady Granger," he drawled in his slow, deep voice. "Where are you going?"
"To the servants' quarters," said Hermione, failing at lying.
"Your godmother wouldn't be very pleased to hear that," said the man.
"Aunt Min knows, Count Severus," said Hermione, attempting to lie to the man who she feared as a child yet respected as well.
"Yes, Severus," said the kind soft voice of Count Albus Dumbledore. "In fact, Lady Granger has already broken her promise not to tell anyone. So now, you must not tell anyone, Severus, for the sake of Minerva."
"But how do you know?" asked Severus. Yes, how? wondered Hermione.
"I have my ways," said Dumbledore, with a small twinkle in his eyes. And with that, Severus turned away and walked back into the ballroom.
"Thank you, Dumbledore," said Hermione.
"For what?" asked Dumbledore, feigning ignorance and he walked away from Hermione. "I don't know about anything."
Hermione grinned, picked up her flowing gown, and walked quickly through the corridor and down the stairs to the servants' quarters, where she could hear the sounds of laughter through the wooden walls.
The door had been closed, and it occurred to Hermione that she didn't know the password to get in, but she had one that might work, so she knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" asked a young voice.
"Hermione," she said.
"What's the password?"
"Well, I don't know, Ron didn't tell me…but I remember it being 'Weps'. Is that right?"
"Yes!" said the little voice. The door opened to a little boy of about ten year olds.
"What's your name?" asked Hermione.
"Lord Eric Thomas," said the boy.
"Are you Dean's little brother?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah," he said. "But I thought the ball was boring, and I heard Dean was gonna come here so I followed him and he saw me and so he told me I could stay if I watched the door."
"Well, you're doing a very good job," said Hermione.
"Thanks!" chirped the boy.
"Oi, Eric! Who's that your talking too?" asked Dean, coming to the door. "Oh, Hermione!"
"Hello, Dean," said Hermione, bowing a bit.
"So, Ron finally grew a pair and asked you, didn't he?" teased Dean, making Hermione blush profusely.
"A pair of what?" asked Eric, as he was little.
"Yes, Dean," said Hermione, putting her hands on her hips and looking a big smug at Dean's now blushed cheeks. "Please, elaborate."
"Um...well..." stumbled Dean, knowing that his litle brother would tattle on him if he explained what he said to Hermione. "Nevermind, come in Hermione!"
The room felt warm with excitement and joy, almost glowing with the yellow light on the ceiling and the lanterns on the two back corners of the space. Katie and Hannah Abbott, the other serving girl who worked at The Great Hall, had been outside that day to gather some holly and tied bundles of it together with red string to create some simple decoration. There was a long table of gingerbread, Butterbeer, milk tea, chocolate frogs, popcorn, Pumpkin tarts, and sugared plums on various cookery that was able for the household staff to use during meals.
Hermione looked at the guests in the room. She recognized Lords Colin and Dennis Creevey, whose father had a photography business. Lord Anthony Goldstein, a very kind boy, was talking to Countess Susan Bones, whose family had significant influnce at the Ministry, especially since her aunt Countess Amelia Bones was one of the first females to be elected into a Ministry position. Lord Seamus Finnegan was there, clearly through with Lady Lavender's pursuit, talking with Lord Neville and Lord Dean. She saw plenty of "downstairs" people - including Katie, Hannah, Angelina Johnson and Lee Jordan who worked at the Wood family home; Alicia Spinnet who worked in the Crawfish home; Hedwig and Dobby, who worked at Harry's home at Godric's Hollow; Scabbers the Weasley family handyman; and Trevor, who was the valet at the Longbottom residence; and to her surprise, Luna.
"Luna?" asked Hermine, appraoching the girl in the yellow.
"Hello, Hermione," said Luna, smiling. "I see Ronald asked you to join us."
"Yes, but how do you Ron?" asked Hermione.
"We live near each other," said Luna. "After Mother's accident, my father moved us to Ottery St. Catchpole to The Windmill, and we became neighbors to the Weasleys. Not bad people to have as neighbors."
"I never knew that," said Hermione.
"Ron felt guilty about telling people I was his neighbor," said Luna. "He thought if people knew, then they would shun me and my father from finding a job."
"That's obsurd," said Hermione, who knew full well that Mr. Lovegood (formerly a lord) had a newspaper that published such nonsense called The Quibbler. The lack of success from the paper was the reason why Luna became Hermione's secretary in the first place, so that the family would have a steady flow of income. The Lovegoods lost their title when her mother died. Because the Lovegoods didn't work and just had land, they sold all of the land in order to pay off the funeral costs as well as the damage done to the place where her mother died, which was an experiment gone wrong. Poor Luna didn't deserve this, but then again Hermione never met anyone who did deserve the struggles they went through.
"Don't feel bad, Hermione," said Luna. "People are resilient; if you spend your time worrying about others, then you'll forget to focus on yourself."
"Tell that to Ron," said Hermione.
"I will," said Luna, as she walked away to visit a sea of gingers, which Hermione recognized as the Weasleys. She saw that twins and Ron were talking to Lee and Terry Boot, a servent to the Bones family. However, Luna instead walked to talk to Ginny and Harry, who were deep in conversation about something. Soon, Ginny waved to Hermione to come over to where they were and Hermione happily obliged.
"You look amazing," said Ginny, hugging her friend. "I couldn't believe it when I saw you."
"I was afraid to fall on my face," said Hermione.
"Not with that Viktor Krum holding on to you for dear life," said Ginny laughing. "Where did you find him?"
"McGonagall knows his family," said Hermione. "It just so happened to work that way."
"I kept telling her to go with Ronald," said Luna.
"Hush, Luna!" said Hermione, half-serious and half-joking, as Ginny giggled softly to herself.
"Speaking of which," said Harry, as he pointed towards the tall boy walking over to the group.
"Hello, Ronald," said Hermione, pleased that she actually made it.
"Why hello, there," said Ron, also looking pleased with himself.
"You seem awfully happy," said Hermione.
"I've brainwashed you," said Ron. "You actually broke the rules."
"I mean, it's a bit exciting," said Hermione. "Doing things you're not suppose to do."
"Who are you and what have you done to Lady Hermione Granger?" asked Ron.
"Now then!" said Fred all of the sudden, hopping onto a soap box. "Let's say we have a little music in here?" And with that, Lee Jordan began to play a fiddle, Hedwig had a flute, Scabbers had a little washboard for percussion, and Trevor had a horn that made a deep noise. The tune was very lively and soon people began to clap along with the beat that Scabbers made with his instrument. Hermione looked at Ron, who smiled back at her. This was already ten times more fun that that silly Yule Ball.