A/N: sorry. I wasn't able to post this immediately. I was sick. My allergy's a bitch. So it might be a bit late for this since Christmas was a few days ago. Anyway, THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST CHAPTER. WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD I CONTINUE? The fate of this story depends on you. i don't really know what to do.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

The news that Hermione is going to the Ball with Harry spread like wildfire. Considering that they share enough popularity at the school and that a lot of students were already betting on when are they going to admit their 'undying love' for each other, students seem to take an interest with the news.

Christmas came. Hermione prepared herself for the Ball. She wore her dress and her hair was put up in an elegant way. She went down to the common room and to where she and Harry agreed to meet.

She spotted Harry who waved at her and she waved back, smiling. Hermione walked towards him, trying to ignore other students who were staring at her. As she was walking, she saw on the corner of her eye, Fred, who was standing beside Angelina, both of them looking at her. She was torn between feeling smug for they were staring at her and Harry and feeling sad for she wasn't the one who was beside Fred.

All of them went to the Great Hall. After eating delicious food, there appeared a stage and all the tables and chairs were placed at the side which was an indication that the dancing would already begin.

Hermione groaned. This wasn't her place. She's not really used to be with rowdy people. Therefore, Harry and Hermione just sat. Ron was nowhere to be seen so it was just them, alone.

"Maybe you want to dance?" Hermione asked mockingly.

"Oh. I enjoy this kind of thing as much as you do." said Harry, grinning at her. They both laughed. They seemed to be the only pair who decided to stay out of the dance floor.

After a few minutes of silence and just watching the others as they danced, Harry looked at Hermione.

"Are you okay?" asked Harry anxiously. Hermione raised a brow, waiting for Harry to continue. "I mean, Fred asked Angelina. Oh, you know what I mean." Hermione smiled at her best friend's evident concern.

"Yeah. I know. To be honest, it hurts. I hate it. But I don't have a choice do I?" she answered as she scanned the students and searched for Fred.

"Really like Fred that much?"

"Yeah." She answered.

"Don't you start crying here." warned Harry. "I don't want people to think that I'm abusing you." he whispered at her.

"I won't." said Hermione and she smiled brightly at Harry.

"Maybe we should dance." suggested Harry. Hermione looked at him suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah of course. Let's go." Harry offered his hand to Hermione which she gladly took. They held hands while walking toward the crowd. The song was upbeat so the students went wild. Harry and Hermione just jumped and swayed, both of them laughing so hard at their ridiculous dance, their faces were almost as red as Ron's hair.

They stopped dancing after three songs. Both of them were already tired so they just sat down again. Hermione was feeling a bit better now. It was now almost midnight but students were still full of energy.

Well, not them.

"Hey. Since it's Christmas today, I have a special gift for you." said Harry after a few minutes of silence.

"What's that?" asked Hermione curiously.

"Go to the balcony. You'll see." Harry said as he grinned at her, obviously trying to contain his excitement.

"Now?"

"Now."

Hermione stood up and walked towards the balcony. She saw Harry went the other way and disappeared. She was at the balcony already but there wasn't anything there. She waited for about five minutes just staring at the clear black sky and down at the trees. It was really a beautiful sight to behold.

"Oy." Hermione heard someone said. She turned around and saw Fred looking at her with a little surprised look. Her heart leapt a little, finally seeing Fred properly. He was pretty good-looking, more than usual, of course.

"Have you seen Harry?"

"Have you seen George?"

Both of them asked at the same time. They smiled at each other and Fred walked towards her. "George told me that I'll find something interesting here. He said I'll thank him and kiss the ground he's walking when I finally saw 'it'." Fred said.

"So did you find 'it'?"

"It's not what I expected. But he's right. I'll be grateful to him." Fred said, looking at Hermione with those eyes she loved.

Hermione blushed.

"So how about you. Why are you here?"

"Oh me? Harry told me he has a gift for me." she said looking at the sky again. "But I wasn't able to find it." she added as she looked at Fred.

Fred seemed to be a little taken aback by what she said but he still smiled warmly. "I hope you'll finally 'see' it." His words were full of meaning.

"I already did." She smiled at Fred. The boy's smile widened. "Really?" he asked.

"Yeah."

There was an awkward silence between them. Hermione just stared at the sky as she tried to control her emotions.

"By the way, you definitely looked beautiful today." praised Fred as he looked at.

Hermione blushed even more. Luckily, it was a little dark, Hermione thought. Only the moonlight gives them light but it's already enough for Hermione to see Fred- his looks, his smile, his red hair and his eyes. Before even thinking, Hermione cupped Fred's face with her hands, looked directly in his eyes and say, "You look fantastic." Hermione just stared at Fred with so much admiration. When she finally realized what she was doing, she pulled her hands back and stared back at the sky. She was completely embarrassed with what she did.

She glanced at Fred, and she saw that he was smiling, looking at the sky as well. Hermione's heart felt light. She was very happy. Just seeing Fred with her on a special day like this made her heart swell with happiness.

"You should go back there, you know. Harry might be looking for you." Fred said, although Hermione felt that he was saying it half-heartedly.

"I don't want to."

"Why?"

"Because I like it here." she said and she blushed again.

"Yeah."

"Everything's perfect here. The moon, the sky, everything. But the thing that really doesn't make me want to go back is you." Hermione admitted. "Harry's right. I'll have the best of my day here."

Fred just stared at Hermione. He was too stunned to speak.

Hermione breathed deeply. "I think, being with you here, on this wonderful night, is the best Christmas I've ever had here." Hermione looked directly at Fred's eyes. She didn't know where she got the courage to tell him all those things, but she was glad she did. She didn't regret a thing although she felt like she have to go see Madam Pomfrey later and ask her for a remedy for a nearing heart attack.

Fred still looked stunned. He seemed to be processing what Hermione just said. He just stared at her with those eyes which melt Hermione's whole being. For the first time after a long long while, Hermione saw that Fred was genuinely happy that night. Then he smiled. The soft, lovely loving smile. Something Hermione seldom sees.

"You shouldn't have said that." Fred said. He pulled Hermione near him and he kissed her in the lips. He put his arms around her waist as she put hers on his shoulder. It was a soft and undemanding kiss. Fred hugged her tighter and Hermione did the same. He stopped kissing her and he cupped her face with his hands. He stared directly at her, smiling.

"Best Christmas ever?" he asked.

"Best Christmas ever."

"Very true." He agreed with a smile before bending down again to reach her.

Again, they kissed. It was indeed a magical moment for them. After kissing, they hugged each other. Hermione looked at the sky. The smile on her face never faded and so did Fred's. Hermione knew and finally there's no doubt that Fred likes her.

Fred put his arm around Hermione's shoulder as they both looked at the sky. Hermione rested her head on Fred's shoulder. They stayed like that for a long while. Then Fred removed his arm around Hermione and he stood behind her. "You know what? I don't want this night to end." he whispered at Hermione's ear as he hugged her from the back. Hermione leaned on him and held his arms. She nodded.

"You sure you don't want to go back?" Hermione teased.

"Yep. I'm happy here." Fred's hug tightened and he kissed her at the back of her head.

Hermione's smile faltered as she remembered Fred's date –Angelina. "What about Angelina?"

"She's busy with a Durmstrang guy. Besides, I'm not really interested in her. I just don't have the courage to ask you out. She's just a safe choice for me because she's my friend."

Then they heard the music from the Hall. It was a slow and sweet music. Hermione wondered how it reached them when the previous songs they played didn't.

Fred turned her around so that she was now facing him. "I think this night isn't perfect enough yet. I think I owe you something."

"What?" asked Hermione curiously.

"Let's see. A dance perhaps? Will you dance with me?"

"Of course."

And so, Fred and Hermione started to dance, a dance that will surely be carved in their minds forever, their very first dance together.

so tell me, should I continue? or let's just end it here. It's up to you.