Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews and comments about this fic. it's those that spur me on to write more. I am having a little trouble with this story at the moment as I try and figure out what I want to happen. Plus I've got to proof read what I have written so I can get it posted up here for you all to enjoy.
I don't own Harry Potter nor to I own any of the characters.
The Ball had officially started with the four champions entering the hall with their partners. There was Harry with Parvati Patail, Cedric with Cho Chang, Fleur with Rodger Davis and Krum with a pretty Ravenclaw 7th year girl who was dressed in a deep teal gown. Then all the students took to their seats to eat an amazing Christmas feast fit for a king complete with 5 delicious courses. The hall was filled with the sound of the clattering of cutlery, laughter and the chit chat of everyone. Everyone seemed to be having a brilliant time except for Ron who was in a huff about Hermione and Fred.
"Ron please get over it." Harry told his best friend in between spoonful's of mashed potatoes.
"What does she see in Fred?" he kept asking Harry but unfortunately for Ron, Harry didn't have any answers, after all he seen Fred as a very good friend.
Padma Patail didn't seen too impressed with her date so spent the duration of the meal speaking with her sister Parvati and best friend Lavender Brown who was with Seamus Finnegan. It didn't help that Ron kept looking over in the direction of Fred's table where he was sat laughing with Hermione who was joining in with the conversations, fitting in perfectly with Fred and his friends. To say Ron was jealous was an understatement. After the tables were cleared it was time for the four champions to take to the dance floor with their partners for the first dance. Harry was extremely nervous and relied on his partner to keep him right on the dance floor. 'Give me the dragons any day' Harry thought to himself as he tried not to step on Parvati's toes. The rest of the students got up to dance as did some of the staff. Professor McGonagall got up to dance with Professor Dumbledore which made Harry smile into himself as it was nice to see them let their hair down and have some fun for a change. He wasn't surprised to see Snape sat at the teacher's table with a face like thunder, watching everyone closely just waiting to pounce on them to give them detention. Fred had gotten Hermione up to dance and was swinging her around the dance floor confidently. Ron on the other hand had refused point blank to dance with Padma who was on the verge of tears due to the attitude of her date. She jumped at the chance to dance with a Drumstrang student who came to her aid and asked her to dance with him. This didn't help Ron's attitude any. He hated seeing Hermione so happy with his brother. He knew Fred could have taken any girl he wanted to the ball but he had to go and take Hermione.
"He probably only did it to annoy me." he snapped to an uninterested Harry.
Harry just rolled his eyes that went back to watching a smiling Dumbledore dance with Professor Sprout. He didn't see what the problem was with Hermione going with Fred, at least she was with someone they liked and trusted.
"At least she's not with some Slytherin." Harry spoke trying to make the situation better.
Hermione took a break from dancing with Fred to go and get a drink, heading over in the direction of Harry and Ron with a huge smile on her face.
"It's warm isn't it?" she asked.
"hmmmpt." Ron muttered.
"Are you having a good night?" Harry asked his best friend.
"Yes I'm having a brilliant night actually. It's really good fun." She chirped fanning herself with her hand to cool herself down.
"Would you two like some drinks?" she then asked.
"No thanks." Ron snapped not even looking in Hermione's direction.
"No I'm ok thank you Hermione. I think I'm going to head to bed soon actually." Harry answered a lot more politely.
"What is your problem Ron?" Hermione wondered.
"Oh nothing is wrong, absolutely nothing at all. Why don't you run along back to Fred." Ron seethed pointing in Fred's direction.
"What?" Hermione questioned shock evident in her voice at Ron's outburst.
"You heard me. I'm pretty sure Fred is waiting on you. You seem to having a great time with him, you clearly don't need your two best friends anymore." Ron snapped. Fred appeared behind Hermione.
"There you are Mione. Are you wanting a drink?" he asked his date.
"What's up with you two?" "Oh nothing at all." Ron spat.
"Ronald here is jealous because I came to the ball with you." Hermione answered folding her arms across her chest.
"Well Ron you know what you should have done don't you? Asked Mione here before someone else did." Fred said putting a supportive hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"You don't even like her!" Ron spat standing up. "You're probably only brought her just to annoy me."
"Oh Ron catch a bloody grip. I brought her because I happen to like Hermione a lot!" Fred protested.
"Since when?" Ron demanded. "Oh maybe since I first met her. What business is it of yours any way Ron?" Fred retorted.
The two boys continued their argument not realising that Hermione had ran off, not even Harry who tried to calm the two brothers down seemed to notice either.
"You are pathetic Ron, a pathetic, jealous git who needs to start treating his friends better!" Fred shouted.
"That's rich coming from you." Ron scoffed. Fred turned his head and realised Hermione was gone.
"Now look what you've done!" Fred snapped dashing out of the busy hall in an attempt to find Hermione.
'Where's the Maurader's map when I bloody need it?' Fred said to himself as he searched the corridors surrounding the Great Hall. Of course he knew where the map was – he and George had given it to Harry the previous year. "If you're looking for your date, she went outside." One of the moving portraits said to a frantic Fred. Fred legged it outside where he found Hermione sat on a bench, her head in her hands sobbing to herself.
"Hermione?" Fred spoke softly as he approached her then removed his outer robes and placed them around Hermione's shivering shoulders. Hermione lifted her head and wiped away the tears.
"I'm so sorry Mione." Fred apologized.
"It's alright Fred. You shouldn't have to apologize on behalf of Ron." She squeaked. Fred sat down on the freezing cold bench beside Hermione and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Goodness Hermione, it's freezing out here, you'll catch your death." Fred spoke pulling her closer to him then with a wave of his wand, cast a spell to keep both of them warm. Hermione instantly felt safe and warm in Fred's strong arms.