Woot woot, thank god for isolation. Gives me lots of time to write!

Thank you to my reviewers: FreyaWrackspurt, viola1701e, DaniGB, sophiecambellbower, xXMizz Alec VolturiXx, caprubia, and Aetzfeder!


Hogwarts Halls; 1998


Romance was in the air.

Hermione wished she could metaphorically bat it out of the sky if she weren't so pleased that there was a sense of lightness amongst the students.

No one could have predicted how a Post-War Hogwarts class would look like. There were so many empty gaps, not just in the seventh and eighth years, but in every space. There were places where a young child had been felled far too young and no one seemed to want to fill it. Leave a chair open in Divination, a space on the benches in the great hall, a bed perpetually un-made from the scramble of last year...Hermione had been present for a conversation in which the adults feared that some scars would have run simply too deep. They feared that all the things that made Hogwarts fun (though, of course, learning was the primary objective, but one couldn't deny what 'fun' did for one's soul) would be just darkened and impossible to recapture.

Yes, the first few months had been rocky, but it seemed that coming upon two months into the year, everyone's minds were elsewhere. Specifically, on others.

It had been Lavender's idea, of course. The hopeless romantic had brought it to the Hogwarts Staff and no one had found a good enough reason to deny her what she was asking for; a ball.

"Oh, it will be brill!" She'd said, clasping her hands together, "We can hold it on Halloween. I'll take care of everything, everything, I swear. Me and Susan. It will give the students something to look forward to!"

And take charge of it she had. Hermione, who usually had a finger in every cauldron of late, was more than happy to step away completely from this.

The only ball most students had ever been to was the Yule Ball, which was steeped in tradition and followed a precedent.

There was nothing like this.

"We want the students to be comfortable," Hermione overheard Lavender tell her helpers- Susan Bones and Terry Boot, "No traditional dress robes, no complicated dance moves. We want people to be laughing and enjoying themselves and not worrying about where to put their feet or if their ancestor's ruffles still smell like mothballs. Students can come in muggle jeans and trainers for all I care."

The news and excitement caught on quickly. Maybe everyone was looking for a reason to put aside their sadness. Maybe the idea of a party with good food and dance was far too tempting to sneer at. Maybe Lavender really had struck genius with this. Whatever it was, the castle went from a place where people hardly whispered in the halls to where giggling and gossip about the dance was the primary topic. Hermione usually couldn't go five feet without someone telling someone about something having to do with this upcoming dance.

It had been a handful of years ago, yes, but Hermione did recall the way people asked each other to the Yule Ball. Most were with notes sent fluttering across the Great Hall or left in book bags. A few men managed to muster up the courage to ask in person. Viktor had found her in the library and it had been very sweet. It had seemed so anti-climatic. So simple.

It was not simple now.

It seemed that simply going up and asking someone was the minority. No, the students were making big, romantic gestures. Each tried to out-do the other.

Hermione was fairly sure it started with a Ravenclaw who asked out a Gryffindor. She hadn't been present, but from the things picked up in the halls, he'd apparently transfigured a goblet at dinner into a lion about the size of a house-cat and it had come bounding over with a letter clasped in its jaws.

Then, after that show, it was a Slytherin asking a Hufflepuff by holding up a sign during a Quidditch match.

After that, Neville had asked Hannah (and thank Merlin that the two of them were finally together) by bewitching a plant to spell out her name in letters on the side of Hogwarts Castle when she came by for her daily morning stroll.

Well, as soon as war-hero Neville Longbottom had hopped on this train of ostentatious asking, it was nearly impossible to stop young students from coming up with crazier and crazier ways of asking one another to the dance.

Dean was musing about it all one night. He wondered if this newfound sense of courage and confidence from students was an effect of winning the war. Or, he added, perhaps students merely realized that being rejected was hardly the worst thing that could happen to them. Not when, of course, they'd faced literal death only months before.

At first, the teachers tried to quell this behavior. It was starting to interrupt class time. However, when Flitwick admitted that he loved seeing all of this happening (and that there was quite some fancy Charms being used, he added, preening with pride) all the other teachers seemed to at least tolerate it. Hermione was almost sure she nearly saw McGonagall smiling at one such presentation at dinner.

Ron had asked Hermione first they heard about the dance, way in the beginning. She was certain Ron wasn't going to ask her in any other public way and she was glad. Or, she thought she was.

Despite being one of the 'Golden Trio' that the newspapers dubbed them, Hermione enjoyed a private sense of being. She didn't like all her laundry (dirty or not) to be aired to everyone. Plus, it wasn't like her and Ron going together would surprise anyone. He didn't have to find the perfect way to admit his feelings. They were solid, she decided, and there was no reason to waste all that time putting on a show.

Still, she had to wonder, if he were to ask her...what would Ron do? Would it be something related to what he enjoyed, like Quidditch? Would Hermione have to graciously accept, despite her mind inwardly reminding her how she hated the sport? Or, would Ron look outside of that and try to do something Hermione would enjoy, like write the request with Ancient Runes?

She couldn't be sure.

Harry had asked Ginny with a whole tonne of roses, it seemed, strewn out all over her bedroom. He'd gotten help to bring them all up there.

That wasn't public, but it wasn't private either. And, everyone assumed Harry and Ginny would go together.

Especially after that, Hermione spent much of her free time half-hoping and half-fearing that Ron would re-ask her too.

She'd say yes, of course, but she feared that he'd get it colossally wrong and it would be sweet, but off the mark. Or, would it mean he just didn't care if he never re-asked her?

And, if these thoughts weren't bad enough, the dreams of Theo seemed to never end. If Hermione had thought them bad before, they were unbearable now.

Sex dreams Hermione could take. She'd had sex dreams about loads of people. It was entirely natural. Sure, there was a tinge of awkwardness the next morning when you caught their gaze over a pitcher of pumpkin juice and wondered if they actually were as good a lover as your dreams made them out to be, but it was something she could handle.

She did dream about Theo more frequently than anyone else, but Hermione didn't give much stock to divination anyway, so it was easy to ignore it.

She was also well-used to sex dreams featuring Theo. So well, in fact, that she hardly even gave the hint of blush when she'd see him in class. She could sit right next to him and replay the traitorous machinations of her inner-mind giving her these fantasies without stumbling or getting flustered.

What Hermione could not handle were the dreams in which Theo asked her to the dance. Or where, during the dance, he stole her for a slow song. Or, where afterwards, he'd kiss her cheek and tuck a pink rose behind her ear.

It was nearly nightly.

She hated herself for how much she wanted Theo to ask her, despite the fact they were both dating others. She hated how her pulse would pick up just imagining Theo twirling her around or her laying her head on his shoulder, like some love-sick fool. She hated how she'd search for that rose when she woke up, as though it would pop out of her dreams and into this world, or that it would actually be a token for her.

She hated all of it.

And, everyone making heart-eyes at one another was simply not helping the situation.

It was both a blessing and a curse they hadn't seen each other alone in Ancient Runes of late. Theo had been out with a bad cough for the last week. Hermione had worried far more than appropriate, though she knew that Pomfrey was just being overly-cautious. Out of all their classes, Advanced Ancient Runes took the most energy, so he was advised to take a quick hiatus from it. Hermione had been solo for four days.

A very silly part of her feared that if they were alone, somehow, it might slip that she'd been thinking of him in this context...the two of them, coupled, at the dance.

The dance was in two days. She only had to make it until then, and well, she'd be safe after that.

Somehow, she'd allowed herself to be roped into helping someone ask another person out. She would complain more about it, but she didn't hate the idea of romance entirely, nor did she want to discourage younger students from feeling those sorts of things.

Derek Knightly was a sixth-year student that Hermione had grown to be friends with during her time back here at Hogwarts. She was unsure about what began the friendship to say, and it didn't bother her a lick he was two years younger. She always remembered him to be a studious wizard and that much was true now more than ever. They'd become like siblings, she liked to think. There was just something about the young Ravenclaw that Hermione saw herself reflected back, so perhaps she was drawn to him for a reason.

He was terribly shy, however.

Hermione wouldn't call herself shy. Quiet? Sometimes. Shy? Never. She supposed that was thanks to her Gryffindor heritage. So, when she'd half-jokingly asked Derek if he'd asked anyone yet, and he'd admitted he hadn't the courage to ask someone. A specific someone.

After much ribbing and curiosity, because Hermione was honestly quite surprised, he'd admitted he held a flame for Morag McDougal, a student in a year between theirs.

Morag was quirky and bright-hearted. Derek explained how they'd both been working together on Hogwarts reparations over the summer and somewhere, he'd developed a crush. Morag was someone Hermione also knew well. Despite illegally sneaking back into the battle, and therefore seeing horrors no sixteen-year-old should have to see, Morag had retained her cheery disposition and playful nature.

Hermione would have never considered them to be a fine pair, but now she hoped that it worked out. Derek needed someone as spontaneous as she and Morag would do well for such a stable companion.

Derek had charmed a small pig to grow wings, not unlike the magical mini dragons that Harry had chosen out of a basket during the tournament. It was accompanied by a sign 'If pigs were to fly, would you accompany me to the dance?"

"I'm too nervous to ask myself," He'd wheezed, meeting up with Hermione for breakfast this morning, "You need to ask her."

"What? No, Derek, you can do it," Hermione said, nudging him gently.

"Oh, Merlin, I'm going to vomit," He groaned, "Please?" He said, staring up at Hermione, "If she says yes, fantastic. If she says no...oh, I couldn't be standing in front of her for that." He nudged one of his muffins across the table, "Don't you want to help a young war-survivor find love?"

Thus, how Hermione was saddled with this task.

She figured she'd go during Ancient Runes. The class wasn't doing much and Hermione could afford to pop out for a few minutes.

"Professor Babbling. Do you mind if I go and...do something for a few moments once the students have begun working?" Hermione asked, approaching the desk. Theo was gone again. Probably for the best.

"What sort of thing, Hermione?" Babbling questioned, looking up from her grading. Her eyes slid over Hermione's shoulder, "Oh, Theo! Glad to see you back."
Hermione spun around, nearly dropping the box Derek had handed off to her. It had been days since she'd seen him in person and it felt like years.

"Uhm, I…" Hermione turned around slowly, trying to regain her breath, "It's an ask. To the dance." She admitted, "Not for me, I'm asking for someone else."

"Oh!" Babbling clapped her hands together, "You know, this dance is making my heart feel young again. How wondrous."

"Yes, I agree." Hermione said, "So-,"

"Be sure to be back swiftly."

Hermione grabbed her knapsack and her wand, pulling out a parchment, not unlike the Marauder's Map, but this was used to locate where a student was, or what class they were supposed to be in.

"Did I hear you're delivering a dance ask?"

Hermione nearly jumped out of her skin. She turned to see Theo tilting his head, looking at her.

"You did."

"Didn't Ron already ask you?" Theo squinted, "Or, my, my, are you really breaking tradition and asking him?" He grinned lazily at her.

"No, he's asked. I'm helping a friend," Hermione said. Then, she stared at his face, looking much more full of color than last week, when he'd left the class feeling ill, "I'm glad you're better." She murmured quietly.

"Thanks," Theo said, rubbing the back of his neck, "Can I, uh, come too?" He motioned to the box, "To help?"

"It's really a one-person job and-,"

"I haven't been part of one yet, though," Theo pouted. His expression was adorable, Hermione was angry at herself for thinking. And she knew his claim to be true. While many students were pulling their best mates around to ask with an acapella group or a whole set of signs held up, Theo hadn't been involved in any yet. She knew she would have found out if he were.

And, Hermione could not ignore the fact that she wanted him to come, even if she knew she shouldn't be thinking that.

But, what was a friend helping another friend with an ask, right?

"If Babbling is okay with it."

"We agreed to catch up on my work after the dance," Theo waved a hand, "The whole school's practically checked-out with it so close."

"You say that again," Hermione snorted. She figured out that Morag was most likely to be in Arithmancy currently. She folded the roster back into her pocket, "You're going with Daphne?" She asked quietly.

"Yeah. It wasn't anything fancy. It was before people started doing this." He said.

"Haven't you thought of re-asking her?" She was asking for her own sake. Maybe this was just something guys didn't even think about.

"It seems rather pointless now," Theo showed the whites of his teeth, "Though I do wish I'd waited so I could ask her. She'd want something public," He said, sticking his hands in his pants pockets.

"Oh?" In so many ways, Daphne was the opposite of Hermione. Maybe that's what Theo wanted, she considered.

"She likes big gestures. Big gaudy things. Haven't you noticed that ridiculously sized emerald she wears all the time?" Theo raised an eyebrow.

"Not your style?" This did surprise Hermione. The Notts were an old family. She figured he'd be the first one digging through the vaults for valuable baubles.

"I dunno," He replied after a second, scrunching up his nose, "I guess, maybe not."

Hermione's heart thudded a bit. She foolishly wanted to link their hands together, but it would come from nowhere.

"Ah, we're here." She motioned to the door. It had seemed like no time at all walking across the castle. Time seemed to act differently when she was around Theo.

Hermione knocked on the door. The students were doing independent work. Professor Vector gave a tired smile when Hermione entered with a box aloft. Theo trailed behind. Hermione hadn't been lying, there really wasn't much for him to do. Still, it almost felt like it meant something (to whom, she couldn't say) that they were doing this as a pair. Not as Hermione just doing it, but with Theo with her. As though they were...coupled.

"Let's get this through. Third today," Vector said, but Hermione wasn't sure she actually was annoyed.

The whole class turned. Morag's whole face lit up when she saw Hermione, and Hermione had to wonder if she knew this was for her. She'd talked to Morag before about her closeness with Derek, but at the time hadn't known that Derek had liked her. How long had this been going on?

It seemed she wasn't the only one holding back crushes.

Hermione set the box on an empty table. She tapped it twice, muttering the enchantment under her breath.

The top of the box opened and a pair of small balloons lifted a mini and very loudly oinking, pig into the air. The question, the one about pigs flying, followed.

Then, the balloons popped and right before the pig hit the table, it sprouted a pair of little wings. It zoomed around, the students laughing and watching as it sailed through the air. Hermione couldn't help but step back and smile fondly. Not only was this an impressive display of magic, but it did also kindle something inside of her. Morag was blushing profusely but had the widest smile on her face.

The pig dove into the box and picked up a letter, which he dropped off right on Morag's desk. It sat on its haunches, snorting up at her. She took the letter and unwrapped the ribbon. She read the letter, giggling to herself before she turned back to Hermione.

"Tell Derek, of course, I say yes."

Hermione couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief and a noise of laughter herself. She waved goodbye to Professor Vector, apologizing for interrupting, and started back to the classroom.

"Wait, aren't you going to go find Derek?" Theo asked.

"Well, I figured I'd see him at lunch in a few periods," Hermione frowned.

"Oh, come on, Granger! The boy's probably biting his nails in anticipation. He knew it was happening this hour. We'd be cruel to leave him waiting. Plus, I gotta show my worth somehow," Theo said, grabbing the paper from her back pocket. The closeness of his fingers grazing her pants caused her to intake, wishing he'd accidentally brushed closer.

"I have to access it. Special privilege," Hermione said, plucking the paper away. Rolling her eyes, she opened it. Theo leaned over her shoulder, his breath tickling her ear as they scrolled.

"Darn, History of Magic. Think Binns' cockles of his heart have been warmed by all of this?" Theo paused, "Can ghosts feel love, you think? Ah, well, we should try anyway."

Before Hermione could stop him, Theo had turned in the opposite direction. She ran to catch up with him, coming to fall into stride side-by-side.

Binns was lecturing, as he always was.

"Ah, mint! He's right by the door!" Theo said, taking Hermione's satchel of her arm. Hermione wasn't sure if he was always so lackadaisy with personal space or if she was just noticing it now.

"What are you-,"

"Parchment!" He said, holding it up, "And...what's that?"

"A muggle pen." Hermione said, laughing at his expression as he turned it, "It's like a never-ending quill. You don't have to re-dip." She liked taking notes with it. Much less work.

"Hmm, strange," He said but used the rough wall to jolt out a message. 'She said yes! Congrats, mate!'

Hermione watched as he worked with absolute focus, biting his lip as he began to fold the parchment carefully. Then, he stood in the doorway, eyeing where Derek was half-sleeping on his desk.

Hermione realized a second later what his intention was after he'd thrown the paper airplane into the room.

It hit Derek on the side of his head. He jolted, kicking the underside of his desk. Binns didn't notice, but most around him did. He spotted the airplane and opened it and Hermione got to see the look of utter joy pass over his face, as it had Morag's.

He turned, his gaze turning confused as he spied Theo next to Hermione. His eyes flickered between them, ever the Ravenclaw, trying to analyze something that Hermione hoped no one saw there.

Theo gave a thumbs up and Hermione forced a smile. Derek gave up whatever he was trying to calculate and gave a wordless 'thank you' to the pair.

"Love is some kind of wonderful, sometimes, don't you agree?" Theo asked.

Hermione paused, staring at his figure, pushing down her feelings more so than ever. She knew if he turned back around, she'd be found out, staring at him with such a soft expression that it would be hard to try to call it platonic. Still, she was in a rather romantic mood, no getting around it. She even had the thought that she couldn't remember feeling so swept off her feet with Ron, and Theo wasn't even doing anything right now. Even that thought could not pause the infectious feeling Nott was giving off.

Her lips curled upward.

"Yeah, it is."