Dumbledore stood at the front of the room, all eyes on him. His own eyes - sheltered with his half moon glasses - surveyed the people before him, all of them watching him expectantly, waiting for him to begin. He twirled the tip of his silvery grey beard in his fingers, thoughtfully.

"It has come to my attention," Dumbledore began, his worn voice echoing throughout the hall, "That the social aspect of this school between houses is decreasing, and that relationships between members of different houses are not particularly friendly, as someone in this room is currently demonstrating."

Harry watched Dumbledore's eyes scan the room and pause when they reached the Slytherin table.

Harry followed the Headmasters gaze and saw what he had been looking at. He nudged Ginny, who was sitting next to him, and pointed to Malfoy, who had been in the process of mocking a Ravenclaw, and who had now gone very red.

"This kind of behaviour," Dumbledore continued, "is unacceptable, and will not be tolerated at Hogwarts. I have a plan that will address this issue, and it is to be announced at the end of this assembly. In the meantime, however, I have another point I wish to discuss with you. Alright, at this school there is to be no boasting or gloating about any feats you did or did not achieve."

Harry noticed Snape eyeing him accusingly, and quickly looked away before he could make eye contact. He was sick of Snape calling him 'up himself'.

Dumbledore continued, "This is a lesson which young Colin kindly taught us over the holidays, as I'm sure many of you are aware. Colin, may I add, is currently in Saint Mungo's and will not be returning to school for several weeks because of the whole incident, so be warned. Another lesson from this incident; choose your Halloween costume wisely."

Ginny had engaged in conversation with Parvarti so Harry couldn't ask her about the 'incident'. He looked across the table at Ron questioningly, who opened his mouth to speak but received a sharp kick under the table from Hermione, who was on the other side of Harry. Ron looked at her with a sigh of annoyance and simply shrugged at Harry.

"I don't know, mate." He told Harry, who frowned, exasperated. There was clearly something Hermione and Ron were keeping from him.

"And if I did know", Ron muttered, "Miss Granger here wouldn't let me tell you anyway."

At that Hermione snorted loudly.

"If I wouldn't let you tell him," Hermione argued, "Then I'm sure I would have a good reason for not wanting him to be informed, don't you think, Ronald?"

"Now really, Hermione. You are just being paranoid. Come off it, he'll find out sooner or later, you annoying old witch." He emphasised the word 'witch' as if it was a different word that rhymed with it.

"Oh yes, I'm sure the whole castle is just dying to talk about that with Harry. Stop being so stupid, Ronald!" Hermione replied.

This whole conversation irritated Harry, but not because of the secret they were obviously keeping from him. No, he wasn't worried about that – he would ask Ron about it next time Hermione wasn't there. Instead he was irritated with the way his two best friends were speaking to each other. Lately they had been particularly hostile towards each other, and he hadn't a clue as to why. That was something else he needed to ask Ron about. What really got to him was that they clearly had feelings for each other, but they still continued to be horrible. The way Hermione looked at Ron as if he was the best thing since Mrs. Wealsey's wonderful self-washing washing-up bowl hadn't escaped Harry's notice, nor had the way Ron deliberately had difficulty in all his classes so Hermione would have to sit by him and assist him. To make things worse, the annual ball was drawing closer everyday and they were still barely on speaking terms. They really were made for each other, anyone could see that. So why were they both being so ruddy difficult?

The pressure was on all the young wizards at Hogwarts to get a dance partner for the up-coming ball, or as Peeves put it (whilst running through the castle match making and pushing wizards and witches into each other), "Find a date before it's too late!". And he was right in a way, for in only two weeks the whole school would assemble in the hall for the ball.

Harry hadn't a clue who to ask. He was certain Hermione would be going with Ron, if Ron finally plucked up the courage to admit his crush and ask her. Dean was going to ask Ginny; Harry was pleased with that – they made a great couple. Luna and Neville had acquired a close friendship over the summer so they would be going together, for sure. But as for himself, well he had no idea. He didn't have time to worry about that for now, however, he needed to put all his efforts into other matters. For instance; setting Ron and Hermione up. Trouble was, they still were barely speaking. He walked into the dormitory to find Ron, red faced as usual, bent over a pile of assignments. Harry sighed. Homework. He had completely forgotten.

"How you going there Ron? Finished anything yet?" He asked, approaching him and sitting beside him.

Ron grimaced. "Nope. Still got a tonne of essays and this assignment on...." He paused and looked at Harry questioningly, "Wait, I've got the same work as you. Blimey, have you finished already!"

Harry grinned sheepishly, "er, no. Not yet, actually. Let me see. Okay, so far I've done, uh, zero essays and, wait.... zero assignments."

Ron chuckled. They both knew Harry was an awful procrastinator.

"So Ron, what was that thing about in the hall, about Colin Creevey and something to do with Halloween?"

Ron smiled. "Oh that. Don't know why Hermione made such a fuss about it. Well, he dressed up as you for Halloween, and he sort of got into the role a little too well. He knows everything about you, you know, like he's your stalker or something, and when he got to people's doors and they said 'Show us your trick' he was all 'Oh, well I can defeat Voldemort' and all that, and he sort of went too over the top. Some wizards, death eaters I think, came to see what the fuss was about and they thought he was you, and they cursed him."

Harry was shocked. He was responsible for Colin being sick and not going to Hogwarts! He put his head in his hands.

"Ron," he mumbled. "My life is crap."

"Ugh, I knew you'd react like this, the same way as Hermione. You always do, it's like you two are on the same wave length or something." Ron replied, staring into space.

Harry considered this. He and Hermione were close, they'd been best friends for years. So it wasn't surprising that they had similar thoughts and feelings. They understood each other. But the one thing Harry didn't understand about Hermione as why she wasn't acting on her obvious feelings for Ron. She wasn't normally one to hold off on things like that.

That reminded him.

"Ron, I've been meaning to ask you. Who are you going to go to the ball with?"

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Knowing my luck, probably Loony Lovegood or something."

Harry frowned.

"You'd be lucky to go with Luna, she's ever so nice. Anway, she's already going with Neville, I think."

Ron looked even more upset.

"So Loony Lovegood can get a date before me?"

"Yeah, well, you're forgetting I haven't got a date either."

Ron rolled his eye's once more.

"Yeah, but you're Harry Potter, aren't you? Girls would line up to go with you."

An awkward silence followed.

"Ron, that's not true and you know it. Have you considered asking Hermione, by the way?"

"Her? Why would I ask her?"

Harry managed to hide his annoyance at Ron's refusal to be honest by getting up and pretending to sort through his own homework.

"You know, Ron, it might pay to ask Hermione. I know that you, er, like her. I think she likes you too. You should go for it."

"I do not like Hermione in that way!" Ron all but screamed at Harry.

At that precise moment the door opened, revealing a rather flushed girl with brown bushy hair.

"Oh, er, hi, Hermione." Ron muttered.