I own none of the characters in this story except for Kathy Weasley, Rosemary Brooks, Professor Clarke, and Sarah. They
are the creations of JK Rowling.


Christmas approached. There had been no further attacks, and everyone was relaxing about the whole thing. It
seemed that everyone believed that Cho Chang was the culprit, and she had taken a huge drop in popularity. Harry was
secretly annoyed about this, but couldn't say anything about it. He knew Hermione thought that Cho had been responsible
for the attacks, and he couldn't bear Ron's teasing about "fancying" a sixth year.

And the victims of the attacks were still lying unconscious in the hospital wing. Snape had (apparently) been trying
to analyze the poison ever since the first attack, but had still had no luck. The Gryffindors hoped that this lack of useful
knowledge in their Potions teacher would get him sacked once and for all.

A week or two before Christmas, Dumbledore stood up before dinner and said, "I'm afraid that, once again, I must
keep you from your dinner for a few moments. Since we have so many guests with us this Christmas, Professor Clarke and
I have decided to repeat last year's highly enjoyable experience. We are going to have a ball."

Excited whispers went through the hall. Most of the girls looked delighted, including Rosemary, and even Hermione
looked quite pleased, but Ron looked absolutely horrified. Harry had to smile at the appalled expression on Ron's face.
Harry knew what he was thinking, though. Last year had been a complete nightmare for both of them. They had both
(eventually) managed to get partners, but they certainly hadn't been the ones they'd wanted. Harry had been so jealous of
Cedric Diggory that he hadn't enjoyed the evening in the least, and he was sure that Ron had really wanted to go with
Hermione. And then there had been the trouble with Hagrid and Madame Maxime. Harry really wasn't all to sure he wanted
to repeat the experience.

"The arrangements will be the same as for last year's ball," Dumbledore continued. "It will begin at eight and end at
midnight. Fourth years and over are to attend, but younger students can be invited. There will also be a Hogsmeade
weekend this weekend for all those students who feel that they must purchase new dress robes before Christmas."
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he sat down.

"Brilliant," said Ron glumly. "Absolutely fantastic. We have to find partners again!"

Harry noticed Hermione give Ron an odd look at this point, and knew what she was thinking. Ron, though, didn't
seem to have noticed.

"Any ideas on who you're going to ask, Harry?" Hermione asked, sounding a bit waspish.

"Yeah," said Harry. "I was thinking of Cho Chang..." There was a bit of an uproar at his words.

"Oh, Harry, you couldn't do that!" said Hermione.

"She's been trying to poison you!" Rosemary cried.

"Are you out of your MIND?" Ron shouted.

The twins were just making noises of disbelief. Ginny gave Harry a disappointed glance, and went back to eating.
Kathy, who was sitting next to Ron, had no clue what they were talking about, and said, "Ron, what are you all talking
about? I never know what you are talking about. Don't you think you should tell me once in a while? It really isn't -"

"Shut up!" Ron shouted, cutting off his obnoxious cousin. "This is important." He turned to Harry. "You git! What
are you thinking!"

"You're one to talk," said Harry. "You asked Fleur Delacour out once."

"Yeah, but she wasn't poisoning people, was she?" George pointed out.

"Just imagine what people would start saying," said Hermione. "Even if she didn't really try to poison you, it's going
to look really weird, you walking around with someone who everyone thinks is out to kill you."

"You lot are just being daft," said Harry. "Maybe if I take her out everyone will believe she didn't do it."

"Two flaws there, Harry," said Ron. "One: as far as you know, she might have done it, and two: yeah right! What
you think never changed anyone's opinion. This school doesn't work like that!"

"Thanks," said Harry, sarcastically.

"No, Harry, he's right," said Rosemary. "No school works like that. The majority takes a lot to be overruled. More
than just you. Even all of us combined wouldn't change anyone's mind."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Harry asked.

"Ask someone else," said Hermione in a tone of finality. "That's all there is to it."

***

But it wasn't as easy as Hermione thought. After all, she was a girl, it wasn't her responsibility to ask someone to the
ball. She could if she wanted, but... Hermione had never been that type. Harry didn't know quite what to do. The last lesson
of the day had just finished, and Harry was thinking about who to ask to the ball. The others had been right, if he asked Cho
Chang it would look really strange to the rest of the school... but that made him feel ridiculously guilty. He really liked her...
and he shouldn't be paying attention to the rubbish everyone else believed. After all, they had been wrong enough times
before.

But doubt was beginning to creep into Harry's mind. Perhaps it really was Cho. He hated himself for thinking it, but
he really couldn't think of anyone else who could have had the opportunity. "Well," said Harry to himself, "I can think what
I like. It's my opinion. I'll just ask someone else to the ball. That's all." He racked his brains to think of someone who would
want to go to the ball with him... in fact some people had been avoiding him of late to make sure they didn't get poisoned by
mistake. Was there anyone who would go with him? Well, Hermione might... but Harry had a feeling that Ron might ask
her. He didn't want to get in the way. Kathy was out of the question; he still didn't know her all that well despite the way
she followed Ron about. The other girls on the Quidditch team were good friends, but they were much older than him and
probably would have partners already. And of course he couldn't go with Rosemary! At last he realized the one person who
would go to the ball with him - Ginny.

Of course Ginny would go to the ball with him, and she was nice enough. Pretty enough too, thought Harry, but
reminded himself that Ginny was Ron's sister. You weren't really supposed to think things like that about your best friend's
siblings.

Just then, by sheer stroke of luck, Harry saw Ginny at the end of the corridor talking to Colin Creevey. Harry
decided to risk Colin's endless babble to get to Ginny. He walked down the corridor quickly, only held up momentarily by a
crowd of first years who were blocking his way.

"Ginny?" said Harry. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Ginny turned a bit pink and said, "Okay," and gave Colin a look that said quite clearly "Don't you dare say anything,
just leave this minute." Colin looked a bit annoyed, but smiled at Harry anyway and walked off in the direction of the
common room.

"Do you want to come to the ball with me?" Harry asked, slightly nervous.

Ginny turned even redder and said, "Yes, of course. I mean - yes. Thanks."

"Okay," said Harry, and he smiled. "See you in the common room later."

"Okay," Ginny said very quietly.

***

Harry was sitting in the common room with Hermione and Rosemary. He had just told them that he had asked
Ginny to the ball, and they expressed obvious approval. Rosemary gave Hermione a slight wink at one point that Harry
didn't really understand. Hermione still didn't have anyone to go with, and seemed slightly sensitive about it, and neither did
Rosemary. Just then, Ron came over.

"Ron," said Rosemary, "did you know Harry's taking Ginny to the ball?"

"Yeah," said Ron distractedly. "She told me. Could I talk to you Rosemary?"

"Um, yeah, all right," said Rosemary, getting up. Hermione suddenly looked shocked and furious, and at once Harry
knew why. Ron was going to ask Rosemary out. He could see Ron talking to his cousin, and her nodding her head. Ron's
ears were extremely red. After a while, he walked off in the direction of the dormitories, and Rosemary came back to Harry.
Seeing their faces she said, "Yes, he did ask me to the ball."

"But you're not going with him, are you?" Hermione asked, a bit breathlessly.

"Yes, I am," said Rosemary in surprise. "Why?" And then she seemed to realize what was going on. "Oh, I didn't...
oh, no, I'm sorry Hermione!"

"Well, it's too late now," said Hermione, turning to her Arithmancy homework. Harry was almost sure he had seen
tears in her eyes as she'd turned away. "He always did go for the glamorous types," she added very quietly.

***

When Harry saw Hermione sitting alone in the library later, he went up to her. "You okay?" he said.

"Yes," said Hermione rather loudly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Harry didn't know quite what to say to that. "Um... that whole Rosemary - Ron thing." Hermione said nothing so he
continued. "You wanted to go with him. And now you can't."

"Oh, it doesn't matter," said Hermione still not sounding quite herself.

"Why not?" Harry had expected her to be rather more bitter about it than she seemed.

"Because I'm going with George instead."


Author's Note: Bit of a cliffhanger, eh? What is Hermione thinking? For that matter, what is Ron thinking? And will this ball
go any better than the last one? The next chapter will be the ball, so look out for that! This chapter and the next are more
romancey than the last few I've done because the poisoning was getting a bit depressing. But do not worry, the poisoning
shall return! ::evil laugh:: Anyway, what do you think of this chapter? r/r! That could also stand for Ron/Rosmary... but
H/R fans, do not despair! And H/G fans, yes, this state of affairs will continue. In fact, I might make it a little more
interesting... ::wink, wink::
Also thank you to Niqui. You restored the self-confidence I lost when reading that guy's review. Who was that bloke
anyway?