Disclaimer: This
story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.K.
Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to
Bloomsbury Books,
Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc.
I am definitely not making any money
off this, and no copyright or trademark infringement is
intended. Also, the lyrics to
"Ain't Nothing
Bout You"
belong to Brooks and Dunn.
Author's Note: Watch
out, there is definitely some major R/Hr fluff in this story. It's a story with
some songfic
characteristics about Yule Ball during Harry, Ron, and Hermione's 5th year and
the
events leading up to it.
"The
way you look,
The way you
laugh,
The way you
love with all you have," the lyrics filled Hermione's mind as she hummed
the tune
of her favorite
song.
"Oh
no, not again!" Ron Weasly groaned,
"Please Hermione, your killing us," he begged his
best friend.
Harry
Potter, Ron and Hermione's other best friend tried to stifle a laugh. Ever since
Hermione had returned from visiting her cousin's ranch in
the states, she had developed an extreme
liking for country music.
"Ron!
What is your problem, you couldn't even hear me!" Hermione argued. "Anyways, I don't
see what the big deal is, it's just music, and it's *not*
that bad," she sniffed.
"Hermione
what happened to you over there? Did
those bloody Americans brainwash you or
something?" Ron gawked.
"I
don't understand what you're talking about.
I'm exactly the same as last year, I've just
broadened my tastes, that's all," she replied shortly.
"Sure,
whatever," Ron answered.
"Umm
guys..." Harry interrupted, before Hermione had a chance to respond,
"do you mind
cutting this short?
We're going to be really late to class," he urged, bringing his two
friends
back to the rest of the world.
* * *
Ron sat in
Charms class, completely lost and completely tuning out tiny Professor
Flitwick.
What Hermione had said to him earlier was preventing him
from concentrating.
"I am
exactly the same as last year," she had said.
"Exactly
the same? Yeah right," Ron
thought. Ron was confused, and if there
was one thing
he hated even more than country music, it was being
confused. When he saw Hermione at Kings
Cross
Station right before school started, he couldn't believe how
great she looked. The warm Colorado sun
had been kind to her over the summer. Her skin had tanned to a sun-kissed brown,
and her hair was
streaked with natural highlights. She was taller and healthier and her nose was sprinkled with
freckles. She was
also full of stories about the adventures on her cousin's ranch. She told them
of the scenic wonderland the snow capped mountains created
when juxtaposed by the vast canyons and
pined forests. A bit
to Ron's disappointment, she had also mentioned, the dances and parties she had
attended with the rodeo bull riders and ranch kids she had
met oversea. Ron couldn't help being
jealous, but of what he didn't exactly know. He knew that something in Hermione had
changed over the
summer and he desperately wished that everything would just
go back to how it had been before.
That, he supposed was what irked him so about the new
country music phase Hermione was going through.
He realized it wasn't the music itself, but it was part of
the new Hermione and that was what he
didn't like. Ron and
Hermione had just been friends for five years now. Just being friends was
customary and safe.
However, in the back of his mind, a part of him wished for more. He tried to
push the idea out of his mind when his thoughts were
interrupted-
"Mr.
Weasly?" professor Flitwick questioned, and Ron snapped back to his
senses, realizing
this meant trouble.
"Yes
Professor?" Ron gulped.
"Would
you mind reminding the class what we just discussed?"
"Umm...charms?"
he offered weekly.
The class
started snickering, and Ron's face began to turn very red.
"Yes
Mr. Weasly, and what kind of charms?" Professor Flitwick prompted.
"Magical
ones...?" he tried, sinking deep into his chair, his face now darker than
his hair.
"Mr.
Weasly, it would do you good to remember that your O.W.L.s are coming up very
soon, and
if you want to pass them then you had better pay attention
in this class," the professor scolded.
Ron nodded
weakly then, he turned and met Hermione's eyes. However instead of the glare she
usually reserved for him on such occasions as this, she
smiled, an amused look on her face.
"Oh
no, this is beginning to get very baffling," he thought, and for the rest
of the lesson
he had a very hard time keeping his eyes off Hermione.
* * *
That night
as she lay awake in bed, Hermione's thoughts drifted back to the summer. She had
had a great time in the states, and longed to go back
soon. However, the whole time while she
was
there, Hermione had missed her friends terribly, especially
Ron, which she thought, was extremely
weird. Her time in
New Mexico had really opened her up as an individual and had made her feel like
a new person, one she had hoped Ron would like. So far, however, that didn't seem to be the
case.
She frowned and closed her eyes, willing herself to fall
asleep. But with so many thoughts
filling
her brain she found it impossible, reaching into her dresser
drawer, she pulled out her Walkman.
Hermione shoved the headphones over her ears, and smiled as
the soothing melodies of her country
cowboys filled her mind, soothing her anxieties and
reminding her of a place thousands of miles away.
A smile spread over her face and she was finally able to
slip into a deep slumber.
* * *
One night
about a month later, Ron and Hermione were sitting in the Gryffindor common
room
playing a game of wizard chess while Harry was at Quidditch
practice. They were both grateful for
the time to spend with each other, it seemed that neither
had really had a chance to talk with the
other for quite a while.
It turns out that Ron had not been the only one to notice the changes in
Hermione. Just about
everywhere she went she was accompanied by at least one male escort. This in
turn, had caused Lavender and Parvati to begin acting much
more friendly towards Hermione as well.
The three girls could be heard giggling in their dorm room
and screaming things like, "He said
WHAT?!" or "Oh my gosh! I can't believe you did
that to him, poor guy!" Hermione
had already had two
boyfriends that year, Dean and Seamus, and once or twice she
had even been seen walking arm in arm
with George. Of
course all those relationships had meant nothing to Hermione, they had been
fun,
but no one had really expected anything to come of it. Still, the one person she really wanted to
like her didn't seem to have a clue...
"Well
you sure are quiet tonight Ron," Hermione said, breaking the dull silence
that had set
in.
"Sorry,"
he replied, "I'm just
thinking."
"About anything in particular?" she asked.
"No,"
he started to answer, and then stopped himself, "Well actually yeah I
guess so."
"Care
to tell me about it?"
"Yeah
sure why not, it's not a big deal or anything.
It's just that, well, what would *you*
do Hermione, if you thought you had feelings for someone,
but you didn't know how that person felt,
or even if he was in your league?"
"Oh
Ron, don't be too hard on yourself, I assure you Filch is in your league,"
she joked,
trying to ignore the stabbing in her heart. "Who on earth could it be? Well, one thing's for sure,
there is no way I'm out of his league," she thought
trying to keep her emotions under check.
"Oh
shut up Hermione," he said, laughing.
Then turning serious, he asked, "So what do you
think I should do?
From like a girl's perspective."
"Well
Ron," she started, "First I think you need to find out if you really
like this girl.
Then, I suppose, if you think she might like you also, you
should tell her how you feel."
"Tell
her how I feel?" he exclaimed incredulously, "But what if she rejects
me?"
"Well,"
she sighed, "I guess that's just a risk you have to be willing take,"
as Ron began to
think about what she had said, she decided that she couldn't
take it anymore and stood up, "I'm
actually getting kind of tired, I think I'll just be going
to bed now."
"Okay,
G'night Herm," he replied.
"Goodnight
Ron," she called and began to make her way across the room; however, once
she
reached the foot stairs she stopped and turned around,
"Ron?"
"Yeah,"
he answered.
She began
to talk quickly, "Ron, you are one of the greatest people I know, and I
think that
any girl would be very lucky to have you. You don't need to worry about
rejection. Just tell her,
and I am sure she will understand," feeling better, she
turned to started up the stairs.
Now it was
his turn to stop her, "Hermione... what would you do?"
Hermione
looked down at him from the landing and thought for a moment, finally their
eyes met
and she answered, "Sacrifice," she said,
"Sacrifice for something she loves."
And with those last
words, she opened the door and disappeared into her room,
leaving a bewildered Ron behind to ponder
what she had meant.
* * *
Days turned
to weeks, which tend to run in to months, and before anyone knew it, the
Christmas break was fast approaching, and along with it, the
Yule Ball. Rumors and gossip ran wild
throughout the 4th years and above. All the girls fantasized about their dream
dates; while every
guy debated which girls would provide the best...er
company.
In the 5th
year Gryffindor girl's dorm room, Lavender and Parvati were bubbling with
excitement.
"You
know, Seamus sure is looking nice these days," Parvati grinned, "You
wouldn't mind if I
worked some of my magic around him, would you
Hermione?"
Hermione,
who was looking desolately out the window, turned and sighed,
"Seamus? No of
course not, you both know that Seamus and I are ancient
history, go ahead, good luck and have fun,"
she answered, attempting to smile.
"Well
why so gloomy, girl?" Lavender asked, just now realizing the state her
friend was in.
"Oh I
don't know, I guess I am the only girl in this whole school, well besides the
first,
second, and third years, who isn't excited about this stupid
ball," she replied, rather dejectedly.
"Well
we just have to find you a date, that's all!
You know, you can get any guy in this
whole school," Parvati piped in.
"Not
every guy," Hermione grumbled under her breath.
Obviously
not hearing her, Lavender and Parvati excitedly discussed which guy would be
best
for Hermione.
"Well,"
Lavender stated. "Older guys are
always fun, in fact there are quite a few 6th years
I have had my eyes on, I certainly wouldn't mind sharing a
few," she grinned.
"Hmm
tempting," Hermione responded, "but don't count on it. Anyways, I'm getting pretty
hungry, I'm going to go down and get some lunch."
"You
want us to come with you?" Parvati offered.
"No,
I'll be fine, thanks though." As
she closed the door behind her, she could hear the
topic change from guys to dress robes. She smiled to herself, thinking that last
year she would have
never even known what a Versace was. What a difference a year could make. The thought made her
wince as she thought back to last year with Harry and
Ron. They had been best friends, well,
they
still were, but were no longer were they all attached at the
hip, like all those years before. She
wondered what it would be like she hadn't discovered her new
popularity. "Well," she
thought
unhappily, "I would probably be going to the Yule Ball
with Ron." Maybe it was all for
the best she
thought, realizing that if she was going with Ron, it would
probably just be as friends. Comforting
herself with this notion, she descended down the final steps
and exited through the portrait hole.
Harry
looked up to see Hermione entering the great hall. He smiled at her and saw an
expression of relief wash over her face as she spotted him
and sat down in the next empty chair.
"Wow,
it's been awhile Harry," she said.
"It
sure has, but you know I am always here for you Hermione," he smiled.
"Thanks,
that really means a lot to me," the thought that Harry would always be her
friend
was very reassuring.
"No
problem," he answered.
"So
Harry," Hermione grinned, "who are you planning on taking to the Yule
Ball?"
"Well,
actually I was thinking about asking Ginny," he said dreamily.
"Whoa,
hold up, when did this happen?" she gasped, had she really been out of the
loop that
long?
"Don't
worry Hermione," he said, sensing her concerned, "it's a pretty
recent development. I
really haven't discussed it with Ron yet, not too sure how
he is going to react, if you know what I
mean."
"Oh
yes," Hermione laughed. "I definitely know what you mean, but I don't
think you have too
much to worry about Harry, if Ron is going to trust anyone
with his sister, I know it would be you,"
she encouraged.
"Thanks
Hermione, well I guess I had better go get ready for classes, I'll see you
later."
"Bye
Harry," she called. Hermione then
turned to the plate in front of her and began to
quickly down her breakfast, not wishing to be late for
class. However, when she looked up to
see
Ron standing over her, all concerns about being tardy
evaporated.
"Hey,"
she breathed.
"Hi,"
Ron answered.
"So..."
she said, realizing the awkward silence that was setting in.
"Damn,"
she thought, "this never used to happen before."
"You
decided who you are going with to the Yule Ball yet?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Nope,
you?"
"Well
you know, I was actually thinking about not going," he replied.
"What?
Why?!" she exclaimed.
"No!" she thought, "he has to go! Please let him go!"
"Well,
I don't have a date yet, and you know I don't exactly have the coolest dress
robes...
so I just figured I might have a better time not going,
maybe look for some new passages or
something."
"Oh..."
she said, not even bothering to hide her disappointment, "Well, it's your
choice I
suppose."
"Yes
it is," he answered, did she seem upset he wasn't going?
"So I
guess it never worked out with you and the mystery girl?" she pressed.
"Well
I guess we will never know," he said.
"You
never told her?" Hermione inquired.
"Got
it in one," he smiled.
"What,
did you just give up on it?"
"Umm,
you could say that," he answered uncertainly.
"Ron!"
she exclaimed, "I can't believe you would just give up without even
trying!" "Wait,"
she thought, "what on earth am I doing? He is giving up on the little skank, I
should be happy, not
encouraging him!"
But for some unknown reason she continued, "I mean come on Ron,
where would any
of us be if when something didn't look like it would work,
we just gave up?"
"Umm,
nowhere I suppose," he grinned, getting the message.
"That's
right!" she said.
"I
still don't think I am going to the ball though," he told her.
"Fine
Ron," she cried, "I don't care, but I never want to hear about you
giving up on
something just because it looks like it won't work ever
again!" With that said, she caught
her
breath and stormed out of the room, realizing she was very
late for class, but she didn't care
* * *
A week
later, Hermione awoke to a crisp, pristine morning. Looking outside, she saw that
snow had fallen last night and covered the earth like down
comforter, protecting the ground from the
frigid temperatures.
She felt her stomach lurch once she realized that today was the day;
today was
the Yule Ball. She
hadn't managed to find a date in time, but she didn't care; she had only wanted
Ron to ask her, and she was sure that he was not even
going. That day she floated through her
classes and meals with out any excitement. She quickly became annoyed with the 4th
years that were
all positively giddy with excitement over the drawing
night's festivities. After dinner she
trudged
up the stairs to her dorm room and entered to find Lavender
and Parvati frantically getting ready.
"You
guys," she gasped, "you 3 hours to get ready! What's the rush?"
"3
hours!" Parvati screeched, "That's all! Are you sure?"
"Come
on Hermione," Lavender exclaimed, "What are you waiting for? You don't have much time,
and you know how long it took you to get ready last
year."
"True,"
Hermione admitted, "but last year I actually had a date, I could go down
there like
this for all I care."
"Well..." Parvati paused, "if you don't care,
why don't you let me and Lavender make you up?
You
know we never finished giving you that make over we started
in the fall."
"But Parvati, I thought you were in such a rush to get
dressed yourself," Hermione smirked.
"Oh posh," Parvati scoffed, "I always have
time to do my part for humanity."
"Exactly," chimed Lavender.
"Oh I suppose," Hermione consented.
The other two girls squealed with excitement and quickly got
to work.
Half an hour later, all three entered the common room
looking positively ravishing. Hermione
had to
hand it to Lavender and Parvati, when it came to fashion,
they really knew their stuff. They had
curled Hermione's hair and arranged it in a beautiful up-do,
allowing a few tendrils to escape and
cascade over Hermione's slender neck like cinnamon colored
waterfalls. Her dress was a crimson
silk
covered with layers of chiffon and lace, and her dark hair
and eyes gave it an exotic contrast.
Hermione decided that she had never in her life looked more
beautiful. Their entrance was met with
a symphony of awes and the three girls smiled at each other
before separating to find their dates.
Hermione, realizing she was all alone, looked around the
room and spotted Harry and Ginny laughing
in the corner.
"Hey!" she called, as she walked over.
"Oh hi Hermione, it's good to...wow! You look
great," Harry exclaimed.
"Absolutely," Ginny agreed, not at all unfazed by
the compliment.
"Thanks," she smiled, "you too."
"It's too bad Ron couldn't make it," Harry
condoled.
"Yes, well," Hermione sighed.
"Alright
students," Professor McGonagall's voice rang out over the noise,
"it's time."
An excited
murmur swept throughout the room as the students began to quickly exit through
the portrait hole.
"Well,"
Hermione thought to herself, "this is it."
* * *
The moment
Hermione entered the Great Hall a gasp escaped her throat.
"Wow,"
she heard Harry exclaim beside her.
"No
joke," Ginny murmured.
The hall
looked more beautiful than anyone could ever remember seeing it. The ceiling had
opened up and an enchanted warm, dry snow fell through the
air. The four, long house tables had
been removed to make an open space for the dance floor. Icicles were suspended throughout the hall,
and in the corners, small forests of evergreens had been
magically grown over night. Anything
and
everything stationary had been covered with twinkling lights
that turned out to be thousands of
sugarplum fairies.
Ginny
finally succeeded in pulling Harry out onto the dance floor, and Hermione was
left
alone once again.
Deciding it was high time for a trip to the ladies room, she departed
from the
hall and found the nearest restroom. Upon entering, she found Lavender and
Parvati powdering their
noses and tending to a few other quick fix-ups.
"Hermione!"
Parvati squealed, "Where have you
been?"
"Oh,
you know, just at that ball thing you guys have been obsessing over for weeks,
but
momentarily seem to be avoiding," Hermione smiled.
"Don't
be mean," Lavender laughed, "trust me, you would be hiding out in the
bathroom too if
you were in our situation."
"Dates
didn't work out too well?" Hermione asked.
"That's
putting it lightly," Parvati grumbled, "I mean, Seamus is nice and
all, but he's
just so boring!"
"Right,
and my date Josh, keeps trying to snog me every chance he gets! It's really
degrading! I mean,
just because I am a year younger than him, does NOT mean that I am easy!"
Lavender added.
"Well,"
then we just have to unite together," Hermione grinned.
"Alright,
that's fine with me! Guys... who needs
them?" Parvati agreed.
"I'm
in," Lavender nodded.
"Okay,"
Hermione said, "so are you guys ready to go out there again?"
"Let's
go for it," Lavender commenced.
* * *
An hour
later the three girls were laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves,
something
Lavender and Parvati never thought possible without
dates. Hermione had been delighted to
see that
Hogwarts had hired numerous live musical acts from all
over., and she hoped against hope that
eventually there would be at least a little country
music.
Despite the girls' previous agreement, Lavender and Parvati
were eventually swayed by their dates to
dance. Hermione gave
them each a nod of approval, before turning around to watch the new group now
taking over the stage.
The lead singer approached the microphone, and his voice was magnified
all
over the room, "This next song is dedicated to a very special
witch out there," smiling at Hermione,
he turned to his band and nodded.
Hermione's
heart leapt as she recognized the cords of the song she had been singing for
weeks.
But even more of a
surprise, was the voice she heard singing the opening verse...
*Once I thought that love was something I could never do,
Never knew that I could feel this much*
She snapped
up and stared at the stage, realizing that the lead singer was not singing, but
smiling at someone standing somewhere behind Hermione.
*But this yearning in the deep part of my heart for you,
Is more than a reaction to your touch*
Slowly,
Hermione turned around, and what she saw caused her jaw to drop.
*It's a perfect passion, and I can't get enough*
Standing
there, singing like he had been doing it for years, was Ron Weasly. Hermione knew
she must look incredibly foolish standing there, mouth agape
staring at Ron, but he just smiled, and
went on singing.
*They way you look the way you laugh
The way you love with all you have,
There ain't nothing about you,
That don't do something for me
The way you kiss, the way you cry
The way you move when you walk by,
There ain't nothing bout you that don't do something for me*
Finally she realized what was going on, and Hermione was
able to close her mouth. She met Ron's
eyes and raised an eyebrow, daring him to continue. Ron smiled and shook is head, as if unable
to
believe that she might think he could back down now.
*In my life I've bee hammered by some heavy blows,
That never knocked me off my feet
All you gotta do is smile at me and down I go
And baby it's no mystery, why I surrender
Girl you got everything*
At that,
Hermione melted. She brought her hands
to her heart and a dreamy, lovesick e
xpression instantly replaced that of confusion on her
face. She felt herself smile so broadly
it
was a wonder her cheeks didn't rip.
*The way you look, the way you laugh,
The way you love with all you have,
There ain't nothing bout you, that don't do something for me
The way you kiss, the way you cry,
The way you move when you walk by
There ain't nothing bout you, that don't do something for
me*
In the
years afterwards, Hermione never knew what compelled her to do what she did,
but love
does funny things to people. So as Ron began to approach the final chorus and the notes
reached
their forte, she began to sing.
*The way you look, the way you laugh,
The way you love with all you have,
There ain't nothing about you, that don't do something for
me*
The rest of
the room disappeared, and all she saw was Ron.
His smile, the one she had
subconsciously adored for years, encouraged her. She crossed the room towards him and her
voice
grew louder as she smiled.
*The way you kiss, the way you cry,
The way you move when you walk by,
There ain't nothing bout you, that don't do something for
me*
Ron stepped toward her and took her hands in his.
*The way you look, the way you laugh,
The way you love with all you have,
Your dance, your drive, you make me feel alive*
She met his eyes and sang,
*The way you talk, the way you tease
Right now I think you see
There ain't nothing bout you that don't do something for me*
As the song
began you fade, Ron looked and her and grinned, "So, how was that for
sacrificing?"
"Ron,
just shut up and kiss me."
And he
did. As his lips locked on to hers, the
entire hall exploded in an uproar of
applause. Harry and
Ginny, clapping harder than anyone, burst into laughter. Lavender and Parvati
looked a little dumbstruck, but obviously proud of their
friend. Even the professors smiled down
at
the two students.
But for Ron and Hermione, they were the only two people in the
hall. When they
finally broke away, they looked sheepishly at their audience,
then at each other and raced out of
the hall, obviously looking for the biggest broom closet
they could find.
A/N And that's a rap.
Please review and tell me what you thought. I am almost positve that there
will be no continuation, but if you wonderful reviewers
think it needs one, then there just might be.
