A/n- chapter 3! How's Draco gonna get Hermione to go to the ball w/him?
What's all this new attention from Seamus about? And what in the hee-haw is
Hermione thinking through all of this? Read to find out! (and ya know you
wanna find out) (*
DISCLAIMER: What do you think?
THE ASKING
The Yule Ball was in two weeks. Two weeks! That was hardly any time. And Seamus Finnigan needed more than two weeks to get up the courage to ask clever, beautiful Hermione Granger to the Yule Ball. He was getting rather desperate.
" Dean. When do you think I should pop the question?" Seamus asked his best friend, as they sat up late in the Gryffindor Common Room.
" Pop the question?" Dean replied. " You sound like you're getting married. It's just the Yule Ball. All you have to do is go up to her after class or something and be like : Yo Hermione. Wanna go to the ball with me? It's simple. By the way, when did you start liking Miss. Smart-aleck Granger?"
" I dunno. It just happened. One year I thought she was some annoying book worm that hung out with Harry and Ron, and this year she's Hermione the clever pretty witch. It just happened."
" Man, you have problems. I thought you liked Lavender."
" Well, I did. But earlier this year, I realized that she's a shallow ditz, that doesn't know the difference between the front and back end of a wand. So there."
" Yeah Seamus, you have definently got problems. But they're good problems. So tomorrow, you're going to go up to Hermione Granger, and you're going to bare you're soul to her."
" Umm, Dean? Can't I just ask her if she wants to go to the Ball with me? If we get past that step - then I'll bare my soul."
" Sure Seamus. Sure. We'll do it your way." Dean said, grinning at his love-struck Irish friend.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Up the staircase and five doors down from where Seamus and Dean were talking, Hermione lay in her bed, unable to sleep. All she could think about was proving to Ron that she was a girl - a damn good one at that. And Hermione decided at that moment, that if some guy (namely Seamus Finnigan, since he seemed to be interested) asked her to the ball, she would say yes in a heartbeat. It didn't matter what house or what year he was in. It only mattered that he wanted to go to the ball with her. That would show Ron that she was a girl. That would show the whole school that Hermione Granger was not just an old stick-in-the-mud that hung out with famous Harry Potter - she was also a girl.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Draco Malfoy also lay un-sleeping. He was trying desperately to think of a way to ask Mudblood Granger to the ball - and get her to say yes. He could use a potion, but quickly decided against it. She would be able to tell, the clever little witch that she was. Or he could pretend to be someone else throughout the whole ball, and then reveal himself at the end. But Draco decided against that too. It would ruin his reputation. People would think he had to look like someone else - just to get a date. Couldn't have people going around thinking that. No, it looked like the only way to ask Granger was to do it in person, after classes. To her face. In front of Potty and Weasel. And hope for the best. Which wasn't saying very much.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning found Hogwarts covered in a white blanket of snow. Many students looked longingly out their common room windows, before dragging themselves down to breakfast.
" Come on! You can play in the snow after classes!"
" But Herm, nobody will miss us at breakfast! Really! Fred and George snuck out early this morning." Ron whined.
" I give up." Hermione had been trying to talk Harry and Ron out of having a snowball fight during breakfast, but it was a loosing battle.
" Good! Let's go Harry. We have an hour at the least." and with that, Harry and Ron raced out of the Common Room and down the stairs. Hermione just shrugged and made her way to the Great Hall.
" As long as they're not late for class." she muttered.
Which, of course they were late for class. Both boys walked into Charms 15 minuets after the bell, dripping wet, huge grins on their face. They quickly apologized to Professor Flitwick, then took their seats next to Hermione.
" Hermione, you should have been there. It was great!" Harry said.
" Yeah, and Fred and George came and ambushed us, and we had this huge fight." Ron added.
" Well, I hope you're happy. Busting in here, soaking wet, late."
" Herm, it's ok. Really. Flitwick's not going to do anything about it." said Ron.
" Maybe not, but I am." said a voice. There standing in the doorway, was everyone's favorite professor, Snape. And he sounded pissed. "Professor Flitwick, may I borrow Potter and Weasley for a moment?'
" Certainly Severus." squeaked Flitwick.
Both boys looked extremely miserable at hearing this. Hermione just gave them An I told you so look.
They came back in minuets later, very angry.
" He said he saw us outside, and said that we were breaking school rules, skipping breakfast to have a fight." Harry hissed to Hermione.
" And he's given us detention, right after the last class of the day - which is his class." Ron moaned.
" It's double potions today too." Hermione said, a teasing grin on her face. " Triple the Snape."
" Arghhhh!" said Harry.
" This day is going to suck." Ron concluded.
" Arghhhh." said Harry.
*~*~*~*~*~*`*`*~*~*~*~*~*
The day dragged by, boring class after boring class (at least, that's what it felt like to Harry and Ron. Hermione sat through classes in her usual state of rapt attention).
Potions finally arrived. Of course, it didn't help the day get any better, what with it being with the Slytherins. Class seemed unbearable to all the Gryffindors, especially Neville, who messed up yet another potion, and Seamus, who was becoming more nervous by the minute. He was very sure Hermione was going to turn him down when he asked her to the ball. All through class, he stared at the back of her head, and imagined it shaking no when he asked her. It was horrible. Just as Snape was about to rear his ugly head once more on an un-suspecting Neville, the bell rang.
" Class dismissed." He said bitterly. " Oh, except for Potter and Weasley. Come on."
Both boys groaned, and bid Hermione good-bye.
" If we're not back by tomorrow morning, send a house elf to check for our bodies, hey Hermione?" Ron said.
" Sure, sure." Hermione said, in a half daze. She had just spotted Seamus Finningan starring at her with a nervous expression. She knew what was coming.
" Herm? Harry asked. You okay?"
" Yeah, I'm fine. You better go, Snape's looking a little steamed."
" Yeah, come on Harry, let's get this over with."
" Okay." Harry said, still looking a little uncertainly at Hermione, who was marching toward the doors with a set look on her face.
Ron followed Harry's gaze. " Girls. he said. Confusing, the lot of them."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Draco Malfoy was quickly going over his plan of attack. He had just seen Hermione come out of the classroom - alone. Wonder where Potty and Weasley are. Oh well, this just makes things easier. Sort of. He thought.Draco started walking over toward Hermione, praying his sharp- Malfoy tongue wouldn't get the best of him.
Seamus Finnigan wrung his hands together. He was trying desperately to think of what he was going to say to Hermione. He had thought of everything - compliments of every kind. But they sounded stupid, and desperate. And Seamus was not in the mood to sound desperate. Well, I'll just say what ever comes out, and hopefully it will be something Hermione says yes to. I just have to go do it right now. He thought, as he saw Hermione walk out of the dungeon.
Hermione walked out the door, and into the unknown. Actually, she walked smack into two people, and all three fell on the floor. Hermione stared at the two other people: Draco Malfoy and Seamus Finnigan. And she became very afraid. Very afraid. And highly confused. She could understand why Seamus was walking towards her, but why was Malfoy?
" Umm, hi Seamus. What do you want Malfoy?" Hermone said, trying not to sound surprised.
" Hi Hermione." Seamus said eagerly.
" Yeah, hi Gra- Hermione." Malfoy said sweetly.
" Come again Malfoy?"
" I said hi Hermione."
" That's what I thought."
" Well, Hermione, Seamus said, I was wondering if. ummmm"
" Well Gran- Hermione I was wondering." Malfoy tried to say.
" Will you go to the ball with me?" two voices asked at the same time.
Now Hermione had expected to hear this from Seamus. But when Malfoy said it too, she was clear blown away. In fact, she thought she was going to be blown all the way to Bermuda or some place like that. She was rather shocked, if not scared to death. And Hermione could very well tell that Draco Malfoy was not pulling a prank, otherwise there would have been a million Slytherins all around to laugh.
" Malfoy, did you just say what I think you said?" asked a very confused Seamus.
" Yes, I did Finnigan. I want Hermione to go to the Yule Ball with me."
" Oh. Well, so do I , and since I don't think she wants to go to the ball with a filthy Slytherin like you, I think you should walk away now and pretend this never happened."
" Whoever said she wanted to go with you Irish boy?" Draco asked, taken aback.
" Say that again pretty boy." Seamus yelled.
" Pretty boy, eh? We'll just see about that. I'm gonna sock you so good that."
" Umm, Malfoy. Shut up. I think Hermione, umm, went somewhere."
" Oh."
" Great. This is just great. This was NOT supposed to happen. I was just going to go up, nice and slow, and start a conversation. You know, Nice weather, how's class, wanna go to the Ball with me? That's all. Then you came along and spoiled it."
" Oh, I spoiled it? Who bumped into her?"
" I didn't. You did. And you made her run off too. Why couldn't I have just asked her in the Common Room?"
" Get over it Finnigan. I mean, you really had no chance with her. Why would she pick some sandy-haired Irish punk over a suave blonde rich guy?"
" Let me count the ways Malfoy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
While all of this, umm, conversation was going on, Hermione had run away and shut herself up in her dorm. She was desperately wishing she had gone out in the snow that morning and gotten detention with Snape. That way, she wouldn't have heard what she had just heard. She would have been cleaning the dungeons with Harry and Ron instead. Well Hermione, she told herself. I think it's been spotted that you're a girl.
A/N- And we thought? This is kinda a cliffe, but if ya review, then it won't be 4 long! O what the hee-haw. Even if ya dun't review, im still gonna put up the next chapter, so there.*
.
DISCLAIMER: What do you think?
THE ASKING
The Yule Ball was in two weeks. Two weeks! That was hardly any time. And Seamus Finnigan needed more than two weeks to get up the courage to ask clever, beautiful Hermione Granger to the Yule Ball. He was getting rather desperate.
" Dean. When do you think I should pop the question?" Seamus asked his best friend, as they sat up late in the Gryffindor Common Room.
" Pop the question?" Dean replied. " You sound like you're getting married. It's just the Yule Ball. All you have to do is go up to her after class or something and be like : Yo Hermione. Wanna go to the ball with me? It's simple. By the way, when did you start liking Miss. Smart-aleck Granger?"
" I dunno. It just happened. One year I thought she was some annoying book worm that hung out with Harry and Ron, and this year she's Hermione the clever pretty witch. It just happened."
" Man, you have problems. I thought you liked Lavender."
" Well, I did. But earlier this year, I realized that she's a shallow ditz, that doesn't know the difference between the front and back end of a wand. So there."
" Yeah Seamus, you have definently got problems. But they're good problems. So tomorrow, you're going to go up to Hermione Granger, and you're going to bare you're soul to her."
" Umm, Dean? Can't I just ask her if she wants to go to the Ball with me? If we get past that step - then I'll bare my soul."
" Sure Seamus. Sure. We'll do it your way." Dean said, grinning at his love-struck Irish friend.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Up the staircase and five doors down from where Seamus and Dean were talking, Hermione lay in her bed, unable to sleep. All she could think about was proving to Ron that she was a girl - a damn good one at that. And Hermione decided at that moment, that if some guy (namely Seamus Finnigan, since he seemed to be interested) asked her to the ball, she would say yes in a heartbeat. It didn't matter what house or what year he was in. It only mattered that he wanted to go to the ball with her. That would show Ron that she was a girl. That would show the whole school that Hermione Granger was not just an old stick-in-the-mud that hung out with famous Harry Potter - she was also a girl.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Draco Malfoy also lay un-sleeping. He was trying desperately to think of a way to ask Mudblood Granger to the ball - and get her to say yes. He could use a potion, but quickly decided against it. She would be able to tell, the clever little witch that she was. Or he could pretend to be someone else throughout the whole ball, and then reveal himself at the end. But Draco decided against that too. It would ruin his reputation. People would think he had to look like someone else - just to get a date. Couldn't have people going around thinking that. No, it looked like the only way to ask Granger was to do it in person, after classes. To her face. In front of Potty and Weasel. And hope for the best. Which wasn't saying very much.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning found Hogwarts covered in a white blanket of snow. Many students looked longingly out their common room windows, before dragging themselves down to breakfast.
" Come on! You can play in the snow after classes!"
" But Herm, nobody will miss us at breakfast! Really! Fred and George snuck out early this morning." Ron whined.
" I give up." Hermione had been trying to talk Harry and Ron out of having a snowball fight during breakfast, but it was a loosing battle.
" Good! Let's go Harry. We have an hour at the least." and with that, Harry and Ron raced out of the Common Room and down the stairs. Hermione just shrugged and made her way to the Great Hall.
" As long as they're not late for class." she muttered.
Which, of course they were late for class. Both boys walked into Charms 15 minuets after the bell, dripping wet, huge grins on their face. They quickly apologized to Professor Flitwick, then took their seats next to Hermione.
" Hermione, you should have been there. It was great!" Harry said.
" Yeah, and Fred and George came and ambushed us, and we had this huge fight." Ron added.
" Well, I hope you're happy. Busting in here, soaking wet, late."
" Herm, it's ok. Really. Flitwick's not going to do anything about it." said Ron.
" Maybe not, but I am." said a voice. There standing in the doorway, was everyone's favorite professor, Snape. And he sounded pissed. "Professor Flitwick, may I borrow Potter and Weasley for a moment?'
" Certainly Severus." squeaked Flitwick.
Both boys looked extremely miserable at hearing this. Hermione just gave them An I told you so look.
They came back in minuets later, very angry.
" He said he saw us outside, and said that we were breaking school rules, skipping breakfast to have a fight." Harry hissed to Hermione.
" And he's given us detention, right after the last class of the day - which is his class." Ron moaned.
" It's double potions today too." Hermione said, a teasing grin on her face. " Triple the Snape."
" Arghhhh!" said Harry.
" This day is going to suck." Ron concluded.
" Arghhhh." said Harry.
*~*~*~*~*~*`*`*~*~*~*~*~*
The day dragged by, boring class after boring class (at least, that's what it felt like to Harry and Ron. Hermione sat through classes in her usual state of rapt attention).
Potions finally arrived. Of course, it didn't help the day get any better, what with it being with the Slytherins. Class seemed unbearable to all the Gryffindors, especially Neville, who messed up yet another potion, and Seamus, who was becoming more nervous by the minute. He was very sure Hermione was going to turn him down when he asked her to the ball. All through class, he stared at the back of her head, and imagined it shaking no when he asked her. It was horrible. Just as Snape was about to rear his ugly head once more on an un-suspecting Neville, the bell rang.
" Class dismissed." He said bitterly. " Oh, except for Potter and Weasley. Come on."
Both boys groaned, and bid Hermione good-bye.
" If we're not back by tomorrow morning, send a house elf to check for our bodies, hey Hermione?" Ron said.
" Sure, sure." Hermione said, in a half daze. She had just spotted Seamus Finningan starring at her with a nervous expression. She knew what was coming.
" Herm? Harry asked. You okay?"
" Yeah, I'm fine. You better go, Snape's looking a little steamed."
" Yeah, come on Harry, let's get this over with."
" Okay." Harry said, still looking a little uncertainly at Hermione, who was marching toward the doors with a set look on her face.
Ron followed Harry's gaze. " Girls. he said. Confusing, the lot of them."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Draco Malfoy was quickly going over his plan of attack. He had just seen Hermione come out of the classroom - alone. Wonder where Potty and Weasley are. Oh well, this just makes things easier. Sort of. He thought.Draco started walking over toward Hermione, praying his sharp- Malfoy tongue wouldn't get the best of him.
Seamus Finnigan wrung his hands together. He was trying desperately to think of what he was going to say to Hermione. He had thought of everything - compliments of every kind. But they sounded stupid, and desperate. And Seamus was not in the mood to sound desperate. Well, I'll just say what ever comes out, and hopefully it will be something Hermione says yes to. I just have to go do it right now. He thought, as he saw Hermione walk out of the dungeon.
Hermione walked out the door, and into the unknown. Actually, she walked smack into two people, and all three fell on the floor. Hermione stared at the two other people: Draco Malfoy and Seamus Finnigan. And she became very afraid. Very afraid. And highly confused. She could understand why Seamus was walking towards her, but why was Malfoy?
" Umm, hi Seamus. What do you want Malfoy?" Hermone said, trying not to sound surprised.
" Hi Hermione." Seamus said eagerly.
" Yeah, hi Gra- Hermione." Malfoy said sweetly.
" Come again Malfoy?"
" I said hi Hermione."
" That's what I thought."
" Well, Hermione, Seamus said, I was wondering if. ummmm"
" Well Gran- Hermione I was wondering." Malfoy tried to say.
" Will you go to the ball with me?" two voices asked at the same time.
Now Hermione had expected to hear this from Seamus. But when Malfoy said it too, she was clear blown away. In fact, she thought she was going to be blown all the way to Bermuda or some place like that. She was rather shocked, if not scared to death. And Hermione could very well tell that Draco Malfoy was not pulling a prank, otherwise there would have been a million Slytherins all around to laugh.
" Malfoy, did you just say what I think you said?" asked a very confused Seamus.
" Yes, I did Finnigan. I want Hermione to go to the Yule Ball with me."
" Oh. Well, so do I , and since I don't think she wants to go to the ball with a filthy Slytherin like you, I think you should walk away now and pretend this never happened."
" Whoever said she wanted to go with you Irish boy?" Draco asked, taken aback.
" Say that again pretty boy." Seamus yelled.
" Pretty boy, eh? We'll just see about that. I'm gonna sock you so good that."
" Umm, Malfoy. Shut up. I think Hermione, umm, went somewhere."
" Oh."
" Great. This is just great. This was NOT supposed to happen. I was just going to go up, nice and slow, and start a conversation. You know, Nice weather, how's class, wanna go to the Ball with me? That's all. Then you came along and spoiled it."
" Oh, I spoiled it? Who bumped into her?"
" I didn't. You did. And you made her run off too. Why couldn't I have just asked her in the Common Room?"
" Get over it Finnigan. I mean, you really had no chance with her. Why would she pick some sandy-haired Irish punk over a suave blonde rich guy?"
" Let me count the ways Malfoy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
While all of this, umm, conversation was going on, Hermione had run away and shut herself up in her dorm. She was desperately wishing she had gone out in the snow that morning and gotten detention with Snape. That way, she wouldn't have heard what she had just heard. She would have been cleaning the dungeons with Harry and Ron instead. Well Hermione, she told herself. I think it's been spotted that you're a girl.
A/N- And we thought? This is kinda a cliffe, but if ya review, then it won't be 4 long! O what the hee-haw. Even if ya dun't review, im still gonna put up the next chapter, so there.*
.
