Disclaimer: The characters are still not mine…obviously. If they were, I'd be a rich, British woman – and I'm not…

Author's Note: Holy Guacamole! I can't believe the number of people who reviewed the third chapter. I was hoping that at least five people would review, but instead, I get about 20 reviews for that chapter alone! Thank you SO much!!! Anyhow, I decided it's time for me to stop torturing you guys; that's why I'm posting the fourth chapter of this fanfic. This chapter will remain untitled until the next chapter, because I wouldn't want to spoil anything by putting in the title…I hope this chapter will be alright…again, please let me know what you think after reading this by reviewing! I would really appreciate it. Well, enjoy!

Chapter Four:

"Ron! Why in the world did you all of sudden get the urge to take a walk?!" Hermione exclaimed, trying hard to keep up with the redhead, who had a firm but gentle grip on her wrist. "Harry doesn't look too well. Aren't you a bit concerned?"

"Trust me – Harry's fine," Ron replied, finally letting go of Hermione's wrist. "The man's just nervous about asking my little sister to the ball."

"He is? That's a relief then. For a moment there, I thought he was seriously sick. Well, let's hope Ginny says yes."

"Of course she will," Ron said with confidence as he and Hermione continued their walk by the lake. "Don't really know what he's so nervous about. You'd think the boy who lived wouldn't be scared of rejection. Besides, he should know by now that Ginny fancies him."

The pair walked for a few more minutes, finally deciding to stop at a cool spot next to the lake. They didn't talk much; each seemed to be a bit preoccupied with their own thoughts. Ron was just staring out at the lake, his forehead scrunched in concentration. Once in a while, he would steal a quick glance at Hermione, who seemed as though she has never taken in the sight of moonlight reflecting on the lake before.

"It's a bit chilly out here, isn't it?" Hermione whispered, breaking the silence, tugging at her robes.

"Did you want to go inside then?"

"No, let's stay here," she said, plopping down on the grass. "I wouldn't want to make Harry even more nervous about asking your sister to the ball." She gave out a nervous giggle and shot a glance at Ron, who continued to gaze at the lake. Hermione followed suit, taking in the beauty and the majesty of the lake as she played with a loose thread on her robe. She suddenly remembered something when she felt a piece of folded parchment inside her robe pocket.

"Listen, Hermione – "

"Ron, I was wondering – oops! I'm sorry…"

"No, it's alright. You go ahead: Ladies first and all that…" said Ron, the tips of his ears turning slightly red.

"Thanks. Well, I was wondering about…something," Hermione said, trying to find the right words to start the conversation. "Since Harry is asking Ginny to the ball, I wanted to know who you'll be asking." She said all this slowly, pointedly avoiding Ron's eyes and trying to casual as she can. "I'm not trying to pry into your business or anything but I was thinking…maybe I can…help you or something. It's just that, when I was reading your conversation with Harry—"

"What conversation?" Ron interjected, a look of confusion and worry on his face.

"Umm…this conversation," she replied meekly, taking out the parchment from within her pocket and handing it to Ron. "I know I shouldn't have read it, but I really wanted to know what you two were so preoccupied about during Professor Binns' class."

"You're right: you shouldn't have read it. I mean honestly, Hermione, if we wanted to include you in the conversation, Harry and I would have passed the parchment onto you! But we didn't, did we?" Ron said, irritation apparent in his voice. "Sometimes, Harry and I feel that its necessary to have a strictly man-to-man conversation – meaning a girl can't really butt in on our talks. I know you're a prefect and all, but that doesn't mean you have the right to stick your nose in on the business of other people!"

"I didn't mean to read it!" Hermione retorted, standing up and facing the now red-faced Ron, annoyance showing in her voice. "The only reason why I brought it up was because I wanted to help you with asking the girl. I would think you'd appreciate it, what with me being your friend and all!"

"Well, if you really were my friend, you would've had the sense not to read that private conversation between Harry and I!" Ron yelled. "But you're Hermione: the perfect prefect who sticks her nose in on other peoples' business because she has good intentions. Well for your information, I don't need your help!"

"Fine!" Hermione replied, waving her hands in frustration. "Oh and by the way Ron, if you think I'm nosy, then you obviously haven't looked at a mirror lately because you're just as nosy as I am – you just don't think you are. And if you need any convincing, then I suggest looking back to last year when you kept badgering me for the reason why I went with Viktor to the ball or when you kept looking at Viktor and I when he was saying his good-bye's. You may not think of those as poking your nose in on other people's business, but trust me Ron – it is!"

She turned around, brushed grass of her robes, and slowly walked back to the castle, furious.

"Viktor, Viktor, Viktor – I was wondering when his name would come up!" spat Ron, shaking his head in disbelief at Hermione's retreating form. "You look at that Bulgarian asshole like he's some sort of prince. But my feeling about him won't change. He did not deserve to go to the ball with you! And you can call my constant badgering and my curious glancing whatever the hell you want; but for me, I just didn't want to see that idiot hurt you!"

Ron looked down at his shoes, pointedly refraining from looking at Hermione, who was now angrily trudging back towards him with a look of extreme anger. Hermione stopped a foot away from Ron – who finally looked up to meet her icy glare – and slapped him hard across his face.

"Don't you dare call Viktor an asshole or an idiot!" said Hermione through clenched teeth. "He deserved to go to the ball with me as much as any boy. Well, any boy except you, Ron. You don't deserve to go with any girl, not even – no, especially – with me!" She turned to leave, but again stopped. "And for the record, I do not see Viktor as a prince. But he might as well be, compared to an insensitive asshole such as yourself!" And with that, she sharply turned and ran back to the castle.

Ron watched as Hermione's form disappeared from view. Congratulations, Ron, he thought with a sigh. You've managed to ruin the evening with another unnecessary argument. Guess there's no point in asking her to the ball. "After all, she just said I don't deserve to go with I any girl – especially her," he said, gloomily touching his still painful cheek.

~~*~~~*~~

Umm…so what did you guys think? I hope you're not mad at what I did. As much as I love Ron and Hermione, I feel they should first realize how important their friendship is…after all, friends make the best lovers, right? Or at least that's what I heard. But anyhow, please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter. It's alright if you didn't like it. I'll post chapter five as soon as I get some reviews or possibly in two days or so…again, I would like to thank those who have been reading this story. I really appreciate it!

~~:AzaleaFaye:~~