Disclaimer: They're not mine. They're all J.K.'s

Author's Note: Before anything else, I would like to thank all of you who wished me luck on my midterms. Boy, did I need that! Thanks, you guys! Anyhow, I'm glad that I got positive reaction for what I did on the previous chapter. And thank you for not losing faith in me – as I've said before, everything will definitely work out in the end. Well, here's the next chapter. I had a huge difficulty in writing this chapter. For one thing, I experienced a long writer's block and couldn't write anything for three days! Second, I've had a lot of stuff on my mind, since I did extremely poorly on my Chemistry midterm. But anyhow, I hope you all like it. Some characters may seem out of character on this chapter. I apologize. Well then, enjoy! And please don't forget to review!

Chapter 10: A Simple Plan

Hermione sat in the library by herself; her book spread open on the table and bits of parchment on the floor. At a glance, some might think that she was being her usual studious self – always reading, completely immersed in whatever she's learning. But today, Hermione Granger had something else on her mind.

I wonder what Ron was about to ask me, she thought, staring blankly at the open page. It had been three days since her conversation with Ron at the Three Broomsticks – and three days until the Halloween Ball. What if he was about to—no, Hermione! That's preposterous! If he wanted to ask you, then he would've done so a long time ago. But didn't he say—

"Good evening, Hermione!"

The prefect looked up from her book, her thoughts interrupted by the petite redhead in front of her. "Hello, Ginny."

"What are you doing?"

"Reading."

"I don't want to sound as though I'm stalking you, but I've been watching you: you haven't turned the page in about ten minutes. Is something on your mind?"

"No…I was just thinking about the concepts discussed on this chapter."

"Oh, right. Well then, would you like to return to the common room? It's getting late," offered Ginny.

Hermione shut her book with a snap. "Sure."

~~*~~~*~~

"You know Ron, you can always ask someone else. How about Padma? You can make it up to her for last year's ball."

Ron glared at his best friend. "Well gee, Harry. That's really going to make me feel better, reminding me of that miserable ball last year."

"Sorry," muttered Harry, sheepish grin on his face.

"It's all Neville's fault. Why did he have to ask her, of all people?!" whined Ron, his brows furrowed in anger and defeat.

Right Ron. It's ALL Neville's fault. If you hadn't lost your temper, you'd be taking her to the ball already, thought Harry with a smirk. The two boys were sitting in front of a window overlooking the Hogwarts grounds, Ron on a couch and Harry on a squashy armchair, facing the portrait hole. Neither one said anything for a few seconds, each left to their own thoughts. They were alerted back to reality when the portrait hole swung open, revealing Ginny and Hermione.

"Good evening, you two!" greeted Hermione with a smile, setting her bag onto the floor. "What have you been up to?"

"Nothing much. We've just finished our homework half an hour ago," replied Ron, making room for his sister on the couch. "We're just talking about…things now."

"Like what?"

"The ball," said Harry with a shrug, ignoring Ron's deadly glare.

"Oh, has Ron finally plucked up the courage to ask the girl on the parchment?" inquired Hermione, trying her best to mask her jealousy. "What did she say?"

"I didn't ask her because she's already going with someone else," answered Ron, bitterness in his voice.

An awkward silence followed. Ginny bit the bottom of her lip, exchanging an uncomfortable glance with Harry. Ron remained silent, cracking his knuckles. Hermione remained rooted on spot, embarrassed for bringing up the question. The uncomfortable silence finally passed when Hermione bid the group good night. "Well, I better go to bed. I have an early start tomorrow, what with my prefect meeting at 7 o'clock. Good night then."

The three wished her a good night, Ron watching her intently as she ascended the stairs. He heaved a sigh, wrenching his eyes away from the staircase Hermione disappeared from.

"Awww…look at that, George. Our ickle Ronniekins has a broken heart."

Ron glared at the source of the voice. "Shut it, Fred!"

The Weasley twins, Fred and George, had approached the three friends. Prior to the girls' arrival, the twins were sitting on the other side of the room, cracking jokes and making those students sitting close to them laugh. They uncharacteristically kept quiet, however, when Hermione and Ginny entered the common room and began talking about the ball.

"The truth hurts, doesn't it?" asked George with a smirk. "Listen, we couldn't help but overhear how Neville had beaten you to Hermione—"

"And we thought about doing our favorite brother a favor," added Fred, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"What are you talking about? I never said anything about Neville beating me in anything!" remarked Ron, looking at his brothers in suspicion.

"We didn't say we heard it from you. We have other sources willing to divulge information about you, Ron," replied George, grinning at his sister. Ginny shifted in her seat uncomfortably, Ron glaring at her.

"But we didn't come here to talk about that. We came here to give you this—" Fred handed Ron a little package wrapped with fancy tissue.

"What's this?"

"No need to thank us, Ron. It's just a little gift from your kind and wonderful older brothers," replied George, flashing a triumphant smile. "We know you'd be going to the ball alone, since Hermione's already taken, so Fred and I thought it would only be proper if—"

"You looked your best," finished Fred with a nod. "Go on. Open it up then."

Ron gave his brothers a quizzical look then looked at Harry and Ginny, who both shrugged. He tore the fancy tissue off the package, revealing a handsome, royal blue dress robe, completely devoid of lace trimmings. Ron felt his jaw drop. "Where'd you get the money to get this?"

"That's our little secret," said George, giving Harry a wink.

"You'll be the bell of the ball in those robes, Ron. Every single girl will be flocking towards you," remarked Fred.

"Wait until Hermione sees you in those robes!" said Ginny with a smile.

Ron grinned and stood up, walking towards the staircase leading towards the boys' dormitories. "I'm gonna go put this upstairs. Thanks, you two…"

"That was really nice of you two, giving Ron better dress robes," said Ginny. "Where did you get the money?"

"Can't say Ginny. It's a secret," answered Fred. "Listen you two: there's something else that George and I wanted to tell you. We just needed to get Ron out of the room for it."

"What is it?" asked Harry, leaning forward, a look of curiosity on his face.

"WE have a little plan to get our two little lovebirds together during the ball," whispered George, a playful grin spreading across his face.

"How? Hermione's going to the ball with Neville. She'd spend the whole time with him," said Ginny, skeptical.

"Are you saying you doubt your own brothers' ability?" remarked Fred in mock outrage. "Don't worry about Neville. We've got something special planned for him."

"Well now, what's this simple plan of yours then?" asked Harry somewhat excitedly.

George gave a wicked grin, called for Harry and Ginny to move closer, and whispered excitedly his and Fred's plan for getting rid of Neville. "And once we do that, one of you can lead Hermione to wherever our dear ickle Ronniekins is moping about, then poof!"

"We will have worked our magic!"

Harry gave Ginny and amused look. "Let's hope you two don't get into trouble for doing this. You must care for Ron a lot, going through great lengths just to make him happy."

"Eh, well…what can I say, the boy grows on you after awhile," replied George.

"Besides, once he and Hermione are together, we'll have more reasons to make fun of him," grinned Fred.

"So, what have you four been talking about while I was gone?"

Ron had finally come back to the common room, having been gone for about ten minutes, still wearing a grin.

"Nothing Ron…nothing…" dismissed Fred with a wave. "We were just about to leave anyway…well, have a great evening you three."

"Cheers!" followed George, giving them a cheery wave.

Ron watched as his twin brothers walked out of the common room. "Where are they going and what did they say to you two?"

"Probably the kitchens. And they didn't say anything to us…nothing at all…"

Ron eyed his best friend. "Right…so, wanna play a game of chess then?"

"Sure…just let me win this time, alright?"

"Ha! That's really gonna happen, Harry!"

~~**~~~**~~

Eep! So…how was it? As I've said before, I'm sorry if some of the characters seemed different. I've just gotten over my writer's block, and usually the first thing I write after overcoming a writer's block ends up being really…well, not well written. Please let me know what you guys thought of this chapter. And be honest. The next chapter will probably be the last, I'm not sure yet. Also, I'm not sure if I'll continue this story into the rest of the year…I'm still thinking about it. If not, don't worry. I have a new story in the works. I'll let you guys know about that on the next chapter. Well, thanks for taking the time and reading this humble story of mine. Bless you all for being so kind.

~~:azaleafaye:~~