This Wasn't Part Of The Plan

Chapter Seven

And It All Ends Somewhere

By SurferChick

A/N: It's over! Last chapter. It's the Yule Ball. Also a songfic to Incubus's "Echo." Great CD, by the way.

D/C: I don't own anything except the plot. The song "Echo" belongs to Incubus and everything else belongs to JK Rowling and Scholastic.

~*~*~

It was finally the day of the Yule Ball. Hermione and Ginny went upstairs hours before the ball was scheduled to start. They had to 'make themselves beautiful for their men,' as Ginny put it. Hermione could tell that she was nervous about going to her first dance with Harry.

"I'm so nervous," Hermione said as she was pulling out her dress robe.

"Why are you nervous?" said Ginny. "You've known Ron forever, this'll be a breeze. I, on the other hand, will pass out from nervousness. That's a really pretty dress robe," she added.

"Thanks," said Hermione. Her dress was white with a hint of silver in it. Ginny's was dark purple. They showered and got themselves dressed up in two hours, and spent the last hour fidgeting.

"Listen to us," said Hermione, laughing. "We're starting to sound like Lavender and Parvati." Ginny laughed, and then looked at her watch.

"It's time," she said.

"And now we're starting to sound like this is our death sentence," said Hermione.

"It is for you," said Ginny. "What you ever see in my brother…" Hermione, playing the dutiful girlfriend, poked Ginny. Ginny looked at her in mock horror. "No, my beautifully pressed dress robe!"

They laughed all the way down the stairs into the common room where Harry and Ron were waiting. Ron had his back to them, so he didn't notice them until Harry said, "What's so funny?" Ginny ran to him as he turned around.

He saw Hermione and his jaw dropped.

"Don't just stand there, or you'll get a bug in your mouth," said Hermione nervously. Ron's mouth went back to normal.

"May I?" he asked, offering Hermione his arm.

"Oh, please," said Hermione. "This is a ball, not a wedding ceremony."

"Sorry," he said. "I'm just nervous."

"Loosen up," said Hermione as Ginny and Harry walked through the portrait hole. "I don't want a dance partner who's all tightened up."

Ron gulped. This was going to be a long night.

~*~*~

They followed Ginny and Harry down to the Great Hall. It was decorated in full blast, with red and green banners all over the place and miniature ice sculptures at every place setting. Hermione picked hers up. It was a little snowman. "How cute!" she said. "What'd you get, Ron?"

"A Christmas tree," he said. They sat down as Professor Dumbledore got up to speak.

"Hello, and welcome to another Yule Ball!" he said. The students cheered. "As most of you already know, the Weird Sisters have so graciously agreed to play for you again!" More cheers. "Well, I'm going to be quiet now. Have fun!" The Weird Sisters came out and started to play a song. Ginny and Harry got up to dance.

"Come on, you guys!" said Ginny.

"Maybe later," said Ron. Hermione nodded. They went away and started dancing.

"Hermione, I'm sorry it turned out this way," Ron said.

"What way?" she asked, confused.

"You know…having to go to this ball thing with me."

"No problem," she said. "I figured you would need the partner."

He pretended to be hurt.

They talked a meaningless chatter until the song was over and they started to play a slow song. "If we don't dance, it'd look weird," he said, blushing. Hermione took his hand and he led her out on the dance floor. He awkwardly put his hands in a dancing position.

"All right," said one of the Weird Sisters. "We're going to play a Muggle song now. I know, it might sound a little weird, but that's who we are! Anyway, the song's called "Echo," by Incubus. They're an American Muggle band." They started playing the song.

"I know this song!" said Hermione. She started to sing along with the words.

There's something about the look in your eyes

Something I noticed when the light was just right.

It reminded me twice that I was alive,

and it reminded me that you're so worth the fight.

Ron looked into her eyes as the light shone on them. He saw something there that he'd never seen before. He didn't know what it was, but something tugged at him from inside of him when he saw it. It made him feel alive again, like he could tackle any obstacle that was placed in front of him…

My biggest fear will be the rescue of me…

Strange how it turns out that way.

Could you show me, dear…Something I've not seen.

Something infinitely interesting.

He knew at that moment that he loved Hermione, he truly did. But he was scared. What if she found out? An overwhelming splash of fear overtook him.

But what if she found out and she felt the same way? Ron made a decision right then. He would tell Hermione how he felt. He knew it would be a bigger letdown not knowing how she felt.

There's something about the way you move,

I see your mouth in slow motion when you sing.

More subtle than something someone contrives,

Your movements echo that I've seen the real thing.

At that moment, Hermione put her head on his chest, still singing softly to herself. Ron watched her lips move. He wanted so badly to hold her like this forever.

Your biggest fear will be the rescue of you,

It's strange how it works out that way.

Could you show me dear…Something I've not seen?…

Something infinitely interesting.

The song ended, but the Weird Sisters started up with another slow one. "Want to take a break?" asked Hermione.

"No," said Ron. "Actually, Hermione, I wanted to tell you something."

"I want to tell you something, too," said Hermione.

"Ladies first," said Ron. Hermione smiled.

"Always the gentleman." Hermione hesitated. "It's your Christmas present, Ron."

"Hermione, you didn't have to get me any…"

He was cut short by Hermione placing her lips on his, full force. Ron's eyes widened as he tried to figure out what she was doing, but relaxed into the kiss quickly. Hermione pulled away from him.

"Merry Christmas, Ron," she said, smiling. "So what was it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Just about the same thing," he said, still a bit shocked. "But you do know that this wasn't part of the plan…" He leaned in and kissed her again.

They danced the rest of the night away, happy to find true love.

An onlooker watched them as they kissed each other for the second time. A tear fell down her cheek. "And fairy tale stories do exist," said Madame Pince.

~*~*~

Later that night in the common room, Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny were all gathered in the common room.

"So what took you guys so long?" asked Ginny.

"What are you talking about?" asked Hermione.

"What took you guys so long to tell each other how you feel?"

"What are you talking about, Gin?" asked Ron. "We've known that ever since…last year."

"Oh, please," said Harry. "You two think you did such a good job playing a couple. It was totally fake, we could see right through you."

Ron and Hermione froze. "How long did you two know?"

"Ever since you announced it," said Harry, rolling his eyes. He took a quick look at Ginny, who was glaring at him. "I mean, Ginny found out about you two from the time you two announced it. Then she told me a couple weeks ago."

"So we didn't do a good enough job?" asked Hermione.

"Pretty much," said Ginny. "Why'd you guys do it, anyway?"

"OK," said Ron. "Sit back, because it's a long story." He told them all about seeing them kissing in the common room and wanting to get back at them. "But now I feel like an immature jerk."

"I'm glad you've finally come to that conclusion," said Ginny. He threw her a playful punch.

"But why would you do that, Hermione?" Harry asked. "You did already give us your blessing."

Ron was confused. "What?"

"Oh, you didn't know?" said Harry. "Hermione gave us her blessing to go out ages ago. We told her before you because we figured you'd come up with some stupid plan to separate us."

"You had already given them your blessing?" Ron asked a bright red Hermione.

"Um…maybe?" she said.

"Nice try," said Ron. "Well, you guys have my blessing, too."

"Really?" asked Harry.

"Thanks, Ron," said Ginny. "That means a lot to me." Her and Harry started kissing.

"It's going to look really weird if we don't start kissing," said Ron. Hermione smiled and leaned close to him.

We will now close this story about Ron Weasley's Plan That Totally Backfired to give our characters some privacy.

~*~*~

A/N: Wow! I congratulate everyone who's put up with me thus far. You guys are great! Thanks for reading-it's been a blast! I can't believe it's over, though! *sobs* Oh well…it's been fun! And a special thanks to all of my reviewers…WeasleyGirl, Rupert Fan, Laurie Lupin, Adnap Nottap, Joey, Heather, mealle, ev, vane, Jada-Chan, RainDancer, me, luna, geneveive, deannysgirls, Lady Lupin, and Ritzel! You guys are the best! R/Hr forever!! Bye!