A/N: Thanks a lot to everyone for their comments and reviews. I appreciate the feedback!
The days leading up to the Yule Ball were uncomfortable, especially for Harry. The poor guy had to keep dodging the damaging glares that Ron and Hermione sent at each other. Hermione was upset about the argument, but wasn't going to give in to him. 'It was the principle of the thing, right?' Ron's older brother George in the end invited her to the dance after he'd heard that she'd turned down Ron. She of course, accepted in spite of Ron. She didn't know who he had decided to go with, and she didn't care. 'Did she?'
Hermione decided to not dwell on these questions. She turned back to the mirror, to check herself over. She was determined to make him jealous, this could be fun. George could be a gentleman, right? She examined her purple dress robes, checking for any spots or signs of wear. It looked good, she determined.
When she met George down at the bottom of the staircase, he smiled and offered her his arm. 'What no pranks tonight?' she thought. His bright auburn hair clashed with his bright red dress robes, giving him a less-than-charming appearance.
They walked together down to the Great Hall, where the Yule Ball was to be held. 'This is going to be fun.' She kept trying to convince herself.
The feast was spectacular. Food covered every inch of the four long tables, leaving very little room for their plates. Pumpkin juice was in massive jugs every few feet down the table. Within fifteen minutes, Hermione felt fuller than she could have imagined. She glanced over at Harry, whom was staring intently at his date, Cho. 'So, he finally got the guts to ask her.' Hermione smiled.
"Good stuff, eh Hermione?" George asked her through a mouth full of turkey and mashed potatoes. She winced, not wanting to see the chewed up food in his mouth. She momentarily looked over at Ron, then with a new wind of determination smiled at George.
"Um, yeah. It's good." She had the feeling this night wasn't going to be as spectacular as she'd hoped.
After the feast concluded, the tables, littered with empty plates and have eaten rolls, disappeared. Music filled their ears, and the dancing was underway. To Hermione's surprise, George was a fairly good dancer. 'He must have some experience.' She thought.
They danced for what felt like hours, and then she needed a break. "George, I think I'm going to sit this one out. I'm tired." She smiled up at him.
"Alright. I'll go get us something to drink." He patted her shoulder, and then went off in search of punch.
Hermione surveyed the couples dancing in the hall. She saw a few pairs that almost made her laugh in surprise. You just never know who'll show up together. A particularly odd pair stood out, Neville Longbottom and and Seamus Finnigan were dancing awkwardly together, stepping on each others' feet. She had heard they hadn't been able to get dates, but this was ridiculous. She chuckled, and turned to look around at other pairs.
Her breath caught in her throat when a redhead in deep blue dress robes, unlike the frilly ones from last year, waltzed by, a girl on his arm. It was Ron, and Lavender. She felt anger flushing her face as she watched. He was whispering something into her ear, and the girl smiled. Hermione watched as Ron coaxed the girl out of the Great Hall. 'Probably off to commit lurid acts.' she thought to herself, haughty in her anger.
"Hermione." Hot breath tickled her ear. She looked up startled, to see George smiling and holding to glasses of red liquid.
"Oh, George." She smiled falsely. "You scared me." She then looked back up at him with purpose as she graciously accepted the glass of punch. "George, if you don't mind, I think I'd like to call this evening to a close. You've been wonderful, but I think I have a headache."
He sat down next to her and rested his arm on her shoulder, pulling her into a brotherly embrace. "It's Ron, isn't it?"
She restrained the angry tears and attempted to give him a smile. He could be a really good friend sometimes. "I guess I'm not as secretive as I thought. I really must be transparent. But yes, I guess it's Ron." She leaned her weight against Ron's older brother and heaved a burdened sigh.
"He's a stupid git, you know. He doesn't know what he's missing. He'll come around, Hermione. I think we both know he's sensitive guy. My little brother is stubborn, like you. So, just give him a chance, okay?" He patted her back.
"Thanks George." She gave him a tender hug, and then quietly left the Great Hall. The party continued on, as she stormed down the halls leading to the Gryffindor tower, trying to not cry before she could reach her bed. She really needed time to think.
The days leading up to the Yule Ball were uncomfortable, especially for Harry. The poor guy had to keep dodging the damaging glares that Ron and Hermione sent at each other. Hermione was upset about the argument, but wasn't going to give in to him. 'It was the principle of the thing, right?' Ron's older brother George in the end invited her to the dance after he'd heard that she'd turned down Ron. She of course, accepted in spite of Ron. She didn't know who he had decided to go with, and she didn't care. 'Did she?'
Hermione decided to not dwell on these questions. She turned back to the mirror, to check herself over. She was determined to make him jealous, this could be fun. George could be a gentleman, right? She examined her purple dress robes, checking for any spots or signs of wear. It looked good, she determined.
When she met George down at the bottom of the staircase, he smiled and offered her his arm. 'What no pranks tonight?' she thought. His bright auburn hair clashed with his bright red dress robes, giving him a less-than-charming appearance.
They walked together down to the Great Hall, where the Yule Ball was to be held. 'This is going to be fun.' She kept trying to convince herself.
The feast was spectacular. Food covered every inch of the four long tables, leaving very little room for their plates. Pumpkin juice was in massive jugs every few feet down the table. Within fifteen minutes, Hermione felt fuller than she could have imagined. She glanced over at Harry, whom was staring intently at his date, Cho. 'So, he finally got the guts to ask her.' Hermione smiled.
"Good stuff, eh Hermione?" George asked her through a mouth full of turkey and mashed potatoes. She winced, not wanting to see the chewed up food in his mouth. She momentarily looked over at Ron, then with a new wind of determination smiled at George.
"Um, yeah. It's good." She had the feeling this night wasn't going to be as spectacular as she'd hoped.
After the feast concluded, the tables, littered with empty plates and have eaten rolls, disappeared. Music filled their ears, and the dancing was underway. To Hermione's surprise, George was a fairly good dancer. 'He must have some experience.' She thought.
They danced for what felt like hours, and then she needed a break. "George, I think I'm going to sit this one out. I'm tired." She smiled up at him.
"Alright. I'll go get us something to drink." He patted her shoulder, and then went off in search of punch.
Hermione surveyed the couples dancing in the hall. She saw a few pairs that almost made her laugh in surprise. You just never know who'll show up together. A particularly odd pair stood out, Neville Longbottom and and Seamus Finnigan were dancing awkwardly together, stepping on each others' feet. She had heard they hadn't been able to get dates, but this was ridiculous. She chuckled, and turned to look around at other pairs.
Her breath caught in her throat when a redhead in deep blue dress robes, unlike the frilly ones from last year, waltzed by, a girl on his arm. It was Ron, and Lavender. She felt anger flushing her face as she watched. He was whispering something into her ear, and the girl smiled. Hermione watched as Ron coaxed the girl out of the Great Hall. 'Probably off to commit lurid acts.' she thought to herself, haughty in her anger.
"Hermione." Hot breath tickled her ear. She looked up startled, to see George smiling and holding to glasses of red liquid.
"Oh, George." She smiled falsely. "You scared me." She then looked back up at him with purpose as she graciously accepted the glass of punch. "George, if you don't mind, I think I'd like to call this evening to a close. You've been wonderful, but I think I have a headache."
He sat down next to her and rested his arm on her shoulder, pulling her into a brotherly embrace. "It's Ron, isn't it?"
She restrained the angry tears and attempted to give him a smile. He could be a really good friend sometimes. "I guess I'm not as secretive as I thought. I really must be transparent. But yes, I guess it's Ron." She leaned her weight against Ron's older brother and heaved a burdened sigh.
"He's a stupid git, you know. He doesn't know what he's missing. He'll come around, Hermione. I think we both know he's sensitive guy. My little brother is stubborn, like you. So, just give him a chance, okay?" He patted her back.
"Thanks George." She gave him a tender hug, and then quietly left the Great Hall. The party continued on, as she stormed down the halls leading to the Gryffindor tower, trying to not cry before she could reach her bed. She really needed time to think.