Hermione's POV

I was really nervous walking along the corridors on the way to the Hall – I hadn't spoken George since we'd both been in detention together.

"Er, Lavender – do you really think my hair's ok?"

"Sure - it looks great!" She said without even bothering to look up from the small mirror that she was using to apply her lipstick.

"I thought you already put some of that stuff on?" Pavarti asked curiously.

"Well, yeah, but another coat won't hurt, will it?" Lavender replied huffily.

I looked up, realising that we had reached the top of the main staircase.

"Hi, Lavender," Ron shouted. Lavender stuffed her mirror in her pocket quickly and waved shyly at Ron.

* Here we go * I thought * Gods, I hope I look ok! *

I needn't have worried though, because George hadn't even noticed me – In fact, he actually looked kind of disappointed, and kept looking straight past me, as if he was expecting someone else.

* Maybe he's had second thoughts * I wondered, * I mean, it was a bit weird that he'd even agreed to go in the first place *

I was just thinking how stupid I'd been, when I realised that everyone had gone silent, and were now staring at me.

"Hi, Mione" George mumbled,

"Um…Hi George," I replied nervously, * wow, he looks hot! * I thought – and he did. He was wearing a smart robe and his hair looked real cool. Fred whistled really loudly, making me feel even more embarrassed than I already was.

"er, wow, Hermione, you look…Great!" George said, catching my eye. * Gods, does he really mean that? * I wondered. I couldn't believe this was really happening. I suddenly felt ashamed. Here I was, standing with a really cool guy, who had offered to take me to the Yule Ball - and I was only here because it had been a dare.

* * *

We'd been dancing for a while when I realised that George was trying to tell me something. I leant in, to hear over the music.

"Do you want a drink?" He shouted. I didn't even try to answer over the music, so I just nodded. I didn't want to stand in the middle of the hall by myself, so I wandered over to where Pavarti was standing, at the end of the room.

"Hey, Mione, you having a good time?"

"Yeah," I replied, trying not to sound too enthusiastic, although I must have given away how I really felt, from the huge grin on my face.

"Who are you with?" I asked suddenly, realising that I actually didn't know.

"Well…" She suddenly lowered her voice, "Promise you won't tell anyone?" I nodded, curious. "I mean, I didn't want to go by myself and that…" She whispered hurriedly, before stopping.

"So who is it?" I prompted,

"Neville Longbottom," She said turning red.

"Hey, that's not so bad," I said, and was about to add, purely out of habit, that it was better than Fred or George Weasley, but stopped myself just in time.

"Neville's ok," I insisted, instead.

"Yeah, but he's spent most of the time in the bathroom, 'cause Fred gave him one of those stupid toffee's and now his tongue is so big, it won't even fit in his mouth!" She giggled despite herself.

"So, is there any chance of you and George actually getting together?" She asked, changing the subject.

"No, of course not!" I said, then realised that Pavarti had probably guessed by now, and thought better of it,

"Well…Actually I do think he's kinda sweet and he does look great with his hair done up, and that…" Pavarti nodded knowingly.

"He does look pretty good in his dress robes," She admitted grinning.

"Wish I could say the same for Neville!" She added. "Where is George, anyway?"

"Um, he's getting us drinks I think," I replied,

"I'd better go find him…Good luck with Neville!" I added and wandered off.

* * *

When I got to the refreshments table, I couldn't see George anywhere, but Lavender was standing at the end, leaning against a wall.

"Hi, Lavender, have you seen George anywhere recently?"

"Uh uh," She replied shaking her head, "why, did you scare him off or something?"

"No, course not," I blushed, slightly offended.

"Ron!" Lavender said suddenly. I turned round.

"Oh, sorry, I took so long, I was just talking to my brother,"

"What - Fred?" I asked,

"No…George,"
"Where? Where did he go?" I asked quickly,

"Um, I'm real sorry Hermione, but he, like…went outside,"

"You're sure?"

"Yeah…Look, I didn't mean to…" He started to add, but I'd already left.

George's POV

I dunno how long I'd been sitting there – it must have been a while, because my trousers had stuck to my legs from the rain. I'd just decided that maybe I should just go back up to the common room, when I heard someone walking along the gravel park. I didn't feel like explaining myself to anyone, so I was all ready to run off, when I realised that it was Hermione,

"George!"

"Look, I don't want to talk, ok, so can you just leave me alone!"

I said, putting my head in my hands. At least it was dark. I didn't want her to have the satisfaction of seeing how upset I was.

"Are you ok, did I do something wrong?" She asked, slightly taken aback.

"Yeah, you could say that," I muttered.

"Look, If you didn't want to go with me, you didn't have to," She began slowly,

"Yeah, and maybe I wouldn't if I'd realised…"

"What?" she prompted. I rubbed my head. Maybe it wasn't true. Maybe Ron had been lying.

"Someone told me, you only asked me as a dare." I said, "did you?" I asked hopefully. She didn't say anything.

"I knew it! Just leave me alone," I shouted, my voice cracking.

"No, it wasn't like that…" She began. I suddenly realised she had tears rolling down her face.

"I do like you,"

"Yeah, whatever," I muttered.

"No…Really,"

"Yeah, and how did you work that one out? You've already make me feel like a complete idiot, don't you think you've done enough damage already?"

She looked at me through her tears. I could see in her expression how badly I'd hurt her and regretted it immediately, * Yeah, but it's not as if she didn't deserve it * My head was telling me, but I knew that wasn't how I felt deep down. I could tell she was on the verge of running off.

"Look, I'm sorry ok, I just thought that maybe you did actually…" I trailed off.

"George, I do really like you," She choked "Why won't you believe me?"

I managed a choked laugh, "Why don't I believe you?" I repeated. I tried a different tact. "Ok, how do you intend to prove it? You said the same thing before, and that was a lie!"

"It wasn't a lie George, I really meant it!"

We were both silent, and it took me a while before I realised that Hermione was leaning over hesitantly and pressing her lips to mine. I was so surprised that I kissed her back without even thinking.

She pulled away suddenly and sat down, embarrassed.

"Sorry," She mumbled, "I didn't mean for it to all end up so bad,"

I stopped and it took me a moment to remember exactly why I was here, "You didn't mean to tell me, more like!" I said,

"Well, no…I mean, yeah…no," She stuttered, "What I mean, is, it started out like that, but then I realised…how much I really liked you and I didn't want you to think…"

"That it was only a dare?" I prompted sarcastically; she looked down, embarrassed. I suddenly felt really nervous again. * So maybe she did like me * I wondered confused.

I realised that she had started crying again.

"Look, please don't be upset, I do like you too, I just…" I reached over and a wiped a tear off her cheek. My stomach felt like it was doing back flips. I leant over and kissed her gently, again.

"I'm so sorry," She whispered. I didn't know what to say. She looked so small and vulnerable.

"It's ok. Look I'm sorry I shouted, I was just upset," I muttered. She took my hand and put her head against my shoulder.

"Do you want to go back inside?" I asked. The rain had stopped, but it was still really cold. "Somewhere quiet," I added. We walked back slowly to the castle.

"Who told you?" Hermione asked,

"Ron," I mumbled bitterly. She frowned, then obviously realised something and nodded. I suddenly felt annoyed at Ron. He was only smug, because he hadn't believed Hermione would have genuinely asked me in the first place. I glanced over at her. She looked up at me and smiled. He was so wrong.

* * *

Sorry, it finished so abruptly. I had a mental block, and couldn't think of anything else to write (and I kept stopping to listen to my fave music videos on the TV in between) Lol! Please review!!!! And thanx to everyone who reviewed the last chapters!!!! I'm real grateful! J !