Chapter twenty

The Encouraging Eavesdrop

Yay! Time for the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I've been reading other people's stories and noticed that you all have a "disclaimer". At first I was blinded by its immense beauty, and then I realized that, if I want to be cool, I should have one as well. As I am disgustingly self-conscious and insecure, I find it necessary to take whatever steps needed to feel comfortable with myself, so I have consulted with my therapist, who has informed me to…well, alright, you all get the point, I'm a dumb blind follower, so now I have a disclaimer too. And it says:

"HAHA! You are too dumb to own Harry Potter! Who do you think you are? Dumb mortal!!"

Sheesh, no one told me disclaimers were so unforgivably and unrelentingly cruel…I guess that means I really don't own Harry Potter or any of his friends…*sobs*…

Aaaaaaanywhoozle, on with the story!

Chapter twenty

The Encouraging Eavesdrop

Ron woke up with a start and looked at the clock. 5:30...who in their right mind wakes up at 5:30?? He knew he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, so he rolled off the bed and headed downstairs. He was almost on the last step when he heard Hermione talking to Ginny. His initial reaction was to turn around and head back upstairs, because for some reason he didn't want to see her before the ball. He thought it might be bad luck or something--seems as though Ron's been to a few too many weddings--but just as he was headed back upstairs he heard his name. He smirked slyly and quietly sat down at the foot of the steps to listen.

"You and Ron going to the ball together! That is so cute! I knew you guys had something going on--"

"Ginny, just because we're going to the ball doesn't mean something's going to happen..." she knew inside that wasn't really how she felt.

"Just give it up already Hermione, you and I both know that you're crazy for him! Why can't you just admit it?" Ginny pushed.

"Because that would involve actually liking him!" she said just a little too loudly. She wasn't ready for that yet, she wasn't even sure if she did. Had she turned her head, she would have noticed the look of slight hurt on Ron's face.

"Hermione, I know you don't want to like him, cause it would be weird, but I know you do, and you do too! Come on, can you honestly tell me that you don't like him, even just a little bit?" Ginny smiled.

Hermione paused. She wanted to say yes, but unfortunately, something was keeping her from lying...

"No! Of course I like him! Are you kidding me?" before she could say anymore she slapped her hand across her mouth and stared at Ginny in shock of herself. Ginny grinned in victory. Thankfully, Hermione was too in shock to notice Ginny wink at the stairs.

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Ron headed back up the stairs, an incontrollable grin spread across his face. She likes me, I can't bloody believe it...She really does like me! He could barely contain himself as he walked through the door of the boys' dorm. He collapsed onto his bed and smiled at the ceiling, as though he and the ceiling were sharing some delicious secret. Just then, Harry turned in his sleep and nearly fell off the bed. He caught himself and sat up, rubbing his eyes and reaching for him glasses. He looked over to see if Ron was awake, and he was about to say 'good morning' when he noticed the look of euphoria on his face.

"Well, what are you so pleased about?" he asked smirking.

"Oh, nothing. I just had a nice dream, that's all." he replied with a dreamy sigh.

It wasn't like he was lying, for it seemed as though it all really was a dream...

After four hours of staring up at the ceiling, Harry couldn't take anymore. What is he doing? I don't get it, when he's upset, he stares at the ceiling, when he's happy, he stares at the ceiling! You'd think he thought the ceiling were Hermione or something..."

He decided that enough was enough and threw a pillow at Ron's head. Ron yelped like a frightened dog and sat up bolt right.

"What was that for? What are you trying to do, kill me?" Ron apparently had been scared half to death. that ceiling must have been pretty interesting...

"Ron, maybe you haven't noticed, but you haven't moved from that one spot in four hours! You have gone completely mental! What is going on with you?" Then again, did he really have to ask? He knew it must have been Hermione-related.

"I told you, nothing's wrong, I just didn't get enough sleep last night, that's all." He got up off of his bed and ran his hand through his hair. After a few moments of silence, during which Harry watched Ron pace back and forth across the room, Ron looked at Harry.

"Did you say four hours?"

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Some people I'd like to thank:

Wendy! Thanks so much! I really appreciate what you said, and I'm so glad you like it so much! Thank you for reading!!!

Allie! Thanks so much for staying with my story! And I love yours!!!

MUH!!!(whoever you are!!) Thanks for being honest, and I'm glad you like it anyway!

And everyone else who's read it! I would list you all, but that would require extra thinking, and for reasons why that is impossible, see post below.

I'm sorry if I appear to be going insane, it's just that it's winter break now, and it seems that freedom has a strange affect on me. Or maybe it's because I've turned off my brain, since I won't be needing it for a while. Anyway, just don't mind me. Enjoy the story! And unfortunately, I'll recover soon. So don't worry. Not that you would. Did I mention I have the tendency to ramble? Didn't think so…