Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and "Born To Make You Happy" is by Britney Spears.

BORN TO MAKE YOU HAPPY...

Hermione Granger gently closed the bathroom door behind her and headed towards her four-poster bed. The girl's dormitory, which was usually filled with the loud chatter of the girls, was unusually quiet that night. It chilled her when she realized she was the only girl in the room. She slowly crawled into her bed and drew her knees closer to herself.

~I'm sitting here alone up in my room,

Thinking about the times that we've been through,

Oh my love… ~

Tomorrow was the annual Yule Ball…Yule Ball. Even now, she remembered how what seemed like ages ago; she had willingly accepted Victor Krum's, the famous Quidditch player, invitation to the ball. She didn't really understand why she had agreed to go; just in the back of her head a name kept blinking, reminding her she was only doing this for one person, Ronald Weasley.

She sighed heavily to herself and reached underneath her bed, pulling out a scarlet photo album made of real velvet. Her mother had given it to her when she had started Hogwarts. She wanted her to store all her school memories inside it. And now, flipping through the pages, she suddenly become conscious of how strong the friendship she had with Ron and Harry had grown.

~Looking at a picture in my hand,

Trying my best to understand,

I really want to know what we did wrong,

With the love that felt so strong. ~

Most of the pictures showed she and Ron fighting, either with a battle of words or playfully attacking each other with snowballs; usually Harry would be stuck in the middle. But, in their fifth year, Hagrid had insisted that the trio should pose for a Muggle picture. Out of much persuasion, the three friends had stood in front of the great lake, while the sun was setting. Hermione had stood in the middle, with Harry wrapping his arm around her shoulder, but Ron, surprisingly, had protectively wrapped his own arm around her waist. That moment had been captured in one single snapshot, but to Hermione it meant everything.

~If only you were here tonight,

I know that we could make it right. ~

A sudden burst of laughter and cheer erupted from downstairs causing Hermione to snap out of her reverie. She shook her head in disgust, thinking how frivolous girls could get over a petty ball. But, a voice was nagging her, which was repeatedly saying, "You made the mistake, lassie. You should have asked him to the ball." "Ron," she scoffed out loud. "I could've never asked Ron. It would have ruined our friendship," she told the empty air.

~I don't know how to live without your love,

I was born to make you happy.

Cause you're the only one within my heart,

I was born to make you happy.

Always and forever you and me,

That's the way our life should be.

I don't know how to live without your love,

I was born to make you happy. ~

"But why didn't he ask me, instead?" she wondered aloud. "Because you told them you weren't planning on attending the ball," a voice shot back. She groaned and fell back on her pillow. She hated Ron for making it difficult for her to get some rest. Out of all people, she had a crush on him and there was nothing anyone could do about it; like this night. She smiled to herself, remembering how she had looked up and found Ron's intent gaze upon her face. But like an idiot, she had smiled back at him. Well, it was better than throwing daggers at him. And to her even more amazement, she had kissed him on the cheek! No wonder she had hurried out the room. What a fool she must have looked like!

~I know I've been a fool since you've been gone,

Rather give it up and carry on,

Oh my love… ~

Ron, Ron, Ron. She couldn't think properly with his name constantly ringing in her ears. That redhead, Keeper of Gryffindor's team, the one who made her cry, the one who made her angry, the one who made her smile, the one who made her laugh, the one who…the one who made her love herself the way she is. Without Ron's blue eyes twinkling at her, or his mischievous grin, or his short ragged-looking hair, she wouldn't be able to live. No wonder she used to have dreams about him.

~Cause living in a dream of you and me,

Is not the way my life should be,

I don't want to cry a tear for you,

So forgive me if I do. ~

Hermione silently brushed away a tear that was welling up in her eye as she pulled the blanket over her. She wondered what Ron had been thinking when he was staring at her. She only wished that instead of reading Hogwarts for the millionth time, she had talked with Ron, like a friend. But, the fates and her feelings were completely against her. Escaping her true emotions, she had thrown herself into reading.

~If only you were here tonight,

I know that we could make it right. ~

Harry never made her feel this way. Harry was a brother she never had. She could always talk to him, when something was bothering her. She was also quite glad Harry also thought of her as a sister, because she had been the one encouraging him to ask Ginny, despite Ron's outrage and fury. She chuckled slightly. Even You-Know-Who would have been afraid of him that day.

~I don't know how to live without your love,

I was born to make you happy.

Cause you're the only one within my heart,

I was born to make you happy.

Always and forever you and me,

That's the way our life should be.

I don't know how to live without your love,

I was born to make you happy. ~

She decided to get some sleep instead of moping over her ridiculous relationship with Ron. She had just closed her eyes when a loud knock came at the door. Groaning with frustration, she called groggily, "Who's there?"

"It's me," came the voice, which sounded similar to… "Ron," she replied startled but fully alert.

Grabbing her night robe, she threw it around her and creaked open the door, revealing Ron towering over her. "What are you doing here?" she asked suspiciously, as she brushed away the curls that were falling around her face.

"Uh Mione (she loved the way he said her nickname) I wanted to ask you something," he mumbled nervously.

"What is it?" she answered, opening the door a bit more, though her heart was pounding inside her chest.

~I'd do anything, I'd give you my world,

I'd wait forever to be your girl. ~

"Well, I was thinking," he paused again, because he seemed to be having difficulty saying the statement, as he was continuously running his hand through his mussed up hair.

"I was wondering, Hermione, if you would like to go to the ball with me," he finally blurted out.

"What?" Hermione exclaimed.

~Just call out my name and I will be there.

Just to show you how much I care. ~

"I mean you and I can just go as friends," Ron suggested quickly, wringing his hands together desperately.

Hermione was just about to reply that she would like that very much, when she suddenly remembered that Ron was already going with Lavendar. "Ron, aren't you going to the Yule Ball with Lavendar?" she replied, instead, hoping to cover up for her anxiousness.

His forehead wrinkled up as he suddenly realized that he was indeed going to the Yule Ball with Brown. Shaking his head and scolding himself for even bothering to come and ask Hermione, he said something even more outrageous, "Well, Hermione, would it be okay if you danced the last song with me?" he asked nervously as he ran his fingers through his hair.

She eyed him suspiciously. He did seem sincere in his way of asking, so what harm would come if she agreed. After all, they were just friends...weren't they? "Ron, I'd like that very much," she answered shyly.

"Really," Ron answered, the tips of his ears turning a deep scarlet.

"Didn't I say I would?" Hermione questioned, her eyebrows raised.

"Well, yea, um, see you tomorrow then," Ron stammered giving her the famous Weasley grin, we all know and love. Hermione's knees felt weak, a response very new to her. "Okay, good night Ron," and closed the door when he waved goodbye.

Leaning against the door, she gave a huge sigh of relief. "Yes," she squealed happily and jumped onto her bed. She could finally get some sleep.

~I don't know how to live without your love,

I was born to make you happy.

Cause you're the only one within my heart,

I was born to make you happy.

Always and forever you and me,

That's the way our life should be.

I don't know how to live without your love,

I was born to make you happy. ~

"So did you ask her?" Harry inquired as Ron climbed into his own bed, in the boy's dormitory. He nodded his head firmly. "And…" Ron sighed and tucked his hands under his head. "She said yes," he replied dreamily. "Good job mate," Harry smiled and turned away from him and faced Dean and Seamus, who couldn't believe their horrible luck. "I believe you two owe me five pounds," he announced gleefully, as he held out his hand.

***