A/N: This chapter and Chapter 21 take place during the same week, one week before the Autumn Ball.

Disclaimer:  I own the ideas and none of the characters.

*** OK, lots of thanks for the past two chapters!  First, thanks to Alayna, thanks for your ideas, I definitely agree: Katie liked Lee, but he liked someone else…we'll see…I'm glad you liked the way I portrayed Parvati, it wasn't easy to do it that way!  Thank you Victoria!  Thank you for also liking the way I characterized Parvati, I didn't know how people would respond to her like that, but I guess it worked!  Snwflakesweety, I love reading your reviews cuz you just sound like a cutie!  Anyhow, good luck with your story!  It's great!  Ann, I'm glad it only took an hour and a half to read my story so far!  I means you liked it!  Thank you Mela for reviewing!  I'm glad you think everything flows really well, I tried!  Triniroo, I promise you'll like this chapter and the next chapter!  Slap me silly, great review!  Thank you so much for reading and reviewing and it's OK if it's been awhile since you last reviewed!  You reviewed now so no hard feelings!  Shaunna, if everyone wants I may beat Malfoy's dirty arse once or twice more!  (Alright, so I'm kind of evil!)  Hermione Weasley, you are such a faithful reviewer (and I hate doing this, because all reviewers are important) but because you are such a faithful reviewer, this chapter is for you!  Fiona Goldfeet, thanks for the suggestion and the review (actually, I really like your suggestion and it does complicate things…hmm…)!  Stnky600, I'm so happy that you like this story!  Thank you for reviewing!  Shans, it is so great to see a new face in the little reviews!  It means a hell of a lot to me that you like this story!  Thanks so much!  Pinkchicklet, when I'm done uploading I'm going to check out your profile page-y thingy and see if you have any other stories…they're really cute!  Meliflames, I love you too!  It's great to see that you're still reviewing and I hope this chapter doesn't bore you as much!  Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing!

Chapter 20: 5 Ways to Get Noticed

"Here, read this," Parvati suggested before tossing her latest issue of "Young Witches" in Hermione's direction.  "Read the cover article," she informed her roommate. 

Hermione read name of the article, rolled her eyes and then shoved the magazine in front of Ginny, who was visiting her two friends in their dorm room.  She laughed hysterically.

Hermione took the magazine back and stared at the cover.  Hot pinks and blues dyed the shiny paper and a pretty witch stared back at her.  "You're nutters if you think this is going to get Ron to notice me," she said.  Hermione had finally gotten over her embarrassment and was able to mention Ginny's older brother out loud.  She had finally let go and admitted her feelings for him to herself.

She flipped to page 101 and read out loud: "Is there a young wizard you've got in mind?  Is there someone in particular you want to go with to your school's Halloween Ball?  This feature article is filled with 5 Ways to Get Noticed by that special someone!"  Parvati and Ginny were practically falling off the beds with laughter and she rolled her eyes. 

"Right then," Ginny finally managed to get out between her laughs, "you've got plenty of time.  The ball is in a week, that's seven days…you could do one a day," she suggested.

"One a day of what?" Hermione asked.

Parvati's eyes were sparkling with enjoyment.  Hermione reminded herself it was her own stupid fault they were involved at all.  "You could do one of these things a day!  Look, it shouldn't be too hard…The first way to get noticed is common interest.  That could be the first day!  Ooh, this is going to be so exciting!"  She squealed as Ginny clapped her hands.  Hermione rolled her eyes.  Something was telling her this wasn't going to be half as much fun as they were making it out to be.

5 Days Before the Autumn Ball: Operation Common Interest

Hermione dropped down on the sofa next to Ron.  Ron smiled at her.  "Hey Hermione," he greeted absent-mindedly.

"Hi," she said with a perky smile.  Her insides were twisting around into knots and she was pretty sure this was what it felt like to be nervous beyond all reason.  "So, you're reading about Quidditch, huh?" she asked, her eyes dropping to the magazine in front of him.

"Mhm," he said.  He didn't even look up at her.

"So, you've been doing really well so far.  I mean, the team has been doing really well," she corrected.  The team had played two games since Lee was put in the Infirmary and had won both, the first against Hufflepuff and then Slytherin.  Ron hadn't let a single goal through.

"Thanks," he said.  Again, he didn't look at her.

Hermione sighed impatiently.  This was never going to work.

4 Days Before the Autumn Ball: Operation Common Friends

"This is so stupid!  Ron and I have common friends!  Harry, for example," Hermione pointed out.  "Or have you two forgotten?"

Parvati and Ginny giggled. 

"Seriously," Hermione continued.  "This is stupid!  What am I supposed to do?  Go remake friends with Harry?  Well that only works if Harry and I have been fighting!" she shouted.

"So maybe you two could get into a fight?" Parvati thought up.

Hermione groaned and covered her face with a frilly pillow. 

3 Days Before the Autumn Ball: Operation Maiden in Distress

This was stupid.  Did they really think Ron would believe her when she asked him to help her with Charms lessons?  Ron would think she was having one on him!  Her brain racked through other ideas.  There had to be something else she could ask him to help her with…and OK, so she wasn't exactly a "Maiden in Distress" but she was the smartest, cleverest witch in her class so there wasn't really to much to be in distressed with!

"Um, Ron…" she began, twirling a long curl between her fingers, "I don't suppose you could help me with…" she racked her brain for some kind of excuse… "Potions homework could you?"

Ron assessed her for a moment before coming to a conclusion and answering.  "You're shitting me, right?"

"Ron don't swear," Hermione said automatically.

Ron rolled his blue eyes heavenward.  "Alright Hermione, whatever you say."  He sighed heavily.

"Well you aren't doing anything anyway, are you?" she demanded an answer.  She could have slapped herself then.  That was so not the thing to say at a time like this! 

"Yes Mum," he replied.

"Ron!" she wailed.  "I'm not trying to fight with you!"

He stood up and for one insane moment she thought he was going to take her in his arms and kiss her like crazy.  But he didn't.  He walked right past her toward the staircases though.

"Have a nice night Hermione," he wished her.  "I'll be at the Quidditch pitch."

"What?" she shrieked.

He stopped, turned and looked at her.  "I've got practice."

2 Days Before the Autumn Ball: Operation You Can Always Find Someone Else

Hermione took Parvati's seat in Charms the next day, next to Dean and gave him a flirty smile before leaning in and explaining what was going on to the confused boy. 

Dean's grin widened considerably.  "Of course I'll do that!  It'll be fun!" he said.  With his voice raised just a bit he asked, "So Hermione, what time are we meeting tomorrow night in the library?"

She smiled and moved her lips to make it look as if she was answering him.  She caught Ron snapping his quill in half at her "words" and smiled.

1 Day Before the Autumn Ball: Operation Cut Your Losses and Stay in Bed

"Hermione, get out of bed and go ask him!" Parvati urged her roommate.

"And what?  Make myself look like a complete and total fool?  I don't think so!" she said.  She threw the covers back up over her head which Parvati promptly pulled away from her face.

"Do you want to know who I'm going with?" Parvati asked.

"Who?"

"Harry," Parvati said with a smug smile.

Hermione sat up quickly in bed.  "Harry?  As in Harry Potter-My-Best-Friend-Who-I'm-Not-In-Love-With?" she shouted.  "What about Ginny?" she asked then, lowering her voice to whisper as if Ginny could hear them through the thick stone walls.

Parvati grinned.  "Harry and I are only going as friends; besides Ginny was the one who suggested it."

"Who's she going with then?"

"I believe Neville again…which I think is adorable!  Wouldn't they make the sweetest couple?" Parvati gushed as she went into her closet.

Hermione threw herself back down into bed.  It was Friday and classes had been cancelled just for the Autumn Ball, which Hermione thought was absolutely ridiculous.  A ball was not more important then classes!

Oh well, she thought, at least this way I can get a head start on homework…Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock.  Seeing as Parvati was still in the closet, Hermione threw on her baby pink robe and tightened it around her tiny waist.

She gasped when she was the devilishly handsome redhead staring wide-eyed at her.

Well, what did you guys think?  I'm so excited that you read this!  I had a lot of fun writing this and these next few chapters should bring some kind of closure for Ron/Hermione fans and then we'll get back to real life!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this!  Please, be kind and review!

*** As a side note, please pray/light a candle/meditate/whatever-it-is-you-do for the Allied forces in light of the war…and not only for the Allied soldiers but also the innocent Iraqi lives that will be lost.  Remember, it is not Iraq we are against, but Saddam HusseinI apologize if this request has offended you.

It's no use saying something is common sense. Government policy has nothing to do with common sense.

~ Sir Humphrey Appleby, K.C.B.