Chapter two

My dearest love,

Meet me under the willow by Hagrid's hut. Be alone. Make sure no one will be able to see you come in. Be my date.

Love,

Your Secret Admirer

A trail of Xs was at the bottom.

"Sorry to put down your spirit, but do you think it might be some.joke?" said Harry.

"None of the Slytherins are sniggering or looking at me, said Hermione, not looking up. "I can tell cause I can just see them out of the top of my eyes. Looking up would be too.obvious."

"Whoever this guy is, he seems a nice guy," said Harry.

"Harry, remember, if it is you, tell me," said Hermione, biting into her toast.

"I can be shy, but I wouldn't do that," said Harry. "Trust me, it'll probably be a joke or some Ravenclaw guy fancying you, being Head Girl and all."

"Well, that narrows it down a little," said Hermione. "Not a Slytherin, no one in Gryffindor house - "

"Does cancelling me out count as Gryffindor house?" asked Harry. "Oh, I feel so touched."

Ginny cracked a grin. "It's Neville I think."

"Hey Ginny," called Neville. "I was wondering if - if - if you could come to the ball with me tonight."

"Sure Neville, just don't stand on my feet," said Ginny.

"I'll try." He shrugged a bit. "See you at about - seven?"

"Sure."

Neville made a nervous smile and walked away, Ginny raising her eyebrows.

"So it isn't him. Seamus.err.Dean.no, taken.R-"

"Not Ron," said Hermione. "He has a date, remember?"

"Oh, who?" pestered Harry.

"He would only tell Ginny," muttered Hermione grumpily.

"So you know how he felt when he pestered you about who you were going with at the Yule Ball, right?"

Hermione bit her lip. So this is what jealously felt like.

~*§*~

Ron Weasley was inspecting the new Weasley jokes and tricks magazine, in which Fred and George wanted Ron to inspect. He whistled a tune as he flicked through the magazine, his eyes in full delight.

He had the most beautiful date. He had the most beautiful and wonderful date in the world, in his opinion. This mood could get him jumping up and down and cheering cannons (even if they were losing badly, or there wasn't even a match and they were out the league already) or even mad enough to cheer on Slytherins and not care (but then a majority of Gryffindors would, so he decided not to).

"You seem so cheerful and happy," said Seamus.

"For once we don't have so much homework, it's a Saturday, and I have a date."

"And who is this date?" said Dean.

"Not to tell, I only told my sister," said Ron.

"Hello Ron," said Harry, coming up the stairs. "Guess what - Hermione got a letter at breakfast from this guy."

"Knew she had to be so pretty some day," said Ron. "What did it say?"

"For her to be his date and to meet him under the willow outside Hagrid's hut," said Harry.

"That guy sounds real nice, but if he hurts her, I'll shoot him," muttered Ron. "So, acceptance or not?"

"Hermione obviously accepts," said Harry. "She's now up in her dormitory studying. Why, I do not know."

"The reason why is that she is Hermione, and we can't change that," said Ron. "Right, if anyone wants me, I'm in the shower."

Ron strolled out the dormitory with a towel and a few other things, leaving the others bewildered.

"I've never seen him so happy."

"Absolutely giddy."

"Whistling and actually taking a shower even though he took one yesterday. He normally takes one every two days, unless it's Quidditch practice."

~*§*~

"Hermione, you're nervous, don't be," said Ginny, helping Hermione calm down her thick hair with Sleekeazy's.

"I have a reason to be. He is romantic, so nice, and luckily and hopefully it's not a joke."

"Sorry to bother you," began Lavender. "But have either of you see my hoop earrings?"

"They were last on the small table there," said Hermione, pointing to a corner.

"Ah.thanks Hermione," said Lavender. "I hope your date goes well."

"Thanks," said Hermione.

"What time do you have to be down there?" asked Ginny. "It didn't really have a time, did it?"

"I'll be down at 7," said Hermione. "That should be okay, I think."

"I need to go see Neville about a time, and ask Ron more about this girl of his. She sounds dead nice and smart. I'll be back in about five minutes."

"I should be okay on my own now, so you can spend as much time as you like," called Hermione, just before Ginny could shut the door.

Hermione pulled on her periwinkle blue dress robes and twirled around so she can see herself in the mirror. Perfect. She pulled half her hair up into a bun, with the other half hanging down. No, every bit of hair into a bun, thought Hermione. She pulled a few strands down at the front, and she was satisfied. She secured it with a few hairpins.

She squirted some perfume Ron had given her two years before, which was a sweet smell of May dew and lavender. A good smell. She added some natural make up, which comprised off a lip balm followed by a lipstick, and an eye shadow with not much powder. She opened a box in which her mother's mother of pearl necklace laid, which was extremely old and handed down from daughter to daughter to daughter. She smiled and put it on carefully, and slipped on her black shoes.

Ginny opened the door. "Hermione.you look amazing, and I cannot deny that."

Hermione smiled and turned to Ginny. "Thanks."

"Harry has a date now," said Ginny. "It seems that Cho Chang got a bit desperate, as she was shouting at everyone around her and losing friends fast.I can't blame her, she lost her father.and Harry was basically the only one who understood her, and seemed the only friend to her. So, he asked her. You know about her work in Hogsmeade.she stopped here today just to see Harry, you know. She knew nothing about the ball at all."

"He has given up on her though," said Hermione.

"Yes, but has she given up on him?" added Ginny.

"I never thought of that," muttered Hermione, putting some clear crystal earrings on. "Oh my - it's almost 7!"

"Go then," said Ginny.

Hermione rushed downstairs.

"Won't she be happy to see her date," thought Ginny. "Her date is so lucky. She is so lucky, the guy is going to give her a rose and all."

Hermione found her jacket downstairs, and looked up to a puzzled Harry.

"Wow, never seen you that good before, better than this morning," said Harry. He gave a smile. "So, how many hours did it take you to do that? Three like the Yule Ball, or is it more this time?"

"Shut up Harry," said Hermione, with a smile. "Thank you for the compliments. I have to go, my date - "

"Is waiting and very lucky," said Harry. "I think I can guess who it is actually."

"Really? Anyways, where's Ron?"

"He had to go early for his date. Apparently she pestered him to come early, so he did.he was happy doing it for her. Unlucky he had to go though. She sounds like hard to get or something, that he can't let go of it and so he had to go early to keep it going."

"Look, I have to go, okay? Good luck with Cho!"

"Hey!" Hermione paused at the portrait. "Who told you about Cho?"

Hermione smiled and went through the portrait hole, and out of sight.

Breathing fast, she straightened herself up before going past Hagrid's hut. The willow was such a beautiful tree normally: the leaves draping over like a huge wig, and was green throughout the summer. A beautiful green it was. It was sad in the winter when the curve of the branches had no leaves. It was stripped from its beauty.

But tonight, there was some sort of glowing inside. Well, thought Hermione, in order to see him I need some light, so maybe he lit some candles.

She found an opening, heart beating fast, to find who this person within was.

"You're late," he said, Hermione gasping at who it was.