Disclaimer: None of the characters that you recognize belong to be. They belong to Ms. J K Rowlings and not me
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone that read and/or reviewed! I'm really having fun writing this and all comments are great motivators!
Chapter 19
"Right, left, right and turn!"
Hermione tried as best as she could to make her body move as fluidly as Professor Starr's as they learned how to salsa. It was Hermione's first official day back in class and as of now she almost wished she was back in the Infirmary with Madam Pompfey checking on her every two seconds. Her hands were loosely clasped around Malfoy's as Professor Starr apparently didn't have a big enough heart to switch her partner. On the plus side, Harry had informed her that Malfoy had to dance with the Professor herself for the few days she had been absent.
"Ok! Good job, class. That's enough for today. Let me tell you the schedule of events," Professor Starr said, beckoning everyone to gather around. "We'll have a few more days of instruction and then you will be grouped together to perform a two-minute dance that you must choreograph to your choice of song. You've already been given the song list and yes, it must be a Muggle song and only Muggle dance moves."
Parvati raised her hand. "Yes, Ms. Patil?" Professor Starr questioned.
"Will we be able to chose our groups?" she asked hopefully.
"That remains to be determined. If I see everyone working hard and working together, then yes." Hermione couldn't help notice that Professor Starr's cool green eyes zeroed in on her and Malfoy at the 'working together' part.
"But as of now, you are dismissed."
Hermione turned and her heart suddenly began beating at least two hundred times its normal pace. Standing not even four feet away was Ron. She was so confused about the kiss in the Infirmary and longed to speak with him about it but he seemed to be avoiding her for some reason. Embarrassment, shock, disgust, all ran through Hermione's bright little mind as to why Ron didn't even want to be in the same room with her. Maybe she had kissed him wrong. Maybe it was like kissing Ginny or –gasp- his mother. Were they too comfortable around each other that it was too strange for him?
Hermione had resolved to give him as much space and time as he needed and decided to pretend nothing had happened so he could work out his feelings. She just prayed he'd decide soon because she couldn't stand this cloud of confusion in her mind.
Hermione smiled and walked over to Ron and Harry who were scanning the room for her.
"Hi, guys," she said, announcing her arrival.
"Hermione! Hi!" Ron said, the tips of his ears growing a warm pink color.
"How was your salsa with Malfoy?" Harry asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "He is so self-confident. Everything he does is so.. so.. effortless. I don't know how he does it."
"He's Malfoy," Ron said, as if that explained everything, which strangely enough, it did.
"Hermione! Hermione!" Hermione turned as she saw Lavender and Parvati running towards her, giggles spilling freely from their perfectly lined plum lips. "We need to talk to you." With that, they dragged Hermione by the arm to a secluded corner.
"Okay," Hermione said, a bit confused. Lavender and Parvati were never that happy to see her unless…
"I am not going to ask Malfoy if he would ever go out with you," she stated plainly. Ever since Malfoy and Hermione had been paired, the two girls had been obsessed with her finding out who he would date. They thought he was so hot, in that brooding, blonde, Slytherin sort of way.
"No, no, not that," Parvarti amended. "We want to know what is going on with you and a Mr. Ron Wealsey," she said with a giggle.
"Nothing," Hermione said a little too quickly.
Lavender laughed. "Oh, Hermione you are so transparent. We can see right through you. Those little glances at him in every class. Don't think we don't notice."
Hermione shrugged and all of a sudden became fascinated with the wooden tiles that made up the floor.
"And what more," Lavender continued, "he looks at you ten times as much as you look at him, with this dreamlike expression on his face."
Hermione's head shot up. "What?"
"Yes," Parvati agreed. "Something must have happened. Something big and we are going to find out what."
"I don't know what you're talking about, but whatever it is, it will have to wait. We're leaving," Hermione said trying to leave the scene as quick as possible.
"We will resume this conversation. We're your girlfriends. We're supposed to share secrets," Lavender explained. Hermione nodded but inwardly thought otherwise. Right, I tell you, you tell Padma, who tells Hannah and I'd guess the entire school would know by nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
Hermione quickly ducked away and went to find Harry and Ron.
* * * * *
"Students! I have an announcement!"
All conversation stopped in the Great Hall and Headmaster Dumbledore called everyone to attention.
"I am pleased to inform you that that we have decided to host a Christmas Ball this year." The entire Great Hall started to buzz with excitement of the prospect of another ball and Dumbledore waited until they quieted down to continue.
"I am aware that it is a bit early to announce it, as it will not be for about another month, but I'm sure you ladies will want all the time possible to decide what lucky wizard you'll allow to take you," Dumbledore said with that twinkle in his eye. "That's all. Enjoy your food!"
Hermione turned back around to face Ron and Harry. "I wonder why we're having another ball," she questioned.
Lavender, who had apparently overheard her, decided it was her duty to respond. "Oh, Hermione, balls are wonderful! Just think: You can get all dressed up, bring the man of your dreams, and," by this point, Lavender and Parvati had been overcome by giggles are they looked from Hermione to Ron and back again, so whatever the 'and' was going to be, was too incoherent to make out.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry shared a 'look' as they gazed at the still hysterically laughing pair of girls. They shrugged it off and resumed eating the feast in front of them, animatedly conversing.
* * * * *
Hermione yawned as she stretched her slender milky arms up to the heavens. She was down in the Common Room finishing up her Transfiguration Essay that wasn't due for another three weeks and seemed to have dozed off for a few minutes. She blinked as her eyes focused on her wristwatch and she saw that it was one a.m. already. She started packing up her books when she heard a creak.
"Hermione! What are you doing here at this hour?"
Hermione jumped and whirled around and saw Ron standing before her, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"You scared me!" Hermione whispered, her heart starting to go back to its normal tempo. "I fell asleep, I was about to go upstairs," she explained.
"Oh. Okay."
"Okay."
There was an awkward silence as both of them just stood there, this being the first time truly alone since their kiss.
"Doyouwanttogototheball?" Ron asked very rapidly.
"What?" Hermione asked, her forehead scrunching up as she tried to decipher his words.
Ron took a deep breath. "I said, do you want to go to the ball? With me, I mean."
Hermione stood, shell-shocked for a few moments before breaking out in a smile. "I'd love to," she said softly.
"Really?" Ron asked, a huge grin growing on his face.
"Yep." Hermione said happily.
"Good. Great! Well. I guess I'll go back upstairs now," Ron said slowly.
"All right. I'll be going up in a minute. Good night," Hermione responded and watched as he retreated back to his room.
Hermione felt as if her whole life was finally coming together. Everything was as it should be.
~
A/N – I can't apologize enough for the length of time between chapters. I hope you all can understand that I just don't have as much time as I need. There aren't enough hours in the day sometimes to accomplish everything I need to. I will try really hard to get the next chapter up quicker. I'm going to try to move the speed of the fic up a little so we might skip a couple weeks here and there but we will get to the end! Thanks for sticking with me! :)
Chapter 20: Groups are decided and they perform their dances!!!
Tentative Schedule- (This will probably end up being completely incorrect but its an outline at least)
Chapter 21: The Christmas Ball
Chapter 22: Acting Begins
Chapter 23: Yet more acting
Chapter 24: Parts for the play
Chapter 25: Rehearsal
Chapter 26-27: The actual play
Chapter 28: The aftermath of it all
Don't worry, the R/Hr romance will be developing in every chapter!