"Good evening class" said a mysterious voice as Harry and Ron entered the disgustingly perfumed room and sat down at their usual seats. "Today we will learn about Ouji boards" Professor Trewlany said, gazing down at them. "Muggles use these for every day pleasure, not knowing how to truly use one." She said with a deep, hissful laugh. "Now, step up to the board in front of you and hold on your wand." The boards were made of red wood and had letters and numbers indented into it. In the center of it, there was a little piece of black glass. " Think of a question that you would really like to know the answer of and focus on it. Then, tap the glass in the center of the board with your wand, three times, and it will give you the answer." Professor Trewlany hesitated, and then flashed her eyes over at Seamus Finnigan. "And deary, this does not work for homework answers" She said smiling weakly at him. Seamus looked a little disappointed.

Harry stepped up to the board and just thought of a question: "Will there be another ball this year?" He knew it was a stupid question, but it was a question that he needed to know the answer of. He tapped the glass three times. Harry jumped back as the piece of glass started to spin rapidly in the center of the board. It abruptly shot over to a word that said; YES. Before Harry had time to react, Professor Trewlany slid over to Harry.

"Oh, dear boy, if I am not mistaken, did you ask if he-who-must-not-be- named would come back for you" Professor Trewlany said in a rather annoying sympathetic voice.

"Actually" Harry tried to say before he was interrupted again.

"I know how you must feel dear boy"

"Actually, I just asked if there was going to be another ball this year" Harry said, rather embarrassed now that he asked that. Professor Trewlany sulked away, but he heard Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown giggle.

Ron groaned. He didn't want to ask a girl to the ball, not after what happened last year. But then he thought of something that would be different about this year and smiled brightly. He stepped forward to the board and tapped the glass three times with his wand. The glass didn't hesitate and spin. It just shot over to the word: YES. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"As most of you already know, due to a certain...someone" Professor McGonagall said in Transfiguration class as she lowered her glasses to glare at Harry. "There will be a ball this Halloween. Rules are the same as last year. Only fourth years and older are allowed to attend unless they are asked to go with an older student This year, the top two students from years five, six, and seven will open the ball with their dates. Since the school year has just begun, we will determine the top students from your grades from last year and the beginning of this year. Top students will be posted tomorrow." Professor McGonagall said.

Harry saw Ron gaze over at Hermione with eyes that looked like he was trying to say "Where's your Vicky now?" Hermione comprehended what he wanted to say and glared over at him. After class, they made their way back to the common room.

"So 'Arry, are you going to ask Cho Chang like last year?" Ron said, smirking at him.

"Are you going to ask Fleur like last year?" Harry snobbishly responded, trying to make Ron feel as embarrassed as possible. Ron's ears turned red.

"Ugh...that's gross, she's practically a teacher, that's disgusting" Ron said, trying to make it as convincing as possible. He looked over at Hermione for a reaction, but she had fallen asleep on a couch by the fireplace. Harry laughed and then yawned.

"Well...I'm tired, G'night" Harry said walking up the steps to the boys' dorm. Ron yawned too but instead of going upstairs he sat in the chair next to Hermione. He watched everyone scurry up to his or her room. The room was dark now except for the fire that was illuminating them. The common room was empty except for Ron and Hermione. Ron sighed and found a large cotton blanket and draped it over the sleeping Hermione. Without hesitation or thought, Ron bent over and kissed Hermione gently on the lips. He didn't realize what he did for awhile, but then it struck him like lightning and he began to panic. He didn't check if Hermione had awakened but he didn't hang around to find out. He ran quickly upstairs and jumped into his four poster bed. He lay in his bed panting. He thought, "How could I have done that? Hermione's my friend" He laid there horrified until he slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning at breakfast, Harry and Hermione could tell there was something wrong with Ron since he wasn't eating anything. "Ron is something the matter? You haven't touched your food" Hermione said in a concerned voice; not knowing what Ron had done the night before.

"Oh...err...nothing Mione, just thinking" Ron stuttered as he tapped a slice of bread on the table.

"I know what you mean...I've been trying to learn as much as I can, so I can get top student, it's nice to see that you're trying." Before Harry and Ron could snicker at her for actually thinking that Ron wanted to top student, a swarm of owls zoomed across the Great Hall. A snowy white owl landed on the table right in front of Harry and dropped a parchment of paper in Harry's lap and hooted with pleasure. Hermione stroked the owl's feather.

"Hello Hedwig" Harry said, feeding Hedwig a piece of bread. Harry picked up the parchment of paper. "It's from Snuffles" Harry said, trying to hold his laughter, not entirely used to calling Sirius, Snuffles. Harry read the note out loud so that only Ron and Hermione could hear.

Dear Harry,

There's some important matter I need to speak with you about. Meet me at the Shrieking Shack on October 21st. You know the way to get there. Say hi to Ron and Hermione for me. Snuffles

"That's when the first Hogsmeade trip is" Ron said, looking at the letter. Before Harry could respond, a pale blonde boy trudged up to them with his tubby minions at his side.

"Trying to get top student Mudblood?" He said to Hermione. "I think you actually have to be smart to be acknowledged" He sneered.

"Something you wouldn't know about, Malfoy" Ron said standing up and measuring up to Draco at least a foot taller than him. Malfoy didn't care.

"Sticking up for your little girlfriend Weasel?" Malfoy hissed as Ron's ears turned bright red.

"Hello Professor Moody" Harry said to Professor Moody as he walked past them. Even though Malfoy knew that the real Moody didn't turn him into a bouncing ferret the past year, he was still terrified with Moody. Even though Moody wasn't the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher anymore, he still wandered the halls of Hogwarts with his wooden leg and mysterious, magical eye, looking for any mischief. Draco looked at Moody with a terrified face and sluggishly walked away with Crabbe and Goyle behind him. Ron looked over at Hermione and gave her a comforting smile.

"Don't worry Hermione, you're the smartest person I know, you'll get in" Ron grinned, his cheeks turning slightly red.

"Thanks Ron, but he's right. I have to go to the library." Hermione said as she stood up and slowly walked out of the Great Hall. Ron sighed, he knew he wanted to follow her, but he also didn't want to make a fool of himself. Before Ron could react, a girl with long, sharp red hair walked into the Great Hall and over to them.

"Hi Ron, Hi Harry" Ginny Weasley said as she sat down next to her brother. Harry had to do a double take. He looked over a Ginny, or at least she looked sort of like Ginny. She was much taller and pretty then the little girl Ginny that had fawned over Harry every time she saw him. "Hi Ginny" Ron said first. Ron looked up at Harry who was gazing at Ginny and bumped him.

"Earth to Harry" Ron laughed, not knowing he was staring at Ginny. Harry snapped out of it.

"Hello Ginny" Harry suddenly said.

"Where did Hermione go? I saw her walk out of the Great Hall, I assumed you two were going to follow her, because she kept looking back" Ginny said, as she grabbed for a goblet of juice and gulped it down.

"She said she had to go to the library" Ron said, watching his sister gulp down the food in front of her, faster then he could. "Err...I...I have to go to the library also" Ron said, abruptly standing up and walking out.

Ron walked up to the library; he needed to speak to her. He got to the library and did the same thing he did when he was looking for her in the common room and slyly slid around a corner. Hermione was there all right, but she wasn't alone. She was talking to a tall guy with short, brown hair. She was smiling at him as he spoke.

"So I was wondering... if you didn't have a date for the Halloween Ball, I was wondering if you would like to go with me" the guy said bravely.

"Uh...all right...that would be lovely" Hermione said in a giggly manor that probably couldn't be recognized. The guy smiled and walked away. Ron looked down at the ground and turned around and walked away. He sighed and started to walk up to the common room, but then he remembered that Myrtle told him to go to the Grey Lady. There was just one problem, he didn't know where she was. He wandered around the school, looking for any ghost that might be able to help him find her.

"Hello Ron" Nearly Headless Nick said as he floated over to Ron.

"Hello Sir Nicholas...err...do you know where the Grey Lady might be" Ron asked, going slightly red that he was actually looking for her.

"Well, about this time of day, she usually spends her time up in the Astronomy Tower" Nick said as he pushed he head back on his neck as it almost fell.

"Thanks Nick" Ron said running off to the Astronomy tower.

"Always happy to help a fellow Gryffindor out" Nick said as he floated away in the other direction. Ron ran up the Astronomy steps. He peaked around the corner and saw a pretty ghost sitting at the windowsill. She had long silver hair that had flowers and a long white gown that made her look like she had just arrived back from a wedding

"Can I help you?" The Grey Lady said sweetly to Ron as he walked toward her.

"I was err... wondering if you could help me with a problem that I.... My friend is having with the person they like" Ron stuttered as the Grey Lady smiled.

"I may be able too...what is the problem?" The Grey Lady asked as she rested her pale hands on her lap.

"Well...my friend fancies someone and really wants to tell them...but they're afraid that if they tell them...that the person they fancy will end up hating them...or something like that." Ron sputtered.

The Grey Lady grinned at him "I'm sorry to say, but I cannot say anything that can help them conquer their fear of hatred. All I can say is for..." She paused and winked at him "Your friend, is just for them to follow their heart, they'll know when the right time is for them to express their feelings" She grinned at him mischievously, as though she knew something that he didn't.

"Thanks...uh..." Ron began, but stopped, for he didn't know what to call her. He knew that the ghosts of the schools didn't like to be called by their house nicknames.

"Call me Lara" the Grey Lady said to him.

"Thanks Lara" Ron nodded as he walked down the Astronomy Tower steps.

"The top students have been posted" Harry said to Ron as Harry ran up to him as he walked away from the Astronomy Tower steps. Harry and Ron ran over to where a bustling crowd had gathered. Ron looked up at the list:

7th- Angelina Johnson Gregory McCain 6th- Lila Thomas Damon Christopher 5th- Hermione Granger Draco Malfoy

Ron and Harry looked rather pleased with Hermione, but rather disgusted with Draco. "How did that stupid git get ((*laughs* I'm sorry, I just think that sounded really funny)) to be a top student," Ron scowled?

"At least now you have a reason to ask Hermione to the ball without getting all red in the face and emotional" Harry laughed.

"Yeah right, like I would want to go to the ball with her" Ron scoffed, trying to make it sound as convincing as possible. "Anyway she already has a date" he said, pretending to smile to secrete his depressed face.

"Really? Who is it...wait a second. How do you know, and I don't," Harry glared at him suspiciously.

"I sort of overheard her" Ron said looking away from Harry so he couldn't see his ashamed yet rather disappointed. Harry grinned yet went back to a concerned face for his friend.

"Did you hear the news?" Hermione said, running up to them, smiling from ear to ear. "I just can't believe it."

"We're happy for you Hermione" Ron said, giving her a weak smile.

"Thanks. So, have either of you gotten dates for the ball yet?" She asked as she eyed Ron.

"Not yet, but I'm planning on asking someone tonight" Harry mumbled, going slightly red in the face.

"And I'm not going" Ron said, crossly turning to walk away. Hermione pulled him back.

"Why not?"

"I suddenly don't feel like going" he mumbled back to her as he turned back around and walked away.

Hermione looked at him oddly as he strolled away. She shook her head, as though she suddenly shook out of a trance. "Harry, have you seen a little red book anywhere?" Hermione asked biting her lip.

"A small leather one with a gold border?" Harry questioned. She nodded hopefully. "Yeah, I think Ron has it" He said. Panic swarmed in Hermione's mind.

"Ron has it!" She yelled. "Oh no" she said as her jaw dropped. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ron sat in the common room with a heartbroken look on his face. He took out a quill and began writing on a parchment of paper. "Ron!" Hermione screamed as she ran into the room. Ron quickly hid the piece of paper behind his back.

"Yes Mione" he said, trying to look as cheerful as possible.

"Where is my journal?"

"I don't know what you mean" he replied, trying to look innocent.

"You know exactly what I mean."

"Oh, you mean that little red book filled with crap about Vicky and your new little boyfriend" he scowled. Hermione looked offended. She took one sorrowful look at Ron and ran out of the common room crying. She didn't know where to go, but she didn't want to be anywhere near Ron. She decided to just keep walking around the school, until she found an interesting staircase. It was the staircase that led up to the Astronomy tower. She knew ((Or thought)) Ron wouldn't look up there. She hastily scurried up to the Astronomy Tower. Hermione brushed the tears from her eyes.

"Can I help you?" A voice asked Hermione. Hermione turned toward the voice. It was the Grey Lady.

"Oh...I'm sorry, I didn't know anyone was up here" Hermione mumbled as she wiped away her tears again. The Grey Lady, or better known as Lara, looked at Hermione with curiosity.

"What is the matter?"

"Oh it's nothing...it's just a guy. He gets so ignorant sometimes. It's like he'll never see me as more than just a person who is here to fix his mistakes. I feel so lost." Hermione murmured inaudibly. Lara nodded.

"There's nothing I can say except what I told the young red-haired boy this morning..." Lara said, before she was interrupted.

"Red-haired boy?" Hermione said confused.

"Yes... a young boy about your age with red hair and freckles."

"What did he want?"

"Oh, he had some troubles with his friend" she smiled. "Now as I was saying... just follow your heart, you'll know what to do." She said, giving Hermione that same smile that she had given to Ron, as if she knew something that she didn't. "Well, the sun it setting, so I must go. Come back tomorrow if you need anymore help" Lara said, gliding down the staircase.

Hermione sat on the ground near the window and looked out at the sunset. She jumped when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. "Lara...I need more advice...with my friend again" a boy said as he slowly walked up the steps. The next thing Hermione saw was Ron walking toward the other side of the room, not noticing Hermione.

"She left" Hermione mumbled, realizing that Lara must have been the Grey Lady's name. Ron spun around with a horrified look upon his face as he started to blush furiously. "Come to talk about me some more?" She said, her eyes about to burst into tears again.

"You...you know?" Ron said in terror, as though he was about to be choked to death.

"I'm quite sorry if you think of me as a nuisance, but you didn't have to go running to the Grey Lady about how much I am a bothersome to you" Hermione faltered as she looked away from Ron.

"Bothersome?" Ron said looking confused. He sat down next to her and looked at her awkwardly. "I never told her you were a nuisance, I told her that I..." Ron gulped as his face began to heat up. "Hermione...there's something I need to tell you" He said, looking rather embarrassed. She turned toward him, now paying attention to his every word. He sighed, changing his mind about what he was about to say. His heart was telling him to just blurt it out and tell her how he truly felt...but his mind was telling him to stop and wait. "Hermione, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry" He muttered. She looked at him oddly, as he became smitten with looking into her eyes. He slowly leaned his head forward to hers. He closed his eyes as he got closer.

"Are you up there Ron?" Said a voice coming from the bottom of the Astronomy Tower steps. Harry slowly walked up the steps as Ron abruptly pulled his head away from Hermione.

"Yeah Harry, I found Hermione" Ron choked back, his face going redder than ever. Harry walked towards them, panting from the long way up from the steps.

"Guess who got a date for the ball?" Harry said grinning.

"Neville" Ron said, waiting for Harry's comeback.

"How the bloody hell should I know" Harry said, glaring at Ron.

"I give up" Ron said shrugging, finding amusement in Harry's turmoil.

"I did you slug. I asked Cho Chang and she said yes" Harry said beaming.

"Well that's great Harry" Hermione said smiling, as she glanced over at Ron.

"Yeah, well-done" Ron said. He suddenly realized that he was sitting on the floor, with Hermione at his side. He jumped up and brushed himself off. Harry smiled and turned around and started to walk down the steps. Ron looked back at Hermione and held out his hand to help her up. She took a hold of his hand and pulled herself up.

"I'm sorry too" she said looking deeply at him. He smiled and let go of her hand as they walked down the steps.

~*~*~*~Harry's Flashback~*~*~*~

Harry slowly stumbled through the library, looking for a book that had anything to do with a wiggenweld potion for Professor Snape's long homework assignment about the uses of it. He darted his eyes around each bookshelf when he saw a familiar face sitting at one of the tables. It was Cho Chang. It was probably the first time Harry had ever seen Cho alone that wasn't at a Quidditch match. He started to panic. He knew that he told Hermione that he would ask her that night, but why did tonight have to be that night. He breathed in deeply as though attempting something that he would never do. He remembered what happened the year before and began to panic again. He changed his mind and turned around and began to walk away. "No..." He thought. "Nothing is standing in my way" he turned back around to see her smiling at him.

"Why are you walking back and forth?" She asked him in a laughing tone.

"I...err... would you...yu...wou..." He stuttered, suddenly feeling dizzy. She looked at him curiously.

"Are you all right Harry?" She muttered as he swayed back and forth as though he was about to faint.

"What the bloody hell am I doing" Harry thought. He finally got the courage and stopped swaying. "Cho, would you like to go to the Halloween Ball with me?" He gasped out. She turned a light shade of pink.

"All right Harry" She smiled brightly. Harry beamed with delight. He felt the sudden urge to jump up and down, but stopped himself from making a total buffoon of himself. He nodded and slowly turned around and walked out of the library. Completely forgetting why he was there in the first place. After he had left the library, he ran up to the common room to find Ron. But he wasn't there. He remembered seeing Ron near the Astronomy Tower that morning so he decided to go check. He quickly ran up to the Astronomy tower where he saw Ron and Hermione close together as though about to smash heads. *~*~*~END OF FLASHBACK~*~*~*

Authors Notes- There will be a few flashbacks in this story, only because Harry, Ron, and Hermione can't be around together all the time, so instead of having the scenes change constantly I'll just put flashbacks. Since their is no cliffhanger for this chapter, here's a preview for next chapter- "He ran away" Ginny said, rather astounded that he was such a moron. Ron coughed, although Harry could tell that he was trying to cover up a burst of laughter. Hermione looked sad as she slid into a chair. "So now neither of you have dates?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows. They both nodded miserably as Harry glanced over at Ron. "But top students have to have dates" Ron gulped as though he knew what he had to do. Hermione nodded as she slumped back into her seat. Ron gulped again as he looked over at Harry who nodded. "Err... Hermione" Ron began...........
Thank you all of my reviewers-

Anonymous reviewers-

Roxanne ron_weasley_luva: Yes, they are in their 5th year.

signed-

beyond infinity EJ Hermione Weasley