Disclaimer: Blah blah…I don't own Harry Potter and all that stuff. ^^ Please don't sue. I just spent all of my money on very nice NeoPiko markers! . ;;

Authors Note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I don't know if FF.net was down for everyone the last three days…but it was for me…. ;;; Well, thanks again, everyone! ^^ ::hug:: Oh, yea…I'm sorry that Ron was so anal in the last chapter (for everyone who likes him). He doesn't want to lose Hermione now that he's so close to actually being with her…especially to Malfoy. Aheh…-_-;;

            Malfoy sighed as he leaned against the closed door of the hospital wing. I can't believe I just…what if father found out? I'll be disowned! A thousand other questions were running through his head as he quickly made his way to the Grand Hall.

            Hermione felt as if her heart was lodged in her throat. "Ron—,"

            Ron took Hermione's hand in his own, "Hermione…please don't tell me that these rumors are true…" He looked heartbroken, "Please tell me that it isn't true, Hermione…"

            Hermione took a deep breath, "Ron…I…I don't know what's going on…" Please stop looking at me like that, Ron…She thought as she stared at his face.

            He looked down for a moment and started to breath heavily, "Hermione…if…if you want to go to the ball…with Malfoy…I—,"

            Hermione leapt forward and flung her arms around Ron's neck. She felt tears slowly run down her cheeks, "R-Ron do you really think I want to feel like this!? I d-don't want to feel t-this way!!"

            Ron's eyes widened. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, rubbing her back comfortingly. "Hermione…it's all right…" He paused and pulled away from her, pulling out a tissue and handing it to her.

            She took it and wiped her eyes. After a moment of silence, she looked up at the red head in front of her, "I still want to go with you, Ron…"

            Ron blinked. "Y…you do?"

            Hermione nodded and smiled at him. "If you still want to go with me."

            Ron nodded and grinned widely, "Of course!" He looked around as if he were contemplating on whether or not to do something. He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be back later today, Hermione,"

            The brunette smiled and nodded. "Bye, Ron." She watched him practically skip out of the room and sighed.

            The next day, Hermione was finally able to leave the hospital wing. She ran as fast as she could to the Gryffindor Common Room, because the school was going to Hogsmeade (AN: Is THAT what it's called? I can't remember…) today. She caught up with Ron and Harry. "Harry! Ron!" She yelled as she stopped behind them.

            Harry turned around and smiled. "Hermione! You're finally out of the hospital!" He smiled.

            Ron swung around and grinned. "Are you feeling better?" He asked.

            Hermione nodded. "You know…I'm going to need to get a dress for the ball today…so I won't be able to be around you guys at all times." She said quickly.

            Ron nodded.

            When they arrived at Hogsmeade, Hermione looked around for Lavender. Spotting her, she yelled. "Lavender! Wait up!" She ran over.

            Lavender giggled. "Hermione! Feeling better?"

            Hermione nodded. "I need to get a dress for the ball."

            Lavender squealed, "Yay! I need one too! I'm going with Colin…"

            Hermione smiled. "How nice…!" She remembered how, in second year, Colin was always chasing Harry around with a camera. She smiled at the thought of how young they were then.

            Lavender grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her into a clothing shop. "I always come here for dresses…they're so beautiful!"

            Hermione looked around for a moment, then her eyes stopped on a dress. "Oh, Lavender! Look at this one!" She yelled.

            Lavender followed her over to the dress rack and smiled widely, "Oh, Hermione! That dress is so wonderful!" She yelled.

            Hermione grabbed it and ran for the dressing rooms. She quickly tried it on and walked out of the stall. "What do you think?"

            Lavender just gaped. "Hermione! That dress is perfect!" She yelled.

            The said dress was a white spaghetti strap, with silver glitter in clumps resembling stars (AN: It may not sound that pretty, but I saw one just like it at JC Penny…in other words, it's my future homecoming dress ^^ I just can't describe it very well). The back was open and there were two white straps going across it. It flowed to Hermione's ankles.

            Hermione giggled. "You like it?"

            Lavender grinned and nodded. "Of course!"

            And with that, the dress was bought and paid for.

            Lavender and Hermione were walking around Hogsmeade when Lavender spoke up. "Hermione…those rumors about you and Malfoy aren't true, are they?"

            Hermione made up something. "Of course not, because if they were, I'd be going to the dance with him, now wouldn't I?"

            Lavender smiled. "I suppose."

            Hermione wouldn't let Harry and Ron see her dress when they walked over. She smiled, "Sorry, guys! You won't see it until I'm wearing it!"

            Harry laughed. "Okay, Hermione."

            Two days later, Hermione was packing up to leave her Potions class when Malfoy walked up to her, "Hermione…I have to talk to you."

            Hermione blinked and nodded, following him out of the room, "I'm sorry about Ron," she said as they stopped right outside the door.

            Malfoy shook his head and turned around to face her, "It's all right. Um…about Saturday…"

            This really got Hermione's attention. "What about it?" She asked.

            Malfoy cleared his throat. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell people about that…kiss…" he said quickly.

            Hermione frowned. "Um…okay."

            Malfoy caught himself. "It's not…you…it's just…if my father found out…I might as well be dead."

            Hermione nodded. "Right," She started to walk away from him. "See you at lunch…maybe…"

            Hermione tried her best to avoid him for the next week. She didn't want to fall in love with him. How could I fall in love with him…this is just a crush…but… She looked at him from across the room. There's so much more to him than he lets on…

            Malfoy sighed as Pansy clung to him. "I'm so glad you're going with me, Drakey!" She yelled, giggling.

            "Yea, whatever." He said simply, trying to shake her off of him. Why did I say yes…? Why did that Weasel have to ask Hermione?! He growled and punched the table, drawing attention from the rest of the Slytherins. He glared around at them. "Oh, turn around!" They quickly did so.

            Hermione looked over at Ron as he was shoving food into his mouth. She giggled.

            Malfoy watched Hermione smile as she stared at Ron. He felt extreme jealously course through him. "Hermione…" He mumbled.

            Pansy blinked, "What was that, Drakey?" She asked.

            Malfoy sighed and pushed his plate away from him, "Nothing, nothing…" Oh, shut up you huge pig…He forced a smile in Pansy's direction. She giggled.

This chapter was as long as the other ones…I'm sorry they're so short! I can't seem to write any longer than this! ;;; I want to…well, please review! Thanks! Mwah!