Right – just a quick explanation of what's going on here. Basically, it's a rewrite of the events surrounding the infamous Yule Ball, retold from either Ron or Hermione's perspective. Anything written in italic like this has been taken from 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' and is the work of J K Rowling. Originally the quotes were surrounded by asterisks, but the QuickEdit on ff.net won't display them. Sorry if the italics are annoying! Most of the plot is also her work, just rewritten from a different perspective, but other bits are mine.
Some of the story will be told from both Ron and Hermione's point of view, so two chapters will cover portions of the same dialogue, but there will be different plot surrounding them. However, the first chapter is just Hermione, because I thought they worked better like that!
So, I hope you enjoy the story. If you do, please review! And, if anyone actually knows J K Rowling, please tell her to get a move on and get Ron and Hermione together in book six!
WAITING FOR A DATE – Hermione.
The last week of term had arrived quickly, accompanied with growing talk about the Yule Ball. Hermione felt she had probably endured more of it than the entire population of Hogwarts put together, with Lavender and Parvati for roommates. If they weren't discussing hair or robes, then it was which boys they would like to go with (Lavender, apparently, had quite a thing for Seamus). Although Hermione was looking forward to the ball – she had never been to one before, after all – she couldn't understand what all the fuss about partners was about really. People got themselves worked up and overexcited about it, which she didn't think was necessary. Not that any of the boys would be queuing to ask her to go with them...
Hermione, Ron and Harry were all sitting in the Gryffindor common room by the fire. Hermione was poring over her potions notes – Snape had informed them earlier in the day that he had scheduled a test on poison antidotes for the last day of term. Secretly, Hermione was quite pleased at this choice of topic – she had borrowed a book on antidotes from the library a few days ago, and so already had a lot of extra knowledge on the subject. Still, she felt it was important to read her notes from the lecture thoroughly, as Snape could have mentioned extra information that might not be included in the book. And in any case, Snape was just waiting for Hermione to get anything less than top marks in one of his tests, so it was extra important to do well.
'Evil, he is,' Ron said bitterly... 'Springing a test on us on the last day. Ruining the last bit of term with a whole load of revision.'
Hermione looked at him over her notes. He was building a house of cards using his exploding snap pack. Hermione supposed that he hadn't even looked at his potions notes, never mind read them. Although she had to agree, three days didn't really give enough time to prepare fully for a test!
'Mmm ... you're not exactly straining yourself, though, are you?'
'It's Christmas, Hermione' said Harry, from the armchair close to the fire. Hermione looked over at him, he was reading 'Flying with the Chudley Cannons' – the only book Hermione had ever seen him read cover to cover more than once. It didn't surprise Hermione that neither Harry nor Ron wanted to do any revision, especially as it was for potions. But Harry could at least be trying to work out the clue behind the egg he had been given for the next challenge, knowing him, he would do nothing about it over the Christmas holidays.
'I'd have thought you would be doing something constructive, Harry, even if you don't want to learn your antidotes!'
'Like what?' asked Harry, not taking his eyes from his book
Hermione refrained from the urge to roll her eyes.
'That egg!' she hissed, not wanting the other Gryffindors in the vicinity to overhear. 'Come on, Hermione, I've got 'til February the twenty fourth,' Harry replied, with a slightly irritated tone to his voice.
'But it might take weeks to work it out! You're going to look a real idiot if everyone else knows what the next task is and you don't!' Hermione knew that Harry wasn't always over-keen to put extra effort into his schoolwork (though she couldn't quite understand that herself), but she thought that the tournament might have at least been something he was prepared to work hard for.
'Leave him alone, Hermione, he's earned a bit of a break,' Ron was placing the last two cards on the top of the tower as he said that. Hermione supposed perhaps Ron was right, that after facing a dragon, Harry did deserve a bit of a break. But it didn't stop her from feeling offended that Ron, once again, was disagreeing with her when she was only trying to help.
A large bang made Hermione jump – Ron's entire pack of cards had exploded, producing a cloud of smoke, and Hermione noticed, singeing his eyebrows in the process.
'Nice look, Ron... go well with your dress robes, that will.' Hermione was slightly startled by the voice, and looked round to see the twins standing behind her chair. She wasn't sure which one had spoken – although she was quite good at telling Fred and George apart if she was looking at them, their voices were completely identical.
'Ron, can we borrow Pigwidgeon?' George asked.
'No, he's off delivering a letter,' said Ron. 'Why?'
'Because George wants to invite him to the ball,' said Fred, sarcastically.
'Because we want to send a letter you stupid great prat,' said George.
'Who d'you two keep writing to, eh?' said Ron.
'Nose out Ron, or I'll burn that for you, too,' said Fred, waving his wand threateningly. 'So, you lot got dates for the ball yet?'
This time, Hermione did roll her eyes, but no one could see as she was looking at her notes. She didn't see why people always had to talk about it. At the same time, she felt a strange sensation in her stomach. As much as she tried not to think about it, Hermione couldn't help but wish that someone would ask her.
'Nope,' said Ron.
'Well, you'd better hurry up mate, or all the good ones will be gone' said Fred.
Honestly, thought Hermione, why do boys think that they can only ask the pretty girls? It's so shallow. Can't people think beyond looks?
'Who're you going with, then?' said Ron.
'Angelina,' said Fred promptly, without a trace of embarrassment.
'What?' said Ron, taken aback. 'You've already asked her?'
'Good point,' said Fred. He turned his head and called across the common room, 'Oi! Angelina!'
'What?' she called back.
'Want to come to the ball with me?'
'All right, then,' she said.
'There you go,' said Fred to Harry and Ron, 'piece of cake.'
Hermione was shocked at Fred for being confident enough to ask Angelina to the ball in front of the whole common room. But Angelina was his friend, she supposed. After all, if Ron or Harry had any sense whatsoever they would ask me, it would be a lot easier for them. But no, I'm Just Hermione. Just Hermione the book worm with big hair. Why would they ask me?
The twins stood up, and Fred yawned. 'We'd better use a school owl then, George, come on...'
As they left, Ron stopped feeling his singed eyebrows and turned to Harry.
'We should get a move on, you know... ask someone. He's right. We don't want to end up with a pair of trolls.'
Hermione let out a disgusted splutter. How could he be so insensitive! Talking about girls like that in front of her? 'A pair of... what, excuse me?'
'Well, you know,' said Ron, shrugging, 'I'd rather go alone than with – with Eloise Midgen, say'.
'Her acne's loads better recently – and she's really nice!' Hermione replied, shocked at Ron's opinions.
'Her nose is off centre', said Ron.
'Oh, I see,' said Hermione, fuming. 'So, basically, you're going to take the best looking girl who'll have you, even if she's completely horrible?' she fixed Ron with a glowering stare.
'Er – yeah, that sounds about right,' said Ron. Hermione couldn't believe this. 'I'm going to bed,' she snapped, picking up her potions notes and striding towards the staircase. She made a point of stomping her feet on each stone step, just to clarify how angry she was.
How could Ron be so insensitive? she fumed. Talking about girls like that – doesn't he think I might be offended? And taking the best looking girl he could find without bothering about her personality? If that's the way he thinks about it then I should be glad he hasn't asked me!
The strange feeling in her stomach hit Hermione again. In truth, she would like Ron to ask her to the ball, she'd thought he might have done out of friendly courtesy, but after tonight there was no chance. If he only cared about taking a pretty girl, she stood no chance.