As promised, here is the next chapter! It's the night of the Ball now (you may have noticed I'm only using the conversations which refer specifically to the Ball, hence the jumping about between chapters). Anyway, I hope you like it.

I've updated chapter one - no change in the plot, just correcting formatting and spelling mistakes, so I hope that worked ok and the chapter hasn't vanished from the story!

I'll let you read now...

THE BALL – Ron.

The first week of the Christmas holidays had flown by. Ron suspected this may have had something to do with the fact the he and Harry hadn't given a thought to their large amount of homework, unlike Hermione, who had finished hers by the end of the first weekend. Surprisingly, Hermione hadn't given him the silent treatment over their argument on the last day of term, for which Ron was glad. Although he had a tendency to argue with her, he never much liked the tension between them following a big row. The last time that had happened, he recalled, thinking about their third year argument about Scabbers and Crookshanks, they had not spoken for weeks. Hermione had grown increasingly upset and the whole thing had culminated in her breaking down in the corridors and crying when Ron had apologised. He still felt strange when he thought about standing in the middle of a corridor, with a crying Hermione hugging him, and had vowed he would never make her cry again.

Hermione wouldn't tell Ron or Harry who she was going to the ball with, and Ginny point blank refused to tell him. So, Ron had taken it upon himself to try and startle the answer out of her by asking who she was going with at random intervals. So far, however, this tactic had proved fruitless.

After a very long, very cold snowball fight on Christmas day, it was time to get ready for the ball. Between a choice of staying out in the snow and catching hypothermia and going to the ball, Ron felt he would much prefer the former. He was sure that Padma was going to laugh at his stupid dress robes (dress being the operative word). Hermione wouldn't laugh, he found himself thinking as he tramped up the stairs with the majority of the Gryffindors who had stayed behind. Where did that come from? he wondered to himself.

Half an hour later, Ron, Harry, Neville, Dean and Seamus had all changed into their dress robes. Ron wondered why girls took so long to get ready. Even Hermione had started getting ready at five o' clock. As he surveyed himself in front of the mirror, he felt worse than ever. There was no way around it – he was wearing a dress. Angrily, he muttered a severing charm at the frills on his collar and cuffs. They came off, although the edges were fraying now. If only he paid as much attention in class as Hermione did.

As the boys trooped downstairs, Dean muttered 'I still can't work out how you two got the best looking girls in the year'

'Animal magnetism' Ron replied gloomily, picking stray threads off his sleeves.

The common room was full of people wearing brightly coloured dress robes, and looking at least five times better than Ron did in his. He scanned the room, looking at the faces. He couldn't spot Hermione. Where was she?

Parvati came over towards them.

'You – er – look nice' said Harry awkwardly.

'Thanks,' she said. 'Padma's going to meet you in the Entrance Hall,' she added.

'Right,' Ron said distractedly. He turned to her and asked, 'Where's Hermione?'

Parvati shrugged. But they're room mates, thought Ron. How can she not know where she is?

'Shall we go down then, Harry?' Parvati said.

'OK' he said. Ron had the distinct impression that Harry would much rather stay in the common room, and he had to say he agreed with him. At least he didn't have to dance in front of the whole school like Harry. He'd rather transfer to Slytherin than do that.

The noise of people chatting drifted up the marble staircase as the three of them walked towards the Entrance Hall. Ron had looked for Hermione all the way down, hoping to catch sight of her (and her partner), but there was no sign of her.

The Entrance Hall was full of students from all the houses waiting for the doors to the Great Hall to open. Parvati spotted her sister and led her over to Ron. Ron, however, continued to look around the hall. Where isshe? he wondered.

'Hi' said Padma, casting an apprehensive glance over Ron's dress robes.

'Hi,' he replied vaguely, still searching for Hermione. 'Oh, no...' At that moment Fleur Delacour walked in, arm in arm with Roger Davies, the captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. Not wanting her to see him, Ron bent his knees to hide behind Harry. It was a futile attempt, as Harry was a good deal shorter than him anyway. Ron cursed himself for being so tall.

Fortunately, she passed by with out noticing him. Bloody good job too, thought Ron, this night is going to be bad enough without her laughing at me. Standing straight again, he glanced quickly around the crowds.

'Where is Hermione?' This was getting ridiculous, he thought. Perhaps she doesn't have a partner, and was just lying to us. But then why wouldn't she go with us –

At this point, the front doors opened, and the Durmstrang students walked in. All the students turned to look, including Ron. Karkaroff was leading the procession, followed by Krum with a girl he didn't recognise. Not that he was paying much attention. Where was Hermione?

'Champions over here, please!' Professor McGonagall's voice rang out across the hall.

'See you in a minute,' said Harry and Padma, as they walked towards the doorway. Padma looked so exited that she might burst.

Ron continued to look for Hermione.

'So,' began Padma, 'Are you looking forward to the ball?'

'What?' said Ron, startled by her voice. 'Erm... yes...'

Padma looked slightly disgruntled by this remark, but Ron didn't notice. The doors to the Great Hall opened (with an accompanied squeal from various girls around the hall), and the students began to file in, walking past the Champions and their partners, who had lined up by the door.

Well, she mustn't be coming, thought Ron moodily. As he and Padma entered the Great Hall. It had been decorated for the occasion – the walls were covered in sparkling frost, and the starry ceiling was laden with wreaths of holly and mistletoe. Flitwick must have been busy this afternoon, though Ron. The house tables had disappeared, and in their place were about one hundred smaller tables. Padma led him to a table where some of her friends were sitting (Fantastic – more giggling, thought Ron), and they sat down to wait for the Champions to enter.

As they walked in, the Great Hall exploded into applause. First were Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies, who was staring so foolishly at his partner that he almost fell up the stairs to the high table. Ron felt his ears glowing red – why had he asked her? Then came Cedric Diggory and Cho Chang. She was quite attractive; he could see why Harry had asked her to be his partner. They were followed by Harry and Padma, who appeared to be having the time of his life. Harry, however, seemed to be concentrating on walking without tripping over. At least I don't have to walk around in front of the whole school in this bloody dress, thought Ron, grateful he wasn't one of the Hogwarts Champions.

The last to enter was Krum. As he neared their table, Ron looked at the girl walking beside Krum. She was wearing blue robes, with her hair in a bun and looked very pretty. Must be from Beauxbatons, thought Ron. Suddenly, the girl turned and looked straight into Ron's eyes. She flushed a little, and sent him a shy smile. Ron's heart flipped. It was Hermione.

She looked so different, so... elegant. Ron more than ever noticed her new teeth, dazzling white through her happy smile. Then Krum leant down and said something to her. Hermione turned her head slightly to hear better, then she started to giggle. Ron's stomach plummeted.

Viktor Krum! And Hermione! It was – it was ridiculous, that was what it was! Ron glowered as she walked past, looking up into Viktor's face. What gives him the right to take Hermione to the ball? Ron fumed. He had stopped clapping now. And what did she think she was doing, going with someone from Durmstrang of all places? Didn't she know they taught dark magic there? As he watched the two of them sit down at the high table, Ron knew that this was going to be the worst night of his life.

Ron hardly noticed what he was eating, he was in such a bad mood. Twice he stabbed at his plate and sent a shower of peas all over the table. Padma and her friends had tutted and shot him icy looks, but he didn't care. Hermione was with Krum. She had chosen Krum over him and Harry! And what's more, she had made herself look all pretty, just to rub it in. Girls were so... annoying sometimes! And come to that, he thought, since when did Hermione do girly things to her hair? Bet she wouldn't have put that effort in for me, he thought darkly, but it's worth it for Viktor, isn't it?

No sooner had he thought that, he felt decidedly miserable. She'd do it for Krum...

If only we hadn't had this stupid ball, he continued, then she wouldn't be with him, I wouldn't be wearing these ridiculous dress robes... if only the Triwizard Tournament hadn't – Ron sat bolt upright. The Triwizard Tournament! Hermione was at the ball with Krum! Harry's opponent! What on earth was she playing at?

Ron continued along that vein for a long time, not taking his eyes off Hermione for one second. Suddenly he realised that the feast had finished. He hadn't spoken to Padma the whole evening, but he didn't care about that. Whilst he had been thinking, a stage had been set up with a set of drums, guitars, bagpipes, a lute and a cello. Ron watched as the Weird Sisters took to the stage amidst rapturous applause. The lantern on their table went out, and a hush fell over the Hall. Ron realised with a sinking feeling, that the Champions were on the dance floor, ready for the first dance.

The Weird Sisters began to play a slow, melancholy tune. Ron found he couldn't take his eyes off Hermione and Krum as they danced, or rather, he couldn't take his eyes off Hermione. She looked so graceful, so happy... And Ron was so miserable. It was some consolation that Krum wasn't holding Hermione as close to him as Roger Davies was with Fleur. Ron's face darkened as he thought of Krum attempting anything like that with Hermione. Couldn't Hermione see what he wanted her for? It was blatantly obvious that he was using her to win the Triwizard Tournament, to help him work out the egg, to sabotage Harry...

So much for her being the cleverest witch in Hogwarts.

'How's it going?' Ron vaguely heard Harry joining them. The first song had ended, apparently.

Someone approached the table, and Parvati left with him. Looks like Harry's having about as good a time as me, Ron thought miserably. The second song ended, and to Ron's dismay, Hermione came over and sat in Parvati's chair. She was pink in the face from dancing. For some reason, this made Ron feel even worse.

'Hi' said Harry. Ron ignored her.

'It's hot, isn't it?' Hermione breezed, fanning herself with her hand, 'Viktor's just gone to get some drinks'

Ron scoffed, 'Viktor? Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?'

'What's up with you?' asked Hermione, looking up at Ron in surprise.

'If you don't know,' he said, scathingly 'I'm not going to tell you.' He was aware of how stupid he sounded, but he didn't care. How could she not know what was wrong?

She stared at him for a moment, and then at Harry, who shrugged. 'Ron, what -?'

'He's from Durmstrang!' spat Ron. 'He's competing against Harry! And Hogwarts! You – you're –' Ron was frantically searching for the words he was trying to get out, 'You're fraternising with the enemy, that's what you're doing!'

Hermione's jaw dropped.

'Don't be so stupid!' she said, 'The enemy! Honestly – who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory?'

Well, he wouldn't be keeping that model for much longer. And anyway, that was besides the point.

'I s'pose he asked you to come with him while you were both in the library'

'Yes, he did,' said Hermione. The pink patches on her cheeks were glowing more brightly, but through embarrassment or anger, Ron couldn't tell. 'So what?'

'What happened – trying to get him to join spew were you?'

'No, I wasn't!' Hermione retorted, indignantly. 'If you really want to know he – he said he's been coming up to the library every day to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!' Hermione was blushing now, she had said this all very quickly. It reminded Ron of when she had introduced herself on the Hogwarts Express.

Krum actually liked her? thought Ron, disgusted. No, he can't do...

'Yeah, well – that's his story,' Ron said, rather more nastily than he had intended.

'And what's that supposed to mean?'

'Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang around with... he's just trying to get closer to Harry – get inside information on him – or get near enough to jinx him –'

Hermione stared at him, aghast. Her voiced quivered when she spoke. 'For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry, not one –'

'Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cosy little library sessions –' Ron spat the word 'cosy' as if it was poison. He didn't like to imagine Hermione and Krum, alone in the library.

'I'd never help him work out that egg!' Hermione sounded angry now. 'Never. How could you say something like that – I want Harry to win the Tournament. Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?'

Yeah, you want him to win so much you're off pledging your support to bloody Durmstrang the moment his back's turned, Ron scathed.

'You've got a funny way of showing it,'

'This whole Tournament's supposed to be about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!' Her voice was reaching a pitch that, if Ron wasn't so angry, would have warned him to drop the argument straight away.

'No it isn't! It's about winning!'

'Ron,' said Harry, quietly, 'I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum –'

Ron was past listening to anyone else. All he could think about was Hermione and Krum.

'Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are,' he spat.

'Don't call him Vicky!' cried Hermione hysterically, and she jumped to her feet and stormed off across the dance floor. Ron watched her until she vanished from sight.

'Are you going to ask me to dance at all?' Padma asked, with an annoyed tone.

'No,' said Ron shortly.

'Fine!' Padma snapped, and she too left. Ron felt slightly relieved at this. He couldn't cope with this evening as it was, without having to make small talk with a girl he wasn't interested in.

A deep voice made him look up. 'Vare is Herm-own-ninny?' It was Krum. Wonderful, thought Ron, just who I want to see.

'No idea,' said Ron, stubbornly. 'Lost her, have you?' Ron found himself hoping that Krum wouldn't be able to find Hermione.

'Vell, if you see her, tell her I haff drinks,', he said, slouching off.

'Made friends with Viktor Krum, have you, Ron?' Percy had bustled over looking very self important. 'Excellent! That's the whole point, you know – international magic co-operation!'

If Ron hadn't been in the middle of the Great Hall, with teachers all around, he would have hexed Percy right into next week.

Hermione's view will be coming as soon as I get a chance to write it. I've already written the final chapter for her (the infamous common room argument!), and have started on Ron's, but some how her version of this conversation got missed! I'm about to enter into a revision frenzy, so I probably will only get chance to write it next week. In the meantime, don't forget to review! I appreciate suggestions :-)