It was three months later and now May 17. Ron and Harry woke up, dressed quickly, and went down to the Gryffindor Common Room. Today was supposed to be another Hogsmeade weekend, but a new announcement was on the board today.
Due to today's inclement weather. Ron and Harry looked outside to rain falling down and graying skies. This Hogsmeade trip will be canceled. There is however, an important event coming up, the Seventh Years' Graduation Ball. It is to be held in the Great Hall on the night of Saturday, May 25. All seventh years may attend and those under their seventh year may only go if their date is a seventh year. If you have any questions, please ask the head of your house. Thank you.
Ron looked at Harry nervously, "Another Ball, I don't know if I'm going. The Yule Ball in our fourth year was dreadful."
"It wasn't that bad," Hermione came out of nowhere.
"Oh, how is Vicky doing?" Ron said sarcastically, "Still writing novels to him?"
"Please don't start with that again, Ron," she warned.
He said no more, he didn't want to get in a fight with Hermione again. They'd been getting along really well after that date at Hogsmeade and he really loved her. He didn't want to ruin their relationship.
"Harry, who are you taking to the ball?" asked Ron.
"I don't know, maybe I'll ask Luna or Ginny," Harry shrugged, "Erm, you?"
"I have someone in mind this time, you don't have to ask anyone for me," said Ron a bit stiffly.
He turned around, rubbing the back of his neck for no reason and behind him, Hermione beamed until Harry looked at her and he huge smiled turned into a good morning, what a nice day it is kind of look.
"Shall we go down to the Great Hall and get something to eat, then?" she suggested.
The rest of the day was like usually. After breakfast they ran into Malfoy and his lot and after that they took the inclement weather as an excuse to get to the library and study for their upcoming N.E.W.T.s.
"I remember when you two used to beg me to check over your homework for you. Now, though, after our O.W.L.s it seems as though you've been getting better with things like homework. I'm really glad you've realized your future is more important than playing Quidditch or complaining about how horrible Snape is." said Hermione, "Now, what'll we start first. How about Defense Against the Dark Arts, I know we all enjoy that the best, especially with Lupin back. I heard our DADA N.E.W.T.s are going to be really hard. You know, stuff like naming the effects of a Dementor, conjuring Patronuses. We really should get on that straight away." They all laughed. "Just kidding, how about we look up that instant health restoring potion for Snape's class."
Ron started flipping through one of the books he pulled from the shelves. It was titled, "Advanced Potions for the Advanced Potion-Maker; An A-Z Encyclopedia of Advanced Potions." "I don't understand why we have to make a health restoring potion. What's the point of that?" asked Ron.
"What uses does Snape have for any of the potions we had to make? He probably just throws them away, what a waste of ingredients." Harry stated.
"Actually, I think he keeps most of the good ones, most of the potions we made last year were sent to Madame Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing. It was when Luna, Ginny, and some third and fourth years got attacked in the Forbidden Forest. Madame Pomfrey used our potions and some seventh years' potion to help the students recover." Hermione said.
"So, you mean, Snape helps people?" Ron asked, "Maybe he's losing his evilness! Oh no!"
"Oh, stop being so sarcastic Ron," Hermione giggled, "You know he helped Harry in his first year and he's not completely, Erm, evil."
"Alright, alright," said Harry, he found the chapter about instant health replenishing potions and took some notes and copied the directions. Hermione and Ron did the same and they went on to finish homework for other classes and study some more. They had so much fun that when the end of the day came, they solemnly trudged up to the Common Room and waited a while before, one by one, heading to bed.
Six more days passes and they were just about the same as all the rest. They consisted of breakfast, classes, studying, and then back to sleep for another day of the same thing. But, when Friday came, the Gryffindor Common Room was buzzing with excitement.
"Who did you ask, Lavender?" Hermione over heard Pavarti and a few other girl's conversation.
"Dean Thomas," Lavender shrieked, "And he said YES!"
Hermione walked by them and they stopped her. "And who did Hermione ask to the ball?" Lavender and Pavarti said together.
"Nobody and nobody asked me yet," Hermione shrugged and started to walk away.
Lavender jumped in front of her. "You mean, Ron didn't ask you yet? Oh, I bet he'll ask you tonight!"
"You two are so cute together!" exclaimed Pavarti.
"How do you know we're together? Maybe he's going with someone else." replied Hermione, but inside she knew Ron was just too afraid to confront her on something like going to the ball.
They shrieked with more laughter, "Ron, not liking you? You must know that he's been in love with you since, what girls, our first year here?"
Hermione blushed, How do they know all this? She thought. She turned around and saw and heard other people talking excitedly about the ball. Ginny was sitting in a chair by the fire looking confused, so Hermione hurried over.
"Hello, Hermione," sighed Ginny.
Hermione asked what the matter was and Ginny began to unravel her ordeal.
"Two people asked me and I told them I'd get back to them."
"Who are these two people?"
"Erm, Neville and Harry."
Hermione looked a bit alarmed, "Well, where does you heart tell you to go?"
"That's what I'm not sure about. Neville cares about me and I really appreciate that, but Harry is Harry, dreamy, cute, saved-my-life-before, Harry."
"Hmm, can I get back to you on this? I really need to find Ron."
Sighing again Ginny said, "He's in the Boy's Dormitory, sitting by the window. I think he needs you."
"Thanks," said Hermione and she rushed upstairs to find Ron.
The lights in the Boy's Dorm were out and the only form of light in the whole room was a single candle lit by Harry's bedside that must have been there a while, the wax was almost fully melted. Ron's head could be seen over the top of his bed, for he was sitting on the floor, on the other side, leaning against it.
"Hey Ron," she said quietly, "What's up?" She sat down behind him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Hello, just thinking."
"About what?"
"You know."
"The ball?"
"Yeah."
"Ask anyone?"
"Will you go with me?"
"Sure."
"Well, now I asked someone."
His face lit up and suddenly the room brightened a bit, or so it seemed.
"How about we go down to the Common Room, I need to talk to Ginny about something and you can try to find Harry."
"Alright."
So, they went downstairs to the Gryffindor Common Room and while Ron went to find Harry, Hermione went to help out Ginny.
"So," said Hermione to Ginny, "Decide yet?"
"No."
"Well, where does your heart lead you?"
"Neville."
"Then go with him."
"It's not that easy. I don't want to reject Harry. After all he's done for me and after all I've done for him. I think I lead him falsely."
"You did no such thing. I know he'll understand if you tell him no."
"Maybe I'll flip a coin."
She gave a tiny chuckle, "That sounds like something Ron would say."
"Not about you."
"No? Hmm, I guess not."
"He really cares about you, you know. He has odd ways of showing he cares."
"Yeah, he does. Look, don't change the subject, I'm trying to help you."
"I think I'll go with Neville, but I'll have to find someone for Harry. I feel so bad for doing this to him."
"How about Hannah for Harry, or..." Hermione paused to think for a second, "How about Luna!"
"Lovegood?"
She shook her head.
They both agreed and Ginny went off to find Neville. Hermione strode off to find Ron and Harry. She searched the whole Common Room and found them nowhere. Checking the boys' dorm, she found nothing either. Where are they? she asked herself, Where would Harry go to be by himself? Where would Ron look for Harry?
Well, there's Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, the prefects' bathroom, and the Room of Requirement. Hermione walked briskly to the seventh floor and strode back and fourth three times and the door appeared. Nobody was inside, though. So, she jogged down to the bathroom they used to make the Polyjuice Potion in their second year. Yes, they were in there.
"Harry?" she questioned, "Ron?"
"I thought you said nobody would find us here, Ron."
"Well, I didn't.. forget it. It's just Hermione."
"So, what's up?" asked Hermione, sitting down beside them.
"Well, a couple girls asked me to the ball, but I turned them down because I had someone in mind that I wanted to ask; Ginny. So, I asked her and she said she might already be going with me, but she'd get back to me."
"That all?"
"I don't know who I'm going with if not her."
"How about Luna?"
"Are you nuts, Hermione!" exclaimed Ron, "Harry, go with Luna?"
She breathed in deep as though trying to not release her anger on Ron right now, "No, I'm not nuts, Ron! You know I could always stay in the Common Room during the ball and you'd have no date. Anyway, I thought you liked Luna. You're always talking to her about stuff that you never talk to us about."
"How do you know?" asked Harry accusingly. "You've been spying on me?"
"Well, actually I pass you in the hallway all the time and just happen to overhear some things."
"Do you know who Ginny is going with?"
"I do."
"Tell me."
"She will, but I suggest you go ask Luna before someone else does. It may already be too late."
"Fine."
Harry got up and stalked out of the bathroom, leaving Ron and Hermione behind.
"So..." started Ron.
"I guess we should be getting back to the Common Room, its nearly nine." she stated.
"One thing first," said Ron.
"What?"
"I love you."
"You've told me a million times."
"More than anything."
"I know."
He gently kissed her on the lips and then they broke apart.
"I love you, too," Hermione said.
"You've told me a million times." He rolled his eyes and smiled.
They laughed and finally left to go back to the Common Room.
It was the afternoon of the ball and all of the students were getting anxious. Hufflepuff girls in Snape's class were sneaking glances at their mirrors and attempting to put on make-up. However, in McGonagall's class, Gryffindors were let out early. She wanted her students to look their very best. And so, everyone went their separate ways.
Ron was ready in a few minutes. All he did was switch robes and fix his hair a bit. He wasn't a very fancy person and that was all he could do.
He walked across the room, "Well, Harry, how do I look?"
Harry chuckled, "All you did was switch robes, so, naturally, you look the same as you always do. But how about me?" He put on a mock serious voice, "How's my hair look?"
They laughed and went down to the Great Hall to wait for their dates. Harry grabbed them some Butterbeer and as they waited, they took up a discussion of their last Quidditch match, which they won, against Slytherin.
Meanwhile, Hermione met Luna, an hour and a half later, and they started the walk to the Great Hall.
"You look nice," Luna complimented.
"Thanks, Erm... You as well," obviously, Hermione didn't find Luna's black and white striped stockings very appealing.
"You're going with Ron, right?" asked Luna, "I hope you have a nice time. Know what you'll be doing yet?"
"Yeah. Thanks. I'll find out when I get there, though I expect we'll talk, dance, and hang out with you and Harry or Neville and Ginny."
"Hey, look. There's Ron and Harry. Let's go grab some Butterbeers and join them."
That's precisely what they did. Harry and Ron greeted their dates with welcoming hugs and the girls joined in the conversations of Quidditch until the Great Hall was filled up and Dumbledore stepped up to the podium.
"Since everyone has been awaiting this night for a while, I will not take long. Congratulations to our seventh years who will be graduating this year. We will miss you dearly, but know most of you are out there doing great things for our wizarding world. Many of you will save lives and some will end up losing ones we love as this war is starting. Others will become famous for the great things that they do. Please, have fun tonight and forget your worries until morrow. Let the food and dancing begin!" He clapped his hands and the band started playing. The excitement had begun.
"Uh... Hermione?" asked Ron, "I'm not sure if I know how to dance."
"You can't be that bad. You told me you never kissed before and your kiss was rather intriguing." She said it at a whisper, but Harry and Luna still somehow managed to hear. She blushed, nobody else know that they had kissed before. Turning to Harry, there was a state of shock and amusement on his face. Luna, to Hermione and Ron's luck, clearly didn't mind. "Come on, Ron. I'll just have to teach you how."
Harry and Luna left them alone and soon they arrived at the dance floor. Ron looked confused.
"Okay, so you put your hands on my hips and I put my hands on your shoulders." They both did so. "Now just rock back and forth to the music. You'll get used to it."
"I think Harry was a bit shocked to find out that, well, we're not just here as friends." commented Ron.
"Yeah, I didn't want him to know. I didn't want him to feel like a third wheel when he's around us."
"He's got Luna now."
"But she's in Ravenclaw."
"We've got some classes with Ravenclaw."
"Yeah, but, well I guess she could sit with us. Me, you, Harry, Neville, and Luna. We could all sit together."
"So it'd be Neville, you, me, Harry, and Luna?"
"'Yeah. Too bad Ginny isn't in our year, she could've sat next to Neville."
After the first song was over and they finished discussing their relationship and not leaving Harry out, they felt more relaxed. Now, Hermione had her head rest on Ron's shoulder and they talked freely about things like home or Quidditch.
"You really are a great keeper. Better than in our fifth year. I bet you're as good as Wood or better!"
"Thanks, but I don't think so. He's on the England National Team now. Do you really think I could play for a professional league?"
"Why not? Not as a career, but I bet if you played for Chudley Cannons, they'd make a huge comeback. You and Harry."
"Yeah right."
"Oh, fine, I was trying to be nice and compliment you. You could at least say thanks or something!"
"Sorry."
They stopped dancing and Ron went off to get drinks. Hermione went and sat with Neville and Ginny.
"How can you two possibly have a decent relationship when you're always yelling at him?" asked Ginny, she and Neville had apparently been watching them. "You know he isn't used to being treated very well. None of us are, our whole family has had to deal with people like Malfoy's lot our whole lives."
"Sorry."
"Never you mind, here comes Ron."
"Hello Neville, Ginny." He wasn't paying attention to Hermione since she snapped at him.
"Do I not exist to you, Ronald Weasley?"
"My name's Ron!"
"Well sorry..." She said with a sarcastic tone, "Ron, let me look that up," She flipped through an imaginary book, "Ahh, here we are. An unloving Git who now has no date! Goodbye. I won't be seeing you later." Tears spilled from her eyes, out of sadness and anger.
"Fine, be that way!" yelled Ron across the hall. Several people turned their heads and whispered as Ron stormed off in the opposite direction.