I am so sorry this took too long to post. I've been very lazy lately lol. Anyway thankies to all of you people that reviewed. I wish I could thank each of you fantastic people individually but since I got in trouble for doing that I can't. Enjoy the next installment!

Disclaimer: If you have an IQ that is above 100 (average) then you probably already know that I don't own Harry Potter.

"Hermione, you told us you weren't going to Hogsmeade with us because you had to

catch up on your homework. What are you doing here then?" asked Harry.

"Um..." Hermione could think of no excuse so she remained silent.

"I knew it," said Ron accusingly. "You're avoiding us. Did we do something wrong?

Did--"

"I'm not avoiding you Ron." said Hermione. "So what are you doing at Hogsmeade without me

or Harry! Why are you here with Ginny? And why did you lie to us?!" said Ron who was even

more irritated then Hermione.

"I didn't lie Ron. I just..." Hermione felt trapped. She looked to Ginny for help but she

was eyeing her brother getting ready for a good scolding.

"Could you be any thicker?" saidGinny glaring disgusted at her older brother.

"What? What did I do this time Ginny?" said Ron getting more and more aggravated.

"I can't believe you! Accusing one of your best friends of lying to you!" she spat even though she

knew it was true.

"Yeah? Well then why pray tell is she here?"

"Because Ronald I spotted Hermione working in the library alone. Without her friends.

and I thought you guys and her got in a fight. Its like it would have been the first time." snarled

an angry Ginny.

"Hey!" both Harry and Ron said. "Well its true! Anyway as I was saying, I saw her and since

she was all alone," she paused to take the time to look meaningfully at both Ron and Harry who

both blushed and looked down at their feet.

"Since she was all alone I offered to take her to Hogsmeade for a girls day afternoon. Well

Hermione insisted she couldn't because she had homework but I persuaded her to come

because I, unlike some people I know, couldn't bear leave her all by herself. So that's why

we're here." Ginny finished.

"Oh." Ron said somewhat more quiet then he was a few moments ago.

"Yes, "oh". We were just going up to the common room just now."

"Oh."

There was a very awkward moment of silence.

"Umm yeah sorry about that. Anyway me and Harry were going up to the common room

too so uh shall we er escort you ladies?" asked Ron.

Both Hermione and Ginny stared at him.

"Escort us back to the common room?" Ginny asked.

"Er, yeah." Hermione and Ginny burst out laughing. Even Harry couldn't help but suppress a

smile.

"Mate, what the hell did you say that for?" said Harry now laughing along with the girls.

"Well I don't know!" said Ron blushing a deep crimson. "There was just this really

awkward silence so, I dunno it was just the only thing that came to mind."

"Well, sir Weasley," giggled Hermione.

Ron blushed again.

"I don't know about escorting us ladies--,"

Ginny sniggered.

"--to the common room but how about just walking with some friends."

"Alright sounds good to me." replied Ron laughing a bit. As they walked down to the castle

Hermione noticed the notice about the Christmas Ball on the way. All of a sudden she gasped

and ran toward the sign.

"Hermione what are you doing?" asked Ginny.

Hermione turned to Ron and Harry.

"Did you two read the notice about the changes they made to the ball?"

"No why would we read some rubbish about some stupid ball thing?" scoffed Ron

"Because if you read that rubbish you would have learned that students from Beauxbatons

and Durmstrang will also be coming to the ball."

"So why do I give a d—wait a minute. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang?"

"Yes."

"WHAT! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! DUMBLEDORE CAN'T LET THEM COME!

WHO'S BLOODY IDEA WAS IT TO INVITE THEM TO THIS BALL THING! WHY--"

Ron continued to rant on until he ran out of breath.

"Are you done yet?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah I reckon so."

"Oh good. Because in other news about the Christmas Ball your brothers donated some

decorations and made plans for it."

"Who Bill and Charlie?" asked Ginny.

"Nope. Fred and George."

"WHAT! MY BROTHERS! THEY MADE PLANS FOR THIS THING! NO

WONDER THIS IS A STUPID MASQUERADE ONLY THEY COULD COME UP WITH

AN IDEA SO RIDICULOUS AND-- " He ranted a little more till his voice became slightly

hoarse.

"Ok I'm done."

"Good." both Ginny and Hermione said.

"You know I don't see what the big deal is mate. I mean Fred and George have come up

with some really funny ideas in the past." said Harry.

"Yeah, but now I'll have to worry about people turning into canaries or something." Ron

muttered.

"Well look at the bright side. Fred and George are going to be there. If anyone is going to

turn into a canary it'll be Malfoy." said Ginny.

Everyone laughed when they heard that.

"Well I guess it can't be that bad. I just hope they don't come and embarrass me in some

way."

"How would they embarrass you?" asked Harry.

"They have their ways." he muttered darkly. Harry and Ginny laughed but Hermione was

once again starting to feel apprehensive. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang coming to the ball was

one thing but Fred and George designing the whole idea? This whole plan of hers to prove that

she just wasn't some know-it-all, was starting to seem more then she bargained for.