2 Weeks Later: December 23
All of the Hogwarts students were milling outside, some talking about how they glad they were that they would be going home; the older students talking excitedly about the Ball that was to take place the next night.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry were standing beside the lake. Lavender was talking to Ron, who was blushing, not being able to form words in his mouth; Hermione and Neville, who decided that after two weeks of talking about the Christmas Ball, it was time to give it a rest, were having a heated discussion about Herbology; and Harry and Luna were talking quietly about tomorrow night.
"What are you going to wear to the Ball?" Luna asked curiously. "Because I think that it would be neat if we matched, at least a little bit." Harry felt his neck and face grow hot.
"Er...I haven't really thought about it, really. I only have three dress robes: dark blue, red, and green. It's up to you, I guess."
Luna smiled thoughtfully, her eyes running over his body. Her gaze stopped at his face. "I think that you should wear the dark blue. It really brings out the green in your eyes. And I have just the thing to go with it." And with that last bit, she turned and walked away.
Harry walked over to Hermione, who was flipping through Hogwarts, A History, as Neville had left a few minutes before. She looked up and smiled at him. He sat down beside her and shook his head. "I don't care what you say about Luna, Hermione, she is still weird in some ways."
Hermione laughed. "Everyone is weird in some ways, Harry. Take Ron for example. He still freaks every time he hears that Ginny is dating someone else. After three years, at that! And you, some people still think you're strange because you've defeated Voldemort so many times." When she saw Harry start to protest, she quickly added, "They just don't think that it's normal. No one else has survived that many times, especially when he directs an Avada Kedavra curse straight at you from just a few feet away. Anyway, some people think I'm weird because I study so much. They don't think that's normal."
Harry rolled his eyes. "All right. I get your point. Anyway she wants to color-coordinate our outfits for tomorrow night." Hermione shrugged. "So? Neville and I are too. I suggested it."
Harry stood up and sighed. "Girls," he muttered as he walked over to Ron and Lavender. Lavender saw him coming and excused herself from the boys. "What's up?" Ron asked. Harry groaned. "Luna wants our outfits to coordinate. Hermione's and Neville's will too."
Ron grinned sheepishly. "Lavender asked if we could do that too. I didn't have the heart to tell her no. At least know everyone will know that we are going together, because our outfits will match."
Harry rolled his eyes as Hermione came over. "We better get inside, Harry, Ron. It's starting to snow again." The boys nodded and followed her inside.
"So," Hermione said cheerfully. "What are you guys going to wear tomorrow night? Harry, you said that yours and Luna's outfits will match, are you and Lavender doing that too, Ron?" Not waiting for an answer, she rambled on. "This is going to be so much fun! I can't wait for tomorrow night! Can you two? ......What?"
Harry and Ron had stopped eating their dinner and were staring at Hermione; Ron with his mouth gaping, Harry with his eyebrows raised. "Hermione," Ron said slowly. "If you aren't careful, someone might think that you actually like Neville." Hermione's face got as red as Ron's hair.
"So what if I do like Neville?" she exploded. "Does that matter? Do I say anything about how much you like Lavender? No! Because it doesn't matter! So why should it matter if I like Neville?" She stood up and stormed out of the Great Hall, with everyone at the Gryffindor table staring after her. When she had rounded the corner out of sight, everyone turned and stared at Ron.
"What are you looking at?" he sneered. Everyone started eating again. Except for Neville. He came over and sat down between Ron and Harry. "What's wrong with Hermione?" he asked.
Ron looked up at him. "Who said anything was wrong with Hermione?" Neville raised his eyebrows at him.
"No one had to say anything. It was obvious by the way she blew up and then ran off. What did you say?" Ron suddenly became very interested in his Shepard's Pie; so Harry answered for him.
"Ron was just bugging Hermione about how much she likes you, Neville," Harry said, ignoring Ron's looks around Neville. Neville's face lit up. "She likes me? Really? Oh, wow, I don't know what to do. I mean, should I get her something for tomorrow night? Like flowers or something? What do you guys think?"
Ron pretended to throw up into his green beans. Harry shot him a nasty look. Then he answered the eager boy that was sitting beside him. "I think that she would like flowers, Neville. Seems to me that her favorite is violets. That would be nice if you get her some."
Neville nodded excitedly, and as everyone left to go to his or her common rooms, he ran off to find some violets.
Harry and Ron found Hermione in the common room, working on her Muggle Studies essay. It was already five rolls of parchment, and she was working on her sixth.
"Honestly, Hermione, I don't understand why you take Muggle Studies every year. I mean, you're already a Muggle," Ron stated as he plunked down in one of the squishy armchairs by the glowing fire. "And besides," he continued, "it's the holidays. Why are you working on homework?"
Hermione answered him, but didn't look up. "I, unlike some people, prefer to finish my work in advance, so I can enjoy the rest of the holidays. And I, unlike some people, will have time to relax the last day of the holidays, instead of trying to get my homework done by 7 o' clock the next morning, which some people end up doing."
Ron raised his eyebrows at her. "Uh-huh. So, Hermione, Neville found out somehow that you like him, so if he starts acting all weird and stuff, you'll know why." Hermione slammed her book shut, gathered up her essay, quill, and ink, and stormed up to the girl's dormitory.
Ron looked at Harry in confusion. "What did I say?"