Chapter Two: Something Must've Happened.

It was now dinner time and Ron and Harry were nowhere to be seen. For the past few days Hermione had been avoiding the topic of the Yule Ball. She was still struggling how to break the new to them. Hermione had only told Ginny about Krum, and even then Ginny nearly had to beat it out of her. But, Ginny was different. Hermione was deathly afraid that Harry and Ron wouldn't speak to her if she told them, Ginny was jumping for joy. As Hermione stewed over her dilemma, she glanced at Ginny who seemed to be shoveling her food in her mouth at an alarming rate. Giving her a small smile, Hermione turned back to her chicken and potatoes on her own plate, just as she was about to take a bite Hermione felt a small tap on her shoulder. Praying to God that it wasn't Ron or Harry, especially not Ron, Hermione turned around. It wasn't. It was Accident-Prone Neville Longbottom. Hermione smiled a relief and brushed her bushy hair behind her ear.

'Hey Neville'

"Oh Hey Hermione," Neville just stared at her. Hermione forced a bigger smile and glanced around for Ginny. She had run off. Stifling a laugh Hermione turned back to Neville.

'Yes Neville?'

"Oh Yeah… I was wondering, if you have no one to go with that is, if you'd want to go to the Yule ball with me?" Hermione's jaw nearly hit the floor again. Gees Granger something must've happened, that's two offers in a week…Sighing lightly and, trying not to hurt his feelings, Hermione shook her head a small no.

'Neville, I'm flattered, but I've already been asked. Sorry'

Neville gave Hermione a small nod and walked out the door. Sighing she took a small roll and decided to finish her dinner before heading up to the common Room. About fifteen minutes later Hermione gathered her things along with an extra roll and headed towards the common room. She was curious to why Ron and Harry hadn't been at Dinner.

As Hermione walked up the stone steps of the castle her mind began to wonder why Krum had asked her to the dance. He could have had any girl throwing them at his feet to go with, but he chose her. It was a puzzling question that hadn't crossed her mind till that very moment, standing in front of the fat lady. Hermione shook her head realizing she had been standing there with an odd look on her face for about five minuets. Smiling Hermione muttered the password and continued into the Common Room. A smile creeped across her face as the portrait closed behind her, and she spotted Harry, Ginny, and Ron in a corner engaged in conversation. Hermione all of a sudden had the nerve to tell her friends about Krum. She was going to walk up there and say it!

'So…… Why weren't you at dinner tonight?'

Then again maybe she wasn't ready. But laughing at Harry and Ron's rejections made her feel better about herself. Hermione raised a brow at Ron and smirked evilly.

'All the good ones taken Ron? Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you.'

Hermione smirked more at Ron her eyes glistened with vengeance. He's such a pig sometimes… she thought. She began to gather her things when Ron's voice came ringing through her ears. His voice sounded different, as if he just discovered something.

"… You are a girl"

'Well spotted' Hermione replied acidly. As if he just noticed.

"You can come with one of us!" Hermione felt a blush coming but shook her head. Then the blush turned to fury as Ron mentioned something about her looking stupid. As if she, the BOOK-WORM, would look stupid. Of course he asked her to the ball too late, because if he asked her early that'd be just oh too convenient.

'I'm already going with someone else.' Hermione's eyes flashed dangerously at Ron. She smirked at his protest and tilted her head to the side. The fury seemed to be rising from her toes it was so bad. Biting down on her lip to keep from biting Ron's head off Hermione growled out a response. 'Just because it's taken you THREE years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!'

Hermione stormed off to the dorms. Her head reeled at the words that had just come out of Ron's mouth. Hermione held her books close to her as she continued into the girls dormitories. How could he say that! After all the homework I basically Did for him! She thought with a scowl still on her face. Throwing her books on the floor, Hermione plopped down on her four-poster bed. Bringing her arms up behind her head, Hermione stared at the ceiling. How Ron could act like such a pig, was beyond her. Sighing Hermione put a pillow over head. Dinner was now completely over. Ginny should be up any minute. Hermione closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.

Authors Note: Okay I know that in the books Neville asks Hermione just after like DADA but give a bit of a break here okay?

You'll have to forgive me, I've been on a total brain block for a while, I have bearly been able to do my RP's on the Messageboards. My Apologies, I'm starting to get the hang of it again. Sorry again.