A/N: sorry this too so long..this chapter is giving me so many issues in posting..and things have been crazy. please review
Disclaimer: i dont own anything..only the plot
Chapter 5
As the holiday's drew closer, talk of the ball began to increase. It was nearly impossible to walk ten feet with out hearing the latest gossip on which couples were or were not going together. Ron and Lavender were of course going together. Harry found himself silently wondering whether or not to ask Hermione at every available opportunity. He went over every scenario in his mind. What if she said no? Then he'd be humiliated. But even he knew that she wouldn't say no. If anything shed accept to go as friends. Which wouldn't bother him so much. In fact the one thing that seemed to be bothering him the most was what if she said yes and they both acknowledged it as more then a friendly invitation. What if she wanted the relationship as much as he did? What would he do from there? The idea of losing her in a badly ending drama was more then he could bear. She was the one person he knew would never let him down, so losing her could be the most devastating loss he'd ever have to endure.
He found himself in the common room one night. Waiting for her to come back from the library, so they could cuddle and talk as usual. Harry lived for the last hour or so before sleep. He would wait in the common room, acting busy, sometimes pretending to doze off knowing shed tuck him in and then he'd pretend to stir and they end up sitting recapping everything that happened that day. Tonight he didn't have to wait long. It seemed as though she came in much earlier then usual. She had a glow about her, determination in her eyes. He couldn't place it. She sat down next to him and got quiet. Usually shed lean back into his arms and start talking about one exciting class or another. This time she seemed to close herself up on the other end of the couch. She had her eyes slanted downwards; chipping at the soft pastel pink that covered her nails. Little pink chips began to appear on the knees of her jeans. Finally she glanced over at Harry who had been watching her. She started...
"Harry, you know all this buzz about the ball?"
He glanced down, a fear rose in his stomach. What if she's telling me that someone else asked her? He knew that if another boy ever asked her shed tell him, but this seemed hesitant. He immediately jumped to thE first horrible conclusion. Maybe Malfoy asked, and she was afraid to tell him that she had accepted. His thoughts were interrupted again..
"Well, I was thinking, that maybe you'd…you know…maybe we could go together?"
He paused; amazed that she was asking him. He didn't know what to do he just lifted his eyes and stared, blank expression on his face. Lost for words.
In his silence she hesitated...
" ...as friends? I mean its up to you it doesn't have to be friends, I …never mind, it was a stupid idea"
"NO, NO"
She glanced up startled by his outburst. He quickly realized his enthusiasm...
" I mean no, I would love to go with you Hermione."
She smiled. He loved her smile. She smiled with her whole face. It seemed like her mouth would curl upwards and then expose her bright teeth, small dimples would appear in her cheeks, which would instantly flush, to a rosy pink. But his favorite part of her smile was her eyes. She smiled with her eyes. Its as thought lights danced in them when she was happy. He lived to see her happy, just to see those lights dancing in her eyes.
He couldn't help but smile back. Finally she relaxed into his arms and began talking about the day. But he changed the subject back to the ball; he was so excited at the thought he didn't want to stop talking about it.
"Have you gotten a dress?"
"No, I did see one that I loved though. Hogsmead tomorrow, do you want to go with me to buy it? That way you can get your dress robes to match."
"Id love to"
Two dates in the course of 20 minutes, Harry could hardly believe his luck. But what if they weren't dates, she did mention just as friends for the ball but at the same time it seemed as though it was in hesitation. O well ill just have to wait and see what happens.
The next morning after breakfast they decided to mean in the common room. Ron and Harry sat impatiently as Lavender and Hermione finished getting ready.
"What takes so long? HONESTLY!"
"Wow Ron, relax…Lavender's probably getting all done up. Girls do that they put all that stuff on their face and coordinate it with their clothes."
"How do you know?"
"Don't you listen to their conversations ever? That's all they talk about. How their eye stuff matched with whatever sweater they had on"
"No, I'm way to concerned with my food to hear that stuff"
"Why am I not surprised"
At that moment Hermione and lavender came giggling down the stairs.
Hermione was simply dressed. She had on jeans and a black sweater with a black pin on the collar, which stretched across her shoulders displaying her soft skin. Her hair was down in a fury of ringlets framing her face. He had very little makeup on, just some blush mascara and lip-gloss adding a shiny coat to her pink lips.
Lavender on the other had been quite a sight. Her hair was down, falling in silky straight sheets. She had on a light blue tank top on under a white and blue striped button up shirt which had only one button in the middle buttoned. She was wearing tight fitting jeans that were a wonder as to how she ever got them on. Her eyes were darkly rimmed with black and she had a light blue color over her lids. Her lips were painted pink with a light gloss over them and she had a light pink hue brushed onto the apples of her cheeks. She smiled brightly at Ron who just stared.
"Appreciate the extra time now Ron?" Harry whispered as they walked over. Ron just nodded before sweeping Lavender into a kiss.
Harry thought Hermione looked more beautiful however. He liked how she didn't need much to look perfect. He'd have been just as excited to see her walk down in a sweatshirt with her hair pulled into a messy ponytail and no make up at all.
"You look pretty," he offered.
"Why thank you Harry, that's nice of you to say"
"Ok you two enough lets go" Harry had to half pry Ron from Lavender. She blushed and nodded and the four set out for the dress shop in Hogsmead.
The four emerged about two hours later.
"ITS ABOUT TIME!" Ron shouted as he ran towards Honeydukes. "You two tried on every dress in the store and ended up buying the first ones you picked out!"
"Ronald! We had to make sure it was perfect, you wouldn't want us to go to the ball in ugly outfits would you"
Ron huffed.
"Personally, I think you two would look beautiful in whichever dress you had chosen" Harry chimed in, taking the heat off Ron
"Sure Harry, make me look like the moron"
"Ron you hardly need any help doing that"
The girls couldn't contain their laughter. Ron threw up his hands in exasperation.
"Can we please go somewhere else now…I'm bored"
"Alright Ron, lets go get something to eat"
"I'm not hungry, are you Harry." Hermione looked at him expectantly, he knew what the answer should be
"No, I kind of want to get some candy then head back, you two go ahead, we'll see you later"
Ron shrugged and headed off with Lavender. While Hermione linked her Arm in Harry's and headed to buy some candy then back to Hogwarts.
A/N: thanks again guys...review!
