Chapter 4

A/N: Thanks so much to all who reviewed! You seriously gave me a motive to continue writing. Special thanks to:

post-its rock- I totally understand what you mean by their relationship going too fast. I have tried and tried, and I cannot think of a way to keep it gradual, because in reality, they'd never get together. So I'm just gonna let it happen. Any feelings they could ever have would seem fast, because of how opposite they are, you know what I mean? Thanks for reviewing!

Orli's EEPs Chica- Thank you so much. That's like, the best compliment I've gotten in awhile. I'll try to update often.

**************************************************************************** *********

The next morning, Hermione woke up abruptly. There was alot of loud talking going on in the common room. I wonder what's wrong, she thought to herself. She decided to go down to see what it was all about. She quickly dressed and brushed her teeth.

"What's the matter?" she asked Harry and Ron when she got down to the common room.

"There's going to be a ball," Harry said glumly.

"Oh, how fun!" Hermione said excitedly. She looked at the expressions on Harry and Ron's face. "What is the big deal?"

"We have to ask someone from a different house. Part of the 'new program'," Ron said.

"Oh," she said. "Well at least it's not assigned. Harry, you can ask Cho. And Ron, you can go with Parvati's sister," she suggested. Of course, Harry had already been thinking of asking Cho. But Ron had no intention of repeating fourth year's Yule Ball. They walked down to breakfast, each thinking of the upcoming ball.

**************************************************************************** *********

The Great Hall was filled with excited chatter about the ball. It was to be an Autumn Ball; the colors would be all reds, yellows, oranges, browns, and golds. They would be wearing formal dresses and tuxes. Parvati and Lavender sat down next to Hermione; across from them were Ron, Harry, Neville, and Seamus. Lavender and Parvati were planning on going to Hogsmeade to shop for dresses, shoes, and make-up. Harry, Ron, and Seamus were discussing who to ask to the ball.

"No one from Slytherin, that's for sure," Ron said.

"I'm going to ask Cho. Before someone else does," Harry added, thinking of what happened fourth year. Hermione vaguely heard any of the conversation around her. Who would she go with? Her only friends were in Gryffindor. No one from any other house really liked her. Little did she know, she wouldn't have this problem very long.

**************************************************************************** *********

That same day, during lunch, a fourth year from Ravenclaw asked Hermione to the ball. She almost spat out her juice.

"You're so smart and pretty, and I'd really like it if you'd go to the ball with me," the boy said shyly.

"I'm really sorry, but...I'm, uh...already going with someone else," she replied. He looked a bit sad, but nodded and walked away. She felt bad, but she just couldn't go with some fourth year she didn't know. She turned back to her friends, all of whom were ready to burst out with laughter. Ron was first to let go. Hermione scowled at him.

"That's very mean," she told him. Harry looked at her sympathetically. The same thing had happened to him before, too. Throughout the rest of the day, three more boys of various ages and houses had asked Hermione to the ball. She wasn't trying to be picky or snobby, but she had politely turned them down. She didn't like any of them, and she preferred to go with someone she knew. Classes were peaceful today. No, she didn't get to talk to Harry or Ron, but she wasn't bickering with Malfoy either. They seemed to be getting along. She could tell he was making extra efforts to be nice.

A few times, he started to say something nasty or call her "Granger", but he always stopped himself. She could turn out to be my only true friend, he reasoned. Harry and Ron noticed the change, too. When they passed Malfoy in the corridor, he didn't remark. They weren't conversing or anything, but they seemed to settle for a peace truce. The last class before dinner was Transfiguration. Draco took his seat by Hermione. Before class started, he noticed Lavender trying to get Hermione's attention.

"Psss," she whispered. Hermione turned around.

"Do you wanna come with Parvati and I to pick out dresses for the ball tomorrow?"

"Well, I'm not sure if I'm going," Hermione answered. "I haven't got a date yet."

"You'll get one. Will you come?" she asked again.

"Sure. It sounds like fun," she answered smiling. Draco had overheard their conversation. He had no idea who he was going to ask to the ball. At least he had an excuse to not ask Pansy, since she was from the same house.

He suddenly got an idea. He could ask Hermione to the ball. Wow, did I just think that? he asked himself. Well, it could be a friendly thing. I'll show my father I'm not like him, he told himself.

"Uh, Hermione," he said. "Do you wanna...you know...go to the ball with me?" he asked. he almost passed out when he saw her face. Was she blushing? Could she like him?

"Are you serious?" she managed to ask.

"Well, yes. We've been kinda like friends lately. We're partnered in the program. If you don't want to, I completely understand. I know I haven't been the best person to you, or Potter and Weasley. I just thought that since I had no one to go with, and you had no one to go with..." he trailed off.

Hermione's heart was beating wildly. Did Draco Malfoy just ask her to the ball? It certainly looked like it. She gathered all her courage to reply. "Yeah, okay," she answered casually.

"Okay," he said. "Oh, we can meet in the library same as yesterday for that hour, if you want," he said. She nodded. Soon class was over and she went to catch up with Harry and Ron. She had to tell them who her date was eventually. It might as well be as soon as possible.

"Would you believe me if I told you Malfoy has changed?" she asked them on the way down to dinner.

"Strangely, yes I would," Harry said, surprising her. "He hasn't said one nasty remark to me since on the train." Ron nodded in agreement.

"What do you think is up?" he asked.

"I don't know, but it's nice," Harry shrugged.

"He asked me to the ball, you know," Hermione said quietly.

"What? He did?" Harry asked.

"Is it a trick?" Ron wondered aloud.

"I honestly don't think so," Hermione said. "He was being sincere. And I can always spot lies. He's...changed somehow," she told them.

"So, you're going with him? To the ball, I mean," Ron asked, trying to hide his resentful feelings.

"Yes, I'm going to try it," she said. "I really think he's changed. He's...nice," she told them.

"He's changed a bit, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he's nice," Harry said cautiously.

"Either way, I'd like to give him a chance, and I want you two to support it," she told them.

"Ok, Hermione. We trust you," said Ron. She smiled. Dinner was delicious. Ron was busy stuffing his face, while almost everyone else was busy discussing further plans for the Autumn Ball.

"Don't forget, shopping tomorrow," Parvati told Hermione excitedly.

"Harry, did you ask Cho yet?" Ron stopped eating to ask. All eyes at the Gryffindor table turned on Harry. He blushed.

"Yeah," he answered, uncomfortable with all this attention. Ron's fork dropped onto his plate with a clatter.

"Well? What did she say?" he asked impatiently.

"She wanted to know what color her dress should be," Harry replied grinning. Ron looked dumbstruck.

"Does that mean 'yes'?" he asked.

"That would mean 'yes',"Harry answered.

"Harry, that's wonderful! This will be so great!" Hermione said.

"Yeah," Ron agreed, yet with a bit less enthusiasm. Hermione sensed the problem at once. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry. You'll have a date," she said reassuringly. As if on cue, Padma Patil came over to their table.

"Ron, can I talk to you for a minute, over there?" she asked, pointing to a corner of the room.

"Uh, sure," he said, bewildered. He thought she hated him, after the Yule Ball. He got up with her and she led him away, out of earshot.

"What's that about?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows at Hermione. She shrugged, and they looked over in Ron's direction. He was heading back to the table. His facial expression was hard to read.

"I don't believe it," he said, sitting down. "She asked me to the ball."

"That's great!" Hermione said. This is great, she thought. We all have dates, and we're not fighting with Malfoy. The year is going good.

**************************************************************************** *********

A/N: This wasn't as long as I thought, but I guess it'll have to do. I hope you all liked this one. I think the next couple of chapters will be better, so it might be awhile till I update again. Gotta spend some time on them. Thanks so much for reviewing. R/R!!