Chapter 10 – The date

5 days left….

"yes yes, step to the left, den to the right, left, right, front, back, slide your right feet towards your left. Yes yes yes. Excellent. ONE two three ONE two three ONE two three….—"

Hermione took a deep breath in to prevent herself from screaming. She has kept contact with Malfoy for more than three hours now, dancing to the same slow and boring music which would have been a great lullaby if not for Ms Amanda's sudden screams now and then.

"OH MY GOODNES! WHAT IS THIS? WHAT IS THIS? MS GRANGER, ANSWER ME! WHAT IS THIS!" came Ms Amanda's thunderous voice as she pointed at Hermione with a shivering finger.

"What is…. What?" Hermione asked, puzzled.

"You want the best for the ball don't you? I understand I understand totally." Ms Amanda said calmly. "But YOU WERE EXACTLY like a FISH BALL bouncing across the stage!" she screamed abruptly.

"But…-"

"NO EXCUSES MS GRANGER! Relax! Relax! Now, take a deep breath in…… yes, and take a deep breath out… yes! Now you're all relaxed. Don't get so tensed! Don't let your legs get stiff! Okay? Relax. Remember. Re-lax."

Hermione nodded in response, she gulped, thinking, "kettle calling the pot black…or is it the other way round?"

"Now let's start from the beginning shall we? Yes yes. We shall. We shall. Till you youngsters get comfortable with the steps." Ms Amanda said, nodding, answering her own question.

"But Miss, we have already restarted from the beginning more than 30 times!" Malfoy complained.

" EXCUSES! " Ms Amanda screamed at him, which did the brilliant work of shutting him up.

Malfoy narrowed his eyes at Hermione, as if wanting her to read his it's-all-your-fault stare. Hermione shrugged in response as they started dancing again.

That night was tremendous torture for the both of them.


"I'm dying, sooner or later, might as well start preparing for my funeral right now."

"Er… Hermione? Your food. You haven't touched a single bit of it."

"Oh," Hermione looked down at her plate, containing what used to be mashed potato with salad. Just that now it was a mashed up mixture with bits of salad sticking out of the potato. She looked at Ron and Harry, then looked back down at her plate. She sighed and said, "I don't think I'm eating that."

"I don't think so either." Commented Harry, staring down at her plate in disgust.

Hermione pushed her plate aside and rested her head in her hands. She frowned before sighing again.

Ron nudged Harry, "what's wrong with her?" he whispered.

"Try asking god." Harry replied, as he continued eating his lunch.

"She's been having that oh-so-pessimistic look since this morning, what's up with that?" Ron questioned Harry again.

"Perhaps it's just stress, the ball is in four days' time." Harry thought.

"Yeah.. perhaps." Ron nodded.

"Hey, I think I gotta go. Bye." Hermione got up abruptly and left the two confused guys by themselves.

Ron looked at Harry with a questioning look.

"Don't ask me, " Harry warned him.


Hermione strolled slowly towards the Gryffindor common room.

"Hi…" a timid voice said.

Hermione continued walking, oblivious to her surroundings.

"H… H… Hermione!" the voice grew louder.

Hermione turned around in shock, and heaved a sigh of relief at the sight of the speaker.

"Sydney!… what are you doing here?"

"I…. I… I'm on my way to the Gryffindor common room. And I … I just want to thank you for helping me last time…" Sydney's voice trailed off.

Hermione gave her a weak smile, "it's nothing. Really."

"Are you… ok? You look very tired." Sydney made her way to Hermione's side as they both started walking towards the common room.

"The ball is coming up, and there're lots of preparation works that need to be done. I've been rather busy lately with all those stuff and trying at the same time to keep the standard of my assignments high. It's been a tiring week."

Sydney nodded and gave Hermione a smile, "Good luck! I believe you can do it!"

Hermione smiled at Sydney and suddenly thought of something, "Hey, who's your partner for the ball?"

Sydney did not look at Hermione, "I don't have a partner for the ball. Anyway, I'm not used to these kind of stuff, I don't intend to go for it."

"Why not? It'll be fun!" Hermione persuaded.

Sydney just shook her head.

"Come on, don't be like this. I'll see you at the ball alright? If not, I'll come searching for you." Hermione joked, but Sydney just looked at her.

Hermione smacked her forehead upon realizing her mistake, "you don't have a partner do you?"

Sydney shook her head again.

"Not to worry, I've got an excellent idea. Let's go." Hermione broke into a run and pulled Sydney along with her.


At the Gryffindor Common room

Ron and Harry were sitting, slouched on the couch, both looked very tired. Just then, they heard footsteps coming towards them. Ron turned his head and came face to face with Hermione's grinning face.

Ron sat up in shock. "Hermione! Can't you see? My heart is already up to THIS level," he said as he pointed at his throat.

"I've got no time for that. Harry, have you got a partner for the ball already?" Hermione turned to Harry as she pulled the unwilling Sydney to stand beside her.

"Why-"

"Just answer me."

"Yes."

"Oh, that's sad. What about you Ron?" Hermione turned to ask Ron.

"Don't ask me."

Harry nodded in agreement, "he just got dumped by his sister."

"Precisely." Ron said.

"Perfect!"

Ron stared at Hermione in shock. "What-"

"What do you think of Sydney here?" Hermione gave him an eager look.

"Isn't she…."

"Yes. "

"Oh… Hi." Ron greeted her promptly before sliding down against his seat.

"Don't sit there like a zombie! Get up!" Hermione pulled the sleeve of Ron's cloak.

"Get up and do what?"

"Ask her to be your partner!" Hermione said, as if it was something very normal.

Ron gulped and sat there looking at Hermione unbelievably.

"Come on, don't act dumb. Quick." Hermione said, while reassuring the poor Sydney who was nudging Hermione.

Ron looked from Hermione to Sydney and back to Hermione.

"I can't stand this. Ron, listen carefully. Please be my date for the ball. Repeat after me. "

Harry tried to hold back his laughter.

-silence-

"Great, you owe me one." Hermione said as she turned to face Sydney. "Sydney, can you please be Ron's partner and go to the ball with him?"

Sydney looked down at the floor and started fidgeting uncomfortably.

-silence-

"Silence means consent. It's done then, I'll see you at the ball!" Hermione smiled, satisfied at her own accomplishment.


Hey ppl! ) I'm really really really really really really really sorry for updating so so so so so so so so so so so late. It's not because I'm not free or anything. I basically had 2 months' holiday time to do it but I was too lazy. Lolx. Sorry. Hmm… comments? I'm kinda having a writer's block or something. You guys think the mysterious figure shld be bad? –shrugs- give your comments ok? Thanx a lot! As for reviews…target 80? Or rather, I hope….well, somewhere there.