The Yule Ball was one of the biggest events of the whole year at Hogwarts. All the students, from 4th year and up, attended the Yule Ball. It was a very special time—fun, romantic, inspiring. Downstairs in the Great Hall, the Ball had already started. 'The Shrieking Shirley', the new 'in' band, played music loud and clear from the stage that had been erected where the teacher's table used to be. Some students had already started dancing, but most still stood near the walls, on the outskirts of the party, waiting for the dancing to really begin. Red, Gold, Blue, Green, and Silver silk banners hung all over the room and Dumbledore had enchanted the ceiling so that it looked like it was snowing. The lights were dimmed, candles burned on the walls and people were coming in slowly, gradually, taking their time and enjoying themselves. It was 9:30 and the party was just beginning.


Upstairs in the Gryffindor common room, George, Harry, and Fred waited. All three were wearing their dress robes; they looked dashing and debonair. The time ticked by slowly as they waited for the girls to come down. After what had seemed like forever, they heard voices from the girls' staircase. The boys stood and waited while the girls entered the room. Katie was first—she was wearing a simple off-white gown, not too flashy, and you could hardly tell she was 7 months into her pregnancy. But George thought that she looked radiant and beautiful as she made her way towards him and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. Ginny was next—she came down in a golden lamee' gown that clung tightly to her body. Her hair was in a loose braid down her back and she had gold clips on either side of it. The color of the gown brought out the deep red in her hair and brought out the light in her eyes. As she went over and kissed Harry's cheek, she said:

"Just wait 'till you see 'Mione." He grinned at her and shook his head in disbelief, but what she had said was true. Ginny was stunning, but when Hermione came downstairs, everyone's jaw dropped. Her gown was made of a fiery red satin material. It clung to her in all the right places, then flared off at the bottom. Her hair was half-way up, curled and hung in neat ringlets over her shoulder; no frizz in sight. She wore blush, dark red lipstick, and smoky eye shadow, bringing out her big brown eyes and her soft white smile. She turned pink as she looked around the common room at all the boys' flabbergasted faces.

"Whoa," Fred couldn't help but mutter under his breath. George elbowed him in the ribs and winked. Fred rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything in reply. Hermione blushed again and shrugged slightly.

"Wh-what's everybody staring at? Are we going to the party or not?" They all nodded in agreement and started to leave as Hermione hurried the rest of the way down the stairs. Fred met her at the bottom with a red rose and a kiss.

"You look absolutely amazing." He said, breaking the rose's stem off and tucking the bud into her hair. It looked just right, and Hermione grinned at him.

"Thanks- Are you ready to face them?"

"Anything for you," Smiling, she took his hand and pulled him towards the portrait hole. He followed along and soon they'd slipped out and joined the rest of the group.

"Whoa—" Ginny said, noticing them together for the first time. "You're Fred's mystery date?"

"You're Hermione's!" Harry echoed along beside her.

"Yup!" Hermione said, all her hesitation gone, as she slipped her hand through the crook of Fred's arm. "I'm his date!" She grinned up at him, and he smiled in return.

"That's wonderful!" Ginny said, beaming. Harry nodded and smiled back at her. George and Katie exchanged knowing glances and started to walk towards the Great Hall on their own. Ginny, Harry, Fred, and Hermione followed for a moment until Ginny and Harry stopped dead in her tracks and Hermione and Fred almost ran into them.

"What the—" Fred said, looking around them.

"Ron!" Ginny and Harry said as he came towards them. He looked livid—angry—miserable. Lavender stood near the entrance to the Great Hall waiting for him, wearing a strapless lavender (what else?) gown. She looked slightly uncomfortable, but happy nonetheless.

"Where's your date?" Ron asked, glaring at Hermione. She wasn't holding onto Fred's arm anymore, so Ron had no idea about the two of them.

"He's right there." She said, gesturing in Fred's direction.

"FRED!" Ron yelled in disbelief. "YOU CAME WITH MY BROTHER!" Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, as if blocking out Ron, and opened them again. She looked over his shoulder, trying to find Ginny and the rest of the gang. Harry and Ginny had disappeared and George and Katie were talking to Lavender by the entrance to the Ball. Hermione held her head high and looked up at Ron.

"Yes, I'm here with your brother. If you have a problem with that, then that's too bad. Now excuse me, but I'd like to go in now so I can enjoy myself." She grabbed Fred's hand and brushed past him towards the entrance. Fred stared at her, open mouthed, as she dragged him into the dance, gave the greeter their tickets, and finally stopped in a corner about six yards from the main door.
"Oh Fred, help me! I feel horrible!" She moaned as she leaned into his chest and he put his arms around her.

"Shh…it's alright. He deserved that."

"But I was being such a little bitch!" She wailed.

"Yeah…but a very cute little bitch." He said, leaning down and kissing her softly on the lips. "C'mon, let's go out to the courtyard."

"Oh Fred…" Hermione laughed, and let him lead her out into the cool night air.


Meanwhile Ginny and Harry were out on the dance floor. Ginny was leaning close to Harry and as she looked up she saw Hermione and Fred walking into the corner and standing in the shadows. She watched as Hermione stopped abruptly and buried her head in Fred's chest.

"Harry! Look!" Ginny whispered into his ear. Harry turned and looked over his shoulder at Hermione and Fred. Hermione looked upset, and Fred was holding her close to him.

"Ron probably said something to her…I'll go see if she's okay after this dance is over—" As he said this, Fred leaned down and kissed her. "Whoa—all of a sudden I don't think she'll be needing me anymore." Harry said and Ginny let an excited giggle escape from her throat.

"That's not the brother I always imagined Hermione with! But I like this arrangement even better!" Harry laughed as he watched Ginny's eyes light up.

"They do look happy together…" He said quietly.

"There is definitely something going on between those two."

"Oh yeah…definitely."