Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but you probably knew that…

Halfway to the party, Hermione turned to Fred, who was driving. "Don't ever do that again!"

"Do what?" Fred asked innocently.

"That mind-game-with-the-overwhelming-information thing!"

Rats. He had been caught. Usually they never knew what hit them. Heck, he had been doing it to Ron since the day he was born, and he was still in the dark! Then again, he couldn't really compare Hermione to Ron. Hermione was too smart to fall for that again. He'd need to find a new tactic.

"So where are we going?"

"Angelina's"

"Johnson?"

"You got it."

The party was in full swing by the time they got there. The door was opened by a radiant Angelina, who hugged Fred and whispered in his ear, "Lee proposed!"

Fred grinned at her. "That's great! Congratulations!" Angelina and Lee Jordan, two of Fred's best friends, had been dating for four years, although they had known each other since they were eleven. "Is he here?" Angelina led them inside, where Fred promptly forgot about Hermione and left her in search of Lee. He spotted him talking to Katie Bell, which meant that George was probably around, too. George and Katie had been unofficially going out all year, and they were crazy about each other.

Hermione smiled after them uncomfortably and inwardly cursed Fred for leaving her here with only her limited social skills to keep her company. She felt very out of place; she couldn't dance, she didn't drink, and she didn't see anyone she knew. Finally, she wandered over to the refreshment table and got herself a glass of punch. She considered apparating home until-

"Hey, Hermione. Sorry for leaving you a minute ago there."

Hermione turned to the Weasley twin. "Cut it out- I know you're George!"

"Dang! How do you get it right all the time?" He paused and then said thoughtfully, "Not even our mother can do that!"

Hermione just smirked.

"I'm going to get you one of these days!"

"Sure you will."

George nodded in a mock-threatening manner as he ladled out two glasses of punch. "Well, I have to get back to Katie. If I see Fred, I'll tell him to stop neglecting his date."

Hermione made a face. "I'm not his date! He tricked me into coming here!"

"Okay…if you say so."

Hermione took her glass and sat in the corner, watching the dancers. Cheery Christmas music was playing through magically hovering loudspeakers.

"Hermione?" Hermione turned to see fellow Gryffyndor and handsome young man, Dean Thomas.

"Dean! It's been a while."

"It sure has. You look really nice."

"Thank you."

They had talked for a half hour or so, just catching up with each other, until finally Dean had to leave.

"It was nice seeing you." Hermione told him.

He smiled warmly at her. "You too. Hey, I was just wondering if you wanted to, you know, do anything tomorrow night?"

Hermione paused for a moment to think if she could take the time away from her work schedule. Remembering Ron's advice to have more fun, she replied, "That would be great."

"I'll pick you up at 7:30?"

"Sounds good. See you then!"

Hermione sat by herself for another bit until Fred made his way over to her. "George says you're lonely." he said, raising his eyebrows suggestively. Hermione laughed, and Fred was struck by how nice her laugh sounded. Melodious and fun, not awkward andmonotonous like you'd expect from someone as boring as her. "Why aren't you mingling?" Fred asked accusingly.

Hermione snorted. "I'm not really a mingler."

Fred frowned. His plan was failing- she wasn't being fun. She was sitting at a Christmas party, in a corner, by herself, drinking fruit punch. In a last-ditch effort to save his plan, he held out his hand. "Dance with me."

"I can't."

"You can't?"

"Dance."

"Well then it's too bad I'm not giving you a choice, isn't it?"

Hermione gave in. "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you when I step on your feet!"

Fred led her onto the floor just as a slow Christmassy ballad began to play. Hermione looked up at him nervously. He put his hands around her waist and whispered, "Relax. Let me lead." As Fred effortlessly steered them around, he asked, "So, did you have any fun at all?"

Hermione nodded with pride. "I got a date!"

Fred winced as her strappy high heel came down on his foot. "Next time, remind me to get you flats."

"Sorry." Hermione protested. "But I said I couldn't dance and you insisted. You brought this upon yourself!" Talking caused her to miss a beat and once again she speared his foot with her heel.

"Ow."

"Sorry!"

"So, this date," Fred said, his face affixed in what he feared was a permanent grimace of pain, "Who's it with?"

"Dean Thomas."

"Oh." Fred felt a twinge of discomfort at the thought of Hermione dating Dean. But why? It wasn't as if he was dating her! And at least she was dating now. She was starting to resemble a real person! Major progress.

"Fred, are we leaving soon? I have a status report to finish."

Fred sighed inwardly. Well, minor progress, at least.

A/N: Well, there it is. I can't believe Christmas is only eight days away! I think I'm going to try to get up a chapter a day from now on, but next chapter might be two days, because I have to rewrite it. You guys have to promise to review every chapter though. I don't want to lose reviews because I'm updating quickly!