Chapter Six
Announcement of Ronald Weasley
Days ran fast. And as the days go by, the month of December had its second week.
And as the days passed by, the rumors about Ron and Fleur became more evident.
"And we saw them at the lake. They're so sweet."
"No doubt, Ron would go with her this ball."
That's what Hermione was always hearing. Could they just do their things in private? Though she kept telling herself that she's not affected, the tears that she's always crying were the evidence that's she's not successful in telling it in her mind and heart.
It was a cold Christmas when Ron woke up. He saw his presents when Harry was about to wake up too.
"Merry Christmas, mate!" Ron greeted him and he went to the pile of his presents. Harry greeted him back and also went to his presents.
When Ron checked all of his presents, he noticed that one of his usual givers was missing.
"Hey, Ron, Hermione gave me a book entitled, How to fly high as your dreams using your broom. I think this book is great."
That's what is missing, Hermione's present for him. He opened all his presents.
"Ron thanks for this," said Harry as he shown Ron's gift for him.
"No problem and thanks for your gift, too."
Ron went to his drawer and pulled a small box and inserted it in his pocket. Maybe, she'll give it to me personally, just like me.
"Harry, I'll go ahead to the Great Hall. Fleur might be waiting for me."
"Okay," said Harry as he opened Ginny's gift for him.
"Your English improved a lot."
Ron stopped dead and saw Hermione talking to a guy. It was Viktor Krum.
"I really studied English. It's cold here, isn't it?"
"Here," Then Hermione handed a sweater to Krum. It's a Weasley sweater. That sweater maybe Mrs. Weasley's present for her this Christmas.
"Hermione!" yelled Ron.
The two turned.
"Hello, Ron," greeted Krum.
"Hi," said Ron blankly.
"Mr. Viktor Krum! It's so nice to see you. Welcome at Hogwarts!" It's Professor Sprout. She's with Professor McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore.
"Welcome at Hogwarts, Mr. Krum and Merry Christmas," greeted Dumbledore. "You wouldn't mind if I invite Mr. Krum in my office, Miss Granger? Mr. Weasley?"
"No, we wouldn't," said Hermione and Ron then Krum with Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Sprout walked away.
"So, you're Vicky was trembling with cold," said Ron sarcastically. "Does your sweater fitted him or you wrote to my Mum and asked her to make a larger sweater for him?"
Hermione was astonished. The very first thing Ron did was to say a debatable topic instead of greeting her Merry Christmas.
"He's cold. I can't stand here and watch him chilled," said Hermione irritably.
"Then you should have just went to the tower and lend him another sweater but not a sweater from my Mum. And mind you, you told us that in his country, it is colder there," shouted Ron.
"So what if I lend him a sweater from Mrs. Weasley? It's the sweater I only had now. It would take me for ages before I could find a sweater that's not from her. And I know Mrs. Weasley wouldn't mind if I lend sweater," snarled Hermione.
"But it's yours, Hermione, it's yours!" said Ron hotly.
"And what's your problem if I lend him my sweater?" yelled Hermione.
"Can't he bring his own?" spat Ron.
"Why don't you mind your Fleur?" yelled Hermione.
"Don't put Fleur on this topic! She's nothing to do with this!" yelled Ron back.
"Then leave Viktor alone!" said Hermione angrily then jumped off her feet and walked to the Great Hall.
Ron watched her go.
Hermione was one of the first students to arrive in the Great Hall. Trying to stop herself from crying and hide her tears, she just ate quietly.
He didn't either give me a present or even greeted me Merry Christmas. How could he? Hermione thought. She was still angry and hurt. She witnessed how Ron defended Fleur.
Hermione pulled a wrapped gift from her pocket. She wanted to give it to Ron personally. It was a book entitled: 100 reasons why I'm in love with you, my best friend. But she returned it back to her pocket when she saw Harry, Ginny and Fleur.
As Harry, Ginny and Fleur sat down, Hermione noticed Fleur's scarf. It's beautiful.
"Nice scarf, Fleur," said Ginny as if she had read her mind.
"Oh? It's my Christmas present from Ron," said Fleur brightly.
Hermione sighed then focused eating.
"Hermione," it's Fleur. "Viktor is looking for you a while ago."
"Yeah, I forgot to say that," said Harry.
Hermione stood up. "Thanks. I'll look for him." Then she went out of the Hall. Harry and Ginny noticed Hermione's mood. When Hermione disappeared, Ron came.
"You're sort of late, Ron. Hermione was here before you came."
"Merry Christmas," greeted Ginny and Fleur.
Ron ignored Harry and greeted Ginny and Fleur back but without any emotions.
Harry raised an eyebrow and looked at Ginny and Fleur. The two were also looking at Ron.
"Any problem?" asked Fleur.
"Nothing,"
They gazed at him. He didn't move any of his foods.
"Did you see Viktor Krum?" asked Ginny.
Ron nodded and suddenly stood up. "See you later. I have something to do at the Tower." Then he left.
"What's his problem?" asked Fleur.
"I bet my two best friends had a major argument." Harry suggested.
"I think so. But why of all days, I mean, it's Christmas," said Ginny.
Instead of going to the Gryffindor Tower, Ron went to the library. He borrowed a book about Quidditch but didn't read it.
How could Hermione be so sweet and caring about Krum? Then he turned the page of the book.
She'll never be like that to you, Ronald Bilius Weasley. Just store it in your dreams!
When he realized that he didn't understand even a single word from the book, he slammed it and returned it to Madam Pince and went out of the library.
He found Harry, Ginny and Fleur in the lake, playing snow fight.
"Hey! Ron! Join us!" yelled Harry.
Ron went closer to them. Ginny and Fleur threw snow balls onto him and laughed. He gave them a smile and rolled his own snow ball and threw it to Harry, who's laughing. For a moment, Ron forgot what happened to him and Hermione.
They were enjoying the fight when Fleur shouted, "Hey! Hermione!" Ron was about to roll another ball but he dropped it. He turned around as well as Harry and Ginny. Hermione was with Viktor Krum.
"Hello!" greeted Krum. They greeted him back except for Ron who just gave him a little, forced smile.
Hermione and Ron exchanged cold looks. But Harry and Ginny noticed it.
"I have to finish something. Sorry if I'll leave you now," said Ron then he walked but stopped and turned at Krum. "Before I forget, Merry Christmas," said Ron. He meant it.
"You, too, Merry Christmas," replied Krum. But Ron didn't bother to greet Hermione and he walked away from them.
Night strikes at Hogwarts and everyone was preparing for the ball.
"Who's your partner, Ginny?" asked Luna Lovegood as they walked out from the girls' dormitory.
"Harry," said Ginny brightly. "How about you?"
When they reached the hall of the Gryffindor Tower, Ginny got the answer to her question. Harry was waiting for her with Neville Longbottom.
"Hi, Ginny and Luna," greeted Harry as he reached for Ginny's hand.
"Hello, Harry. Shall we, Neville?" said Luna. Neville reached for her hand and they walked.
"Nice pair isn't it?" asked Ginny then laughed.
"I can't imagine what type of conversation they are going to have." Harry laughed.
"Hey! Ginny! Have you seen Fleur? Hello Harry," said Ron. He looks gorgeous. All of them were in their finest.
"Oh, hi Ron! Hello there, you two," greeted Fleur wearing a light blue gown. Harry and Ron stared at her. Then Ginny elbowed Harry. "Aw," Harry whispered.
"You look great," said Ron.
"Thank you. You too," said Fleur shyly.
"Let's go then." Ron and Fleur headed their way through the Great Hall.
"I think we better go, too," said Ginny coldly.
"Don't worry, Ginny. For me, you stand the best with your red gown," said Harry, smiling. Ginny turned red as her gown.
As the four reached the Great Hall, everyone was looking at them. Then Colin Creevey went to them.
"Harry! There's a special table for you, Miss Delacour and Mr. Krum. I'll lead you the way!" said Colinpleasurably.
Harry and Ron exchanged look and grinned. They followed him. The table was near the staff's table.
"I wonder why they have to do this," said Ron.
Then they felt a bit silence and noticed that everyone was looking at the Great Hall's door. They saw Viktor Krum with Hermione. She was wearing a lavender- colored gown that made her look elegant. Colin was also leading their way.
Beautiful, she's so beautiful and elegant. How I wish I'm the one who's with her. Ron thought.
Krum and Hermione looked at Harry, Ginny Fleur and Ron. They smiled at them and they smiled back but Ron didn't receive that smile from Hermione as well as her. Instead, they looked at each other as if they were slapping each other's cheeks.
After they sat down, the whole Great Hall was covered by silence because Albus Dumbledore stood up.
"Good evening, sixth and seventh year students and to our special guests. I'll just have my words later. But for now, I would like, with honor, to open the Christmas Ball. Merry Christmas! We hope everybody will enjoy." Dumbledore sat down again and everybody applauded.
After eating, the Weird Sisters played danceable songs. Dumbledore led the dance floor with Professor McGonagall. The other students followed.
"I didn't dance a lot in the Yule Ball. Want to teach me how to dance, huh, Ginny?" said Harry then he and Ginny stood up.
Ron looked at Hermione and she was also looking at him but looked away when he caught her looking.
"Unlike Harry, I didn't dance at all. Want to dance, Fleur?" asked Ron.
"Can we also dance, Hermione?" asked Krum.
The four of them stood up at the same time.
In the dance floor, Ron was looking for Hermione but he couldn't find her. Instead, he found his sister and Harry dancing happily. They found him and Fleur, too.
"Want to exchange partners?" asked Harry.
"Why not? I haven't danced with my own sister," said Ron, smiling. Ron went to Ginny and Harry to Fleur.
"I didn't know that you have a talent in dancing, Ginny," said Ron, taking pleasure in dancing with his sister.
"Of course, I have!" Ginny insisted.
"Hey! Ron! Fleur's a nice dancer," said Harry who's enjoying dancing with Fleur.
"Hi, sis! Hi, Viktor!" said Ginny over Ron's shoulder.
Hermione and Krum were dancing, too.
"I see that you have an exchange of partners," said Krum.
"Yes. I think I haven't danced with you, right?" said Fleur as she and Harry stopped dancing.
"Why don't' we try?" Then Krum let go of Hermione. "You wouldn't mind?" he asked her.
"No, I wouldn't."
"I wanted to dance again with Ginny. Ron's right, you had a talent in dancing," said Harry as he went to Ginny.
Ron and Hermione left standing.
"I'm tired. I'll just sit down," said Hermione quietly and went to their table.
They watched Hermione go.
"I'll have some chatting with Ernie Macmillan," said Ron and went to Ernie's table.
Harry and Ginny exchanged confused looks.
When they were finished dancing, Harry, Ginny, Fleur and Viktor Krum went back to their table.
"You had a nice time, all of you," said Hermione, trying to hide her annoyance. Ron didn't bother to ask her to dance. Then he came.
"You're great dancers. You already have a huge future if ever you'll not be successful wizards," said Ron as he sat beside Ginny and Fleur, avoiding Hermione's eyes.
Then the music stopped and the Great Hall was in silence for Dumbledore stood up.
"I'm honored that we have two out of the ordinary guests. It looks like a reunion for the Triwizard Champions. I know Cedric would be proud of this." Everyone murmured then silence was again felt.
"Now, I would like to call the other remaining champions. Will you come here as I call your names? First, of course, from Hogwarts, Mr. Harry Potter with Miss Ginerva Weasley," The students clapped their hands as Harry and Ginny walked at the front of the staff's table.
"From Durmstrang Institute, Mr. Viktor Krum with Miss Hermione Granger." Everybody clapped again as Krum and Hermione appeared.
"And last but not the least, the only lady in the Triwizard Tournament, Miss Fleur Delacour with Mr. Ronald Weasley." Aside from claps, the whole Great Hall was covered with giggles as Ron and Fleur walked. The entire Hogwarts believed that something was happening between the two. Hermione watched Ron and Fleur as they went near them.
"I wouldn't be saying anything because I would like to ask some messages from their respective partners," said Dumbledore.
They blushed except for Ron and Fleur who just smiled at each other.
"Let's hear something first from Miss Weasley."
"Well, what can I say? Thank you, Harry for asking me to be your partner and it's really my pleasure," said Ginny who's redder than her gown.
"Short but concise and truly from her heart, I guess, Miss Weasley. And now, Miss Granger, if you please,"
Hermione turned scarlet. Ron stared at her.
"Like Ginny, I would like to thank you for asking me. And… and I would like to say that… that I might visit you in your country this summer vacation." Hermione's ears became scarlet. Ron could feel his anger was rising.
"An impressive message from Miss Granger. Mr. Weasley, anything to say to Ms. Delacour?"
The crowd became noisier as if they're waiting for Ron to kneel and ask Fleur's hand. Hermione returned to her real color and gazed at Ron.
"Err… I have nothing to say." The crowd's face drew a dismay look. "But I have something to announce this night. Fleur will be, sooner or later… a member of the Weasley family… So I guess it's better to be used in calling her… Fleur Weasley," announced Ron proudly.
A/N: What can you say about this chapter? Please R&R!