Hermione and Ginny entered the Great Hall with awe. The Great Hall was decorated with blue and white streamers and banners saying, "Congrats Harry!" There were long tables full of food and other small tables on the side where boys and girls were sitting with eachother. Hermione noticed that the band was Loose Step which was her favorite band. She looked at all the tables and noticed Harry and Ron chatting away. When they caught sight of her their mouth dropped.

"Her.. Her.. Her.." Ron said awestruck.

"Hermione is my name, suprised you don't know that" Hermione said while sitting down at the table with Ginny.

"Wow, Hermione, you look different..." Harry said scanning Hermione up and down.

Hermione's heart was pumping so hard she was scared he was going to hear.

"Is different good?" Hermione tried saying with no emotion.

"Umm, yes, different is good" Harry said somewhat distracted.

Hermione was scared, did he not like her? Was she too dressy? Or was she just really ugly? Ginny was eyeing Hermione a calm look because she knew what Hermione was thinking but she still wasn't feeling any better.

"I think different is good!" Ron said suddenly when he got out of his daze.

The whole table jumped when he immediately said that.

"Ummm... thanks Ron, are you okay?" Hermione said.

Ron couldn't stop staring at her. Hermione wondered if Ron liked her and if he did she would feel so bad if she went for Harry. But how can she give up this oppurtunity.. if she had one..

Dumbledore went up to the podium and started to talk.

"Welcome everyone! I hope you all will have a fun night. We have prepared food and got the band "Loose Step" to come here!"

Many students started to cheer and clap, "Loose Step" was a well known band at Hogwarts. It was amazing Dumbledore could get them to come.

"I would all like all of you to remember the reason why all of you are getting this special treat. That reason is Harry Potter. As most of you know, he recently defeated Voldemort sooner then I expected and I am very proud of him. He still hasn't mastered everything and at the age of 16 has done what most adult wizards can't.
I would like Harry to come up here and make a speech for the whole school and I would like Harry to choose a girl to dance with for the first dance before the ball. Let's all give Harry a round of an applause."

Everyone was clapping very loud for Harry. The whole school was so proud. Even Malfoy was clapping but with a sulky look on his face. Harry left his seat and went up to the podium. Dumbledore embraced a hug and Harry began to talk.

"Hello everyone. I am so happy I have such support from all of my fellow students. I want to thank Dumbledore and all my friends for being there for me when times got tough. It's been rough after the fight because I can't seem to get my mind off it. But here I am, with no more worries, and I hope everyone has a great night. So, I guess I'm supposed to pick a girl for the first dance, umm..." Harry glanced at all the girls sitting at the small tables.

Hermione was praying it would be her, but she was suprised how cool she was being about it, Ginny didn't even notice how nervous she was.

"Ummmm... Leslie, would you like to dance with me?" Harry said to one of the most prettiest girls at Hogwarts.
Leslie looked thrilled and said yes.

Hermione, she couldn't even begin to explain her pain, she wanted to go run back to the common room with Ginny and cry all night. Without Hermione knowing, a tear dropped down her face, and another thing she didn't know was that Harry and Ron both saw it.