AN: It's summer so that means its time for me to get writing more H/R fanfics! I know its been like forever since I updated this one but here is the next chapter peeps! O kudos to Sammie for making my pathetic condensed chicken noodle soup of a chapter into a chunky savory beefy stew! You rock Sammie! And here's the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any thing even remotely Harry Potter related. That belongs to the wonderful J.K.R Sighs…when will you learn?
That evening at supper Ron and Hermione could be found continuously glancing up at Dumbledore, attempting to spot him standing or clearing his throat in preparation of a speech of some sorts. He should be preparing to say something about the ball right about now, but he seemed to show no signs of an upcoming announcement. Harry, meanwhile, was preoccupied watching the Slytherin table with suspicious eyes while they laughed rather forcefully, Malfoy the loudest by far.
"Something's up." Harry muttered loud enough for both Ron and Hermione to overhear him.
"What?" They both asked, swiveling their heads in his direction simultaneously, a look of mild surprise on either face.
Harry grinned at their expressions. "You know, staring at Dumbledore isn't going to make him announce it any sooner." Harry said in a matter-of-fact tone that made both Hermione and Ron feel a tad bit stupid.
"Do you think maybe he forgot about it?" Ron asked. Apparently he didn't feel foolish in the least. Hermione made it a point to give him a significant look that said quite clearly 'How stupid.'
"I doubt it. He's probably just waiting until all the students are done eating." Hermione responded in an a-matter-of-fact tone. The Slytherins were still caught in a laughing fit, and Hermione was perplexed.
"What do you think they're laughing about?" She asked, gesturing in the general direction of the noise.
Ron looked as suspicious as Harry had felt. "I dunno, but when Malfoy's happy, that generally means someone else isn't."
"If I may have your attention please?"
The students became quiet and found that Dumbledore was about to make his speech. Ron and Hermione began cringing as Harry doubled over with silent laughter.
"Thank you," Professor Dumbledore said with a small smile. "I have a special announcement to make to you all. It is my pleasure to bring to light an idea that both the prefects and professors of Hogwarts have formed. We have decided on a ball coming up this..."
Ron and Hermione watched with their faces in a fixed wince as Dumbledore went on to vaguely discuss details about theball. They didn't note the reactions of their peers, but kept their eyes focused on Dumbledore, praying the speech would be quick, or better yet, end in him claiming the idea to be stupid. Of course, he didn't, and Ron and Hermione's pained faces had to abate when the attention was relieved with "More details soon to come! Thank you!" which announced the end to Dumbledore's speech.
Harry gave the two a sympathetic grin and took a large bite of his apple pie.
Students were whispering excitedly while walking off to their separate common rooms. Already girls were conspiring in secret, plotting on catching a boy unawares.
"I really don't see why everyone's so excited about it." Ron said gloomily while a group of fourth year students shot him a quick glance and burst out in heavy giggles. Ron glared them down until they moved on.
"Actually, it's more the girls that are excited about it." Harry said. "The boys don't look so pleased." As if on cue a group of fifth year boys could be seen heading off towards the Ravenclaw common room with a look of mutiny upon their faces.
"Ron! Hermione!" called a breathless voice from behind them.
Ron and Hermione grudgingly turned to see Hannah Abbot fighting her way through a pack of first years, shooting them an annoyed glance on her way. She reached Ron and Hermione in good time, giving each a polite smile.
"Professor McGonagall told me just now. Prefect meeting next Friday. We need to discuss the plans for the ball."
Ron groaned as Hermione responded to Hannah's news, "Thanks Hannah, we'll be there."
The trio walked the remainder of the way to the common room in silence, wishing the rest of the school would do the same. They didn't.
"I can't believe it. We're having another Prefect meeting." Ron moaned as he walked through the portrait hole. "I'm telling you if I ever find who thought of this stupid ball idea, I'll kill them."
"Ron!" said Hermione reprimandingly.
"What?" came Ron's cranky voice.
"Oh, never mind," Hermione gave a pathetic sigh. "I feel the same way."
The trio flopped down on the couches. Their faces displayed an air of depression that contrasted all the glowing faces that were talking excitedly about the upcoming ball.
"Can you believe this?" Parvati moaned to Lavender in distress, "They should've told us about the ball ages ago. Now I have to get new dress robes!"
"Did Professor Dumbledore say we could invite younger students?" a second year piped up hopefully.
And the worst: "Don't you think it romantic? A Valentines Day Ball?"
"What!" Ron and Hermione exclaimed, hearing this statement.
Harry, though a little dismayed at someone calling this a Valentines Day ball, couldn't help but laughing at the look on their faces.
"And just what is so funny?" Hermione snapped.
Harry stifled a laugh. "You should see your-" Laughter, "selves!" More laughter, "your faces were priceless!" A second year that had been standing near looked at Harry awkwardly and edged away a bit.
"Well ha, ha, ha," Ron said sarcastically.
"Come on, you have to admit it is a little funny," Harry said, calming down a bit to point out just how grumpy the two were being.
Judging by the look on Ron and Hermione's faces, they didn't find it too funny.
"Alright, I see you two are a little upset over this ordeal," Harry said, looking curiously at a small group of third years at his side, their attention directed at the two prefects.
Hermione and Ron threw him a look that would have made a massive three headed dog named Fluffy wimper.
"So... I'll just be going up to bed," Harry said slowly, realizing he wasn't getting through to their more humorous sides. "Maybe you two should get some sleep, also." Harry backed away from the two, bumped into a group of girls that had been lurking nearby, and went up the stairs to the dormitory.
More and more people were surrounding Ron and Hermione, anticipation on their faces.
"Hey wait!" Ron called after Harry. Harry gave Ron a sly smile and skipped up the last few steps to the boys dorm, leaving Ron and Hermione at the mercy of a crowd of Gryffindors.
"So, what is this Valentine's Day Ball going to be?"
"Will the Weird Sisters be playing at it this time?"
"It's not a Valen—" Hermione's were lost in the questions that were being shot at them.
"Can you invite people from other schools?" A loud voice asked.
"You're not supposed to—" Again Hermione was cut off before she managed to reply.
"Hey, was this ball ideaidea yours?" asked a rather annoyed looking boy that seemed to be in his seventh year. Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance.
An unexpected hush fell over the crowd. All eyes were upon Ron and Hermione.
"Well…alright you see what happened was…that…well" Hermions started, her voice changing to that take-charge one that she used when she knew a lot of information on something that others didn't.
Ron interrupted her with a grumpy expression and a few well placed words. "Look here, you lot. Didn't you hear what Professor Dumbledore said? More details will be coming soon! The Prefects still have to plan the whole thing and we have a lot of work to do. You can give us your suggestions later, okay? Now, if you don't mind Hermione and I would like to go to bed!"
Ginny burst out in barely suppressed laughter, receiving glares from the majority of the boys still in the common room.
As the crowd dispersed, Hermione rounded on Ron. "Why did you cut me off?" She asked none-too-politely.
"When?" Ron asked innocently.
Hermione grew more agitated. "As I was telling them about the idea of the ball!"
"Because!" Came Ron's brilliantly placed defense.
"Because why?" Hermione challenged him.
"Because…look, it's hard to explain. Let's just say this is for the better alright?"
Hermione did not like being told what was for the better–particularly when she didn't know why, and someone thought her too dense to understand anyway. But for tonight, she wasn't in the mood for an argument. She let it be known she wasn't pleased by a quick glare to Ron, then she gave a heavy sigh. "Fine. Do me a favor and punch Harry for me?"
Ron looked at her incredulously.
"I just don't appreciate his leaving us in a crisis situation." Hermione said simply.
"Oh, Right. Will do," Ron promised, turning to leave.
"Thank you. Good night."
"Yeah 'night."
Ron walked into his dormitory where Harry lay on his bed, hair tousled about and glasses askew where he hadn't bothered to take them off. Ron smiled at his peaceful expression and decided to let Harry pass on that punch...
Harry ruined the facade when he let out a chortle, then rolled over. Ron gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "That's from Hermione, mate."