A/N: Woohoo! Reviews are rolling in! Thank you all so much! Before we even begin,I love this chapter. It's the day of the ball and everythings happening! Sorry i haven't been answering all your questions, but i'm lazy! I'll try to do a few now:

How did Harry go up to the girls dorm with the stairs etc?
Come on! He's not the boy who lived for nothing! See this chapter...

Why did Harry make Dean take Erin to the ball after he upset her?
Because Dean cheated on Erin just a few days before the ball, and if they hadn't gone together Erin would have been left without a date. Dean could get another easily on short notice, as he's a marauder.

Why don't you put this story under H/G instead of R/Hr?
Because the first pairng mentioned was R/Hr, it's the only pairing which has kind of been there throughout, and it will be the stringest pairing. See this chapter...

Exploding presents outside the Slytherin common room?
Just a prank. Thought it would be funny!

Whats going on with the unicorn?/Who is Lupin's other Student?/Where is Hagrid?
Can't tell you. Lupin had two other, now only one. He's back.

Is there going to be anymore D/Hr, as i'm a R/Hr shipper etc etc?
Nope, the almost non existant (I kept it to a minimum) D/Hr moments were ground work for one of the last few chapters.

Does Dumbledore know about the universe change?
Does Dumbledore know everything? Who knows...

Does Harry get to meet him parents?
Of course! I'm not so horrible as to get Harry's hopes up and then let him down hugs Harry :)

Finally, i've put a mention in about RonMione4eva(it think that was your name, Brooke!) my 500 reviewer's character. She's mentioned in this chapter and we meet her in the next. She belongs to Brooke and not me!!! Ok? :P

Hugs and smiles, Angel

Chapter 32: A different story

Harry got up around midday, purely because he had too. It was the day of the ball. A day where girls ran around giggling, boys worried about dancing, and the Marauders planned a kick ass party, or so he'd heard.

Harry paced down to the common room, after showering and changing, to find it filled with activities. Girls were standing round the edge of the room in little splodges, chatting animatedly, boys were moving things in and out, levitating red furniture to the sides and setting up blue tables in the middle. Seamus and Dean seemed to be the leaders of the operation, standing on desks and chairs, ordering people to take bright boxes here, and move paint pots there. The room was a flurry of color. Harry had never seen anything like it.

'That's it Dennis.' Seamus called, using his hands to direst the sound. 'Stack it on top of the others.'

'A little to the left,' Dean said, signaling to with his hands. 'Now back a little, perfect.'

'Morning.' Harry shouted with a grin over the commotion.

'Prongs!' Seamus and Dean cheered, and jumped from their stands.

'Decided to make an appearance?' Seamus asked, jokingly.

'What time do you call this?' Dean mocked.

'Slept in.' Harry shrugged. 'What've I missed?'

'Not a lot, just been sorting out things for the after ball party.' Seamus said, gesturing to the grand array of color.

'Great.' Harry hyped.

'Yeah.' Dean agreed. 'We've got paints, banners, butterbeer and decorations. Now all we've got to do is sort out those speakers we nicked from muggle studies. We were hoping Hermione could charm them, but she's not been around all morning.'

'Hasn't she been helping in the Great Hall?' Harry asked.

'No, that's just prefects, not the Head boy and girl,' Seamus said. 'Which is why we've lost Ron, Erin and that daft Colin boy. We could've done with their help.'

'And she's not in the library?' Harry questioned.

'She's not left her dorm.' Dean said. 'Or if she has, she must have sneaked by us. We've been up since the break of day.'

'And where's Ginny?' Harry asked.

'Not seen her either.' Seamus sighed. 'But down to business. We've still got to get the sweets from Honeydukes and check the owls for that Firewhisky Ron's brothers were sending us…'

Dean and Seamus trekked to the center of the room, and the troops of boys crowded round to hear the next plan of action.

'You girls can help too, you know!' Seamus yelled, signaling for them to join in.

Harry walked past the cluster to the girls staircase, put a no-gravity spell on himself, and floated easily up to a selected dorm room before his fellow Marauders had time to notice his absence.

'Come in.' Hermione called, after Harry had tapped on the door.

Harry crept inside the silent dorm room, and issued a simple, 'hey.'

Hermione was sitting innocently on a chair by the window towards the back of the room. She was snuggled up in a warm yellow daisy blanket, and wearing baby blue towline pajamas. Her hair laid thick and bushy down her back, and made Harry smile.

'Oh, it's you.' Hermione sighed. 'I thought Lavender and Parvati were back.'

'Nope. Just me.' Harry sang, throwing his arms out at his side.

'And what brings you to my dormitory?' Hermione asked, absent mindedly gazing outside.

'Well I heard that you weren't up yet, and I know how unusual that is…' Harry explained, wandering towards her. 'What's up?'

'Nothing.' Hermione sighed, fidgeting with her blanket. 'Just thinking about Ron and Draco and that ridiculous fight.'

'Ah.' Harry said, and sat himself on the edge of the nearest bed. 'Well you can't say you weren't expecting it.'

'I know, but I'm still mad at him.' Hermione growled.

'Who?'

'Ron.' She humped, scrunching up a fist of blanket in her rather tiny hand. 'Starting on Draco like that after he helped him get out of that last scrape. What was the point? I should think Ron did more damage to him then Blaise! He just picked an excuse for a fight because he quite clearly doesn't like Draco.'

'But he does, or did.' Harry affirmed conversationally. 'I mean, he was the main one who fought Blaise when we were in Hogsmeade. He seemed to really like Draco, and was suggesting hanging out with him more often, before he showed an interest in you.'

'Me? What difference do I make?' Hermione rambled, her cheeks reddening on their own accord.

'Don't be so naïve!' Harry laughed. 'You know what Ron's like! If I didn't know better, I might suggest that you did this whole thing with Draco to make Ron jealous.'

'Well it's a good job you do know me better then, isn't it.' Hermione sniffed. 'Else you might have made quite a fool of yourself.'

Silence fell for a moment as Hermione looked indignantly out of the window once more.

'You know,' Harry said softly, 'Ron only went for Draco when he saw him kiss you on the cheek. He couldn't take it. He just exploded.'

'That's because Ron doesn't understand.' Hermione said, crossing her arms. 'Just because he made a public show of affection doesn't mean we're together in any way. It doesn't mean anything.'

'So It doesn't mean anything when Ron kisses you in the Entrance Hall?' Harry asked seriously. 'Because your face tells a different story.'

Hermione lowered her head and rested her burning eyes in her comforter.

'Oh leave me alone.' She hollered.

'I just wondered…' Harry mumbled, before changing the direction of the conversation. 'So who's Draco's ball date?'

'A girl from my dorm, Brooke.' Hermione mourned, turning her head to face Harry. 'She's really nice. She's the one who's been taking my place and doing all girly things with Lav and Pav while I've been with you guys. I don't think they've even noticed that it's not me.'

Harry chuckled. 'She's pretty?'

'Hmmmm.' Hermione murmured. 'And dead excited about going with Draco, although I think she'd rather go with Ron. A date swap was suggested as a joke, but I declined.'

'Rather go with Ron?' Harry mused.

'Of course.' Hermione smiled in a dreamy teenage way.

'You and Ron are so perfect for each other.' Harry sighed, as he got up from the creaky bed. 'I thought that pensieve would be enough to make you two realize, but… I'm going back down to help with the party. You should too.'

'Good idea.' Hermione yawned, unwinding herself from her golden cocoon.

'I know you and Ron don't always see eye to eye,' Harry continued, 'but promise me you wont give up on Ron.'

Hermione gave Harry a slightly confused look, before nodding her head in acknowledgment.

'Good. I know you like him, even if you wont admit it.' Harry grinned as he walked out of the dorm, leaving a very stunned Hermione dangerously alone with her own thoughts.

When Harry emerged from the girls staircase, he was met with a whirlwind of progress. The once bare tables were now filled with great banners being painted by the artists of the house, boxes were being opened and decorations discovered, sweets cowered in great piles, bottles chimed at every knock.

'Where'd you go?' Seamus asked from his prime painting position.

'Nowhere.' Harry said, watching a second year trip over a rather large box of fireworks. 'Just up to see Hermione.'

'Is she coming down yet?' Seamus questioned. 'Because I have no idea how we're linking that muggle thing up to the radio. Dean seems to think we need to transfigure something into a 'dapta' or something, then do a swanky charm.'

'Sounds about right.' Harry nodded, hands in his pockets. 'When are the prefects finishing?'

'Well, we take a late lunch in about twenty minutes, so I'd say after that.' Seamus assumed, washing his brush.

'Hey! Prongs, Mooney!' Dean shouted as he ran across the room, decorations dangling from his hands. 'Guess what ex student I heard is returning to Hogwarts for the ball?'

'No idea.' Seamus shrugged.

'Try famous Auror Rubeus Hagrid!' Dean cheered.

'You must be joking!' Seamus exclaimed.

Harry smiled. Things just couldn't get any better.

After lunch with a very disgruntled Ron, a hyper active Erin, a smiling Colin, and every member of every other house, (no other house seemed to be host to a party) Harry made his way back to the common room with his rather irritable best friend.

'I'm going to apologize, but she better not moan at me.' Ron grumbled, stupidly kicking the stair as he went by, and regretting it considerably afterwards.

'She won't.' Harry assured him. 'In fact, I've spoken to her and she's not as mad as she was last night. Just a little annoyed. You can handle it.'

'I hope so.' Ron sighed, almost to himself. 'I really want to go to the ball with her…'

After much silent thinking time, they entered the common room. Hermione stood authoritatively by a large muggle speaker, Dean and Seamus making exaggerated helpful gestures at her side. Her hair was up in a curly ponytail, and Harry was glad to see she was out of her blue pajamas.

'Hermione!' Ron called, as he and Harry passed quickly across the common room.

'Just a minute.' Hermione said blandly, giving her wand a few last flicks before a shining gold chord glowed between the speakers and the radio. 'Done. It's an artificial adaptor. It should do for tonight… Ron?'

Ron stood singly, feet rooted to the ground, his large blue eyes suddenly looking at ill ease.

'I just…I just wanted…' Ron stumbled, and Seamus and Dean passed shifty looks. 'I wanted to apologize.'

Hermione crossed her arms unforgivably.

'See, I got bothered because of you and Draco, which still bothers me…' Ron tried to explain. 'But the point is that I'm not mad at him any more, I'm no longer mad at myself either, and I was never mad at you, so… I hope we can just forget about this.'

Hermione tipped her head to one side and sighed, like she always did, and Ron knew he was off the hook, yet something was amiss.

'Look.' Ron said sincerely, taking Hermione's crossed arms down and holding her hands tightly. 'I'm honestly sorry. It was stupid of me. I'm not just saying it so you'll forgive me. I shouldn't have started that fight, but it bothers me…you and him bother me… I can't stand it, Hermione. Please, please don't keep meeting him, I can't abide it. I cant stand seeing him hold your hand.'

Ron eyes were bright with sincerity, which Harry thought could never be matched. Hermione stood, some would say, blankly, yet it was clear to Harry that she was trying not to cry. He lip quivered slightly as she bit it, and adoration slowly came through her numbed features.

She let out a breath which no one knew she was holding, and pulled Ron unexpectedly into a hug. It wasn't staged, or predicted. It was meaningful, yet how much no-one could tell. Hermione lent her head tiredly onto Ron's chest, and Ron held her close. Seamus and Dean slowly looped away.

'I mean it.' Ron whispered, his eyes tight closed. 'Not just as your fake boyfriend.'

Hermione didn't answer.

After a moment she pulled away, with a slightly unusual look on her face. It was like something didn't add up to her. Her deep brown eyes were more concentrated and contained something more then before. Something unreadable.

'I'm going to go get ready.' Hermione said, never breaking eye contact with Ron, and Harry wasn't sure if she'd heard herself speak. The words had come out and she'd barely moved her lips. Her gaze was fixed.

Hermione turned her head suddenly and walked hastily to her dormitory. Ron stood dead still.

'Hermione.' Harry sighed.

'The one and only.' Ron smiled inwardly to himself, and it unintentionally reflected on his face.

'Tell me you fancy her.' Harry grinned steadily.

Ron laughed lightly, scratching the back of his head with his hand.

'Come on, lets go help.' Ron replied, and wandered off in the direction of Seamus and Dean.

'Hey Harry!' Chorused Harry's two favorite red headed girls, with the addition of one blonde.

'What you up to?' Erin asked.

'Still helping with the party?' Daisy mocked, signaling to the surrounding mess.

'No, actually I…' Harry started, then something hit him. 'Where've you been all day? You're not a prefect, you didn't have duty!'

'Oh, I was in the library.' Daisy giggled. 'Very busy.'

'So what you mean is that you didn't want to help.' Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Something like that.' Daisy agreed. 'Hope you had fun!'

'Come on,' Erin said eagerly, 'lets go get ready!'

Daisy and Erin trailed away, leaving Ginny looking rather slight all on her own.

'Aren't you getting ready yet?' Harry asked, passing his weight from foot to foot, almost nervously.

'Nah, we've got ages.' Ginny insisted, putting her hands on her hips. 'In fact, I was planning on a trip to Riddle's. I was supposed to help him tonight, after all, and I haven't heard much from him for the last few days.'

'Lets go then.' Harry said uneasily.

Ginny rapped on the History class door, but was not met with a familiar welcome. She hesitated, catching Harry's eye unsurely, before opening the door, creak by creak.

'Who's there?' A sharp voice demanded.

'It's just me,' Ginny said sweetly. 'and I brought Harry. We've just popped by to say hi.'

'Very well.' Riddle's voice replied endearingly, with an imaginable smirk.

Ginny lead Harry inside the unusually dark murky classroom, and Harry cast his eyes upon the man hidden in the shadows suspiciously. Harry always saw the darkness of nighttime as a weakness. He wished Riddle would light the fire.

'I'm afraid I'm in no state for a visit.' Riddle said coldly, slamming a suit case close with his thin white fingers.

'Are you going somewhere?' Ginny asked innocently. It was obvious he was. Under close inspection you could see roles of parchment laying around in piles and several half packed trunks. His long black traveling cloak laid dustily over a chair.

'Yes.' He said menacingly, his eyes bulging. 'I'm leaving today and I wont be back.'

Riddle laughed atonally, tossing into his trunk more of his possessions, and both Ginny and Harry found themselves cringing.

'Where are you going?' Ginny questioned softly.

'Never you mind.' Riddle replied, sucking in the adrenaline of the moment. 'I'm going away from all these stupid children! Mudbloods, squibs, all of them! I'll see them all in hell!'

Riddle slammed another trunk shut, and pushed it aggressively out of his way.

'Are you feeling alright?' Ginny asked, taking a silent step forwards. Riddle snapped his head in Ginny's direction, and Harry pulled her back by the waist.

'I've never felt better.' Riddle said softly in his usual fatherly tone, but there was something perverted about it this time which churned Harry up.

'It's time we go.' Harry stated plainly, blocking his mind so that nothing could get in. His hands were still gripped tightly round Ginny's waist.

'Yeah.' She said, falsing a childlike persona. 'I need to get ready for the ball. Good bye!'

'Good bye children.' Riddle replied in a friendly yet bitter tone.

Harry pushed Ginny out first, not letting go of her until they were out of the devils sight.

'Theres something wrong with him.' Harry stated. 'It's not right. I don't trust him'

'I know.' Ginny mumbled, clinging anxiously to Harry's left sleeve.

'He's mad.' Harry drabbled. 'Absolutely mad.'

'What are we supposed to do?' Ginny asked wearily, as they began to climb the stairs.

'Be glad he's leaving I guess.' Harry said, unsurely.

'Do you think Dumbledore will announce where he's going at the ball?' Ginny asked, looking a little fearful still. 'Dumbledore and the professors are bound to bid him goodbye.'

'Probably.' Harry sighed, taking Ginny's hand from his sleeve and clasping it in his own. 'I'm just glad you're with me tonight.'

Once back in the common room, Harry and Ginny parted to go and get ready.

Harry was ready for the ball in no time, only having to change into his dark green robe, wash his face, and spray a little aftershave. He didn't even attempt to flatten his hair, he knew he'd only make it worse.

Harry passed Dean and Seamus on his way down the stairs, and when he got to the common room, it was almost deserted. A few boys littered the edge of the bright and festive room, a couple of preteens trying their first butterbeer.

Harry slouched into the largest most comfortable couch he could find, in the most secluded corner. He rested his eyes, trying to get into a ball frame of mind, if there ever was such a thing. He wanted to be ready when Ginny descended the girls staircase, looking like a princess. When she smiled at him, waiting for his approval. He couldn't wait to see her…

Harry was spinning in a dimly lit room. The Great Hall, his mind told him before he'd made the decision. There were hundreds of couples dancing around. Spinning and twirling. One of those couples was him and Ginny.

'Are you alright Harry?' Ginny asked. Her voice sounded distant, almost inaudible, but Harry knew what she was going to say before she moved her lips. Harry knew where he was-The Christmas ball. The time between his rest and now had somehow leaked away.

He had one hand holding Ginny's, and his other he could feel on Ginny's slender waist. He didn't break eye contact with her. He didn't have too.

'Why don't you sit down.' Ginny suggested, looking concerned. She led him to one side of the hall, and sat him on a chair. 'You don't look too well Harry.'

Harry looked at his reflection in Ginny's eyes. He didn't look to well, and he felt even worse.

'I'm going to go to Madame Pomfrey.' Ginny said, taking Harry's hand. Harry noticed how small and cold her hands were, not like he remembered. 'I'll be right back with something to help. Just sit there. I'll be right back.'

Harry tried to call Ginny back, but his mouth had gone dry. His head was aching. This had happened before, and he knew what would happen next. He had to stop her.

He rose from his chair, his mind suddenly clear. The voices of the people around him became load, and their figures sharp. Harry ran faster then he ever remembered running, but as he reached the door, he heard a piercing scream.

It made his ears burn. He knew who it belonged too, and he knew why. The room turned black. The silence rung in Harry's ears. He lent onto the wall as the door creaked open. Someone was behind it, and Harry knew that someone was going to tell him she was dead.

Harry bolted straight up, almost flying out of his seat, to find Ron looming in front of him.

'You alright, mate?' Ron asked, waving his hand hopefully before Harry's face.

'Yeah.' Harry sighed, wiping the clammy sweat from his forehead. 'It was just a dream.'

'Good.' Ron said, only half listening. 'Now I'm going to the owlery to get that firewhisky Fred and George have sent over. I'll be right back, but if Hermione's ready early, which I doubt, tell her where I am.'

Harry nodded mutely, and Ron wandered away in a world of his own.

The common room was much fuller then before, Harry thought, though there was nobody around who he knew well. So many happy faces. Lighthearted conversation. Pecks under the mistletoe. That stuff what everywhere, and in very strategic places: The archway above the girls staircase, hanging above the portrait hole…above the drinks table. Harry wondered if given the chance, he'd kiss Ginny under the mistletoe. He thought back to the Cho incident and cringed, yet he somehow the idea still had it's appeal.

'Maybe.' He said in a hushed voice to nobody in particular, before sauntering up the boys staircase. He washed the cold sweat of off his forehead, and ran his wet fingers through his untamable hair. It sat up in a gelled mess, and Harry ignored the Marauders taunting as he went back to the common room.

Once he'd reached the bottom step of the stairs, he heard someone call his voice.

'Harry!' Hermione yelled almost frantically.

Harry scanned the common room for Hermione, who was impossible to miss. For a start, as far as Harry could she, she was the only girl who was in the room.

She wore a powder pink dress robe with puffed sleeves, and a long flowing skirt. Her hair was down and curly, with half a dozen pink roses across the top of her head, her eyes were accented by pale shades.

'Hermione, you look beautiful.' Harry said, honestly.

'That's beside the point Harry.' Hermione stressed, barely keeping her composure. 'Oh Harry, I can't go to the ball with Ron.'

'Why?' Harry asked.

'Because I'm in love with him.'

Ahhhhhhhh! Whats going to happen? What is Hermione talking about? The madness!!! I think it merits some reviews...