A/N: Sorry it's been a while, but I've had tones of course work and planning of my 16th birthday to do! So here it is. The ball chapter I've said before, but I'm afraid they don't quite make it to the Great Hall, just the Entrance Hall. Brooke's character, (Brooke) is in the chapter, and the next couple too. She's not mine, I repeat, not mine! She belongs to Brooke/RonMione4eva the lucky review winner! The next lucky review winner will be at 1000, so keep reviewing. It might be you! Angel

Chapter 33: Reality

'What?' Harry asked, with his largest grin.

'Oh you heard me.' Hermione huffed, lifting up her skirt in a very unladylike manor, and traipsing to sit down by the fire.

'So what's the problem?' Harry asked, sitting beside her.

'Well, Ron for a start.' Hermione said, sounding agitated. 'What's he going to say?'

'Perhaps, Hermione I love you too,' Harry suggested, 'lets gets married, have lots of children and live happily ever after.'

'Oh Harry, you know it's not that simple.' Hermione whined. 'It's Ron we're talking about. Aside from the fact that Ron doesn't have feelings, even if he did he'd never have them for me.'

'You know that's not true.' Harry said lightly, giving Hermione a sideways smile. 'Ron has shown that he definitely has the emotional capacity of more then a teaspoon, and you and Ron are closer then ever.'

'That doesn't mean anything.' Hermione stated, banging her shaking fists in her lap in frustration.

'No, no it doesn't…' Harry mumbled in reply, lost for words.

Hermione looked sadly at Harry before heaving a sorry sigh, and wrapping her arms around herself comfortingly. She looked disappointedly at the fire, and Harry had a feeling he'd said the wrong thing.

'Come on Hermione.' Harry said in his best cheery voice. 'Tell Ron. I know he likes you too.'

'Well I've got to, haven't I?' Hermione stressed. 'Because he's going to want a reason as to why I'm not going to the ball with him.'

'Why aren't you going to the ball with him?' Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

'Because that would be like taking advantage of him.' Hermione explained. 'I'd feel awful. He has to know.'

'Well that's great.' Harry smiled at her determination. 'Do it.'

'I will.' Hermione insisted, balling her hands into firm fists again. 'Wish me luck. I'm about to do the most stupid thing I'll ever do. I haven't even prepared!'

'It's not a test, Hermione.' Harry chuckled, standing up and offering her a hand. 'You can't prepare for what Ron's going to say.'

'Oh I can.' Hermione swore, taking Harry's hand. 'I should think he'll ever say 'Oh…ok,' or he'll run off like an idiot.'

'Or he might surprise you.' Harry smiled.

'But me and Ron.' Hermione said, stroking the creases out of her skirt nervously. 'Could it ever work?'

'There's only one way to find out.' Harry said on a serious note, and Hermione nodded her head.

'I'm going.' She decided, and ran out of the common room looking like Cinderella at midnight.

'What's her problem?' Seamus asked, as him and Dean sauntered over nosily.

'I don't know.' Harry shrugged. 'I can't see it.'

An hour or so passed, and gradually the girls began to emerge from their common rooms with gasps and giggles. Lavender was the first to appear, wearing light blue robes with tiny silver stars. Mitzi and Skye soon followed, wearing deep crimson and mauve, then Parvati, Misty, and sometime later, Erin.

Erin wore robes of rich burgundy. They were tight at the top, and had thin straps, and flowed out into an elegant rippling skirt. Her hair was down in thick red curls which looked to heavy to last, and a headband of glitter pulled loose strands away from her face.

'Well what do you think?' Erin asked which an excited twirl, a grin plastered over her deep red lips.

'Beautiful.' Harry called, feeling proud. 'If you weren't my sister…'

'You look great.' Dean smiled, and offered her his arm. He seemed more pleased them Harry had anticipated, and he was about to give Dean a word of warning, when Seamus cut in.

'So are we all ready?' Seamus asked, looking eagerly at Lavender by his side.

'No. Ginny isn't down yet.' Harry answered quickly, turning his gaze back to the girls staircase nervously.

'She might be a while.' Erin smiled almost slyly. 'She wasn't quite finished when I left her.'

'Sorry mate.' Seamus said. 'But we need to go. It's going to start any minute.'

'Fine.' Harry stammered impatiently. 'Just go. I'll catch you later.'

The two couples left in a bubble of fun and laughter, and Harry stood alone in silence, shuffling his feat anxiously.

'Harry.' A voice chimed, and he turned to see Daisy at the girls entrance. 'May I present to you,' she moved to one side with a grin, 'Ginny.'

Harry gasped as an angel stood before him. She was gowned in pure white, which shimmered and shined at every and each angle. The top was strapless, and wore a swirling pattern of twinkles on it, the skirt glided like water. Her hair was free and long, but with half up in a tiny bun, decorated with a twinkling tiara like a halo.

Harry's eyes glided to Ginny's faultless face. Her freckles were powder sprinkled upon her pure skin. Her smile was enchanting. Her eyes were chocolate orbs: dark and rich.

'I'll leave you two alone then.' Daisy muttered jauntily, and rushed from the common room in a gush of pastel yellow robes.

Harry shut his mouth quickly, (after noticing his jaw had dropped dramatically) and ambled apprehensively towards Ginny.

'Hey.' He said, letting out a deep sigh.

'Hey.' She smiled widely, and Harry suddenly felt all his troubles melt away.

'Ready to go?' He asked, as she floated down the few remaining stairs.

'Absolutely.' She said, and Harry issued her his arm. She took his hand instead.

'Erm…' Harry began, trying to chose his words carefully. So many were flowing through his mind right now. 'You-You look…t-to be honest…I…'

'Oh Harry, stop stammering!' Ginny chuckled, blushing. 'It's only me.'

'I can't.' Harry argued, avoiding her gaze as they crossed the room. 'You're you but…'

'Then what's the problem?' She asked perfectly, stopping Harry and making him meet her innocent eyes. He warmed as he realized this was the second time he'd heard that question today, took his own advice, and found the same answer applied again.

'I don't know.' Harry smiled, appreciating his luck and forgetting the circumstances. 'I can't see it anymore.'

The pair arrived in the Entrance Hall, by some miracle, before the first dance had begun.

'Excuse me, Ginny?' A sweet voice asked. 'But have you seen Draco?'

Harry turned round to see a girl in flowing lavender robes. Her hair was long and down in curls, and was brown like the cute freckles on her nose. Her eyes were deep blue and worried.

'No.' Ginny replied. 'But I'm sure he'll be here any minute.'

The girl wandered off looking troubled, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve.

'Who's that?' Harry asked, looking around for the Marauders. 'If that's Draco's date, then that's…'

'Brooke.' Ginny answered. 'She's a 7th year, and in Hermione's dorm, I think.'

'Hermione!' Harry exclaimed, letting go of Ginny's hand. 'I forgot! She went off to find Ron.'

'They're probably in there.' Ginny assumed, easily taking his hand again.

'I wouldn't be so sure.' Harry said, squeezing Ginny's hand in reply.

The first song started, and the remaining couples filed inside.

'Come on Harry, let's go!' Ginny cheered, for the first time looking excited.

'I should probably go and look for them first.' Said Harry, looking regretfully at the filled Great Hall.

'Oh, but…Harry…' Ginny pleaded, looking like a young child who'd just been told Christmas had been cancelled.

'Oh, ok.' Harry softened at Ginny's demeanor. 'I guess Ron and Hermione can sort themselves out.'

'Harry!' As if on cue, Ron ran in looking flustered. 'Where's Hermione? I can't find her anywhere.'

'She was looking for you.' Harry claimed, letting go of Ginny's hand swiftly

Ron swatted the pairs actions away in a stress.

'I don't care about you two, I just need to find Hermione!' He persisted. 'I went to get that Firewhiskey Fred and George sent, and when I came back the common room was empty.'

'I'd forgotten about that.' Harry said, slapping a hand on his head. 'I sent her to talk to you.'

'What's going on, Harry?' Ginny asked through long eyelashes.

'It doesn't matter.' Harry muttered, imagining the worst. 'She can't have gone far.'

'Ron!' Hermione called from the top of the stairs.

All three heads turned.

'Hermione.' Ron sighed, looking messy but relieved. 'Where've you been?'

Hermione hitched up her skirt a little, and tip toed down the stairs like a princess.

'I was looking for you.' She answered to his eyes, her conduct relaxed more then usual.

'I was worried.' Ron said sweetly, somehow forgetting about Harry and Ginny's presence. 'I thought you'd changed your mind or something.'

'No.' She replied honestly, reaching the bottom. 'Of course not.'

'Well, are you ready?' Ron asked, taking both her hands in his, then leaning forward to whisper in her ear inexpertly: 'You look really beautiful, you know.'

Hermione melted for a moment, her eyes fluttering close and her lips dissolving into a smile, before she strongly pulled herself away.

'Oh, Ron.' She stressed, her manor tensing as she took a few steps back. 'I can't go to the ball with you.'

'Why?' He asked, looking hurt.

'Because I'm in love with you.' She said.

Ron's sky blue eyes opened as wide as saucers, and his lips moved with no avail. Hermione stood routed to the spot, her breath held up in her throat. It felt like forever before anyone spoke.

'You…love me?' Ron asked slowly, in disbelief.

'Yes.' Hermione answered surely.

Ron took a hesitant step forward, and then another, before he scooped her up in his arms.

He kissed her.