Chapter 3: When Harry and Ron got back to the Common room they found Hermione hidden under a pile of what looked like thirty-some books. "Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry asked, moving some books so that he could sit by her. "Ugh! That new girl, she's just awful." Harry frowned, "But just this morning you were saying how nice she was" He pointed out. "Well I was wrong, then!" Hermione replied loudly. A couple people in the common room looked over at them. Hermione quickly started throwing her books into her bag. "No one and I mean no one, out does Hermione Granger." She said grabbing the books that couldn't fit into her bag and stormed up the stairs to the girl's dormitories. "So this is all about Transfiguration?" Ron exclaimed.
The next few weeks passed without any major events and Harry, Ron and Hermione could hardly believe it when it was already the 3rd week in October, a week before Halloween. That's when Dumbledore announced that there was to be a Halloween Ball. The whole school was buzzing with rumors, as it had been two years before. It wasn't before long that the three of them realized that if they wanted someone to go with they'd have to ask soon. Hermione had already turned down Neville, telling him she was going with someone else. Who that someone else was, she wasn't sure yet. Finally Harry worked up his courage and asked Cho and she accepted. So this is how they found themselves, four days before the Halloween Ball.
"Ron, when are you going to ask her? I know you like Katherine. You'd better hurry up and ask her before it's too late. AND, I'm not even going to start with you Hermione. What are you going to tell Neville when you're going with no one to the ball? Think of how he'll feel!" Even though they knew that Harry was right they laughed because his expression was hilarious. Ron almost expected Hermione to say something about the comment Harry made about him liking Katherine. Hermione had become slightly nicer to her after a couple more transfiguration lessons, which proved not only that even though Katherine was quite smart; Hermione was still the cleverest witch but also that no one could out do Hermione Granger, and she liked it that way.
"Anyway," Harry continued after they stopped laughing, "I'm just saying I don't want to hear you complaining when you have no one to go with!" Ron and Hermione exchanged looks.
"Yes, mother." Ron said sarcastically picking up his Potions book. He held it for a minute and then put it down. "You know what? I'm gonna go ask her right now." He said. "She should still be eating right?"
"Everyone are mostly still in the Great Hall" Hermione said looking at her watch.
"Okay then, see you two later!" He said trying to push the nervous feelings out of him.
"Good-luck" Harry yelled after him as he left the common room.
Ron walked slowly threw the hallways. "Will you go to the ball with me? Would you like to dance with me? Hey you, go to the ball with me!" He muttered under his breath wondering exactly how to put it.
"Ouch!" Ron heard someone yell as he walked straight into a figure.
"I'm sorry" he mumbled without looking up. He was about to walk away when he noticed who it was. "Katherine!" he exclaimed helping her pick up her books. "Are you alright?" Ron could help but think that there couldn't have been a worse time for him to be clumsy.
"I think so" Katherine replied. She started to walk away. "Dammit Ron, just say it!" He thought to himself.
"Want to go to the ball with me?" he yelled out. A couple of second years that were passing by stared at him. Katherine stopped walking and slowly turned around.
"Um, were you talking to me, and what did you say?" she asked slowly.
"Do you want to, well, er, go to the ball? With me." He repeated a little bit quieter. Katherine looked down at the ground.
"Oh godI'm so sorry, I'm already going with someone. I'd love to but, well"
"YahI understand." He answered awkwardly. Ron turned away and started walking back to the common room. His mind felt absolutely blank. He walked half-dazed up to the common room ignoring everything around him. The common room was packed. He could see Harry and Hermione in one corner. They didn't seem to notice him so he went up to the dormitories. He didn't feel like talking to anyone right now anyway. Ron lay down on his bed staring at the ceiling. "Waited too long again didn't you, Ron. You really are an idiot. Lucky for Katherine whoever she's going with beat you to it." Ron sat up for a minute. Then it hit him, who was going with Katherine?