A/N: Thank you so very much for reading and reviewing! I love that you guys like the story. I've trying my best to give you a good read. If you read Angeleyes too, thank you! The idea was in my head and I couldn't just let it go.

Disclaimer: I love puzzles. I currently have three hanging in my room. Each 3 feet long. They are of New York, Chicago, and the Eiffel Tower. They look great. And the Eiffel Tower glows.

Thank You: Everyone who reviewed, thank you so much! I really appreciate it. Draco'sGirlForAlways, the1auror, Pepstepper16, who-said-what-now, dementedGryffindor, hmmart, Oasis Blackmore, ILuvRavenclaw, the-sun-is-shining330, sballLuvr5, Azkaban Fugitive, hogwartsgirl52, and last but not least, ReHot911. Thanks for continuing reading or just starting. You guys light up my life.

Checkmate

By: Silver Ice

The week passed quickly and before anyone knew it, it was Friday night. This meant the Spring ball was less than 24 hours away. Many students had headed to bed early, but Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were among the few who remained in the common room.

That day had been hot and the night was proving to be even hotter. Ginny fanned herself as she watched Hermione roll up her Defense Against the Dark Arts essay triumphantly.

"I'm finally done! Who knew there were so many fascinating things to write about the Unbreakable Vow?" Hermione declared happily.

"Not me," Ron muttered under his breath, his own essay barely two inches long.

Ginny watched in amusement as Hermione rolled her eyes and moved closer to Ron to help him with his essay. Entranced by Hermione and Ron, Ginny failed to notice when

Harry sat beside her on the couch. "Are you done too then?" Ginny asked, turning to smile at Harry.

"Yeah. Well, as done as I'll ever be." He answered with a grin and a shrug.

"Are you excited then. For tomorrow I mean?" Ginny questioned, sliding closer to Harry.

"Yes! I mean, er, yeah. How about you?" Harry asked, mentally slapping himself for sounding like an excited four year old.

"Oh definitely! Not to say that Neville isn't a wonderful guy, but he really wasn't the best date." Ginny said, remembering Neville's unique dancing abilities.

"Yeah. Parvati wasn't really a very interesting date either, and I noticed that Neville kept stepping on your feet. I'll be sure not to do that." Harry said, reassuringly.

"Well that's a relief!" Ginny exclaimed with a happy sigh.

"I'm sure it is. By the way, I've been meaning to ask you, did your Mum ever send you those dress roves?" Harry asked curiously.

"Oh yeah, days ago. They're really lovely too. I'm betting that Fred and George helped pay for them." Ginny explained as she envisioned herself gliding giddily across the dance floor with Harry in her new dress robes.

As Harry and Ginny exchanged smiles, Hermione shook her head as Ron made another mistake on his essay.

"Really Ron, can't you just thing about what you're going to write before you write it?

This is the second roll of parchment you've blotched." Hermione lectured, trying her hardest not to sound like she was nagging.

Clearly she was failing. "Hermione, I'm really trying, all right? I just can't do this right now. I don't understand anything I'm reading or writing about." Ron said, his head

beginning to ache.

"I'm sorry. Maybe we can try to work on it again tomorrow morning?" Hermione offered.

"Really? I mean, that would be great." Ron said, nodding quickly. He couldn't believe

Hermione was actually spend Saturday morning helping him write his essay. She'd been so against helping Harry and him lately.

"No problem. I can see that we aren't getting anywhere with this right now." Hermione said, hoping that Ron wasn't upset with her. By the looks of his smiling face, however,

Hermione felt confident that he wasn't going to start a row.

"No, we aren't. I can't think of anything right now!" Ron exclaimed, truly feeling tired as he let out a yawn.

Hermione yawned herself as she stretched. "I'm off to bed then, I want to be half way refreshed for the day. Good night." Hermione said, rising. She smiled at Ron one last time before heading up to the girl's dormitories.

"Good night." Ron whispered back, watching Hermione's retreating back until he couldn't see her anymore. Ron stood and saw that Harry and Ginny were still talking animatedly.

Opting to leave them alone, Ron went up to his own dormitory and fell asleep instantly.

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Though they can be wonderful, Unbreakable Vow's are clearly a powerful form of magic that should be treated with caution and wisdom.

Ron set down his quill triumphantly as the last sentence of his essay dried. "Hermione, thank you so much for helping me. I would have been working on this for days if it wasn't for you!" Ron exclaimed, hugging Hermione before he realized what he was doing.

Both Ron and Hermione blushed as Ron pulled out of the hug. "Erm, really, it's no problem at all. At least now you're sure to get a good grade." Hermione said, feeling her cheeks burning scarlet.

"Oh, it's already lunchtime! I can't believe half the day's already done." Ron declared, standing as his stomach growled hungrily. Hermione rose as well and followed him to the Great Hall. Ginny and Harry were already seated and were still talking animatedly.

"Hey you two," Hermione said, taking a seat next to Harry. Ron sat next to her and quickly piled food onto his plate.

"Hey you two right back," Ginny said with a smile, winking knowingly at Hermione. Hermione saw, glanced at Ron, and then concentrated on filling her own plate.

As lunch began to come to an end, Dumbledore called for silence. Excited to hear more about that nights dance, the Great Hall fell silent. "Students, the year's end is fast approaching as today is the first of May. As you all know Professor Sprout's retirement ball is being held tonight. It will begin at 7:00, and remember, third years and younger have to go to bed at 10:00." Dumbledore said.

At this part of the announcement, a rush of moans and mutters filled the Great Hall. The young students were complaining about being kicked out so early. Dumbledore saw this, and with a twinkle in his eye, he called for silence. "Not happy about this? All right. I suppose it wouldn't hurt much if you were allowed to stay until 11:00. I expect everyone to behave. Remember, Mr. Filch will not hesitate to punish students that are getting out of line." Dumbledore said with a wink and a smile. The threat of Mr. Filch didn't seem to effect anyone, but the extended curfew caused a rush of cheers to come from the young students. Dumbledore sat down again, done with what he needed to say, and the Great Hall filled with excited chatter.

After lunch was through Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny headed back to the common room. Harry and Ginny continued to talk and Ron asked Hermione if she was interested in a game of chess. "Of course." Hermione agreed.

Ron was rather shocked to see how much better Hermione was getting. Not only had she taken several of his pawns, but she had also taken both his knights, a rook, a bishop, and even his Queen. Ron thought he had lost until he smiled triumphantly, "Checkmate." He said, trapping Hermione's King.

"Oh, I was close that time!" Hermione exclaimed.

"You were. That was amazing. I've never had anyone come so close to beating me.

You're getting really good." Ron said truthfully. Hermione's ears tinged pink at the compliment.

Time seemed to fly that day, because before anyone knew, it was already 4:00.

"Hermione, we need to start getting ready now!" Ginny exclaimed as she realized what time it was.

Hermione glanced at her watch and jumped up, abandoning the new game of Wizard's Chess she and Ron had just started. "I'm sorry Ron, I really do need to get ready now. We'll play the rest of the game tonight." Hermione said, following Ginny to the dormitories.

"It's 4:00!" Ron shouted back, getting no response. "Why do you need three hours to get ready?"

"There's no use mate. We'll never understand their ways." Harry declared, taking Hermione's spot in front of the game of Chess. As Ron and Harry played, Ginny and Hermione worked together to get ready.

"I'm assuming you're straightening your hair?" Ginny asked, surveying Hermione's hair. With all the hot humid weather it seemed to be especially frizzy that day.

"Of course! Leaving yours down in wild curls?" Hermione asked.

"Yup. Just like you suggested." Ginny replied, pulling out her dress robes.

Hermione gasped as she saw Ginny's dress robes. "Oh, Gin, they're absolutely beautiful!" Hermione exclaimed in awe. The robe was indeed gorgeous. It was a deep emerald green and it seemed to float on air.

"Mum's just sent it to me. I know that Harry's got dark green robes, so this should go with that perfectly!" Ginny exclaimed in excitement.

Hermione pulled out her own periwinkle-blue robes and couldn't help think back to the Yule Ball. "You know, when I told him, Ron I mean, to ask me to the next dance not as a last resort, I didn't actually think he'd ask me." Hermione said, suddenly feeling nervous.

"Oh really? I thought he would. Considering he's head over heels in love with you." Ginny declared, smiling when she saw Hermione's jaw drop.

"You think?" Hermione asked, doubtfully.

"I know Hermione. He's my brother. I know what's he's like!" Ginny declared comfortingly.

"Oh Ginny, you don't even know how much I hope you're right." Hermione said.

A/N: You reviewers, you knock me off my feet. I'm glad to see you guys are liking this! Please review and I'll update again as soon as I can. I believe the next chapter will FINALLY be the dance. yay I'm not sure where I will be going from there. Please keep reading though!