Ron, Hermione and Harry found themselves sitting outside in the shade of their favourite tree by the lake. From the tree they could see their classmates enjoying the sunshine. Pavarti and Lavender were gossiping on the stone steps leading up to the school, the twins were flying around the school on broomsticks and Neville, Seamus and Dean were swimming lazy laps of the lake.

Hermione placed her parchment on the soft, green grass and turned towards her friends.

"Well", she smiled, "the Halloween Ball is fast approaching, are you guys going?"

Ron looked up from the tiny ball he was tossing from palm to palm.

"Yep" he grinned.

"Me too", said Harry. He was focusing on group of students walking towards him.

Draco Malfoy was the essence of evil at Hogwarts. His offensive demeanour and unattractive personality had earned him many enemies at his school, Ron and his friends included.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Potter, Weasel and the Muggle… correction MudBlood." He said with a snarl.

Draco's cronies, who were equally as gruesome, sniggered behind him.

Ron couldn't stand it. He was sick and tired of Draco's pathetic attempts for attention. And he hated the way he called Hermione names. It sickened him.

"Don't call her that Malfoy. She is a better witch than you will ever be." Ron glared.

Pansy Parkinson, Draco's painfully unattractive and devastatingly stupid girlfriend stepped from behind Crabbe and Goyle. She smirked at the trio, and said "He's a boy, Ronald… he'll never be a witch!"

Crabbe and Goyle nodded enthusiastically in agreement with Pansy.

Harry stood up hastily, and pulled his wand out of his pocket. He pointed the wand at Draco's leg and shouted "go away Malfoy, and take your goons with you!"

"Scat" said Ron with a death stare.

Malfoy laughed, and motioned for Crabbe, Goyle and Pansy to follow him. As he was leaving he turned back to Hermione, Ron and Harry and said with an angry look, "Let's go guys, we have better things to do, and better people to hang around."

The trio watched the Slytherin's walk back towards the castle, and Hermione turned to Harry and Ron.

"Thanks guys", she said with a sad smile. "So, the ball, who are you guys taking?"

Harry looked down into his lap. A crimson wave had made its way across his cheeks.

"I wanted to ask Cho Chang, do you think she'll say yes?"

"I guess you should try", Ron said with a thoughtful look.

Hermione turned back towards Ron. She smiled.

"What about you Ron?"

Ron looked across at Hermione, his face became the same colour as his hair. He was totally embarrassed, but he knew he had to ask Hermione before anyone else did.

"Ummm… well… I was wondering… if you would go with me Hermione? Please." He finished quite pitifully.

Hermione jumped up, her face pale. She gathered up her parchment and quill, put them in her bag and looked back at Harry and Ron.

"I, ah, I gotta go… I forgot I had to study…"

She spun around and ran back towards the castle, he hair flying in the wind.

"I'll go after her mate", and with that Harry jogged off to find Hermione.

"Yep", Ron said with a sad smile.