Chapter 16: 'Duh!'

Hermione awoke with a sudden start. She looked around and realized she had fallen asleep in the common room. Groaning, she stood up and found her book on the table next to her, a small ribbon kept her place. She looked at it for a moment in confusion, then shook her head. A book couldn't mark itself.

"I must be hungry," she thought.

She strode to the portrait hole then disappeared from the scarlet domain.

Ron stood up slowly from behind a couch and looked over at the book, then sat down in her unoccupied seat and began to read the book.

Hermione roamed the halls until she finally came down to the Entrance Hall. She turned sharply left and hurried down the steps descending in the opposite direction of the dungeons. Feet tapping on the stone floor, she searched for the picture. Somewhere around here… there!

She hurried up to the bowl of fruit and tickled the pear. With a small giggle, a brass doorknob appeared. Hermione seized it and swept inside. Before the door even shut, three house elves were at her side.

"Anything for the miss?" they said in high pitched voices.

Hermione knew it was wrong, it was labour, but…she was hungry.

"I think I'll just have a cup of tea." she said kindly.

One sped off towards the fireplace while another whisked her to a small table on the right hand side.

"Is this comfortable, miss?" it asked.

"Yes, thank you." she said politely.

"Miss, we has your tea!" trilled an elf, zooming to her side and setting a tray of tea in front of her. Also on the tray were lemon scones sprinkled with sugar.

"Thank you," said Hermione, "But don't you ever get tired of serving people?"

The elves ears slightly fell, "We like serving, miss." it said, then sped away to help prepare lunch.

Hermione frowned slightly, but took a drink of tea. Looking around, she found that almost all the elves were busy, stirring, sipping, skidding across the stone floorboards…. All except one who came up to her, tugging at her sleeves.

"Miss Hermione!" Dobby practically shouted.

"Hello, Dobby. How are you?"

"Quite well, miss. We is all excited about this Saturday, miss. Has miss found a date?" Dobby said, mischievously.

Hermione nearly laughed, "No, afraid not, Dobby." she said.

"Oh," said Dobby, ears drooping, "Well, you will find one."

"How do you know?" she said suspiciously.

"Dobby hears things." he grinned.

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"What does that-"

"Hermione?"

Hermione looked up. Ron had just entered, and was now striding toward her and the little elf.

Dobby grinned humorously and ran over to Ron. He nudged him quickly, then disappeared into the throng of other elves. Hermione didn't notice, however, as she double checked her mouth, positive it was free of sugar.

"Hey." she said, smiling.

"Never thought I'd see the sight." said Ron, shaking his head and seating himself across from her, "Can I sit here?"

"Sure, but what do you mean by that?"

"Fine, I won't sit here." Ron got up.

"No, I mean," Hermione said, reaching out and pulling him back down, "What did you mean by 'Never thought I'd see the sight'?"

"Hermione Granger in the kitchens, drinking and eating served food." said Ron, "Thought you were against elf service?"

"I'm not allowed to be hungry?" said Hermione, "Would you rather I starved myself, becoming anorexic, and then dying a lonely death for lack of no nutrition?"

"No." said Ron, looking down, "I just meant-"

"No, it's fine." said Hermione, now feeling guilty.

An elf appeared all of a sudden, startling them out of the silence.

"Ah, you've brought a date." the elf observed.

"NO!" they both shouted at once.

"No, he's uh… he's my friend." Hermione said, turning pink.

"Yeah, what she said." Ron said gruffly, ears red.

The elf looked at them in disbelief. "Anything you'd like, mister?" it asked instead.

"Er, yeah, I'll have some pancakes. You've got them, don't you?"

The elf hardly even nodded before vanishing as well.

"So…" said Ron, folding his hands on the table, "How has life been treating you?"

"As well as expected, Mr. Weasley." Hermione replied in a business-like voice. She sipped her tea. "And you?"

"More or less the same, Miss Granger," Ron grinned with a humorous sparkle in his eyes.

With a flash, Hermione remembered the last time they had acted so ridiculously formal. She frowned slightly.

"What is wrong, dear Miss Granger?"

"Nothing." Hermione said, looking down into her tea.

Ron suddenly remembered, and cleared his throat, "Ahem…"

"You're pancakes, Sir!" squeaked the elf, setting a plate and a few jars of various syrups on the table along with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.

Ron laughed, "Look, 'Mione!" he exclaimed, holding up his plate.

The top pancake was arranged into a smiling face. Whipped cream mouth, strawberry halves for the eyes, and a single blueberry for a nose.

Hermione smiled and nodded. Ron set his plate back down and began grabbing syrups and honey and piled the sticky substances onto his plate. He finally stabbed one with his fork and took a large soaking bite.

"Mmmph." he said, chewing slowly, eyes closed.

Hermione, who had stared during the whole preparation of the pancakes, stared on.

"Want some?" asked Ron after swallowing the large bite. He held out his fork which held the other half of the pancake.

"Er, no thanks, Ron."

"Whash wong wif ith?"

"I, uh, don't eat my pancakes so…. Gooey." Hermione said.

"Suit yourself." Ron said, chomping off another piece.

Hermione took a delicately small bite of her scone and folded her hands in her lap.

"So," said Ron, smacking his lips, "What did you come down here for?"

"I was hungry."

"Oh, that's all?" said Ron.

"Mmm hmm." Hermione nodded.

"Oh."

"Yep."

'DO IT!' yelled Ron's head, 'IT'S NOW OR NEVER!'

"Er, say, Hermione." said Ron.

"Yes?" she said.

"Well, I was just wondering. You know.. There's the dance and all and-"

Hermione nearly screamed, "Yes?" she said, in a rather high voice.

"I was wondering if you uh… if you er… wanted to W-with me? Come with me to… the dance."

Hermione's face lit up. "Yes!"

"Really?" said Ron.

Hermione nodded, beaming.

Ron grinned, then, quite alarmingly, whooped.

"Huh?" said Hermione.

Ron blushed, "I er…chocolate!" he said, grabbing his mug of hot chocolate and gulping down a large amount."

"I err… gotta go. See you, Hermione!"

He got up and ran out the door.

"YES!" he yelled, once he was outside the painting/door.

He ran all the way up the stairs to tell Harry.