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Chapter Three: Little Black Robes

"Okay, so what you're telling me is that you're not going to the party…"

"Right."

"Because you had a dream where Sarah made you look like a fool…"

"That's correct."

"And Ron got mad at you?"

"Actually, he got pissed."

"This is dumb."

"How would you know, you're not the one who had the dream!"

"Hermione, like Ron would actually get that pissed at you. Need I remind you that he is head over heels in love with you," Ginny said, shaking her head at me.

"Really? Head-over heels you say? Well he sure has one hell of a way of showing it," I said, rolling my eyes. We were walking Fin around a local dog park so he could really stretch his legs, and so he would not jump in any puddles.

"Well, it's not exactly his fault," Ginny muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked her, stopping short.

"I'm just saying, that Ron wouldn't have to pretend as if he moved on if you would of just excepted the fact that you're just as much in love with him as he is with you in the first place," Ginny said as if she's been dying to say it the whole time.

I stared at her speechless for a moment before walking on. A billion things rushed to my mind at once. Granted, I had been the one that severed ties with everyone after the war, but things are different now. I'm totally open for a relationship. Maybe I'm too late. Is this really my fault?

"Hermione, don't blame yourself. I didn't mean for it to sound like that," Ginny said, jogging to catch up with me, "I'm just saying, you shouldn't be so hard on Ron about it."

"No, you're right. I've kept myself unavailable for too long, and people can only wait for long before they're forced to give up," I said, fighting back tears, "I probably don't even have a chance anymore."

"Don't say that. If Ron can love that cow, then there's no way in hell that he can't fall back in love with you," Ginny said with a reassuring smile.

"Thanks Gin," I said, giving her a hug.

"So are you going to the party then?" Ginny asked as she released me.

"Well…"

"Awesome! What are you planning on wearing? How about those maroon robes you have…"

"No!" I yelled, making Ginny jump.

"What?" she asked, looking around her, trying to find something that was in distress.

"I mean, I can't wear those robes. They're torn," I said, lying quickly, "But I just bought some new velvet ones."

"Lovely, now you must stop by the loft and help me pick out something. I'd ask Harry, but he's no help when it comes to fashion," Ginny said with a sigh.

"Fin! You better stay away from that dead squirrel! Don't you dare touch it! No! Fin! Oh my god! Gross!"

III

It was the night of the party and my nerves could not be anymore on the edge. I put on my deep violet velvet robes, but decided that they were too heavy to wear to a party, so I changed into my light blue lacey robes, but they made me look like an old maid, so I went back to the velvet robes.

"I've got to have something in here," I groaned to myself as I went through my closet, discarding robes after robes. Finally, hidden in the way back of my closet I found sexy, silky, black robes. I tried them on, and although the front was a little too low of cut for my taste, I figured that a little change might not hurt.

"What do you think Finny? You like it?" I asked the dog who had been lying on my bed, watching my dilemma the entire time. Fin bard and wagged his tail in approvement. "Yeah, I like it too."

Suddenly feeling very confident, I quickly added a Gothic cross necklace, styled my hair very Audrey Hepburn-like, and slipped on a pair of black pumps. After a few finishing touches to my make up, I apparated to Harry and Ginny's loft.

"Wow-za!" Ginny gasped, looking me up and down, "You look amazing, Hermione."

"Why thank you. So do you," I said. And Ginny did look rather stunning in her forest green robes.

"And what about me?" Harry asked, walking into the room, wearing his usual black robes.

"Meh…you're okay I guess," I joked, trying my best to keep a straight face.

"You want me and you know it," Harry said, wrapping his arm around Ginny's waist and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"You guys are so gross," I said, shaking my head at the young couple.

"Oh, Hermione, come here. I'll give you some lovin," Harry said, holding out his arms to me.

"No thank you," I said, looking disgusted.

"Are you two children finished? We're going to be late," Ginny said, grabbing her purse.

"Really Hermione, show some responsibility once in a while and grow up a little," Harry said sarcastically.

"I'm this close to just kicking you in the shin," I said, holding up my thumb and index finger.

"Oh, now she wants to fight! Well, alright, alright. Bring it on little girlie," Harry said, rolling up his sleeves.

"Children! Enough! Now you two have two seconds to meet me at Ron's or I'm going to beat the both of you," Ginny said before apparating.

"Way to piss her off Harry," I taunted before apparating myself, landing next to Ginny with Harry close behind me.

"That's better," Ginny said with a nod before ringing the doorbell to Ron's cottage.

"Ah! My favorite sister!" Ron yelled as he opened the door. As I looked up at him, I couldn't help but let out a gasp. He looked so amazingly handsome with his shaggy red hair, bulging muscles, and easy-going smile.

"I'm your only sister," Ginny laughed giving her brother a big hug.

"Making you all the more special," Ron said to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"Harry, old friend! I never get tired of seeing your mug," Ron said, shaking Harry's hand firmly before letting Harry and Ginny pass.

"Hello Ron," I said softly, wishing that Ginny and Harry had waited for me.

"Hello Hermione," Ron said, as his eyes bore into mine. We stood there for a while, completely motionless, soaking up every being of one another. How badly I wanted to reach out and grab him. Just hold him and never let go. I wanted to feel the warmth of his body against mine. I wanted to feel the flow of his hair as I ran my hand through it. I wanted to know what it felt like when he whispered 'I love you' every night before we went to bed. Dear God, I wanted him.

"You have a lovely cottage," I said, breaking the silence.

"Yes, quite lovely," Ron said, although I do not believe he actually heard it. His eyes were still set upon me, obviously wishing to make another connection with mine. Only, I looked everywhere except at Ron.

"Ronald, honey, what are you doing?" Sarah's shrill voice rang from down the hall.

Ron seemed to snap out of his little trance and looked back inside the house. "Nothing, just welcoming some more guests."

"Well, hurry up, you're missing all the fun!" Sarah yelled.

As Ron stepped back to let me past, I couldn't help but brush up against his chest, sending his warm, musky scent into the arm. I breathed it in and smiled at him before quickly making my way to the parlor where Fred and George were standing.

"Why hello, hello, hello," Fred said as he openly checked me out.

"Oh please, don't try to be sneaky or anything," I said, punching him lightly in the arm.

"I'm sorry, but can you blame me. I mean wow," Fred went on, grabbing a hold of my hand and making me turn all the way around.

"Are you quite finished?" I asked him playfully. Hey, I can flirt.

"Maybe, as long as you promised to stick by me for the night," Fred said with a wink.

"Oh yes, that would make all my dreams come true. Spending the entire night with the Fred Weasley," I said dramatically, fanning myself while rolling my eyes.

"Girls can only get so lucky," Fred said confidently, sipping his ale.

"Actually, if you don't mind, I do wish to visit the little girl's room, and I don't think the other ladies would appreciate it if you went in there too," I said, patting him lightly on the arm.

"Alright, but expect you back here in ten minutes," Fred said, checking his watch.

"Ten minutes?" I asked him.

"Well there's probably a line, and you'll probably run into Ginny or some other girl, and God forbid if you women go to the bathroom by yourselves. So you'll stand in there, talking about how fat Sarah has gotten or something like that, fixing your hair and make-up. And by the time you come out, a good half-hour has passed." Fred said, leaning back against the wall.

"Fred Weasley, don't you know anything about me? I'd think nine years would teach you I'm not like another girls," I said, shaking my head at him before walking away to find the bathroom.

I turned the corner and there he was, standing not even two feet away from me, looking better then he did before. I couldn't believe it. He smiled at me and walked over. I couldn't help but notice how well he held himself, his head high, his shoulders back. Giving him the look of being proud. Whish, I believe, he is allowed to be so. I smiled back at him and waited for him to reach me.

"Hello Hermione," Viktor Krum said, his English sounding very nice considering how thick his accent used to be. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"Viktor! Hey! What a surprise! I had no idea you'd be here," I said, noticing that Ron had just stepped into the room. He glanced over in our direction and his eyes stopped cold on Viktor.

"Oh yes. Sarah's parents are good friends with mine. Plus, I think she likes the fact an actual professional quidditch player is at her party. Honestly, I came for the free food."

"Nice. So how you've been?" I asked him.

"Good, good. Obviously, I am still a quidditch player as well as the new Drumstrang headmaster," he said proudly.

"Yes, I've heard. Congrats," I said, smiling, knowing that Ron's eyes were still watching us.

"How about you?" Viktor asked.

"Well, I gave up being an auror and instead became the new Potions professor at Hogwarts," I said.

"Really? Why did you give up being an auror. You were so good with magic," Viktor asked.

"Too many bad memories," I said softly, making Viktor lean in closer so that he could here me. I could tell by the way that Ron's ears became a light shade of pink that he was a bit jealous.

"Oh yes, I suppose," Viktor said nodding, "It is a hard job to do. You mustn't become emotionally involved, for one can too easily become hurt. That is a tough skill to master."

"Yes, and apparently I am not that strong," I said with a shrug.

"Nonsense, you're one of the strongest people I know. You are just very loyal," Viktor said with a smile that could melt any girls heart.

"Thanks Viktor," I said, smiling back.

"You know, maybe sometime…" Viktor began, but was interrupted by Ron's booming voice.

"Alright everyone, I would like to make a toast to the birthday girl if you don't mind," Ron yelled, causing everyone to quite down and gather into the parlor to hear his speech.

"Excuse me," I whispered to Viktor as I ducked off into the bathroom. I put the lid of the toilet down and sat down, quickly slipping off the pumps. I began to rub my aching feet, ignoring the laughter that exploded from the other side of the door. With a sigh, I leaned back against the wall and glanced over at the ugly pink shower curtain.

"She has no taste," I whispered to myself, turning to look in the mirror. I don't know how long I had sat there, starring at my reflection, but a soft knocking at the door snapped me out of my trance. I slipped my pumps back on and opened the door to find a young witch starring up at me.

"Excuse me miss," she said in a small voice, doing a little potty-dance. I quickly stepped to the side to let her through and shut the door behind me.

"Just so you know, your little potty break took you twenty minutes," Fred said as I walked back over to him.

"Sorry, I ran into Viktor on the way," I said, grabbing a cup of ale and taking a swig.

"Whoa there turbo. Save some for later," Fred said, putting a hand on the arm that was holding the cup.

"Don't worry, I know how to take care of myself," I reassured him, giving him a sweet smile.

"Why hello. Long time, no see," Ginny said as she bounced up to me, "Where did you disappear off too."

"Well, let's see. After you and Harry left me alone with Ron-thanks by the way-I can and talked to Fred, then I met up with Viktor Krum on the way to the bathroom, then I went to the bathroom, and now I'm back here, talking to you," I said, going through all my steps.

"Well hey, at least you didn't get stuck with having to make small talk with Sarah and Ron and Harry went off about quidditch," Ginny said, grabbing her own cup of ale.

"Thankfully I haven't had to see her all night," I said.

"Lucky," Ginny said, making me laugh.

"Oh my gosh! Freddy!" a shrill voice sliced through our happiness like a dagger through flesh.

"Why? Why must you do this too me?" I asked God, looking up at the ceiling.

"Hey Sarah!" Fred said with a fake cheery voice as Sarah's blonde self made it's way over to us.

"How you've been?" she asked him, giving him a big hug.

"Good, thanks," Fred said, pushing her away lightly, "Happy birthday."

"Oh thank you!" Sarah said with a big smile on her face. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and looked around the room with satisfaction, "I can't believe how many people are here."

"Trust, it's more for Ron's benefit," Ginny muttered to me.

"Oh, hello Hermione," Sarah said, her voice suddenly cool.

"Sarah," I said, the naming tasting like acid as I said it.

"I honestly didn't think you'd come, but here you are. I guess Ron was right in inviting you. Personally, I was against it in the beginning," Sarah said with a smirk.

"Why? Were you afraid Ron would realize what he was missing?" I asked her coldly.

"Honey, if you think I'm afraid of you, then you got another thing coming to ya," Sarah said, flipping her golden locks again. She looked around the room again, then with the sweet grin suddenly back on her face, she flung herself at Viktor, "Oh Vicky! I'm so happy to see you."

"Oh, um, hello…."Viktor began.

"Sarah," Ginny whispered in his ear.

"Sarah," Viktor finished.

"Why aren't you dancing?" Sarah asked him as she let him go, nodding over to the group of people who had started dancing to the music.

"Actually, I came over to ask Hermione to do just that," Viktor said, smiling at me. Sarah's eyes flashed, but her smile never faltered.

"Well, have fun with that," she said before wandering off to bother some other unfortunate souls.

"Shall we?" Viktor asked, bowing down and offering his hand.

"We shall," I said, taking his hand. Might as well have a good time, right?

II

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