Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's Note: Thanks to all of my reviewers! You're the best! I've decided to change the story a little bit. In the first chappie, I said that it was November, but I want it to be about mid-September, so that I can make it Christmas break during this chappie. Sorry for the inconvenience.

And now…

Chapter Seven

Blaise chased Hermione all the way to the portrait outside the Gryffindor Tower. He wrapped his arms around her, and she cried into his shoulder.

"H-how c-c-could he d-do that t-to me w-with HER!" she sobbed.

"It's okay," Blaise said, stroking her hair. "Draco doesn't know what he is missing."

Hermione looked up at him and smiled. She pulled away from him, and wiped her face.

"Are you gonna be okay?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. "Thanks for being there for me," she said, hugging him. "I also mean when they were kissing. I don't think I would've been able to handle it alone."

"No problem," Blaise said, smiling. "Draco's a jerk. He doesn't deserve you."

"Thanks," Hermione said. She turned around, told the Fat Lady the password, then stepped through the hole in the wall.

She entered the common room to find Ron and Harry deep in conversation. She stalked over to them.

"I guess your girlfriend isn't as loyal as you thought," Hermione said, sarcasm dripping on each of her words, hands on her hips.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked.

"I just witnessed Pansy and Malfoy locking lips."

Ginny, who had been sitting near by and doing her homework (okay, eavesdropping), gasped, and looked at Hermione sympathetically.

"It's okay," Hermione said. "I'm over him."

"Wait," Harry said. He turned to Ron. "Didn't you say that you and Pansy had a plan to break up Hermione and Malfoy that involved kiss-" After realizing what he just said, Harry clamped his hand over his mouth.

"What!" Hermione said, spinning around to face Ron.

He grinned sheepishly. "What can I say?" he said. "I wanted you, more than Malfoy, and I couldn't think of any other way to break you guys up."

Ron thought Hermione was going to explode, but, instead, she flung herself at him, and gave him a hug.

"I should be mad at you," Hermione said, "but I guess this let me realize what a jerk Malfoy is. If he loved me, he wouldn't have kissed her."

"Um, your welcome?" Ron said, stroking her hair.

Hermione sat up. She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, which made him blush. "Thanks."

Christmas Break

Christmas Break came full and hard. Students left the school like there was a fire, but a few students remained. Hermione and Ron relationship blossomed, and Hermione avoided Draco at all costs. The Saturday before winter break officially started, Hermione, Ron, and Harry entered the Great Hall. A lot of people still remained. There was 16 Slytherins, 15 Gryffindors, 17 Hufflepuffs, and 12 Ravenclaws. The trio sat down at their table, but before they could touch their food, Dumbledore stood up. The hall was silent.

"Merry Christmas," he said, smiling. "There are a few new things happening this year." He then explained them thoroughly. "We will be having three masquerade balls. These balls will be for fourth year and up." Ginny smiled at this. "The first two will be held Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and the last one will be on Valentine's Day. On the first dance, you will dance with whomever you like. We will be disguised, so you will not know who you are dancing with. I would like everything to be changed, including hair, so you will not be recognized." Dumbledore looked pointedly at Ron when he said that. " The second dance, you will dance with whomever you choose, but near the end, you will feel an invisible rope pulling you to who ever you felt most attracted to at the last dance, and the dance you are currently at. On the finally dance, you will try to dance with a lot of people, considering the whole school will be back, and the rope trick will happen again. You may reveal your selves at the end, but you don't have to. Any questions?"

Lavender raised her hand. "What if more than one person is 'attracted' to you?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Say that I danced with Professor McGonagell." McGonagell looked startled. "And say I was 'attracted' to her, as you put it, Miss Brown. But say that Professor Snape is also attracted to her." Snape looked even more startled. "Then if Professor McGonagell was attracted to Professor Snape, I would have to find someone else, either someone who was attracted to me, or who doesn't have someone to dance with. Does that answer your question?" Lavender nodded. "Good. Any more questions?"

Parvati raised her hand. "Will we have to dress up in dress robes, or can we wear something else?"

"You may choose to wear whatever you want," Dumbledore said. "But I want it appropriate." He looked pointedly at Pansy when he said that. "Any more?" When no one said anything, Dumbledore smiled and said, "Tuck in."

"That's really cool about the dance," Ginny said, "and keeping your identity secret."

"Yeah, but what if you feel 'attracted' to someone repulsive?" Ron asked.

"Well, then, they must not be as repulsive as you think," Hermione said.

After eating, Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione headed outside.

"I love the snow," Hermione said, sticking out her tongue to capture snowflakes.

"Me, too," Ginny said, joining Hermione. To her, Ginny whispered, "It's also great for a snog session."

Hermione giggled. "You take Harry and I'll take Ron?" (A/N Ginny and Harry just started going out, um…on Halloween, I guess)

Hermione walked over to Ron, and led him to a tree. They quickly started kissing. They didn't hear someone approach them until a snow ball hit Hermione in the back of the head. She turned around to see Ginny and Harry, standing there, trying to control their laughter (but not succeeding).

"You wanna play?" Hermione asked. She grabbed some snow, and, with the help of Ron, they started chucking snow. Soon, it was Ron and Hermione against Harry and Ginny.

"Hold a sec!" Ginny cried. The snowballs stopped. "Lemme get Lavender and Parvati, and make it more fun." Ginny raised off to the castle, and came back moments later with Lavender, Parvati, Patil, Justin Something or other, Seamus, Dean, Neville and Jennifer Something or other, from Ravenclaw.

Hermione made a quick calculation, then announced, "Let's make it girls against guys."

The teenagers quickly separated, and the game began. Then, ever so slowly, people began to disappear. First, Parvati and Seamus, then Lavender and Dean, Patil and Neville, then Jennifer and Justin. Hermione knew exactly what they were going to go do, so she didn't think anything of it when Ron came up behind her, and started kissing her. They started searching for a tree to lean against, but instead found a hill. They tumbld down it, but they kept kissing just as passionately. They stopped, and Hermione saw that they were by the lake with the octopus or squid or something.

After snogging for about an hour, Hermione and Ron walked back up to the castle, hand-in-hand. Hermione told Ron that she had some homework she needed to do, and Ron reluctantly let her go. Hermione headed to the library. After doing a few reports, Hermione switched gears, and went to the Prefects bathroom. She said the password, then stepped in. After stripping down to the nude, Hermione turned on all of the taps and slowly crept in. The warm water instantly relaxed her nerves.

Once she was finished, Hermione went to the Great Hall for a quick dinner. She then retreated back to her room, climbed into bed, and fell asleep.

-&-&-&-

That was, like, majorly short. I know it didn't have any real action, but I will make it have some in the next chappie, kay? Same old same old, read and review!