A/N: Ha, I keep forgetting that you haven't read this chapter or the next one. Oi. All of you are in for a real treat. The next few chappies will have you so happy. But not knowing you'll climb a steep hill and then in Ch. 35 you'll reach the peak of it. And then … Ok, I'm entering my writing mood again.

batbones- what up!

krillball6- Voldemort isn't gonna get mad because he'll never find out. Amy didn't do this before because she hadn't visited the house before and the time she did (in the last few chapters) she wasn't brave enough to go into her parents' bedroom. She did now, because there were people in the manor and she didn't want any one taking any of her parents' things. And Voldemort didn't know about the secret mirror thing because the hiding spot is muggle based and Voldy is all against muggles.

Am I wrong here people?

superspunky7- I pieced together Ch. 38: Music's Path to the Heart and Mind: the Assignment, for you. And to let you know I've spent only one and a half hours on the computer today. Not the whole day. So don't get mad. Hope you're enjoying yourself in Maryland.

Hmm…. Maryland, all my editors are like indisposed right now. Superspunky7 is in Maryland and SJC has laryngitis… again. Now, I'll update as much as I can for all who are reading over vacation. I've got six edited chappys left... I think? Maybe it's seven.

NEwayz…

…hope everyone enjoys this chapter.

"Ron…"

"…we understand…"

"…you're our brother…"

"…but you need to pay…"

"…for those," said Fred and George in their usual way.

Ron grumbled and set down an armful of stuff and began to place it back on the shelves.

"There'll be no need for that," said Jacqui. "I'll pay."

Ron, Fred, and George looked at Jacqueline with shock.

"That'll be…"

"… ten galleleons…"

"and three sickles."

Jacqui paid and smirked up at Ron. The quartet proceeded to The Three Broomsticks.

"A round on me?" asked Jacqui.

The trio looked strangely at her, but nodded. None of them could understand what had happened and how Jacqueline changed. They talked about the upcoming ball and after some drinks, Harry and Ron went in one direction and Hermione and Jacqueline in another.

"I heard you're going with Harry," said Jacqui, as the two girls entered a shop.

"Yes," answered Hermione looking at a dress in the far corner.

"Anything I missed?"

Hermione blushed and told Jacqui about the relationship that had formed between her and Harry.

"Ron is thinking of asking you," said Hermione, from inside the changing booth.

"Yeah, I got that hint from him," said Jacqueline gravely.

"He has been talking about no one but you during the time you were gone. What do you think?" asked Hermione, coming out in a light red dress.

Jacqueline scrunched up her nose and said, "That… is not… really you."

"Really?" asked Hermione, looking at herself in a three sided mirror.

"What would really look good on you… and blow Harry away is…" Jacqueline quickly scanned some racks and pulled out a burgundy dress, "this." Hermione just stared at the dress. "Just try it," and Jacqui pushed her back into the booth.

A few minutes later, Hermione came out and looked at herself. "You know what I hate?"

"What's that?"

"That you are always right. I love this dress."

Jacqueline smirked.

"Now," said Hermione, turning to look at Jacqui with trouble in her eye.

"Why are you looking at me that way?" asked Jacqui, standing up.

"I've found what I'm going to wear. Now, all we have to do is find you a dress."

"I knew it. Knew it," exclaimed Jacqui, sitting back down, laughing.

Hermione went back, changed, and came out a few minutes later. "We need something that'll blow, whatever bloke that's going to asked you, away. Now, question for you. We both know that you'll turn down Ron, right?"

"Right," said Jacqui, watching Hermione look for her dress.

"Well, who do you think will ask you? And who do you want to be asked by?"

"That's two questions and…" Jacqueline didn't want to answer Hermione's questions.

Hermione stopped her movements and looked at her friend. "Jacqui, I was honest with you so you can be honest with me."

Jacqueline still was a little hesitant.

Hermione returned to her search and said, "Let me guess, you want Malfoy to ask you, don't you?"

No answer.

Hermione looked at Jacqui and saw a small smile on her face.

"I was right wasn't I?"

Jacqueline nodded. "You were right. I understand it's a little awkward, because that'll mean a Gryffindor and a Slytherin going together, but I do want him to ask me."

Hermione nodded silently and then said, "You told us that you were friends since childhood, but that you haven't talked in ten years. Jacqui, if he does ask you, please be careful around him."

Jacqui didn't want to argue and nodded.

"I think I found it." Hermione pulled out a bright green dress.

Jacqueline surveyed it, took it, and went to try it on. A few moments later, she came out and Hermione gasped.

"Jacqueline, you look gorgeous."

Jacqueline looked at herself from all sides, "I think I'll agree."

"Now, if you are asked by him, you can be that Slytherin Princess. I'm sure all Gryffindor blokes might object to you going with him, but…"

"Hermione, you say you don't mind me going with… a Slytherin, but please tell me the truth. How do you really feel?"

Hermione sighed and said, "Truth be told, I'm a little uncomfortable. He has been so horrible to us that I just can't trust him to be anything other than a foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach." Hermione laughed silently, remembering the time she punched him.

"Trust me; he isn't what he seems like…"

"Who's not what he seems like?" asked Harry, as he and Ron walked into the shop.

"You're not supposed to be here!" exclaimed Hermione and pushed Jacqueline into the changing booth before the guys could get a good look at her.

"It's been three hours! How long does it take to find a dress? Blimey!" said Ron.

"Has it been really!" said Hermione. "Well, Ronald, we're all finished. Jacqueline just finished trying on her dress."

"Hermione?" said Jacqui, walking out of the booth, her dress covered up with a protective bag, "I don't have shoes."

"Here we go again," mumbled Ron.

"Right, shoe shop then, 'cause I need shoes too."

A few hours later, and a hundred shoes later, Hermione and Jacqui find the perfect pair.

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"Jacqueline," said Ron in the evening. He walked up to Jacqui, who was in a corner of the library.

"Yeah?" she said, not turning around.

"May I ask you something?"

She turned around and stared at him.

"Would you… err … like to go… I mean if no else asked you… maybe you want to go … with me to the ball?"

A small smile touched Jacqueline's lips. "I'm sorry Ron, but I have already been asked."

Ron nodded, looking down.

It's safe to say this now, "If you asked me earlier, then I probably would've said yes. I was asked as soon as we returned to the castle."

"Right," said Ron softly and left.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ron tells me you were asked to the ball," said Hermione as soon as Jacqueline entered the Common Room.

"I was."

"Well?"

"Well what? Am I missing something?" asked Harry.

"Long story," said Hermione.

"You'll see," said Jacqui and smiled.