It was only a week into the first term of his sixth year, and already Ron was feeling completely stressed out. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of the couch, recounting the events of the past five minutes. It had all started when he was playing chess with Hermione and she had somehow, amazingly, taken his queen. He remembered her exact wording of his opposition to this.

Earlier...

"Yeah, well, if you weren't so oblivious to what's right under your nose," bellowed Hermione.

"Me, oblivious? Oblivious to what?" he questioned.

"To the fact that – that – argh, never mind," she finished, lamely.

"Oh, great comeback, 'Mione, really ingenious," he noted sarcastically.

Hermione just glared at him then turned on her heel and stomped up the stairs to her dorm.

"Girls," he muttered, "What is it with her anyways?"

"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing," said Ginny, giggling from her chair, where she had watched the whole episode, "Just that you really can't see what's right under your nose."

"What," he said, turning around to face her, "What is it that I'm supposedly not getting?"

"That I can't tell you, genius brother of mine, you'll have to figure it out for yourself."

"Harry?"

Harry smiled knowingly from where he sat on the floor by Ginny's feet. "Sorry, mate, can't help you with this one."

"Great," he sighed and sat back down on the couch looking forlornly at the unfinished chess game. What is it with her, he questioned himself, every time it seems like we might be getting along, we start fighting again. And now there's this secret that everybody but me seems to know about. Suddenly Ginny stood up.

"I'll be right back," she said.

Terrific, he thought andgroaned inwardly, probably gone to talk to Hermione about what a terrible person I am. He sighed again, got up and began walking towards the staircase to the boys' dormitory when Harry finally spoke again.

"Everything good between you two?" he asked.

Ron paused, shook his head as if trying to clear it, then continued walking.

Meanwhile...

Hermione closed the door to her dorm quietly, leaning her forehead against the cool stone wall as she did so. Why did he always have to make such a fuss about the littlest things? she thought, it was just one stupid chess piece for Merlin's sake. It wasn't like he had lost the game or anything. I don't think he could've taken that. She sighed, exasperated, then crossed the room to her bed. She had just sat down and was preparing to draw the curtains closed around her when she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in," she said.

The door opened slowly and Ginny poked her head in.

"Hey," she said, and walked over

to Hermione, "You looked pretty angry, so I thought I'd come and check on you. Is everything ok?"

"Yes... no... I don't know, it's just... argh, your brother can be such a blockhead sometimes."

"So I've noticed. Well, if you're sure you're okay, I really need to get back downstairs. I've barely even started on my transfiguration essay for tomorrow. It's getting late and Merlin knows it's my worst subject..." she trailed off.

"Yes, yes, you go, finish your homework. I'll be just fine."

Ginny hesitated then squeezed Hermione into a quick hug before getting up and leaving.

She listened to Ginny's footsteps echoing down the stairs until they faded away, then leaned her head back against her pillow, and closed her eyes.

Ginny slowly descended the stairs, thinking. She wasn't sure that she, or anyone else who was in close contact with the two when they were fighting, could stand their constant bickering much longer. But what could be done about it? Still deep in thought, she reached the bottom of the stairs and walked back toward her chair. As she got closer, Harry stood up.

"Everything ok?" he queried.

"She said she was fine," she replied, "but I can't help but feel that things would be so much nicer around here if they could just get the guts to admit their feelings!"

"You're telling me, who has to sit between them during classes when they won't talk to one another."

"Well, I suppose that's worse than what the rest of us have to bear," she said, "It's just so frustrating, watching them."

"I know, but we've got to let them work this one out on their own."

"Maybe if we just gave them a little push..." Ginny began, but she was cut short as Professor McGonagall came through the portrait hole.

"Good evening Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley," She said in an unusually cheerful voice.

"Good evening Professor," said Harry, "what brings you here at this time of night?"

"Oh, just a little announcement," she said, and smiled as she put a large sheet of parchment on the board, then departed.

Harry and Ginny allowed the portrait to swing to a close before rushing over to the board.

'HALLOWEEN MASQUERADE' proclaimed the poster in big letters, 'FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31'. Then at the bottom in smaller letters 'third years and below not permitted unless asked by an older student'.

"Wow," breathed Ginny, "a ball. Hopefully it'll be a nice change from last time."

"Yeah, maybe if we can get Ron to actually ask Hermione this time, we won't have to deal with another Weasley-Granger Yule ball brawl," agreed Harry.

"Oh, so you're agreeing with me that they do need a little push,"

"Of course, it'd be a benefit to us all. I just didn't want to make it too obvious."

"Well, we have more than enough time to plan something. Halloween's over a month and a half away."

"Well, Ron's such of a git I don't have much hope, but maybe in time they'll see what they truly want."

"I sure hope so," she paused and grinned, "at least this time I won't have to go with Neville if I want to go to the ball."

"Of course not, you're going with me."

"Oh, am I," laughed Ginny, "well we'll just have to see about that, Mr. Potter, but right now, I am going to bed seeing as it's well past twelve-thirty. Goodnight." Then she promptly kissed him on the lips and scurried up the stairs to her room leaving Harry to call "goodnight" at her retreating back.