Hi everyone I'm back again hopefully with another good chapter. I won't say much more except for a few review responses and enjoy the chapter.

Kordolin: As you wish here is another update sorry it took longer than I expected :)

Tori aka ms dumplings: thanks for the review, I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the rest. Looking forward to the next chapter of your story Harry Potter and the Year of Surprises.

Lord of Darkness13: Hello again, I am not going to say who Ron will end up with if anyone this year, I actually enjoyed writing that seen with Fudge its one of many possibilities I can see happening. I know that the trio may be a bit awkward about going back to the ministry, but in my story the minister's office if nowhere near the DoM. Hope you enjoy this chapter, and I don't mind waiting for the sequel to your story I'll just re-read your story till then. Bye for now.

Chapter 23

Since the removal of fudge as the Minister, Professor Dumbledore was kept very busy with the elections and campaigns for a new minister, keeping as much order as possible in the wizarding world, running a secret anti-Voldemort group and being the headmaster to Hogwarts. In fact he had been so busy that he had forgotten about planning this years Yule ball and had to ask the prefects to organise the ball, which was about a month away.

When the Head girl and boy (Cho Chang and Rodger Davies) explained the situation at the prefects meeting, Hermione came up with the idea of each house coming up with a list of ideas for a theme. Much to Cho's disappointment this idea was much more popular than her idea of a normal ball but have the partners 'randomly' chosen from a hat instead of everyone choosing their own date.

During one of their planning sessions in the quiet Gryffindors common room, Ron turned to Harry and smiling evilly announced, "I don't envy you mate"

"What are you on about" Harry asked puzzled

" I bet loads of girls ask you to the ball again like at the Halloween party"

"No they won't. Will they?"

"Sure not," Ron said sarcastically, "Your Harry Potter wizard extraordinaire" he finished laughing at the look on Harry's face.

"Sorry Harry but Ron's right about this" Hermione said.

"Hear that? I was right! Wohoo I was right" Ron beamed

"Great what am I gonna do" he sighed flinging his hands in the air and falling back dramatically. "Reckon Jack or Kirke will lend me their beater bat?"

Silence greeted this statement from Harry.

"Err…"
"I suppose it would be best if you asked someone and then you can say you're not available?" Hermione suggested

"Good idea Herms but who? I'm going with Lavender again she asked me earlier."

"Its Hermione Ron" she sighed " I suppose me and Harry could go. As friends of course unless there's some one you want to ask Harry?"

"Are you sure 'Mione" Harry asked silently hoping she'd say yes.

"Positive I wouldn't have offered otherwise."

Ron smiled through out the conversation, not many people knew that Harry was the only one who could get away with shortening her name. 'How can I use that?' he though to himself.

"Thanks" Harry said as he sat up.

"What are friends for?" Hermione asked rhetorically

"Problem." Ron said causing the pair to look at him, "How are we gonna let everyone know that you are not available?"

"Oh" Hermione sighed as she furrowed her brow thinking of ways in which to tell the other witches Harry was taken."

"Leave it to me." Harry said.

The next morning as everyone was eating breakfast a loud screech brought their attention to the large eagle owl that had just flown in. "Bit early for mail" Hermione said as the owl dropped a letter on her plate.

"Who's it from" Lavender and Ginny asked at the same time. Though they didn't get a response as Hermione was reading the letter. Which she passed to Ginny who read it out to the girls nearby though most of the hall could hear he whispered words.

Hermione Granger

Gryffindor Table

Great Hall

Hogwarts

Was printed on the envelope, "Ahem" Ginny cleared her throat.

Hermione,

Hold this seed in your right hand, sprinkle it with some water and say 'Secret message sent to me, open up so I might see'

You'll like it.

X

Trust me 'Mione.

"Go on then Hermione what are you waiting for?" Parvati asked

Laying the seed in her right hand she sprinkled some water from her goblet over the seed and spoke clearly, "Okay here goes nothing. Secret message sent to me, open up so I might see." As the last work left her mouth the seed started growing and growing and growing. Until Hermione was holding a white rose bud, which opened in a shower of multicoloured sparks which arranged themselves to display a message in front of her.

'Hermione, would you go to the Yule Ball with me? Harry P' Ginny read out causing a lot of the girls to giggle and some to sight disappointedly.

Hermione was shook out of her stupor as Lavender gave her a gently push, she stood up and walked towards Harry ignoring the fact that everyone was watching her. She stopped behind Harry, "Harry?" He stood up in front of her and trying not to smile at the look on her face, which was half amused and half shocked asked, "So?"

She smiled at him and leant forward intending to kiss him on the cheek but changed her destination to the corner of his mouth so to the others in the hall it looked like she had kissed him on the mouth. Pulling away she looked at him and said "yes I'll go with you" Finally he let out the grin that had been threatening to spread across his face, he wrapped her in a jug and whispered in her ear, "That was great, come on"

They then left the hall and it's whispering inhabitants hand in hand.

Ron caught up with them later that day in the room of requirement where they were practising their animagus transformations. Hermione was currently trying to change her hands and feet in to unicorn hooves. Harry was attempting to change form from one animal to another without having to revert to his human self. Currently he was trying to change from a lion in to a tiger (Hermione insisted that he keep to the same family of animals in this case feline)

"Hey" Ron said announcing his presence "you two caused chaos this morning. The boys are unhappy with Harry 'cause of they way you asked Herm…ione something about high standards for when they ask girls. Obviously the girls are upset cause Hermione you got Harry as a date."

"Well that's their choice" she remarked. "If they don't like it they should of asked Harry sooner."

"And so what if the guys are peeved at me. So you wanna try transforming with us?"

"Nah can't, I've got to finish Snape's essay. How often are we gonna use the vindictus night potion anyway? Surely a fast acting poison would be better than a slow one."

"Not always Ron, if you need to garner information them a slow one would be better" Hermione pointed out. "I can't do this its just like Professor McGonagall said like others I've concentrated to much on one form." She sighed

"Come on take a break 'Mione it takes time you'll get it anyway I want to teach you and Ron something. Harry said earning a glare from Ron.

"What? More work? Why" Ron asked clearly not impressed unlike Hermione who was sitting up eager to heat more.

"Yes more work because there's something I need to tell you but I can't until you can protect your thoughts"

"Harry, do you mean occlumency?" Hermione asked practically bouncing up and down.

Harry nodded, as Ron was busy he indicated that he should continue with the essay first. 'Mione, try the legillimis spell on me don't tell me what you are looking for"

"Legillimas" she said levelling her wand at him.

At first she though it hadn't worked, all she saw was Harry's face, but gradually the image faded to leave a picture of Harry standing in front of large house. "Welcome Hermione to my mind" he said smiling.