Ginny was late. She walked into the Great Hall, magically transformed to look like a huge ballroom. Candles hung from the ceiling, colored lights circled the dance floor. Shimmering, pearl-colored cloths covered the tables arranged around the room. She could see Him dancing with his date, out where the other Triwizard Champion's and their dates were dancing. He didn't look like He was having much fun. "Good," Ginny thought, "Let him suffer." She didn't notice the looks she got as she descended the stairs, gliding into the room.
Crossing the floor, Ginny went to the punch table. She took a glass and sipped it, discarding the glass once it was only half-empty. She saw Dumbledore and McGonagall dancing together; she smiled. If only I could be that happy. Ginny sighed. Spotting Neville, she quickly crossed the floor. "Would you like to dance?" Ginny passed the time dancing. Every boy she asked replied, "yes." How could they not, when so beautiful a girl as she wanted to dance with them. But the one boy she never asked was Him. He wouldn't want to dance with her. Not when he was drooling after that Cho Chang. She was a stupid, little, rotten… Control yourself, Ginny! Goodness! When the end of the dance was nearing, Ginny spotted Hermione, gliding across the floor with Victor Krum. When they went to sit down, she walked up to them, smiling. Hermione excused herself and followed Ginny.
"Having fun?" she asked Ginny. "Has he asked you to dance?"
"As if. Come on, Hermione, you know all he wants to do is drool over Cho. Are you having fun?"
"Oh, it's been wonderful, Victor is so kind. The only bad part was when your brother had to be such a jerk about me dancing with him. 'He's the enemy. He's just using you.' Well, I'll show him." Hermione stopped. "Of course, no offense to you, Ginny. It's just…"
Ginny cut her off. "Yeah, I know, Ron can be a real pig sometimes, can't he?" Putting a falsely cheerful smile on her face, "Well, I'm just going to go outside, get some fresh air. Have fun Hermione, promise? Just ignore Ron, he's a jerk."
"I'll have fun, don't worry. Are you sure you don't want me to talk to Him? I mean, he's not nearly as stupid as your brother is…"
"No! I mean, I'm fine, it's all right. Now, you go have some fun. I'll be outside if you need me. You know how boys can be."
"If you're sure. Have fun Ginny, okay? Tonight's a night for happiness, to meet new people, romance. No sulking." Smiling, Hermione hurried back to join Victor.
Ginny headed out the door, unaware of Hermione's true intentions, to finally tell Him how Ginny felt.