Life is a Masquerade- Chapter 2- Who Sent It?
Hermione woke up early the next day. She stretched, gazing out at the clear sky. It would be a crisp clear Saturday. She pulled on faded jeans and a pink silk camisole. Last summer, Hermione had made a change, huge according to Ron and Harry. Her hair was now somewhat straight though still wavy and long. She had developed curves that allowed her to wear the clothes that she had always dreamt of in her younger years. She had also grown several inches, coming level with Harry and gaining on Ron. She laced up pink sneakers and picked up a brush. After the usual wrestle with her hair she managed to pull it back in a high ponytail. She put on her favorite necklace, a Celtic knot that had been in her family for ages, passed down from mother to daughter for hundreds of years. It was a knot unique to her family, intricate yet simplistically beautiful.
Hermione, satisfied with her looks, headed out the door. She saw Ron and Harry waiting in armchairs by the fire. Ron smiled. "You look… great." he said after searching for the word. The three friends headed down the Great Hall, talking about studies and Quidditch. Hermione had taken a liking to Quidditch and wasn't that bad at being a Chaser herself. They entered the Hall and sat down at the Gryffindor table just in time for mail. Thousands of owls soared into the Hall through the open windows. Hermione was the only one in the trio to receive mail that day so she tore open the letter, wondering who it was from. Gazing down at it, she realized it was from Ron, inviting her to the ball. Confused, Hermione looked up at Ron who was looking smug. Seeing her expression, he asked her what was wrong.
"I just did what you asked." he said, pouting. Hermione explained the letter that she had received the night before. "WHAT?" Ron bellowed, the Great Hall going quiet. He looked straight at Hermione. "And what did you reply?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.
"I answered yes because I thought it was from you." she replied softly.
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After leaving the Great Hall and arguing for all to hear, Ron and Hermione had gone different ways. Hermione stomped outside while Ron went up the stairs, Harry trying the calm him down. Hermione would have to just say no to her secret admirer. She wanted to go with Ron, to be with Ron… didn't she? She sat down in the shade of a tree by the lake and thought.
I've always been attracted to Ron, haven't I? Don't we both want to be with each other?
She didn't know the answers to any of these questions, so resolved to work out her ball costume. She was going to be a Greek or Roman goddess, dressed in a flowing golden toga-style dress. She already had an idea how everything would look, even some wrap-around sandals that went up to her knees. She would wear her hair up in small ringlets, golden ribbon keeping it in place. She was excited about the ball, though she didn't let anyone know it.
After a while, the school grounds started to get chilly so Hermione made her way into the library. She had just settled down when the same owl from last night starting pecking at the window, wanting to get in. Hermione let it in and once again took the letter from it. She sat back down and read the letter. Her 'admirer' apologized for causing the argument earlier and offered her to decline the offer of going to the ball with him (or at least she could only hope 'he' was indeed a young man.) She wrote a fast message to him, telling him she wouldn't break her promise. She even confessed she wasn't sure she like Ron that way as much as she had thought. She asked if they should coordinate outfits and sent the owl off. Half an hour later, the owl was back. Her admirer said they should leave it to fate to see if the would match.
Sounds like a pretty romantic guy, Hermione thought. Definitely not Ron.