Disclaimer: Harry Potter is a property of J.K. Rowling.

Author's note: I'm back! My arms getting a lot better so I updated again. God, 600 reviews! Now that's really wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Because of that, I made this chapter a lot longer. So, start reading coz I know you want to.

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WHITE LILIES

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: RON'S REVELATION

I was walking towards the changing rooms near the Quidditch Pitch. My strides were long but it seemed like ages when I got there. It felt like some force was trying to stop me from getting near the changing rooms.

When I was there, I opened the door of the room and inside I saw Harry and Ginny – doing the tongue. They stopped when they saw me standing at the doorway.

"Hermione!" Harry shouted annoyance in his voice. "What are you doing here? I thought McGonagall told you to clean the windows with the house-elves?"

"But – but she told me to come here and – and get you," I said.

"Well, tell her I'm busy," Harry ordered. "Tell her – you'll do whatever she wants me to do. Tell her you'd love to have my job."

"But –"

"Please, Hermione," Harry said, but he didn't seem like he was pleading. Irritated was more likely. "Can't you see we're having Quidditch Practice?"

"Quidditch practice? Quidditch practice!"

"Yeah. Besides, I know you'd do anything for me. I know you love me, but sorry, I don't like you. Isn't it obvious that I like Ginny? But if you want me, you can tell. I mean, if you want a quick shag, all you've got to do is ask. I'd be more willing to do it." Then, Harry and Ginny laughed and resumed their kissing.

"This is not happening, this is not happening," I chanted over and over. I started biting my nails, but I was so nervous that I bit my finger.

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"Ouch!"

I opened my eyes and I saw a brown, feathery object on top of me. I squinted to focus my eyes and saw that it was a barn owl. It was pecking my fingers, trying to wake me up. I tried to sit up but I suddenly became dizzy and my head ached.

"Ow," I moaned, clutching my forehead. I felt so sick.

I could remember running outside the rain because I saw something that I wouldn't want to recall. Let me give you a clue. It was similar to the dream that I just had – well, no. But he was with Ginny and – uh, never mind. My clothes were soaked and my hair clung to my face. It was so cold but I didn't mind it. I stopped by the tree near the lake and there I cried for minutes – maybe hours. I dunno, actually. I couldn't even remember how I got here in my room. Maybe I managed to drag myself up here. Luckily, Filch didn't spot me.

I noticed that my bed was a bit damp and so were my clothes. I realized that I was still wearing the clothes that I was wearing last night. So I slept with wet clothes on. Great. I'm going to be really sick. Great.

"Hey!" I yelped when the owl pecked me again. It was getting annoyed because I wasn't paying attention to him since it since it was the one who woke me up. It held up its leg where the lilies were attached and so was a note. I untie the lilies and took the note.

Written on it were only five syllables.

It's now or never.

"What?" I said out loud.

Then I remembered. Of course! How could I forget! He's talking about your answer, the invitation, the Ball.

The Ball.

Uh-oh.

I haven't prepared for it! And I haven't decided yet! Oh, what should I do?

"Oh, forget it!" I told the owl as if it understands me. "Tell him I'm not going to the Ball. Tell him that – tell him that I'm sorry, that it's not that I don't like to go with him or anything, but – I can't go to the Ball."

The owl just stared at me and blinked. Of course, it didn't understand a word that I've said.

"Oh, just – go," I muttered. "When you return without any response, he'd understand. I know he will."

The owl flew away and I watched it go. I was feeling upset because I've just missed the opportunity to see the lily guy. Now his identity will stay as a mystery to me forever. Then there was a sudden knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" I called out.

"It's me," said Ron's voice. I sighed and frowned. It's not that I didn't want to see Ron, but...well, I was expecting Harry.

"Come in, Ron," I said. The door of my room opened and Ron came in.

"Hey," he said, smiling. "How are you feeling?"

I raised my eyebrow. How come he knows that I'm not feeling well? "Er – what?"

"Harry told me you're sick," Ron continued and he sat on my bed. "Told me to check on you."

I rolled my eyes. So Harry was here and he knew that I'm not feeling good. But why isn't he here? Why didn't he check on me by himself? Why did he tell Ron to do it? Is he too busy with someone to do it on his own? What a friend!

"So, where is Harry?" I asked Ron, unable to hide my disappointment.

"He's down at the Great Hall," Ron said. "He's helping out downstairs. You know, preparing for the Ball."

It was then that I remembered. Professor McGonagall called us yesterday to tell us to help preparing for tonight! I was about to stand up and go down at the Great Hall but Ron pulled me back.

"Oi, where you going?" he asked. "You must rest here."

"But I need to help Harry," I said as I tried to pull away from Ron. "And Professor McGonagall will be mad if –"

"No, she won't," Ron explained. "She already knows you are ill. She went here inside your room and saw that you're not so well. So she told Harry to do everything. It's okay."

Then I gave up. I sat back on the bed and thought of Harry. That's the consequence for hurting me, I said to myself. But I was feeling sorry for him.

"You should rest," Ron suddenly said. "If you don't do that, you wouldn't be able to go to the Ball tonight."

"But I won't go," I said.

"What?"

"I said I won't go to the Ball."

"But why?"

"Because I'm sick. And I haven't prepared! I don't have anything special to wear."

"How about the lily guy?"

"I already told him I'm not going."

Ron groaned. "Why did you do that?"

"What did you mean by 'why did you do that?'" I snapped.

"Why did you tell him you're not going?" Ron exclaimed.

"Because I'm really not going!"

"Of course, you are!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Why?"

"I told you already! I'm not prepared! I don't have a dress!"

"You could easily get a dress if you wanted to. I know, you. If you really want something, you will always find a way to have that something."

"But – I'm not going!" I almost yelled. "Why is it so hard for you to understand that, Ron?"

"Because you're not giving me any good reason why you're not going," he said, his voice rising.

"Well, I'm not going because I-I – I don't want to! And that's final."

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"Are you sure you're not going? You still have time to decide."

It was already evening. Ron was in my room again to ask me that question again. He was wearing his new dress robes that Fred and George bought him. It has no lace in it and it looks fine. Actually, Ron looks really nice in it.

The truth is I wanted to go. But I don't want to because I don't want to see Harry and Ginny together. I don't want to be hurt again. And I'm still sick.

"No, Ron," I said for the hundredth time that day. "You go on."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Alright then," he finally said. "I guess there's no use trying to convince you. Get some rest now." And he turned to leave.

Then an idea hit me. "Hey, Ron!" I called and he turned and looked at me. "Who's the lucky girl?"

He looked confused for a moment but after a moment he understood and blushed.

"What are you talking about?" he said, trying to hide his smile. "What girl?"

I smirked. "Come on, Ron. You know what I'm talking about."

He sighed and said, "Okay. I asked Luna Lovegood to be my partner."

I was surprised. Luna Lovegood? Then I smiled. Luna became really pretty after sometime. She was still weird but her weirdness made her unique and cute. I never knew Ron could like someone like her.

"I know she's the kind of girl that I wouldn't have some interest to," Ron said, fidgeting with his fingers. "But when we had this fight about our relationship ages ago and I was doing everything I could to avoid you, she was with me. I mean, when I was alone one time at the Quidditch Pitch, I found her there. She told me that she was always sitting by the stands every evening, just thinking about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks or something. She asked me why was I alone and I told her my problem and she told me to get over you and I said I will. After that, I always find myself going to the Quidditch pitch. At first, I was convinced that I'm going there because I wanted to practice, but later on I found out the real reason. I was going there because of her. I enjoy her company. She was really nice. She told me a lot of weird stories, most of them about the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. I know they aren't real but I played along. She thinks that I believed her and she told me that I was the only person at school that really have brains. She said she liked me and she gave me kiss on the cheek. I know it's just a quick peck but – hell, I couldn't sleep that night. From that moment I knew. I knew that I was over you. I knew that – I knew that I love her."

Silence.

"Wow, Ron," I said. I was really happy for him. "Wow."

"I know," Ron said. "It's only been a short time but it's not hard to fall in love with Luna."

I beamed. "I never knew you could be so sweet."

"Me too."

"Go and have fun Ron," I said and I winked at him. "Enjoy the night with Luna."

He smiled and left.

I was alone again. I felt really lonely. Now Ron has Luna. Harry has Ginny. I have nobody. Then I saw something at the corner of my eye. I looked over at it and I froze.

Someone was standing behind the curtains to the balcony.

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Cliffy! Sorry but I couldn't help myself.

There was no Harry in this chapter so probably most of you were disappointed. I'll make it up on the next chapter, I promise.

Ron/Luna! Another ship that I support. I'm thinking about making a one-shot on that part where Ron and Luna spend their time at the Quidditch Pitch after I finished this fic. Tell me what you think.

And before I forget, REVIEW!