When Harry and Ron walked in to their Divination class (with Michael trailing behind them), they noticed Hermione looked less than when she left them at lunch. As they sat down next to her at their normal three-seater table, Michael left to sit with the other Ravenclaws in their class.
Ron grinned to himself at the thought of further separating Michael from Hermione. He was too….too something…too, good looking, perhaps? A threat for sure, that much Ron knew. And what was with Hermione sticking up for that guy anyway, so what if he's a transfer; let the other prefects baby-sit him!
"Really Hermione, was it necessary to embarrass Ron like that? That guy doesn't know how Ron's mind works! He probably thinks we've all fled the funny farm. At least Ginny helped him understand a few things about uh, yours and Ron's relationship,"
Harry brought Ron out of his deep thought when he heard him say, "yours and Ron's relationship".
"Whoa, what relationship? Hermione and I aren't- I mean we could but..agh," his face was crimson, "What I mean to say is, we aren't like that. You know that, Harry,"
"Well," Harry smiled at Ron's stammering, "I meant how you two always fight but still remain friends. I didn't mention anything about that kind of relationship." Ron gulped.
"Listen Harry, I don't care what Michael thinks of you two at the moment. I'm sure that over time he'll begin to pick up whatever kind of relationships there are at Hogwarts, okay? Right now, I'm just hoping time will fly by, you know I can't stand being in this ridiculous class," Hermione placed her book, parchment, and crystal ball on the desk.
Ron though on what she just said, "I don't care what Michael thinks of you two at the moment..." It still rang in his head. Does this mean that she does care what he thinks of her?
Of course it does! Can't you see she fancies him?
What? That's a load of bullocks; she's just being Hermione, the girl who tries desperately to impress anyone she can!
Yeah, especially because she fancies him!
Desperate to change the subject, Ron shook his head, "Why are you even taking Divination this year? I thought you hated this class!"
"I do hate it, Ronald, with a passion. However, Advanced Arithmancy and Ancient Runes are taking a toll on me, so I decided that if I took an easier class it would be a lighter load on me…" Ron and Harry looked at each other and Harry spoke.
"Wait, are you actually admitting a weakness?" Hermione's eyes grew.
"It's not a weakness!"
"So then you're just being lazy, coping out then?" he smirked.
Hermione looked as if she were about to implode trying to think of an excuse but the truth was that Harry was right, mostly.
"This class is absurd! I've watched you two predict your own deaths, make up dreams, and weave farce predictions in your futures all because you forgot to do your homework. Even more maddening than that, you passed!" she was huffing now. "So yes, I am coping out. Less homework in one class will leave time to do the others. I've decided that it's time to take care of ME and nourish my wants and needs. Yes, it's selfish I know, but I feel I've earned every right to do so."
Ron and Harry looked taken aback. Where had this come from? They certainly didn't expect to hear that kind of outburst from Hermione. Ron grinned, thinking that he and Harry had finally broken Hermione. Finally, she was free-at least a little bit- and relaxed.
Professor Trelawney waltzed into the heavily incensed room before either of the two boys could say anything to Hermione.
"Good day, class. Please put away your crystal balls. Today we are going to take a little break from the norm and practice our palm reading from last chapter. I guess you can call it a sort of pop quiz! The only exception to today's activities will be given to Mr. Michael Gates, a new student from Ravenclaw. Since he wasn't here for last chapter, he will be excused. Now please, pair up and get started!"
Hermione stole another glance at Michael when the rest of the class turned in their seats when Ron got her attention.
"Hey, 'Mione, want to be my partner? Harry dashed off to Neville's desk. Hermione, do you hear me?" Quickly, she turned her head.
"Wha-? Oh, yes, fine fine. Shall I go first then?"
He couldn't help but take a deep breath; she was going to be holding his hand! Not that they haven't touched each other before, but she's just changed so much.
"Ugh Ron, you're hand is all sweaty, here take mine." She offered her hand to him.
"Right, okay…Let's see," Come on Ron, her life line, damnit read her life line! "Your uh, life line is an average length. Deep, so that makes you healthy and err, smooth so I guess that means there'll be few illnesses in your lifetime," With a new boldness, he moved on.
"And your love line tells me that you, uh haven't gone through much heartache," he traced it with his index finger lightly unable to help himself when suddenly, Hermione giggled and quickly squeezed her hand shut over his.
"Ha ha Ron!" she breathed, lowering her voice, "That tickled…" They looked each other in the eyes and he noticed her expression had softened. Hermione's face exuded the very innocence and beauty only a cherub could possess. Merlin was she good looking.
Just as suddenly as it happened, they withdrew from each other with a stifled chuckle.
"Sorry about that, I didn't know you were so ticklish,"
"Just don't get any ideas," she sighed, "Right well let's get back to work,"
The first Hogsmede weekend was bumped up to late October so students could enjoy the weather while it was still somewhat warm. Excited teachers and students rushed around during the week to get their plans together for the upcoming trip. When the day finally did arrive, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny met in the Gryffindor common room.
"Look, I don't care where you guys want to go, but I know that every time you two go to Zonkos, we're in there for hours! Just please please let Hermione and I separate from you two for a while," Ginny was pleading with her brother to let she and Hermione wander about for a bit. She's been meaning to talk with Hermione for some time, alone.
"Ginny, it's too dangerous to go off by yourself! I don't care how many people from Hogwarts are with you, something bad could happen to you," as much as he loved pranking people, Ron loved being around Hermione more. She was annoying, that was for sure, but his day always seemed a little bit better with her around.
"Listen Ron, I'm sure Ginny and I will be fine. I mean, I've been fixing to get some new robes for our Halloween Spectacular," Ginny looked at Hermione with wide eyes.
"Halloween what!" Hermione jumped.
"Oh blast. I wasn't supposed to say anything but the prefects were asked to put together a ball for Halloween. Professor Dumbledore was going to announce it later this weekend,"
"Oh Ron! It's a ball, can you just please let us go? We're going to be at least an hour at Gladrags, certainly you don't want to be bored waiting for us?" Ginny gave Ron a big smile.
"Fine, go! Just be careful and, and don't get anything too…too revealing," Ron looked back at Hermione, "Watch her please, I don't want my sister to turn into some…Lavender,"
"Excuse me Ron Weasley, but I do hope you give me a little more credit than that!" she stole a glance at Harry, "I make the blokes work for it,"
"GINNY!" Everyone around them who had heard that shouted, the only exception being Harry, whose face was flushed and looking out the window.
The October air welcomed the students to Hogsmede. Hermione knew she was the only one who appreciated this autumn weather. The air was cool enough to bite the tip of her nose, but not enough to make her shiver. While students complained about the oncoming cold front, she just reveled in the hoodie weather.
When she, Ron, Ginny, and Harry reached Zonko's Joke Shop, Hermione was the first to speak.
"Okay look, we'll meet you two back here," she said gesturing at the two boys. "I think an hour will suffice. Ginny and I will be at Gladrag's if you need anything."
Before either of them could say anything, Ginny grabbed Hermione's hand and quickly led her away from the boys.
"About time we got away from them! Oh Hermione, I'm so excited for Halloween and it's coming so quickly! What are you going to get for the ball?" Hermione thought her arm would rip off with how quickly Ginny was walking.
"Slow down Gin! Ugh, I don't know. I was thinking of something dark that's simple but still elegant, what about you?"
"Hmm…I think you'd look good in a mocha or navy blue dress. A little glitter and some embroidery, Ooh that'd be so lovely! As for me," she stuck her nose in the air, "I haven't decided whether I wanted to show off and be the rose in a field of daisies or if I want to just blend in and wear black," Hermione laughed.
"Ginny, sometimes I have to side with your brother when you make comments like that,"
"Side? On what! You two never side on anything!"
"How he sometimes wonders if you're turning into Ms. Lavender Brown of course," Hermione knew the reaction she'd get from Ginny and smirked.
"Why, you!" Ginny playfully pushed Hermione away from her as they laughed and reached the steps of Gladrag's.
The shop was busy as the two girls stepped in. All around them were reams of various fabrics. The walls were even covered with handmade tapestries that looked as old as Hogwarts. There was billowing tulle of every color drooping from the ceiling rafters and baskets of remnants everywhere. Mannequins walked around the shop and modeled clothes in different styles; some in children's outfits others for the older generation. The student section was limited to say the least. Everything was old fashioned and unflattering. Hermione decided at a glance that these robes were tacky and not something she'd want to be seen in.
"Okay Gin, I'll rummage through the catalog because I haven't seen anything here that I like,"
"Hermione! You haven't even dug through to the bottom yet, that's where all the good stuff usually is. Well…usually," Ginny picked up a peach colored lace ensemble. "Okay, you do that, I'll keep searching here,"
Forty minutes had passed and all Ginny could find was a tweed cloak that could look okay if matched with the right outfit.
"Ginny," Hermione sighed, "I'm busted here. I've gone through several booklets and I haven't found a thing. This is all the kind of rubbish my grandparents would wear, and they're muggles!" Ginny stopped to laugh.
"Same here, mate. I'm done as well, what do you say we go to Zonko's early and see what the boys are up to? I'm about to choke from all this dust,"
She didn't want to give up but Hermione knew that Gladrag's was not the proper store to get the gown she had in mind.
"Very well then, let's get going, the wind is starting to pick up,"
Ron wasn't feeling up to sneaking around Hermione's back, especially if his sister was nearby; Ginny could read him like an open book.
"What about this one? Ron, hey mate, you hear me?" Harry's face was focusing in front of his own.
"Oh, yeah sorry Harry. Look, are you sure this is, right? I mean…it's a bit much isn't it?"
"Ron, I told you I would chip in if you needed help—"
"No, I mean…it's quite the statement giving your best girl mate something like this, don't you think?"
Harry was confused for a second and smiled at Ron's statement, he must really care for her.
"That's why we're here, so that by the end of the Halloween Ball, she'll be more than your "best girl mate". Ron, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing; most girls love it when blokes do this sort of stuff for them. Just look at the girl's at Hogwarts!"
Ron shifted uneasily in his place. "You sure? Because if I end up embarrassing myself, I'll give you a new scar to worry about,"
"Har har, Ron. Look, I've seen enough muggle TV shows to know that this is stuff girlies like. They're sentimental and hopeless romantics. Ron, this is the easiest part," Harry smiled at Ron who still looked unsure of himself.
"Really? This is the easiest! Because if it is, I don't know how in the bloody hell I'm going to present myself to her! Remember fourth year, Harry? Remember! I got so tongue-tied and everything I said came out wrong and we didn't speak for months, I can't have that happen again…" he quieted down at the memory of Hermione showing up at the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum. He had never felt such white rage surge within him. Krum's hands on Hermione's waist…How happy she looked to be with someone else at the ball…Him sulking on the sidelines being Hogwarts' most lonely wallflower…
"Yes, I remember. But what you seem to forget is that you're going to ask her to go with you before anyone else in the school gets the chance. That way, when you two do go-"
"IF we go," Ron interrupted.
"Right, if you two go, which is very likely, then you will have no reason to be mad at each other. So just get it because we've got to meet them at Zonko's in a few minutes," before Harry could go on, another wizard approached them.
"Have you gentlemen decided yet, or shall I come back?" he smiled.
"Yes," Harry spoke up before Ron could protest, "we're ready."
"Just where have you two been? We've been waiting here for you for the last five minutes!" Hermione started yelling at the boys who had just walked up to them.
"Hermione, jeeze, why are you acting like we're late? It's only four now! It's not our fault you're early and decided to wait in the cold wind," Ron wasn't about to put up with her lecturing, he had a lot on his mind and he needed time to sort it out.
"Well now!" Harry butted in before another argument ensued, "That's a great suggestion, Ron!"
"Wha- what is?"
"Going to the Three Broomsticks for a bottle of butterbeer, that's what! Mmm I can feel the bubbles warming my bones now…"
"Stop it Harry! That's not helping my craving anymore," Ginny looked at Harry and smiled. Ron could have sworn he saw her wink at his best mate.
"You know, that doesn't sound like a bad idea. It's nearly time to go back to school as it is. We should hurry because it'll probably full of other students," Hermione glanced at her watch and started walking briskly towards the opposite end of the block leaving the others in her wake.
When they all caught up, they saw Hermione just standing at the door. The entire bar was full of students and adults alike.
"Look, there are two tables left," Ginny looked to the back of the room by the fireplace.
"No…I don't think that'd work out they're both two-seaters," Hermione sounded a little unwilling.
"Ah come on, Hermione! You act like we can't split up, besides, they're not that far from each other," not giving her a chance to think, Harry put his hand on Ginny's shoulder, guiding her to the back of the room.
"Come on, Hermione, let's get seated and I'll get the drinks,"
Just as he promised, Ron came back to their table with two butterbeers in tow and looked at his sister and Harry in conversation.
"So, how goes the planning for the uh, Halloween Ball? I've hardly seen you around and Ginny says you've been working yourself ragged putting this thing together,"
"Ron, why are you going to ask me a question that you already have the answer to?" Hermione always had a way to make Ron feel dumb. Couldn't she tell he was nervous?
"Well, maybe I wanted to hear it from you since we haven't talked, well…like this for a while." Hermione looked up from her bottle and smiled at him—Ron blushed.
"So far," she sighed, "the decorations have already been decided. I'm kind of stuck on deciding on what to eat for dinner. See, we want to serve something that will fill students up and provide energy and be healthy to offset all the candy, but we don't want it to be such a heavy meal that students will be too tired to dance." Hermione stopped and looked Ron in the eyes. "Why do you ask?"
"W-w-well see, I'm curious because I'm, uh, looking for someone to go with, a date I guess…and I was just curious is all," Oh Merlin, she must know I'm up to something. Why did I let Harry talk me into this?
"Oh, I see…" she looked down at her bottle and towards Harry and Ginny a few tables over, they seemed to be having an animated conversation. "Just make sure you don't ask anyone until Dumbledore makes the announcement,"
Ron sensed something was wrong with her. Why was she being so distant? So quiet?
"Who were you planning on going with?" he had know before he asked her.
"No one as of yet…I was actually thinking of just going solo so I can pay more attention to the ball and make sure everything runs smoothly," she took a drink and looked back out the window.
"What? Why would you plan a whole event, which I'm sure is going to be spectacular, and not even enjoy it? That's quite a load Hermione; you should enjoy yourself more than anyone," Ron took a deep breath, "What uhm, would you say if I asked you to come with me?" He looked up towards her as she stared at him.
Hermione stared at Ron. Did he just ask me to go to the dance with him? Maybe I just thought it really hard and thought he asked…
"'Mione?"
"Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry,"
"Oh..'k then, that's fine I understand…" Ron's face was beet red as he slowly got up to leave.
Oh my god! He did ask me! And he thought I said no, ooh crap!
"Ron!" she grabbed his hand, "Yes, I'll go with you," she couldn't help but smile as his expression changed. "Pleas, sit back down, I'd enjoy the company," he did as she asked without a moment's hesitation. Now it was her turn to blush. They were going to the Halloween Ball together and neither of them could wait,