a/n: IT'S TIME FOR THE BALL! Are you excited? We now get to see the dresses and dress robes. I have selected songs for this event and another song that we will remember from Summer Lovin' (I'll give you three guesses...you probably remember it becaus eit occured in like every scene where the radio was on in the car! Well I'll let you get on with it!

Kylie

One and Only

Chapter Forty-five

The evening of the ball, around five, Hermione and Ginny kicked Ron and Harry out of the common room and shoved dress robe bags in their hands.

"Come back at seven." They said before slamming the portrait in their faces (they had to be there before everyone because they had to make sure things were set up.) Then they turned the common room into a dressing room,

First they began with manicures and pedicures. Hermione painted hers a peach color and Ginny painted a French Manicure on her nails.

Next they were onto hair. Hermione sat in the chair first so Ginny could do her hair. Ginny put it in hot rollers first; it was the only way to get perfect curls. Then Ginny sat in the chair while Hermione started to do her hair. She used her wand to straighten Ginny's hair then she clipped some of her hair at the top if her head with a pretty flowered clip and the rest fell down on her shoulders. Ginny then took the hot rollers out and clipped Hermione's hair up into a nice up do with sparkly clips.

When they were done with the hair they started on the make-up. They used a special kind of make-up from Madam Sabrina's that wouldn't wear off. Ginny ran a nice brown eyeliner pencil around Hermione's eyes. They she applied a tan eye shadow over Hermione's lid and then a layer of glitter. She finished off Hermione's eyes with mascara. Then moved onto Hermione's cheeks and did a peach blush. She then topped off the cheeks with a bit of glitter on each cheek. Finally for the lips she did a nude gloss just to give them a shine. For Ginny, Hermione did a cat-eye kind of look with the liquid black eyeliner that looked nice on Ginny and a very pale green on the eyelids. She then went on to put mascara on her. For the cheeks Hermione did a pale pink and a similar color on the lips followed by a gloss.

Before getting dressed they sprayed their hair with extra stick spray from Madam Sabrina's so it wouldn't fall out. Then they had to decide on jewelry. Hermione chose the bracelet that Ron gave her over the summer with the earrings Ginny got her for her birthday. (They were silver chandelier earrings.) Ginny chose to wear the earrings Harry got her for her birthday since they would match her dress and the dolphin ring Harry got her (when he told her he loved her) on a chain.

Then they were ready to change into their dresses. Hermione's was a peach dress that tied around her neck with thin strings. It came down just to her ankles. And there was a peach sash that tied around her waist and came around front, letting the ends fall down in front. She had on matching peach heels but the heels were barely an inch and consisted of one thin strap right before her toes, she planned on taking them off not long after the ball started anyways. Ginny's dress was a pale green with no straps. It came to just before her knees and there was a darker green ribbon tied just above her waist. It had a flower pattern sewn into it all around. Ginny had on pale gold heels that were opened toes and had a crisscross strap across the foot and clasped together on the ankle.

To finish off their looks they sprayed perfume on and Hermione rubbed glitter on her arms. They took a step back to look at each other. Hermione did a little twirl to show off her outfit and Ginny did her model walk. Both girls laughed and had a little fun joking around until there was a knock at the portrait hole.

"I think our dates are here." Ginny said with a smile.

"How do I look?" Hermione asked, being girly.

"Great. How bout me?" Ginny responded.

"Awesome." Hermione answered with an excited smile. They allowed the boys to enter. Ron and Harry looked at the girls with a longing look (the reaction they had been waiting for.) Hermione and Ginny smiled at the boys who also cleaned up pretty well. Their dress robes were plain black, similar to the ones that Harry wore to the Yule Ball and it looked like they even attempted to pull a comb through their hair. Ginny even smelt the cologne she got Harry for Valentines Day on them.

"Wow, you look…" Ron was searching for the right word as he walked to Hermione. "…amazing." He finally found a word although he though that it didn't quite cut it. Irresistible would have covered it but if he said that then it would have led to him suggesting that they stayed in the common room for the evening and he knew Hermione's answer to that so he settled on amazing.

"Why thank you." Hermione said with a blushing smile. "And you look amazing too." Ron smiled at her and she saw a pink tint in his cheek. Hermione almost made the suggestion that they stay in for the night but knew they had to at least make an appearance at the ball.

Harry walked toward Ginny. She looked better than great for all that work she did. He smiled, as he got close.

"You look great Gin." Harry said.

"Thank you." She said with a smile. "You don't look half bad yourself." She said. Harry smiled and took her hand, noticing that Ron and Hermione were ready to get going as well. Just as they were about to leave the portrait hole swung open. Tonks and Lupin walked in, Penny in tow. Tonks had been released from the Hospital Wing, just that morning but they were staying for Graduation the next day. Lupin held Penny in his arms while they noticed that Tonks had a camera.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked.

"You didn't think we'd let you go without having something to remember this moment by did you?" Tonks asked. She took about a dozen pictures of them in different poses. Finally they were ready to go after five minutes of talking about how cute Penny got since the last time they saw her (that morning.)

Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny were the first ones down there since they had to go over things that had to be set up. The Great Hall set up was beautiful. The roof was bewitched to resemble a clear night sky. Then there was a section where the dance floor was, lighted by star lights. Then there was a sectioned off place where there were tables each with their separate star lights. At the front there was the stage with lights surrounding it. In the food area there was a butterbeer fountain, a table with various snacks on them, and a table with water bottles on it. It ended up looking really great. Harry and Ron were given the task of making sure that all the chairs were nicely at the tables while Hermione went to converse with the band about the muggle songs and Ginny went to make sure everything in the food area was ok.

As they finished people were arriving. Ron and Hermione had to go out because the seventh year prefects (and Heads) were going to come in and have the first dance with their partners. Everyone was entering and while Ron and Hermione waited for them to all get in. It was similar to the Yule Ball when the champions had to dance the first dance with their partners. Hermione saw Ron looking a bit nervous.

"What's up?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know if I can dance in front of all of these people." Ron said.

"But you danced in front of people at Tonks and Lupin's wedding." Hermione said.

"That was different." Ron said, with a bit of shake in his voice. "Everyone was watching the bride and the groom but since we're the Heads they'll be watching us." Hermione smiled and put her arms around her neck.

"Just focus on me and I'll focus on you. Nothing else matters." Hermione said as Professor McGonagall came to usher them into the Great Hall. Ron and Hermione linked arms and were first in line since they were the Heads.

They walked into the Great Hall and everyone was standing on either side of them. Hermione smiled and Ron managed a feeble attempt at one. They walked to the center of the dance floor, followed by the other prefects. Hermione put her arms around Ron's neck as his went to her waist. It was a bit awkward for him to be in that position and not kiss her.

"Ready for this?" Hermione asked. Ron took a deep breath.

"No." He answered. He started to turn his head and look around but Hermione directed his face back to her.

"Nothing else matters." She repeated as the music started. They started to move slightly to Collide by Howie Day. The microphone was bewitched so that when the lead singer sang the words of the song it would come out just like the muggle singer. It was very clever but to use it you had to be a decent singer otherwise you could sound like a music artist on a bad day.

Hermione smiled up at Ron and he smiled down at her. He resisted the urge to kiss her but he held onto her and they continued to move. Hermione kept his focus on her so he wouldn't be freaked out by the people watching him. Her lips moved with the song and he smiled at her.

"I found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind..." Hermione sung softly. Ron continued to smile at her, forgetting about the people all around him. "...You somehow find, you and I collide..." He twirled her and then brought her back to him, closer then before. They smiled, looking into each other's eyes knowing that they were happily in love and nothing was going to change that. As the song ended Ron finally remembered that there were people around him. They clapped and he didn't feel as embarrassed. He took Hermione's chin and guided her lips to his for a quick peck. Then the beat of songs changed and people came to join them on the dance floor. Ron smiled when he recognized the beat to the song. He laughed, gave Hermione another twirl and they started dancing to their song (Beverly Hills by Weezer.) After a few more songs Hermione finally let Ron drag her over to the water and butterbeer. Ron grabbed a butterbeer and handed Hermione a water bottle, they went to find a table to relax for a bit. Ron took off the cloak part of his dress robes.

"So how longs this thing going to last?" Ron asked Hermione, eyeing her up and down. Hermione smiled and reached for his hand.

"Dance with me for a bit longer then we'll talk." She said, pulling him up. Ron groaned. "I'll make it worth your while." She said with a devilish grin. Ron was immediately in the mood to dance as Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy came on. Ron even got into the dancing. After a few more songs Hermione wanted to go back to the table and sit for a bit before going back and dancing.

When they got to the table they saw Harry and Ginny there. Harry looked wiped out while Ginny looked impatient sitting there.

"Can we dance now?" Ginny asked as Ron and Hermione came to sit down.

"When Ron and I get back from getting drinks." Harry said, quickly getting up. Ron followed, glad for the excuse not to dance. It's not that they didn't want to dance with their girlfriends; it's just that they were a bit worn out for so much of it.

Hermione laughed when she saw that there were full drinks on the table in front of everyone. Ginny scowled, she wanted to get back out on the dance floor but she didn't want to go alone. Hermione reached down to take her shoes off. They were slowing down her dancing.

"Come on Gin." She took a bug gulp of her water. "I'll go dance with you." They went back out onto the dance floor to dance to Check On It by Beyonce.

Ron and Harry were procrastinating at the butterbeer fountain. They ran into Neville who looked a bit out of breath.

"Hey Neville." Harry said.

"Are you avoiding dancing too?" Ron asked.

"No. I'm just getting some drinks before Luna and I go back out there." Neville said. He grabbed two water bottles and started to leave. "Oh, Hermione and Ginny are still out on the dance floor." Neville said as he walked away. Harry and Ron looked out and saw that sure enough Hermione and Ginny were having a good time dancing to Everytime We Touch by Cascada.

"Should we go?" Ron asked.

"Feeling guilty too?" Harry wondered.

"That and there's two sixth year Ravenclaws checking them out." Ron said.

"Let's go then." Harry said, leaving the drinks and meeting Ginny in the middle of the dance floor. They danced practically until their legs were numb. Finally Ginny said one more song before they would go sit out. They danced to Yeah by Usher and Lil' Jon and Ludacris. Hermione and Ron stayed out on the dance floor to dance to I Don't Want to Miss A Thing by Aerosmith. Hermione smiled up at Ron.

"After this maybe we should turn in. I'm a bit tired." Hermione faked a yawn. Ron smiled.

"Yeah me too." He said, pulling Hermione closer. They danced to the song, staring into each other's eyes. Hermione was moving her lips to the words and smiling at Ron. The song changed to Wouldn't It Be Nice by the Beach Boys and Ron and Hermione started for the door after getting Hermione's shoes, holding hands. They were almost at the door when Snape stepped out in front of them.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"Up to…Gryfindor Tower." Hermione said, catching her almost mistake.

"Yeah we're kind of tired its –" Ron looked at his watch. "Ten-thirty." Hermione stepped on his foot. Ron winced in pain but didn't say anything otherwise it would be more suspicious. The dance didn't end for another hour and a half but she didn't want him saying anything it would ruin it. Snape eyed them suspiciously. It seemed he knew what they were up to but there was nothing he could do but step aside and let them pass because even if he did have proof of what they were going to do, it was not something that he wanted to discuss. Ron and Hermione went up the stairs at a quick pace. When they got in the common room, Hermione waited for Ron to take action this time. She dropped her shoes and before she could move, Ron had her pinned against a wall. She smiled at his force that was a turn on. He lifted her up, their lips never parting, and brought her to the bed. He pulled the strings that was keeping her dress on and she started to unbutton his shirt…

During the middle of the night, Ron stared up at the ceiling thinking about what he was going to do tomorrow. His arm was around Hermione's sleeping figure and he looked at her face. He couldn't wait to take her to the Quidditch pitch where he would conjure flowers before she came (Ginny had taught him how to do the spell) and then he would propose. A smile crossed his face as he drifted off into sleep, dreaming of the proposal.

a/n: What did you think? LEt me know!

Kylie