Chapter 4

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And the dedication goes to... well, actually, I'm not going to say, because that would ruin it for you guys! But congrats anyway and here's a thousand gold stars!

Here's a chap on Hermione's point of view, the day before the ball. There will be flashbacks to show the past few days, so you won't have missed out on anything. This is something new I'm trying with the flashbacks, so tell me if they are well placed, and I have to say this is the most fun I've had writing a chapter... so read and review!

Oh, yes. Happy Birthday, short-haired! You know who you are!

(Hermione's pov – day before the ball)

I can't say that the news that Ron is taking someone to the ball excites me. It absolutely doesn't. But what can I do? I am taking someone, anyway.

"Hermione, are you even listening to me?"

What? That was Ginny's voice. What was she doing in my dorm at 6 am?

"Gin, what are you doing here?" I mumbled.

"We need to choose your dress, silly."

Oh, yes. I'd forgotten about that. See, the events of the past few days took my mind off of picking a stupid dress.

FLASHBACK – The day after Ron & Hermione' fight.

I sat down at breakfast, pushing my cereal around moodily. Why was I so unlikeable? And why was he so miserable that I got a date?

My eyes flicked over to the entrance doors, and I saw Ron come in.

Damn! What was I supposed to do? Be mad? Be forgiving? Keep my defence up? Oh, someone help me...

But he didn't walk over to the Gryffindor table. He walked over to another one, and started talking to some girl.

The filthy hypocrite!

I had decided how I was – angry and a bit haughty. I straitened my back and started eating my cereal properly.

Nothing was wrong, I told my head, nothing is wrong.

Ron walked over to sit opposite me, and I'll admit I have no self-restraint, and I rolled my eyes. I don't know why I did it – I don't think I can help myself.

"Ron, I don't want to talk to you," I said, and it was partly true. I could feel some sadness creeping into all the anger. I really was plain old Hermione, who is so undesirable.

"Hermione, you don't need to talk to me. I just came over to say that I was sorry. You know, for last night. And I want you to know that you're still my friend. OK?"

I don't believe it. You could have poured my cereal over my head, and I still wouldn't have moved. Did he just apologize?

He went to get up from the table.

"Ron," I said, and he smiled. I love that smile; it melted my heart. "Don't go. Sit down – you must be starving."

He sat down, grabbed some toast and started buttering it vigorously.

I'm still in a state of shock. Maybe he has grown up, even if it was a little bit. Does this mean he actually listened to all that rubbish I was yelling at him yesterday? Oh, no – that means he thinks I fancy George...

END OF FLASHBACK

"Oh, yeah, right. Dress." I said, and climbed out of bed. Ginny bought out five dresses. Oh, this was going to be a long morning.

I showered and when I got back into my dorm, I saw that Ginny was conjuring jewellery to match each of the out fits. I sighed and looked at the dresses.

A red one, a blue one, a bottle green one, a luminous orange one and, could it be a yellow one with green spots?

"Gin, I refuse to wear these two," I said, pointing to the orange and yellow dresses. Because I just wouldn't wear them.

I tried on the blue one. It was navy blue, and had a halter neck, and came down to the floor. I put it on and literally looked like a sack of potatoes.

"Gin, I look incredibly stupid," I said. Gin nodded; she knew I did.

FLASHBACK (from where the other flashback left off)

We had just gotten into a conversation about something or other, when my date for the ball walked into the great hall. Great. That was all I needed now. I smiled uncertainly at Ron, who had gone an inexplicable shade of red. He said a rushed goodbye, and scampered out of the great hall. I rolled my eyes for the second time that day.

"Hey, Hermione," George said. Then he looked at me funnily. "What's up?"

Yeah. Like I'm going to tell you.

"Well, actually, just to clarify, George, you taking me to the ball, is it –"

"– just as friends. Yeah, Ok," he finished, and a huge weight came off of my chest. Then he leaned across the table, and whispered "Is it 'cause you like someone else?"

"No," I whispered back.

"Good," he murmured, and I could see him smile. Actually, I could see about every single one of his freckles; that was how close I was to him. I was really quite nervous. "Because that means I can still flatter you with little surprises that are going to make this ball the best one you've had."

Gulp. What does that mean?

I decided to play along.

"Like what kind of surprises?" I asked quietly, and he leant back and pulled out a bunch of... giant daisies. My favourite flower! How on earth did he know? The only person I've told was...

"Ron gave me the tip off," George said with a wink, and I would feel myself heat up. George started to go, but I grabbed his cloak and pulled him back down.

"So, let me get his strait," I said, looking him in the eye. "We're going to the ball, just as friends, but you're still going to do all these romantic things for me, because...?"

"Because you deserve it," George declared, and kissed my hand again and walked off.

Hmm... being flattered with no consequences and no input form my behalf. That wasn't so bad, was it?

END OF FLASHBACK

I tried on the red one.

"Gin, is this supposed to be this tight?" I said and it certainty was tight. It was a strapless crimson dress which came down to my knees, which looked like it was made out of shiny plastic. It was way too tight across my whole body, and clung to my legs so much I couldn't walk. The only thing that gave a little leeway was the huge split down my left which came halfway up my thigh.

Ginny opened her mouth to say something, but I said a firm "No," before she could say anything.

"You'd better hope this green one fits," I said, "or, or, I'm not going!"

"Hermione!" Gin whined, but what was I supposed to do, go to the ball stark naked?

I slid on the green dress.

Damn. It fitted.

FLASHBACK - Wednesday

I was the last one out of potions on Wednesday, because I spilt my bile (not my bile, but the bile I was using, in case you were wondering). When I came out of the classroom, I nearly ran into George. I smiled hopefully, wondering what he was going to do.

OK, call me selfish, but it's not like I ever get any male attention, is it?

He took my hand, and I was glad the hallway was empty; the last thing I needed was onlookers.

"You look absolutely beautiful," George said. "And I really mean that."

I couldn't help it; tears welled up in my eyes. He kissed my hand (my, that was becoming quite a habit, wasn't it?), and smiled. No one had ever called me beautiful before.

"Thank you," I called out after him, and I hurried off to transfiguration, in a much better, albeit tearful, mood than I was

END OF FLASHBACK

I looked and myself in the mirror, and I can't lie. I really, really liked the dress. The bottle green really suited me, and the cut and the neckline was superb.

I smiled at Gin, who responded with a look that plainly said, "Ha! You have to go to the ball now!"

I picked out a chocker to go with the dress, and Ginny mucked around with my hair.

By the time my hair was anywhere near presentable, it was 10am.

Man, I'm glad I woke up early.

FLASHBACK

"Someone's enjoying all the attention," Harry said teasingly.

"You talking to me?" I said jokily, and Harry laughed.

"Nope, have a look how happy Ron is, though," Harry said, smirking. Ron was on his own by the fire, shredding up his astronomy essay. "Didn't you two make up?"

"Yeah," I said. "But I can't wait for this ball to be over."

"Well, you seem to be enjoying the effects," Harry said, pointing to the chocolates I was holding. George game them to me about five minutes ago. I offered one to Harry, and he took about three.

"Help yourself," I added, but I think his mouth was too full to reply. I gave to box to him and walked over to sit with Ron. Well, actually, there weren't any other seats, so I sat on the floor and looked up to him.

"What's up?" I said. He looked at me and or the life of me, I couldn't read his face.

"Nuffink," he murmured. Or, at least, that's what it sounded like. Then he looked at me and smiled, and I felt very relieved; he was still smiling at me. "You very weird sitting on the floor there, Mione. I'll budge up and we can share."

Harry was right. He did just call me 'Mione'...

I smiled at him, and we both tried to sit on the chair. We failed miserably. Mostly because I didn't know if he wanted to really share it with me, but partly because it really was a seat for one.

I ended up sitting on his lap.

Not that I minded, of course.

I blushed, lost my balance and nearly slipped back onto the floor, if Ron hadn't grabbed my shoulder and hoisted me back up. But when I got back onto his lap, he never moved his arm. I smiled slowly and I swear he leant in to kiss me when –

"Not too close to my date, eh, little bro?"

Any time apart form this, George. Ron jumped up, which sent me crashing onto the floor. George must have cast a charm, because I landed on this soft bedding.

"Thanks," I said grudgingly. Had Ron almost kissed me? I stood up and sent a death-glare to the first-years staring at me.

"Just wanted to give you this," George said, and he blew me a kiss.

What was I supposed to do? I caught it and waved my hand slightly as if to say goodnight. To my relief, George went up to his dorm, but so did Ron. I slumped back into my chair next to Harry.

"Do not say anything," I commanded to Harry, who had enough comments to fill up three copies of the Daily Prophet.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Why did you never get your ears pierced?" Gin asked me.

"How gross is having holes through your ears Gin? And having to stick something through it, too. It can't be good for you."

"Whatever," said Gin, putting earrings into her own ears. Gin looked amazing; she was wearing a thin-strapped dress which brought her already tiny waist in at the middle. The dress cut a good four inches above her knee, but it flowed out so she didn't look like too much of a slut. It was pink with cute green flowers on it. I'll say it; I was a bit jealous of her figure. Who wouldn't be?

Whilst Gin was putting on her makeup, I sat down and thought. I just put all my big thoughts together to see if I could make something out of them.

Let's see... I fancy the pants off of Ron; I'm going to the ball with someone else; the someone else happens to be his elder brother; Ron thinks I'm dating him; he also thinks that I fancy him; my date keeps on doing all these romantic things and I don't really want to go to the ball anymore. Oh yes, and I basically said he was immature (it is Ron) and now he's being... nice.

As Ginny came back form the bathroom, I realised how little that had helped me.

"Hermione, have you even thought about how you are going to do your makeup?" Ginny half said, half shrieked at me. I sighed and looked at my make-up bag. There was one thing in it – a lip balm.

I sighed as Ginny threw her half a dozen make up bags at me. This was going to be a long evening.

Well, there we are. I think that's long enough. The next chap will probably be Ron's pov, the day before the ball. Thoughts are welcomed in the form of reviews!

And if you guess Ron's date, then you'll get a pm with a thousand gold stars!

autumnlover