Hermione couldn't quite believe what just happened. Fred Weasley just asked her to the ball. Fred Weasley just called her beautiful. She had doubted his sincerity but when he had grabbed her arm and looked at her she could tell that he meant it. Where it had come from she had no idea. They had talked a lot when she was staying at their place and even in school but she had always assumed he was being nice because she was Ron and Ginny's friend. Speaking of Ginny, she had to find her. She needed advice.
As soon as she entered the common room she went to Ginny who was sitting alone, reading up for her charms class.
"Ginny, you never guess who just asked me to go to the ball."
"Well, it's not those two idiots." Ginny replied, gesturing her head towards Harry and Ron. Hermione could tell she was in a bad mood. "Harry's going on and on about Cho and Ron is just being a git."
Hermione placed her hand on Ginny's. She knew that her friend still had a soft spot for Harry who was quite clueless about it.
"I'm sorry…"
Ginny shook her head "No! I'm sorry. I'm spoiling your news. Tell me, who asked you?"
"Fred."
Ginny's jaw dropped as she stared at her friend. "Fred?! Our Fred?!" She nearly yelled. Hermione gestured for her to be quiet.
"Yes, Fred Weasley, your brother. I don't know why. I thought he was pranking me but he looked so sincere."
Out of all the things Hermione could've told Ginny she hadn't expected this news. But once she had processed it she wasn't that surprised either. She had seen that Fred and George enjoyed Hermione's company and most of all that Hermione was part of the very select group of people that were safe from their pranks.
"How do you feel about it?"
Hermione looked at her confused.
"Well, are you seeing this as just friends or do you reckon there's more to it?"
"Ginny! Until two hours ago I didn't even know Fred would ever consider this. We're going as friends."
Ginny nodded, she was sure Hermione meant every word but she knew Fred all her life. If he had asked Hermione then she was sure something was up. She looked sadly at Harry. If only he ever saw her that way. It was a look that didn't go unnoticed by Hermione.
The next morning she managed to get Harry alone. Hermione had a plan in mind. They were walking the grounds on their way to Hagrid while Ron was still snoring in his bed.
"So… have you asked Cho yet?" She began carefully.
Harry shook his head. "I can't seem to pluck up the courage. I thought it would be easier." His frustration was clear and Hermione almost felt sorry for him. If it weren't for the fact that it was his own stupidity that brought him here.
"Well it's supposed to be. If you barely dare to open your mouth you're not really in for a pleasant evening."
Harry laughed, "I suppose not."
"Besides, I hate to be the bringer of bad news but she's going with Cedric."
Harry nodded, the smile on his face fading quickly. "Great! Just great! At least it saves me the trouble of making a fool out of myself."
Hermione pulled her arm around him in a comforting gesture "Why don't you go with someone you're at ease with? There's enough pressure already. You don't need to add a romantic note to it. Besides, how much do you really know about Cho besides the fact that she has nice hair and a nice smile?"
"Are you suggesting we should go together?"
"Well euhm… I sort of already have a date." Hermione said, quickly trying to change the subject. "But Ginny doesn't, why don't you ask her?"
"Because Ron would kill m… Hang on? You have a date? When were you going to tell me?" Harry stopped walking and looked at her.
"Don't tell Ron though, he's been such a git and I don't want him to know yet. He'll probably say something stupid that would ruin it. Fred asked me."
If Harry hadn't looked astonished ten seconds before he certainly looked it now.
"Fred? I didn't know you two were that friendly."
"Well yeah…" Hermione said, deciding to sit down on a rock next to the path. "I didn't know either. But he genuinely asked me yesterday in the library."
Harry settled down next to her "And you think I should ask Ginny?"
"Well yeah, you're comfortable around her, you know her. There'll be no pressure and plus that way she is allowed to go."
Harry nodded "I'm so terrible at this. I should've come to you sooner. Got any advice for Ron?"
Hermione shook her head "He can go with a troll since that's what he's so afraid of."
Secretly she was happy though that at least she had managed to convince Harry. She was sure that this would be a very important step in her friends' happiness.
The ball arrived quickly and the girls were busy getting ready. Ron had been an arse all week leading up to it. He had been angry that Harry asked his baby sister and was convinced that Hermione was lying about having a date. Only George, Harry and Ginny knew that Fred and Hermione were going together. After Ron had given Harry a whole tirade about best friends and siblings Hermione had only been more convinced that she had been right not to tell him. Even though they were going as friends she did want to impress Fred.
"Hermione, you look absolutely amazing."
Ginny said as Hermione twirled around the room in her dress. "Don't exaggerate Ginny" Hermione replied although she did feel pleased with herself.. "Besides, have you looked at yourself in the mirror? If Harry doesn't see you now for the amazing girl that you are I'm going to buy him some better glasses."
"I still can't believe he ended up asking me. I just wished Ron hadn't been such an arse about it."
Hermione hugged her "Don't let it ruin your evening."
"Oh, I'm not planning to. Ready to watch their jaws drop?" Ginny asked and with that they left for the common room.
Downstairs the boys were already waiting. Why did it take so long for girls to get ready? Ron was lounging in the sofa, moaning about his frock.
"How come your dress robes look so nice?" Ron asked, eyeing his brothers.
"Because unlike someone here we actually paid for these ourselves with our own hard earned money." George replied "Stop being such an ungrateful prick. You know mom probably tried her best."
Angelina was the first to come down and George whistled as she hooked her arm in his. Ron was the only one who looked astonished at this.
"Hey Angelina, that's George you know." George, Angelina and Fred gave him a look that said it all. Of course Angelina knew it was George.
"Then who are you taking Fred?"
Fred was saved from having to reply by the sound of a giggling group of girls coming down the stairs. Once they came into their sight he wasn't able to say anything anyway. He was already convinced that Hermione was a beautiful witch. But Hermione, dressed up to the nines and her hair tamed. Nobody could doubt it now and he was so glad that he had managed to pluck up the courage to ask her.
"Cat got your tongue?" Hermione asked as she watched him stare at her. Her stomach fluttered as she noticed the adoration in his eyes. He was truly admiring her.
"You truly look amazing, you know that?" The blush that came onto Hermione's cheeks was so adorable that Fred knew for once and for all. He was in trouble.
Harry as well couldn't believe his own eyes as he watched Ginny. It was like he truly saw her for the first time. She gave him such a sweet comforting smile that all his nerves about opening the ball seemed to dissapear. He should really listen to Hermione all the time.
It was Ron however who was stunned the most as he watched his own brother offer his arm to Hermione. It wasn't because he was jealous he told himself. No, she was his friend and he was his brother and you didn't do that. It was a form of loyalty when you thought about it. Same went for Harry. He was in such a foul mood that when Parvati, who had ended up being his date didn't even get a greeting when she finally came to stand next to him. Taking in his dress robes and his mood she was already planning to ditch him first chance she would get.
Hope you liked it. Let me know in the comments!
