Chapter 16: The Yule Ball date
It came with the letter and the list of school supplies for the 4th year. A little white paper with the words "Yule Ball 2011" in a shiny golden colour. She walked downstairs and knocked on the second door of the corridor.
"Come in." A voice said.
She opened the door slowly.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" She asked.
Her mother turned around and looked at her.
"Is everything alright, Belle?" She asked.
"Well... I was wondering... You always told us that, before becoming a couple, you and dad were best friends. How did you... When did you realize you wanted to be... more than best friends with him?" The 14-year-old ginger asked. Hermione looked at her with big eyes.
"Well... I think I realized I felt something different from friendship towards your father when I was around your age or so. He'd been my best friend since we were eleven, but for some reason, that year I felt different around him. Whenever I saw him, he made my heart race faster and faster. He was definitely taller and slender and he made me laugh a lot. And... I noticed that he had really nice eyes, and... I was always trying to get him to notice me, picking up little fights just for him to talk to me. Anyway... there was this event called the Triwizard Tournament, and on Christmas Eve they had this ball coming. I was really hoping that your dad would ask me to go with him, but he never did." She explained. Belle just looked at her. "So... I went with another boy, and then your dad and I had this big fight in the middle of the grand staircase about me going with this boy and I yelled at him that next time he should ask me out before anyone else. He just looked at me angrily and left. I ended up crying. I felt heartbroken." Hermione finished. Belle just nodded. Hermione looked at her teenage daughter for a minute. "Who's the boy?" She then asked with a smile. Belle looked at her, shocked.
"There is no..." Belle retorted. Hermione noticed that her ears were turning bright red, just like Ron's when he was embarrassed.
"It can't be Teddy, you know, because he's going out with Victoire." Hermione concluded. Belle sighed.
"It's Adam." She finally said. Adam Weston was a Gryffindor boy who had been friends with Belle since first year. "It's just... I really like spending time with him. We share the same taste in books and subjects and we always study together, and he has this amazing blue eyes..." She added dreamily. Hermione smiled a little. Her little girl had her first crush on a boy. "He's one of my best friends, mom. What if he doesn't like me the same way that I like him? What if I ruin what we have?" Belle asked. In that moment, Hermione could not see Belle anymore. Instead, she saw her 14-year-old self struggling with her feelings towards her best friend.
"Well, sweetheart, you won't know unless you try. This is about the Yule Ball, right?" Hermione asked. Belle nodded. "Well, I'd say you wait a week for him to ask you. Boys tend to be really shy and nervous around girls at that age. If he doesn't do it, then you go and ask him." Hermione added.
"Won't it look like I'm desperate to get a date?" Belle asked.
"You can always tell him to go as friends if that takes the pressure off of you. But, don't miss your chance, sweetheart. If you like him so much, let him know." Hermione said. Belle nodded.
A few months later...
A little white owl arrived at the Granger-Weasley house one grey Monday morning.
"Mom! Ila's here!" Rose announced as Hermione opened the window for the bird to fly in. She took the envelope and gave the owl a treat. Then, she opened the letter and read it:
"Hi mom,
I hope you are all doing well today. Just wanted to let you know that I won't be home for Christmas. Why? Because Adam asked me to go to the Yule Ball with him. Can you believe it?! We were in the library working on our Potions' essay when he asked me if I was planning to go to the Yule Ball. I told him that I didn't have a date, so he asked me 'If I asked you to, would you be my date for the Yule Ball?'. I immediately said yes. I think he likes me too because he's always smiling at me and trying to touch my hand.
Anyway, next Saturday is a Hogsmeade weekend, and I was wondering if you could apparate there and meet me for lunch. I want to buy a dress with the galleons you gave me for my birthday and I was wondering if you could help me pick it up. Can you, mom? Please?
I'll write back soon.
Tell dad, Rosie and Hugh that I love them and that I really miss them.
Love,
Belle."
Hermione smiled as tears ran through her cheeks.
"Is Belle alright, mom?" Rose asked. Hermione nodded and brushed her tears with her hands.
"Yes, sweetheart. She's doing fine. She won't be here for Christmas. She sends her love to you all." Hermione said. Then, she walked out of the kitchen and to her office where she sat down and started writing a response for her daughter.