Chapter 8 – Slughorn's Christmas Party

A/N: Some of you have probably been waiting for this chapter, so here it is. Enjoy ;)

Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the following day, which was Sunday, visiting Hagrid, and then returning to the common room to get some homework done. Hermione was, as Harry had noticed, far more helpful than usual. Her usual nagging in getting the boys to do their homework had turned into a sort of Hermione-ish encouragement.

Encouragement, but in a slightly bossy way, as Hermione would. But Harry actually liked this change in her attitude. And he knew all too well where it was coming from…

Harry's only hope was that it wouldn't recede over time, as Ron and Hermione's argument would eventually be buried as part of their past rows.

The classes the Trio attended together had also gone back to normal. Ron and Hermione had also not bickered in several days. Whether Harry was around or not didn't seem to matter either. Harry felt that the two of them were also unusually cheery, and on two nights Ron and Hermione had wandered off for a while. Not doing prefect duties anyhow…Harry hoped for his friends that they were snogging in secret, but little did Harry now that Ron was showing Hermione some of the defensive spells he had learned in the Room of Requirement.

Hermione couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine when Ron began lecturing her on a spell, as if he was her professor. Ron had gone on to explain more about it to her in the common room afterwards, which had caused Hermione to feel a sudden pulsating between her legs. Hermione mentally scolded herself for the sudden flashing of the image of "Professor" Weasley having his way with her in an empty classroom, bending her over the teacher's desk….

She could no longer contain her excitement for Slughorn's Christmas Party either. The party itself wasn't going to be too interesting, Hermione thought, but it was going there with Ron as her date that made it worth the while.

The day of the party, the Trio had been strolling around on the grounds of Hogwarts. It was cold, but the sky was forget-me-not blue and the sun was shining as brightly as it hadn't since the Saturday they had gone to Hogsmeade.

"Alright," said Hermione. "I'm heading back to the castle to get ready. Uhm…Ron…" Hermione turned looked into his eyes. "Don't forget, eight o'clock in the common room."

"That would be the time and place we agreed upon, yes," said Ron in a voice that closely resembled Professor Snape's.

Why the bloody hell did he have to make stupid impressions now? You're ruining it you dumb git.

He smiled as Hermione giggled at his impression.

"But Hermione, it's like four o'clock?" said Ron incredulously.

"Yes, and I'll be getting ready. I'll see you at eight, Ronald," said Hermione, now walking back to the castle, leaving Ron and Harry on the snowy footpath on the grounds by themselves.

"Why'd she need hours to get ready?" Ron asked Harry.

"Well, she did take her time getting ready for the Yule Ball, can't imagine why this would be any different."

"You don't think that…she'll be doing that crazy thing with her hair, do you?" said Ron.

"Perhaps. And probably a dress, too. Honestly, Ron, what did you think this was going to be? It's a fancy Christmas Party with dancing and everything."

"Bloody hell…" said Ron, a grin mixed with fear spreading across his face. Hermione was going to look prettier than usual, and Ron hoped that he would be able to stay calm around her. The thought of himself dancing with Hermione popped into his head.

"D'you wanna head back, too? Play some chess or exploding snap before getting ready?"

Ron shook his head to clear his mind of his fantasy and turned back to Harry, into the real world.

"Yeah, sounds like a plan. Let's go," he said.

"You know, I've said this only a handful of times during my life, but…I love Fred and George," said Ron, who was twisting and turning his body in front of the mirror, his head and eyes fixed upon it, unmoving, much like an owl's.

Ron was wearing the handsome dress robes Fred and George had gotten him in the summer before his fifth year.

"Imagine if I'd worn that to the Yule Ball…reckon I might've enjoyed myself…"

Harry smiled sheepishly over Ron's shoulder into the mirror, seriously doubting that Ron's miserable time at the Yule Ball had had anything to do with his dress robes.

Ron looked at the clock and his heart began hammering against his chest, as if it were a Bludger, trying to escape from within his ribcage. It was a quarter to eight. He was supposed to be meeting Hermione in less than 15 minutes…all dressed up…her too…going on a date…

"Harry, it's a quarter to eight!" yelled Ron through the dormitory, which was empty except for himself and Harry.

"Yes, and? We're both dressed up and ready, aren't we?" said Harry, furrowing his brow. "Something wrong?"

"Bloody hell, bloody hell, bloody hell…" mumbled Ron, nearly inaudibly.

"Ron, talk to me, mate," said Harry, now looking at Ron with empathy.

Ron turned around to face Harry.

"I—" His mouth was dry, and his voice had been constricted by his ever tightening throat. Ron had trouble breathing, causing him to nearly gasp for air as all he received were short and shallow bursts of air.

"You're nervous, Ron. I get it," said Harry, who had walked over and placed a reassuring hand on Ron's shoulder. "But what you're feeling right now is over as soon as you say 'hi' to Hermione. That's all it takes, I promise. It'll wash away."

"R—really?" croaked Ron nervously.

"Yes, I promise," said Harry. "Just be— act as you normally would around Hermione, but…compliment her and be—you know—a gentleman. Girls like that."

Ron nodded and shifted his eyes onto a random spot on the floor. He seemed to relax a bit.

"Okay, I've gotta go and pick up Luna. Just wait for her in the common room, alright? It makes a good impression when you arrive a bit ahead of time. See you at the party."

Harry gave Ron an encouraging pat on the back and left the dormitory. Ron was paler than usual and he felt cold, very cold.

Ron turned around to take one last look into the mirror, adjusting his robes and fixing his hair slightly.

He took a deep breath and marched out of the dormitory, down the stairs and to the center of the common room. He was too nervous to sit, but standing by the fire seemed to have a calming effect. Ron closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth gush over his cold face and radiate over his body.

"Ron?" called a soft female voice from behind him. His eyes shot open and he turned on his heel, only to be petrified. There she was. More beautiful than he had ever seen her. She was wearing a pink dress, which ended above her knees, and revealed a fair bit of cleavage. Her brown curls fell softly onto her shoulders, smoother than ever.

Before him stood Hermione Granger.

She blinked rapidly a few times, her eyelashes waving through the air gracefully.

Bloody hell…

"Ron?" said Hermione again, taking a few steps towards Ron.

She wanted to say more but couldn't either. Ron looked simply dashing in his dress robes, she thought. Like a wizard version of James Bond.

But why was he not saying anything? Was it the dress? Her hair? Did he not like the way she looked?

"You look–you look–gorgeous, Hermione!" said Ron, his voice full of awe and wonder, and his eyes wide. Hermione blushed and beamed at him. He had just used the word "gorgeous" and her name in the same sentence.

"Thank you," she said. "You look dashing, Ronald." Hermione took another step towards him, the two of them now only a foot apart. Hermione nervously tucked one of her brown curls behind her right ear, and looked down at the floor whilst blushing.

Ron's eyes were still fixed on her, once or twice jolting down to her cleavage.

"You're—you just look—" stammered Ron. "Wow…" he whispered, more so to himself than to her. But she had heard him nonetheless…

Hermione's cheeks flared up red. She looked up at him, her mouth in a wide grin. She cleared her throat.

"Thank you…Shall we—shall we go?" she said anxiously, looking down again as she finished, hoping to break the awkwardness. Ron blinked several times and quickly shook his head to exit his state of trance.

"Uhm—yeah, let's go!" he said. Ron didn't know what to do. Should he offer her his arm? His hand? What was he supposed to be doing?

Ron made his way through the portrait hole first and decided to offer his hand to Hermione, to help her through. She instinctively took his hand climbed through the portrait hole. They walked for a while, Hermione still holding Ron's hand, when she noticed that she was still holding it.

Self-consciously she withdrew her hand, regretting her actions in a moment of anxiety. Ron quickly looked over at her, disappointed she had let go, but in the same instance Hermione linked her left arm with Ron's right arm, and placed her free hand on Ron's bicep. Hermione blushed furiously and looked straight ahead, mentally patting herself on the back for her display of Gryffindor courage.

They walked through empty corridors, except for when Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil both passed them.

"Have fun, Hermione!" said Pavarti encouragingly, whilst Lavender Brown looked bewildered with wide eyes and said nothing.

"Thank you, Pavarti!" said Hermione self-consciously. She did pick up a bit of confidence after Lavender and Pavarti had seen Ron and her in a manner that clearly showed that there might be more to it than friendship…

"Ah, Miss Granger!" boomed Horace Slughorn as Hermione and Ron walked into his office, which had clearly been magically enlarged. Hermione noticed she was still holding onto Ron's arm, quickly snatching both her hands away nervously. Ron could feel his face heat up significantly.

"And this must be young Mister Wallenby, I presume?" Slughorn eyed Ron up and down.

"Weasley, sir," said Ron, determined to not break eye contact with Slughorn. (Also determined to not pound him and his goofy mustache into the ground.)

"Oh forgive me, my dear boy, forgive me!" said Slughorn, waving his arms apologetically. "My … memory isn't what it used to be," said Slughorn cheerfully. "Well, I hope the two of you will enjoy yourselves!"

Ron and Hermione both left for the buffet awkwardly. Although Ron hadn't eaten in a while, he was no longer hungry, not knowing how to talk to Hermione took up all of his energy. He desperately tried for way to start conversations, but all options felt either awkward, boring or too…forward.

"Ron?" asked Hermione, looking up at Ron. She was trying to think of a way to apologize for Slughorn's behavior.

"Sorry, Ron's not here. I'm his stand-in. Rupert Wallenby," said Ron matter-of-factly. Hermione snorted with laughter, her eyes beginning to tear up and her abs beginning to ache. Ron beamed at the sight.

First one for tonight…let's hope I can keep this up. Blimey, I do love the way she laughs…

"Suppose you think my name is funny, do ya?" said Ron in a Scottish accent, pretending to be offended. Hermione burst out in laughter once more. When she had finally calmed down she said, "Well…Rupert, how about we get you something to eat? I know you're always hungry."

Hermione smiled at him. Although Hermione frequently nagged Ron for his eating habits, they were one of the many things she loved about him. In the same instance this had occurred to her, she scolded herself for having always nagged Ron about it.

Little did she know however, that Ron loved the way she nagged him about food or homework. As long as Hermione had kept it at nagging and didn't board things over into calling him pathetic.

"So what exactly is it that you do, Rupert?" said Hermione playfully, her cheeks turning faintly pink.

"Oh, I'm a librarian," said Ron calmly.

"Really? You must know a lot, then."

"No. I can't read," said Ron in the indifferent manner of his pretend character, Rupert Wallenby. But Hermione laughed once more and Ron grinned yet again.

"I'll get us some Butterbeers," said Ron, placing his hand briefly on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione wiped her eyes with her thumbs carefully, as to not ruin some of the make up she had applied, and finally sobered up from her final giggles.

"Fancy seeing you here, Granger," said a sonorous and familiar voice behind Hermione. It was Cormac McLaggen. Hermione turned around.

"I mean…I do fancy," he put an awful lot of empathy on that word, "seeing you here…"

"Hello, Cormac," said Hermione awkwardly, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"It shouldn't come as a surprise, really," said Hermione. "I'm in the Slug Club as well…"

Cormac blinked a few times, pretending not to have heard her. Unbeknownst to Hermione, Cormac gently flicked his wand, which was hidden behind his back, and a mistletoe began to sprout over them.

Hermione furrowed her brows at Cormac when she'd noticed him looking up at something. She looked up too and felt her face drain of all color. A mistletoe. Had Ron and her stood underneath it all this time? Or…

Hermione looked down again, and Cormac McLaggen was only three inches from her face. Hermione felt frozen for a second. Cormac took his time, closing the distance very slowly. Or did it only feel slow? She finally regained control of her body and took a swift step backwards, pushing McLaggen, who had closed in on her within an inch of her face, away.

Hermione bolted towards a group of nearby wizards and witches, hiding behind cloaks and robes, to find Harry standing behind.

"Hermione?" asked Harry. Hermione spun around, her expression intense.

"Oh, hi Harry. I've just escaped…"

"Ron?" asked Harry, furrowing his brows.

"No, McLaggen," said Hermione, glancing over her shoulder.

"What are you doing here with Cormac? I thought you were going with Ron?" said Harry, attempting to keep his slight resentment for Hermione at bay. Was this her way of getting back at Ron for the past few weeks? To play with his heart and rip it to pieces…for revenge?

"God, no!" exclaimed Hermione. "Ron went to get us some drinks and then Cormac showed up, and he pointed to the ceiling and there it was…a bloody mistletoe. I pushed him away and ran for it." Harry felt relief wash over him.

"Blimey, what a git," said Harry angrily. "Who does he think he is? First he doesn't make Keeper, and then…sort of… Now what's he want?"

"I don't know, but he's insufferable and vile. Hi, Luna," added Hermione, now noticing Luna Lovegood's presence.

"Hello, Hermione," said Luna in her dreamy voice. "Yes, Cormac is rather rude. He doesn't quite know how to read the room, does he?"

"No, he doesn't," said Hermione. "Have any of you seen Ron? He went to get Butterbeers."

"No, sorry."

"Ronald Weasley? Oh, I think I saw someone redheaded leave just as you stumbled into Harry and I. It could have been him," said Luna casually.

"What?" asked Hermione shrilly.

"Yes, he walked through the office door," said Luna. "But he might have gone to the loo…or to cleanse himself from Nargles."

"What?" asked Hermione incredulously.

"Creatures that live inside your head," said Harry. "They're actually real, Hermione."

"Later!" shot Hermione as she dashed away at the sight of an approaching McLaggen. Hermione had made her way to the exit, entering into the dark and deserted hallway outside Slughorn's office. She was going to wait here for Ron to return.

Fifteen minutes had passed Ron was still nowhere near. Where could he be? Hermione anxiously peeked through the open office door and began to scan the crowds. Ron was still not here. Something must be up. He'd told her that he was only going to go get Butterbeers. She thought that everything had been going amazing up until…McLaggen. Did Ron see her encounter with him? If so, how much had Ron seen? "Probably enough," thought Hermione, who was beginning to panic.

No, no, no please…things were going so perfectly until that bloody McLaggen showed his face, god no, please Ron…

Ron couldn't possibly think she'd kiss Cormac when she was here with him, Ron, could he? Hermione held back an oncoming wave of tears as the truth she'd spoken in her mind dawned on her. Of course he could. Ron had thought she had fancied Harry mere weeks ago. Hermione ran for the Gryffindor common room. She stepped through the portrait hole only to find Ron slouching in an armchair by the fire.

"Ron?" said Hermione softly. She was barking mad at him, but if she were to let loose it would cause a row. Ron started at the sound of her voice. He turned around to shoot her a nasty glare. She noticed that his face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, and his cheeks wet. He quickly turned back around.

"What do you want?" said Ron grumpily. "Come to announce your engagement to McLaggen, have you?" Ron rose from his armchair and began walking in the direction of the spiral staircase of the boys dormitory.

"Ron! Nothing happened between me and Cormac!" cried Hermione.

"Yeah, right…" said Ron, abruptly halting to a stop. "I suppose I didn't see you snog him underneath a mistletoe, then?"

"No, you didn't! Cormac must've conjured that mistletoe! I didn't kiss him! You have to believe me!" shrieked Hermione, her voice climbing to an extremely high pitch in her desperation. Tears rolled off her cheeks.

"Oh, so now we're conjuring things, are we?" said Ron, turning around to face her. "Why bring me to that bloody party and snog another bloke? You could've just asked Cormac out if you wanted to hook up with him."

"But that's not what happened!" said Hermione shrilly. Her voice was now so high pitched, it was difficult to make out what exactly she was saying.

"I thought we–" started Ron, a hint of sadness in his voice. "I thought we hade made up, but– if– if you'd rather take revenge for how I've treated you a few weeks ago…then…then guess what, Hermione…you've succeeded."

Ron scoffed and made to stride away towards the dormitory again.

"Please, Ron! You have to believe me!"

Ron kept walking, getting closer to the staircase by the second.

"I would never!" she cried.

Ron was up three steps with a single stride and almost out of sight...

"I want you! It's always been you," she said breathlessly in a desperately high pitch, impossible for Ron to hear.

Her words were nearly inaudible and on top of that he was already out of earshot and up the spiral staircase.

Gone.

Retreated to his dormitory.

Hermione burst out in tears and ran up to her own dormitory. She plunged herself into her bed, buried her face in her pillow and began to sob uncontrollably. Her face began to get more and more wet as her pillow got trenched in tears…her muffled cries, whimpers and sobs the only sounds she could hear…

A/N: Yes, yes very angsty and tragic, I know! But it HAD to happen this way. The payoff will be that much bigger. And don't worry, Ron and Hermione WILL get together, and it WON'T wait until the last chapter either. There will be plenty of fluff and romance coming...and some angst too ;)