The second chapter - as promised. Enjoy •^_^•
Disclaimer: Every time I have to write this, it really does kill a little bit of my soul. I still don't own Fairy Tail or Harry Potter.
Over the next few weeks, Hermione was too busy going to classes and trying to avoid the headmaster to think about anything else - namely the Yule Ball.
It was when she and Harry were working on their potions end of term practice essays that she was harshly reminded by a certain red head.
"So," Ron said, smirking. "It's your lucky day, 'Mione, because I don't have a date yet - and I've decided to go with you!" He wasn't expecting her to glare at him - be grateful, maybe, but glare? No way.
"Oh, you have, have you, Ronald?" She hissed, and his smirk faded to be replaced with a frown.
"Well, yeah, I mean, I don't want to be dateless - at this rate I'll have to go with Eloise Midgen! No offence to her, but I'd rather go with you. I mean, at least you don't have her awful acne. And it's not like you'll be able to get anyone either, I mean, look at you!" He said cruelly, annoyed at her unimpressed expression.
At this, Harry jumped up. "Oh you little-" He was cut off by Hermione.
"Thanks, Harry, but I can handle this myself." She turned to Ron, and if looks could kill, the red head would be six feet under. "Just because you didn't have the foresight to get a date before everyone else did, doesn't mean that you'll be dateless at the ball - Eloise is actually a very nice girl, maybe you should take the time to get to know her." The shy Ravenclaw girl smiled thankfully at Hermione for this, and the brunette smiled back. "Secondly, what exactly makes you think that I would drop everything to go with you? Because I sure as hell won't." With that Hermione picked up her completed essay and handed it in to Snape. Right before she left, she turned back to a smug Harry and astonished Ron.
"Oh, and for the record, Ronald, I do have a date." With an uncharacteristically exaggerated flip of her hair, she left, and the room burst into applause, a few people even cheering.
Ron's face turned red enough to match his flaming hair, and he sat back down meekly in his seat, silently fuming, as the potions professor hissed at the class to shut up. When no-one was looking, though, Snape smirked, mentally congratulating his favourite student, and Gryffindor suddenly gained a few house-points.
Deciding to head to charms early, Hermione grumbled to herself on her way there.
"Stupid fucking Ron with his big mouth and dumb ideas," she muttered under her breath, making a certain shadow dragon-slayer chuckle. Hermione tensed, but relaxed and smiled once she saw Rogue.
"Hey," she said softly. He grinned at her.
"Hey yourself. Heard about what happened with Weasley. Well done," he said, winking.
Hermione blushed. "It was nothing, but...how did you find out?" She asked. "I only left class about five minutes ago."
"Sting," he said simply, and Hermione smiled.
She had grown rather fond of the blonde, but he didn't seem to be able to keep his nose out of other people's business. "Does he know about the whole Yule thing." She asked.
"What Yule thing? You mean the one where I asked you to be my date?" Rogue smirked. "Of course, I-wait a second, I don't think I told him!" He said, sounding surprised.
Hermione had to hold back a snort, and suddenly smiled deviously. "Well, we might as well use the opportunity. I don't think we should tell them who we're going with, and just keep it a secret instead. Can you imagine the looks of surprise on their faces!" She said enthusiastically, blushing slightly as she thought of Lucy's knowing smirk.
Rogue returned her demonic expression.
"You," he said, "are brilliant. Someone has to make sure Sting is drinking something at the time - I have a hunch he's going to ask Minerva and we all know what her response will be if he ruins her dress with fruit punch!" He laughed evilly, and Hermione joined in.
"Oh god," she said. "This is going to be so much fun!"
Rogue winked at her. "I've got to go to transfiguration now, but make sure you tell me when you've got your clothes for the Yule Ball so we can coordinate," he said before melting back into the shadows. Fortunately for Hermione, he didn't catch her horrified expression at the mention of clothes - she didn't have anything to wear, and there was no way she would know what to get. There was only one thing for it. She needed Lucy Heartfilia's help.
At the dinner table, everyone looked up at the sound of a high pitched squeal.
"Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!" Lucy gushed, her excitement making Hermione nervous. She knew the blonde was planning something, but what?
"I've just had the best idea! According to Loke, one of my spirits, a new mall has opened up in the celestial world, and it's supposed to be amazing! I think we should go - you, me and the other girls, on a shopping spree!" She said excitedly. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief that the blonde's plan wasn't at all humiliating, and Yukino joined in the conversation.
"But I thought humans weren't allowed in the celestial world? Plus, time goes faster over there," she said frowning.
"Oh it's fine," Lucy assured the silver haired mage. "Old 'Stache face is a friend of mine - he's like a second father to me! Also, he controls the flow of time, so he could, if we asked nicely, make sure that not much time passes."
Yukino grinned. "'Old 'Stache face'?" She asked amusedly. "You call the celestial spirit king 'Old 'Stache face'?! You do realise he is the most powerful being in the entire Celestial World, and is probably more powerful than most wizards and mages in our world, right?"
Lucy grinned. "Yup!" She said brightly. She whipped out Virgos, key and summoned the maid. "Hey, Virgo. Could you go ask 'Stache face if me and my female friends can go to Starfall Mall?"
The pink-haired woman bowed. "As you wish, Princess," she said, and disappeared.
Lucy turned to Hermione and tilted her head. "So...I'm guessing that you have a Yule date, if you want to go shopping, so who is he? Or she, it doesn't bother me," she said, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione grinned deviously. "He, but as for his actual identity...that's for me to know and you to find out," she replied, winking at the blonde.
"Oh you sneaky little..." Lucy said, bit mirrored Hermione's smirk. "Fine, I guess you'll have to wait to find out who I'm going with then."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Pffff, everyone knows that Natsu asked you the other day, so don't try that with me!" She said.
Lucy glared at the pinkette from across the table. "Stupid bloody loudmouthed pinky," she grumbled under her breath, and Yukino started laughing. Unfortunately for her, this attracted the attention of the other two girls, who sidled closer.
"So, Yukino," Lucy began. "Who're you going with, hmmm?" The silver-haired mage blushed, and tried to get away from the blonde.
"N-no one!" She said, and quickly stood up, hurrying out of the Great Hall. The two demons raised their eyebrows at one another and ran after her, determined to find out who it was.
When they reached the hallway, though, she was nowhere to be seen.
"Damnit!" Hermione cursed. "I was sure we'd catch her!"
Lucy patted her shoulder. "Don't worry. She can't hide from us forever!" She said with a terrifying smile. Before they could keep scheming, Virgo reappeared.
"Princess, the King sends his regards, and asked me to escort you and your friends to the Mall for a day of all expenses paid fun!" The maid said, smiling.
"Woooohoooo!" Lucy exclaimed. "Let's go shopping!" She grabbed Hermione and raced into the Great Hall, grabbing Erza, Levy, Minerva, Lisanna, Cana, Wendy and two other girls that Hermione didn't recognise.
Virgo flashed away, but returned almost immediately with Yukino in her arms. Putting the celestial mage down, Virgo magicked all the girls into celestial clothes and they disappeared to the astonishment of the onlooking students.
A/N - It's actually kind of pathetic how much I've been looking forward to writing Ron and Hermione's special encounter... I wish the spirit world was real, because can you imagine all the adorable clothes they'd have in the malls there? *sigh* Oh well, guess I'll have to make do with stuff from Earthland. Reviews = happy author, happy author = more chapters. What? No, I'm not trying to bribe you at all! •^_^•