Chapter 5:

A Walk on the Grounds

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.

A/N: Sorry that it's taken me so long to update! I've been quite busy. Enjoy!

Ron woke up the next morning with a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was almost as if his body was silently protesting against his plans to ask Hermione to the Yule Ball. Ron wasn't a hundred percent sure whether he should listen to the warnings or just go about the day as he had already planned. In fact, this plan was the simplest of the lot and he was rather unsure why he hadn't gone along with it in the first place. Tonight, Ron and Harry would have a mock-conversation that would allow Ron to throw out the idea that they should all go for a walk on the snow covered grounds after dinner. Then, Harry would "discover" a piece of homework he had forgotten to do and leave Ron and Hermione alone on their walk. From there, Ron should have enough time to find courage to ask Hermione to go with him to the ball.

Ron swung his long legs out of bed and found his slippers on the cold dormitory floor. Harry was still sound asleep in the four-poster next to him and Neville's deep snores could be heard from across the room. Quickly, Ron got dressed and went down to the common room where there were a few seventh years having a conversation and one third year frantically searching through a large book which appeared to have deep purple stains on every page. Ron went out of the portrait hole and made his way down to the Great Hall for a bit of breakfast. When he searched the Gryffindor table for a friendly face, his stomach dropped slightly when he saw Hermione waving eagerly at him to join her.

"Hello Ron," Hermione said as he sat down next to her.

"Hermione," he nodded, grabbing a piece of toast from the large stack in front of him. Ron looked over at Hermione and quickly looked away. She looked lovely today, dressed in a light pink turtleneck and tan corduroys. Her hair was pulled back in a high pony tail and she was wearing earrings that her parents had given her for Christmas in second year.

"What?" Hermione had caught Ron staring at her and he quickly looked away before she saw the blush that had begun to creep up his face.

"Oh, Nothing, just got distracted," Ron said, pretending that it was no big deal.

"Alright Ron. Have any plans for today?"

Ron choked on his toast as her question caught him off guard. He quickly swallowed and then took a large gulp of orange juice from his goblet. He opened his mouth to answer her but then he thought better of what his plan actually was. Harry was still asleep somewhere upstairs in the depths of the castle. Ginny was surely asleep as well. It seemed as though now would be the best time to go out to the grounds with Hermione and ask her to the Yule Ball. They could go as soon as they had finished eating their breakfast. Leaving all second thoughts behind, Ron cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Yeah, actually, I was thinking about going for a walk around the grounds in the fresh snow as soon as I finished breakfast. Would you like to join me Hermione?"

She hesitated for a moment and then replied "Yes Ron, I would love to join you. Let's just finish up and then get our cloaks from our dormitories." Hermione quickly looked over at him and then turned back to her breakfast and continued eating. Ron tried to conceal his excitement. Maybe this plan would actually work.

Ron stepped out into the cool winter air with Hermione by his side. There was no one on the grounds but them, as it was quite cold that day and still relatively early in the morning. Across the lawn, smoke was swirling up from Hagrid's hut and in the distance, the Giant Squid could be seen jetting across the Black Lake. Ron and Hermione started in the direction of the lake and started talking about Harry and the Triwizard Tournament. They continued walking until they reached their favorite tree near the Black Lake and sat down after Ron had cleared the snow out and Hermione had dried the ground with her wand.

"So Hermione," Ron began as he pushed his long red hair back from his face "there was something that I wanted to talk to you about." The words were spilling from Ron's mouth before he could stop them. At this point, he was so nervous that he couldn't even be nervous anymore, in a paradoxical sort of way.

"Oh, Ron, there's something that I need to talk to you about too." Ron's confusion must have shown on his face as Hermione laughed quietly. "Nothing bad, I promise" she reassured him and patted his large numb hand with her small gloved one.

"No, listen Ron, I was thinking that maybe we should do something for Harry after this next task, like throw him a party or something. I think that he needs to know that everyone is behind him. Every day I worry about him, you know. I worry that he feels like we're not there for him and that we can't help him. I think that we need to do something to reassure him that you and I are in this for the long run, no matter what happens, and that he is never alone. Not now, not ever."

Ron took in everything that Hermione had just said and breathed out slowly. It wasn't exactly what he had thought she would want to talk to him about, but he admired her caring nature and wanted to help her in whatever way he could.

"I think it's a brilliant idea Hermione, really brilliant. But then again, I shouldn't expect anything less from you. I'm behind you whatever you want to do but I think we should probably warn him, just in case he doesn't want a party. There are other things we could do to let him know that we are there for him. You'll come up with something that fits."

Hermione beamed at him. He started to blush slightly, but was sure that she couldn't tell because his cheeks were already pink with cold. Ron decided that now was the best time to ask her to the ball after he had complimented her intelligence and shown how supportive he truly was of her.

"Hey Hermione, actually, I've still got to ask you something."

"Go ahead Ron, anything."

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go-"

"Hermione!"

Ron looked around to see where the not-so-silent intruder was. Neville came running down the lawn and tripped, rolling towards them.

"Neville, are you alright?!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing towards him. Ron got up and quickly followed her. Together, Ron and Hermione lifted Neville back to his feet and dusted the snow off of him. Hermione pulled out her wand and whispered a spell to dry Neville off.

"Hermione, I found you, finally," Neville panted, trying to catch is breath.

"What is it Neville, what do you need me for?"

"I need you to come with me, come on now, it's important."

"Alright, Ron come on we've got to-"

"NO, Ron can't come with us Hermione."

"What do you mean I can't come with you?" Ron asked indignantly.

"I'm sorry Ron, but this is important and private. I'll let her go soon, I promise."

Hermione looked shiftily from Neville to Ron. "I'm sorry Ron, but I've got to go with Neville right now. I'll meet you at dinner okay? Save me a seat." She smiled at him and turned to go back to the castle with Neville, but before they had gotten very far, she turned toward him and shouted "Ask me your question at dinner, alright Ron? I'll remember, I promise!" She waved and grinned at him before following Neville once more.

Ron raised his hand in a silent wave and then sat back down underneath the tree. Silently swearing, Ron kicked at a small stone to take out all of his frustrations with Neville on the inanimate object. Though he was disappointed, Ron couldn't help but be excited for dinner. Hermione seemed so anxious to hear his question and he thought that maybe she was hoping for the same things that he was. Ron stood up and headed towards the castle. He figured he had given Hermione and Neville enough time to get inside without it looking like he was following them. Ron walked up the marble staircase and made his way to the Gryffindor common room.

"Hey Ron," Harry said when Ron walked into the room. He was sitting in an armchair by the roaring fire, reading a book on quidditch moves. Ron pulled off his cloak and threw it on the back of Harry's armchair before sitting down in the one next to him. He then began to tell Harry about what had just happened by the lake.

"That's really odd," Harry said as Ron finished his story.

"What do you think that was about?" Ron asked. Harry thought for a second and then answered "Maybe he needs help with potions or something. That's usually what Neville needs Hermione for."

"You're probably right," Ron said, shaking his head, "you know that she told me to ask her my question at dinner right? Should I just do it with everyone around?"

"Maybe. I don't think it's that big of a deal. No one is going to laugh at you. Especially when she says yes."

"Don't be so sure Harry. I hope she says yes, but I'm not trying to jinx anything."

"Alright, we won't talk about it again until after dinner then, agreed?"

"Agreed."

Ron sat down at the Gryffindor table and began to pile food onto his plate. Harry had tried to sit down next to him, but Ron insisted that he sit on the other side of the table. This way, Ron felt that he had at least a little bit of privacy with Hermione in the crowded room. Hermione came walking down the aisle a few moments later, and sat down next to Ron. She smiled at him and waved to Harry, acknowledging his presence. Ron thought that it was best to let Hermione eat before he asked her to the ball. Ginny joined them eventually, and for a while, everyone talked and ate merrily. Finally, Ron thought that it was time to ask Hermione. Unfortunately, he couldn't think of a single thing to say to start off the conversation. But then, the words just started coming and he heard himself say "So Hermione, you're a girl…"