Chapter 4: The Seventh Years Halloween Ball

Hermione stood in front of a mirror wearing a beautiful strapless red dress with a gold belt, her hair was straight and shiny and she looked beautiful. The seventh year only Halloween ball had finally arrived. She had been looking forward to this for almost 6 weeks now, ever since Ron hadfinally asked her out. Yet all of a sudden she had butterflies and she didn't know why. She and Ron were dating now and the whole school knew about it. They of course tried to keep it a secret at first, but one night Ginny Weasley caught the two of them snogging in an empty class room and within a day the whole school knew.

Ginny Weasley, what a bitch! Hermione thought. At first Ginny seemed like such a sweet shy girl. But over the years she had become a gossiping, manipulative bitch. The only reason she had dated Dean Thomas was to make Harry jealous, and she only liked Harry because he was famous. Ginny's plan had worked however; Because Harry was now dating Ginny and was taking her to the Halloween ball. Under seventh years were allowed to go, if they were the guest of a seventh year

But enough about that Hermione thought. She was nervous about this ball. But why? She hadn't felt nervous at the Yull ball. And then the answer came to her. She now realised that she hadn't been looking forward to this for just 6 weeks but in fact had been looking forward to this since that incident at the Yull ball.

Hermione took a deep breath to clear her mind of these thoughts. Unfortunately her thoughts now moved to her love potion problem.

Despite the fact that she was finally in a relationship with Ron, she still hadn't forgotten about the love potion she had to make. She realized that she wasn't going to find a forever lasting love potion. So she was going to have to invent one. But where to start? Well she figured the best way to start was to study the year lasting love potion. What was it that made it last a year? The only unusual ingredient in the potion was a red rose. But a rose wouldn't last a year if it had been picked.

Hermione took another deep breath to clear her thoughts. She just didn't want to think about that stuff right now. Right now all she wanted was to share an enchanted evening with her boyfriend.

She made her way down stairs from the girl's dorm room to the Gryffindor common room. There Ron waited for her wearing his fancy dress robes that Fred and George had gotten him a few years earlier. He looked very handsome; especially with his hair combed back he almost looked like a wizard James bond, with red hair. In his hand was a pink box with a bow on it.

"Wow, you look….Amazing" said Ron once Hermione was finally down the stairs.

"You don't look too bad yourself" said Hermione blushing. "Is that for me?" she asked pointing to the box Ron was holding in his hand.

"Oh yes here." he said giving her the box.

Hermione opened it and inside was a flower bracelet. "Oh its beautiful" she said as she put it on her wrist. "Thank you."

"You're welcome" said Ron and with that he held out his elbow to escort Hermione to the ball. Hermione took it and they made their way to the dungeon, were the Halloween ball was being held.

The Great Hall couldn't be used because the students in years 1 to 6 had their Halloween feast there and the dungeon was spooky enough as it is, it was the perfect place to hold a Halloween ball.

Once they were there, they notice how different the dungeon looked, it still looked spooky but there were chandeliers on the ceiling, and the tables had pumpkin carvings in the centre, there were also more lights than usuall so the dungeon was a lot brighter. There was a buffet fill with all kinds of foods. It was almost like the Yull ball with a Halloween theme.

Hermione and Ron sat down at a table with Harry and Ginny, who were already there.

"Blimey" said Ron "They have really done this place up. You wouldn't think this was the dungeon."

"I know" said Ginny, looking please with herself. "I can't wait to tell the other 6th years about this. They're going to be so jealous."

A flash of anger came over Hermione, yeah she thought, make it all about you again. The entire seventh year student body had arrived now, and Professor McGonagall who was in charge of this event, took the stage that had been set up for tonights entertainment and spoke.

"Good evening students and welcome to the seventh years Halloween ball. Now before we get started I want to say that I know that all of you have been looking forward to this event. But that does not mean that you should act like a bunch of foolish, rowdy, idiots. So I expect you all to be well behaved. Now, bearing that in mind, on behalf of me and the rest of the faculty, have a good time!"

Professor McGonagall then left the stage, and an unknown wizard band called Linkin Wand started playing. They were actually very good. The student seemed to like them and before long they were dancing and having a good time. And while all the other houses were happily talking and mingling with each other. The majority of the Slytherin's however, just sat round a table keeping to them self's, and glaring at the others students who were having a good time. Among them was Pansy Parkinson, who was sitting next to Draco Malfoy. She was trying to get his attention by talking to him. But he looked uninterested, preoccupied like he wanted to be somewhere ells. Pansy was wearing a green and silver dress, a dress that said I belong in Slytherin house. She actually looked quite beautiful, so beautiful in fact that all the boys at the Slytherin table with the exception of Malfoy were checking her out. They were even a few admirers from the other houses. Hermione turned her attention away from Pansy and to the couples who were now dancing to the music. Ron saw this and decided to take action.

"Do you want to dance?" he asked Hermione.

"Well, I wouldn't mind." Replyed Hermione.

Ron then got up from his seat and held out his hand, Hermione took it and he led her to the dance floor. They danced for a while and Hermione couldn't help but smile the whole time, it was a dream come true for her. That was until she saw Pansy Parkinson, who was no longer trying to get Malfoy's attention but was giving her and Ron dirty looks.

Hermione wondered if it was because she was jealous that she and Ron were dancing together; while she couldn't even get Malfoy to even so much as look at her. She tried not to let it bovver and continued to dance with Ron. But after a while Pansy's cold stairs became too much for Hermione and she decided to take a break. But Pansy's cold stares didn't stop. From a cross the tables Hermione could still see Pansy staring at her. Enough was enough, she knew that Pansy had something to say to her, but was too proud to make a scene in front of the whole seventh year student body. So Hermione got up and told Ron that she was going to the bathroom and that she would be right back. The nearest bathroom was on the first floor and Hermione knew if she went there Pansy would follow. Once there Hermione went straight to the sinks and waited for Pansy to arrive. In the reflection in mirror she saw Pansy enter, Hermione didn't turn her head to face pansy but simply looked at her through the mirror. Pansy moved forward to Hermione.

"Okay Parkinson, spit it out. What is it that's bovvering you?"

"You are what's bovvering me Granger. You're out there dancing with Weasley while you should be working on the love potion. "

"I have done nothing but work on that bloody love potion since the start of the year! I'm entitled to a night off" Shouted Hermione and losing her temper she turned to face Pansy.

"Then why isn't it ready!" Pansy shouted.

"Because there isn't a love potion that can last forever!" said Hermione "At least not yet."

Pansy was taken aback by that last part. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means that I'm going to have to invent a new type of love potion. One the does last forever. It's just going to take a little bit of time."

"Well whatever you do. You better get it done by February."

"Why what happens in February?"

Pansy took a moment and then said "I just got an Owl from my father. He said that he proposed to your mother and that she said yes. They plan to get married on Valentine's Day."

"WHAT!" said Hermione suddenly feeling faint? "They're getting married!"

"That's right Granger, so unless you want your new boyfriend to read those letters from Victor Krum and for us to officially become… you know I can't even say it."

"Stepsisters"

Pansy gave Hermione such a dirty look when she said that. "Yeah that…I would suggest you get a move on."

Meanwhile back at the Halloween ball. Ron sat patiently at the table waiting for Hermione to return from the bathroom. Then all of a sudden something happened.

The doors to the ballroom burst open, and the band stopped playing, everyone in the room was stunned by what they saw. Victor Krum, the international world-famous Quidditch player had just crashed the ball and was looking for Hermione.

"Hermione! Hermione where are you?" he shouted. He voice sounded so desperate; his face was clearly that of a broken-hearted man. He then spotted Ron. And his expression change to anger. Ron, like the others was shock by this turn of events. But why did Victor Krum have to show up tonight of all nights. He got up from his chair and approached Victor.

"She has gone to the bathroom. What are you doing here?" said Ron

"I am here to prove my love to Hermione." replyed Victor

The rest of the students, were now standing in a circle around both Ron and Victor, just hoping that a fight would break out, like two wolves battling for the title of alpha male.

"Well you can forget that mate, because she's with me now"

The look on Victor Krum's face was now one of true hatred; he drew his wand and pointed it at Ron.

"Expelliarmus!"

Victor Krum's wand flu out of his hand. He then turned to see who had disarmed him. It was Hermione, who had just returned from the bathroom.

"Victor what are you doing here?" asked Hermione.

"I came to see you, Hermione; I came to fight for you."

There were awww's from all over the ballroom.

"Victor I'm flattered, I really am but I told you in my letter I'm with Ron now."

"But I love you" he said.

A few tears leaked from Hermione's eyes. She was truly move by these words but she had already made up her mind.

"Don't make this harder than it already is, Victor."

Victor Krum then picked up is wand a left the ballroom. Hermione felt awful. This night was meant to have been the best night of her life. But it had turned out to be the worst.