Hello, hello, everyone! I've finished yet another chapter, aren't you all just delighted? Warning: This chapter contains Hermoine/Ronald fluff. I just wanted to spice up the drama in the up-coming chapters, especially with Hermione/Draco *HINT HINT*. I simply adore fluff; I think I write it quite well, don't you think so? Suggestions are also welcome! Review about it :D Well, read and review, my lovelies :D

"Oh, crud, Ronald, be more careful."

"Sorry, Harry, the ladle slipped from my grasp."

Harry Potter and Ronald Weasely stood side by side near the table, trying to get a decent cup of firewhiskey from large bowl. Placing the ladle back in its place, Ronald handed a glass to Harry.

"No harm to it, at least you didn't wet my mask," Harry chuckled as he walked over towards the seats with Ronald tailing behind.

"Very funny, I'm shocked no one has recognized us; you'd think we would've been seen by now," responded Ronald, who had taken a seat beside Harry.

"Well, just goes to show that we're not as 'famous' as you think we are."

Ronald sighed and took a sip from his glass while Harry took a sweep of the crowd, not that he recognized anyone, not even the princess.

"Who are you looking for?" Ronald asked sharply.

"Hm? Oh, no one in particular, it's hard to find anyone while they're wearing masks," Harry responded, finishing his last sip.

"A shame, I really wanted to see –" Ronald cut his sentence off before he could finish it.

A chuckle escaped from Harry, he lifted a finger to his glasses and pushed them up a bit with a smile on his face.

"Princess Hermione, Ronald?" Harry nudged Ronald's shoulder, "C'mon, you don't have to hide it anymore; I bet all of Gryffindor knows by now."

Ronald gasped, "You lie! And how could anyone not take a liking towards her? She's intelligent, kind, and beautiful; she's," Ronald paused for a moment, trying to figure the correct word, "Perfect, Harry! She's divinely perfect."

Harry smiled, "Well, if she's so perfect, why haven't you asked her out to dinner yet? Or taken her to the outskirts of the valley, like you've fantasized so many times?"

Ronald was caught off guard and frowned, "Well, I've been busy, is all. And I'm sure she's pretty busy as well. I wouldn't want to cut into one of her lessons or dinners or any of the such, y'know."

Harry sighed, "You, my friend, are an odd one."

"I'm the odd one? You're the only always looking for my sister; I bet you were looking for her just now, weren't you?"

Harry laughed and raised his arms, "Guilty, and can you blame me? She's quite the lady, very clever, I must say."

Ronald scoffed, "Ginny is such a bother; she's annoying and such a know-it-all."

"Well, that's because you're her old brother; we share different views, Ronald."

There was a silence between the two close friends before Ronald broke it apart once again, "Y'know, you're too wise for you own good, Harry."

"And you're too 'busy' for your own good, Ronald."

"Oh, shut it."

Harry laughed.

I bypassed the crowd; who knew there were this many people in all of the four kingdoms? I was set out to meet Prince Malfoy, after all, if I am (hopefully not) to be married to him, I might as well introduce myself. And yet, that's exactly what I've been trying to do for the past ten minutes – trying to take aside Draco Malfoy, but no, he just has to be a fickle and keep moving through the crowd of people. I swear, he probably is avoiding me, good gracias, he's such a fickle; is it so hard to just introduce himself personally to me? Is it so hard to be a gentleman?

Honestly, I don't even want to chase after that boy – man, gentleman, lad, whatever the term – now; my feet are in great pain. I took a seat by the firewhiskey bowl, twisting my foot every now and then.

"Princess Hermione, pleasure seeing you here tonight."

I turned around, "Oh! Harry, Ronald, good evening," I beamed with a large smile.

They sat beside me and we started chatting. I smiled. Ronald and Harry are two of my best friends. Sure, I may not see them often due to their Quidditch games, but I make sure I attend every match, just to root them on. My mother says it's "unhealthy" for a lady of my stature to be out in the sun for too long, but I assured her, I'm not getting any younger and I really needed to experience life – life outside the castle towers I'm restrained to; that wretched war … it'd better end soon.

"Hermione?"

I snapped out of my train of thoughts; how long had I been sounding them out, not too long I hope.

"Oh, yes? My apologies, I was just in a deep thought," I giggled.

Ronald stood up – actually, Harry nudged him and he reluctantly stood. He held his arm out towards me, and bowed down.

"Would you like to dance, princess?" Ronald asked.

I thought it was adorable, the color of his ears turning a slight shade of pink, the way his mask looked simply dashing, and his gentlemanly manners. I gave a smile and extended my hand into his, "I'd love to, Ronald."

We walked arm in arm towards the center of the floor. Ronald placed his hand hesitantly on my waist, and I reassured him by settling my hand on his shoulder. Our hands clasped together and before we knew it, we were dancing with the crowd. I could feel my brown locks swaying as a I spun under his arm. I could feel the happy mood he exuded through his bright smile. He held me close and I lay my head on his chest. He let go of my grasp and placed his hands on my hips; I could feel his lips in my hair, his light breathing against the lobe of my ear, and the way his heart just seemed so attuned with mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck – quite taller than I last imagined him.

It wasn't too long after that we saw Harry and Ginny dancing together; we both smiled.

"You hair smells lovely; lavender?" Ronald whispered.

I felt the warmth of my blushing creep onto my cheeks, "Why, yes, thank you; you look dashing tonight, Ronald."

I heard him chuckle; it was cute – oh, so cute.

"Well, I do try my best, princess."

I placed my palms against his chest and looked up at him, "Please, Hermione is just fine; we've known each other far too long to be using titles as such, Ronald."

I felt his hands on my hips draw me closer towards him. He pursed his lips and smiled.

"Alright, alright, I suppose it's fair, Hermione."

I returned his smile, "It's been fair for about seven years now, Ronald."

"Actually, seven and three quarters," Ronald joked.

I giggled; he always did have a way with words that just make me laugh. I gazed into his light blue eyes; why is it that I've never noticed how crystalline they were? Simply gorgeous. His hair looked silky; his pumpkin-orange hair was divine. How I wanted to just remove his mask and look at his face …

"Hermione," Ronald's voice drifted off.

I hadn't noticed him move, but before I could realize, I felt his breath on my lips, and it just clicked from there. His lips were so soft, yet I could feel him raging for more – I didn't stop him, I didn't want him to stop.

I … What? …

I gently pulled away, staring into Ronald's eyes. I felt his fingers caressing my cheeks and I leaned into it. He smiled and pulled me closer.

"You've no idea how long I've waited for that, Hermione."

I smiled and nodded. I don't know how long I've waited, or even if I waited in the first place, but I got it.

Suddenly, the music stopped, the orchestra stopped playing. I parted myself from Ronald, with his arms still around my waist. We both turned with the crowd towards the Slytherin and Gryffindor royal families atop of the staircase. I looked over and spotted a speck of that snow blond Malfoy not too far from Ronald and I. Our eyes met and, being the courteous lady I was, smiled slightly. At that moment, realization hit me. The treaty.

"Attention all, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin kingdoms. Today, on the day of the seventeenth of the fourth month, history is made," my father paused and allowed King Lucius take over.

"History, indeed! Today, the Slytherin kingdom and Gryffindor kingdom are allied. The war is at an end, peace is restored, and all is well. This marriage-alliance treaty between Slytherin and Gryffindor is approved!"

Many cheered, tossing their masks into the air. I started to feel heavy, the weight of agony. I could feel the eyes of Ronald grazing onto the top of my head. I could practically hear Ronald's thoughts: "Marriage-alliance?! With the Slytherin Prince?!"

No … This cannot be happening. Oh, but it is, I agreed to it. It was my fault. It's my fault I feel this ton upon my shoulders. It is my fault Ronald is upset. It's my fault I will have to leave Ronald for the Malfoy Prince.

I felt my eyes well up with tears, just waiting to tilt and spill over. Ronald held me closer as if to never let me go. I looked over and saw Prince Draco Malfoy, my official fiancé, staring – correction, glowering – at me.

Wonderful, just wonderful; I'm the mudblood's fiancé. What a fiasco.

I turned away from his gaze and leaned into Ronald's chest, letting my tears spill over.

Another chapter - finished! Thank you all for reading, my lovelies. Remember to review :D About anything; suggestions, hatred, criticism, and etcetra. The more reviews of constructive criticism, the more interesting this story will get, yes? :D