Just giving you a heads up: The Halloween Ball is going to be a three part. Each part majorly dedicated to each pairing. Seemed only fair to give them all their own spotlight. Especially since Halloween is going to open up a lot of doors for everybody.
I've loved you forever,
In lifetimes before
And I promise you never...
Will you hurt anymore
I give you my word
I give you my heart
This is a battle we've won
And with this vow,
Forever has now begun...
-Nsync This I Promise You
Chapter Eleven: Halloween Part One
The day of the ball had arrived and all over the castle was in a state of excitement. The great hall as well as the Room Of Requirement had been shut down for preparations so meals were eaten in two of the larger classrooms combined with the walls magically removed.
Despite Harry's intentions of actually asking Daphne to the ball, he had not tried again after that night of his flashback, so he was extremely irate at himself when he found out that some Durmstrang prat had asked her and she had said yes. He had almost decided not to go if it wasn't for Ron and Hermione begging him to as well as Daphne saying that she would at least save him a dance.
Draco had fared even worse not only being able to successfully get Ginny to break her plans off with Luka, not only having no choice but to actually go with Romilda, but adding insult to the two injuries and having to dress up as a knight to go along with Romilda's Esmeralda costume. Not even close to something he would choose for himself.
The only ones that seemed to have it all pygmy puffs and butterflies were Ron and Hermione. Though no one really knew that the two of them were battling almost every night with the nightmares of Malfoy Manor as well as the battle at Hogwarts.
Besides that, Ron was also dealing with what he felt was the ultimate betrayal on his part: him leaving Harry and Hermione. That was something that Ron had never brought up, not to Harry, nor Hermione. He knew that they had forgiven him for the abandonment. But he hadn't forgiven himself.
The costume theme for the ball was to dress as something Muggle related. Mainly from movies called Disney. Ron had heard many Disney stories from Harry and Hermione and the one that had appealed to him the most was the one about the boy who wouldn't grow up and had a crew of boys who were lost and fighting a man with a hook for a hand.
"Mione, when you told me that you could get costumes for that Pan bloke and his tinkling bell you failed to tell me that these pants would cut off the circulation of my penis." complained Ron after he put on the extremely tight tights that were to go under the long Pan shirt he would be wearing.
"That's Tinkerbell and you are wearing tights and I told you that they wouldn't be comfortable, but you insisted remember?" laughed Hermione as she pointed her wand at Ron's tights, making them slightly less uncomfortable.
"Thanks love." said Ron feeling a bit more sure of himself. "And truthfully I insisted because of you. The Tinkling Bell costume was hot. And you look hot in it."
"Tinkerbell and thanks, I think. Those tights make your bum look very appealing." she said checking Ron out.
Ron looked in the mirror and laughed at Hermione's expression of amusement as he popped his own bum. "It is rather dashing isn't it? I guess you're only dating me for the way my ass looks huh?"
Hermione reached out and pinched it causing Ron to jump and yelp wildly. ""Oi woman! Hands to yourself!" he yelled playfully.
"Are you almost done? Ginny will be here any minute to do my hair."
"Yeah I'm right. Speaking of Ginny, what do you think of this other Krum bloke?" asked Ron. He had been wanting to ask Hermione her opinion for a while about him.
"Well, I don't rightly know too much about him." said Hermione. "Viktor never mentioned him but it looks like he is in Ginny's year which is why he didn't come to the Triwizard Tournament. He was too young. He seems like he's a nice person. Maybe a bit on the arrogant side, but Ginny seems to like him."
"Yeah. Here I was thinking I was done with Krums and yet another one appears in my life." grumbled Ron.
"Now Ron, please be nice. This is the first boy since Harry that Ginny has seemed interested in."
"That's another thing. Wasn't Harry and Ginny supposed to get back together after all that Voldy shit?"
"Language and yes it's true but Ginny said that they both decided friends would be best." said Hermione. "And besides, if you haven't noticed, it seems Harry has taken a fancy to Daphne Greengrass."
Ron nodded, having observed his friend around the Slytherin girl as well. She had even hung out with them when Harry was with them a couple times and she didn't seem at all like the other Slytherin slags. "I like Daphne." said Ron as he finished tying up his trainers that he had turned green for the night to match his costume. "She seems to make Harry less tense. Less broody. He seems happier you know? When he's around her?"
Hermione nodded, agreeing with her red headed Peter Pan. "She does seem to have a calming effect on him. Maybe she's just what Harry needs."
A knock came at the door. It was Ginny, carrying a bag of hair products as well as her costume.
"Evening big brother and big sister in law" said Ginny making both Ron and Hermione blush. "Oh Hermione. You look so hot! You're going to be turning heads."
Hermione laughed while Ron scowled at his sister's words. "Maybe you shouldn't wear that after all Mione."
"Too late." said Hermione pushing Ron out the room.
Ron walked to the great hall, looking over the feast that was about to start. He was happy to see that he wasn't the only prat in tights, as a lot of the costumes the guys were wearing had tights as bottoms as well.
"You must be Ron Weasley!" said an enthusiastic voice from behind.
Ron turned to face a somewhat less built, brown haired, blue eyed version of the guy he hated more than he had Voldemort.
"Luka Krum. Nice to meet you." said Luka as he held out his hand for Ron to shake. Ron reluctantly took it, firmly.
"Of course. My sister has mentioned you." said Ron.
"She has? Ginni-vera is a great girl." said Luka happily.
Ron stared at the boy. 'Great. Another prat that can't pronounce easy names.' thought Ron.
"Umm yeah. She said you two were dressing up as some mermaid and a prince?"
"Ariel and Eric. The red hair and all for her. I would have preferred something else but it was not what they called the Disney."
"And what was that?"
"Little Red Riding Hood. The Big Bad Wolf appeals to me." said Luka almost sounding mischievous to Ron, making him feel very uncomfortable.
"Oooookay...so. As her brother I have to ask you what your intentions are with my sister?" said Ron.
"Purely innocent aren't they Krum?" interrupted Draco, who had appeared on the other side of Ron just in time to hear the question. Ron looked at Draco confused. Luka however, grinned.
"Of course you will show GINEVRA a nice sweet FRIENDLY evening and then make sure she gets back to her house okay with no ill intentions am I right Krum?" continued Draco, looking menacing at the boy.
Luka smirked. "Of course Draco. How else would I treat her?"
"How about you tell Weasley here what you told me a few days ago and let him be the judge?" said Draco, glaring.
"What are you talking about Malfoy?" asked Ron.
"Nothing at all." said Luka still grinning that foolish grin that Draco so wanted to hex off his face. "Draco and I just had a misunderstanding. Hopefully it can be resolved and we can become friends. As we will probably see a lot of each other yeah?"
Ron and Draco looked at the boy stand an air of confidence and arrogance that rivaled Draco's tenfold.
"Look Weasley."said Draco, whispering in Ron's ear. "I know we don't get on, but your sister and I do. Watch that prat."
Ron nodded and was about to say something else when Hermione and Hiny came around the corner. Hermione had on her "much too short but I'll wear it anyways" green Tinkerbell dress that she had bewitched the wings to move as well as to not hit anyone in her passing. Ginny had on what looked like a bikini with a long shimmering mermaid tail attached to the boy shorts of her costume.
Draco looked Ron up and down after giving Hermione a once over. "Now your costume makes sense Weasley." He said. "You look good Ginny."
"Thanks." forced Ginny.
"Ginni-vera! You look how the Americans say, awesome." said Luka taking Ginny by the hand and spinning her around.
Ginny blushed as Hermione looked upon the two. She couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right about Luka. She made the mental note to question Viktor bout it later.
"You must be Herm-own-ninny. My brother speaks highly about you." said Luka looking Hermione up and down in a way that made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Yes I am. Funny. He's never mentioned you. Ever." said Hermione as she shook Luka's hand.
"My brother is a right lainar (shithead in Bulgarian slang) sometimes. Of course he wouldn't mention me." said Luka continuing to shake Hermione's hand.
"Yeah, well, we must be getting in the hall then."said Room, taking Hermione's hand out of Luka's. "Come love, let's open this thing up."
Hermione waved bye to Ginny as Ron walked swiftly off with her. Normally she would have been irritated by it but she felt relieved to be away from Luka. Something just didn't suit right with her.
The great hall looked amazingly spooky. The enchanted ceiling gave off an eerie cloud filled night with no stars and an orange full moon. The walls had fake cobwebs thrown about them (much to Ron's annoyance) and shined an oozy green as if a swamp monster had oozed over it. There were tables lined up with all kinds of Honeydukes candies as well as house elf made candies, pumpkin juice, butterbeer, and even muggle sodas. In the middle of the room was a giant pumpkin disco ball spun and reflected orange sparkles off the walls and floor.
Lee Jordan with the help of Blaise and Dean was DJing the event, including muggle music as well as wizard. Dean's mother had sent his collection of muggle music along and he had a huge library to choose from. George and Angelina (dressed as the Blue Fairy and Pinocchio) was in charge of the activities that were going on.
After they sat down and ate with Harry, Luna, Neville, and Seamus, Ron took Hermione to the dance floor. Ron nervously put his hands on Hermione's waist as she easily put her arms around his neck. Then they started to sway awkwardly back and forth, Ron staring into space as if he was looking beyond the room.
"Is there a problem Ron?' asked Hermione, confused on Ron's movements.
"We haven't danced since the wedding." said Ron.
Hermione nodded, understanding.
"That was the last time I saw Fred in a setting that wasn't life threatening... Well until the Death Eaters arrived. That was also the last time me and him had a real conversation. It was about you actually."
"Me? Really?"
*START FLASHBACK*
Ron still felt as if the room was still spinning as he and Hermione took a few minutes break from dancing. As Hermione was chatting with Ginny and a cousin of the Weasleys, Ron leaned against the juice bar and sipped the yummy fruity tasting red stuff that he didn't know about that was in his glass as he watched Hermione from afar.
He found himself mesmerized by the way she smiled at Ginny as they conversed, her dangling curls moving slightly in the small breeze that had made its way into the tent. Ron had to have told her at least five times that she looked beautiful tonight, but standing back and taking her in while no one else was around had him comparing her to angels.
"Oh baby brother, you got it bad." said a voice from the side of him. Ron didn't even notice that Fred was standing there.
"Got what bad? What are you talking about?"
"I see the way you're staring at our young bookworm over there. Don't blame you. She is quite lovely tonight."
Ron felt the blush creep up on his cheeks. "She's lovely all the time" he said absentmindedly.
"As I said." smirked Fred. "So, what are you going to do about it?"
"Huh?" said Ron coming back to Earth. "Do about what?"
"Hermione of course. You can't just keep drooling over her, you've been doing that since you met her."
"I have not." said Ron defensively.
"Really? Mum used to tell us how all your letters to her and Dad in first year used to include her, you spit up slugs for the girl in second, was miserable as hell when you weren't talking to her in third, wanted to kick Krum's ass over her in 4th, and was practically glued to her in 5th. And we all know about the Ron, Lavender, and Hermione love triangle of your sixth. Face it Ronniekins, you have loved that girl since day one."
Ron"s face and ears felt like it was on fire. He knew he had had feelings for Hermione for a long time. But he never really noticed that early on, there was something there.
"So what are you going to do?" asked Fred refilling Ron's glass.
"I don't know what I should do." said Ron. "All this shit with Voldemort, and then us having to help Harry. There isn't any time for us. Is there?"
"You make the time then baby brother." said Fred. "Make her feel special everyday. Be it telling her she's pretty or doing something nice for her. You've been reading that book we gave you correct?"
"I've read some chapters." said Ron.
"Well then you better read some more and do right by it. And also figure some stuff out on your own. Hermione is a great girl. She takes care of you, puts up with your shit, and sticks by you despite it all. A girl like that is rare. You would do well to hold onto her don't you think?"
*END FLASHBACK*
Ron hugged Hermione closer to him as Hermione smiled rather goofy like.
"Fred was a sweetheart. He and I had a conversation about you once in 4th year where he told me that you would probably be a silly prat for a long time, but to stick with you anyways." said Hermione laughing as she played with the fringe of hair on Ron's neck.
"I can't even say he was wrong about that." said Ron. "I was a right foul git. Especially 6th year."
Hermione tiptoed and kissed Ron lightly on the cheek. "That's in the past. And we are together now. I think if this relationship happened the easy way, we wouldn't appreciate it the way we do. We always did everything the hard way, but I wouldn't change anything."
"Neither would I." said Ron. " and I'm glad Fred did talk some sense into me."
"I'm glad he did too." giggled Hermione.
