Chapter Thirteen: Before Everything Changes


It was only a few days until the ball, and only a few days more until the Holidays began. The entirety of the Hogwarts population (save for a certain Potions Professor) was eagerly anticipating the day of the ball. Neville and Hermione had worked hard, as usual, to ensure that the event would be perfect. They had ultimately decided not to theme the ball this year, it was a Christmas ball and that was good enough for them. Hermione was still caught on the idea of not going, she had explained this to Harry and Ron, who accepted her decision, though they still randomly attempted to convince her to go.

"It's our last ball, Hermione!" Ron had pleaded once. "This is our last year, and before everything changes, we should have one last bit of fun."

Though his argument was convincing, Hermione would not relent. She simply did not feel like going, and that was that. And besides, she and Harry had made plans to spend some time together on the night of the ball. Due to the semester exams that had been going on lately, Hermione had been far too busy studying for her various classes to meet with him.

Then there was her talk with Ginny, which had taken place the day before.

"What do you mean, you're not going?" Ginny asked.

Hermione had winced, covering her ears with her hands. It was lucky there was no one in the girls' dormitory at the moment-everyone was at dinner. She had caught Ginny after their Charms lesson and had asked to speak to her privately, and seeing as Ginny had wanted to bring her books back up to her room, this had been the best option for their talk.

"Are you absolutely mad? It's your last year! This'll be the last Hogwarts Christmas ball you'll go to! You must go!" The redheaded witch strode over to the brunette and grabbed her hands, looking into her eyes seriously. Blue eyes searched brown and Hermione tried as best as she could not to blink. She didn't know what Ginny was looking for, but after a few seconds, she seemed to have found it, for she sighed and released her hands.

"There's something you're not telling me," she said flatly.

Hermione forced out a laugh. "It's really not that complicated, Ginny. I've simply grown tired of these dances and I don't feel up to attending another one."

"Well, no one said you have to stay all night, but you could just pop in for an hour or two," she suggested."Have a dance with Harry and Ron and Neville, even, and save one for me, because I hardly saw you at the last ball." She raised her pale brows and rolled her eyes upward innocently.

"I'll consider it," Hermione said. "Really, I will," she added when she saw the dour look on Ginny's face.

"I'm not going to force you to go," Ginny said, placing her hand on Hermione's shoulder, "You do whatever you think is best for yourself, okay?"

Hermione nodded, and they hugged.

"I'm going to miss you lot," Ginny whispered. Hermione held her more tightly, wondering if anything would be the same in the upcoming year.

"We'll be fine," she said softly, "It'll all be over before you know it."

Now, she was just leaving her last class of the day, Arithmancy. An hour of numbers and problem solving and logical thinking had been just what she needed, a sense of control. It had been very refreshing, and she found herself in a better mood than she had been in since her confrontation with Neville. And what helped elevate her mood was the fact that she had a free double period now. All that planning for that wretched ball and studying for her exams had left her quite tuckered out, so she was planning to take a nap, which she was looking forward to.

She entered the Head dorm and slipped inside her room, not bothering to change out of her uniform, but she did take off her tie and shoes, and climbed into her bed, eyes already heavy. As her head settled into the pillow, she thought perhaps she would go to the ball for a while. It wouldn't hurt, would it? She would have a bit of fun and then leave before anything bad could happen…