Chapter 9
- Hermione -
On Thursday, the nerves began to kick in. The evening before, Ron had come by one last time to practice for the opening dance, and now she just had to wait until Saturday night.
During lunch with Parvati, Ginny joined them at their table.
"Hey, girls," she said, sliding in next to Hermione. "How's it going?"
"Great," Parvati said with a smile. "I finally decided who I'm taking to the Summer Ball."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh? Which of your five suitors gets the honour?"
"Pete."
"The one boy you found so dull?"
"That was a year ago. He's become much more interesting this past year."
"I agree," grinned Ginny. "Ever since he started that chess club, the girls have been flocking to him."
"He started WHAT?" Parvati choked on her pumpkin juice.
Hermione laughed as Ginny and Parvati launched into a spirited discussion about Pete's hobbies.
"I'm not sure if I still want to go to the ball with him," groaned Parvati after a few minutes.
"Don't be so dramatic," said Ginny cheerfully. "Intelligent boys are the most interesting. Well, whether being able to play chess makes you intelligent is debatable. My dear brother is a prime example of why you should doubt that..."
"Ron is smart," defended Hermione. "He's just not very quick at remembering dance steps..."
"Don't you think he was deliberately slow?" Ginny winked.
Hermione gave her a mock scowl. "Are you joining in now?"
"I've been trying to tell Hermione the same thing for ages," Parvati confided to Ginny.
"Then you haven't been clear enough," Ginny simply stated. "Hermione, my brother is an idiot, in case you hadn't noticed. He likes you, definitely wants more than friendship, and has probably been dreaming of getting you in his bed for ten years already."
Now it was Hermione's turn to choke.
"Ugh," she spluttered. "That's a bit too direct. I think you're exaggerating. Maybe he has a mild interest, but he's still uncertain..."
"See, it's hopeless," Parvati said to Ginny.
"Well, if you don't believe it, you don't," Ginny shrugged. "Your loss. I think one of you needs to be a bit clearer, or else we'll be waiting another twenty years before the first kiss happens."
"I think it'll all work out at the Summer Ball," said Parvati. "If they both have on nice clothes, dance together, have a few drinks..."
"Yeah, you're right. How long do you think it'll take?" Ginny asked.
"Until the first kiss? I say an hour."
"Ambitious. I think it'll take at least two."
"Want to bet a box of luxury Chocolate Frogs?"
"The new ones with Firewhiskey filling? Deal."
"Hey," exclaimed Hermione indignantly. "I'm sitting right here, you know!"
- Ron -
On Saturday evening at seven o'clock, Ron stood in front of the mirror. He examined himself, pondering how much had changed in the past years since the Yule Ball. Back then, he had wanted to ask Hermione to accompany him but had never dared. Perhaps it was for the best because he had worn a dreadful suit. Now, he wore a smart black suit that he thought suited him excellently.
Damn, why was he so nervous then?
A knock on the door.
When he opened it, his sister was standing there. She was already dressed in a long, dark green dress.
"Hey, little brother," she greeted him.
"Mr. Weasley to you," Ron said. He let her in. "Are you here to mock me while I nervously stand in front of the mirror contemplating whether I should do something with my hair?"
"No. I just wanted to see how you look," Ginny grinned. "And no, please leave your hair as it is. Hermione isn't into those guys who slick back their hair with gel."
"Okay," Ron said, relieved. "So, how do I look?"
"It'll do," Ginny said. "Kidding, you look great."
"Were you afraid I'd make a fool of myself with my clothes?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"Nah, I was on my way to Hermione's because we're going to do our makeup together with Parvati, so I happened to pass your door. It's nice that you finally have a date again," she smiled.
"Yeah, I think so too," Ron said, trying not to reveal his emotions. His heart was beating quite fast at the thought of leading Hermione into the Great Hall later.
"I have one more tip for you, little brother," Ginny said then.
"Aha," Ron sighed. "I knew there was something."
"Tonight is the moment, you understand, right?"
"I don't need advice from you. You're my little sister."
"I just want to help you understand girls. Or are you claiming you understand girls better than I do?"
Ron looked at her angrily. "Okay then. The moment for what?"
"That you need to kiss her."
"What? I'm not going to talk with my sister about who I kiss and don't kiss." Ron felt himself getting quite angry.
"Just listen. Tonight, you have to. Hermione probably expects it. If you do nothing now, she'll think you will never ever do it."
"It was nice chatting, Gin, now go and do that makeup quickly." He stepped towards his sister to push her out of the room, but as usual, she was much too fast for him. She fled to the door and quickly opened it.
"Remember it!" she said quickly before closing the door behind her.
Ron stared at the door irritatedly for a few moments before sitting on his bed.
Then his brain went into overdrive. Did Ginny know something he didn't? Had Hermione told her something? If Hermione also liked him more than as a friend, tonight was indeed the moment to do something about it. But if not... Ron shuddered at the thought of the disaster it would be if he kissed her and she didn't like it. Shouldn't he prioritize their newly restored friendship?
It was a paradox he would never solve. Maybe he should just see where the evening took them...
Half an hour later, someone knocked on his door again. This time, it was Harry and Marcel.
"Hey, are you coming?" Harry asked.
"To the castle?"
"Where else?" Harry grinned.
"Aren't you walking to the castle with Ginny?"
"No, apparently the girls wanted to wait in the hall until we show up."
"Why?"
"Man, how am I supposed to know?" Harry asked, laughing. "I also thought it would be more romantic if I escorted Ginny to the castle. She's wearing those ridiculous heels again. Anyway, are you coming? And don't forget you have to leave your wand here."
"Well, alright then, let's go," said Ron as he placed his wand on his nightstand. Then he walked outside and closed the door behind him. "And you, Marcel? Are you going with Luna again?"
"Of course," Marcel said happily as they started walking. "She's probably already in the Great Hall talking to Hagrid. She needed his advice again for some creature she found on the edge of the forest..."
"Not another Wrackspurt, I hope?" Harry asked playfully concerned as the three boys descended the stairs.
"What?" Marcel asked confused.
"Never mind," Harry chuckled.
During the walk to the castle, the boys made sure not to step into the mud with their shoes. When Marcel still managed to do so right in front of the castle door, they laughed and helped him clean his shoe with leaves and twigs.
"That's why I never leave without my wand," Marcel grumbled. "Why were wands forbidden at the ball again?"
"Because there was an accident last year," Harry recalled.
"Well, an accident..." Ron said, downplaying it, "The guy didn't really need to go to the hospital or anything. It just took a few days for his goat legs to turn back to normal..."
"I think the argument was about the goat that the guy had as a pet," Harry chuckled. "Apparently, it kept pooping in the hallway quite often."
"Okay, no wands then," Marcel said as he critically examined his shoe. Then he looked up. "Shall we go inside?"
- Hermione -
Hermione rubbed her already sore right heel, leaning on Parvati's shoulder.
"Why did I insist on wearing heels again?" she asked aloud.
"Oh, don't you know that spell?" Ginny asked. She looked around nervously, then pulled out her wand from under the skirt of her dress and muttered a spell at Hermione's shoe, which now lay loose on the ground.
Hermione looked at her in surprise.
"Now it walks as comfortably as if it's flat," Ginny answered Hermione's questioning look. "Come on, hand me the other shoe."
"Smart," Hermione said admiringly as she also took off her other shoe.
"Oh, you can do that to mine too!" Parvati said enthusiastically.
When Hermione put her shoes back on, they indeed fit much better.
"Quickly hide that wand," Parvati warned when Ginny finished with her shoes. "I see Snape coming this way."
Ginny quickly tucked the wand back under her dress. "I knew I'd need it," she chuckled. "Hey, there are the boys!"
Hermione turned her head so fast she was surprised she didn't strain her neck. There were indeed three boys approaching: Harry, Marcel, and Ron. All three looked neat, but Hermione's eyes lingered on Ron.
He looked fantastic in that suit, clearly tailored perfectly to fit him. His broad shoulders were accentuated, and somehow he seemed very tall. His once gangly limbs had become broader and stronger, and he walked much more purposefully than when he was a teenager.
Overall, he looked fantastic, and Hermione was getting nervous all over again.
And he was walking towards her now, his eyes fixed on her dress, his mouth half open... were his ears a bit red?
When he stood in front of her, he raised his eyes to her face. "Hey," he said, his voice cracking. "Uh, hey, I mean. You uh... you look amazing."
"Thank you," Hermione said. She glanced down at the long red dress she was wearing. It hugged her waist perfectly and flared out elegantly from there. Below that, she wore small black heels with a golden buckle.
Then she looked back at Ron and caught him still gazing at her glassily. She felt quite confident now seeing the effect she had on Ron.
"Uh, I'll go ahead to the hall, look for Luna," Marcel said to the group.
"Wait, I'll walk with you," Parvati said. "I think Pete's already inside too."
Now only Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione were left in the hallway.
"Shall we..." Hermione began, but at that moment Ron stood to her right and stretched out his left arm.
"May I escort you to the hall, fair lady?"
Hermione giggled, and Ginny made gagging noises.
"Please," Hermione replied.
"Come on, Harry," Ginny said resolutely, and without further ado, she took Harry's arm and pulled him towards the entrance of the Great Hall. Harry looked back and laughed, calling out "Good luck, later!" to Ron and Hermione.
"Oh yeah, we have to dance that opening," Ron said miserably.
"Why 'oh yeah'?" Hermione said, noticing her voice sounded unusually high. "What have we been practising for weeks now?"
Ron laughed. "Just kidding, 'Mione. I'm just not that bothered about it. I'm not nervous or anything, are you?"
"A bit," she replied, her voice even higher.
Ron glanced at her sideways and briefly put his arm around her. He pressed her briefly against him and said, "Don't worry, we won't be the worst. Trust me, none of my teammates can dance."
They entered the Great Hall, which, as every year, was beautifully decorated. The ceiling resembled a twilight sky—even though outside the castle it was still light. The floating candles were joined for this occasion by floating flowers, dancing in pairs and threesomes as well as in complete bouquets here and there.
But Professor Sprout had outdone herself with the decoration in the hall itself: It was hardly recognizable as a hall anymore, as the space was so adorned with plants, flowers, and even trees that it felt more like a botanical garden. The walls of the hall were also overgrown with various wall plants, with idyllic candlesticks sticking out from them, emitting a romantic pink light.
"Wow," Hermione exclaimed. "It's even more beautiful than usual, don't you think?"
"Ron! There you are!" someone suddenly called out. When Hermione shifted her gaze from the overgrown walls to where the voice came from, she saw a brown-haired boy hurrying toward them.
"Thank goodness you're here on time!" the boy said, panting. "Come with me to the centre of the hall, the dance is about to start!"
"Man, no need to panic," Ron said, visibly unstressed by this announcement. "Can't I get a drink first?"
"No," the boy said firmly.
"Never any fun with you," Ron teased him. "Alright, are you ready?" he asked Hermione.
"I think so," she replied.
The boy had already dashed back to the centre of the hall, where Ron and Hermione now walked together.
"That was Tristan," Ron confided in her. "He's a first-year student, soon to be second-year. Joined the team just last year. He's a bit... how shall I put it? He likes to have everything under control."
"You don't say," Hermione smiled. To her relief, she noticed her voice sounded normal again.
Five minutes later, it seemed like all of Ron's team had finally gathered in the centre of the hall. All the other students kept a good distance from them, forming a large circle around them. Hermione felt dozens of eyes boring into her back.
She nervously waved from a distance to Parvati, who stood in Pete's arms. She had momentarily forgotten that Pete was, of course, also in Ron's team, so Parvati had to participate in the opening dance too. Parvati didn't seem to have thought of that either, as she looked quite anxious.
"Welcome!" Professor McGonagall's familiar voice suddenly echoed through the hall. Hermione turned her head towards the voice. The Headmistress stood on a platform at the front of the hall. She wore a silver robe that looked very elegant.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Summer Ball for Hogwarts University students. I'll keep it brief, as I'm sure you all want to dance." McGonagall took a moment to sternly look around the hall. "I assume..." she began sharply.
"... that you will all behave," Ron finished her sentence simultaneously. "Yes, yes, McGonagall, we know the drill by now."
"Even the seniors," McGonagall added sternly. She seemed to be looking Ron's way as if she had heard him. "That being said, I wish you all an enjoyable evening filled with engaging conversations and graceful dances."
Ron chuckled. "Every year, it seems like McGonagall has completely forgotten how things ended the previous year."
"I think she's trying to convey that it should be different from last year," Hermione remarked.
"And with that, the festivities are hereby opened," Professor McGonagall announced. "The opening dance this year will be performed by our Hogwarts swim team. Please proceed," she said to Professor Flitwick, who stood to her left. He gestured with his baton to the orchestra in front of him. "And one, two, three..."
A cheerful but fairly slow waltz began.
"Alright, here we go," Ron said excitedly. They took each other's hands as Hermione had taught him and began to step cautiously, with Hermione leading as agreed.
"This isn't so bad," Ron whispered in her ear after about ten seconds. "We're doing pretty well, don't you think?" His warm breath tickled her cheek and gave her butterflies in entirely different places.
"It's going fine," Hermione said, finally starting to relax a little. Now she dared to look around a bit. Most of Ron's teammates were indeed struggling incredibly with the waltz.
"I told you my teammates can't dance, didn't I?" Ron remarked, following her gaze. "I would have been the same if it weren't for you." He looked at her proudly.
"It's a good thing you're making such a good impression on your team," Hermione said, "because as the new coach, you have to be taken seriously." She laughed to show that she was joking.
Ron laughed back. "Yeah, maybe I could even take up ballet? They would absolutely love that."
After a few minutes, the waltz transitioned into another song: faster and in four-four time. McGonagall's voice rang out through the hall again: "You may all now make your way onto the dance floor."
What will happen next, after a few drinks and dances? Soon to be discovered in the next chapter! (Most likely a special chapter that you are waiting on!)