Chapter 25

A few weeks had gone by since Ginny's accident, and Hermione was relieved to see that the redhead had healed up perfectly fine. They had gotten back into their routine of studying together at least twice a week, often times more, and Hermione had even allowed the two of them to talk a bit more during those sessions. After witnessing Ginny's accident, she couldn't help but want to be near the girl, to protect her and make her happy, and talking to her during these studying sessions seemed to bring Ginny joy, so of course, she obliged. Was it the best idea considering the feelings Hermione still had for the girl? Absolutely not. But Hermione felt that for the time being, Ginny needed her.

Hermione hadn't seen Juliette since the accident. Yes, she had initially decided to take Harry's advice and give Juliette's offer a chance. Yes, it had seemed to be working to rid her of some of the feelings she had for Ginny. And yes, she did deep down realize that Juliette had tried to save Ginny from falling. She just couldn't bring herself to see the girl. Getting rid of her feelings for Ginny weren't worth risking Ginny's safety, and that's exactly what had happened. It might not be logical, but Hermione wasn't concerned. Ginny was her priority right now.

As the two were leaving the library one evening, they came across another notice:

Yule Ball

The Great Hall

December 25, 8 pm

The girls looked at each other.

"A ball? As in a dance?" Ginny asked Hermione.

"Yes, it appears to be so,"

"Wow… We've never had anything like that at Hogwarts before. That should be fun!" Ginny smiled at Hermione.

"Yes… It should be," Hermione said a bit lost in thought. She had imagined Ginny all dressed up, looking beautiful. Then Demelza entered the picture, and Hermione was brought back to the reality that she would not be attending this ball with Ginny, at least not in the way she would want to.

"Who are you going to go with?" Ginny asked.

"I… I have no idea, Ginny. Maybe Harry?" Hermione offered.

"Oh, I'm sure he would be a great date! What about any of the blokes on that list of people you'd want to date, hmm?" Ginny looked at her slyly. Hermione looked at her, stunned.

That damn Ginny Weasley memory, of course she was still holding onto this.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Ginny," Hermione said, feigning ignorance.

"Oh yes you do Hermione. Out with it, who's on that list?" Ginny jokingly demanded, smiling at Hermione with her best crooked smile.

"Herm-own-ninny?" Krum called down the corridor. He was walking towards them, a book in his hand.

"Oh, hi Viktor! I thought you had gone back to the ship for the evening?" Hermione asked, turning to face him.

"I had. I had forgotten that I vos vonting you to haff this," He held out the book to Hermione. "Ginny, I apologize, but vould you mind if I vos to talk to Herm-own-ninny in private?"

"What? I mean, no, of course not Viktor! I'll see you two later!" and with that, Ginny headed reluctantly down the corridor towards the Gryffindor Tower.

"Thank you, Viktor," Hermione said, accepting the book.

"It is about magical buildings in Bulgaria and their histories. You are often reading the book about Hogwarts and its history, so I vos thinking that you vould find this interesting."

Hermione looked up at the boy and smiled, "This is really thoughtful, Viktor, thank you."

"You are velcome. This is not the only reason I vos vonting to find you."

"Oh?"

"I vos vondering if you vould be my date to the Yule Ball?" he asked.

Hermione stared up at him, at a loss for words.

"As friends," he added suddenly, as a small smile crept onto his face. "Not as more. As friends. Ve are friends, no?"

Hermione laughed lightly, "Yes Viktor, we are friends. Are you sure you wouldn't want to ask someone else?"

He shook his head no, "I have not connected vith many people since coming here. I vont to be comfortable ven I am at the ball, and you make me feel comfortable," he said simply.

Hermione considered this. She had wanted to go with Harry, but Viktor was actually a great choice. He has kind, well-mannered, and only wanted to take her as a friend. And if he really didn't have anyone else, she wouldn't want him to go alone. Harry would surely find someone else to go with.

"I would love to be your date, Viktor. Thank you for asking!" Hermione smiled at him.

Krum smiled back. While it was far from a big beaming grin, it was the happiest smile she had seen from him so far.

"Vell, I should be going. I vill see you again in the library?"

"I'm sure you will, Viktor. Have a good evening!"

Viktor nodded at her, and headed back down the corridor towards the lake. Hermione continued her journey back up to Gryffindor Tower. As she arrived through the portrait hole, it appeared as if word had gotten out about the Yule Ball, as that was all that was being discussed in the common room. As she stepped out into the common room, she was bombarded by Fred and George.

"Why hello there Hermione, you're looking mighty illuminating this evening," Fred said with a bit of a grin on his face.

"Illuminating, picturesque, striking, don't sell her short mate!" George said, pretending to take offense.

"Right, right, what he said. Anyway, Hermione, would you like to attend the Yule Ball with me?"

"Or with me?"

"Or with both of us?"

"Excuse me?" Hermione said, shaking her head at the two boys while laughing at their obvious bit.

"What? Wouldn't fancy a dance?" Fred asked.

"Well, unfortunately for the two of you, I've already got a date." Hemione informed them.

"You have?"

"She has,"

"See Fred, I told you she'd be swooped up!"

"Should have sent an owl,"

"Should have found her the moment we saw the notice,"

"Oh well. Alicia! Angelina!" Fred shouted across the common room. The two girls looked up, annoyed. "Want to go to the ball with us?" He pointed at George, then to himself, and grinned. The two girls looked at each other, shrugged, then nodded yes.

"Alright then! No worries, Hermione, we're all set. So, who's the lucky bloke?"

"Wait, you've already got a date to the ball?" Harry had walked up, staring at Hermione.

"That is what the girl claims! Says she's already been snatched up!" Fred said, patting Hermione on the head.

"I – Fred, knock it off! Yes, I've already been asked to the ball."

"Oh… I was going to ask you. Thought we could go as friends?"

"Good luck mate!" George said as he and Fred walked over to talk to Angelina and Alicia.

"I'm so sorry Harry. I said yes to someone who I didn't think would end up asking someone else. I didn't want them to have to go alone. I figured that you'd be able to find someone else," Hermione explained.

"Who is it, Neville?"

"No, it's not. Although…" Hermione looked over at Neville, who was looking expectantly in her direction, "Maybe I should have thought about that before saying yes… Oh, Neville will be fine. Will you be okay?" Hermione asked Harry.

"I'm sure Won-Won and Lavender would be thrilled if I were to ask Parvati…" he said, a bit begrudgingly, before he lit up a little, "Actually, that might be fun. She can be a laugh. I'm going to go ask her," and off Harry went, over to where Parvati was sitting with Ron and Lavender by the fireplace.

Hermione scanned the rest of the room briefly, trying to avoid Neville's hopeful stare, and then made her way up the spiral staircase towards the girls' dormitories. She was almost at the top before she nearly ran into someone who was hurrying down the staircase.

"Sorry about that! Oh, hi Hermione!" Katie Bell took a step back from their almost-collision, and smiled. "Have you heard there's going to be a dance? Everyone downstairs is going mad trying to find a date. Have you had any luck yet?"

"Uh, I have, actually. I was asked by a friend," Hermione said.

"Good for you! I've got a girl back home, so I'm looking to go with someone as a friend as well,"

"You've… What?" Hermione stared at Katie.

"I've got a girlfriend back home…" Katie said, a bit slower this time. "What?"

"I just – I didn't know that," Hermione said, blushing slightly. Katie grinned.

"Most people don't know that about me. It's not really something I feel the need to advertise, you're never quite sure how people will react. I figured since you're such close friends with Ginny and she's with Demelza, you'd be accepting." Katie smiled.

"Oh, of course I am, Katie! That's great! Why doesn't she go to Hogwarts?" Hermione asked.

"Her parents elected to homeschool her and her siblings. Definitely a shame, I think she'd love Hogwarts, and of course I'd love to have her here, but her parents insist on homeschooling," Katie shrugged.

"That is too bad. So, who were you thinking of going to the Yule Ball with?"

"Someone nice I suppose, someone who would have a good time and not be too cool to dance," Katie thought, then laughed, "I guess that leaves most boys out,"

"You would go with a boy?"

"Sure. It's just as friends, what do I care?"

"Well, what about Neville? He's very kind and thoughtful, and I'm sure he'd be willing to dance," Hermione suggested.

"Neville? Neville Longbottom?" Katie smiled, "Actually, that's a great idea! Thanks Hermione!" Katie moved past Hermione and continued down the spiral staircase as Hermione walked towards her dormitory and entered.

She walked over to her bed, stacked her books neatly beside it, and sat down. Crookshanks jumped up, nuzzling her hand and arm, begging to be pet. She smiled at him and scooped him up into her arms. He then decided that that was too much attention, and squirmed, trying to get away. Hermione reluctantly let him go after planting a big kiss on his head, and he ran off. Hermione settled back against her headboard, thinking about the day.

It'll be worth it to keep my going to the Yule Ball with Viktor to myself just for Ron's reaction alone. She chuckled to herself at the thought of Ron's surprised face. I'm sure it'll be a fine time with Viktor. He's kind, and the book he brought me was very thoughtful.

Hermione moved to the edge of the bed so she could reach down and grab the book off the top of her stack. She flipped through it, taking in all of the beautiful illustrations and interesting anecdotes about each building.

No doubt Ginny and Demelza will look adorable together. She thought, her mind drifting from the book. Thankfully I'm going with Viktor. I'd imagine it'd be much more painful to see the two of them together if I was alone. I wonder who…

She stopped herself forcefully. She had found that, every once in a while, her mind would drift to a beautiful, raven-haired French witch. For some reason, Hermione had fought much harder against her thoughts about Juliette than her thoughts about Ginny. She just hadn't been able to forgive her for what she did to Ginny.

Harry told you she tried to catch her. She tried to save Ginny. Why can't you see that?

Hermione shook her head, trying to push away her thoughts.

You're placing all of your emotions for Ginny onto Juliette. All of your sadness, all of your fear, all of your hurt. You're turning it into anger and putting it on Juliette. It was working, using Juliette as a distraction.

"She hurt Ginny…" Hermione whispered aloud to herself.

She didn't and you know it. Ginny is fine. Don't you want to be happy? Or is that it? You were starting to feel something good for once, and now you're looking for a reason to run away from it? Unlike Ginny, Juliette wanted to be with you. She was more than willing to be whatever you needed, and you're shoving her away?

Hermione could feel tears starting to form in her eyes, and she angrily wiped them away.

Ginny doesn't need you, but you need Juliette. Face it. She was making you feel better. Why risk losing that? Keep it up, and you're going to lose out on her just as you did with Ginny.

Hermione shook her head and forced her eyes shut. She desperately tried to think about her classes, Viktor, Neville and Katie, anything she could to stop herself from thinking about Juliette or Ginny. Somehow, she eventually managed to drift off to sleep.