Ginny sat in the library across from Hermione, words on her half-finished Herbology essay swirling before her. With all the excitement surrounding the Tri-Wizard Tournament, Professor Moody's Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, the Yule Ball, and Christmas holiday, it was increasingly challenging to maintain any semblance of concentration.

She threw her quill down with a dramatic sigh. "I can't believe there's this much homework on the last week of term."

"You're staying at Hogwarts over Christmas, aren't you?" Hermione asked, not looking up from her Charms textbook while she jotted down a note on the parchment beside her.

"Yeah. But I don't know what I'll do while everyone else is at the Yule Ball," Ginny said glumly.

"Oh, I'm sure someone will ask you. Loads of people don't have dates yet. Even Harry and Ron don't."

Ginny tried to pretend this was news to her. Ever since she'd heard Harry still didn't have a date, she dared to hope that maybe, just maybe, he would ask her. As friends, of course.

"What about Lee Jordan, would he take you? You hang out together enough when you're with the twins," Hermione suggested.

Ginny pulled a face. "Definitely not. Lee's really popular, he's probably had a date for ages. And Fred and George would murder him if he did." She picked back up the quill, tapping it against the table.

"What about - "

"Wait," Ginny interrupted. "Why aren't you going with Harry or Ron?"

Hermione looked up this time. "Well, neither have asked me," she answered simply.

Ginny frowned. "That's stupid. You're a much safer bet than… Oh I dunno, Eloise Midgen."

Hermione gave her a stern look. "Eloise is really nice, Ginny."

"I know but… you're much prettier," she shrugged.

"Not everything is about looks."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Alright, I'll leave your stunning looks, brilliant mind, witty humour and unwavering loyalty out of it and keep it simple: they need a date, and you're the only friend they have who's a girl."

"I don't want to go with someone who won't even bother to ask me," Hermione replied quickly, eyes snapping back down at her parchment. "Besides I…" but she stopped herself, scribbling quickly.

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Besides what?"

Hermione mumbled something into her parchment.

"I don't speak Gobbledegook, Hermione."

"I'm already going with someone!" She cried, earning dirty looks and several hushes from students nearby.

Ginny's face brightened to a triumphant grin. She leaned forward across the table to pull Hermione's hands into hers. "Hermione, that's great! Who are you going with?"

Hermione's mouth opened and shut several times, as if she were still debating whether or not she wanted to disclose this bit of information.

"Go on, spit it out," Ginny squeezed Hermione's hands.

"You can't tell anyone. Promise me, Ginny. I mean it. Especially not Ron."

Ginny frowned. "Why can't I tell Ron?"

"Because… you know why! You know how he is," Hermione huffed, pulling her hands back. Ginny did indeed know what Hermione meant, but the way her cheeks turned pink made Ginny think there was a different, underlying reason as to why she didn't want Ron to know. "Harry too," she added as an afterthought.

Ginny raised a brow, but decided not to press the point for now. "I swear it, I won't tell a soul."

"Alright." Hermione glanced around the library and motioned for Ginny to lean closer, then whispered the name into her ear.

Ginny pulled away with her mouth gaping. "What?" She hissed.

"Shhh!"

"Are you taking the mickey? Hermione - "

Hermione's hands flew up in exasperation. "See? This is why I didn't want to tell anyone. I knew no one would believe me!"

"No no, I believe you. I'm sorry," Ginny said seriously, lowering her voice back to a whisper. "I just mean… this is a big deal! He's like…really famous! Best Seeker in the world!"

"I know. That's why I want to keep it quiet. You're the only one I've told," Hermione's eyes darted cautiously to her left.

"Okay, okay. I'll keep my mouth shut. But you have to tell me everything. When did this happen? Oh, I'm so happy for you!" Ginny squealed.

"Some of us are here to study," growled an older Hufflepuff a table away.

"Sorry," Ginny flashed a smile. The Hufflepuff grunted in reply. Turning back to Hermione, she whispered, "Do you think you could get me an autograph?"

The way Hermione's eyes narrowed gave Ginny her answer.

"Alright. But you have to tell me, how did he ask you?"

"You're going to get us kicked out," Hermione laughed. But the older friend conceded, recounting in a hushed whisper exactly how Viktor Krum had asked her to the Yule Ball. Her eyes flashed left again, and this time Ginny saw why. Over in the shadows, covered by a stack of books, sat the very topic of their conversation. A pair of dark, serious eyes peaked from over the top, before flashing back downward.

"Hermione, I think your boyfriend's staring," Ginny whispered with a smirk.

"He's not my - " But whatever Viktor Krum was not to Hermione was interrupted by a throat clearing.

Ginny looked up to see Neville Longbottom at their table, a weak smile on his face. "Neville. Hi!" Ginny smiled brightly at him.

"Hi Hermione. Hi Ginny."

"Hi Neville," Hermione said, setting her book down once more.

"Hi," he said again, voice quite high. His weight shifted from foot to foot with his hand gripping onto the strap of his bag. Ginny glanced over to Hermione. He was acting quite odd.

"Did you… need something, Neville?" Ginny asked.

"No," he said quickly. "Yes - no, I mean…" His hand reached to scratch the back of his neck, pale skin turning to pink. "I wanted to ask you a question, Hermione."

Neville took a deep breath, turning to face her properly. "Hermione, I was um… Well I was wondering. You've been so helpful for me in potions this year and I…"

Ginny froze, suddenly feeling like an intruder in this conversation. Her eyes flicked between the two friends. Hermione stared back at Neville, expression drawn into one of perplexion.

"I don't know if you've been asked already - Well you probably have - but… I was hoping that maybe…"

Ginny's eyes widened in understanding. She gave a small encouraging smile to Neville, knowing the outcome would be disaster.

"Wouldyouliketogototheballwithme?"

A loud silence passed. Ginny kicked Hermione underneath the table.

"Oh I… " Hermione blinked a few times, trying to catch up to his request. "Oh! The Ball! Oh Neville, I'm so sorry. I've already said yes to someone. But really, I'm flattered you thought to ask me," she replied graciously.

Neville's cheeks burned brighter, and Hermione's nearly matched. "Right, right, of course. Well um, thanks anyways." He gave a forcefully cheery smile. "I hope you have a great time there. I'll see you both later," He turned to leave without further explanation, shoulders slumped forward. Hermione's head dropped into her hands.

"You handled that well," Ginny whispered. Hermione let out a soft groan in response. "You're quite the catch, two dates in one week!" Another groan answered.

Her eyes drew once more to the stack of books to their left, catching Viktor Krum's foreboding eyes from the dark corner. Every part of Ginny ached to wait around, selfishly hoping he might come over to say hello to Hermione and give her the chance to properly meet the world's best Seeker. But as she watched Neville's dejected figure retreating, she pushed her own wishes behind.

"Neville, hold up!" Ginny called as she began hurriedly stuffing her books into her bag.

"Where are you going?" Hermione hissed, lifting her head from her hands.

"I don't want to keep you from your boyfriend, he looks awfully jealous. I think he overheard Neville," Ginny grinned, nodding in the direction of Viktor Krum.

"He isn't my - "

"Bye!" Ginny called, breaking a jog to catch up to Neville. She smiled carefully as she reached him. "Hey."

"Hey," Neville answered miserably, pace quickening towards the exit.

"If I stay down here any longer my head's going to explode. Can I walk with you back to the Common Room?"

"Only if you promise to be honest - did I just make a complete idiot of myself back there?" His hand held the door open, motioning for her to take the lead.

"Of course not. You didn't know." Ginny waved a dismissive hand. "Could I bother you for some help on my Herbology homework when we get back?"

His face brightened. "Of course. What's it on?"

"Nettles. I don't think I have all the steps for harvesting down right and I can't read my handwriting from class."

"Sure, yeah, I remember that lesson. I can probably find my old notes on it, if you'd like."

"You're the best, Neville," she beamed at him. He gave a cautious smile back and she felt a momentary pride at her successful change of subject. They continued through the corridors, pausing as the stairs changed.

Neville's eyes flicked towards her. "Hey uh… Do you have a date? To the Yule Ball?"

Ginny's lips pursed. This was starting to feel like a sore subject. "No one's exactly dying to take a third year."

"Would you maybe want to go with me?"

Ginny halted on the step. Of all the scenarios she had imagined that would allow her to go to the ball, attending with Neville Longbottom hadn't made the list.

Her heart raced at the question, the small hope that Harry would be the one to ask her rapidly dying. Hermione's voice from the summer echoed in her mind, that she'd miss out on other opportunities if she spent all of her time pining after him.

Then she thought of the hand-me-down dress robes Mum made her pack "just in case" sitting sadly in her trunk on Christmas while all of her closest friends danced the night away to the Weird Sisters.

The fact remained: she could go with Neville, or she could risk not going at all.

"Y'know, as friends?" He added hastily. She watched concern etch between his eyebrows so deeply she worried he might run away from her.

"I'd like that," Ginny answered determinedly.

Neville looked widely relieved. "Gran will be so happy. Thank you, Ginny. We'll have a fun time, I promise."

"Of course we will," Ginny grinned back.