Asking Hermione to the Ball

Ron and Harry sat in front of the Gryffindor fireplace later that evening, enjoying a particularly brutal game of wizard's chess. The common room was deserted, except for Angelina Johnson who was in the process of creating a new Quidditch programme. Her frequent huffing and the crackling fire were the only sounds to punctuate the concentrated silence of Harry and Ron. Hermione had already gone to bed. She had returned from the library two hours after Ron had reached the common room, her Potions essay completed with an extra foot than necessary, and had wished them a hurried good night, before scuttling up to the girls' dormitory.

'And that is checkmate, I believe,' Ron said, leaning back in his chair.

'Wha-?' Harry began, 'Oh, yeah. Damn.'

'Tough luck, mate. May be next time, eh?' Ron replied, a smirk creeping on his face.

'Of course. I'll get you next time,' said Harry, with a roll of his eyes. The closest Harry had got to beating Ron at chess was a very drawn-out stalemate.

'Right,' said Harry, rubbing his eyes as Ron packed away the chess pieces. 'I'm going to bed.'

'Yeah,' said Ron. 'You'll need a good night's sleep to prepare yourself for tomorrow's valiant attempt at getting a date.'

Ron put his fists on his hips in mock celebration, and banged on his chest. 'As for this stud, he's sorted.'

'Not so fast stud,' Harry said, 'as a matter of fact, I've got a date, too.'

'WHAT?' Ron shouted in disbelieve, prompting an exasperated tut from Angelina.

'Why didn't you tell me? Who is it?' he continued in a whisper.

'Well,' Harry whispered back, 'Since you and Hermione are both going, I didn't want to be hanging round here by myself, so I grabbed Lavender on my way up here, and she agreed to go with me.'

'L-Lavender Brown?' Ron said, following Harry up to the boys' dormitores. 'Lavender Brown, the chronic giggler?' Ron let out a low whistle. 'Good luck is all I can say.'

'Yeah, well,' Harry said with shrug. 'She can't be worse than Parvati.'

Ron raised his eyebrows.

'Shut up,' said Harry, climbing into bed. 'She'll be all over Seamus anyway, so I probably won't even have to dance with her.'

'I suppose,' Ron said, pulling on his pyjama top. 'And it's not as if I have to dance with Hermione as well,' he continued, ignoring the sudden dip his stomach gave as he spoke.

'You know what girls are like,' Harry replied sleepy. 'That's the whole point of balls, isn't it? That, and clothes, and hair and stuff.'

Ron scoffed. 'Yeah. Pretty stupid if you ask me,' he said climbing under his bedclothes. 'G'night, Harry.'

'Night,' came the muffled reply.

Ron let his eyes droop closed, thinking about Hermione. He turned over and smiled into his pillow. She's going with me. Blimey. And I can dance with her this time if I want, not that I want to, but I could if I did want to. But I don't. Although the thought of taking her small hand in his and feeling her hair brush his cheek sent shivers racing through his body. Ron pulled the covers closer around him, and drifted into a deep, contented sleep.

*

As the day of the ball approached, the excitement in the castle steadily spiralled out of control.

'Miss Brown,' Professor McGonagall said on the day of the ball in Transfiguration. She had her eyes closed in exasperation. 'If I hear one more squeal from you I will put you in detention. That is the third hedgehog you've terrified.'

Lavender and Parvati had been whispering furiously and throwing furtive looks at Harry that sent them into squeals of laughter throughout double Transfiguration. Lavender scowled as McGonagall turned to Neville, who had managed to make his hedgehog's spikes grow seven feet long, nearly skewering Hannah Abbot.

Ron had clamped his hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing, as Harry angrily prodded his hedgehog so hard it turned into a squishy ball of slime before deflating with a soft plop and dribbling off the table.

'Really, Harry,' Hermione scolded, as she returned the hedgehog to its normal form with a flick of her wand.

'Well, how would you like it?' Harry replied through gritted teeth. 'At least you're going to this bloody ball with someone you actually can stand!'

Hermione darted a quick look at Ron and returned to her hedgehog, which she had successfully transfigured into a row of spindly quills, her cheeks rather pink.

Ron rapidly avoided Hermione's eye and simply muttered, 'You have my sympathies, mate.'

Since the day that Ron had asked Hermione to the ball, neither had said a word to each other about it. They had even stopped bickering as much. In fact, they had hardly spoken to each other at all, and only then was it somewhat overly polite. For a brief time, Ron had considered that Hermione had forgotten she was going with him and wondered whether he should broach the subject again. However, the thought of doing that again made his stomach churn and his palms sweaty, so he put his faith in Hermione's memory and left the subject alone. He was surprised at his own behaviour and cursed himself every time he felt himself go scarlet when Hermione looked at him.

Just because she's a girl doesn't mean she's not Hermione anymore. Get a grip on yourself, Weasley.

'At least I can always hang about with you two,' Harry said, as they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.

'I really don't think you should just ab Lavender, you know,' Hermione said in a strangled sort of voice. 'She is your date after all.'

'Come on, Hermione,' Ron said, 'you don't want Harry to be giggled to death, do you?'

'She's just a little excited, that's all,' said Hermione, piling potatoes on her, Harry and Ron's plates.

'Excited?' Harry said in disbelief. 'Did you see the effect her laugh had on those hedgehogs? I didn't think McGonagall would ever be able to pry them open.'

'It's just,' Hermione continued, 'you've got your date, and Ron and I...'

She stopped abruptly in mid-sentence, her mouth hanging slightly open. Ron looked at and she quickly started to cut up her steak and ale pie. 'I mean...I just meant that maybe Lavender will want to spend the evening just with you and she'd be upset if you leave her alone.'

Harry stared at her. 'But she doesn't even like me! Everyone knows she likes Seamus!'

Hermione put down her knife and fork and was suddenly determined. 'Look. For girls, balls are pretty important. Not just because it's an opportunity to wear something other than school robes, but because for a girl it's quite flattering to have a boy ask her especially, because it shows that he's thought about her and wants to spend an evening that doesn't include Quidditch, homework, chess or anything else, just with her.'

Ron listened to Hermione's speech, slowly turning redder and redder. Then he gulped and choked on his potatoes.

'Oh, okay,' Harry said in a defeated voice. 'Well, thanks for letting us Ron, are you alright?'

Ron could only nod, his eyes watering from his coughing fit. He was aware of Hermione staring at him, and glanced her way. She held his gaze long enough to make him feel uncomfortable, before returning to her lunch.

What was all that about?

The three of them continued their lunch in silence, each one deep in thought.

*

Since dinner would be provided at the ball at eight o'clock, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to visit Hagrid once lessons were over.

'Alrigh' you three?' Hagrid beamed at them, as he pulled the door open of his cluttered hut. 'Just puttin' on the kettle fer a cuppa. Yer just in time.'

'Cheers, Hagrid,' said Harry as he and Ron slumped into Hagrid's enormous armchair. Hermione laid out four cups for them all.

'You all lookin' forward to t'nigh, I expect?' Hagrid inquired, pouring each of them a huge cup of steaming tea.

Harry merely grunted, which sent Ron into another burst of laughter. Hermione clicked her tongue.

'Harry's going with Lavender Brown,' Ron said simply, as if in summary of Harry's grumpy mood.

'Ah, I see,' Hagrid said, still looking puzzled. 'Well, I 'spect you'll have a good time anyhow. And you Ron? Which lucky lady is goin' with you?'

Ron's face dropped and he started to fiddle frantically with a piece of loose thread on the armchair.

'Er, actually,' he said, 'I'm going with Hermione.'

Hagrid paused in the process of taking a sip of tea. He slowly turned his head from Ron to Hermione, who was staring into the roaring fire.

'Is that, righ' Hermione?' Hagrid said, a grin filling his face.

Hermione's eyes snapped up. 'Yes. Are you going Hagrid?'

'O' course I am,' he replied. 'S'long as there's a barrel o' mulled mead, I'm happy. Should be a bit o' fun.'

Harry sighed, causing Ron to crack up once again and scruff Harry's hair playfully.

Hermione suddenly leapt to her feet. 'Gosh, look at the time, I have to get ready.' She threw on her cloak and pulled the door open. 'Harry and Hagrid, I'll see you there. Ron, I...erm...' she broke off, hovering uncertainly in the doorway.

'Oh yeah!' Ron replied, a little louder than he intended to. 'I'll see you in the common room at...five to eight?'

'Okay,' Hermione said. She gave him the briefest of smiles before scurrying away and snapping the door shut behind her. Ron turned to Harry and Hagrid and was surprised to find them both staring at him, beaming.

'What?'

*

At half past seven, Harry and Ron made their way up to the castle, only coming across several other boys making their way to their common rooms. Ron had been very quiet as the evening drew on, and despite his growling stomach, he didn't think he'd be able to eat one bite. Harry had agreed to meet Lavender outside the Ravenclaw common room, since she and Parvati were getting ready with Padma, and so Harry only just had time to throw on his dress robes. Wishing Ron a swift good luck, he left Ron to change with Seamus, Dean and Neville.

'Harry's door,' Seamus muttered as Harry trudged away. 'I feel for him, I really do.' He burst out into a raucous laugh.

'Shut it, Finnigan,' Ron said, although he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from twitching.

'Hey, Ron,' said Dean, who was laid out on the bed, all ready. 'What's up with Ginny? She started to get ready two hours ago.'

'Tell me about it,' Ron replied. 'Fred and George have started putting bets on how long she can stay in the bathroom before mum screams her head off.'

Dean chuckled. 'Yeah, well. At least she looks good.'

Ron thran a dirty look and clenched his fist. Dean, noticing this sudden aggressive movement, back-tracked quickly.

'Er...I mean...' he stuttered. 'It's good to be hygienic, I suppose,' he finished lamely.

'It is,' Ron said, shifting the neck of his dress robes uncomfortably. He inspected his reflection critically.

An improvement on the last set. At least Fred and George have a bit of style.

His new dress robes were actually quite posh. They were a deep shade of blue and hung from his tall frame perfectly, making his shoulders look broader than they were and chest more prominent. In contrast to the frills and tatty lace of the old set, these dress robes were trimmed with delicate silver threading around the neck and cuffs, which caught the light. Ron stared at himself in the mirror, ruffling his hair nervously.

'Well lads,' Seamus announced, 'our ladies await.'

Ron checked his teeth unnecessarily in the mirror, before following Seamus, Dean, and Neville down the stairs. His feet suddenly felt sluggish and he had to breathe deeply to keep the sick feeling from moving no higher than his stomach.

'Who're you going with, Neville?' Ron asked, more for a distraction than genuine interest.

'Oh, Hannah Abbot,' Neville replied. 'She's in Hufflepuff. She's really nice, a bit quiet but she's funny, I suppose. I mean, I nearly killed her with that hedgehog but she was cool about it.' His enthusiastic reply made it clear to Ron that he, too, was glad for the distraction.

The common room was packed with people. Ron spied Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet comparing hair styles. Dean almost ran to Ginny, who looked very pretty in muted pink dress robes.

'Come on Neville,' Ron heard Seamus say. 'I'm meeting Padma in the Entrance Hall. I'll walk down with you.'

Ron watched as they joined the steady stream of people climbing out of the portrait hole, chatting and giggling. Hermione was nowhere to be seen, and so Ron threw himself into his favourite armchair by the fire and wished Harry was here. He was suddenly struck with a terrifying thought.

What if she's changed her mind? Maybe she realised she'd look really stupid with a prat like me and agreed to go with someone else?

'Ron.'

Ron almost tripped getting up, and whirled around to see Hermione standing nervously on the bottom step of the girl's staircase. Ron felt his stomach and mouth drop at the sight of her. She was wearing dress robes of very pale cream, which were adorned with minute sparkles that twinkled in the firelight. Her neck was exposed due to the low cut and Ron gazed at its smoothness, unaware of the flush slowly colouring it. His eyes took in her hair, which had been pulled up and piled on top of her head, with a few curls left stylishly to fall about her face and neck. He finally looked into her face and saw her wide eyes staring back at him. She was biting her lip, and Ron was aware of her clasped hands fidgeting.

'You look...wow,' Ron croaked.

'Thanks,' she replied in almost a whisper. 'Erm, you do, too.'

Hermione didn't move. Ron, suddenly terrified he wasn't doing the right thing, stumbled forward and shot out his arm in a bid to take her hand in his. Hermione merely looked at his extended hand.

'Oh...erm...sorry,' he said. The flushing in his ears was almost painful. He snapped his arm back to his side.

'Oh no, no. I'm sorry,' Hermione said and reached her own arm out to his.

Ron took it and helped her off the final step, unable to lift his eyes to hers.

Ron released her hand. 'Well, let's go then!' he said in an overly bright tone.

nd Hermione climbed out of the portrait hole. Ron watched as she gracefully pulled up her dress robes revealing delicate white slippers. Ron gulped and looked at his own grubby shoes that were still caked in mud from their visit to Hagrid.

A right troll you look next to her. He unconsciously ruffled his hair and unnecessarily brushed down his dress robes.

An uneasy silence hung between them as they made their way to the Great Hall. Ron shot furtive sideways glances at Hermione and desperately racked his brain for something to say.

Can you help me with my Potions homework? No! Those hedgehogs today were pretty cool...Neville's going with Hannah...

'I'd thought you'd forgotten about this thing,' was the first thing to tumble from his mouth.

Hermione turned to him, her eyebrows drawn together. 'The ball? Why?'

'You never said anything.'

'Neither did you!'

Ron was taken aback. 'Yeah, but that's different, isn't it?'

Hermione scoffed. Ron felt a sudden surge of annoyance course through him. 'Why?

'Well...well...you know,' he answered irritably.

Hermione stopped walking and raised her eyebrows at him, her head cocked to one side.

Ron felt himself spluttering for an explanation. 'Well, girls always talk about things like this and you're a...a,' he cleared his throat, 'a girl and...I mean, Lavender and Parvati talk their heads off about it!'

Hermione, who had been listening with an unreadable expression, continued to walk.

'I can't believe you'd compare me to girls like Lavender and Parvati.'

Ron jogged to catch back up with her and pulled her arm so she would face him.

'I didn't! I didn't say that!'

He waited for Hermione's answer, but to his surprise, she was smiling at him and started to giggle at his tense expression. Ron, relieved to discover she was joking, laughed, too.

'If you were like them, you know I'd have to kill you,' he said.

'Thanks. If I was, I'd want you to.'

Ron laughed again, glad the argument he so thought was erupting was nonexistent.

'For the record,' he said, 'you could never be like them. You're just, well, you.'

Hermione's smiling face changed to an expression of utter shock and she peered into his face, her forehead furrowed slightly as if she was in deep concentration.

'I mean,' Ron said, 'that's a compliment. It's a good thing, you being you, you know.'

Ron watched her expression soften and her cheeks turn pink. She placed her hand lightly on his arm, and he gasped slightly at the unexpected contact.

'I know, Ron,' she said. 'Thanks.'

'No problem,' he mumbled.

They stared at each other for a long moment, and Ron, overcome suddenly with nerves, could only laugh to break the awkwardness. Hermione laughed, too.

'Come on,' she said. 'We're going to be the last ones there.'

He let her tug his arm as she trotted down the stairs and together they briskly walked into the Great Hall.

*