Last Resort

Ron was beginning to think that Trelawney might be onto something. Her prediction of mass pain and suffering (excluding Potions with Snape, of course. That was always a call for pain and suffering) in yesterday's sixth year divination class was not too far off base. He said this to Harry as they sat playing Exploding Snap in the Gryffindor common room.

"I wouldn't put too much stock in it, Ron," said Harry ruefully. "I was supposed to die this morning, wasn't I? Right festive start to the holiday break."

Ron sighed and Harry took pity on his friend. He looked as though he hadn't slept all night. Ron's face was pale, making is his red hair and freckles even more prominent. His blue eyes looked tired.

"Honestly, Ron, it's just a dance."

"Just a dance, says you! You weren't the one that got bawled out in the common room last time, were you? Why do we need another stupid Yule Ball, anyway?"

"Dumbledore probably wants to lighten the mood. Last year didn't exactly end on a high note, did it?" Harry's green eyes were sad as he made reference to the last year. Ron knew how hard it had been for Harry to come back to Hogwarts after losing Sirius. But even the death of his godfather could not make him stay with Dursleys any longer than he had to. They were silent for a moment. Harry was the first to break it.

"Well, I noticed that Lavender Brown has been paying you a bit of attention this year. Maybe you could ask her?" Harry teased.

Ron looked as though he had swallowed a bad batch of Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans. "I'd rather be a guinea pig for Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes products than go with her."

Harry laughed. "How are Fred and George?"

Ron shrugged. "They're all right. Mum's not too pleased with them at the moment."

"What happened?"

"Well, they decided to test out their new brand of fireworks in the backyard. Weasleys' Quidditch Sparkers. They were supposed to light up like little brooms chasing snitches. Sounded like a fun idea at the time," Ron said thoughtfully, thinking back. "Only something went wrong, and some of the sparks landed on a few of the garden gnomes. Set the buggers' hair on fire. They've been invading our yard with a vengeance ever since. Bloody menace, they are."

Harry laughed so hard he had to take off his glass to wipe away tears.

"Well, I see you're obviously not working on your Potions essay."

Harry and Ron looked up as Hermione walked over, laden with what looked to be half the books from the library. They had been laughing so loud, they hadn't heard her come in from the portrait hole.

Ron looked at her, aghast. "Hermione! It's the start of Christmas break!"

"All the more reason to get it out of the way," she shot back smartly.

Ron had never known anyone who took so much pleasure in homework. He swore that her bushy brown hair had more bounce and her brown eyes sparkled like never before when she was happily immersed in quills and assigned reading material. She was quite beautiful, really. Ron's eyes widened at his thoughts. Where had that come from?!

"You alright there, Ron?" asked Harry with a little smirk. But that was ridiculous. Harry couldn't read Ron's mind, right? He hoped not. It would not do for his best friend to know of the thoughts that sometimes ran through his head about Hermione. It was becoming a rather frequent problem. He figured he was quite in love with her. He'd have to tell her that at some point. He thought now might be a good time. Until he heard what Hermione said next.

"Harry? I was wondering if I might use Hedwig. I want to send Viktor his Christmas present and I'd feel more comfortable using her."

Harry didn't answer because it was Ron who piped up. "Are you barking mad?! No way are you using Hedwig to send Vicky little love notes!"

Hermione glared at him. "Don't call him that!"

Harry sighed, resigned to watching this battle that had been raging since 4th year. He was sure he could predict the lines by heart.

"What's the matter, Herm-own-ninny? Viktor doesn't like his pet name? Not surprising, since he can't even pronounce yours! Not too clever, is he? I think Vicky has had too many Bludgers to the head."

Honestly, Ron, thought Harry.

"Honestly, Ron!" said Hermione. "Viktor Krum is the best Quidditch player of our time." She finished with an angry sniff.

"Oh, so you're a Quidditch expert now, is that right?"

"Who's the one with a Viktor Krum figurine?" she shouted. She had a point. He did have a Viktor Krum figurine. With a busted arm, at that.

"So, are you gonna ask him to the ball? Is that why you really need Hedwig?" Ron sneered.

"I would not dare to go there if I were you, Ronald Weasley! In case I need to remind you, it's your fault that I went with Viktor in the first place!"

"Oh yes. My fault. My fault you were fraternizing with the enemy!" They were both shouting now. The first years in the room looked a little nervous, whereas Neville, Dean and Seamus remained unfazed across the room. They were too used to Ron and Hermione's screaming matches to let it affect the poker game they were having. There were Chocolate Frogs on the line, after all.

Ginny crept down the stairs and sat next to Harry. "Where are we?" she whispered to him, Ron and Hermione both oblivious as they focused solely on each other. "The Yule ball," Harry whispered back. "You wanna go, by the way?" Ginny simply nodded. It was Hermione's turn to shout, and she didn't want to miss it.

"Fraternizing with the enemy?! Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds? So I should have stayed behind then? Sat in my room and sulked? Not gone at all?"

Ron's face was as red as his hair at this point. "No! You should have gone with me when I asked you!"

Hermione gasped and mockingly put her hand to her heart. "Oh right! And what a romantic invitation that was. Turned down by a veela and God knows who else, and suddenly Hermione's a girl! Did you think I was daft?"

" I know you're a girl!"

"Well, I was not going to be yours or anyone else's last resort, Ron."

They stood facing each other, hands on their hips. Ron's face lost his anger, as did Hermione's, although her wand hand still looked a little too twitchy for his liking. Today was not a day for curses.

"You've never been a last resort, Hermione." Before she knew it, Ron leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. "Will you go to the ball with me then?"

Hermione smiled. "All you had to do was ask. Of course I'll go with you, Ron." She lifted a hand to his cheek, glad that her point had been made. "I'll just head on up to the Owlery now to see Hedwig, all right, Harry?"

Harry nodded dumbly as Hermione went back out through the portrait hole. He looked at Ginny, who stared back, just as dumbfounded. That was definitely not how their arguments usually ended.

"Well," said Ron with a happy grin, "that takes care of that, then. Up for some chess, Harry?"

The End:)