Turnaround

Turnaround

Chapter 2

After seeing the flier, I quickly decided to change my destination from the library back to the common room. After all, that's where they said they would be. While running, I suddenly realized something very important about the date of the ball. September nineteenth. My birthday! I had been so caught up in asking Ron that I completely forgot about it. It would be such a great birthday present if he went with me. I would give anything to be with Ron.

Before giving the password, I realized that my hair was a mess, and I probably looked like a wreck (I had stayed up all night doing my Charms homework. It wasn't that long, I was just sitting next to Ron). I quickly conjured up a hovering mirror and comb and checked my reflection. Hmmm. Not too shabby. My hair had begun to become a bit more tame over the past summer and I was beginning to grow out of my "awkward" stage. I quickly brushed out my shoulder-length, chocolate-brown hair and gave the Fat Lady the password.

I entered the common room with a plastered smile on my face. I walked in very confidently, with my head held high, looking for Harry and Ron so I could go sit by them. But, alas, they were not there. Maybe (wishful thinking) they had gone to the library looking for me! Maybe just Ron was there, waiting to declare his undying love for me! I spun around, ready to run back they way I came.

But why get my hopes up when there was one chance in a thousand that

Ron liked me back? I mean, all I had done to him for four years was argue with him and make him feel inferior to me. I wish I could take it all back now.

Anyway, they were probably down at Hagrid's or someplace where it was much more fun not to have me around. I wonder if that's how they always thought of me, book-smart Hermione who's only useful during finals. Maybe they never really liked me at all.

What am I thinking? Of course Harry and Ron like having me around! They're my best friends, after all. I really need to stop talking to myself and over-rationalizing things. All right. Calm down.

I walked up the long staircase into my room and saw Ginny Weasley sitting on the side of my bed, reading Witch's Life.

"So, when are you going to ask him?" she questioned nonchalantly, without looking up from her magazine.

"Ask who?"

"You know who I'm talking about, 'Mione," she retorted, rolling her eyes. And she did. My best girl friend, she knew everything about my life. And I knew everything about hers.

"I don't know when, Gin. I mean, I really want to ask him before somebody else does, but I don't want to make a complete fool of myself. How do I know if he'll even say yes?"

"If I know my brother, he'll say yes," Ginny said, trying to comfort me.

"I sure hope so. And what about you? Who are you planning to ask?" I figured she would say Harry, maybe even Colin Creevey. But nothing could have prepared me for the bombshell Ginny was about to drop on me.

"Oh, I've already asked someone, and he's said yes," Ginny said. "Draco."

Right then, a series of thoughts ran through my mind:

"Wait, before you say anything, let me plead his case," Ginny said. "He's changed so much since last year. He's become much more mature. He's not the same guy who called you Mudblood in second year. Draco's just so much more....sensitive. And caring." Wow. Sensitive and caring. I never thought I would hear those two words and Malfoy in the same sentence.

"Well, Gin, this is quite a shock," I said, calmly and rationally. "I don't really want to judge your actions, but are you really sure what you are getting yourself into? Malfoy's known to be a player."

"Of course I'm sure. We've been owling each other all summer. I just can't believe a guy's finally noticed me! Maybe after I gave up on Harry it became clear that I on the market. Don't worry, 'Mione. I'll be fine. But please, don't tell anyone. I want it to be a surprise. Promise you won't?"

"Promise," I said, sighing. I decided to just let her have her fun with Malfoy for now. She wouldn't listen to anything I said about him anyways.

"Ok, now we have to pick out what we're going to wear," Ginny said excitedly. "Just look at these fabulous dress robes in Witch's Life." Ginny pointed to some gorgeous mint green dress robes that would look wonderful with her red hair. "Too bad Mum won't let me have them. I hate being poor!"

"Don't worry, Gin, you can borrow mine. I think I still have mine from the Yule Ball last year, and they probably would fit you perfectly." I rummaged around in my trunk awhile and came up with the periwinkle-blue silky robes I had worn to the ball last year.

"Oh, those would be perfect!" Ginny exclaimed. "Can I try them on?" I nodded a reply and she began changing into the robes.

I still remembered the Yule Ball. I remember how I couldn't believe that Viktor had asked me, a lowly fourth year, out of all of the other girls at Hogwarts. I don't know if I ever really liked him, or if it had all been just a hoax to make Ron jealous. He was nice and all, but I never really thought we were a match made in heaven. He was seventeen; I was fourteen. He lived all the way in Bulgaria, for goodness' sake! We just never really clicked. He was very sweet and all, and I told him when leaving Bulgaria after my visit that I hoped we could stay friends.

The sight of Ginny twirling around in the robes diverted my thoughts. They were a perfect fit, and looked gorgeous with her red hair.

"Perfect," I said. She beamed at me.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry caught me by surprise the next day while I was working on my Potions homework.

"So, when are you going to ask Ron to the ball?" I quickly jumped up from my homework.

"What? How did you know? Did Ginny-"

"Calm down," Harry consoled. "Ginny didn't tell me anything. It's just so obvious. I've seen the way you look at him. It's like your deeply repressed feelings are written all over your face. Everyone knows."

"What? Who-does Ron-"

"No, Ron doesn't know. But about all of Gryffindor knows, so it's been a task keeping it from him. I mean, you want to tell him yourself, don't you?"

"Of course," I replied, "but how should I do it? Wait- has he told you anything about me? What do you know?" I was dying to know what Ron thought of me.

"Look, Ron hasn't said anything to me, but I'm sure he likes you too. You just need to ask him before someone else does..."

"Oh, I know," I replied, exasperated. "I'll- I'll ask him tonight." Hopefully, that would give me enough time to gather up my courage and work out what I was going to say.

"Good, good...now Hermione, I need to ask you something," Harry said, looking at the floor.

"What, Harry?"

"Er... well, this is kind of a hard thing to ask."

"Just spit it out Harry!" He was beginning to get quite tiresome.

"Isginnygoingtoaskmetotheball?"

"Slower, please, Harry."

"Er... has Ginny said anything about asking me to the ball? Because if she is, I would really like to go with her. I've had lots of invitations already, but I turned them all down because I was kind of hoping she was going to ask me." Harry looked up at me.

Oh, great. It's either betray one of my best friends, or break the heart of my other best friend. I decided to break it to him gently.

"Well, Harry, I think that Ginny's already asked someone. But if it turns out that she doesn't go with him, I'll be sure to mention you." Harry stared up dejectedly at me.

"Who is it?" Harry questioned. "Can you tell me?"

"Um, not really. I'm really sorry, Harry."

"That's OK. I guess I'll just go with one of the girls who already asked me." Harry walked away with a downcast expression on his face. Poor Harry. I had no idea that he had changed his mind about Ginny. I hope it doesn't hurt him too much when he finds out. Oh, well. I need to turn my mind to other things. Tonight, I will know for sure if I have a date for the ball!