Turnaround

Turnaround

Chapter 5

The next day in school I felt as if I was walking on air. I passed other girls in the halls agonizing over who they were going to ask and I kept feeling the urge to laugh in their faces. But that wouldn't be very nice. So I just settled for smiling while answering all of their questions about what happened between Ron and me. It was five days until the ball, and I didn't know how I could wait any longer.

Sometimes we'd catch up together in the halls, and he'd give me a little kiss on the cheek. It seemed like this was the first time I'd been anxious to get out of classes without wanting to finish some homework or do some studying. And Ginny and I talked for hours every night (well, she talked, I did my homework). She'd go on for hours and hours about how wonderful Draco was and how sweet Draco was. Honestly, if I heard anything else about Draco my head was going to explode.

And then there was that one afternoon I was in the library, just doing a bit of studying and looking for some books for my Arithmancy research paper, and I came upon the usual snoggers sitting in the corner next to the Arithmancy books. There was always one couple or another over there, and I always had found it hard to ignore them. I mean, how rude can you get? This is supposed to be a library! Hello!

Well, anyway, that day one member of the pair happened to have very familiar long ginger hair. And the other had platinum blonde hair. It took all the willpower I possibly had to stop myself from saying anything to them. Well, since they were a bit *ahem* preoccupied, they took no notice of me, and I was glad to have the chance to slink away. My book forgotten, I raced off to the common room, still shocked at what I had seen.

A few hours later, Ginny burst into the common room with this huge grin on her face. She was floating around the room in such a way that I felt she would at any moment spontaneously burst out with an off-key rendition of "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific.

She spotted me and floated over to where I sat on the loveseat in front of the fire. "Oh, Hermione!" she said melodramatically. "I think I'm in love!"

"Really?" I replied, feigning naiveness. "And with whom?" Exasperated, Ginny slapped me lightly on the head.

"All right, all right," I said. "Just a little joke." When the humor of the joke faded, I suddenly realized the magnitude of Ginny's words. I mean, snogging in the Arithmancy corner was one thing, but a sudden proclamation of love was somethin entirely different.

"Wait, Ginny, are you sure? I mean, he is a Malfoy and, well, you know what happened the last time you jumped into something without thinking. You-"

"-ended up unconscious in the Chamber of Secrets. Honestly, when are any of you going to put the past behind you and start trusting me again? That was three years ago, and I was hypnotized, for Merlin's sake!"

"Calm down, Ginny, all I'm trying to say is, well, how long have you really been seeing him? Just since the summer, right? How can you really know who he is?"

"Well, you and Ron haven't been a couple for a week yet and you're floating all around the school in a Ron-inspired bliss. And don't deny you're not in love with him."

"Ginny, that's different, I-"

"I don't see how so. Hermione, trust me. I'm not throwing myself away on a loser. He really treats me like I'm something special. I'll show you, at the ball, who he really is. He's not really that person who made fun of you for so many years. And you, Hermione, with all of your book reading and everything, I would have thought that you would have come to the conclusion that Draco's outward disposition was due to the effect of some psychological problem owing to not enough love in his childhood. You just have to give Draco a chance and not judge him by what he's done in the past. Please, do it for me."

I smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I was being an idiot. I'm sure you're right about Draco." I honestly hoped she was right, and that the gut feeling I had was wrong. Besides, who willingly jumps into an argument with a Weasley?

"That's all right, I know you're just trying to protect me. You're such a good friend. Thanks, but I'll be all right."

I smiled at her. I felt that this would be an appropriate moment to make another joke. "And, from now on, you have my permission to fall in love with whomever you want."

Ginny chuckled. "Thanks, I'll remember that."

Suddenly Ron and Harry noisily trooped into the common room. They spotted us and came over. Ron slid next to me, and, putting his arm around me, kissed my cheek. "Hey, 'Mione," he said.

I noticed Harry attempting to slide over next to Ginny. His attempts were futile, as when he greeted her she responded with a nod and a curt "Harry." She rose from the couch with a small smirk on her face. "I'm going to bed." When Ginny was out of earshot Ron turned to me again, with a sad pleading face.

"No."

"Aww, 'Mione, please? I won't tell her."

"No. I promised her I'd keep her secret."

"All right," he said dejectedly. But then he looked into my eyes, showing that he really understood why I was keeping it from him. But I didn't really feel bad about keeping it from Ron. I felt worse about keeping it from Harry. But a promise was a promise, and Hermione Granger did not break promises or betray her friends, save for those occasions when it would be in their best interests.

"Thanks for understanding," I said.

"Thanks for putting up with me," he replied. Then we kissed until Harry's words broke the silence.

"Why don't you two get a room?" He chuckled.

"Sorry, Harry."

"And you haven't even let me tell you the news yet!" he exclaimed.

"Wait, what news? Where was I? Why don't I know yet?" Ron queried.

"Well, it just happened, when you were off in the-er... place doing the thing. You know, the thing?" I stared at Harry. Either he was going batty, or there was something going on that I didn't know about.

"What on earth are you... oh, right, the thing! I was doing the... thing... and missed the good news!" I felt that they were both going mad.

'Well, I'm not really sure if it's good news yet, but it certainly is news. I've got a date for the ball."

"Really, Harry?" I asked sincerely. "That's great! With whom?"

"Parvati," he stated glumly. "Her boyfriend- some sixth year Hufflepuff- just dumped her, so she wants a date to make him jealous." He sighed. "Well, it's better than going stag."

"I'm really sorry that Ginny didn't ask you. I thought for certain she would... well... until...well, you know," I said. "There's always next year."

"Yeah," said Harry. Ron just sat there, staring into space. I couldn't help noticing his odd expression.

"Well, Ron," I said, "don't you have anything to say?"

"I just don't believe it. You get the most gorgeous girl in our year as a date-twice- and you're not overly excited about it either time."

"Hey!" I said, lightly punching his arm.

"Oh- sorry, second most gorgeous girl in our year. Yeah, Padma's definitely prettier." I put on a face of mock anger.

"But none of them can compare to my Hermione," he said.

"Thank you," I said, kissing his cheek. He was so funny and sweet; I couldn't help loving him.

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After that the few days until the ball flew by. The night before I laid out my new dress robes (an early birthday present from Mum and Dad, I had written them about the ball) on the chair next to my bed. They were of a gorgeous golden colour that I believed would look beautiful next to my hair. And for my hair I had dug out of my trunk the half-empty bottle of hair potion that I planned to use to help tame my hair the next day.

I climbed into bed, pulled the comforter close to my head and drifted to sleep, dreaming of a perfect next day. But little did I know how un-perfect the next day would end up.

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