The Continued Stories Of The Yule Ball

The Continued Tales Of The Yule Ball

Ron dejectedly collapsed into one of the tall high-backed chairs in front of the fireplace in the Gryffindor Common Room. Sighing loudly, he dropped his chin into his hands and stared at the cheery fire, wondering how anything could look so happy and bright on such a lousy day. Ron was frustrated because he had once again passed up a perfect chance to ask Hermione to the Yule Ball. He had been having a snowball fight outside with Fred, George, Hermione, and Harry, and he and Hermione had ran for cover behind someone's snow fort, alone, and....... well, he had chickened out again. Ron was just imagining the least painful way to throw himself off of the Astronomy Tower when the Portrait Hole opened and a loud cheery group walked in.

Laughing loudly, Harry, Hermione, Fred, and George walked in, all of their cheeks glowing brightly from the cold.

"Oy! There you are, Ron!", exclaimed Fred, promptly stuffing his last snowball down the neck of Ron's shirt. "Why did you leave? It was just getting good!"

Glaring, Ron struggled madly to get the freezing ice out of his back. " I was cold."

"You were cold?" Hermione shot him a calculating glance. Blushing deeply, Ron frowned and looked away. Nudging Harry, Hermione nodded her head towards Ron, and muttered, "You talk to him." She headed up to her bed to change, and Fred and George went off in search of some food, leaving Harry alone with Ron.

"Okay, either you seriously got tired of the snowball fight, which is practically your favorite game, or something else is bothering you. You wanna let me in on it?"

Groaning, Ron mumbled, " The ball...."

"Are you still on about that? At least you dont have to dance with someone in front of the entire school! I can't ask the person I want for obvious reasons, but what's your reason? Who do you even want to ask?"

Angrily, Ron stood up, "Harry, dont give me that crap, you can ask Cho anytime you want, she'd probably say yes since you're famous and all, and if you're so worried about having a partner, you should have said yes to one of those other girls that asked you." With that, he stomped away, muttering under his breath.

Harry lay back in his chair, thinking hard. He had a sneaking suspicion that Ron really actually had feelings for Hermione, but that he wouldn't admit it. Maybe I should give Hermione a little prod, he thought. Spotting Hermione over at one of the tables, he approached her nervously.

"Erm.., Hermione, how's the paper going?" Looking up from the parchment she had been scribbling furiously on, Hermione cocked an eyebrow at Harry.

"Fine, why? Are you suddenly taking an interest in Arithmancy or something?"

"Hermione, who are you going to the Yule Ball with?"

Sighing, Hermione rolled up her parchment, "Obviously I am not going to get any work done with you hanging around here." Chewing on her quill absentmindedly, she answered, "No one at the moment, but since when are you interested in the Ball? I thought you were disgusted with the thought of having to ask someone."

"I am, but maybe you should like, ask someone or something..."

"Oh do you, and I suppose you have a suggestion too?"

"Well, I just thought, I mean, well...I don't think Ron is going with anyone. Crossing his fingers, Harry held his breath expectantly.

" Are you positive about that? Because he sure was discussing something extremely interesting with Lavender this morning in DADA." Picking up her bookbag, Hermione stood. "If you'll excuse me, I am going to the library where I can actually hear myself think." She left, with a rather pink tinge on her cheeks.

Harry grinned at her retreating back. If that wasn't enough prove that she liked Ron, then Harry didn't know what was. Looking around the Common Room, Harry realized he was quite alone. Thinking that he might get some research done on the next task, he headed towards the Library.

Harry was pacing the aisles, looking for anything that would teach him some helpful charms. "The Stupid Book Of Spells, Part One. By; Seth Dungbeetle. This could be helpful" Harry muttered, rifling through the pages. Suddenly he heard the unmistakeable sound of Hermione giggling. Intrigued, Harry crouched down to knee level and removed a book from the shelf. Peering through, he caught sight of Hermione sitting at a nearby table with Viktor Krum. VIKTOR KRUM? What the heck is she doing with Viktor Krum? And when did they become such close friends??? Cupping his hands around his ear, Harry listened carefully, holding his breath, so as not to miss a word.

"Hermy-own? I was just vondering, you are not ah, how do I say zis, you are not going to ze ball with anyone, are you?

Harry could just see enough to know that Hermione was blushing, but she was also grinning. Oh no, she's going to say yes! What am I going to do?? I can't let this happen, Ron will be crushed. Looking frantically around, and seeing nothing that would be of any help whatsoever, Harry closed the book he was holding, and brandishing his wand, whispered, "Mobilarbus." The book slowly rose from his hand, and began to inch itself down and around the aisle, so that it was creeping up behind Viktor Krum's head. Harry was concentrating so hard on making the book drop exactly on top of Krum's head, that he didn't even notice the loud clearing of the throat coming from behind him. All of the sudden, Harry felt a hand clasp him on the shoulder and spin him around. The book dropped with a thud, and Harry was facing a very angry, red-faced Madam Pince.

"Just what do you think you are doing young man?" She demanded angrily, her hands oh ner hips.

"Erm, I was just....just....ahhh".

"You come in here, dropping books and disturbing the silence, not to mention the fact that you were spying on people through the aisles, I want you out NOW!"

Not waiting for Harry to walk out himself, Madam Pince grabbed him by his ear and started dragging him out. Coming out from the aisle, Harry was mortified to see the whole Library craning their necks to see what was going on. However, worst of all was the fact that Hermione was standing up, holding the book he had been reading, and looking very, very angry. Shooting Harry a look that would've stunned a dragon, she turned to Viktor Krum with a sickly-sweet smile on her face, and said, "Viktor, I would be delighted to go to the Yule Ball with you."

Dropping his mouth open, Harry tried to wriggle free from Madam Pince, but was unsucessful. Madam Pince did not release her grip until Harry was safely out of her precious Library, at which she immediately slammed the door. Disgruntled, Harry rubbed his ear, trying to get the circulation going again. He was just about to head down to the kitchen's for some food, when a seething Hermione stomped out of the library. Spotting Harry, she marched over, "Just what were you doing?" She wispered dangerously.

"Nothing, nothing, I sware, I was just trying to study some charms for the next task, honestly!" However, not being able to resist, he added, "Hermione! Why did you say yes to him???"

"So you were SPYING on me?? What is your problem Harry? If you mention one word of this to Ron, I am going to kill you. You better pretend that you know nothing about this at all, do you understand me???"

"Yes, for goodness sake, Hermione, chill out! But, what are you going to tell Ron?"

"If he even cares, he will find out AT the Yule Ball, and no sooner! Besides, why would I care what he thinks?"

If Harry didn't know Hermione as well as he did, he might have thought that she really didn't care what Ron thought. But studying her face, he saw a flit of disappointment flash by for a second when she mentioned Ron's name.

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It was after supper, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were relaxing by the fire, playing a game of exploding snap.

"Ron, you are such a prat, you haven't even won a single game tonight!" Ginny teased.

"Shut up, you're such a baby." Ron replied halfheartedly.

"Well, at least I have a date to the Ball!"

"Who are you going with?" Ron said, suddenly looking indignant.

"Neville", Ginny muttered, looking embarrassed.

Ron snorted.

"Hey, don't laugh, everyone's got a date except for you and Harry."

"And Hermione, you forgot her."

"Yeah, Ron, that's what you think, she got one this afternoon for your information."

"What?? With who??" Ron suddenly looked as if someone had stabbed him.

"Err, Let's not talk about this, I am soo tired, I think I am going to bed." Shooting an uncomfortable look at Ron, and a warning look at Harry, Hermione hurried out of the room.

"Erm, I think I should go to bed now too." Ginny said, suspiciously, sneaking glances over her shoulder as she walked away.

"Harry, I can't believe you didn't tell me that she had a date!"

"I think she wanted to tell you herself," Harry lied softly.

"Whatever, you know what, I dont even care anymore. She'd never want to go out with me anyways, look at me for goodness sake, I am ugly, and too tall, and I have no money." Getting up he walked quickly away, but not quick enough for Harry to miss the look of intense pain on his face, and the tears glistening in his eyes.

"Ron, wait!" Harry called urgently.

But Ron didn't stop, nor did he acknowledge that he heard Harry's call. He just kept walking, his head drooped, his frayed robes rubbing the tops of his sneakers as he went up the stairs to his bed.

Harry sunk back into the chair, sighing deeply for the second time that day. Staring into the fire, he sincerely hoped that Ron would be okay, but not betting on it, because he knew just how much he had liked Hermione. He had recognized the look on Ron's face to be the same one he himself had worn when he had overheard two fifth years talking this afternoon about how Cho was going to the ball with Cedric... Not for the first time in his life, Harry wished he had a mother to give him a hug, and remind him that she at least, still loved him.