Another Point of View: The Yule Ball

Ron

The Unexpected Task

'Potter! Weasley! Will you pay attention?' My head snapped up. Boring old McGonagall. I was just beating Harry in something other than chess! Ok, it was a fake wand fight. And I had the huge advantage because mine was a tin parrot and Harry's was a rubber haddock. And I got the most disapproving look from Hermione, always a bonus.

'Now Potter and Weasley have been kind enough to act their age,' said McGonagall, giving us an angry look worthy of Hermione (actually they can look very alike, though Hermione's prettier). 'I have something to say to you all.

'The Yule Ball is approaching - a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialise with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth-years and above - although you may invite a younger student if you wish -'

Accursed Lavender giggled. Ban giggling, that's what Hermione should do, not all this elf crap. I didn't feel like giggling myself. A ball. What the hell? Anyway, Parvati and Lavender gave Harry these looks, like they wanted him to ask them.

'Dress robes will be worn,' said McGonagall, 'and the ball will start at eight o'clock on Christmas Day, finishing at midnight, in the Great Hall. Now then. The Yule Ball is of course a chance for us all to - er - let our hair down. But that does NOT mean that we will be relaxing the standards of behaviour we expect from Hogwarts students. I will be most seriously displeased if a Gryffindor student embarrasses the school in any way.' Then the bell rang and McGonagall made Harry come and talk to her.

Dress robes. Dress robes? Those lacy maroon things? Not flipping likely! And a partner? Huh. I'll probably just go with Hermione, no one else'll ask either of us. Harry'll be surrounded by girls though, like Diggory or Krum. Wonder who he's got his eye on?

I walked back to the common room with Hermione and we had a chess game. I won, obviously. She does this little pouty thing whenever she loses, which is all the time when she's against me. It's different to the pout I remember, though. No idea how.

Harry came back and told us he's got to open the dancing because he's a champion. Well, I'm glad I'm not one if they do that. Harry says he'd rather take on the bloody dragon again.

*

Blimey, there's so many girls here! All - giggling. Argh. Except Hermione. She hardly ever giggles, thank god. Well, she's not really a girl girl, is she? Sort of like a milder form of Percy in a skirt. So, my best friend is a diluted version of my least favourite brother. In a skirt.

'Why do they have to move in packs?' Harry said once. A bunch of girls were staring at him and sniggering. 'How're you supposed to get one on their own to ask them?'

'Lasso one?' I suggested. 'Got any idea who you're going to try?' As I said that, I pictured myself sending a lasso into a pack of girls. I came out with Hermione. Why?! Fleur was right there on the edge as well. Harry seemed a bit uncertain.

'Listen, you're not going to have any trouble. You're a champion. You've just beaten a Hungarian Horntail. I bet they'll be queuing up to go with you.' And I was right! I would be a bit envious - well, jealous. But Harry just got ugly girls! A snub nosed third year Hufflepuff, a snivelling second year Gryffindor and this enormous Ravenclaw who looked like she'd knock him out if he said no.

'She was quite good looking,' I said (when we stopped laughing). Well, she was ok.

'She was a foot taller than me,' said Harry. 'Imagine what I'd look like trying to dance with her.' So I did imagine it, and it was very funny. I kept sniggering and getting funny looks.

So Harry doesn't have a partner yet. Oh yeah, and Hagrid's going to 'look in' on the ball thing. The prat obviously fancies Maxime. Why'd they have to ruin Christmas Day with this?

Hermione's spending more time in the library than normal. Last time I went with her to see if she was doing anything interesting. I meant to do my homework, but I just sat opposite her and flicked parchment balls at stuff. Quite a lot of it got in her hair. She didn't see, she was all bent over her homework. When she looked up, she gave me this half smile thing that didn't reach her eyes, as if I didn't get something. What is UP with you, Hermione? Why the sad half smile?! And why is that half smile sticking in my mind and refusing to budge?! Ok. She's pretty. SO WHAT?

Anyway, Hermione's missing out on a bunch of rumours about the ball. Lee Jordan says Dumbledore's bought eight hundred barrels of mulled mead. You wish, Lee. And then our nextdoor neighbour in Ottery St. Catchpole and Gryffindor Chaser Alicia Spinnet told me Snape's going to the ball with Celestina Warbeck. She couldn't keep a straight face, so it was a while before I understood what she was saying. Dumbledore's definitely booked the Weird Sisters though. I quite like them, but I've got to find a partner!

*

Death to you Snape. Never mind Celestina Warbeck, you don't deserve Moaning Myrtle. We've got an antidotes test in Potions on the last day of term. Antidotes. At Christmas. I ask you. What's next, Anti Christmas Cheer potions? Bet he'd use one if it existed. Well, I'm not revising. Building a castle with Exploding Snap cards if perfectly educational, no matter what Hermione might think. She's nagging Harry to deduce the howls of his golden egg. Well, how, Hermione?

Well, there I was, chatting with Harry, Hermione and the twins, and then... argh. Stupid Fred. How did he... ugh.

'Who're you going with, then?' I asked him. It was meant to be smart-alecky.

'Angelina,' he said promptly, completely unembarrassed.

'What?' I said, taken aback. 'You've already asked her?'

'Good point,' said Fred. So he just turned his head and yelled, 'Oi! Angelina!'

'What?' she called back.

'Want to come to the ball with me?'

'All right, then,' she said.

'There you go,' said Fred. 'Piece of cake.' Oh, yes, piece of cake for you, Fred, you stupid loudmouthed git. Why can't I do that? Well, my brothers left. I suppose Fred's got a point, though...

'We should get a move on, you know... ask someone. He's right. We don't want to end up with a pair of trolls.' I was making a perfectly good point. But oh, no, Hermione spluttered.

'A pair of... what, excuse me?' Oh, the old feminist poking out again. What happened to the half smile, I ask you?

'Well - you know,' I said, shrugging. 'I'd rather go alone than with - Eloise Midgen, say.' It's true. Spots and a wonky nose - classic beauty, that one. NOT.

'Her acne's loads better lately - and she's really nice!' Hermione was ignoring the key factor in 'Reasons Why I Shouldn't Go to the Ball with Eloise Midgen'.

'Her nose is off centre,' I informed her. Hermione bristled.

'Oh, I see,' she said. 'So basically, you're going to take the best-looking girl who'll have you, even if she's completely horrible?'

'Er - yeah, that sounds about right,' I said. I grinned to show it was a joke, but I don't think she noticed.

'I'm going to bed,' snapped Hermione, and she swept off upstairs. Huh. Pompous as Percy, that one.

Speaking of bed, I had a weird dream. I dreamed it was the ball and I was with Hermione. She was just wearing normal robes, only a different colour, but she looked really pretty. And we - urgh, I danced with her. I'm turning into some sort of freak.

*

'I suppose there's always Moaning Myrtle,' said Harry gloomily, about the ball. When someone resorts to taking a depressed, ugly, lovelorn ghost to a ball with them, you know they're in trouble.

'Harry - we've just got to grit our teeth and do it,' I said. I had no idea who I was going to ask. Maybe one of the prettier girls in our year? Oh well, if not I can always fall back on Hermione.

After Potions last thing, Harry ran off to ask someone. Hermione went off to the library and I was off back to the common room with Neville. He told me he asked Hermione to the ball with him!

It's because she's always been so nice and stuff. But apparently she's already going with someone. Of course, I believe you, Hermione... as if! She just wanted to get out of going with Neville... and for good reason. He'd kill her trying to dance.

In the Entrance Hall, I saw Fleur chatting to Diggory. She was sort of - tossing her hair and stuff, and she just looked so pretty. Straight silvery blonde hair, and her figure - well, she was positively an hourglass. So my legs just marched me up. Then, before I could stop my stupid self:

'D'you want to go to the ball with me?'

She didn't grace me with an answer, just looked at me like I was a sea slug. Then I came to my senses and did a runner. I could hear her laughing after me.

I sat myself in a corner of the common room, wanting to be left well alone, but then Ginny turned up, She made me tell her what happened, then tried to comfort me. And then Harry turned up and we had to repeat it. Turns out Fleur's part Veela... so I'm not just a stupid prat. At the end of last year I told Hermione I was, though, and she said she wouldn't have it any other way. Not sure if that was a compliment or an insult...

Harry asked Cho Chang. I wondered if he fancied her... well, Chang's going with Diggory. Still, I told him about Neville and Hermione, which cheered us both up a bit. Then in came Hermione, and we had to repeat the events again. But she won't tell me or Harry anything.

'All the good looking ones taken, Ron?' said Hermione loftily. 'Eloise Midgen starting to look quite pretty now, is she? Well, I'm sure you'll find someone somewhere who'll have you.'

Then it hit me. That half smile, the snottiness... Hermione's a girl! Well, obviously I already knew that, but she's got... girl stuff! Not much of it, not like Parvati or Lavender, but it is there. I think I stared a bit much, though. Hermione was looking me like I was some sort of perverted creep. I suppose I am, really. Who looks at their best friend like that? Ugh. Well, and who else has given her the old eyeball? I said,

'Hermione, Neville's right - you are a girl...'

'Oh, well spotted,' she said acidly. I didn't see her face... now I'm really a typical boy, aren't I?

'Well - you can come with one of us!' It was a polite gesture! But, oh, no, she took it like an insult.

'No, I can't!' she snapped. Why the hell not?

'Oh, come on,' I said impatiently. Just say yes, woman. 'We're going to look really stupid if we haven't got any, everyone else has...' Then she blushed. What happened to make her blush?

'I can't come with you,' she said, 'because I'm already going with someone.' As if!

'No, you're not!' I said honestly. 'You just said that to get rid of Neville!'

'Oh, did I?' said Hermione, her eyes flashing dangerously. 'Just because it's taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn't mean no one else has spotted I'm a girl!' Well, who's been 'spotting' her, then, other than me? I just stared. But it had to be a joke, so I grinned. Who'd ask Hermione to a ball?

'Ok, ok, we know you're a girl,' I said. 'That do? Will you come now?' I was positive she'd say yes.

'I've already told you!' said Hermione, very angrily. 'I'm going with someone else!' And she stormed off to the girls' dormitories. Great. She's a complete psycho. I just watched her go. Her hair bounces when she walks and it goes all shiny... shut up, Ron.

'She's lying,' I said. Ok, I noticed she's pretty. Who else did? No one. It's obviously due to my superior intellect.

'She's not,' said Ginny quietly. WHAT? My best friend has told my little sister things she hasn't told me?!

'Who is it, then?' I said sharply. And Ginny (typical girl) said,

'I'm not telling you, it's her business,' Even though Ginny and Hermione were in some sort of conspiracy against me, I decided to do them a favour.

'Right, this is getting stupid. Ginny, you can go with Harry, and I'll just -'

'I can't,' Ginny cut me across, blushing. WHAT IS WITH GIRLS? WHY DO THEY KEEP BLUSHING? 'I'm going with - with Neville. He asked me when Hermione said no, and I thought... well... I'm not going to be able to go otherwise, I'm not in fourth year. I think I'll go and have dinner.'

She left the common room, head bowed, looking miserable beyond belief. Ah, well. Neither Weasley got what they wanted. I left her an open opportunity, and she'd gone and said yes to bloody Neville! Harry's a bit dim, he knew she'd go with him any time, but he didn't ask her. I suppose that's the same with me and Hermione really.

Hang on. My little sister has a partner for this accursed ball before I do. NEVILLE has found a partner before me. So has Hermione. Well, Ginny and Neville are together, and I'll bet Hermione's partner is the most hopeless bloke in the world. Maybe she threatened him with spew to get him to go with her.

Well, I just stared at Harry. 'What's got into them?' I demanded. Harry, the unresponsive person that he is, was staring at Lavender and Parvati. Ugh... I thought he liked Chang? Well, he just said, 'Wait here' and went off to talk to them. They kept - giggling. Right. If Hermione won't crusade against it I will. D.T.G. - Death To Giggling. Nifty, eh?

Well, Harry came back telling me to ask Padma Patil to the ball. What, Parvati's twin sister, exactly like her except she wears two plaits instead of one, and is a bit smarter? Still the same amount of giggling. With all the girl hassle going on, I missed dinner.

*

The next day I had a huge breakfast to make up for it, and went to ask Padma to the ball with me in the Entrance Hall. She was surrounded by a bunch of girls, all gassing about something. I suppose she's quite pretty.

'Er... Padma?' I said, hoping like hell I pronounced it right. 'Could I have a word?' She burst out into fits of giggles, but followed me away from her friends, who all looked like serious eavesdroppers.

'Want to come to the ball with me?'

'Oh, you're the one my sister told me about,' she giggled knowingly. 'All right, then. I'll meet you in the Entrance Hall at eight, ok?'

'Yeah, ok,' I said, and sprinted off to tell Harry about my victory. He said Lavender turned me down, because she's going with Seamus. For God's sake, I've just had a victory! Try and bring me down, why don't you?

The Yule Ball

Even though we had shedloads of homework, and the ball thingy was coming up, the week before Christmas was still fun. Fred and George were really successful with their Canary Creams, and Hogwarts was getting seriously obsessed with its decorations. Fleur was complaining.

'It is too 'eavy, all zis 'Ogwarts food. I will not fit into my dress robes!' I was bending my knees to hide from her, behind Harry. He's so short! Hermione's even smaller, but her hair springs up so she's about level with him.

'Oooh, there's a tragedy,' Hermione snapped. 'She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?'

'Hermione - who are you going to the ball with?' I asked. I kept asking her over and over, trying to get a good response. Once I was so close - she said 'Vi... Vintage question, that one, Ron. It'll be an antique by Christmas.'

Great, Hermione. Are you going with that dumpy witch Violet? Vincent Crabbe? Vindictus Viridian (author of a hexes book)? Can't think of anyone else except Krum, but please. Hermione Granger and Viktor Krum? Yeah, right. He'll have some gorgeous girl hanging off his arm, maybe Fleur.

Anyway, she said, 'I'm not telling you, you'll just make fun of me.' Then Malfoy came up behind her.

'You're joking, Weasley?' he said. 'You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?' Me and Harry whipped around, ready to hex, but Hermione waved to nothing over Malfoy's shoulder and said,

'Hello, Professor Moody!' Which was pretty good really. He was still finishing his stew at the table, but the little rat jumped back and turned even paler than normal, looking wildly around for Moody. That was funny.

'Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?' said Hermione scathingly. Then we turned around and marched off. That was really funny. Hermione has this knack of picking out what'll insult you, and if she hates you enough, she'll use it. Well, we all went up the marble staircase laughing, but I noticed something. Long molared Mudblood... she wasn't long molared. Her teeth were perfect, and it would have been pleasant just to watch her practise the new improved smile, but I had to ask.

'Hermione,' I said, frowning, 'your teeth...'

'What about them?' she said, flashing that smile at me again.

'Well, they're different... I've just noticed...'

'Of course they are - did you expect me to keep those fangs Malfoy gave me?' She missed the point entirely.

'No, I mean, they're different to how they were before he put that hex on you... they're all...' I tried to find the right words without insulting her, 'straight and - and normal sized.'

Then she smiled mischievously. This was more fetching than the pout or the sad half smile. Harry looked a bit surprised too.

'Well... when I went up to Madam Pomfrey to get them shrunk, she held up a mirror, and told me to stop her when they were back to how they normally were,' Hermione said. She was talking as well as smiling that smile, like Lockhart did; only I didn't have the enormous urge to punch her face in. Why did she like that git?

'And I just... let her carry on a bit,' Hermione continued. 'Mum and Dad won't be too pleased. I've been trying to persuade them to let me shrink them for ages, but they wanted me to carry on with my brace. You know, they're dentists, they just don't think teeth and magic should - look! Pigwidgeon's back!'

So we were off the topic of dentistry, thank God. It was from Sirius, when we managed to extract Pig from a few simpering third-year girls. Sirius basically said well done about the first task, it was better than a Conjunctivitis curse, which Hermione said was what Krum did. Then he might as well have said 'Constant vigilance' for all he sounded like Moody. 'Keep your eyes open, Harry'; 'Keep yourself out of trouble, Harry'.

Then Hermione nagged Harry to work out his egg, we made excuses and we played a few chess games. Harry's pawns decided to be heroes for the day and my bishop morphed into a Slytherin. It attacked every piece that displeased it.

So then Hermione got her chess set and let loose the new improved pouty thing when she lost. My bishop practically killed a castle of hers, but I think my king fancied Hermione's new queen (Crookshanks stole the old one). He didn't want to take her, but was overly eager to Checkmate Hermione's king. My queen had to hold him back. Typical.

*

I woke up earlier than normal on Christmas morning, thanks to Harry. He yelled 'Dobby!' Never mind You Know Who, Harry now has nightmares about liberated house elves in tea cosies. Hermione's to blame.

'Dobby is sorry, sir!' squeaked Dobby. 'Dobby is only wanting to wish Harry Potter "Merry Christmas" and bring him a present, sir! Harry Potter did say Dobby could come and see him sometimes, sir!'

Bring him a present! Wish I had a fan club. Harry's got Dobby, my sister and the Creeveys, and now people like Bagman and that Skeeter witch are starting to stalk him too!

'Someone attacking you, Harry?' asked Seamus sleepily.

'No, it's just Dobby,' muttered Harry. 'Go back to sleep.'

'Nah... presents!' said Seamus. I agreed whole-heartedly with his attitude and opened mine. Harry gave Dobby his Sneakoscope socks - they're knobbly and mustard yellow. Oh, and guess what? Dobby's taken up knitting - he knitted Harry a weird pair of socks. And he thought the shop made a mistake, giving Harry two identical socks. Dobby's knitted socks for Harry - well, one was red with broomsticks on it, and the other was green with Snitches.

'Ah, no, Harry, how come you didn't spot that!' I grinned. 'Tell you what, Dobby - here you go - take these two, and you can mix them up properly. And here's your jumper.' The socks were violet and the jumper was maroon, and they were both hand-knitted by mum. Dobby loved them. Started crying and said,

'Sir is very kind!' he bowed to me. 'Dobby knew sir must be a great wizard, for he is Harry Potter's greatest friend, but Dobby did not know that he was also as generous of spirit, as noble, as selfless -'

'They're only socks,' I said. But all the same, it was nice to have someone talk about me like that. I should practise my generosity of spirit more often.

Harry gave me this wicked Chudley Cannon hat. I got a lot of dubious looks when I was wearing it, and Malfoy asked if I'd set my head on fire, but I really like it. As well as the clothes, Mum sent some vanilla fudge and mince pies. Bill sent me a shark tooth necklace, which apparently brings good luck. Charlie sent me a dragonhide moneybag with three Galleons and sixteen Sickles inside it. Charlie's really annoying with money, he hoards it and hides it so he can never get it when he needs it. Percy gave me a free sample of a thick-bottomed cauldron, the least satisfying present. Fred and George gave me a big box of Canary Creams and Dungbombs. Ginny bought me a bottle of colour changing ink and a peacock feather quill ('Just like Lockhart's' as she put it). Hagrid sent a huge box of all my favourite sweets and Hermione gave me (surprise surprise!) a huge, heavy book. It was called House Elves: A History and the author was HERMIONE GRANGER!

She wrote a book?! She got it published?! I turned to the back and it said,

A history of general confectionery of my acquaintances; consequently nothing to do with the proffered designation, but a mere anthology of consuming over the previous few years.

Well, I didn't understand any of that, so I flipped the enormous thing open, and there were no pages! It was a huge box inside the book filled with all my favourite sweets! Oh, yeah, confectionery. I remember reading that in Honeydukes. Ha, ha, ha. Well, I suppose it was quite good really. I looked up the hard words later, and it actually said,

A history of sweets of my friends; it's nothing to do with the book title, just a mix of what we've eaten over the last few years.

Her vocabulary is annoying.

I got dressed and went down to the common room to meet Hermione. She was sitting smugly in a chair, reading Hogwarts: A History and eating a chocolate frog. I tried to make something up about the present, but she could tell I completely fell for it. We had breakfast, then went back to Gryffindor Tower all morning, sharing sweets and swapping news about presents. Everyone seemed to find Hermione's present hilarious except me. I said I wasn't fooled, but then bloody Seamus said he'd caught me reading a dictionary.

Hermione spent all morning talking about that Muggle sport, football, with Dean. So now he's besotted and ready to join spew just because she can talk about sport with him.

We had Christmas lunch, then me, Fred, George, Harry and Hermione went outside for a snowball fight. Hermione only watched it, which was really boring. Didn't she want to mess up her hair? Well, it was already bushy and it wouldn't hurt it to be bushier, so I tackled her with a giant snowball.

We had this mad fight. None of the others noticed, but I practically buried her. She was laughing, even though her hair was messed up. Hermione knows more than we think, though. She turned the tides around by somehow getting up and burying me, then showed great relish in covering my face in snow as well. I don't know... her fingers brushed my cheek and I had this sort of electric shock go right through me... Anyway, when I grumbled about frostbite, she almost hexed me, saying 'It's your own fault', but the twins restrained her.

I escaped my burial when she sat down again, and contented myself with pelting Harry with snowballs. He's pathetic at throwing, but he can dodge really well because of his Seeker skills, so some of my snowballs missed.

At five, Hermione went up to get ready for the ball. Yes, five. I said 'What, you need three hours?' She ignored me. She'll probably just look like she normally does but in dress robes. George hit me on the side of my head with a snowball. I watched Hermione go and yelled 'Who're you going with?' But she just smiled that infuriating smile, waved and left.

I got my own back on George for that headshot. Several times. But by seven we were all exhausted so we went back up to the castle to get ready for the ball. Ugh.

The Fat Lady and Violet were drunk. Me, Harry, Seamus, Neville and Dean got changed. Harry's robes are green. So are Seamus's. Neville's are blue. Dean's are red. Mine are flipping lacy maroon.

I did a Severing Charm to get rid of the lace and make them look more... well, manly. Didn't work. They just went all frayed and there were still bits of lace to pick. Well, there were tonight's activities sorted out. Unless I decided to dance with Padma. Oh, yeah, and the feast should keep me occupied for a bit.

As we went down, Dean muttered, 'I still can't work out how you two got the best-looking girls in the year.'

'Animal magnetism,' I said, picking at my sleeves.

Parvati was waiting for Harry by the stairs, but I couldn't see Hermione anywhere. Parvati was wearing unbelievably bright pink, and she wasn't giggling, lucky for him. He told her she looked nice. What? How does he do that? I wouldn't notice, unless it was Fleur or someone. With someone like Fleur, I'd probably make a dazed gargle. I was going to meet Padma in the Entrance Hall.

'Where's Hermione?' I asked. Parvati shrugged and went down with Harry. I followed them out, hoping Padma's robes wouldn't be so bright, but desperately wanting to find Hermione and eliminate giggling. What if Padma was doing it?

She wasn't, thank Merlin. But her robes were very bright. Sort of turquoise. I dunno... I was looking around for Hermione. I said hi, but then Fleur walked past, so I had to hide.

'Where is Hermione?' I said, annoyed. Had she walked past and I just hadn't noticed her? I needed to see who she was with and what she looked like. I concentrated on people whose names begin with 'V' but I couldn't see her.

Crabbe wasn't there yet, Violet was drunk with the Fat Lady, and Vindictus Viridian was absent. Er, who else... Harry's Uncle Vernon? No, that's disgusting. Professor Vector? Ok, I know Hermione loves Arithmancy, but that's too much. Volkov or Vulchanov? Members of the Bulgarian Quidditch team. Somehow I can't see Hermione dancing with a Bulgarian Quidditch player. Lord Vol - I mean You Know Who? That's even more disgusting than Uncle Vernon.

Malfoy was with Pansy Parkinson. She was wearing frilly pink, and looked more like a pig than ever. Malfoy was in black with a high white collar. A pig and a vicar, what a great couple. Crabbe was on his own.

Then the Durmstrang students came in, Krum at the front. I watched him. I'd been right, he had this gorgeous girl in blue as a partner - but WHERE WAS HERMIONE?

Outside the castle, there were all fairies sitting in the rose bushes. There was a statue of Father Christmas, then McGonagall called over the champions. I watched them all. Well, I avoided looking at Fleur. She was with Davies, the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain. Diggory and Chang were together, but I wasn't about to make Harry feel worse by watching them - or him, for that matter. So I decided to watch Krum for the evening.

While everyone was coming around I did another check for Hermione. I asked Padma some questions and told her she looked nice, but I didn't listen or anything. It was so stupid. I could just have gone with Hermione, both of us looking blah, normal. We could talk and eat and stuff, and laugh at Harry with Parvati, and maybe we could dance if she wanted to. But no, all this secrecy. Does she even have a partner? Or did she just make someone up and go to the library?

I looked at Krum's partner again. She was really pretty, with big brown eyes, brown hair in a bun, really short and skinny... and she smiled mischievously. What the -?!

IT WAS HERMIONE!

She looked - her hair was all - argh - the robes - that smile - with Krum - HUH? Ok... I organised my thoughts.

She'd put some sort of stuff on her hair to make it shiny and straight, and then twisted it up into a bun. Her robes were made of this floaty blue stuff and you could see her shoulders - shoulders! Does she know how immodest that is? Her neck looked longer and she looked taller - she looked bloody radiant - how come I didn't notice her teeth before? Nobody warned me about her smile...

What does she think she was playing at, going to the ball with Krum? He's the enemy! From Durmstrang. He'll use her - he'd never like her for real - he'll connive - everyone knows she's friends with Harry - he'll try to find out what Harry's doing for the Tournament... why did I think Krum was a bloody hero until I saw him nancing around with Hermione on his arm? I suppose I'm not good enough for her.

Well, I can see why. He's an international Quidditch hero and I'm just me. Boring old Ron Weasley, not good at anything except Chess and making Hermione mad. Do I beat him in looks? He's got a huge hooked nose, round shoulders and duck feet. Ok, my nose isn't great, but it's nowhere near as big as Krum's or Snape's. I've got broad shoulders - but big feet. We're both dead skinny and a head taller than Hermione.

Well, I'm not even going to look at her, no matter how good she looks. Nobody said she'd be so beautiful! Oh, I'll just ignore her, and then pick a huge fight with her.

Damn, I've just glared at them. Well, no harm in more. I can think of some good arguments: why she shouldn't be with Krum. Er... he looks like Snape. He never smiles... unless he's looking at Hermione. Argh! He acts like she lights up his life or something... let's see. He's Durmstrang champion! She's associating with the enemy! Krum's far too old for her. He's what, eighteen? Nineteen? About five years' difference. She hates Quidditch, anyway... I'd like to ring his sodding neck!

The champions and their partners were all walking up, arm in arm, to the top table where all the judges sat. Parvati put Harry down and he had to go and sit with Percy. Ugh, poor bloke. Just because he's been promoted, and he's Mum's favourite, and he just got a bunch of NEWTs Percy thinks he's the best. I think Mum likes Harry better than she likes me.

Me and Padma were sitting with Seamus, Dean, Neville, Ginny, Lavender and Dean's Hufflepuff girl. All the girls started gassing about the band, especially the guitarist Kirley McCormack. The blokes went on about Quidditch. For once I didn't feel like talking about it. I watched Hermione over my steak. Krum was still giving her that bloody intense look! Can't he get a life? She was talking animatedly with him about some crap. They're such a ruddy good couple. When they're with each other, they sort of sparkle. Hermione's the most beautiful girl in the world now - Fleur's nothing compared to her - and Krum looked happy. I'd never seen him happy in my life - but when he was with Hermione he didn't seem so ugly any more.

What would it be like if I was with Hermione? She'd still be gorgeous, but I'd probably be the world's worst partner and she'd go off in a huff...

'What d'you think of it Ron?' asked Neville. 'Puddlemere beating the Chudley Cannons again.'

'The worst, stupidest, most embarrassing day of my life,' I growled, then realised I was talking about today. Everyone else got up to dance after their meal. Padma kept looking at me crossly. Well, why should I ask her to dance? She wasn't a know it all, just a Ravenclaw. She hadn't saved me and Harry's lives, she'd just giggled and hoped for the best. She hadn't figured out what sort of monster was roaming Hogwarts' pipes, just done her homework. She hadn't turned in Harry's Firebolt, just admired it from afar. She didn't have an ugly detective cat, just some boring tabby. She hadn't been through everything with me and Harry and been a wonderful friend throughout, she just sat in her common room and giggled. I didn't like her in the least, when I wanted to brutally kill Krum and tell Hermione everything.

The champions were opening the dancing. Harry had to dance with Parvati then, to open the ball. I had some good jeering faces planned, but then Hermione and that great Bulgarian git - ARGH! She had one of her arms round his neck and was holding his hand with the other. And his spare hand! That was round her waist! That's practically - never mind. He was giving her this deep, intense look, like he wanted to dance with her for flipping ever - like he was in love - and she had this sparkly smile on her face. Like she was having the time of her life - but not with me. Like she was seeing a wonderful future for herself - but not with me. Like she was in love - but not with me.

SNAP OUT OF IT, RON! Ok. Ok. Hermione is pretty. Hermione is dancing with Viktor Krum. Viktor Krum is everything I am not. Hermione likes Viktor Krum. That means Hermione doesn't like me. But I like Hermione. Hang on. I like Hermione? Did I just say that? I think it's true though... THIS IS CRAP!

Harry and Parvati came and sat down with me after opening the dancing. Parvati got asked to dance by some Beauxbatons boy as soon as she touched the chair. Harry didn't realise; he was staring at Chang and Diggory. Chang was in cream, Diggory in green.

'How's it going?' Harry asked me, opening a Butterbeer. I didn't hear. I was too busy glaring at Hermione. Then she came over. Imagine that! She actually decided to grace us with her appearance, instead of spending all her time with Krum! She was all flushed and so pretty, her eyes were all sparkly... SHUT UP RON! Harry said hi.

'It's hot, isn't it?' she said, fanning herself. 'Viktor's just gone to get some drinks.' I couldn't think of a really good insult, so I just gave her a withering look and said,

'Viktor? Hasn't he asked you to call him Vicky yet?'

'What's up with you?' said Hermione, looking surprised. Oh, she knew.

'If you don't know,' I said scathingly, 'I'm not going to tell you.' Hermione stared at both of us. Harry shrugged at her.

'Ron, what -?'

'He's from Durmstrang!' I spat. 'He's competing against Harry! Against Hogwarts! You - you're -' I almost said 'beautiful', but thought of an insult quickly, 'fraternising with the enemy, that's what you're doing!' Her mouth fell open, so I could see those perfect teeth all the more.

'Don't be so stupid!' she said. 'The enemy! Honestly - who was the one who was all excited when they saw him arrive? Who was the one who wanted his autograph? Who's got a model of him up in their dormitory?' I ignored her and changed the subject, because I couldn't think of a good argument for this.

'I s'pose he asked you to come with him while you were both up in the library?'

'Yes, he did,' said Hermione, going even pinker. 'So what?'

'What happened - trying to get him to join spew, were you?'

'No, I wasn't! If you really want to know, he - he said he'd been coming up to the library every day to try and talk to me, but he hadn't been able to pluck up the courage!' Oh, how very touching! Vicky's shy! The shy Seeker goes up to the library and admires the loudmouthed know it all from afar - what crap!

'Yeah, well - that's his story,' I said nastily.

'And what's that supposed to mean?' said Hermione shrilly, her voice breaking slightly.

'Obvious, isn't it? He's Karkaroff's student, isn't he? He knows who you hang around with... he's just trying to get closer to Harry - get inside information on him - or get near enough to jinx him -'

I thought I'd gone a bit too far then. Hermione looked like I'd slapped her in the face. Her eyes were watering - I almost hugged her - but then I remembered how that git Krum was looking at her...

'For your information, he hasn't asked me one single thing about Harry, not one -' she quavered.

'Then he's hoping you'll help him find out what his egg means! I suppose you've been putting your heads together during those cosy little library sessions -' Ugh. That was a horrible thought. What did they do in the library?

'I'd never help him work out that egg!' Hermione said, looking outraged. 'Never. How could you say something like that - I want Harry to win the Tournament. Harry knows that, don't you, Harry?'

'You've got a funny way of showing it,' I sneered. I was going to win this argument, I knew it...

'This whole Tournament's supposed to be about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!' said Hermione, her voice going all shrill again.

'No it isn't!' I shouted. 'It's about winning!' Why couldn't she bloody well REALISE that? Krum, the smug bastard, who arrived with MY best friend on his arm, and he didn't even have the courtesy to ask me whether he could take her or not!

'Ron,' Harry said quietly, 'I haven't got a problem with Hermione coming with Krum -' I ignored him. Didn't the prat realise he was nothing to do with this? It was me and Hermione, not Harry too. It should have been me and Hermione, but instead it's Hermione and that great Bulgarian git, and me with Padma. Well, sort of with Padma.

'Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are,' I said in a hard voice. You've got to be hard with Hermione, she's incredibly tough.

'Don't call him Vicky!' Hermione leapt up and ran off. I'm not sure, but I think she was crying. Well, good! It's her fault, she's the one who turned up with that overgrown git Vicky poncing around after her.

'Are you going to ask me to dance at all?' said Padma. She's had this knowing look all through the fight, like she realised something. I was fed up with her.

'No,' I snapped, glaring after Hermione.

'Fine,' she snapped back, and when to find her own French prat. Another thing wrong with Padma: at least with Hermione you can have a good debate. It's just one word from a Patil twin, and they're off with some other bloke. Then, my least favourite Quidditch player turned up.

'Vare is Herm-own-ninny?' he said. He had some sort of grin on his stupid face.

'No idea,' I said, looking at him. 'Lost her, have you?' He had his trademark grumpy look back on.

'Vell, if you see her, tell her I haff drinks,' he said, and slouched off. Like some sort of hook nosed, round shouldered, duck footed lizard. I'll KILL him! Thinks he can just nance up to Hermione and she'll swoon over him like those stupid stalkers of his... well, she did. Huh. Then, just to make my bad evening complete, Percy ponced over and sat down.

'Made friends with Viktor Krum, have you, Ron?' Yes, you could say that. If 'made friends with' means 'want to bloody SLAUGHTER' - yup. I'm chums with Krum.

'Excellent! That's the whole point, you know - international magical co-operation!' Accursed Percy. Dumbledore was dancing with Sprout, Bagman with McGonagall, Hagrid and that Maxime... Davies and Fleur looked pretty busy in a corner... so did Chang and Diggory! Hopefully Harry wouldn't notice... WHAT? Stuff Harry, what were Hermione and Krum up to? They weren't anywhere on the dance floor... were they outside? Oh crap, crappy crap...

'Let's go outside,' I said. I wanted to check what Hermione and Krum were up to... it didn't matter that Fleur and Davies had just gone out. I needed an excuse... well, Percy and Bagman's 'interesting' talk about work should do it... 'to get away from Percy...'

We were only so far out when we heard Snape...

'... don't see what there is to fuss about, Igor.'

'Severus, you cannot pretend this isn't happening!' Karkaroff sounded really scared. Dunno how he could say Severus without cracking up... always makes me laugh. Severus Snape... what a name!

'It's been getting clearer and clearer for months,' continued Karkaroff, 'I am becoming seriously concerned, I can't deny it -'

'Then flee,' Snape interrupted curtly. 'Flee, I will make your excuses. I, however, am remaining at Hogwarts.'

They came round the corner, Snape blasting rose bushes out of the way with his wand.

'Ten points from Hufflepuff, Fawcett!' snarled Snape. 'And ten points from Ravenclaw, too, Stebbins! And what are you two doing?'

'We're walking,' I said shortly. 'Not against the law, is it?'

'Keep walking, then!' snarled Snape. He pushed past us, Karkaroff hurrying after him.

'What's got Karkaroff all worried?' I muttered as we walked. It was mainly to keep my mind off Hermione, who I couldn't see. Harry was thinking the same, though. He's obsessed with all this defeating evil stuff. He takes it all so seriously, always thinks You Know Who's up to something... doesn't he have normal worries, like exams? And stupid Quidditch players with their gorgeous girlfriends - WHY do I keep complimenting her? I hate her! No - no, I don't. I just - I like her too much.

'And since when have he and Snape been on first name terms?' I shrugged, and kicked a pebble. On a bench a few yards away I could see Hermione and Krum. He had his ruddy ARM round her! I felt my fists clench, wishing they were around his neck...

Then I heard Hagrid.

'Momen' I saw yeh, I knew,' Hagrid was saying huskily. God, Hagrid and romance shouldn't mix. Harry jerked his head towards Fleur and Davies, who were 'busy' in a bush, but I wasn't going anywhere near that Veela girl. I yanked Harry into the shadows of the reindeer statue. It didn't matter if we overheard Hagrid. I mean, he never has anything that important to say, right? Anyway, if it was this or Fleur, I was all for eavesdropping.

'What did you know, 'Agrid?' purred Maxime. Now that was something I could have done without.

'I jus' knew... knew you were like me... was it yer mother or yer father?'

'I - I don't know what you mean, 'Agrid...'

'It was my mother,' said Hagrid quietly. 'She was one o' the las' ones in Britain. 'Course, I can' remember her too well... she left, see. When I was abou' three. She wasn' really the maternal sort. Well... it's not in their natures, is it? Dunno what happened to her... might be dead fer all I know...

'Me dad was broken-hearted when she wen'. Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him up an' put him on the top o' the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh...' Hagrid's voice broke. Harry was staring at him strangely. Well, s'pose he empathised, didn't he? What was Hagrid on about? His mother? He never told us any of this stuff... just because Maxime's huge... or was he telling her because she was huge? Like him?

'Dad raised me... but he died, o' course, jus' after I started school. Sorta had to make me own way after that. Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he was...' Hagrid blew his nose. 'So... anyway... enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it on?'

Maxime suddenly got to her feet. Well done, Hagrid, spill your guts to a huge Frenchwoman. The French are evil. So're the ruddy Bulgarians. Scrap that, I just hate all foreigners.

'It is chilly,' she said, but her voice was much colder than the weather. 'I think I will go in now.'

'Eh?' said Hagrid blankly. 'No, don' go! I've - I've never met another one before!'

'Anuzzer what, precisely?' said Maxime icily.

'Another half-giant, o' course!'

I didn't hear what happened next. It was sort of blank. Hagrid, a half-giant. He might have eaten us! No, that's stupid, Hagrid's great, he'd never eat anyone... but blimey - a giant! Why didn't he tell us? Hang on a minute, I've just worked that out - look how I'm reacting! He's - well - a gentle giant, I suppose. Half-giant, anyway. Whoa. Well, I'll get over it, but - wow.

Well, Maxime went off in a huff. Obviously denied being one. Well, if Hagrid's a half-giant, she is too. She said something about big bones. Ha!

Harry tried to pull me up but I didn't move. He said 'What's up?' for heaven's sake.

'Did you know?' I whispered. 'About Hagrid being half-giant?'

'No,' Harry shrugged. 'So what?' I just gave him a look, and muttered 'I'll explain inside... c'mon...'

We went into a corner of the Hall. Hermione was dancing with Krum again, and the Patils had a whole crowd of French scum to keep them occupied.

'So?' Harry prompted. 'What's the problem with giants?'

'Well, they're... they're...' I tried to think of words, for how one had eaten my Great Aunt Pippa, how they went around scooping up random humans and shoving them into their mouths... 'not very nice.' I finished. Ten points to Ron Weasley for excellent descriptions!

'Who cares?' said Harry. 'There's nothing wrong with Hagrid!'

We spent the rest of the evening in a corner discussing giants. We came to the conclusion that Maxime was lying, and Harry definitely needed to read some of this stuff Hermione reads. I came to the conclusion that I hate Krum almost as much as I hate Malfoy. He and Hermione hardly stopped dancing till midnight.

At midnight the ball finished. Me and Harry went into the Entrance Hall after Hermione and Krum. HE KISSED HER HAND! I could gladly wring his sodding neck! She gave me the coldest look possible and swept off up the stairs. Me and Harry were just following her when,

'Hey - Harry!' It was Diggory.

'Yeah?' said Harry coldly. Good on you, mate! Don't let the prettyboys think you like them!

Diggory gave me this look, like I wasn't wanted. I shrugged bad temperedly, and went after Hermione. I caught up with her pretty quickly - I'm a fast runner.

'So,' I sneered. 'Have fun falling all over the enemy?'

'How is Viktor the enemy, Ron?' she said, whipping round. Little curls of hair were falling out of her bun.

'You went to the ball with a foreign champion, Hermione!'

'Yes I did!' she said shrilly. 'It was so wrong of me, wasn't it! But of course, it was completely different for you to ask that Fleur girl, wasn't it?' She had me there. I changed topic.

'He sits with Slytherins, Hermione! He's practically admitted to worshipping You Know Who full on! And you go around in those robes - with that hair - you made yourself all pretty for that stupid prat -'

'Don't you dare call him a supporter of You Know Who! You're disgusting, you really are - you presume that just because he sits with Slytherins he's going to be awful, before you get to know him! Talk about irony!'

I had no clue what she was on about.

'He's a round shouldered, duck footed, hook nosed foreigner with a speech impediment! You can tell he's a complete prat, falling over himself to get you drinks -'

'Oh, and you'd know, wouldn't you! You've said what, two words to him?'

She was winning. That wasn't meant to happen!

'You shouldn't be with him!'

'Oh, this is such a circular argument!' Hermione shouted. 'Fairy lights!' That was the common room password. 'Just tell me what your problem is with me making a new friend!' We climbed into the common room. She was about to go up to the dormitories but I thought of a comeback.

'What about all your feministic theory, eh?' I yelled. She wheeled around. 'Don't doll yourself up for a boy, looks don't matter! Was that you out there, Hermione, taking three hours to get ready, hair slicked back, showing off your shoulders -'

'Well, if you don't like it, you know what the solution is, don't you?' She looked so irresistibly pretty, just standing there yelling at me. Her face was flushed, her hair was falling out and springing up out of control, her eyes were shining. This was my best friend for three years or less - and I realised then - I'm in love with her.

'Oh yeah?' I yelled, trying desperately to keep my face impassive. 'What?'

'Next time there's a ball, ask me before someone else does, and not as a last resort!' She turned on her heel, I heard a hiccup of a sob, and Hermione ran up the stairs.

'Well,' I spluttered at Harry, who must have come in at some point, 'well - that just proves - completely misses the point -' Then what she said sank in.

WHAT DID THAT MEAN? Did she - did she - could she possibly like me back? Just a bit? Ask me before someone else does... take away the last four words... ASK ME. Bloody hell, I want to.

Hang on. I told her she looked pretty. Talk about giving yourself away! I'm a prat. A great fat prat. But... could she like me?

I went upstairs to our dormitory and pretended to go to sleep. When I knew everyone else was asleep I got out of bed. We all snore in here. Neville's the loudest - like a foghorn. Seamus does this weird Irish stutter thing. Dean sounds like he's being strangled and Harry breathes heavily and sometimes snorts. Dunno about me, but I've been told it's pretty bad.

I borrowed the penknife Sirius gave Harry for Christmas and set to work on my Krum model. When his head and all his limbs had been chopped off and thrown at something, I threw them hard at the walls. They bounced off and I'm not finding them.

I got back into bed and, in the dim light I had, stared at a photo I got Ginny to take at The Burrow. It's of me, Hermione and Harry. Harry's on the right, grinning at the camera. We've both got our arms round Hermione, but she's sort of - squashed nearer to me. There's us two, and Harry looks sort of - separate. I wonder... if she could like me...

FIN