Things were not going well in the fourth year dormitories. Ron was still huffing about the dress robes his mother had sent him and Harry was trying to think positively about opening the Yule Ball with a girl he didn’t actually get along with. All the other boys in Gryffindor tower appeared to be quite mellow about the whole thing, just looking at it as a social occasion. Well, most of the other boys were, George was still a bit up in arms about whether Hermione would go with him or not and Neville was still practising his dancing in the dorm clearly nervous about actually dancing with Ginny.

In the girl’s dormitory the atmosphere was very much the same. Lavender and Parvati were busy doing each other’s hair and giggling about what it would be like to be kissed under mistletoe while Hermione sat on her bed staring at her dress in the corner wondering if she really wanted to go to the Yule Ball. She didn’t like dancing, she didn’t even like social events and yet so many people were expecting her to go. Plus Ron would just laugh at her if she didn’t go. If there was one thing she wasn’t going to allow it was Ron making fun of her, not this time.

The entrance hall was crowded with smart students; something that Hogwarts did not see every day as any of the professors would tell you but the students did look smart, the girls all done up in dresses that were a variety of colour, the boys looking like proper gentleman with their bowties and waistcoats.

Hermione stood behind one of the suits of armour, peering around the edge of it at all the people downstairs. She couldn’t walk down there, past all the people who had asked her out and she’d turned down, some more gently than others, but still she couldn’t go down there. People would look at her and she didn’t like people staring at her.

“Oh my god, you look so stunning!” Hermione let out a little groan. She knew who that was. It was Lavender and Parvati. “Why are you hiding up here? You should be down there dazzling everyone!” She shook her head, peering around the edge of the armour again, but quickly ducked out of sight as soon as she saw Ron look up towards the stairs.

“I can’t, I can’t.” Lavender smiled slightly, taking a hold of her arm and pulling her out from behind the suit of armour and straight into the firing line of all the boys downstairs.

Hermione froze, looking at all the faces looking up at her. Some just looked past her, not recognizing her but Harry and Ron kept looking at her, obviously not recognizing her. Ron wouldn’t recognize her if she stood right in front of him dressed in nothing but her underpants. He was so self-centred sometimes she could hit him for it.

“Come on girl, let’s see you dazzle them.” With one of them stood on either side of her, Hermione was marched down the stairs with what grace she could muster and was thrust into the body of Hogwarts.

Cedric Diggory, Viktor Krum and George Weasley stood facing the stairs, not looking at each other as they waited for Hermione to arrive although all of them had accepted that they were vying for Hermione’s affections they didn’t feel that they had to be nice to each other, though Cedric had tried to make light conversation while they’d been waiting.

“Is that her?” George automatically looked around, using his height to look over the heads of the crowds. He couldn’t see her anywhere; there was not mass of bushy hair to lead in eyes in the right direction. Then he spotted her, walking down the stairs with Lavender and Parvati steering her towards the main body of the students, pushing her off on her own, allowing everyone to look at her as she searched for a familiar face.

“Mr. Diggory, Mr. Krum are you ready to start?” George didn’t look around at the sound of McGonagall’s voice; he was more interested in getting to Hermione before the others did. If she saw them first he had no chance with her.

“’Mione!” A head of brown hair instant turned his way and he found himself looking to her stunning face. Her hair wasn’t bushy; it was sleek and straight, pulled back into a bun at the base of her neck. It must have taken her hours to get it that straight but it was worth it, she looked stunning, like something out of a muggle fairytale. Not that he’d ever admit to reading muggle fairytales when he’d been little. At that age he’d have listened to anything that was read to him.

“You look… there are no words to describe how you look.” A blush flared up in Hermione’s cheeks making his smile, gently running a hand along her cheek feeling its smooth and soft texture under his fingertips.

“Have you decided?” She nodded, looking across at where the other boys were stood. Cedric looked like an old Victorian gentleman with her tails and bowtie, Viktor looking very solemn in his blood red dress robes and George, in his old hand me down dress robes that looked better than Ron’s but just as worn. Her decision had been one of the hardest she’d ever had to make, but she’d made it.

“The second dance is for you George.” He nodded, softly kissing the top of her hand as she turned to Viktor. “Third dance alright with you Cedric?” The noble Hufflepuff smiled, bowing to her as Viktor took her arm, leading her to where Professor McGonagall was stood with Harry and Parvati.

Cedric let out a sigh, turning to George.

“Congratulations.” The red head raised an eyebrow at his classmate. “You’ve got the second dance. She obviously likes you more than me.” George smiled, clapping him on the back as they looked at where Hermione and Viktor were stood talking to Harry.

“The evening is still young Diggory, and it’s only a Ball.” He nodded and left the Weasley boy to stand and watch while he went to find Cho.

Hermione did not get back to the common room until sometime after midnight. Everyone else had gone up to bed, though some couples were finding it hard to separate themselves from their goodnights.

George sat among them, watching the portrait hole and waiting for her to arrive back from where ever she had been, with Krum most likely. George tried to suppress the jealousy that was rising inside him.

“You still up?” He nodded, not looking directly into her eyes as she stepped into the common room, smiling happily at the sight of him. Or maybe at something she was remembering from what Viktor had said.

“I was waiting for you.” He didn’t hide that fact that was waiting for her. What was the point, she was the brightest witch of her age, and she’d have worked it out for herself.

“I hoped you’d be up.” Eyebrows raised in suspicion as she gently pulled his to his feet; her hand sliding it’s way into his as he just watched her.

“Will you dance with me?”

Soft smiles spread across their faces as he bent down to hold her, her arms finding their way into the dancing position, her hand resting feather light on his shoulder and her other hand still firmly in his.

“Next time there is a ball I promise I’ll dance with you first.” He laughed, resting his forehead against hers, softly whispering in her ear.

“How about you go out with me and we call it even?” Intelligent brown eyes flashed with mischief.

“I think that is an excellent plan Mr. Weasley.” She murmured as his lips softly found their way onto hers. Maybe romance wasn’t as complicated or as hard as she thought it had been. And with that, she fell asleep.