authorsnote: here it is! I am so sorry for making everyone wait literally a year, I couldn't quite believe how long I'd gone without updating! All I can say is I have been extremely busy and lost a lot of muse for both this fanfic and the HP verse. Thankfully it seems to have come back, and not only have I finished this update but have already started on another!

I am sorry for keeping all of you waiting, I know how frustrating it can be waiting for the next chapter of a story, and I can only pledge to do better. this chapter is shorter as well as I was eager to get it up, I just hope you enjoy it and I understand I am recommitted to this story. I spent a few days editing all of the past chapters very briefly on grammar/syntax/some content, and am committed to taking this story forward. I have new ideas for it, new twists and an idea for some new side pairings! so thank you for sticking with me, it is greatly appreciated. I also do hope you enjoy this chapter, please review/follow/fav if you did!

song recommendations: here comes the sun: the beatles

little darling,

its been a long cold lonely winter

little darling,

it feels like years since its been here

here comes the sun

...

Of course, she had said yes!

She had been so unsure he would ask her, so scared when he hadn't pulled her aside after each lesson, so worried she'd read it all wrong and he wasn't interested. And yet, he had asked her! All her worrying had been for nought.

A permanent smile seemed to be attached to her lips, her cheeks blossomed red as they made their way back to the Gryffindor common room. She'd clung to him for what felt like hours after she had said yes, and he'd held her just as close. It was only when they'd heard a cough and turned to see Professor McGonogall giving them a knowing look before sweeping away did they break the hold, shoot each other a bashful glance before making their way down the corridor, back to the common room.

God, she felt so happy! Over the past week's things had really changed between them, morphing from a friendship to something much more significant. Hermione had been so scared she was the only one to feel it…and yet clearly that wasn't the case, clearly Harry had to feel the same too!

Again, she ran over his speech in her mind, 'Something has changed between us', 'I want to find out what it is'. The words had been music to her ears and she resisted the urge to throw herself at him again.

Unfortunately, now they had other things to consider.

They had agreed as they had fallen into step with one another that they would keep their newfound … relationship quiet until the Yule Ball. That way they'd avoid gossip up until then. Hermione was content with that and had even been the one to suggest it, Harry readily agreeing it was likely the best cause of action. Also, they needed time to discover what they were … boyfriend and girlfriend? Hermione hoped so, but they needed time to figure these things out.

Of course, then there was the issue of Ron. Her smile dimmed a little then as they continued forward, not holding hands but walking closer together than they normally would have. They hadn't spoken since she'd said yes, other than to say they'd keep things quiet. Hermione glanced at Harry then and saw he too was deep in thought, and likely about the same problem.

Ron.

The friendship with Ron was rebuilding. Hermione doubted it would ever be the same, but it was getting better. He had apologised to Harry and her separately once again, and she had appreciated him admitting how wrong he had been, and how he should never have shunned her for choosing Harry's side – she realised he had said something similar to Harry. The friendship was doing better, and Hermione was happy to have Ron back as a friend. Sure, she'd never see him as anything more than a friend, and she highly doubted they would have become friends without Harry in the mix, but they were friends now. In truth Hermione didn't want to lose that, but she knew this newfound relationship with Harry would put things at risk.

It wasn't that she suspected Ron fancied her, god no! It was rather he'd likely feel left out and pushed aside. They still weren't quite the trio they had been, but Hermione knew Ron was hoping for things to revert back to the way they had been. Hermione didn't think that could ever happen, and she doubted Harry did either, but Hermione knew any romantic relationship she had with Harry would be seen as the final nail in the coffin on their three way friendship to Ron.

They had to be careful in how they broke the news, Hermione knew that much at least.

"Do you think…" She began but paused as Cedric and a group of friends swept past. Hermione shot him a glare (she felt he should have talked to his friends about ditching those awful badges), but she saw Harry nod at him respectfully.

"Do I think we should tell Ron?" He continued for her as they left the earshot of the Hufflepuffs, and she looked at him a little aghast before he shot her a lazy smile, "It's not hard to know what we're both considering"

"Well…what do you think?" She asked gently, stepping a little closer, even going so far as to wrap her arm around Harry's – they were close to the Gryffindor portrait after all, no one was around.

"I think we wait until the Yule Ball" He said honestly, "I know it's the more dramatic way to do things, but it just means dealing with the fallout, and a way to announce it to everyone. Seems easier than pre-warnings and arguments" He said with a nod, and she agreed; sure dropping the bomb they were more than friends at the Ball was quite something, but it would mean no potential fallout before the Ball, and neither of them wanted the Yule celebration ruined.

"It's only two days as well" Harry said, turning to her as they stopped in front of the portrait. She found herself smiling up at him as they stopped, smiling happily again, and his smile mirrored hers. "Then it will be out in the open"

"What will be out in the open?" She couldn't help but ask … she realised with some insecurities it was a little early to be asking the fabled 'What are we?' question, and yet it had slipped out.

"We'll have to figure that out" Harry said confidently, but she saw a flash of nerves in those green eyes, "All I know is, we're definitely not just friends anymore" He said, grinning again then, all nerves disappeared as he turned to the portrait and gave the password, the Fat Lady swinging open to reveal the common room.

Hermione was still grinning as she stepped inside, and she knew Harry was smiling too.

No, they certainly weren't just friends anymore.

Harry was in truth over the moon. Sure, he'd suspected things had changed between him and Hermione, and he'd suspected she had the same feelings for him as he did for her. But it was one thing to hope and suspect and another to have them confirmed. He was grinning from ear to ear, even as they entered the common room.

Sure, there were complications; the school finding out, the Slytherin's no doubt stepping up their abuse campaign, Ron … but Harry would take them all in stride. He was feeling a little more confident after completing the first task, and he knew what he wanted. He wanted Hermione, and though he wasn't sure how things would happen between them (would she be his girlfriend? Merlin that was both a strange and welcome thought), he knew he wanted them too. There would be obstacles but hadn't he been facing obstacles ever since he had found out he was a wizard? They would face them.

He was sure of it.

Of course, he wasn't looking forward to Ron seeing them entered the ball together and they'd somehow need to come up with dates as excuses…still, they could lie, it was only two days away, and Harry really didn't want to get into any arguments. No, they'd keep it quiet and let the fallout happen after the Ball – that was the plan.

He turned to Hermione again then, ready to ask if she wanted to drop off her stuff and head down to dinner with him, but immediately his attention was grabbed by someone yelling his name. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and turned to see Ginny kneeling in front of Ron by the fireplace, the two surrounded by a few members of Gryffindor. He raised an eyebrow and hurried over, Hermione following as Ginny moved to make room for them.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, his voice full of concern. Sure, he may still think Ron was a bit of a prat, and there was distance between them that hadn't been present before, but he was genuinely happy to have his best friend back. Perhaps they wouldn't regain their old closeness (he imagined especially not after things between him and Hermione became public knowledge), but it was nice to have him back, hence his concern.

"He just asked Fleur Delacour out" Ginny said, her own tone filled with disbelief, though she was blushing, and giving him her usual starry eyed glance. Honestly, Harry as nice a person as he was had become accustomed to ignoring the fact the youngest Weasley seemed to still be crushing on him, it was easier than confronting it.

And he was suitably distracted as he took in Ginny's words. His eyes widened and he heard Hermione gasp before she spoke, "He did what?!"

"What did she say?" Harry asked quickly, his eyes still wide as he finally looked at Ron, who looked just like he had when his own wand had backfired and he'd spent hours vomiting up slugs, if somehow worse. He looked horrified with himself and Harry could hardly blame him.

"No of course" Hermione piped up then, evidently not meaning to sound so judgemental. But then Ron shook his head, and Hermione didn't even try to school her tone as she gasped again, "She said yes?!"

"Of course not" Ron said, speaking for the first time, his voice filled with regret. "I don't even know how it happened! I was just … just walking to the Great Hall and she was outside! She looked so beautiful, and she tossed her hair over her shoulder … you know I like her hair"

Harry nodded then, sure he'd known Ron had a crush on the French Champion, but no idea it extended to the confidence of asking her out!

"I just blurted it out!" Ron said, shaking his head again, his expression one of horror and dismay, "She didn't even say anything, looked at me with disgust, like I was a slug or something"

"What did you do?" Harry asked.

"I ran for it!" Ron responded looking at Harry still in horror, "What else could I do?!" He said shaking his head, before he placed his head in his hands, "Oh god"

"Don't worry" Harry said then, and Hermione nodded, "She's part Veela, I forgot to tell you, you likely were just enthralled"

Ron looked somewhat comforted by this news, but only just as he finally looked back up at Harry, "Did you get a date at least?"

And there it came. Harry resisted a very real urge to look at Hermione, and instead just found himself nodding. What the hell was he meant to say? Both a happier looking Ron and an annoyed looking Ginny, plus several people surrounding them were waiting for an answer. He gulped … god, he had nerves of steel on the Quidditch Pitch and even battling a dragon! But now?! Having to lie, god it felt like his insides were squirming, regardless as to what the hat had said, Harry felt he would never make a good Slytherin on that basis alone.

"A girl from Beauxbatons" He said with a nod, "Blonde, pretty, I asked someone else originally…" He said, before realising he was going off on a tangent, "She said no, and I ran into one of the French girls alone, hadn't met her before but she seemed nice, I just asked her, she said yes, so yeah" He said, hoping it was suitable. It seemed so as Ron nodded, and clapped him on the shoulder in congratulations. Ginny didn't look too happy as he sneaked a glance at Hermione, who looked both annoyed but also understanding and happy… girls were weird at times.

"What about you Hermione?" Ron asked then, seemingly genuinely concerned about his friends dating prospects. Ron could be a very good friend at times, a lot of the time actually, Harry had to remember that. "Did you find a date? I know you said you wouldn't go with us, but do you have one? If not we could go together? You know, as friends?"

Oh Christ. Harry had to avoid both Hermione and Ron's gaze then. He felt his cheeks turning red, and he hurriedly coughed to avoid saying anything. Now was not the time to get jealous or laugh … both of which he had an urge to do. Nope, he needed to keep neutral and as he finished coughing he looked up at Hermione, who thankfully seemed to remain composed.

"I'm sorry Ron, a…one of the boys from Durmstrang asked me" She said with a nod, evidently jumping on Harry's 'person from another school so you wouldn't know them' tactic, "He said he'd seen me in the library studying and wanted to take me… so" She nodded then, and Ron did too; evidently a little deflated she'd turned him down, his ears turning pink a sure sign.

"Okay" He said with a nod, "Just me then" He said, biting down on his lip, "Any ideas?"

Harry too was biting his lip. He knew Ron was more upset at Hermione rejecting him than he let on – Harry knew deep down Ron had an interest in Hermione in a romantic fashion and just hadn't quite figured it out for himself. Well, regardless, Harry had that interest, knew of that interest and acted on that interest. Ron could moon over Hermione all he wanted, she was Harry's girlfriend! Or at least … she would be, Harry thought to himself, at least he hoped she would be.

Yes, she would be his girlfriend, he would ask her, soon, they were still figuring things out. Either way, Harry was not going to let Ron interfere with things between them, no chance.

"What about Lavender?" Hermione asked with a smile, as she noticed said girl walk into the common room, hanging onto Pavarti's arm. She shot Harry a look of reassurance and he smiled; not that he needed it, but it was still nice to have.

"Yeah" Ron said, evidently grasping at any straw, since Harry wasn't sure he'd ever seen Ron actually speak to Lavender.

Still, without warning he was out of his seat, strode forwards and stopped just shy of basically running into Lavender before he spoke in a clear voice, "Lavender, will you go to the ball with me?" He asked confidently, though Harry could see his hands shaking.

For a moment she just giggled and Harry felt a sense of dread, before she nodded, "Alright then" She said happily, before hurrying off with Pavarti, who was grinning – he'd heard Pavarti was attending with Seamus, so things seemed to have worked out for the two of them.

Ron too seemed happier as he turned back to them, though Harry could see the glint of hurt in his eyes as he glanced at Hermione. Well that made things awkward.

Oh god, Harry thought … if Hermione turning down an offer to go to the ball with Ron as friends made things awkward … he couldn't imagine how bad things would be with Ron, when the redhead realised who Hermione had really turned him down for.

so what did you think? I do apologise for it being so short & not including the actual ball, I just wanted to get this up as soon as possible! the next chapter will be the ball, the entire chapter, and it should be a long one!
I also have some ideas for side pairings, for ron and ginny. I'm not set on them yet, not at all, but I do have some ideas. I would however love to know your thoughts, let me know in reviews who'd you'd like to see the two youngest weasleys paired off with!

I also have ideas for two more HP fics in the works! one is a harry raised by the blacks situation, the second is a draco/hermione future based/marriage law fic. please let me know if you'd have interest in seeing either of these! I do ship harry/hermione a great deal, but also draco/hermione and harry/daphne as well, hence me wanting to do a fic with both sets of pairings as well! please let me know what you think in reviews, I always value your input!

as always thanks for reading, and please review/fav/follow! I promise not to wait a year to update again ... just six months! okay bad joke, ignore me, I hope to update asap in fact, and have another potential HP fic off the ground very soon. so, again big thanks for sticking with me, and see you soon.