I am so sorry that I haven't updated for a really long time but I am just so busy at the moment! I have my final exam tomorrow though so I'll be free to do whatever after that :D

Anyway, this will just be a fluffy little filler chapter and I know it's short but everything will start getting better and longer next chapter! I promise :)

Enjoy

-THGHPforever14

Ron groaned and threw his head back in defeat. The ball was this Saturday and he still didn't have a date. He had tried to ask Nicolette in Potions yesterday but after the mishap in Hogsmeade she wasn't talking to him. Ron didn't understand why she was so mad at him, he hadn't done anything wrong and it was obvious he was over Hermione; she had a boyfriend for Merlin's sake!

It didn't help when Neville ran into the dormitory whooping for joy.

"She said yes! YES! Hannah said YES!"

Ron growled slightly. He didn't understand why Neville was so surprised. They were technically dating.

"Good for you," he mumbled. Neville's face fell at his pathetic answer.

"Urgh sorry mate, I forgot you didn't have a date," he said it solemnly but there was a hint of amusement in his eye. Ron narrowed his eyes; Neville had been spending too much time with Blaise and Malfoy, their Slytherin habits were rubbing off on him.

"Is Nicolette still not talking to you then?" Blaise asked from his seat opposite, pulling his eyes away from the book he was reading to look Ron in the eye.

"Yep, she still seems to think I want to go to the ball with Hermione. I keep telling her she's being stupid but…"

Blaise's eyes widened "Whoa mate, never ever call a girl stupid. She will make your life hell."

"Use to it then Blaise?" Neville taunted

"Shut up," Blaise scowled "We're not talking about me, we're talking about dear Ronald,"

"Don't ever call me that again." Ron deadpanned. Blaise and Neville only fell about laughing.

"Just try talking to her again; she's bound to come around soon,"

"The ball is this Saturday! I have three days!"

Blaise shrugged "So? If she likes you that much she should forgive you,"

"And what if she doesn't?" Ron asked, his eyes pleading for information.

Blaise only shrugged again "There's plenty more fish in the sea,"

Ron glared "That really isn't something I want to hear coming from your mouth when you are dating my sister,"

Blaise scoffed, putting down his book and standing up "Relax Ron, I love Ginny, we're gonna be fine," he paused, as if only realising he had admitted his love for Ginny in front of two of his closest friends "Don't tell her that, she doesn't know."

"Whatever mate," Neville replied with a super sized grin on his face "We know that when the time is right you'll tell her,"

"Exactly, anyway talking about Ginny has reminded me. I promised I would meet her from her ball dance party thing meeting so we could go for a romantic walk in the snow, I want it to be super special when I ask her,"

"Merlin Blaise, you're going to a ball, not proposing,"

Blaise let out a bark "I know that, but that doesn't mean I can't be a romantic," he winked before walking out of the dormitory, grabbing his coat on the way out,"

The minute he was gone Neville looked at Ron with a look of shock on his face "Do you think he realised he just told us he loved Ginny?"

"Don't know, don't care," Ron grumbled. The two Gryffindors sat in silence for a few minutes before Ron stood up.

"I'm going to find Hermione,"

Neville looked up in confusion "You what? Ron she's going out with Draco, there is no way she would go to the ball with…"

Ron rolled his eyes "Not for that reason! She's a girl!"

"Well done…" Neville drawled, still confused.

"So she'll know how the female mind works and how I can get Nicolette to go to the ball with me,"

"But won't she ask why you have a problem with asking her?"

Ron frowned "She's Hermione; I'll just tell her the truth,"

Neville sighed "If you're sure mate, just…" he trailed off as Ron went to leave the room.

"Just what?"

"Just don't let Nicolette see you two together, that would make things even worse,"

Ron scoffed "Believe me mate, I'm not that stupid," he chuckled before closing the portrait door and leaving Neville all alone.

"Hermione!" Ron pounded on the door for the fifth time in a row. He was growing restless.

"Hermione! I need to talk to you!" he bellowed, a first year Ravenclaw scurried past, flinching and giving a little squeal of surprise at Ron's raised voice.

He was just about to give up when the portrait door opened, revealing a very disgruntled looking Draco. Ron's face flushed beetroot.
"Must you always interrupt everything Weasley?"

Ron spluttered "Uh… I… I just…" he was just about to walk away when he noticed the Slytherin's attire "Wait… are you wearing a suit?"

"Yes," Draco raised an eyebrow questionably "Your point?"

Ron blinked "No reason, I guess people have different tastes and stuff…" he trailed off as Draco started laughing, keeling over in half. Ron scowled, completely confused. He was even more confused when the blonde grabbed him by the arm and practically dragged him into the Head common room.

Ron's eyes widened at the sight in front of him, there was a table laid out for two with candles lighting the room. A fresh bouquet of roses sat in a vase in the centre of the table. Above the window were too hovering white doves, holding a banner in their feet, ready to drop. Draco clapped his hands and the banner fell down, the words 'Hermione Granger, will you be my date to the Yule Ball?' shining out in silver.

Draco looked at his redhead friend nervously "Do you think she'll like it?"

Ron let out a bark "Are you kidding? This is amazing! Blaise is going to be so jealous of you when he finds out about this!"

Draco smirked at the idea of his friend being jealous "Why?"

"He thinks a walk in the snow is romantic, you have bloody doves! If Hermione doesn't say yes, I might!"

Draco snickered "Sorry Weasley, but I don't swing that way,"

"That's a shame; I would love to turn up to the Yule Ball with Draco Malfoy on my arm,"

"Who wouldn't?" Malfoy smirked "So why were you after Hermione?"

Ron chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck nervously "Oh, it was just something stupid, I'll talk to her later, after your meal,"

"It can't have been stupid if you were after Hermione, unless of course you were planning on asking her to the Yule Ball. That would've been stupid because I would bloody beat you to a pulp Weasley,"

He said it with a smile but Ron couldn't help but feel like there was a hint of truth in his words.

"I just wanted some help… on asking someone to the Ball,"

"Oh, so Nicolette still isn't talking to you then?" Draco said, sitting down on one of the sofas.

"How did you guess?" Ron said sarcastically, throwing himself on the opposite armchair that Hermione often read her books on.

Draco chuckled "You want my advice?"

Ron raised an eyebrow but leaned forward, wanting to hear the secrets of the great Draco Malfoy.

"Forget about her,"

"What?" Ron cried, he was not expecting that.

"Forget about her, ask someone else! Hermione has told me about plenty of girls who want to go to the ball with you but are too scared to say anything,"

Ron blinked "Really?"

Draco snorted "Don't sound so surprised Weasley, you're actually quite a catch for any girl, you are a war hero, and Harry Potter's best friend!"

But Ron ignored him "Girls like me?"

"Are you deaf Weasley? Yes girls like you,"

"Who?"

"Huh?"

"Who do you recommend I ask? Out of the girls you've heard like me,"

Draco pursed his lips, tapping his chin in thought "Fay,"

"Dunbar?" Ron replied, astonished

"Who else idiot? Apparently she's liked you since sixth year but you were with Lavender and then you were lusting after Hermione, she still likes you,"

"She still likes me?"

"Is there an echo in here? Just get out of here and ask her Weasley, grow some balls,"

Ron glared but his face slowly faded into a wide smile "I never thought I would say this… ever… but, thanks Draco," he stood up, heading towards the door.

"No problem… Ron,"

Ron spun around "You called me Ron?"

"You called me Draco,"

Ron made a face "It was weird,"

"Yeah, see ya later Weasley,"

"You too Malfoy,"

Old habits die hard.

On his way back to the common room to find Fay, Ron bumped into Hermione who was nattering away with Ginny about the final ball preparations.

"Hey Ron," Hermione grinned; she caught the smile on his face and raised an eyebrow "Finally asked Nicolette to the dance?"

"Not exactly," Ron breathed, he run all the way from the Heads Common Room and was now slightly out of breath "No, I'm asking Fay Dunbar," he replied before pushing past the two girls, ignoring their shocked faces "Oh and Hermione, head down to the Head Dorms right now!" he cried over his shoulder before turning the corner.

"I was not expecting that," Ginny said

"Neither was I, I mean I knew that Fay liked him but I never thought he would ask her, he likes Nicolette?"

Ginny shrugged "He's weird like that; anyway, I have to go meet Blaise,"

"Yeah, and apparently I have to go to the Head Dorms right now,"

Fay Dunbar came running into her dormitory screaming. She threw herself onto her bed and looked up at the ceiling, a crazy grin on her face. Her neighbour Hannah frowned in confusion, looking up from where she was reading about poisons.

"What made you so happy?"

But Fay seemed to be completely speechless. She was taking deep breaths, completely shocked but the events that had just occurred.

"I have a feeling someone just got asked to the Ball by her biggest crush ever," Daphne chuckled, scooting off her own bed and sitting down next to Fay "Is that right Fay?"

Fay seemed to find her voice then "Oh yes Daphne, it was wonderful! I really wasn't expecting it! In fact, at first I thought he was going to run away but then he said he heard that I liked him and I totally blushed and then he just asked me! It was amazing! It was a dream come true!"

All the girls giggled at their friend's enthusiasm, they all knew that she had been crushing on Ron for a really long time.

"Well then," Hannah grinned "I think it's time to go shopping!"

Yes I know. Cliche ending. Sorry. But I had no idea what else to put! Anyway, next chapter is the ball and I personally cannot wait to write it so I'm so excited :D

It will hopefully be up in the next few weeks... if not then I am so so so so sorry and I completely apologize now...

Until next time

-Emma