A/N: I love doing this story lol!!! This part is going to be the ball (YEAH!!!!!) BUT.... be prepared for a twist.... D/C: For all those missed chapters, these characters are not mine, and sadly they never will be, I did however, own the minds and actions throughout the fic... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ginny opened her eyes softly...Christmas....the Yule Ball... throwing back her covers, she lunged at her presents. A sweater from Mum, quills and parchment from Percy, dungbombs from the twins, a book from Hermione, another book from Ron...Ron? Ginny shook her head and reached for the last package. Glancing at it, she pulled it open revealing a clear case, which had a ballerina inside. Ginny gasped and gently took out the ballerina, turning her over in her hands; she saw a small switch. Gently she placed the doll on the table, flipping the switch. As if enchanted (which it probably was) the doll began to dance to a beautiful tune, she danced like Ginny did, well tried to. Gracefully the doll whirled and twirled, her movements' soft, unlike herself. The doll was made of porcelain with a lovely painted face and a muggle ballerina outfit. As Ginny listened to the tune she suddenly recognized it.... Reflection! That muggle tune she had fallen in love with over the summer! Who in the world could have? Inside the case Ginny saw a note; drawing it out it said: Merry Christmas Ginny! I saw this in the new shop Norman's Enchanted Novelties and just had to get it for you. I had it enchanted so that it played that song for you while it danced.... see you at the Ball. Harry Ginny gasped again and dropped the note...Harry had gotten this for her... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hermione was almost done with her presents.... only one left in fact. The usual parchment books and quills from everyone, nothing different. She unwrapped the last box; it was smaller than normal and Hermione shook it curiously, and having no idea she opened it.... The necklace! That necklace that she had been looking at in the window! How.... Who.... Hermione drew it out, it was so pretty, and finally someone had given her something that made her feel pretty, even special.... But who? Hermione looked for a card and found a small piece of parchment inside the box it read simply: Merry Christmas Mione, Ron Ron? How had Ron known....he couldn't possibly have seen her...could he? Whatever the reason Hermione smiled and dressed for breakfast, all other presents forgotten. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later that day the Weasley's were having their mandatory snowball fight, with Hermione and Harry as well. It was war! Poor Ginny was being clobbered by the twins everyone was in fact. Ron had seemed to be winning but then he was taken down by a five-ball bombardment from the twins again. Finally it was too much; everyone surrendered to the twins. "No one can beat us!" George yelled over the wind. Fred began to sing "We are the Champions", "We are the Champions my friends. We kept on fighting til the end..." At around five, frozen and blue lipped they went inside to change and get ready for the ball.... nerves finally mounting... ~~~~****~~~~ Hermione finished pulling her hair back into the low bun, adding another small dab of Sleekeasy's hair smoother. Stepping back she looked herself over, deciding she looked all right. Around her all the fifth year girls were running around putting on dresses, fixing their hair and pulling on shoes, they only had twenty minutes to go after all. As Hermione slipped Ron's necklace about her throat she heard... Knock knock... "Come in " Hermione called. "Hi I just wanted to see.... Hermione!" It was Alicia Spinnet, she ran over to Hermione, "Look at you! You look lovely!" "I do?" Hermione said startled, "What was it you wanted?" "Oh Lavendar can I borrow your silver bracelet?" "Sure. Here." Lavendar tossed it to her. "Thanks! Hermione you look stunning...if a tad pale, why aren't you wearing a little make-up?" "I...I don't know." She said shrugging. Alicia laughed, "Come on silly, I'll do it for you." And with that she pulled Hermione from the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hermione found herself inside the sixth years dormitory, surprised at Alicia's assistance to help her. Sitting her in a chair Alicia said, "We are going to make you a star!" in a thick accent. "Oh no!" Katie shrieked, "She's gone make-up mad again!" All the girls groaned as Alicia yelled, "Shut up!" "Now," she said turning to Hermione, "Where were we? Ah yes...blush!" Alicia grabbed a little compact of crimson blush, gently putting it on Hermione's cheeks and nose, "Gives you some color." she said. "Thanks Alicia, I really-" "Shh! I am not done!" "Oh." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ginny twirled in front of her mirror, surveying herself with a smile. She knew she looked well, and the dress matched her perfectly. Ginny smoothed back her curls; she had left them down, except for a small green barrette on the side. She listened with amusement as some of the girls yelled about lost shoes and such. On her way out she heard one of her friends Molly contemplate if her date would kiss her or not.... Ginny laughed who knows.... maybe he would. Sweeping down the stairs she waited for Harry chatting warily with her brothers for some time. They only had five minutes left...where was everyone? Tapping her foot she watched the clock... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Harry and Ron meanwhile were just waiting inside the dorm, looking uncomfortable. Ron kept running a hand through his red hair quickly, making it stand up a little. "Ron come on." Harry said, "We should go." "Do we have to?" Ron pleaded, his eyes a much deeper blue tonight because of his robes, or his nerves; Harry didn't know which. Harry of course, was wearing his green robes again; they still looked nice anyhow... So they left walking quickly down the stairs. Hermione, Ron sighed with relief, wasn't there waiting but Ginny was... Harry walked over to her, smiling slightly, "Hi Ginny. You look pretty." "Thank you Harry." she said, while thinking, "Why is this so easy? Shouldn't we be uncomfortable?" Harry, little did she know, was having the exact same thought. "Well Ron, we'll see you inside ok?" Ron said nothing but his eyes begged him not to go.... yet with Ginny beside him, he did. "Damn," Ron whispered, "damn..." "Ron?" he looked up to see Hermione walking towards him, she looked absolutely stunning in white robes of the same floaty material as last year. Her hair was the same as last time, sleek and shiny, yet something was different.... Her face. Her face looked different, prettier somehow. She came closer and Ron figured it out, she had make up on, just a little though, hardly noticeable. Her cheeks were redder and her eyes stood out more it seemed. "Hermione you look.... you look- " "Thank you Ron." she laughed, "Where is everyone?" "They left already. What kept you?" "Well," Hermione turned and stared at Alicia who grinned, "Someone was a little over enthusiastic." "Oh...well then, shall we?" Hermione smiled at him, and they went. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When they got there, they immediately sat down with Harry and Ginny, relief all over the two boys' faces. Hermione and Ginny began talking about their dresses when Ginny asked, "Hermione were did you get that, and when?" Hermione flushed slightly, "Well I uh, "she cleared in throat, "in Bulgaria actually. I was shopping you see, and it was just so pretty." Hermione saw Ron tense up at the mention of the word Bulgaria, and Ginny thankfully dropped the subject. "I can't believe we're having another ball!" She said smiling, "It's really nice of Dumbledore isn't it?" "Yup." "I think so too." Me three." Just then a song began to play, it was the Weird Sisters again, people milled all about the dance floor, chatter rising. Harry remembered how being out there felt, and remembered the sensation of everyone staring at him...yet everyone was out dancing already... "Hey Ginny?" She looked up. "Wanna dance?" She smiled, lighting up her whole face, "Sure Harry." Once they were gone and lost in the crowd on the dance floor, Ron sputtered, "I don't believe him! Dancing!" "Well Ron," Hermione said taking a sip of her pumpkin juice, "It is what people do at a ball you know." Ron stared at her, " I know that Mione I'm just-" He stopped; noticing what was around her neck, "You're wearing the necklace!" "Hmm? Oh yes, Thank you so much Ron. How did you..." He flushed, "I was watching you gaze in the window, and when you left I saw the necklace. I figured it was what you wanted so I got it for you. Gave Ginny the book instead." Hermione smiled, "But Ron how did you uh...how did you-" "Afford it?" Ron said, the smallest trace of bitterness in his voice," Well, it was funny actually, that store does trade ins as well as money." "Trade ins?" "Yea trade in's, you know, give them something of equal value and you sort of exchange it for whatever it is you want." "So what did you..." "I had six sickles left so I gave him my..." "What Ron what? Oh I hope it wasn't something important?" "Nonsense Mione! I gave him my Weasley sweater from last year!" She burst out laughing, "Ron! You're kidding!" "Am not.... true as I live I tell you I did. He said he used to love home knitted sweaters, and maroon's his favorite color." "Ron...you're impossible, but thank you anyway. I've never gotten such a nice gift." Ron looked up at her, "You're welcome." he said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Harry!" Ginny said tugging on his sleeve. They had been dancing for quite some time, actually enjoying themselves, not worrying what they looked like anymore. "What?" "Look at Ron and Hermione." she called over the music. "What?" Harry couldn't hear her. "Look. At. Ron and. Hermione!" Ginny yelled. "What abo-" Harry began to yell when the music suddenly stopped. People laughed slightly and Ginny giggled. "What about them?" He said normally. "They're laughing together..." Ginny whispered as if it were some kind of crime. "So?" Harry asked, "They are friends you know." "Uh huh.... but come on Harry, have they or have they not been.... weird these past few days?" "Weird?" "Come on Harry! You're not that thick are you?" "Alright so they've been "weird" what's that got to do with them now?" Ginny slapped a hand to her forehead, as she spun around during the dance, (did I forget to mention that another song had begun playing?) as she faced Harry again she said simply, "Well they're not being weird now." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ And they weren't. Hermione was surprised to find out what a good time she and Ron were having. Although Hermione did want to dance, she still felt that Ron wasn't ready to ask her yet. He did however keep glancing at Harry and Ginny, craning his neck often to spot them. "Ron? What are you looking at?" "Hmm... oh just-" "Ginny and Harry. What do you possibly think they could be doing for you to check so often?" "I'm not checking...I'm..." "Checking. Ron she and Harry are fine." "I know but-" "Well if you're so concerned why don't you go up to them and -" "Mione! I'd look like a moron if I just walked up to them." "Not if you danced up to them you wouldn't...." "Danced? I can't.... wait," Ron took a breath, "Hermione do you want to dance?" Hermione smiled slightly, "Alright." A fast song was playing as they walked out, but as soon as the got onto the dance floor, a slow song had begun. Hermione almost burst out laughing at the look of pure horror on Ron's face, if only she had a muggle camera... Ron wanted to die; dancing was bad enough itself, but SLOW DANCING! Ron just stood looking at Hermione unsure of what to do really. Hermione giggled, "Ron are you alright?" "Fine, fine..." "Well we can't just stand here, come on let's dance." "Umm alright...." and so Ron hesitantly slipped his arms around her waist, and Hermione reached up to place her hands around his neck. Ron was shocked at how easy this slow dancing really was, just back and forth, back and forth.... Hermione was shocked. The minute she had 'stepped into' Ron's arms, well in a sense, she felt like she had come home or something. It was weird. This safe feeling had just swooped over her.... She had never felt that way before.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ron soon forgot about Ginny and Harry, which was good because they weren't on the dance floor anymore, they were outside alone.... "So Ginny, having a good time?" "Yeah, thanks for taking me Harry." "Welcome, I was glad to. You're fun to be with." "Really?" Ginny asked looking intently at him. "Yea..." Harry trailed off suddenly. He knew how stupid it was, but Ginny looked really pretty tonight, Really REALLY pretty... Harry suddenly stood, and went to the balcony edge.... this was Ginny, he reminded himself. Yet a VERY PRETTY Ginny argued his head. He sighed. Ginny got up and walked next to him, touching his arm lightly she asked, "Anything wrong?" Harry didn't look at her, "No." he said quickly. "Harryyy," she drawled out, "You're lying to me." "Nothing's wrong, its just..." he turned and faced her. Her eyes were a light brown almost hazel color tonight; her hair was so red it was like a fire.... a fire he could touch without getting burned. Well he might get burned but...why did she have to become so pretty all of a sudden? No maybe it was his scar...yes maybe it was affecting his vision. "What?" Ginny asked again, softer. Nope. It definitely wasn't his scar. Harry ran a hand through his hair, It's well it's...." Ginny came in slightly closer. "Harry you can tell me." Harry let out a light laugh, "No believe me Ginny I can't." "Fine then. If you don't trust me to listen then I'll just-" Ginny said beginning to walk away. Harry reached out and caught her arm, "No Ginny..." he sung her back toward him. "What?" she said cross. "I do trust you." "Well then tell me!" "There's nothing to tell..." "Uh huh.... then show me if you will." "Show you?" Harry questioned, a proposition forming in his mind, "Alright I'll show you..." Then he leaned in and kissed her very gently. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ron and Hermione were still dancing; all that had happened with Harry and Ginny had only taken minutes... Ron was just content to stay right where he was, holding Hermione like he had done on that night.... that night when he had seen her break down. Hermione had been scared, terrified. She wasn't perfect, she wasn't a know it all brainiac. Ron knew that now, he had known it before, yet he had never seen it. She was a person, a muggle born person to be exact, who had goals, ambitions, and fears. Certain fears that made Ron want to hold her forever, trying to keep her safe. Hermione was still shocked at the feeling she had in Ron's arms. Although strange, it was rather pleasant. She did feel safe, safer than she had with anyone else; which Hermione figured was a good thing. Still it was strange to feel like this with Ron, about Ron.... and yet she couldn't help the fact that she did. Then the song died away... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ginny pulled away almost immediately from shock. She let out a small almost inaudible gasp, looking at Harry. Harry looked horrified with himself. His face was a mixture of shock and disgust, not with Ginny, but with himself. He hadn't meant to do that, didn't even know he was going to, but he had. He certainly had. He looked down at Ginny now; she was still frozen with shock, a hand half way to her mouth. "Hey Ginny I really didn't mean...well I mean I did, but I...well what I meant was...I was trying to.... you see-" Harry just stopped talking because he knew he was getting nowhere, and Ginny wasn't even listening, her hand on her mouth now. Harry smiled, at least that was a good sign... Harry opened his mouth to try and talk again but was sidetracked when a large black owl went whizzing past his head into the Great Hall. He touched Ginny lightly on the arm; she jumped but turned and looked at where he pointed. The owl had flown straight to Dumbledore, landing lightly on the table. The music stopped and everyone watched as Dumbledore swiftly freed the letter and sent it on its way. The parchment was worn and small, torn in various places as well. Dumbledore read it extremely quickly, his eyes darting around the paper. Harry saw his eyes blaze and cold fury etch its way onto his face like it had done last year, in Moody's office... Dumbledore suddenly stood, sending his chair flying, "Students I'm sorry but you all must return to your houses. Please, file out quietly. Professors a meeting in the staff room. Now." Bewildered, the students all obeyed, getting out quickly as possible. Harry and Ginny ran to find Ron and Hermione, but they were already gone, Harry spotted Ron leading a confused Hermione by the wrist. Ginny and Harry were the last inside, panting; they collapsed onto the couch. Everyone was up...waiting for someone to tell them what was happening. What was going on, who had sent the owl... just waiting for answers. Harry and Ron started a game of chess, while Hermione looked on. Parvati and Lavender absorbed themselves in picture magazines, while Dean and Seamus played exploding snap. George and Fred stayed up talking with Lee, Alicia and Angelina; Katie had fallen asleep on George's shoulder. Ginny sat absently holding her ballerina in her hands, it's tune filling the Common Room. The rest of the Gryffindors were either sitting in silence or sleepily coming down the stairs if they were in first through third year. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ An hour or more passed, no one was really sure, when Professor McGonagall burst through the portrait of the Fat Lady. Her face was white and her eyes looked dazed. Everyone stood at her presence, anxious for some answers. "Students, you must remain calm. Professor Dumbledore has just received a letter from Professor Snape. As you know he has been on a secret mission for Dumbledore regarding You-Know-Who all year." Many heads nodded up and down. "All has been well until now. It seems that You -Know-Who had reached Azkaban and-" She stopped, gripping the wall to support her body, "And-" Everyone held their breath; they were all hanging on her every word, standing frozen. "And he has released all his prisoners, the Dementors have joined him.... He is back." Professor McGonagall said this all in a rush, then with tears in her eyes she muttered; "I'm so sorry students." Then she fled. Everyone stood frozen for a second until Parvati and Lavendar began to cry. Angelina had paled to the point of her dark skin looking almost white; Alicia was sitting mutely her hands clapped to her mouth. Katie was trembling something terrible, looking horrified. Dean and Seamus just stood there, cards in hands, staring worriedly at Lavendar and Parvaiti, then at each other. Fred and George sat on the couch at the same moment murmuring, "Bloody Hell..." Ron was frozen his eyes wide with shock. Harry, who was beside him, looked angry, if anything else. His hands were fists and his eyes blazed. Hermione was staring out the window, trying to breathe. This couldn't be happening...not now. Not so soon... Ginny was standing, her ballerina doll clutched in her hands. Her hands were trembling, and the doll slipped. She let out a cry as it fell to the floor and smashed, its song still playing loudly. She dropped to her knees, a sob escaping her. Harry and Ron both broke from their trances, and whirled on a now sobbing Ginny. Ron seemed concerned but he couldn't make himself go over to her, his legs wouldn't obey. Harry made it over and dropped to his knees. Ginny looked so helpless on the floor like that. He gently picked up a piece of the doll and stared wordlessly at it. Ginny glanced over at him, wiping her eyes hurriedly on the back of her hand. "It's all right Ginny," he said quietly. "No....no. I'm sorry Harry. I'm a fool for acting this way over this." she gestured to the fragments. "No Ginny. I know this is more than the doll," He lifted her chin up with his hand, "It's gonna be alright Gin, we'll get through this...somehow." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After ten more minutes of this, Alicia suddenly stood, "I think," she said with a quiver in her voice, "That we should all go and get some sleep now. Heaven knows we're going to need it." People nodded and shuffled off dazedly. Sniffles and sobs were still heard, as dazed and pale faces were still seen. Ginny disappeared inside, leaving her shattered doll behind her. Harry followed mutely after her; his trance was back. Hermione rose from her chair, turning to go, when she saw Ron still standing there. Hermione nearly ran to him, "Ron...oh Ron. Come on." she tried vainly to pull him along. He wretched his arm free, " No." he whispered, "It's no use." "What?" Hermione asked, frightened by his pale face, and expressionless eyes. "Everything.... He's back...we're done for. It's no use." "Ron!" she cried, catching his shoulders tightly, "What are you talking about? It's not over." Ron looked at her, "How? How can we defeat him?" "We'll fight, Ron we'll fight." "Fight. Ha. Fight and lose...Harry saved us before, Hermione. He can't possibly do that again." Hermione was scared now. What was with Ron? He had NEVER talked like this. Always the optimist, the joker...the high spirited one.... "Ron..." she choked on a cry. This was too much; everything was too much. This year had been hell what with the muggles killings, then her confused feelings, Voldemort first strike.... his army was rising, and now Ron. Now Ron was choosing to just stand here and.... and GIVE UP! "Ron.... you move right now!" she yelled, "You are being stupid.... I don't understand why you are acting-" "Stupid," he murmured, "Stupid am I? What's the point of fighting Mione?" he roared, more in confusion than anger. She went to say something but he kept on, "There is no point...except death. Hermione I," he turned to her suddenly, " I don't want to die Mione. I don't want anyone to die...I don't want to go through this." Hermione's eyes filled with tears, "But Ron..." she went up and hugged him tight. Ron just stood there, letting her embrace him. He was scared, and he didn't want her to know that. He hated showing people his emotions, it made him feel even less then he was. But Hermione had seen...and she knew. Better her than anyone else. Ron hugged her back, letting the feeling of rightness come upon him. Hermione had her head on his shoulder, her eyes closed...she was safe now. Only now. Finally Ron broke from her, and moved to go upstairs. "Ron?" He turned and faced her," Yeah?" "Thanks for...just thanks." she whispered, too tired to say what she really wanted to right now. Ron shook his head; he hadn't done anything worthy of a thank you, "Hey Hermione?" "Yeah?" she asked, halfway up the stairs now. "Do you think that this is the end?" Hermione looked at him for a moment then said seriously, "No Ron. I think it's only the beginning." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A/N: The end of the SERIES!! Yes that's right.... its over!!! You're all probably thinking I'm crazy but I'm not. I'm going to do an epilogue...then a sequel series. It will work itself out...you'll see. And like Hermione said, "I think it's only the beginning."