A Matter of Honor
by Amy McWilliams (McAmy)

Book 1: The Honors Project

Chapter 10: The Yule Ball

From the way Ron began to make disparaging remarks about Ralph's Quidditch playing, Hermione knew that she had really bothered him. She wished she hadn't said anything, because she had been only half joking. She had been thinking about Ralph a lot, and one time she had let herself become so distracted over something he had said to her in the hallway before class that she had almost put the wrong ingredient into her cauldron ("I'd think again, Miss Granger, and pay attention, or there will be points from Gryffindor for certain," Snape had said, so low that nobody else had heard him).

Before that week's meeting with Professor McGonagall, she felt nervous--no, not nervous, just anxious. She realized that the last time she'd felt this way was when Ron was about to kiss her for the first time.

"Grow up, Granger," she said to herself as she took a seat by the fire, "you're seventeen years old and acting like a first year."

McGonagall and Ralph entered together, greeting her as they took their seats.

"Well, unless the two of you have anything to bring up, I think the only topic on hand is the Yule Ball," the Deputy Headmistress began. Hermione and Ralph looked at each other, then shook their heads. "Fine," McGonagall continued. "Now, I expect that both of you are planning to attend?"

"Of course," said Ralph, quickly.

"Yes," nodded Hermione.

"Good. I don't require anything of you, only that you keep an eye out, as usual, and let one of your professors know if anything disruptive or…untoward…happens. I'm sure everything will go smoothly. So, how are things going? Well, I assume?"

After a few minutes of chatting, McGonagall had to leave to meet with Professor Dumbledore. As Hermione gathered her things, Ralph touched her on the arm. She looked at him.

"Um…I was…I was wondering…" he stumbled over the words, and she could tell he was nervous.

"Yes?" she said.

He cleared his throat and tried again. "I was wondering if you'd like to go to the dance with me, Hermione." He looked at her expectantly.

"Oh," she said, blushing. "Actually…" his face fell, until she finished, "yes…yes I would. I'd like that."

They both smiled, and now he was blushing as well. "Great, then! I'll…check in with you later about…about meeting you before…beforehand, and all."

"Right," she said.

"Ok, then…um…I've got to go meet Professor Lupin before dinner." He hurried towards the door, stopping to turn back and say, "See you, then."

"See you," she said, as she gave him a little wave good-bye.

"It's like Victor Krum all over again," muttered Ron, for the fiftieth time that day. They were sitting in their bedroom, as the third years had taken over the common room with a project for Flitwick's class. "Except this one isn't going to go away any time soon," Ron added.

Harry kept quiet. Ron had been up in arms over Hermione's date with Ralph for the Yule Ball ever since she admitted that she was going with him. It had taken her a whole week, Harry knew, to gather enough courage to tell Ron. "And with good reason," he thought to himself as Ron continued lambasting Ralph.

"Ron, she can go with whoever she wants," Harry said. "And your grousing is just going to mean that none of us have any fun. Just let it go." Ron scowled. Harry went back to his book.

Ron couldn't let it go. "I just don't understand. Is it because he's sooo smart, or sooo good looking, or what? Because he's Head Boy?" Ron pulled a face at every option on the list. "Or maybe it's because he can understand why she'd want to do an honors project."

Harry sighed. "Ron, do you want her to go to the ball with you? Is that it?" Ron shook his head. "So what is it then?" Harry asked, honestly.

Ron shrugged. "I don't know. It seems like--it seems like I never stood a chance, you know? I'm not some big Quidditch player…and she doesn't even like Quidditch!" he raised his voice.

Harry gave him a look. Ron slumped against his headboard. "I don't know, Harry. I just…" his voice faded.

"I know," Harry said. Ron looked at him and nodded.

The night of the ball, Harry made Ron promise not to pick a fight with Ralph. "It's not like they'll be spending much time with us anyway," he'd muttered, but he had promised. Ron hadn't been in any kind of mood to ask somebody to go with him, and Harry had been glad enough not to have to look for a date. He hadn't really been interested in anyone since Cho, anyway. He'd have to ask somebody to dance, though, or he'd never hear the end of it from Seamus, who had asked Parvati Patil over a month ago. They were the new "Gryffindor item," now that Ron and Hermione had broken up, and Parvati had seemed much too pleased with herself and all the attention she'd been getting from jealous first and second years. Harry just hoped that they'd dance the whole night and leave off parading in front of people.

He waited with Ron in the common room for Hermione; something had come up at the last minute, and Ralph was going to meet her at the ball. She came down the stairs, and Harry's eyes grew wide. Ron stared and said, "Whoa…."

Hermione looked lovely. She was wearing sapphire blue robes, and her hair--her curls were tamed, but only slightly, and piled on top of her head in a manner Harry had never seen before, but of which he definitely approved--was literally glistening ("Fairy Dust Charm," she admitted to him, later).

She smiled shyly, not looking at them. When they still didn't say anything after a moment, she raised an eyebrow and said, "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley…are you going to stand there and stare, or are you going to escort me to the ball?"

Harry offered her his arm, and they heard Ron, under his breath, mutter, "She has been spending too much time with Snape."

The Great Hall was beautiful, as it always was at Christmastime. Tall trees with various decorations lined the walls, and magical snow, which appeared this time to be glitter, fell from the ceiling, which mirrored the clear, indigo-and-starlight sky above. The glitter faded as it neared the floor, so as not to stick on anybody's clothing and become a bother.

After a moment of appreciating the decorations (and the practicality of the snow), Hermione looked around but didn't see Ralph. "Guess he's not here yet," she said to Harry.

Ron muttered something under his breath, and Harry elbowed him in the ribs. "Ow!" he grunted.

"Behave," Harry said.

Professor Lupin entered behind them, stopping short so as not to run into two third-year Hufflepuff girls who had come to a dead stop as they entered the hall, amazed at the sight. Harry saw him and waved, and he came to greet them.

"Hello, you three…why Hermione, you look stunning," he said, causing Hermione to blush.

"Hi, Remus," Harry said.

"Hi, Professor Lupin," Ron said, "if you'll excuse me…" he hurried off, and Harry noticed that Dean Thomas had just arrived, also solo.

"Sorry about that," Harry said to Remus, "he and Dean are going to try out some new stuff they got from Fred and George."

"Hmm," said Remus. "I'll pretend I didn't hear that, if you promise me it's not dangerous."

"Not dangerous…no…" Harry said. "But probably worth a trip to the hospital wing."

"Oh, dear," said Lupin, raising an eyebrow. "Well, at least tell me what it is so I don't eat any of it."

Harry smiled. "Watch out for the dark red candies." He thought about telling Remus what they did, but wasn't sure he'd find it amusing that Ron was planning to grow fur on unsuspecting classmates.

Hermione waved at someone suddenly, and Harry turned to see Ralph beaming at her. He made his way over to them and greeted Harry and Professor Lupin.

"Hi, Hermione. Sorry I'm late."

"Is everything all right?" she asked him, taking his arm (Harry noticed).

"I think so," he said, and then explained, when Remus looked worried, "One of our fourth years heard a group of Slytherins saying that they were going to try to spike the punch. You'll never guess who it was," he said sarcastically.

"Malfoy." Harry didn't have to guess.

"Got it in one," said Ralph.

Remus looked towards the head table. "Well, I'll head up to the front and see if I can get the update. I'm sure Snape will be pleased about this one," Remus said, but he smiled at all of them as he left.

Harry realized that he should probably go too. "Well, I'll see you later," he said, a bit awkwardly. "I'd better go make sure Ron isn't getting into trouble somewhere."

For the feast, the long house tables had been replaced with smaller, round tables that seated six or eight people. Most of these would be removed later for the dancing. He found Ron and Dean at a table near the wall. They hadn't heard the news about Draco trying to spike the punch, and when Harry told them, Ron said, "Wicked!"

Harry figured he'd have his job cut out for him tonight.

He was right. Once the dancing began, he lost track of Ron and Dean. He walked outside to look for them--also to get some fresh air, away from all the couples. He regretted, a little, not having asked anybody to come with him. He had danced with Lavender and even Parvati, when Seamus claimed he had to take a break from dancing. A pretty sixth-year Hufflepuff girl had asked him to dance, but he hadn't heard her name over the music. He'd thought he'd have to ask Ginny Weasley to dance, but she actually had a date, and he hadn't seen her since the dancing began.

Out on the lawn, there was no sign of Ron, but there were more couples. Harry went back inside, standing near the doorway to the Great Hall and watching everybody. He was going to miss Hogwarts, he thought, and not for the first time. Determined to ask somebody to dance, he crossed the room, but stopped when he caught a glance of Hermione dancing with Ralph. They were out of the limelight, towards the side of the hall, and were dancing fairly close. He smiled. Then he saw Ron. Ron looked angry, and he was headed right for them. Harry hurried, trying to get there first, but nearly tripped over someone and had to stop and apologize. When he looked again, he saw Ron shove Ralph. Hermione looked mortified, and as he got closer, he could hear her saying, "Ron, stop it. You're going to make a scene."

Harry got a hand on Ron, but Ron jerked away. He was muttering, "I saw you…I saw you…don't you lay a hand on her…"

Before Harry could say anything, Ron rared back and punched Ralph square in the nose. Hermione squealed, everyone who wasn't already staring stopped and stared, and Ralph crumpled to the floor.

Professors McGonagall and Lupin were there at once. Remus and Harry got hold of Ron, and McGonagall bent down to check on Ralph. He angrily brushed her hand away, saying, "I'm all right. Leave me be."

But she insisted, and, at the sight of his nose, said, "Come on then, let's get you to the hospital wing." She led him away.

Remus said to Ron, "And as for you, I think you need to come outside with me and cool off."

Ron brushed Harry and Remus off and snarled, "Leave me alone," before running away.

Harry took Hermione's hand; she was crying softly. "Hermione, are you all right?" he asked, worried. She nodded.

He turned to Remus and said, "I think I should go after Ron, but…"

Remus put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Yes, I think that would be best, Harry. I'll stay with Hermione."

As Harry left, Remus turned to the students nearby who were still staring, and instructed, "Go back to your dancing, everybody; everything's all right here." Slowly they turned their attention elsewhere. He guided Hermione to the nearest table and pulled out a chair for her. She sat, still not having said anything.

"Are you all right?" Remus asked, offering her a handkerchief.

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, and said, "This wasn't what I wanted."

He smiled, then replied, "I know."

He let her sit for a minute and regain her composure. Then he asked, "Would you like to go to my office, or for a walk? Or I could take you back to your dormitory…"

She shook her head. Lifting her chin, she looked him straight in the eye and said, "I can't leave; I'm Head Girl."

He nodded. "Then would you like to dance, perhaps?" he rose and held out his hand.

Finally, a smile. She quickly wiped the last tear from her cheek and said, "I would love to, Professor Lupin."

Harry returned a while later to see Hermione and Remus dancing together. He smiled. He had made sure Ron was back in the dormitory and left him to sleep; Harry had found him halfway up the stairs to the Charms hallway, throwing up over the railing. Draco Malfoy hadn't managed to spike the punch, but he had smuggled in a flask or two ("or three," Harry thought, figuring that both Crabbe and Goyle had been helping) of his father's best vodka, and Ron, in his great wisdom, had gotten himself royally drunk. (Vodka was apparently Lucius Malfoy's only concession to Muggle culture, and Harry didn't doubt that he'd altered it magically somehow.) Convincing himself that Ralph was making unwanted advances on Hermione ("It wouldn't take much, in that state," Harry thought), Ron had intervened.

Harry surveyed the room again. None of the professors seemed to be missing, so Ron couldn't be in too much trouble. It would probably hit tomorrow. He hoped it would hit for Draco as well; with that thought, he looked around to find Snape. The Head of Slytherin House looked angrier than usual, and Harry followed his glare to see that it rested on Malfoy--who didn't look very happy himself. Harry wished that it had been Draco throwing up over the banister instead of Ron. He looked back at Snape, who was now watching someone else, a different expression on his face. Again Harry looked to see who it was, and realized that Snape was watching Hermione and Remus. His eyes went back to Snape, who, apparently satisfied, had turned to speak with Madam Hooch.

Harry crossed to Hermione and tapped Remus on the shoulder. "May I cut in?" he asked, grinning.

Remus bowed with his best imitation of the aristocracy. "But of course, my good man. I trust that all is well?" Harry nodded. "Then be my guest." He waved a hand, and Harry took his place with Hermione.

Neither of them said anything. When the song was over, she quietly asked, "Do you think we could take a walk?"

"Sure," Harry said, "Whatever you want."

As they left the hall, Harry noticed that Snape was watching them leave. He was curious, and so didn't turn away as quickly as he usually did, and Snape…nodded, then looked away. Bizarre. Hermione hadn't seen anything.

They went outside, walked a little, and took a seat underneath a huge tree strung with Fairy lights (actual Fairies, of course, enlisted to help with the outdoor decorations). They sat together in silence for a few minutes, and then Hermione asked, "Is Ron all right?"

"Yeah," Harry answered, "he is. He…he got drunk on some vodka Malfoy brought to the party, and I guess…I guess he didn't know what he was doing."

Hermione paused, and then said, "Yes he did."

Harry thought for a minute and then said softly, "I know."

After another few minutes, Hermione laid her head on his shoulder. Surprised, he put his arm around her and leaned his cheek against the top of her head, hoping that he wasn't going to mess up her hair.

She whispered, "Sometimes I think things would be a lot easier if I'd fallen in love with you, Harry."

Harry smiled, then remembered that she couldn't see his face. "It might have been nice, Hermione, but I don't think it would have been any easier."

She laughed a little, and straightened up. Meeting his gaze she smiled, and said, "You're probably right."

He smiled back, and she hugged him around the neck. His eyes grew wide for a minute, and then he hugged her in return.

On to Chapter 11