Chapter 92: A Moonlit Rose
Sally-Anne finished brushing Hermione's hair. "How's this?"
"I don't know why it matters. If Ron wanted someone pretty, he'd have asked someone else."
"I don't know. Some boys find frizzy hair attractive."
Hermione glowered at Sally-Anne through the mirror in front of them.
"I think you look lovely," Sally-Anne said. "Like I told Ron, you'll look amazing."
"Context?"
"My part of trying to convince him to ask you."
Hermione smiled. She wasn't sure if she was happy to have been asked, or happy to go with Ron. Either way, she was happy, and that was something.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Sally-Anne looked over Hermione's hair again. "It would look better if you'd let me add your hair clip."
"No. I'm not putting it back in until Rose apologizes for nearly getting Ron killed."
"And you really think that will work?"
"Eventually."
Sally-Anne sighed. "You're certainly as stubborn as he is." She held up Hermione's hand. "What's your ring doing on your finger?"
"I'm cross with her," Hermione said, pulling her hand away, "but not that cross. She's still my friend, I just want her to know I'm annoyed."
"She's been hiding from us all week," Sally-Anne said. She moved to her own bed and picked up her necklace. "I should think she knows by now."
Hermione moved to let Sally-Anne adjust her necklace in the mirror.
"Besides, the dress Rose made me is lovely. It's hard to stay mad at someone that works so hard for us."
"That's the problem. She's been ignoring us for the work on the tournament."
"You're right about the problem, but I think you're wrong about the solution. You can talk to her family any time you want. I don't understand why you don't. Otherwise, you'll just be sitting in a corner, pouting, waiting for a response that's never coming. Her family's had years of practice dealing with her. The nice one… I forget her name, but she must have some idea."
"Carolina?"
"Her, or her uncle. He sounds nice."
Hermione glanced at her pack. It felt weird not having the condition conch on her, but without pockets, she didn't have a choice. Why didn't girls get pockets?
"Think about it," Sally-Anne said. "I've got to get going. Don't leave him waiting too long, and don't get into any trouble."
Hermione smirked. "What if it finds me?"
"My mum says shout 'fire'. At the very least, you'll get Ginny's attention."
Hermione sat on her bed after Sally-Anne left. She didn't like leaving her pack behind, but she couldn't bring it, not to the ball. Besides, she wouldn't need it. Not unless they got into trouble, which was more likely to happen than not.
She glanced at her pack again. It wouldn't take long, would it? She could just grab the conch, ask Carolina or Ozerl about Rose, and she'd be done. Time during the day seemed to be the same in their world as it was in hers, so they probably wouldn't be busy.
Hermione reached into her pack and pulled out the condition conch.
<Professor Ozerl. Can you hear me? Eom.>
<Ms. Granger, I believe you've got a ball to attend.>
Hermione blushed and became thankful that no one could see her.
<I just had a quick—>
<You'd like to know about how to deal with Rose, I presume?>
She wasn't kidding. He does know everything.
Hermione stared in awe at him through the conch.
<Yes, Professor.>
<Reflectesalon is taking care of it. I expect she'll apologize to you by the end of the night. Now, don't keep Mr. Weasley waiting.>
<Does Rose tell you all this, or do you just know things?>
<Ms. Granger, if I told you, it'd take all the mystery out of it. Have a good night.>
<Good night.>
Hermione dropped the conch back into her pack. Her head spun with what had just happened. She'd just talked to Rose's uncle, who actually knew everything.
She opted not to put her hair clip on. If she kept it off, there was a chance that she'd keep her head together.
Hermione descended the stairs to the common room and found Ron waiting for her. He stared at her as she came down.
"Hi," he said.
"Good evening to you too, Ron."
"You… erm… you… You look nice!"
"Thank you," Hermione said, a smile on her face, "so do you." She motioned to the portal. "Shall we?"
They walked together in mostly awkward silence to the ground floor. When they got there, they met up with Neville and Ginny. They also heard a familiar voice.
"Don't you look beautiful?"
Hermione turned and smiled when she saw a welcomed face.
"Alex!" She hugged her former prefect. "What are you doing here?"
"Chaperoning," she replied. "Sally-Anne told me about it, and I offered to help chaperon the students. Professor McGonagall said she'd be delighted to have me helping." She turned to Ron. "Good evening, Ron. You're looking very handsome."
"Thanks," he replied, fidgeting with his tie again.
"Would you stop?" Hermione asked, slapping his hands away again and fixing it. "Sally-Anne had it perfect earlier."
"It feels too tight," he said.
"Hold still," Alex said. She adjusted his tie and loosened it just a bit. "There. Better?"
"Loads," Ron said. "Thanks."
"No problem." She looked past them at Neville and Ginny. "Good evening you two."
"Hey, Alex," Neville said.
"Have any of you seen Sally-Anne?" Alex asked.
"She came down ahead of us," Hermione said. "Do you know who's taking her?"
"She swore me to secrecy," Alex said. "Wait a few minutes, I'm sure you'll find out." She smiled at them. "Are you two together, or just keeping each other out of trouble?"
"Together," Hermione said.
Alex's smile broadened for a moment. "Well, you four enjoy your night." She looked past them. "Good evening, Professor McGonagall. Don't you look lovely?"
"Thank you, Ms. Nertlyn." She approached them and directed her attention at Neville and Ginny. "Mr. Longbottom, Ms. Weasley, please follow me. The rest of you may enter the Great Hall."
Neville and Ginny left with Professor McGonagall, and Alex bid them a good evening, leaving Ron and Hermione alone. Hermione glanced around, hoping to spot Harry, Ellie, or Sally-Anne. After seeing none of them, she turned to Ron.
"Shall we go inside?"
Ron shrugged.
"Thanks." Hermione laughed in spite of herself. "Come on."
Instead of the long tables that usually occupied the Great Hall, there were several smaller round tables. The teachers' table stood at its usual place, although Hermione spotted several teachers at one of the larger round tables.
They joined Harry and Ellie at one of the smaller tables, which was otherwise empty. Ron took a seat beside Harry, while Hermione sat next to Ron.
"I hope you two don't mind," Hermione said.
"We're saving them for the rest of you," Harry said. "I don't know where Rose or Sally-Anne are."
"Professor McGonagall took Neville and Ginny," Hermione said. She glanced up at the teachers' table. "I think the champions are sitting at the teachers' table."
Ellie signed something to Harry.
"Ellie says there wouldn't be enough room here," Harry said.
Hermione did a quick count of the seats. "She's right. Just eight. And that's assuming Rose even shows up."
"Sally-Anne said she had a date," Harry said.
"What?!" Ron exclaimed. "Rose?! Rose Peta-Lorrum?!"
"Yes, that Rose," Hermione said, frowning. "That's news to me, though."
Before anyone could investigate further, Professor Dumbledore stood up and addressed everyone.
"If everyone could find their seats, then promptly remove yourselves from them!" he called. "We're going to begin with the announcement of the champions!"
A brief wave of murmuring filled the Great Hall as everyone stood up.
"Presenting, from Hogwarts, Mr. Cedric Diggory, and his date, Ms. Cho Chang!"
Applause filled the Great Hall as Cedric and Cho entered. Hermione stopped for a moment and stared at them. They looked so perfect together. Some part of her wished Cedric had chosen her instead of Cho.
She glanced at Ron. He smiled awkwardly at her. She smiled back. She was happy to be with him, no matter what she felt for anyone else. Some small part of her told her she should be thankful for that.
"From Durmstrang, Mr. Viktor Krum, and his date, Ms. Sally-Anne Perks!"
Hermione, Ron, and Harry all stared at Sally-Anne as Krum escorted her to the head table.
"She's with Krum?" Hermione hissed to Ron.
"I guess," he said, evidently just as confused as she was. She stole a glance at Harry. They exchanged confused glances before turning back to the champions.
"From Beauxbatons, Ms. Fleur Delacour, and her date, Mr. Roger Davies!"
Hermione watched them walk to join the other champions, but quickly turned her attention back to Sally-Anne and Krum. She couldn't believe it; Sally-Anne had been so secretive about her date, and now she knew why.
"From Hogwarts, Mr. Neville Longbottom and his date, Ms. Ginevra Weasley!"
Unlike during the first task, everyone applauded Neville's entrance. Hermione was glad to see that some things had changed since she'd last been at Hogwarts. Once he reached the table, the champions all took their seats.
"Now, let the feast begin!" Professor Dumbledore called.
Food appeared on their plates. The clattering of forks and knives filled the Great Hall, followed by a rise of conversation.
Someone tapped Hermione's shoulder. She turned her head and found none other than Rose standing next to her.
"Is it alright if we join you?"
Hermione turned around and saw another girl standing beside Rose. The other appeared to be just as pale as Rose, accented by her black hair and dark circles around her eyes. A few of her fingers were wrapped around Rose's.
"Go ahead," Harry said. "We've got plenty of space."
Rose smiled at him, but turned her attention to Hermione.
"Brain?"
"Fine."
"Thanks."
The two girls took seats at their table.
"Everyone, this is Sylvia Tilshnery." Rose motioned to her friend. "Sylvia, this is Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Ellie."
"Pleasure," Sylvia said.
Hermione eyed the both of them. "Sylvia" gave her a bad feeling.
"Where'd Rose find you?" she asked.
"Diagon Alley," Sylvia replied.
"She was shopping with her parents, and I was there with Moon and her dad," Rose said. "We started talking when I found her hiding in the place with all the books. The one where we met Goldilocks."
"Flourish and Blotts?" Ron asked.
"That one."
"Why were you hiding?" Hermione asked.
"My parents only want me reading the books they preapprove," Sylvia replied. "Unapproved books include most fiction novels, anything teaching advanced magic—"
"Hold on," Hermione said, "probably should've opened with this, but you're obviously not a Muggle-born."
"Pureblood," Sylvia said. "My parents home-school me."
"If you stretch the definition of 'school'," Rose added.
"More of preparation to please the man I'm to marry," Sylvia said. "Using magic to cook, clean, sew, tend a house, that sort of thing."
"And yet, they let you come here," Hermione said. "With Rose, who is arguably a girl."
Rose stuck her tongue out at Hermione.
"Rose said she took care of it."
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Rose.
"How?"
"That's for me to know, and the DMLE never to find out!" Rose declared.
"Uh huh." A picture formed in Hermione's head. She became certain she knew who this girl really was.
"Rose, does your girlfriend know you're here with another girl?"
"First, Halflings believe that exclusive relationships are unhealthy for the commune. Second, she does, and she says have fun. Third, 'girlfriend' isn't a good word for it. We prefer dereeroyl, which is Halfling for 'sister eternal' or 'brother eternal'."
"Dairy royal?" Hermione asked.
"No, dereeroyl," Rose corrected. "If you don't swallow your tongue when you say it, you're not pronouncing it right."
"The Halfling's Shadow, yes?" Sylvia asked.
"Yup!" Rose beamed. "I'm proud that you know that!"
"How much do you know about Rose?" Hermione asked.
"Plenty."
"Oh, and Ali says if you mistreat me, she'll slice you like a tomato."
"She's welcome to try."
Hermione didn't get much more out of "Sylvia", nor Rose, compared to how much she normally talked. She took the time to look around the Great Hall. The ceiling was a clear, moonlit sky, and snow gently drifted down around them. The normal assortment of floating candles adorned the hall. Hermione smiled at it. She didn't know why, but everything seemed so much better than usual.
They made more idle talk for nearly an hour before Professor Dumbledore announced that dancing would start. Each champion and his or her date walked onto the dance floor, and students rose from their seats to crowd around and watch. As they did, several people none of them recognized took up places on a stage that wasn't there a moment ago.
"Who's that?" Hermione asked as the people started playing.
"The Weird Sisters," Ron replied.
"Only cos Professor Dumbledore rejected every other idea of mine," Rose added.
"I don't see a problem," Hermione said.
"You'll hear it before you see it."
Hermione watched Neville and Ginny, forcing herself not to look at Cedric and Cho. Ginny's dress glowed like the last embers of a campfire as she and Neville drifted effortlessly across the dance floor.
"Rose, when you made Ginny's dress, did you ask her what she wanted, or did you just make a dress that looks like fire?" Hermione whispered.
"She wanted it made of fire," Rose replied.
"I blame you," Ron said.
"I'll take fire Ginny over panicky Ginny any day," Harry said.
The music stopped and the audience applauded. After each dancer bowed or curtsied (and Ginny nearly fell over trying), Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall took to the floor and the music began again. After a few seconds, Madame Maxime and Hagrid joined them, followed by Professors Karkaroff and Sprout a few seconds after that.
"Why Professor Sprout?" Hermione asked.
"Second highest ranking female," Rose explained. "Professor Hagrid volunteered to escort Madame Maxime on the grounds that he's the only one tall enough."
Professor Dumbledore glanced at Rose and nodded.
"Here we go," Rose said, taking Sylvia's hand. "Ready?"
"If I must."
I see why she likes her, Hermione thought as the girls walked onto the dance floor. She's just as gloomy as Professor Snape.
Hermione waited for the inevitable burst of whispers from the crowd, but none came. People seemed content to watch two girls dancing.
Maybe it's not a big deal here.
Sally-Anne and Krum returned to the dance floor. Cedric and Cho joined them not long after, followed by more and more couples.
Hermione turned to Ron. "Come on."
She took Ron's hand, and his stomach nearly lept from his body. His heart made its beating known once again as he and Hermione walked onto the dance floor, followed shortly by Harry and Ellie.
Ron concentrated on his feet, trying not to step on Hermione's. His endeavor was harmed by him getting distracted by Hermione. Her hands felt delicate in his, making him want to hold on all the more, and her face glistened in the light cast by the candles that floated around the room. He stared into her eyes, behind which lay a brilliance that no one could match.
After the band finished, they switched from ballroom music to concert music. Hermione covered her ears as she and Ron left the dance floor.
"I think I see what she meant!" Hermione nodded towards Rose as she and Sylvia left the Great Hall.
"What now?" Ron asked.
"I don't know! We sit and chat, I guess."
"I told Neville I'd need my bag!" Ron said. "We could've played chess."
"With this noise, that'd make a decent challenge," Hermione said, smiling.
She glanced over and saw Harry and Ellie silently conversing.
"I'm not sure I remember the last time I saw Harry smile," Hermione said.
"Sally-Anne says he does all the time," Ron said.
"Did you know she was going with Krum?"
"She never said."
Hermione glanced at the dance floor. For the first time all night, she wasn't worried about staring at Cedric. She was glad he hadn't asked her, because she was honestly glad to be with Ron. It wasn't always easy to see, but he cared about her. He was lousy at showing it, but he did care about her.
For nearly half an hour, the two of them sat and talked. Ron told her about Muggle Studies and Care for Magical Creatures, and Hermione told him about everything she'd learned while studying at home. They were in the middle of a game of mental chess when another couple joined them.
"What are you two doing hiding in a corner?" Sally-Anne asked.
"Sh!" Ron hissed. "I've nearly got her. Bishop captures C3."
"Are… are you two playing chess in your head?"
"Is this English custom?" Krum asked.
"No, it's a Ron and Hermione custom," she said, sighing.
"Rook captures C3," Hermione said.
"Ha! Knight to B2! Checkmate!"
"I'm not sure if this is odd or adorable, but I'm going to be telling someone's relatives about it," Sally-Anne said.
"Good game," Hermione said as they shook hands. "Princess! How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough," she said, laughing. "Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, meet Viktor Krum."
"It is pleasure," Krum said, bowing. "Princess is telling me much about strange friends."
"Strange is certainly a word I'd use," Sally-Anne said.
"It's nice to meet you," Hermione said. "You never said you were going with Krum!"
"We wanted to keep it a secret," Sally-Anne said as she and Krum took seats. "Who's that with Rose?"
"She calls herself Sylvia, although I'm not convinced that's her real name." Hermione glanced back at the entrance. "Did you see Alex?"
"We saw her when we came back in," Sally-Anne said.
"Alex is one that is protective like mother bear, yes?" Krum asked.
"That would be her," Sally-Anne said.
Hermione nudged Ron, who was staring at Krum.
"What?" he asked.
"Stop staring," she whispered.
"What about Harry and Ellie?" Sally-Anne asked.
"Last I saw they were sitting off to the side mouthing away to each other," Hermione said. "Harry can understand sign language, apparently."
"No, he can read lips," Sally-Anne said. "I'm the one that got them together. It's hard for Ellie to communicate with anyone, but not Harry."
Hermione smiled at her.
"I'm proud of you, Princess."
"Thank you. Now, if you would only follow my example, we'd be lovely."
"What?" Hermione glanced at Ron, who had already started talking to Krum about Quidditch. "I'm not—"
"I don't mean with him, I mean Rose."
Sally-Anne eyed her expectantly. Hermione just glared at her.
"I haven't got a problem with Rose!"
"Really? She brings another girl, and the first thing you think is that she isn't giving her real name."
"Come on! Rose hasn't got friends apart from us! Sylvia doesn't go here!"
"Where did Rose say they met?"
"Diagon Alley, but—"
"They just met, Hermione. Rose made a new friend, and you're jealous."
"I am not! That's ridiculous!"
"You're jealous because someone else might know her better than you."
Hermione wanted to scream at Sally-Anne. She wanted to tell her who Sylvia really was. She'd worked it all out, and come to the conclusion that "Sylvia" was Shadow.
It all made sense. The gloomy nature, her intimate knowledge of Rose's world, even her apparent dislike of touching anyone, even Rose. They'd danced together, but why else bring her? She didn't know where the story about them meeting came from, but she vaguely remembered something about them meeting in Sentrum, which was their equivalent of Diagon Alley.
"Are you two planning on spending the evening playing chess, or were you planning on dancing again?"
Sally-Anne snapped Hermione out of her thoughts. It was challenging thinking without her hair clip. At least, it took longer to think.
"We were killing time until the band plays songs to which we can dance," Hermione said, "and not just banging on their instruments for fun."
The band finished their song and began a slower, quieter one.
"Right on cue," Sally-Anne said.
Krum stood up from his chair and offered his hand to Sally-Anne, clearing his throat.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this–"
"My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." Sally-Anne finished. "That's Romeo and Juliet!"
She climbed to her feet staring at Krum.
"Took weeks to memorize, but I was promised it would make you smile."
"Never mind smile," Hermione said, standing up. "She's gonna swoon."
Krum led a still shocked Sally-Anne to the dance floor, leaving Ron and Hermione on their own.
"Well," Hermione said. "Krum set the bar. Think you can match it?"
Ron panicked, desperately searching his head for something to say.
"Don't look so frightened, I was only teasing!"
Hermione took his hand and again, he felt as if he'd be ill. It hurt, but it felt good at the same time.
"You could at least say 'May I have this dance?'" Hermione said.
Ron pulled himself together and moved in front of Hermione.
"May I have this dance… fair maiden?" he asked, doing his best impression of Sally-Anne.
"I'd be honored," Hermione replied, laughing.
As the band played softly, the two walked back onto the dance floor. Hermione placed her hands on Ron's shoulders, and he shakily put his on her waste.
As they rocked back and forth, Hermione moved in closer. Ron looked into her eyes again and smiled. After everything he'd been through, all the worrying and panic, being with Hermione like that made everything worth it.
"Thanks for asking me to the ball, Ron," Hermione said.
"Thanks for saying 'yes'," Ron replied. "I guess it's a good thing I tried that task, huh?"
Hermione frowned. "What did you say?"
Ron felt a pain in his stomach. "I… Erm…"
"I told you how worried I was. I… I thought you were going to die, and here you are, saying it was a good thing?"
She pulled away from him.
"Hermione—"
"I just need some air."
Without another word, she ran out of the Great Hall, desperate to get away from everything and everyone. Hermione ran straight to the entrance hall, ignoring everyone on her way.
"Hermione?" Alex asked as she ran past. "Is ev–"
"I just need some air," Hermione said, fighting to keep her voice steady.
"But–"
"I want to be alone."
Hermione left the castle, thankful for the frigid air; she'd found that warm air at night sent her into a panic attack. She closed her eyes and allowed the silence to relax her.
For that fleeting moment, she was alone in the world and completely at peace.
The dance drifted far away into the night, taking all her problems with it. Neither the quiet chirping of crickets nor the sorrowful howling of a lone wolf penetrated the silence around her. The only sound in the night was her own breathing.
The sparkle of fire behind her eyes forced her to open them and banish the memory before it could manifest. She held her head and groaned. With or without the hair clip, she couldn't stop the memory from coming back.
"Hermione, what happened?"
Footsteps accompanied Alex's voice.
"I… It's nothing."
"I think you forget, I used to be your prefect. I know how bad Ron is at talking to… well, anyone, really." She paused, and the footsteps stopped. "Hermione, please look at me."
Hermione turned around and wiped tears out of her eyes.
"It's alright." Alex put her hands on Hermione's shoulders. "Tell me what happened, and we'll work through it all together."
Back inside, Ron returned to his table. He'd blown his chance with Hermione, but it was worse than that. What little time he had with her, and because of him, she was probably spending it crying.
All he wanted to do was to lay his head on the table and stare into space. He was tired of dancing, of everything.
"Cheer up, Cohort."
He looked up and saw Sally-Anne sitting next to him. Krum wasn't far off, talking with some friends, but still keeping an eye on Sally-Anne.
"Easy for you to say," Ron said. "You didn't just make your best friend cry. Again."
Sally-Anne took his hand, but he didn't get butterflies like when he'd taken Hermione's.
"Why don't you go apologize?" Sally-Anne asked.
"What's the point? Even if I did, she'd never forgive me. It's not like last year when I didn't say anything, I actually said it this time!"
"What'd you say to her?" Sally-Anne asked.
Ron looked away, hoping he could get out of it.
"I can have Viktor come over here and twist your arm for me," Sally-Anne said. "Or either of your brothers. Or Alex."
"I told her… I don't want to say it."
"That's probably a good sign. Why don't you go out and apologize?"
"Because I'll only make it worse! I always make it worse! I thought if I just didn't talk to her, I wouldn't make it worse, but I always screw up!"
Sally-Anne gave him a crooked smile.
"Is that why you've been so quiet around her?"
He nodded.
"Believe it or not, I think that's brilliant," she said. "You're finally thinking about what you say."
Ron glared at her.
"You can't expect to be perfect on your first try."
"You always know what to say. How do you do it?"
"Rose gave me inherent bonuses to Wisdom and Charisma. Then there's my dress, and my ribbon. Basically, I've been hand-crafted by Rose to be good with people."
"Of course she did. What's the point of being clever if I can't do anything right?!"
"Find her and tell her how you feel. No hiding, no fake overconfidence, just you and her talking. Just talk to her from the heart."
"I can't."
"I know it's hard for you, but it doesn't have to sound perfect."
Ron spared her suggestion a moment's thought, but dismissed it. Instead, he offered something else.
"I told her it was good that I tried the first task, but I just wanted to tell her I was happy to be here with her."
"Then just tell her that."
"But… it feels… I could do more!"
"Why? Because you saw Viktor doing it? He took weeks to memorize that one line. He's actually worse about expressing himself than you are."
That caught Ron off guard. Viktor Krum was one of the best Quidditch players in the world. Everyone wanted to be him. If he was just as bad at talking to girls as Ron was, maybe Ron wasn't so bad after all.
"Hermione didn't agree to go with you because she thought you'd be like your brother, she wants to be here with you." Sally-Anne smiled at him. "And I agree with her. Ron Weasley's a great guy once you get to know him."
Ron blushed and hoped Sally-Anne didn't see.
"Well, I guess I am a bit."
Sally-Anne covered her mouth as she let out a small laugh.
"I'm glad you think so too." She stood up. "Go talk to your date. Tell her you're sorry, that you didn't realize it was a big deal, and then tell her what you told me."
Ron lept to his feet with a renewed sense of resolve.
"Thanks, Sally-Anne!"
"You're most welcome, Ron."
Ron ran out of the Great Hall. When he got out, he stopped and looked around. Hermione was nowhere to be found.
"She went outside."
Rose's voice made him jump. He whirled around and found her with Sylvia.
"Brain ran out a few minutes ago," Rose said. "I assume you upset her."
"Never mind that! Where is she?!"
"Like I said, outside. Find the entrance hall. She went to get some fresh air."
"Thanks!" Ron shouted as he ran down the corridor to the entrance hall.
His heart hammered in his ears when he ran through the open castle doors. He whipped his head around, searching for any sign of her. After a moment, he caught sight of her and Alex standing not far from the castle.
"Hermione!"
He started towards her.
"Go away, Ronald!"
Her words stopped him cold.
"Hold on," Alex said. She walked up to Ron, but addressed them both. "You were both having lots of fun before Ron put his foot in his mouth. I'm sure you can go back to that."
No one moved for a minute. Ron could count the seconds. Every time he opened his mouth, Alex would shake her head, and he'd close it. He didn't know why, but they were waiting for Hermione to speak.
"I can't!" Hermione's voice broke. "Just leave me alone!"
"I didn't mean to!" Ron said. "I… I'm sorry, I didn't realize it was a big deal. All I wanted to say was that I was happy to be at the ball with you. I… I wish I hadn't run off and broken into the task. I wish I'd just talked to you, because there's no one else I wanted to be here with."
For an eternity, no one said anything. The only sound Ron heard was the sound of his own breathing.
"Ron, that's the sweetest thing anyone's said to me," Hermione said. "I… I'm sorry I reacted the way I did. I've been scared ever since… I've been having nightmares about the World Cup. The man that attacked me… he called me 'Mudblood'. I can't get it out of my head that he knew who I was. What if he knows where I live? Or who my friends are?" She wiped tears out of her eyes. "I keep having nightmares that he comes back and attacks you, or Ginny, or Luna. Or hurts my mum and dad. So when you nearly died, I just… I couldn't stand it if something happened to you."
Sobs drowned out anything else Hermione had to say. For a moment, Ron just stood and watched. He didn't know what to do. Anything he said would make it worse.
<Hug her, Cohort. She needs a hug.>
Ron took a few steps forward. When Hermione didn't back away, he shakily put his arms around her.
"I won't try again," he said. "I promise."
"I'm… sorry," she sobbed. "I… Oh, Ron!" She returned his hug.
For what felt like hours, Ron and Hermione just stood there under the full moon. Ron never wanted to let go.
Alex cleared her throat.
"As sweet as this is, you two should get back inside."
"She's right," Hermione said.
The three of them walked back together. They found Rose and Sylvia waiting at the entrance.
"Are you alright?" Rose asked.
"I am now," Hermione said. "Thank you, Rose."
Rose nodded. "I'm sorry."
"I know. I forgive you."
Rose and Hermione smiled at one another, then Rose took Hermione's hand.
"You left this in our room." She pressed the hair clip into Hermione's hand.
"It's your room now?" Hermione asked. "I'm sorry, I couldn't tell. When was the last time you slept in it?"
Rose stuck her tongue out at her as she fastened the hair clip back into her hair. When Hermione had finished, she turned to Ron.
"Well? How does it look?"
"Great!"
Hermione smiled. "Good answer."
At the end of the night, Viktor and Sally-Anne walked outside, moving slowly towards the Durmstrang ship.
"I am hoping you had good time," Viktor said. "Even if you were wanting to be with Potter instead."
"What?!" Sally-Anne gasped. "I–"
"I am best Seeker in world. Any Seeker worthwhile must see whole field. They must use opponent against opponent, as extra set of eyes. You look at him and mute girl no less than eight times tonight."
Sally-Anne's heart sank. She'd warned Ron about not staring at Hermione if she'd turned him down, then done the same thing.
"I'm so sorry," she said. "I thought I was doing well."
"I still got to take beautiful girl to ball. Even if you were wanting to be with other man," he glanced back at the castle where Alex was watching them, "and even if Alex glares at me like mother eagle, I still had good time."
Sally-Anne laughed, relieved that she hadn't ruined Viktor's night.
"I'm glad," she said. "You're a lot nicer than I thought you'd be, and… I still can't believe you memorized that line for me."
"On outside, I am big and strong, like bear, but on inside, I am soft and cuddly, like kitten."
Sally-Anne laughed again.
"I'll remember that. I'm sure Parvati and Lavender are going to ask me all about you tonight."
It occurred to Sally-Anne that Viktor wasn't that different from her. He had to deal with fame all the time.
"Does it ever bother you that people follow you around all the time?"
Viktor nodded.
"Sometimes, it alright, but other times, I just want left alone."
"I was starting to think it was just me," Sally-Anne said, smiling. "My friend Rose makes these beautiful clothes for me, and I keep getting so much attention because of them. It was nice at first, but it can be hard to get away and spend time with my friends."
"Then I will take as complement that you choose me of all people to go to ball with," Viktor said. He took her hand, bent down, and kissed it. "Good night, Princess."
"Good night, Viktor," Sally-Anne said.
Rose and "Sylvia" appeared in the Chamber of Secrets at the end of the night.
"I think you know the way from here," she said. "I don't know about you, but I had a wonderful time!"
"Sylvia" glowered at her.
"Happy?"
"Yup! Thank you for asking!" Her cheerful smile faded. "Really, Sly, thank you. Carolina said—"
"If you asked another girl, they'd all think she was like you. You told me."
Rose nodded. She glanced at the Chamber of Secrets, then turned back to Sly.
"Good night."
She leaned in and kissed Sylvia's cheek before she turned back into Sly. Before Sly could say anything, Rose turned to go.
"I can't feel that."
Rose frowned and turned around.
"What?"
"Cruentius can't create fine detail, so I haven't got a nervous system."
"What about magic?"
"Magic can only do so much."
"Can't feel anything, can't leave the castle… it sucks being you."
"I never said I couldn't leave the castle."
"Yeah, you just don't like open spaces. If you could leave the castle, you'd have gone to fetch the hiccups yourself."
"Horcruxes."
Rose smiled at him. She had finally decided that they were friends, and she was happy to have made a new one.
"Good night, Sly."
"Good night, Rose."
With a smile on her face, Rose vanished from the Chamber of Secrets.
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