"Ron"
"Ron?"
Hermione let out an exasperated sigh and poked Ron in the side with her fork.
"Wh...what?" Ron jumped nearly half a foot and broke his gaze away from the Hufflepuff table where he had been ogling Susan Bones ever since she had come into the great hall for supper.
"Honestly Ron," Hermione said with a hint of annoyance, "all it takes is a pretty face with you."
"Well you didn't have to attack me!" Ron grumbled while gingerly rubbing his side.
"Ron," Fred said to his brother, "it's time that you knew the truth about out dear little Hermione."
"Sorry Hermione, we can't keep your secret any longer, it's time Ron knew the torrid truth." George added.
Fred leaned towards Ron and Hermione and whispered "you see Ron, Hermione is actually a fork wielding maniac!"
Fred voice had risen in volume and many Gryffindors were now watching the four with a mild degree of interest.
"Now really. Ron could you..." but Hermione was cut off by George.
"She's crazy Ron, crazy..." George gave a maniacal laugh.
"Ron," Hermione interjected again, "could you please pass me the kidney pie?"
"Wh...what pie?" He asked while not looking at her. The twins were putting on quite a show as they tried to fork each other in some strange medieval duel.
"The one by your hand Ron."
Hermione tapped Ron on the shoulder but he had gone completely still as the pretty Hufflepuff that he had become very interested in the last few days walked by.
"Oh never mind then," she snapped and pulled out her wand.
"accio pie"
The kidney pie whisked past Ron, missing the tip of his nose by a few mere millimeters and landed neatly in Hermione's outstretched hands.
"Show-off," he muttered darkly.
Hermione had just begun to cut herself a piece of the pie when Harry slipped into the seat next to her.
"Hullo Harry, where have you been?" She asked as she passed him the pie.
"Thought you weren't going to make it to dinner." Ron told him, finally able to have a normal conversation now that Susan had left the hall.
"Well, I was talking to Hagrid outside the library, I had to return a book, and he told me that Dumbledore has decided..." but at that moment, Dumbledore himself stood up at the staff table.
Professor Dumbledore waited patiently for the hall to quiet down. The hush spread quickly as every student in the hall turned to watch the tall man in vibrant, purple robes.
"I do hope that you all will pardon me for interrupting our truly delicious dinner but there is an announcement that I wanted to make."
Hermione glanced at Harry and knew immediately that whatever it was that he had been about to tell them, it had something to do with this. Harry watched the headmaster with interested expectation.
"Last year's Yule Ball was such a success that we have decided to hold it again this Christmas." Dumbledore beamed as a ripple of chatter followed his words.
"And," Dumbledore continued, "since we all had such a delightful time last year, I have decided to open the ball to everyone. All years will be allowed to attend."
