Unforeseen Outcomes

Chapter 8- Hermione

Weeks had passed since Ron had written Hermione back, and she was counting down the days until she could see him and Harry again. Plucking the letter off the nightstand she reads it over once more.

Dearest Hermione,

I miss you so much, Harry too, but as much as I want to see you right now, right this very second, I just can't. My internship is demanding so much attention from me, and I was lucky to even get it, my father had to pull a lot of strings. You have no idea how much I wish I was there with you right now, but I promise to come visit you the second I get time off. As a matter of fact, Harry just tells me Ginny mentioned a Halloween ball? I promise to you that I will be there to escort you, the way I should've escorted you to the Yule Ball in fourth year.

I love you so much.

-Ron

She sighs and leans her head against the bedpost once more, folding the letter back into it's envelope. The Halloween Ball is two weeks from today, and while she wished Ron could've just dropped everything and run to her, she's glad to have something to look forward to. Besides, two weeks gave her time to make sure that when Ron sees her she looks even more beautiful than she did at the Yule Ball.

She really appreciated his words, about how he would accompany her the way he should've in fourth year. They had gotten into such a huge argument after she attended the dance with Viktor Crum, and they hadn't spoken for weeks after that. Now was their chance at a redo, and she knew he wouldn't ruin it for her this time.

"Hey, are you ready to go?" Ginny asked, walking into their dormitory wearing dark jeans, sneakers, a black blouse and a small pink sweater. She'd fit right in if she lived in the muggle world.

Today they were going into Hogsmeade with Luna to shop for dresses. Grabbing her grey coat, Hermione stands up and together they leave Gryffindor Tower and walk to the Ravenclaw common room to collect Luna.

Luna has a very different choice of clothing, sporting a ruffled yellow top, a denim skirt over black leggings, and red sneakers, all topped off with a black and white polka dot coat. Hermione admired her indifference to the opinions of others, Luna has never once been anything but authentic to herself.

"Hello Hermione, hello Ginny. Are we all ready to go?" Luna asked in her soft fairy-like voice.

The girls nod and they all head to the front gate to sign out with Professor Flitwick before apparating to the Hogsmeade town square. The little village was alive with energy as people bustled all around them, talking and laughing. Children chased each other around the square, weaving in between their smiling parents. The girls smiled at the picturesque scene before them. The cobblestone streets were lit up with small orbs of light dangling in the trees, mid-afternoon sun shining through the collage of autumn painted leaves, casting an orange-ish red-ish glow across the town. A warm breeze brushed their faces as they took in the scent of butterbeer and caramel apples.

They decide to stop at the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer before they hit the shops, and enter the cool pub taking the booth closest to the fireplace. Hermione waves across the room at Astoria, who is seated at a table with Theo and Blaise, all laughing at something Theo must have said.

"So when did that happen?" Ginny raises her eyebrow with curiosity.

"What do you mean?"

"You and Greengrass. When did you two become so chummy?"

"Oh," she said. "I'm not sure really. She's my partner in potions and she's also in my Defense Against the Dark Arts class. She's not so bad, really."