fallacyinpedantry:

        He was the smartest in his year, almost to a debilitating point, she had to notice. She had to care. It was natural for the Holmes’ son to be drawn to another of… near his intellectual prowess, Hermione was the closest anyone got. He also understood her, more than Krum. Yes, he noted the way the man’s intellectually stunted eyes followed Hermione, she was different. It was part of her charm. Hamish also noted how her teeth were straighter than they used to be, as strange and unusual as that sounded. Asking her to the Yule ball would be easy, simple, statistically he added the chance of her saying yes. It wasn’t promising, and he slunk behind his book of Advanced Potions Making, Level Six. He wasn’t a sixth year, but he nicked it off a Slytherin who couldn’t read the title much less comprehend what was inside. He scribbled another note before gazing at the Gryffindor from over the book. He never loathed his house more than in that moment, why couldn’t he have been Ravenclaw like his sister? He was smarter than her.

        She shouldn’t worry over the thing too much; she wouldn’t succumb to feeling left out simply because a boy did not ask her. Her plan was to ask one of her best friends, if all else fails. Not that she believed Harry couldn’t get a date– and if she was being giving, Ronald might be able to get one too, if he learned how to control his mouth with what he said. She was very certain that either of them did not look at her like she was a girl; merely a person of the opposite gender that was their friend. Which was fine, it made things just a little less complicated. But when instances like a ball arose, she couldn’t help but to question their judgements on the whole ordeal.

  She sighed inwardly, turning her attention to the book in front of her, eyes scanned over the page that they had been learning that day in class– a different kind of potion, one that caused the drinker to become drowsy. Something that she might look further into as it would more than likely help Harry with his sleeping - or lack there of. He was looking quite tired these days and that didn’t sit well with her.

   Perhaps having a ball during these times was a bit of an odd idea. Harry had other things to be concerned about and she was certain that everyone in the castle could feel that there was something off in the air. But then, maybe that’s all the more reason to continue to host such an event. A way to get their minds off of what was happening outside the castle walls.