CHAPTER 1: JUST A MATE

Hermione had just woken up on a bright, sunny day. The sun was shining in in the girl's dormitory in at Hogwarts. She looked outside, at the freshly fallen snow. 'Must have fallen last night' she thought to herself, as she moved away from the window, almost knocking down Lavender.
"Oh God, Lavender, I'm so sorry! How clumsy of me! Must be this December air that has me in a daze, as does it everyone."
"Maybe this December air, or the thought of Harry," said Lavender, smirking slightly.
"Oh shut up!" she said to Lavender, jokingly punching her in the arm. Though, did she really like Harry? They had been mates since the first year, and now 5 years later, she seems to have become attached to him. She loved his bright green eyes and his shiny, jet black hair and how it blew in the wind at the Gryffindor quidditch games. She seemed to catch herself staring at him in class. Quickly she thought, 'No, he's just a really good mate that's all. Just a...really good, handsome, smooth mate. God, what am I thinking! Just a mate, just a mate,' she thought as she got dressed into her robes. She grabbed her small handbag and walked down the steps into the common room. She saw Harry, Ron, and Neville come down as well. She blushed at the sight of Harry, then shook it off. She kept reminding her self that he was just her mate. Hermione then joined the boys walking to breakfast in the Great Hall. "Morning Ron, Harry, Neville," she said as she met with them. "Morning," they all said sleepily. Ginny caught up with Hermione. "Hey Hermione," she said "Hey Ginny, what's up?" "Nothing. Mind if I walk with you to breakfast?" Ginny asked, rather pleadingly. Hermione looked in her big blue eyes and couldn't resist. "Yes, Ginny you can." Ginny seemed rather pleased to hear this and walked next to Hermione, who kept glancing at Harry. Once or twice, she caught his eye, but then turned away. Cho Chang also walked up to Hermione, which turned Harry's head. Cho caught Harry staring and said, "Lovely day, isn't it? With all the snow that fell and all?" "Um yeah, lovely. It is rather pretty." 'Just like you' thought Harry. Harry has had a crush on Cho since the 4th year, and it was still going strong.

CHAPTER 2: CHRISTMAS DANCE

They stepped into the Great Hall, which hustled and bustled with chatter from all the houses. Ginny went off to sit with her fellow 5th years, and Cho to the Ravenclaw table. Harry was about to say good-bye, but the sentence stopped in mid-throat. He gulped down the words and sat at the Gryffindor table, in between Ron and Hermione. Hermione had looked in the corner of her eye to try to catch Harry's eyes. Eventually she did, and she smiled. He smiled back, which made Hermione all warm inside. Their headmaster, Albus Dumbledore stood up, and the Great Hall chatter immediately halted. "Students, before we serve breakfast, I have a very important announcement to make. We will, this year, be having a ceremonial dance for all years in Hogsmeade. It will be on the 23rd of December. Owls have been sent to all of your parents and guardians to let them know. If you get an owl in return that states that you are permitted to go to the dance, please present this letter to your house teacher or to me. "We will make the dress casual, so you will not have to get dressed up. If you wish to get something new to wear, please come to see Professor Jerrall, for what you would request. Her father owns a clothing shop at Hogsmeade and will deliver it to you A.S.A.P. If you have any more questions, please see Professor Jerall or myself." Professor Dumbledore sat down again, and the whole Great Hall swarmed with chatter, as the food magically appeared in front of them. Hermione looked down at Ginny, who stared dreamily at Draco Malfoy, who was sitting with Crabbe and Goyle. 'I don't see how she could like that boy. He is evil as the devil himself!'she thought to herself. But then Hermione thought to herself, 'I wonder about Harry. Hmm...I wonder if I could ask him.' 'No' said a voice inside her head,' 'he has got his eye on Cho, no bother asking him.' Another voice said 'On the other hand, what if Cho turns him down, like she did for the Yule Ball? Then I might have a shot!' "Who do you fancy asking, Ron?" asked Harry. "Idunf knoif imgong assumbobby," Ron replied through a full mouth of toast, eggs, and bacon. "Ron, swallow, then tell me," Harry said. "Sorry mate. I don't know if I'm going to ask somebody. I really don't have my eye on anyone. What about you?" "Don't know. I suppose I could ask Cho," Harry turned around and looked at Cho, who was talking to a 7th year, "but she might turn me down again." Harry looked down at his plate, disappointedly. "Don't worry, Harry. I'm sure Cho wouldn't turn you down twice. Especially after your, er, session after one of our D.A. meetings last year. When you kissed her? During Christmas time?" Hermione said to make him feel better. Thought she secretly hoped that she would turn him down. Harry looked up, smiling. In the 5th year, he had made a group called Dumbledore's Army and after the meeting near Christmas, he and Cho had kissed. It was probably the best moment at Hogwarts for him. He was hoping it might happen again. "Ya your right, Hermione. Maybe that would give her reason to say yes to me. Hey, we might even go out!" "Harry. Don't overreact, mate." Said Ron. "OK, OK, we'll see what happens as time progresses." Harry said through a grin. The talking in the Great Hall had gone up and the food disappeared. Hermione opened her purse and got a fancy-looking watch. It was gold and had flower designs around its rim and vine-line indents around the face. The hands were golden and the whole thing shined like the sun. "Wow Hermione," Said Harry, his eyes wide with curiosity, "Where did you get that thing?" Hermione smiled and said,

"My mum gave it to me for a Christmas present. And at every hour, it blows a puff of reddish-purple smoke. It's quite wonderful really. Works amazingly." The minute hand reached the 12, and the hour hand the 9, and a little puff of a purplely reddish pink smoke came out of the top of the clock. "Amazing," breathed Harry and Ron at the same time. Hermione was pleased that they liked it. The ends of the tables near the doors started to get up, the rest of them got up also. Hermione rushed to see Ginny, and they, along with Lavender, got up and started walking to the teacher's table. "Where are you guys going?" asked Neville. Ginny nudged her head towards the teacher's table. "What are you going there for?" asked Harry. Not wanting to tell him that she was going to see Professor Jerall about clothing, she said, "Oh just going to ask Professor Dumbledore something." "Same with us." said Lavender and Ginny in unison. They briskly walked towards the teacher's table. The boys watched for a second, then turned their backs and left into the hallway. "Do you really think that all of them really want to ask Dumbledore something?" asked Ron. "Couldn't tell you Ron, couldn't tell you." Harry replied as they stepped into potions class.