I'm back! *squee* This is the sequel of Dance With Me.

This story delves much more in the competition held in Italy, where we left off. You will notice that they have started acting differently with one another.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the storyline. The good stuff is Rowling's

On with the story. . .

Chapter 1: Christmas

Harry awoke as a flash of sunlight blinded his eyes. They were still half-closed, but he fluttered them open as it got accustomed to the light. A blurry shape was holding out was seemed to be his glasses.

"Happy Christmas," Hermione said after he put on his glasses. She was sitting at the foot of his bed. "I wanted to give your present personally." She added, handing Harry a neatly wrapped gift.

"Wait," Harry said. He reached under his bed and pulled out a slightly dusty wrapped box. They exchanged gifts and decided that the best time to open them was now.

"One, two, three!" they said together. There were sounds of ripping paper until finally Hermione gasped. Harry had given her a new pair of black ballet shoes.

"Something tells me you don't want to use those silver shoes as much as possible." He explained. "So, I got you new ones."

"They're beautiful," Hermione said. "You guessed right. I didn't want to wear them because they might get ruined. Those were a gift from my dance instructor."

"So, do you like them?" Harry asked.

"I do!" she replied. "Very much. Thanks. It's just that I can't wear these, too. For the same reason, you know."

"Oh well."

"So, do you like mine?

"Y-yeah," Harry said untruthfully. "It's a nice . . . box."

"Open it," Hermione said, laughing. Harry lifted the lid gingerly and their final piece from Wand Dance was being performed by two silver figurines.

"Now do you like them?" Hermione asked.

"Very much," he replied. "It must have taken you a lot of time to make this."

"It was one of the hardest spells I've done. Well, not that I've done much with ease," she admitted.

"Quit being modest, Hermione," Harry joked. "Everyone in this room knows you're the best witch around."

"Thanks," she replied, putting her hand on top of Harry's. Suddenly, some kind of electricity shocked her. It was a feeling she was unfamiliar of, but she resisted the urge to take it off.

"I almost forgot," Harry said, pulling his hand away. He stood up, opened his trunk and extracted a worn-out gift. "I forgot to give you your birthday present. We were practicing too much." Harry explained. "I got it in London."

Hermione took the parcel and gently unwrapped it. There before her eyes lay a copy of The Secret Garden, except that it was very old. The pages were yellowing, the cover was in danger of being detached and the spine was peeling in places. Hermione gingerly opened it to the copyright page, dated years back.

"Oh my God," she whispered. "This isn't . . . first edition, is it?"

"It is." Harry replied. As what she did whenever she found out that Harry was safe, she flung her arms around his neck and surprising both herself and Harry, kissed him lightly on the lips. They stared at each other for a while, bewildered, until suddenly, Hermione had enough sense to let go.

"Thanks," she said timidly. "Best gift ever." They smiled shyly at each other.

The others started stirring.

"Happy Christmas, guys!" Hermione bellowed so that they would all wake up.

"Hermione, what the heck are you doing here?" Neville asked, rubbing his eyes in surprise. He refused to take off his blanket. "This is the boys' dormitory for crying out loud!"

"I'm always here on Christmas morning," she said. "Well, usually, you've all gone down to the Great Hall. I've got something for all of you."

"Who are you and what have you done with the real Hermione Granger?" Dean joked, feinting horror, but sounding a bit suspicious.

"Well, I thought about what you did for me and Harry during the competition, and I'd just like to say thanks for that." She said. "Now, enough with the drama. I'd like to see the look on your faces when you see what's inside." Each one took the topmost parcel from their pile of presents and began opening.

"Weird!" Ron remarked. "Why won't they move?" he tapped the Muggle chess figures that didn't at all look like the pieces he liked to use.

"Gee, thanks, Hermione!" Dean said gratefully, playing with his paddleball. "It's been ages since I got to play with one of these."

"Exactly what are these?" Seamus asked, frustratingly figuring out what to do with his present.

"Well, those are the toys Dean Harry and I grew up with." Hermione said. "I thought they might hold your interest. Neville, you've got a set of Scrabble there, I'll teach you later; Seamus, that's a yoyo; and Ron that one's Muggle chess."

"Weird!" Ron said again.

"Enough of that, I'll teach you later." She said. "I think it's time for breakfast."

Hermione attracted many jealous faces as a group of popular (yes, Neville, Dean and Seamus have become very popular due to their support during the competition) boys escorted her to the Great Hall, Harry being the closest and smiling.

So? Love it? Hate it? Let me know, 'kay?

If juggling is hard, try doing it with fanfics!

Thanks for reading! :)