AN: Here's another one, readers! Please read and review! If you like this, you may want to read Treacle Tart, which can be accessed from my profile page.

~Natasha.


"What happened to your hair?"

it was the Yule Ball, and Hermione had just come in with Viktor Krum, of all people (Ron's stupidity was contagious, Harry thought), looking stunning wearing robes made of a floaty blue material. That was not what was different, as Harry had always known she was beautiful. The difference was made by her hair - sleek and shiny in a fancy hairstyle.

Hermione smiled, "I attacked it with Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. I reckon the bottle's got nothing left in it." She concluded ruefully.

"Oh. I rather liked the fact that someone else in Hogwarts, besides me, had such unruly hair."

"Please. Many other people have 'unruly hair', as you put it, at Hogwarts."

"Yeah, but no one matches my level of wild hair except you. Your hair is completely untamable, like mine. Well, most of the times." Harry smirked.

Hermione hit him on his arm. "Ow!"

This attracted the attention of Parvati. Who had been blushing and giggling at Viktor's surly words, whatever he had been saying.

The Gryffindor twin frowned at him. Harry realized it was a bad idea to talk to another girl for too long. Too happily, as well. Thus, he returned to his date's side obligingly, but not without something else to further anger Parvati:

"Save the last dance for me, will you, Hermione?"

She glanced at his date nervously before replying, "Sure."

Parvati whispered to him in irritation, "You should have saved the last dance for me, your date, not her."

"Sorry." He muttered contritely.

Parvati brightened as she spotted Professor McGonagall coming towards them, "It's alright, let's go."


As the last of the music faded away, Harry and Hermione's locked eyes broke their connection. The full moon shone over them as Hermione breathed, "Thanks for the dance." She stepped away from him, glancing at the ground. Exactly two steps between them.

Harry floundered for a moment, then said, "I should be the one saying that."

Clearing the air of awkwardness, Harry grinned at her. Slowly, her lips curled to match his grin. Only one step between them.

Abruptly, Parvati appeared next to Harry, and the moment was broken. She touched Harry shoulder and murmured, "Escort her back."

Surprised, yet regretful, Harry turned to apologise for ignoring her but she cut him off.

"It's alright, like I said earlier. Viktor offered to take me back." Her next words were low, as if he wasn't meant to hear them, "I should have known."

Louder, she continued, "Now go, shoo!"


As Hermione reached the landing above the girls' stairs, Harry called out, "Don't forget, I like your hair bushy!"

Harry heard an, "Ooooh!" from Hermione's dormitory.

Before entering her dorm, she turned a flushed face towards him and said, "I won't."


HSWW(C&A)

The Insane House Challenge - 674

The Fanfiction Resolution Challenge - 15, 20, 24, 41.

THE RETURN OF THE CHOCOLATE FROG CARDS CLUB - Bronze.