A/N: Hi, seeing as it's Christmas I fancied writing something a little bit festive. This is the story of the Yule Ball told by the characters we didn't see too much of that night. I'm planning for each chapter to come from a perspective of a different character. Everything belongs to JKR. As always please let me know what you think by leaving me a review.
Merry Christmas and happy reading!
'Twas the Night of the Yule Ball
Twas the night of the Yule Ball, so the students had chance, to pair up into partners, let their hair down and dance…
Hermione shivered and wrapped her cloak more tightly around herself, snuggling into her new Weasley Christmas jumper.
The Hogwarts grounds were alive with the sound of laughter as Harry, Ron and the rest of the Weasleys were engaging in a rather ferocious snowball fight.
Deciding it would probably be more enjoyable to observe than take part, Hermione had perched herself on a wall a safe distance away and spent the best part of her afternoon watching her friends hurl snowballs at each other.
Ron swore loudly as Fred shoved a handful of snow down the back of his neck. Hermione laughed out loud as a snowball hit Harry square in the face, knocking his glasses askew. With an aim like that, Ginny really should be on the Quidditch team.
As she watched, Hermione couldn't help but feel nervous. She had a churning in her stomach which she knew had nothing to do with her Christmas dinner. Glancing at her watch, she decided it was time to go.
'I'd better go and get ready.' Hermione shouted. 'See you at the ball!'
Harry nodded at her and waved briefly before sprinting after Ginny to get his own back.
'Who are you going with?' Hermione heard Ron yell from somewhere behind her.
Shaking her head slightly, she turned to wave and then hurried up the slippery stone steps to the castle.
xxx
'Who are you going with?' Parvati asked, whilst brushing her long, black hair carefully in the mirror.
'Yeah, what's with all the secrecy?' Lavender whined, her eyes watering as she plucked her eyebrows.
Hermione shrugged. Even though she knew everyone would find out tonight, she just couldn't bring herself to tell anyone. She could barely admit it to herself, let alone anyone else.
'Is it Belby?' Lavender persisted. 'No wait, what about that Ravenclaw who spoke to you at breakfast, MacDougal?'
Hermione sighed and shook her head. She hated being the centre of attention like this, the subject of Lavender and Parvati's gossip.
'Ok, so if you won't say who he is can you at least tell us how he asked you?' Parvati begged.
'Fine.'
She would have liked nothing more than to tell the pair of them to mind their own business, but after four years she knew better than that. Instead she decided to play along in the hope that they would soon grow bored and cross-examine someone else's private life.
At the look of eager anticipation on their faces, Hermione took a deep breath and let the memory come flooding back to her.
xxx
It had started to go dark outside and Hermione was sat in the library, surrounded by a sea of books.
She had just got settled and was beginning to translate her Ancient Runes homework when she was distracted by the shriek of high pitched laughter. Irritated, she looked up to find Viktor Krum's fan club standing a few feet away.
'Should we ask him for a picture?'
'I really want another autograph…'
'Then ask him!'
'You ask him!'
'No, you do it!'
'I asked him last time, I don't want to sound desperate!'
They collapsed into fits of giggles and Hermione scowled into her parchment, muttering under her breath. She began scribbling furiously, determined not to be distracted by a bunch of silly, immature-
'Excuse me?' A deep voice asked.
'What?' Hermione snapped, her voice sounding harsher than she intended. 'Oh…I'm sorry.' She mumbled realising who it was.
Viktor Krum's eyebrows were knitted together and he looked troubled.
'I am sorry if I am interrupting anything.' He asked apprehensively. 'I vos vundering if I could haff a vord?'
'Erm, of course.' Hermione replied, wondering what on earth his was about. She gestured to the empty chair next to her.
As he sat down, a noise like the sound of angry bees filled the air. Hermione looked round to find that a swarm of Krum's admirers were standing behind them. They looked up from their manic discussion to shoot Hermione filthy looks.
Krum followed Hermione's gaze.
'Ah.' He sighed. 'I can ask them to leave us if you vould prefer?'
'No, no!' Hermione protested, knowing what kind of trouble that would cause. 'It's fine, really.'
Krum nodded soberly.
Sensing that something wasn't quite right, Hermione asked tentatively 'Is there anything I can help you with?'
'Yes, er maybe.' Krum seemed to be searching for the right words. 'I was vundering if, if you vould like to go to the Yule Ball vith me, as my partner?'
Whatever Hermione had been expecting, it certainly wasn't this.
'Erm, well I-I…' she felt her face grow hot. To her surprise, Krum looked just as embarrassed.
'Of course I vill understand if you are not wanting to.' He muttered. 'I know it is a big ask'.
Hermione could barely hear what he was saying, the room had begun to spin slightly.
She just couldn't get her head around what was happening. Was Viktor Krum asking her out? The Viktor Krum, the famous Quidditch player and Durmstrang champion? Not like those things were important but…
'Forgive me, I just vanted to…check.' Krum nodded glumly and started to stand up.
'No, Krum wait!' she called.
xxx
'And then I told him I'd be happy to go with him.' Hermione shrugged. 'Then we talked for a little while and arranged to meet up at the ball.'
Parvati and Lavender were still staring at her.
'And that's really all there is to it.'
'Trust you to meet a guy in the library!' Lavender teased.
'I think it's sweet.' Parvati grinned. 'So if you've seen him in the library a lot, does that make him a Ravenclaw?'
Hermione chuckled weakly. 'Nice try!'
She couldn't help wondering how they would react if they knew who she was going with.
Trying very hard not to think about what Harry and Ron would say, she uncorked her bottle of Sleakeazy hair potion and prayed the evening would go as planned.
xxx
Hermione patted her hair nervously as she descended down the grand staircase. She had arranged to meet Viktor in the entrance hall so they could go in together. She checked her watch and saw that she was a little early.
What Hermione saw at the bottom of the staircase was truly spectacular. The Entrance Hall was an explosion of colour, festive decorations lit up the room and students were wearing dress robes of every possible hue.
The sound of excited chatter filled the hall as students from all three schools mingled together, waiting in anticipation for the doors of the Great Hall to open.
Despite her early arrival, the room was already full of people. Hermione stood on her tiptoes, which was rather difficult in her newly purchased high heels, and craned her neck to try and glimpse him.
Hermione felt someone tap her lightly on the shoulder.
Viktor Krum was standing beside her. A genuine smile was spread across his face, replacing his usual frown.
'You look very lovely.' He complimented.
Hermione felt herself blushing but she couldn't help grinning back at him.
He took her hand, lightly kissed it and led her over to where the other champions were standing.
Hermione couldn't get used to the way people were staring at them as they walked through the crowd hand in hand. Rather than shying away from the attention, she decided instead to savour the moment.
She had the satisfaction of wiping the smirk off Malfoy's face as she passed. He hadn't looked so stunned since she'd punched him in the face last year. She giggled at the memory.
They joined the other champions and their partners by the entrance to the Great Hall, where they were being herded by a flustered looking Professor McGonagall. Hermione barely had time to say a quick hello to Harry and Parvati before the doors to the Great Hall swung open.
'Ready?' Krum muttered, squeezing her hand.
Hermione took a deep breath and smiled.
'Ready.'
A/N: What did you think? Each chapter will be coming from the perspective of a different character, so if you have any suggestions or requests let me know! Please leave me a little review.