Disclaimer: I am not J. or Robert Jordan and their worlds of Harry Potter and the Wheel of Time. These two created the fun little worlds I have decided to play in with no thought of profit to myself. So I promise that if I did own these I wouldn't have had Hermione with Ron, though I would have been happy to see her be married to Rand al'Thor.
Chapter One: Finding One's Feet
(/ text/= Excerpt from cannon)
/The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the/ Seventh/ Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose in the/ mountains of Scotland./ The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning./
Chilled and howling the wind rages across the white capped peaks. Snow is stirred by its swirling force in a cold wall of icy air. Winding its way slowly down the ancient sentinels of the Earth's volatile upheavals, the power it gains is exponential. Buffeting the rocky sides with a vengeful seeming rage. Hardy goats and brave climbers are forced to seek shelter from the tempest. Lower down the mountains it picks up the trailers of an earlier snow storm transforming it into a bitter blizzard. Creating a world of white in place of the verdant greens and browns that was the foothills of these millennia old stone monarchs.
Surging and billowing in its decent to the large bases of this cold northern range it brings winter's fury to the vast Black Lake in a mostly forgotten hidden vale. Purposely forced out of the memory of most mankind by the careful skill of those that occupy it in order to utilize it for reasons only they claim to know and understand. Overlooking the lake is an ancient keep with walls and spires that defy logic and embrace absurd possibility. Battering its wrathful hate against those walls, the wind seeks to remind those within of powers greater than they. If only they took time to realize the message's truth, for a bit of humility would stand them in good stead. Unfortunately these are a faulty group of creatures, they are humans and those beings never accept the existence of powers beyond them.
Standing and staring out a window in a cozily warmed dorm room, a youth not quite a man but no longer merely a boy, held a treasured letter from his erstwhile godfather. It was full of advice about how to approach life beyond studies and surviving the next day. Though surviving was a ready worry to the lad, more these days with this mad tournament he had no option but to compete in. Yet he cherished every word from his godfather, one of his last and only links to his departed parents. Even if some of what was written was a bit much for the wizard to take in just now, they were wisdom he'd try to set sail under. Timely so, what with the night's festivities looming.
"Dear Pup,
I heard that you have a ball coming at Hogwarts! This is a brilliant time to
live and enjoy being young. Take advantage of it Pup. Chase those bountifully
numerous members of the far fairer sex at Hogwarts till you catch a few. Both the
chase and capture are worth it. Just try not to bestow any nine month bundles about.
Well unless you fancy the ol' Ball and Chain this early in your life. Best to stick to safer
sports such as tonsil Quidditch and the ever so delightful Feel Out and Guess.
Now here is a truth about life, Pup. I heard it on one of Lily's muggle records.
"If you can't have the one you want, love the one your with." Another said, "You can't
always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need." Heed these words.
They can and do lead to all sorts of fun and excitement. Trust me.
Well stay alert and have a Ball. Yule be having one if you do as I suggest, my
rather far too serious young Pup. Let the expert at that be your guide.
Lovingly Running from the bad ol' Dogcatcher.
Snuffles.
P.S. Score a few well played snoggings for me will you.
S."
Harry reread the letter so often, the words were indelibly imprinted on his mind. It had him re-evaluating his coming night, "Parvati is really a nice girl. She's far from being Cho, but maybe she can be fun to hang around still. Could she want to have fun? Can I have fun with her?" He pensively pondered not for the first time since receiving his letter.
It was no secret that Harry had asked Parvati to the Yule Ball in a desperation bid to not go it alone. That and he mentally understood that she was gorgeous and acted interested in him. Maybe he had ended up with who he needed. However he still ached for the attention of Cho.
Sighing he reread the letter. "Love the one your with?"
She did have rather nice eyes and a bubbly personality. "Maybe that's what I need. Fun with a fun girl? Be a bloody brilliant change of pace for me. Fun without the dread of a sudden ugly death at the end of it all. She does smell nice too."
"What are you on about mate? You've read that thing so often today its falling apart. By Merlin's soggy pants you probably know it by heart now. Come on give me a hand with this ruddy nightmare will you?" Ron, his bestmate whined pleadingly. "This bloody thing is going to kill me."
"Maybe you shouldn't have been so hard on Hermione. She would've likely helped better than I ever could hope to." Harry tried to keep the sharp edge from his voice. All day the red head has been saying that Hermione was more or less simply just a crazy cat lady in the make and how unfair it was that Harry was dressed nice. I was getting beyond the point of reason for Harry.
"Come off it will you, I don't know why she lied like she did." was his bestmate's defense.
Harry rolled his eyes with a sighed, "Fine. Just don't blame me for messing this up."
"How could you? Just look at the ruddy thing, a bleeding Maroon Nightmare it is!" Ron violently shook the rather hideous ancient dress robes. "What was my mum thinking?"
Setting to work they tried to trim off most of the antiquated off colour lace. However the general maroon colour and off-putting smell were factor as well in its being more rubbish than clothing for a formal event. It had the distinct aroma of mothballs and cat markings, neither were odors that most sane humans adored. Plus it had a clearly defined problem of having sun damage fading at least half of it. Shopping thriftily does not always make for the best results or bargain.
Giving up on doing much more, the boys troop down to face the Yule Ball. Already Ron had launched into a bellyache about how Hermione was just too stuck up on herself to accept Ron's ever so gracious offer of taking her along. With his godfather's voice ringing in his ears, Harry tuned out his mate's annoying grumbling.
"Well Padma should turn out to be a great date." he tersely tried to remind the grouchy ginger, "Maybe you should just relax and forget Hermione."
"Forget Hermione? When I know she's up there weeping at being left out again. You're cold mate. Don't you even care about her?" accused Ron incredulously.
Groaning in exasperation, Harry replied tiredly, "If she is its her own fault as you say. Then again maybe she does have a date. If I wasn't so caught up on Cho maybe I would have asked her. Would you have been this wound up then?"
Spluttering, Ron tried to comprehend that, "You ... You fancy Hermione?"
"I don't know. Maybe, but the point is we have our own dates to worry about. Personally I'm going to take Sirius' advice, and love the one I'm with. That happens to be Parvati Patil, not Cho Chang. Maybe you should try having fun with Padma the brilliant Ravenclaw, and not think on Hermione the brilliant Gryffendor." Harry snapped finally and lectured the git.
All around were people eavesdropping or just blatantly watching the two wizards. Seeing this Harry grabs Ron's elbow and marches him along, "Come on lets get to this"
"But you said you fancy Hermione!" Ron obviously had not listened as he spluttered in shock.
Growling Harry answered, "I said I don't know. Maybe I do. Maybe I fancy Ginny too. Ron the point I'm making is that you should open up to the idea of others. If we would have not sat and waited before asking someone, life might have let us have a chance at the ones we wanted first. Then again maybe they're not who we need. Now I fully plan to go and enjoy my time with Parvati. As I asked for you, please do the same with Padma."
Mutely Ron followed along, or more to the point was dragged by Harry. When he resisted, Harry just gripped tighter. Down they went till they neared the Great Hall, that is where he was struck dumb. Waiting together were the twins, brightly smiling like dual suns. "They're beautiful."
"What? Who is?" Ron asked as he finally freed himself.
"You can't be serious? Look you great prat!" Harry waved towards their awaiting dates, "They're a pair of angels. We rolled a lucky number this time, I tell you."
Still confused and more than a bit wrapped up in being surly, Ron looked askance at him. "You're barking! I don't see anyone like that."
"Brilliant. Just bloody well brilliant, I have a daft bugger coming along on a double date. You know what, I can't help wondering if the reason Hermione didn't go with you is that you can't see what you have." Harry growled in a slow boiling anger. Only Ron took offense at that.
Feeling Ron's fist connect with his face, Harry was stunned in more ways than one. "Just because you're my mate doesn't give you the right to be a toerag." Ron snarled in mutual anger, "You just have went barmy with that letter and you choose to take it out on me! Right nice of you mate."
A bit dazed, Harry takes a deep breath, "No Ron, I'm trying to be reasonable is all. That bloody well hurt mate! I just want us to enjoy this Yule Ball is all."
"Sorry ... I just lost it is all. Well if we must lets get done with this." Ron trundled off looking more like a man going to his execution than a date with an exceptionally pretty witch.
Rubbing his cheek and shaking off the dizziness alongside his irritation, Harry waved down to Parvati, who was now staring in concern. Trying not to alarm her, he smiled warmly. That brought back her devastatingly dazzling smile for him.
Yes tonight would be fun. Maybe this could lead to more than a single date.
Trotting down behind, and then passing Ron, Harry kept eye contact with Parvati. Why he had never noticed the girls around him besides Cho, he could only guess. Mentally he attributed it to his being a bigger daft bugger than his bestmate was being. Definitely this would have to change. Why couldn't he be more open to spending time with a witch or two?
Behind him Ron was mumbling, "Stupid cow, Hermione why did you turn me down?"
Avoiding the impulse to answer that Harry concentrated on his date. Glad that he didn't make a right fool of himself on his way down the stairs. That would've effectively killed the mood of his evening. Timidly the twins came to meet him and Ron, forming two completely differing couples.
Where Harry caused Parvati to swoon and giggle girlishly with his taking and kissing her hand followed by, "You look amazing. I hope I can meet your standards."
Ron on the other hand grumped, "Come on you. Lets get in there, I'm hungry." Causing Padma to frown and give Parvati a strange look as she followed the uncouth conjuror.
Holding Parvati's hand still, Harry apologized. "He hates his robes and being turned down."
Sniffing disdainfully she replied, "I was afraid of what was going on. Why did he hit you up there?" Her other hand took his chin so that she could examen his cheek.
Wishing to not ruin his own date, he mumbled out, "I told him to go have fun and not worry over Hermione turning him down."
Sighing Parvati closes her eyes with a tired shake of her head, "What an idiot. I hope he doesn't ruin my sister's night. By the way Harry, you look amazing too."
"Thank you." he grinned with a bit of searing heat infusing his own face and ears.
"Now you look absolutely adorable." she blushingly laughed turning her face away demurely, then yelped, "Oh here comes McGonagall. You ready?"
A chill came to his heart, freezing his mind in the process, "Parvati I - I'm not - I don't know how to dance."
Momentarily gobsmacked, she stared at him, then giggled, "Well, quick, let me show you a simple step or two. We don't have much time, but it might help."
"I'm sorry about this." he mumbled quietly.
Tip toeing up into his arms she gave his bruised cheek a kiss, "Don't be. I'm more interested in you than just if you can waltz or not."
Following her lead he tried desperately to learn what he could. In the process he found it quite fun and rather stimulating to have her in his arms like this. Sensory overload was highly likely to occur by how she smelled heavenly, her angelic face smiling for him, and the delightful warmth of her slight body next to his. An altogether intoxicating moment. It was a miracle he learned a thing at all, but he did manage to. More so with McGonagall having a small fit till she learned what the problem was.
That lead to the harried Transfigurations' professor to give him a few rushed pointers as well. What she demanded though made Harry hesitant to reply, "Gracious me dear boy! Why in all that is holy did you not come to me earlier with this? Why hadn't your relatives shown you some basics in the sophisticated art of dance?"
He was saved from answering by Filch pounding his way over. "Pardon me ma'am but the Headmaster wishes for us to start the feast soon."
"Oh bother, well Harry, Parvati that will have to do. Come along then." she made to bustle away when she turned to smile on them, a tiny tear in each eye as she spoke, "You two make a fine couple."
Getting ushered into place, Harry and Parvati nervously shared a smile. This was turning out to be a much better night than what he thought it would be like when Cho turned him down. Holding Parvati's hand, he felt a wealthy man. Life was good.
"Ooh, Harry look." Parvati pointed behind them. "She's beautiful!"
Caught up in his dates own beauty it took him a second or two to realize what she'd said.
Following her gaze, he saw Hermione standing shyly beside Krum. Harry's mind went into overdrive but in six different directions. First thought was, "Hermione looks amazing!" A fact he found startling in how once again he had failed to realize it till now. Second thought was his pondering why he was finding his heart a little sick that she wasn't going with him. Third of these dominating thoughts was, "Ron's going to do his nut over this." As for the rest of the things Harry's mind was grappling with were how lovely Parvati was and what his blessed godfather had so timely advised him of. The old dog was a saint among men for opening Harry's eyes as he had.
"Hello Harry." Hermione blushingly giggled.
"I told Ron you weren't lying. He took exception to it." Harry laughed while Parvati slipped in under his arm. "You look stunning Hermione. Hello Viktor, please be good to my friend."
Parvati snickered conspiratorially as she let Harry pull her in a bit closer. "He took more than an exception. He punched Harry, but my lovely date here still acted the gentlewizard and didn't let the git push him into a fight."
Horror filled Hermione's eyes but before anything more could be said they were ordered into the Great hall. As if they were all visiting dignitaries, they were to be announced by McGonagall before walking in as couples with their dates. Harry, as the last chosen Champion, was to come in last with Parvati.
Leaning in for her alone to hear, he whispered, "Thank you for teaching me a little dancing. I'm terrified I'll end up humiliating us. Knowing my luck, I'm liable to end us up on our bums before the night is over."
"As long as you let my bum fall on you in the offing." she saucily smirked with a kiss for his cheek.
He chuckled at that, while his face erupted in flames once more. "That may just encourage me." Her eyes studied him for a second with a smile that was melting his heart.
"You should smile more." she too began to blush to accompany her heart stopping smile, "It suits you better than grumping about."
Hearing their names called the couple made their entrance, with all that had went on, they were both full of smiles and blushes. For a moment he felt that it was just the two of them. Life had been distilled down to him and Parvati on a stroll in a winter wonderland. A thrilling euphoria buoyed him from the terror he always felt when he was to be on display. With it banished for the time being he may actually survive the Yule Ball.
Sadly two things occurred to put a damper on the general feeling of goodwill of his night. Nothing that ground shakingly disastrous, but then again nothing all that pleasant either. Starting off was Ron, yet again. Harry had been right, his bestmate was doing his nut at the sight of a positively glowing Hermione. He hoped maybe it was just that she was with Krum. But there was a niggling feeling that if she had come with anyone other than Ron, the ginger git would be acting the exact same way. A sinking feeling hit him then that maybe it would have been even worse if Harry had taken her instead of Parvati. Poor Padma was getting the brunt of it by how sulky she looked. Following this bit of unwanted drama was a another Weasley ironically enough. Ron's snobbish older brother Percy Weasley, to be exact. Whom was standing at the school's head table with a self important arrogance while he stared loftily down on everyone there. Sniffing haughtily, Ron's brother indicated that Harry and Parvati would be sitting next him for the Feast.
Slowing their stride a bit, he whispered half jokingly to her, "Parvati, please help keep me awake here. Percy is going to bore me to death with some off topic like cauldron failures and how he alone has fixed it all personally by filing the perfect report over it. He was at it all summer. I doubt he would change in the mean time."
"Deal if you help me rescue Pads. She looks miserable with Ron." she too half joked, then gave the ginger wizard a glare that would have skewered him if her eyes were daggers, "I feel responsible for setting them up."
"I was the idiot who asked for him." Harry pointed out with growing disappointment for his bestmate. "I'll help any way I can."
Hugging his arm Parvati beamed happily at him, "I'll hold you to that."
Sadly as much as she tried to keep control of Harry's time and conversation, Percy dominated it by seemingly dismissing Parvati's existence in total. Though Harry found it interesting to learn of Barty Crouch's ill health. It was also clear that Ron was ignoring Padma just as badly while burning holes into Hermione and Krum. Funnily Harry was less than worried about Cho's being Cedric's date.
All in all though, he was finding it pleasurable to be with Parvati. Her mind worked differently from the only witch he ever talked all that much with, Hermione Granger. Where it was a lot of schoolwork and exercises in intelligence with his best friend, Parvati was inclined to more mundane discussions. Also Hermione never held his hand so tenderly while giving him secret smiles just for the two of them. Of course Ron might very well have lost it if they ever did act that way.
Playing with his knuckles, Parvati asked, "What are you thinking, Harry?"
"That my godfather was right. I just needed to let go and have fun." he took her hand in both of his. "I'm having a great time. Asking you out was a good turn for me. I just hope I don't disappoint you for saying yes."
Grinning impishly, she teased, "Well as long as you sweep me off my feet dancing, I'll be happy. More if you catch me if we fall. You look like a comfy seat to me."
"Me? I'm a scrawny specky git. More like I'll be all boney and pokey." he countered, causing her to laugh out loud. An act that earned glares from Percy, Karkaroff, Ron, and a look of pleading envy from Padma. Only the last did Harry feel apologetic for.
Avoiding getting trapped into a conversation by Percy may have been impossible, but that was not the case of not thinking overly long on Cho. Letting Parvati hold all his time and attention had made worry over the Ravenclaw vanish. Sharing a nice conversation on life as a whole and astutely concentrating on his date's feelings over it all taught him a lot. Not all of it was what she wished for the next year, but also how to talk with a girl for more than about what some obscure book said. It was enlightening. Not that he was upset with Hermione or disliked talking with her. On the contrary this new depth of discussion intrigued him. Would Hermione open up more if he talked with her like this as well?
Of course that created another problem, or highlighted an old overlooked one. What would Ron do if Harry and Hermione opened up this way? Answering that was simple and plainly written on Ron's face while the ginger git glared at Krum.
When the meal ended Parvati, glowing in a blissful smile, asked him, "Are you ready?"
It was time? Could he handle this dance? Gazing into her eyes gave him the answer. "To be spending the night holding you close to me? That's a tough one, but I believe my only answer could be an emphatic," he paused then said with a dramatic grin, "yes please!"
She demurely chuckled, "Oh, Harry. Cheeky bugger."
He stood and helped her up with every once of courtly grace he could muster as his heart fluttered. Their eyes drank in each other for a moment. Again the world was just the two of them in a dreamland of winter.
Taking her hand with a kiss he led her to the floor. A mad horde of butterflies flitted around his stomach, but there was her alluring scent calming him. Sniggers from the crowd made him self-conscious, but there was her eyes compelling him to forget everything except her. Ron was off to the side pouting about being left out even if Padma sat forlornly beside him. However all that melted away as Harry felt Parvati's warm slender body in his arms, banishing the dark surliness of his bestmate and the rest of the crazy world outside of them. In his mind was the song lyrics his godfather had quoted to him. Loving and needing Parvati filled him to overflowing.
When the music started it was a natural thing, to just dance and soak in the tender presence of each other. Around and around they spun, free of concern and just themselves alone. Hesitant at first, his steps were imperfect. Slowly he came to relax as her glowing encouraging eyes held his captive. Confidence and a quick study had him taking control. Again not perfect, they nonetheless had become accustomed to each other, letting Parvati let go as well.
They stayed out on the dance floor dancing to the next song. Though it was awkward at first, they soon had reached a level of comfort with each other. By the third song, Harry was winded but amazed to find it was a slow very intimate piece. Hesitant once more, but not willing to give up now, he opened his arms. A questioning hopeful look on his face for his breathless breathtaking date. Quirking a playful grin for him she slid into his awaiting empty arms. A place that he rather liked having her in, more when her own arms snaked around his neck. She was so slight and beautiful he felt so powerful holding her like this.
Now being so close and wrapped into each other, they danced. Few times in his life had he felt a perfect peace, this was one. It was glorious. Parvati was beyond description as she cuddled into his embrace. Finding transcendence in each others eyes they swayed and stepped to the slow metered tempo and longing lyrics. When it ended he wanted to cry in yearning to stay in that incredible moment.
Then it happened, Parvati standing on tiptoes captured his lips with a tender chaste kiss, "I think I can fall for a boy like you, Harry."
Feeling giddy with his first kiss he creakily replied, "I know I can for you, Parvati."
"That's what I hoped for." she grinned with a blush. "We really should rescue my sister now though."
"Oh bugger that's right!" he blurted out. "Do you care if I dance with her a couple of times? She should have some fun too, and I owe her."
It happened again, Parvati kissed him and sent his heart and mind on holiday in some sunny forgotten island. However this time he caught her and didn't let her go without another. A glazed blissful smile dominated her face when they parted.
"Lets go before I refuse to give you up at all." She sighed then giggled. At one time he didn't understand or like a girl's giggle. Now at least he didn't mind it a whit.
Together they found Padma and Ron sitting, staring off in different directions. Harry's annoying bestmate was glaring at Hermione and Krum whirling about in the current song's swift beat. When he saw Harry, an accusatory glare filled the red headed wizard's eyes but he didn't say a word. On the other hand hope blossomed on Padma's face. So much like Parvati's it caught his heart to see the anguish there.
"Care to dance? I wore out your sister's toes and she needs to escape an elephant like me." Harry stretched out his hand to his date's twin sister. Parvati swatted his shoulder playfully while giving her twin an urging nod.
"A toe or two wont cost me too much. I'm your's take me!" Padma beamed up at them.
"Oi! That's my date mate! What are you doing?" Ron now spoke up with an accusatory snarl.
Parvati stood before Harry defensively, "He's doing what you seem incapable of doing, showing a girl a good time. Grow up Weasley. If you would have been half the wizard Harry was, you'd not have to ask." That shut Ron up. It also had him pointedly ignore them by turning away from them.
Wishing to not hurt his friend's feeling but also wanting to do what Sirius suggested, Harry led Padma out to the dance floor. Demurely she let him take her along with a brilliant blush and silent thank you for her sister.
"I wasn't kidding about the toes. I'm pants at dancing." he confessed before the next song started up. All around them couples were having fun, and not caring a bit if Ron was acting a prat and pouting. "But I can try and make up for Ron's being a ruddy great git at least."
Beaming she laughed, "I was serious too. I was dying sitting there alone."
Dancing with Padma was brilliant. Plus Harry was positive he had successfully not broke any of her delicate toes. Strangely though he found himself feeling the same for Padma as he did for Parvati. They were amazing witches, and he truly fancied them.
Stopping after three songs, they saw that Ron had left Parvati and was at a corner table balefully glaring at everyone. But Neville, Ginny, and Hermione had joined her. The last was crying into Ron's baby sister's arms, whom was glaring white lipped at the git. This could not be good, not at all. Harry knew it had to do with something his oft times prat of a bestmate had done.
Taking Padma's hand he led them back. However his date's sister stopped him. "Harry, you're forgiven for setting me up with Ron. More than." Then quickly she kissed his cheek while turning a fine shade of red. "I just wanted you to know."
Gobsmacked but in a very good way he half floated in a conflicted befuddlement back to their table. How could he even think of fancying two witches, let alone twin sisters. But then again he was still coming to grips with being on a date at all. Those concerns had to wait for now as he had to see to Hermione.
"What did Ron do now?" he growled tiredly.
Padma squeezed his hand reassuringly, "He never stopped going on about how Hermione was being a traitorous liar. He acted as if I was not here or were more some troublesome insect if I said a word."
"Brilliant!" Harry cheered sarcastically.