A/N: I adore J.K. Rowling's amazing world and she is the owner of it all, the only thing I claim here is my love for her books.

Chapter Two: Dancing with myself

December 10th, 1994

After more than a week of training, Hermione was starting to believe that though she loved dancing, it possibly was not for her. Even though she would never admit it, she was having trouble learning the basics of dance. The theory was something that she could grasp easily and found even enticing because in the matters of understanding what was written on a book she had never had any problems. However, making her body understand what her brain did was something very different. Moreover, that was something that she was annoyed to notice. She had never been really akin to sports, but that was because she didn't like most of them and thought her time would be better used learning other skills, not due to her being incapable of learning and executing the moves. Dancing seemed like a completely new world and she was unnerved by the way she felt she did not belong to it.

This morning the 4th year Griffindors had Transfiguration and, while walking with Harry and Ron to the classroom, Hermione kept thinking about the last ten days. A lot of things had changed in her schedule since the decision that she would make the best of the opportunity Viktor presented her that led her to dive into the idea of learning how to dance.

For starters, she was growing an admiration for a professor she never thought she would have a relationship outside class. Since she did not know any places where she could practice, she decided to ask Madam Hooch for advice regarding her training ideas, places where she could practice and if the diet she intended to follow would be enough to keep her healthy with the added physical activity. She was more than surprised when the flying professor showed herself more than helpful with her advices and had volunteered to help her as she progressed in her training. Their first meeting would be tonight at 6 P.M and Hermione was really looking forward to further discuss her training and to begin dancing with somebody else, for a change.

Moreover, she was beginning to consider that her thoughts on S.P.E.W were not as accurate as she had previously believed them to be. She really did believe that the house elves were mistreated and considered objects by the witches and wizards of Britain, which classified them as slaves in her conception. Hermione was decided not to let those mistreats continue and to empower S.P.E.W. and its members in order to get the abused elves free. One thing she had not really considered, though, was that not all elves were abused or bind to their masters in a negative way. After learning from Madam Hooch where the kitchens were and talking to the leader house elf who managed the Hogwarts' kitchen, Lucy, about her diet and S.P.E.W. she found out that the school had a system of employment of the elves that was almost the same as the contracts they used with wizarding folk. She also learned that they could make accommodations if the elf had different demands and that lots of them had payments in wizarding money, which she found amazing. Since then, Hermione decided to understand better the laws regarding house elves and if the way they were treated by the families who owned them was the same way companies and enterprises that contracted them did. Because, if so, maybe the problem was in the wizarding culture of considering itself superior to the other people and species in general. She thought this superiority theory really made sense and decided to investigate further with the support of the elves.

The third most significant thing that happened in these last training days was that Hermione felt that she was very moody since she started training. Her whole body ached, she felt like the improvements she was making were average -she refused to accept herself as an average person- and, worst of all, she was beginning to sense an addictiveness in her routine. She had never eaten such good and healthy food, yet, she didn't want to tell Harry and Ron about why she was eating so clean so she just said she was feeling a bit weird in the last few days and had asked the elves for lighter food. She felt every muscle in her body ache and still she wanted to practice more and more. Hermione was even considering learning how to play an instrument because she truly believed she would not be able to just cut music out of her routine after the Yule Ball. She figured that all things she was feeling were good and bad in a way. It was good to be doing something for herself, like exercising more. She was glad with how her flexibility had improved and the balance she was looking for her body was slowly getting where she wanted it to be. However, she started to question herself if she was doing it for herself or others. Did I really need that? Why do I need to get the approval of everybody? She also liked the idea of having a secret that people would die for knowing. Going to the Yule Ball with Viktor is a dream and they will only find out the moment I step into the Great Hall. The problem was that she actually wanted to talk about it with Harry and Ron. Even Lavender and Parvati seemed like good options of people who would like to hear about it and, who knows, even help her review her arrangements for the special day. Unfortunately, for accomplishing what she wanted, the girl couldn't share it with anyone who would tell other people. What really amazed and irritated her the most, though, was that she blamed herself for not discovering her love for music earlier. If she had started practicing earlier in life, she would have mastered it by now and wouldn't need to make the trade off she was now. Hermione was getting little to no sleep thinking about dancing, music and the Yule Ball and was afraid her schoolwork could get affected by it, though she would never admit it aloud. While she felt angry for having to make all the effort to pretend there was nothing new in her routine while sweating herself to exhaustion every night, she also loved the secrecy. Secrets can be special and enticing and Hermione was just beginning to be attached to this one and feeling sad and anxious as the days passed by because in her imagination, people would not only find out about her secret, but also that she was not good enough for their high standards. All those feelings and changes made her a moody person and friend. The boys, dense as always, believed it was either a girl thing or the fact that she had not been invited to the ball yet.

After reaching the Transfiguration classroom, the bushy haired Griffindor organised her things on her workplace in the traditional spot in the first roll of chairs and waited for the arrival of Professor McGonagall. Meanwhile, she thought about what she would like to talk to Madam Hooch tonight and pretended to listen to Ron blab something about Quidditch and how Krum was awesome.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the familiar sound signing that the professor had arrived and was enchanting the black board to show what their class' subject would be. Cross-Species Switches! That seems wonderful. I wonder how Professor McGonagall will conduct this class considering the space we have and the difficult level of magic required to perform Transfiguration spells in some of the living animals, like mamals…

By the end of the lesson, Hermione was already entertaining the idea of going after her dance practice to the library in order to complete the essay assigned in class that demanded that the students "describe, with examples, the ways in which Transforming Spells must be adapted when performing Cross-Species Switches". She felt that rush of adrenaline that one feels after a very good class. Her admiration for Professor McGonagall just grew by every lesson and she wondered if she would ever be as knowledgeable as her mentor and if one day they could be friends.

As everyone was gathering their things and organizing the classroom, Professor McGonagall asked the students for a minute to discuss another matter:

"The Yule Ball is approaching — a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests. Now, the ball will be open only to fourth years and above — although you may invite a younger student if you wish".

After her announcement, the classroom started to chat about the ball, how they would be dressed and if someone would be able to spike de beverages. Seeing the student's agitation, Professor McGonagall took the opportunity to make sure that Griffindor House would not be the one to commit any embarrassments to the school during this marvellous and very rare event even though its aim was to let the students and staff let their hair down, in a manner of speaking.

The students started to leave and Professor McGonagall asked Harry for a word. Hermione got a little curious, but decided that she would eventually get to know what was discussed after Harry left their Head of House's office. I wonder if they are discussing the Second Task. I know Harry has absolutely no clue about the message that egg is carrying. I am sure that sound means something. It's like music: no matter how weird it may sound to one, it has meaning to someone else.

"Ron, I'm going to head up to the common room in order to take a shower and organise my backpack for Herbology. I will go straight from it to the library to start this Transfiguration essay and then go to dinner. I'll see you both in the common room to go to class, ok?" Hermione said already leaving. I must rush because I only have twenty minutes to shower and get ready to practice. I think nobody will notice if I wear the training clothes under my robes.

Feeling refreshed and with an apparently much lighter backpack –I should really tell the boys that I used a spell to make my backpack lighter or they'll start worrying about my back-, Hermione left the girl's quarter to join the boys.

"…and she told me that I need a partner", Harry was complaining to Simas Finnigan.

"What do you mean with a partner? Are you to perform something in the ball? I thought it was just supposed to be fun!" Simas complained looking like someone had told him that Christmas would not happen this year.

"Exactly! I told her the same thing. Why would I need a partner?" Harry said as he took some air to answer and got considerably blushed because of the next bit of information he was about to deliver. "And do you know what she answered?" he asked looking at them as if their Professor had committed a crime. We obviously do not know and you are making such a huge suspense about it, Harry. Hermione was about to tell him to go on with it already when Ron started laughing so hard he almost fell from the sofa.

"What?" she asked. "What did Professor McGonagall say?"

"Sh-She to-told Harry that h-he would need… that he must have a d-d-ance partner!" Ron said stumbling over the words as he tried not to laugh.

"Oh. I thought you knew that the champions would perform in the opening dance, Harry" Hermione said with sympathy to the boy who looked everything but happy.

"I didn't!" he said miserably. "Now I need a dance partner. I was already having trouble finding a partner, any partner. A dancing one will be the death of me".

"Don't be so dramatic. You'll manage it just fine" Simas said trying to lighter his mood, even though he was still red from laughing. "Besides, every girl in this school wants some sugar from the Chosen One".

"Yeah, sure…Hahaha. Especially when they see his dancing skills. Bloody hell, mate, you are screwed!" Ron said with a mischievous smile while giggling.

"Language, Ronald!" Hermione admonished. "You'll do great, Harry. Don't worry about the dance. Focus on asking someone and the rest will settle itself. Now, let's go or we'll be late for class".

Throughout Herbology class Hermione could hear the boys whispering and mocking Harry for his fate of having to dance in front of the whole school. Hermione, though, was just happy because Ron and Harry were best friends again and had stopped being on odd terms because of the tournament. Finally, their class finished and the girl congratulated herself for managing to keep herself and her clothes clean during their whole assignment.

Laughing at the silly stories the boys were making up that involved Harry and dancing, she excused herself and said she would just head back to ask Professor Sprout something before going to the library and would later meet them at dinner. After making sure they weren't looking at her, the eager girl took a turn and headed to the Quidditch field to meet Professor Hooch.

This, for sure, will be one of the most interesting meetings I will ever have with a Hogwarts' professor. I hope she will be able to help me and that I can go on with my plan as scheduled! Wait, how will the both of us dance?

A/N: The next chapter will be all about training and finding out some unexpected news about a certain professor! I tried to keep up a bit more with the storyline in this chapter, remembering S.P.E.W., for example. I'd love to hear what you thought about it! Thank you for reading!