Chapter 3

Disclaimer: JKR's characters & setting My ideas (sort of) Your time Thanks for reading

Dec. 2, 1994

Dear Mum & Dad:

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I won't be able to make it home for Christmas holidays – again. This year the school is hosting a Yule ball as part of the tri-wizard tournament and everybody 4th year and above is going. I guess that's why we had to have dress robes this year.

You know all about Harry's exploits in the first task from my last letter. I still can't believe that their forcing him to compete.

Well during transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall announced that there will be a Yule ball as part of the tournament. Right after lunch Harry asked me to the ball! Can you believe it? I didn't even realize he saw me that way. That evening in the common room I asked Harry why he wanted to take me. (He could take pretty much any girl that he wanted) Harry said that Ron, yes the boy with the emotional range of an earth worm, convinced Harry to ask me. I almost fainted when Harry told me that.

I'm not sure if Harry actually knows how to dance. Just to be safe, I'm going to ask Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall if they could give us some lessons. This way Harry and I can get lessons without feeling too self-conscious.

Mum, Dad, I'm so excited! I can't believe that I'm going to the ball with Harry! This could be the best night of my life. If this is a dream, please don't wake me up yet – I want to see how it ends.

Lots of Love,

Hermione

p.s. I'm sorry that this is such a short letter, but I'm just so excited!!!

H

"Well Richard, I do believe our little girl is growing up. I just hope that she doesn't get hurt. She's had a crush on Harry for a long time now." "What do you mean she has a crush on a boy? She's supposed to stay my little girl forever and not even start thinking of boys until she's 30 at least!" laughed Richard. "Helen I do believe that it's time we met Mr. Potter. I think we should see if the boy lives up to the six or seven pages of her letters each and every week for the past three and a half years. Now it was Helen Granger's turn to laugh. "It is more like it's time to see if he is good enough for your little girl. Richard, promise me – you won't hurt him." "Helen I don't want to hurt him. I just want to put the fear of God into him." Be careful Richard, if you scare him too badly your daughter will never forgive you." Richard chuckled lightly at his wife's warning.

"Honey, I was thinking a little more about having Hermione and Harry visit. Maybe they can ask their head of house or headmaster if they could visit after the Yule ball" "That's a good idea Helen. Why don't we ask her in our next letter? "

By the way Helen, why don't we call up your dad?"

"Why do you want to do that Richard?"

"I just wanted to know if he had any copies of the speeches that he gave when I first started dating you. I think I was too nervous to remember them. I just remember that your dad always seemed to be doing something when we talked. It seemed he was always sharpening a knife or cleaning his rifle whenever I came around"

"Richard David Granger, you will not terrorize our daughters' boyfriend. Do you understand me?" "Yes dear" Richard replied automatically.

Just so you know Honey, if she had tried to bring that Ron Weasley home I would have brought Daddy's' rifle to you myself" Both the Grangers laughed boisterously.

It was a dreary December morning in the Gryffindor common room when Hermione met Harry to go for breakfast in the great hall. Hermione was absentmindedly biting he bottom lip as she thought about the best way of bringing up the subject of dance lessons. Harry was also lost in thought as they walked through the silent corridors. The only difference was that Harry was thinking how cute Hermione looked when she bit her bottom lip.

"Hermione, I'm worried about the Yule ball." Hermione gave him a questioning look, but remained silent. "I think it's brilliant that you decided to go with me and everything, it's just that I'm rubbish at dancing and the champions have to open the ball." Hermione smiled to herself. "Harry I was thinking about that too" Maybe we could ask one of the professors to give us lessons or something. It would make both of us feel more comfortable."

"Alright Granger, just who did you ask for dance lessons?" growled Harry. Hermione looked at Harry sheepishly, and then she whispered to him. "I asked Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick and they both agreed. Look Harry I was only trying to help you feel more comfortable with this.

Sensing that Hermione was suddenly feeling apprehensive, Harry grinned. "Brilliant! I thought that you might have asked Mad Eye or a certain divination teacher. Sorry about winding you up, but it was just too easy."

"You prat!" Hermione replied as she playfully hit Harry on the arm. Laughter filled the hallway, as the two teens continued down the hallway.

Later that evening in the charms classroom it was getting close to curfew. The two professors looked on as Harry and Hermione waltzed around the classroom. Once again Harry stepped on Hermione's toe. He stopped dancing as she winced in pain.

"I'll never get this." groaned a frustrated Harry Potter. "Harry relax and take a deep breath. Instead of thinking about what you're doing, look into my eyes and move to the music. Once again the music began to play. Harry looked into Hermione's brown eyes, took a deep breath and began to lead her around the classroom again. "Harry, what do you think about when you're flying?" They continued to waltz around the classroom as Harry thought about how to put his answer to words. "Do you mean during a quidditch match or just flying?" "Just flying." replied Hermione. "I feel like I am a drinker of the wind, like I will never tire, and how much my freedom means to me. Sort of like the wild horses in America." "When you describe it like that Harry, it makes me want to fly with you"

Just then Harry & Hermione were brought from their discussion by applause from professors Flitwick and McGonagall. "That was perfect Harry, Hermione" squeaked Professor Flitwick. "Harry what were you thinking about this last time?" asked Professor McGonagall. Harry grinned, "I was thinking about flying." Professor McGonagall smiled, "Only a Potter would think about flying while dancing with a pretty girl." Everyone in the room laughed.

After thanking their professors, Hermione & Harry left the charms classroom hand in hand. They were talking about anything and everything as they approached the portrait of the fat lady. Suddenly Harry pulled Hermione to the side of the portrait. He looked into her brown eyes again. They were standing so close that he could count the freckles across the bridge of her nose. "Hermione, I just want to thank you for your patience with me tonight and for helping me get through that last dance." Hermione ran her tongue along her bottom lip as Harry began to move his lips closer to Hermione's.

"Harry, Hermione, look I just managed to turn Trevor purple!" Neville Longbottom blushed as he realized what he had just interrupted. "I'm sorry. I'll just go back to into the common room now and leave you two alone." Harry and Hermione both sighed, the moment was gone. "That's alright Neville; we don't want to be out past curfew. The three teens said goodnight to each other as Harry and Neville headed upstairs to the boy's dormitory.

It was a frustrated Harry Potter that sat in his bed, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he could picture himself flying over the black lake with his arms around Hermione. Sitting in an empty classroom or broom cupboard and trying to kiss his best friend. Each and every time they were about to kiss, they were interrupted by a purple toad apologizing with Neville's voice. He pounded his pillow into shape one more time and slipped under the cover one more time. Crookshanks leapt up onto his bed and Harry stoked his head and finally fell asleep to a contented Crookshanks' purring.

In the 4th year girl's dormitory, a smiling Hermione granger hugged a pillow to her chest as she thought to herself - Harry almost kissed me!

An. The 'Drinker of the wind' quote was taken from the Ian Tyson song La Primera.