Disclaimer: JKR's Characters and settings: My Ideas (Sort of): Your time: Thanks for reading
Dec. 8, 1994
Dear Hermione:
Congratulations! We know that you have been waiting for Harry to notice you for a long time now. Here's hoping that the Yule ball is everything that you have dreamed. Even if the night doesn't live up to your expectations, remember that we still love you. And yes, we were both surprised to see that Ron was the one to convince Harry to ask you to the ball.
Your father and I are both disappointed that we will not get to see you again this Christmas. We were wondering if you could ask either your headmaster or head of house if Harry and you could stay with us for the reminder of the holidays. Both of us are anxious to meet Harry after everything that you have written about him. Don't worry about your Father. I've warned him that if he torments Harry too much he'll be spending at least a month on the couch.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you and Harry are able to visit.
We love you with all our hearts,
Mum & Dad
p.s. Pumpkin I really miss you. Please tell Harry not to worry too much, I won't be too hard on him. Also if Harry has any family that he wants to introduce us to, we would like to meet them.
Dad
Hermione quickly tucked the letter from her parents into Hogwarts a History. She smiled as Harry sat next to her. Giving Harry the opportunity to meet her parents was a good idea and maybe they could introduce her parents to Sirius as well. Hermione decided that it was best to ask Harry directly if he wanted to visit her parents after Christmas –rather than arrange things behind his back.
"Harry I just got a letter from my parents. They want to know if we want to visit them after Christmas. They also asked about meeting your family, so I thought maybe we could see if Padfoot would come. It might be good for you to get away from this place and be just Harry for a while."
"That's Brilliant Hermione! It would be great to see Padfoot again too. Why don't we go ask Professor McGonagall and then you can write your parents back, and I'll write Padfoot?"
Hermione& Harry headed to Professor McGonagall's office and knocked gently on the door. The door swung open and the professor invited the pair inside.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Potter what can I do for you today?" Hermione spoke up, "Well Professor it's just that my parents were wondering whether it would be alright for Harry and I to visit them after the Yule ball?"
"I think that is a splendid idea Ms. Granger. Just sit there a minute while I talk to the headmaster."
Professor McGonagall took a pinch of floo powder from a little jar on the mantle and threw it on the fire. After the fire turned emerald green, she stuck her head in and called for the headmaster's office. After 2 or 3 minutes she pulled her head from the fire, straightened herself up and informed her students that the knight bus would pick them up on the morning of the 26th.
The two teens hastily wrote their notes and walked upstairs the Owlery together. "Hermione, why don't you use Hedwig and I'll use a school owl. Hedwig's a little too distinctive to be flying regularly to Sirius." "Good idea Harry. She is such a beautiful owl. Mum always likes it when Hedwig delivers letters to her" Harry smiled, "Why don't you use Hedwig all the time then, I don't mind and I think she would be grateful for the work."
Up in the Gryffindor common room, Katie Bell and Ron Weasley had their books open and were working on their homework. Ron had found that he rather liked doing his homework with Katie. She wouldn't give him the answers outright, but she did point him in the right direction and always checked his essays after he had finished.
"Katie tell me again why we are doing our homework on a Saturday?" Ron groaned. She sighed and took a deep breath, "Three reasons Ron: 1. if we do it now, we don't have to finish it Sunday night: 2. we will have more time to practice dancing before the ball: 3. It's my owl year and I have to keep up or die trying."
Over the last few weeks Ron had spent very little time with Harry & Hermione. It wasn't that he didn't want to be around them anymore, it was just that he enjoyed spending his free time with Katie. Even if it meant spending two hours dancing with her to every song that came over the wireless –which was exactly what he was doing now.
Ron was slowly beginning to fall under her spell. He loved that Katie was smart. Not scary smart, but smart enough. He liked how she was always willing to have fun after all their homework was finished. Even the night when she had almost beat him at wizard's chess. Off course he had spent more time looking into her grey eyes than actually concentrating on the match. She was pretty, fun to be with, smart, a great personality and a wicked sense of humor. Any bloke would be lucky to spend time with her. In 3 weeks it felt like he had known her his whole life.
While taking a break from the dancing Ron looked into Katie's stormy grey eyes. "Katie, I know we haven't hung out together that long, but I was wondering: no I mean I would like it very much if: Bloody Hell I'm rubbish at this." Katie laughed, "What is it your trying to say Ron? Relax, I won't bite you – at least not yet" Ron tried to take a deep calming breath and looked at Katie again. In a strange high squeaking voice he asked again, "Katie, will you go out with me?" Katie's answer was a deep passionate kiss that left Ron breathless and curled his toes.
"It's getting late Ron; I think we should make our way down to the great hall for supper." "Katie it's only 3:00 I don't think it will take us 3 hours to get down to the great hall from here" "Ron there are 28 broom cupboards between here and the great hall and we are going to inspect each and everyone. If you're a really good boy we may make it down in time for dessert."
Ron & Katie quickly left the classroom and headed for the nearest broom cupboard - to begin their 'inspections'.
The end of term came quickly, and Christmas day seemed to almost catch them by surprise. After a late lunch and an afternoon snowball fight the girls left to get ready for the ball. The boys head out as long as possible. At 7:30 the boys waited in the common room as 1 by 1 the girls made their entrance. Katie Bell came down in dress robes of what could only be described Chudley Cannon Orange. Ron's eyes nearly bugged out of his head and his face had begun to turn red as he had forgotten to breathe. Katie smiled, "That's the reaction I was looking for. Ron you can breathe now. Nice robes Ron, but I don't think maroon is your colour" Ron's face did begin to return to normal as he started breathing again. Katie took her wand and waved it at Ron's robes and turned his robes black with Chudley orange trim.
Harry was left standing in the common room alone as he waited for Hermione to come down the stairs. Her dress robe were lilac in colour, while her hair was done up in a sophisticated bun. Harry's heart hammered in his chest as he too forgot to breathe. "Hermione, I don't think words can begin to describe how incredible you look." Hermione smiled and took his arm as they left the common room. "Thank you Harry. You look pretty incredible yourself."
As the couple got to the entry way of the great hall a buzz went through the crowd. 'I thought Harry was taking Hermione to the ball.' 'Wow, it is Hermione!' In many people's eyes it was a tossup between Fleur and Hermione as to who was the prettiest witch at the ball. In Harry's eyes there was no question as to who the prettiest witch. She was clinging tightly to his arm.
Years later Harry and Hermione would remember very little about the dinner; except that it was excellent. The first dance as the champions opened the ball was a blur to Hermione as she looked deep into Harry's green eyes. How long they danced or to what songs hardly mattered. They only stopped dancing to take a quick drink or talk briefly to friends.
Late into the evening found Harry & Hermione sitting on a bench in the enchanted rose garden. Green eyes looked intently into brown as Harry finally began to speak what was in his heart and in his dreams to Hermione. "Hermione you are incredible! Not only are you the cleverest witch of our age, you are the most beautiful too. Will you be my girlfriend?" Tears of happiness filled Hermione's brown eyes as she smiled and said, "Of course I will Harry. Was there ever any doubt?"
Hermione unconsciously moistened her lips as Harry slowly leaned in to kiss her. Slowly the kiss was deepened. Who's tongue caressed the others lips that night was a mystery that neither really cared about. The universe seemed to fade around them as a rainbow coloured aura seemed to surround Harry & Hermione. First the aura was red then it was joined by pink, orange, yellow, gold, green, blue and silver. Finally an inky black cloud oozed into the night from Harry's scar as the part of Voldemort's soul that had attached itself to Harry fled into the night. The evil that was Tom Riddle's unknown horcrux could not remain in the presence of the binding of two pure souls.
The event was only witnessed by Professor McGonagall. She smiled to herself as she saw the many coloured aura, realizing that 2 souls destined to be together had finally met. What the cloud from harry's scar was she didn't know. She would show the memory to Albus in the morning. He might know what that meant.
Far away in Riddle Manor just outside of Little Haggleton Lord Voldemort screamed into the night.
AN: aura colours
Red: Powerful, energetic, competitive, sexual, and passionate
Pink: Loving, tender, sensitive, sensual, artistic, affection, purity, compassion; new or revived romantic relationship
Orange: The color of vitality, vigour, good health and excitement. Lots of energy and stamina, creative, productive, adventurous, courageous
Yellow: Relates to the spleen and life energy. It is the color of awakening, inspiration, intelligence and action shared, creative, playful, optimistic, and easy-going.
Gold: Spiritual energy and power activated and awakened
Green: Relates to heart and lungs. It is a very comfortable, healthy color of nature. When seen in the aura this usually represents growth and balance, and most of all, something that leads to change.
Blue: Peacefulness, clarity and communication; truthful; intuitive
Silver: This is the color of abundance, both spiritual and physical.