7-New Year 1990

Harry was disappointed to find that the snake family had left the Dursley yard. 'It was expected,' Silky told him. 'They can't stay out in the cold. They needed to find a warmer place for the winter. If it's good enough, they'll stay there indefinitely.'

'Don't you miss them?"

'A bit, but it is natural for snakes to live alone most of the time. Besides, I'm with you.'

Dudley noticed the strange markings on Harry's shoulder when they took off their sweaty shirts after some intensive workout. "What is this?" he asked.

"It's some marking I've had for a long time. It sometimes seems to change slightly, but it doesn't hurt. I wish I could say the same about my scar."

"Does it hurt?"

"Slightly. It's more like a dull pain, one that I don't even notice normally, but is still there. Nothing seems able to remove it."

"I'm really sorry," Dudley said, sounding sincere.

\/\/\/

It was the first Christmas that Harry felt really part of the family. Even Vernon was getting accustomed to having Harry treated nicely. In a way, he found it quite relaxing, although he would never admit it. He had always wanted more than one child, yet Dudley's delivery had been extremely difficult, almost costing him the life of his wife. Not many would believe it, but Vernon really loved his wife. She had become somewhat bitter after being warned against having more children, and learning of the fate of her sister had even deepened it, yet she seemed to be overcoming it lately, at least he hoped so.

If accepting the boy was the price for having her back in good mood, Vernon was willing to pay it, especially since the boy had stopped causing freakish events around him and was being quite polite and helpful. Vernon could not fail to notice how Dudley was becoming a better student and a nicer boy all around, along with becoming much fitter and healthier. He knew that the boy, Harry, had a lot to do with it. Shouldn't he consider a post at Grunning for him as well when both boys finished their education? Well, there was still enough time for that.

Harry was surprised that Vernon ordered him to sit at his side, just as he asked Dudley to sit at his other side, when they sat down to watch some Christmas programs on the television. He was even more surprised when Vernon put an arm over his shoulder, just as he did with Dudley. He didn't think his uncle suddenly loved him, but it was nice feeling accepted, at least for a while.

He had another surprise for the holidays. "We're invited to a new-year ball by the Dentist Association, who are Grunning's best clients. The whole family is invited, including the children," Vernon told them two days after Christmas. "I expect both of you to behave nicely."

Petunia took them shopping the next day, buying each a black suit, white shirt, and dark blue tie, along with some shoes and socks to complement the formal look. She also bought a short video course, teaching the basic steps of dancing. Back home, she turned on the video and forced both boys to watch it twice and then dance with her, showing what they had learned. Dudley stepped on her toes twice and Harry only once, but lighter. She still considered this very good for nine-year-old boys.

The ballroom was almost full when they arrived. Harry was relieved to see there were quite a few children about his age. Petunia even urged him and Dudley to join the group.

Dudley soon found some boys with whom he talked about football and boxing, which was currently attracting his attention. Harry wasn't interested in that. He sat aside and thought about a book that could fit in his pocket. A moment later he took the book, titled "Ballroom Etiquette", out of his pocket, and started browsing.

"What are you reading?" a girl's voice asked him.

Harry lifted his eyes. A girl, wearing a nice sky-blue dress, similar in style to what most women were wearing, stood in front of him. She had very curly brown hair, yet he loved how her hair fell around her face, reaching with its springy locks almost to her shoulders. Her front teeth were a bit on the large size, but he still thought she looked very nice.

"Well?" she urged him.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just admiring your looks. Here, you may have a look at it," he handed her the book.

"Don't mock me! I know I'm not beautiful," she said sharply, yet still took the book and looked at it.

"Why do you say you're not beautiful?" Harry wondered. "I've seen very few girls who look more beautiful than you, and I'm sure you'll become even prettier when you grow up."

The girl blushed and tried to cover it up by raising the book. "Thank you for your compliment, kind sir, but I really don't think I am."

Harry was now looking at this as a challenge. "How can I convince you that you are really pretty? Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?"

She lowered the book. "You are funny," she stated.

"Funny? Why?"

Now she smiled and Harry thought she looked much prettier than before. "Every girl looks in the mirror several times a day," she stated. "Don't you know it?"

"There seems to be a lot I don't know, especially about girls. Will you teach me?"

This seemed to be the right answer, as she laughed once more, making her beauty shine brighter. "I'll gladly teach you, but my parents said I'm supposed to dance at the ball, not to read or to study." She now frowned a bit. "They say I do it too much."

Harry wasn't sure what made him say it, but he suddenly heard himself say, "Would you dance with me, then?"

She looked surprised at first but then smiled again. "Certainly!"

Harry felt awkward as he was holding a girl so close to him. It was not like the single dance he had practised with his aunt. It had a very different feeling, and he really liked it. The girl seemed to like it too, as she held him just as tightly. After a while, she even rested her head on his shoulder. She didn't even comment when he stepped on her toes. Only once.

As the dance ended, the girl lifted her head. "Oh, we didn't introduce ourselves," she said, sounding alarmed. "Well, I'm Hermione Granger. My parents are dancing there," she pointed at one of the adult couples nearby. "They are both dentists."

"Nice to meet you, Hermione. I'm Harry Potter. I live with my Aunt and Uncle," Harry looked around to find them and pointed at the big, wide man and the thin, tall woman at his side, "My uncle's firm supplies drills to dentists. My cousin is the large boy in that group," he said, pointing at the group of boys.

"Why do you live with your Aunt and Uncle?" The girl sounded confused.

"Well, my parents died when I was only a year old and my relatives took me in."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear about your parents, yet your relatives must be good people to care for you."

Harry just nodded. Although things had changed a lot during the last year, he was still unable to truthfully say they were good people.

A faster dance started. "I don't know that dance. We may as well sit down and have a look at your book," she said.

Harry wasn't sure this was such a good idea. He had already noticed that the book mentioned wizards and witches. It would either be unreadable to her or look like something else altogether, he was sure. Yet he saw no way to refuse. Reluctantly, he took the book out of the pocket, where he had put it for the dance, and let her open it.

"Oh, Ballroom Etiquette – that should be interesting," Hermione said enthusiastically.

She started reading. Harry was sure she was reading at least twice as fast as he normally read, judging by the time she spent on each page. Yet her frown was getting deeper. "I don't understand why they say wizards and witches instead of men and women. Is this something for Halloween?"

Without waiting for an answer, she turned the book around, trying to find any tell-tale sign. All she found was the "Ex Libris Potter Manor Library".

"You live in a manor?" she asked.

"No. I live in a regular house on a regular street in a normal town."

"Then where does this come from?"

Harry didn't expect such an interrogation. He would have not summoned the book had he known it would cause any trouble, yet it was the book that attracted the girl to him. Now he needed to solve the problem.

"I took it from the local library after learning of coming to the ball here," he said. "Maybe it was donated by some rich Potter. It's quite a common name, you know."

She looked at him suspiciously but said nothing about it. Yet her interest in the book seemed to diminish.

"Let's have something to drink. There's a table for children at the far corner. Would you like to come with me?"

"Gladly," he said, thankful for the change of subject. He slipped the book into his pocket. He didn't dare send the book back, as it could cause some more suspicion.

There were very few people near the far corner, where a table was set with non-alcoholic beverages. Hermione took some tea and Harry followed her example, not willing to do anything to further raise her curiosity. They saw some chairs scattered around. Hermione sat on one. Harry brought another closer and sat on it, facing her.

Hermione sipped her tea silently for a minute before asking, "That book, mentioning witches, is it for real?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is it a prank or a joke or part of some kind of game?"

"No, as far as I know. I just wanted something to read if I had no company."

She sipped some more. "Then... do you think wizards and witches are real? I mean... do they really exist?"

She was looking straight into his eyes and Harry felt as if she could see his inner thoughts. He didn't want to lie to her, but he also knew he could not tell her the truth. He'd read about some secrecy laws in one of the books and he didn't intend to break the law. "I... I'm not sure. I've seen and heard some things which sound weird, but there may be a normal explanation for them, even if I fail to find it."

"Then how do you explain this?" she asked, putting her hand forward. He felt the book leaving his pocket and saw it appearing in her hand.

"You're a pickpocket?" He knew it was the wrong answer, as she frowned deeply before sighing.

"I've not been close to your pocket and the book was in it a few seconds ago. I don't know how to explain this either, but such things happen to me all the time. Whenever I want a book at home or at the library, it just comes to me. I'm lucky the librarian hasn't seen it yet."

She now looked straight in his eyes again. "I have a hunch you've had similar experiences. Didn't you?"

He couldn't lie to her. Those eyes... he could look forever into their chocolate depths. He was captivated and didn't even want to get free. "Yes, I had some similar experiences, yet we shouldn't talk about this. Not here, anyway."

She lowered her eyes. "I thought so."

An awkward silence settled on them for a moment.

"Well, if we can't talk here, I'll invite you to visit. Let's dance and I'll ask Dad for his business card. It also has our home phone number."

Harry smiled now. "And I'll take my uncle's. I hope he has his home phone number there as well."

It was a very tired Harry that fell asleep in the car on the way home, dreaming of a bushy-haired girl with a dazzling smile. Uncle Vernon cradled him in his big arms and put him in bed, clothes and all.