Disclaimer: Nope still don't own it.

Massive thanks to my beta Karma Lovegood Granger Potter

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The following Monday Harry and Hermione met Luna at the doors to the Great Hall before entering for breakfast. The whole school was still talking about the dinner last Saturday where the whole of Ravenclaw had been changed into Canaries for an hour. Looking over at the Ravenclaw table, as the trio sat down to eat, they noticed that Marietta still looked a little 'beaky'.

"Looks like the potion hasn't fully worn off yet" said Hermione to the other two.

"Well she was one of the worse ones, so it's not entirely surprising to me" Luna replied.

Harry just shook his head, and shot a thought to Hermione "Think any of them have learned their lessons yet" as he started eating.

"Well you could always just ask Luna" Hermione thought back to him taking her first drink of pumpkin juice.

"So Luna have things settled down in Ravenclaw yet, or do we need to arrange more lessons," Harry asked looking at the little blonde.

Luna finished chewing and swallowed, then replied "Well most of my things have been returned, but it's only been a couple of days, lets give it a while before we decide." before continuing with her meal. As Harry reached for his goblet of pumpkin juice the Great Hall was filled with owls delivering the morning mail.

Hedwig landed in front of Harry, and held out her foot offering a small package. Handing Hedwig a piece of bacon and offering her some pumpkin juice, Harry removed the package from her leg, and opened it. Inside the package was a small chest with a letter attached. Opening the letter, Harry read

Mr. Potter included is Lily's chest as you've requested. It has been shrunken to allow it to be delivered by owl. Just tap it with your wand, and give the password. Please be careful where you do this, as the chest in its normal size is somewhat large.

Sincerely

Griphook, head of the Potter accounts.

Handing the letter to Hermione, Harry looked over the chest, it appeared to have 4 locks, but none of them had key holes. Harry shrugged and put the shrunken chest into his pocket for later. Hermione finished reading the note, and looked at Harry.

"We'll have to look at it later Harry, we've got Potions for first class, and I don't want to give Professor Snape a reason to take more points." Hermione said.

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After Potions class, where Snape had only taken 5 points from Harry 'For blinking too often', Harry and Hermione stopped at the owlery. Hermione gave Hedwig a letter for her parents, and Harry asked her to wait for a reply, as the Grangers didn't have another way to reply to Hermione quickly. Hermione quickly added a couple of lines to her letter, telling her parents that Hedwig would be waiting for replies, and recommending offering a glass of water or juice and some of the owl treats she had bought.

As Hedwig left to deliver the letter, the two went to lunch.

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After lunch Gryffindor had Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs, Professor McGonagall wrapped the class up early so she would have time to give an announcement.

"Class this year as part of the Triwizard Tournament, we are also reinstating another part of the Tournament, the Yule Ball, this will take place three days before Christmas, and as such, the Christmas Holidays will be shortened, so that people may attend, and still visit home for the Holiday. The Yule Ball is open for anyone fourth year or above, third years may attend as a date," the Professor said.

The boys in the class started glancing at each other in fear, while the girls started blushing, giggling and whispering amongst themselves, causing the boys to look even more afraid. Harry and Neville both looked around and shrugged.

Once the class ended, Neville with some prompting from Harry and Hermione walked over to Susan and said, "Susan, would you do me the very great honor of accompanying me to the Yule Ball?" While a blush rose on his face.

Susan's blush matched her red hair, but she replied, "Umm, yes Neville, I'd like that a lot, thank you." As she replied, her friend Hannah burst into giggles.

Harry just chuckled at everyone reactions to Neville's perceived insanity, "That's a true Gryffindor right there."

Dean and Seamus shot a glare at Harry and Neville for a second, and then chuckled as well. Ron turned to Harry and asked "So who are you going to ask to the ball mate?"

Harry just grinned and replied, "Oh I've already asked the prettiest girl in Hogwarts".

Ron's jaw dropped as the rest of the class's eyes swiveled to look at Harry, and no one but Harry noticed Hermione blush. Ron stammered out "Y-y-y-you've asked that Veela girl?"

Harry smirked, and replied, "Nope, the lady that has deigned to grace me with her company to the Ball is far more beautiful than Fleur." Hermione's blushed deepened as she bent her head to stuffing her books into her bag.

The whole class started to crowd around Harry insistent upon finding out who Harry had asked. Harry simply replied, "My date to the Ball has asked me to keep her identity a secret as she doesn't want to be mobbed or annoyed, and I will respect her wishes. You'll all just have to wait until the ball to find out." Harry kept the groups attention to give Hermione a chance to slip away from the crowd. Harry then gathered his books and parchments, and standing said "Now as much fun as gossiping and listening to you guys guess and speculate who my date is, I've got some studying to do in the library before dinner." before leaving the class.

As Harry headed to the library, Hermione's thoughts reached out to him "Harry, Krum just asked me to go to the ball with him".

Harry's eyes took on an angry look, frightening a passing 3rd year. "If you want I'll take care of it, just tell him no for now. Where are you at?" Harry thought back to his bond-mate.

"We're in the library, at our table. He seems a little confused that I've not replied yet" Hermione's thoughts returned. By this point, Harry had reached the library, and he quickly threaded his way to the table he and his two friends usually studied at. Greeting Hermione with a kiss, Harry then turned to Krum. "Oh hello there Viktor, how are you doing today?" in as cheerful a voice as he could manage. Viktor looked between Hermione and Harry.

"Vhy are you kissing her?" Viktor asked with a confused look in his eye.

"Ah, that would be because we're dating," Harry said as he took a seat next to his girlfriend before taking her hand in his.

"But I haff asked around, and nobody has said anything about dis" Viktor said sounding more confused.

Hermione sighed a little, as Harry shook his head. "Viktor, that's because we want to keep our relationship a secret. Not out of shame, but because, through no fault of my own, I'm famous. Hermione here likes her privacy. Now can you imagine how much hate mail she'd receive if people knew that we were in a relationship? There'd be no end of people sending her letters, or reporters trying to invade her privacy trying to get interviews. Rather than put my love here through that, we've decided to keep our relationship a secret. Unfortunately because of this damned ball and my getting entered against my will, our relationship will be forced out into the open," Harry continued.

Viktor shook his head with a sigh "I agree, it is difficult dealing with the fame. Most people just want to haff a piece of you. They don't care about the real person underneath. Her-my-ninny isn't like that," Viktor said. "That is why I vanted to ask her to go with me," the Bulgarian seeker continued.

Hermione glanced at Harry. Harry seeing a familiar head approaching them through the stacks had an idea. "Viktor, I know someone else who might be willing to attend with you. She's a great person, and she doesn't really care about fame either. Though I will warn you. If she agrees to go with you and you hurt her, I will end you."

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Luna had heard about the Yule ball being held this year, and wondered if she would be able to attend. Luna's mother, Selene, had loved to dance, and had taught Luna how to dance before the accident. As she passed the library, Luna heard some of the upper years talking about the ball and trying to speculate as to whom Harry had asked. Hearing some of the guesses, Luna had to smile. She knew whom Harry had asked, and she wasn't going to ruin her friends surprise.

Entering the library, Luna started to head over to the table that she shared with Harry and Hermione. As she approached, she over heard Harry talking with someone. "Though I will warn you. If she agrees to go with you, and you hurt her, I will end you."

"Ah Luna, speak of the Nargle," Harry said with a playful grin. Luna's jaw dropped for a second, before she burst out laughing, earning her a glare from Madam Pince.

Luna sat down next to the person that had been sharing the table with her two friends, and looked at him. "Oh you're Viktor. Hello, I'm Luna. Ronald says that you're really good at something called a wonky faint, though I've no idea what he means."

Hearing Luna use the same phrase as her, Hermione just smirked, while Harry and Viktor shared a glance and just shook their heads.

"It's a Quidditch thing Luna," said Harry while Krum just looked confused.

"Viktor this is our friend Luna, she's the one I was telling you about. She's a very nice young lady." said Harry. "Luna this is Viktor, as you guessed. He plays Quidditch for Bulgaria," Harry continued.

"Ah that would be why Ronald won't stop talking about him," Luna surmised, "Ronald is very fond of Quidditch, a little obsessed if truth be told. I think he might have been bitten by a Blibbering Humdinger as a child. It would explain quite a few things about his behavior," the Ravenclaw continued.

"Vat is a Blibbering Humdinger?" asked Krum with a very confused look on his face.

"Oh, it's a pest that infects garden gnomes, it makes them very confused and aggressive" Luna replied with an innocent smile.

"You know if those actually exist, it would explain quite a bit about Ron," Hermione thought to Harry.

Harry fought to turn his laugh into a cough. "Sorry, dry throat" Harry wheezed, struggling not to laugh more.

"So, Luna." Viktor started, "Harry said that you were a good friend of his yes?" he asked.

"Yes, Harry and Hermione here were my first two friends," Luna replied.

"First?" asked Viktor somewhat surprised.

"Oh yes," Luna continued. "My dorm mates were somewhat naughty, so it was difficult to make friends, but you're a friend too, aren't you Viktor?" the pretty blonde asked hopefully.

Viktor was taken aback. This pretty girl who appeared to know nothing about Quidditch, and whose first friends were the couple sitting across from him wanted to be his friend. Not for the fame, as she obviously hadn't known or cared about that, but simply because she wanted a friend.

"Of course I'll be your friend Luna. Also, there is something I wanted to ask you." Krum said.

Luna saw Hermione's hand tighten in Harry's and remembering the conversation that she had heard as she approached said, "I'd love to go to the Ball with you Viktor, thank you".

Krum looked even more taken aback. "How, how did you know what I was going to ask?" he inquired.

Luna simply smiled her dreamy smile and replied. "Viktor, I'm in Ravenclaw for a reason."

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As the foursome headed down to the Great Hall for dinner, they ran across Malfoy and his pet goons, Crabbe and Goyle. "Potty, are you still associating with that Mud..." Draco began to say, but as he started to say that word, Harry calmly kicked Draco in the jewels.

"Oops, my foot slipped" Harry said coldly as he walked past Draco's writhing form with Hermione on the other side, followed by Viktor and Luna. Crabbe and Goyle just stared in shock at the attack, before helping Draco to his feet and to the infirmary.

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A/N to give myself time to prepare and to get a selection of ideas. If anyone has an idea for the Sphinx's riddle in the third event and would like to have it added, please feel free to send it in either a pm or add it to your review. the winner's will be added and credit given.

And thank you to all of my wonderful readers, You guys are awesome!