Hermione met Dean Thomas on the stairs and smiled. He looked very handsome in purple robes that complimented his chocolate colored skin, and she told him so. He looked back at her with wide eyes. "You look... great!" he said in awe. "I'm going to have to beat the other guys away with a stick,"


Ron and Parvati were standing in the Common Room, getting ready to leave. He was wearing plain black robes, and she was clad in red. They looked perfect together, Hermione thought. Parvati's stunning dark looks contrasted Ron's pale skin and bright red hair wonderfully.


"Where's Harry?" she asked. "He's gone to fetch Mandy. He'll meet us in the Great Hall," Ron said, with his back to her. He turned to look at her and his jaw dropped. "Bloody hell, 'Mione!" he gasped, staring at her chest. "When did you get...?" He was cut off abruptly by Parvati's well aimed elbow. "What he meant to say, Hermione," Parvati said with amusement, "is that you look fantastic!" Ron smiled weakly, clutching his side. "Yes, that's it. Thank you, dear," he said. Hermione and Dean laughed.


Ginny came slowly down the stairs, calling to them, "Is Draco here yet?" Ron took one look at her and turned red. "You're not wearing that?" he asked in disbelief. Ginny looked at him like he were mad. "Of course I am, Ron. That's why it's on me."


He shook his head. "Oh no, you're not. I don't want Malfoy pawing at you in those robes. Go change!" Parvati grabbed Ron's arm and tried to intervene. "Ron, Ginny's robes are perfectly lovely. There's no reason for her to change."


Ginny had turned the same shade of red as Ron. "I am not changing! Hermione's showing far more boob than I am, and you didn't seem to mind!" Ron looked faint, and Parvati and Hermione giggled behind their hands. Dean shoved his hands in his pockets and whistled.


The knock on the portrait saved Ron from further embarrassment. It was Draco, and Ginny shot her brother one last look before taking her date's arm and leaving for the Great Hall. Ron looked murderously at Malfoy's retreating back. Parvati took his hand and said soothingly, "She's an adult now, Ron. She'll be fine." Ron sighed and nodded. "Let's go then," he said grudgingly.


The Great Hall looked spectacular. Everyone agreed the teachers had really outdone themselves. It was decorated with white and silver, little clear lights shining from every surface. Professor Flitwick had charmed pieces of white confetti to flutter down like snow and disappear as it landed. Fairies pranced across the air, giving the illusion of a strobe ball. It was, in a word, magical.


Students were already on the dance floor. Hermione spotted Harry and Mandy straight off, swaying gently. They were both wearing dark blue robes, and they looked quite cozy indeed. Ginny and Draco made a breathtaking pair- she in her gold robes, and Draco in silver. They were dancing in a far corner. As Hermione watched, Draco whispered something in Ginny's ear and she blushed.


"Want to dance?" Dean asked. He urged her out to the floor and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against his body and let him lead her around the floor.


They danced to two slow songs, then a faster tune came on. They left the floor and joined their friends at one of the round tables set up for those not dancing. Hermione sat next to Mandy and gave her a smile. Mandy looked like she were in heaven, and she confided to Hermione that Harry was a wonderful dancer.


Ron and Parvati were still out on the floor. He wasn't a skilled dancer, but what he lacked he made up for with enthusiasm. He spun his girlfriend so many times that she was red-faced and laughing, begging for a break.


Mandy burst out laughing and Hermione looked to see what had gotten her attention. She pointed to middle of the room, where Harry and McGonagall were jitterbugging together. Hermione could barely believe her beloved teacher could move like that, her face flushed and robes gathered in one hand, held away from her ankles.


After that, many student teacher pairs could be seen on the floor. Professor Sprout had a turn with Greg Goyle, Flitwick did the two-step with a fourth year, and Hagrid tangoed with Padma Patil. Hermione herself waltzed with Remus Lupin and tush-pushed with Professor Dumbledore, to the amusement of all.


She had suitably recovered from three rounds with Seamus Finnegan when Harry brought her a cup of punch. "Having fun?" he asked, his eyes twinkling. She leaned against him and nodded. "A blast," she agreed. He leaned closer and whispered, "They're going to be playing something special for me soon. I want you to dance it with me." She shot him a questioning look, but he refused to say anything more.


She found out soon enough. The band struck up a swing number and she laughed. She had taught Harry to swing dance last year in one of the deserted classrooms. He had gotten really good at it, in fact, something that surprised them both. He lead her on to the dance floor and they began.


Hermione could barely believe they both remembered the flips, spins, and jumps, but they moved together as if they'd always done so. She was aware that a crowd had gathered around them, clapping each time they performed a difficult move, but she was aware only of Harry. They kept eye contact throughout the dance, matching each other's moves instinctively. The crowd cheered.


When the song ended, they both laughed and hugged each other, gasping for breath. "We're out of practice," she said, and Harry agreed. "I think I'm about to fall over. Let's go sit down." Dean had punch already waiting for them, and she gulped down a cup gratefully, collapsing into her seat. Ron was astounded. "Where's you learn that?" he asked Harry, who pointed at Hermione. "Reflex training," he said, "for Quidditch. It really works!"


They chatted through the next few songs, and then went back out to the dance floor. Hermione stayed behind, wanting to watch the dancers and soak up the memory of it all. It had been a wonderful evening. The bandleader announced the last dance and she was just getting up to find a partner when a voice from behind asked, "Might I have this dance, Miss Granger?"


She smiled and turned gracefully. "Of course, Professor Snape."


They walked to the edge of the floor and he pulled her close. It was a slow waltz, a perfect ending song, she thought. Snape danced well, and together they glided around the room.


"I didn't think you were here," she said as they spun.


"I wasn't at first. I arrived in time to see you line dancing with Dumbledore," he answered. "I got caught up in a most wonderful book of poetry and lost track of the time," he smiled gently. "Thank you."


"And thank you as well. It's breathtaking," she said, looking down at the tiny cello resting against her skin. The diamonds sparkled in the light as they moved.


"It was my pleasure," Snape replied. "It suits you."


All too soon, the last dance was over and the students started returning to their dormitories. As Hermione walked through the corridors with Dean, who was chatting happily, she brought her hand up to the cello and smiled.


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It was the event everyone had been waiting for. The day of the Gryffindor / Slytherin Quidditch match had arrived, and both Ron and Harry were practically ill with nerves. They sat huddled together at breakfast with the rest of the team, reviewing plays and picking at their food. Hermione tried to cheer them up.


"Look, Harry, you're the best Seeker in the school. Ron, you're an excellent Keeper. You've got wonderful teammates, and besides, it's Slytherin. You always beat them!"


"But the Slytherins have got an excellent team this year. Their Keeper is far better than Marcus Flint ever was. Harry's going to have to grab the snitch before Draco in order for us to win," Ron argued.


Hermione sighed and tried to coax Dennis Creevy, one of the Chasers, into taking a bit of toast.


Ron stood up and clapped his hands. "Alright team! To the pitch!" he ordered. They filed out of the Great Hall and Hermione looked at Ginny helplessly. The redhead shrugged and sipped her pumpkin juice. "Men," she said, and turned her attention back to her plate.


Everyone else headed to the Quidditch pitch about a half hour before the game started, to get good seats. Hermione, bundled in her Gryffindor scarf, sat with Ginny, Remus, Hagrid, and Sirius, omniculars clutched in her hands. Ginny had borrowed Ron's pair, and Harry had loaned his to Hagrid. Terry Boot, who had taken over the job of announcer after Lee Jordan had graduated, was leading the crowd through various Quidditch songs.


"And we'll root root root for the Seeker; let's hope that he grabs the snitch! For it's one-hundred fifty points when you play Quidditch!"


Hermione used her omniculars to scan the crowds. She saw McGonagall sitting with some other teachers by the announcer's booth, holding a sign that blinked the names of the Gryffindor players. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan sat nearby. Dean had transfigured his glove into a large foam finger, which was making rude gestures at the Slytherins.


A few of the Slytherins were holding up Dementor masks and sniggering. Hagrid stood up, about to go yell at them, but Dumbledore spotted them right afterwards and waved his wand. The Slytherins discovered that their Dementor masks had been changed into Harry's smiling face, and regrouped to come up with a new plan.


Hermione and Ginny took mugs of cocoa from a house-elf working the stands and warmed their hands, waiting for the match to begin. Hermione was wondering if she had time to go to the restroom when Terry Boot's magically amplified voice swept over the field.


"And here come the Slytherins! Malfoy, Salter, Baddock, Crabbe, Zabini, Pritchard, Nott!"


The Slytherins cheered. Dean's foam finger gave the Slytherins the bird.


"Let's welcome the Gryffindors! Potter, Weasley, Creevy, Creevy, McDonald, Patil, Perks!"


The Gryffindors jumped to their feet and screamed their encouragement. McGonagall's sign blinked excitedly. The Slytherins booed.


"Madam Hooch is making Malfoy and Weasley shake hands... and they're off! Gryffindors in possession, Creevy passes to McDonald... look at her go! She shoots, she scores! Gryffindor leads ten-zero!"


"Slytherin has the quaffle, Pritchard is making his way to the Gryffindor goal... watch it!"


Just as the Slytherin Chaser tried to score, a Beater knocked the Bludger towards Ron. He dodged to avoid it, and the end of his broomstick sent the Quaffle flying back towards the players. Hermione whooped and Hagrid yelled, "Atta boy Ron!"


"A fantastic save by Weasley. Playing dirty just doesn't pay, eh, Baddock?"


"Boot! Be partial!" McGonagall warned.


"Sorry Professor. Gryffindor in possession once more... a fantastic Porskoff Ploy by Parvati Patil! What a flyer! Don't get any ideas boys, she's taken by our own Keeper, Weasley!"


Through the omniculars, Hermione could see Ron go red.


"McDonald had the quaffle once more, she's aiming... Foul! Foul! That's blagging, you bloody cheater!"


"Boot!" McGonagall warned.


Zabini had rammed into McDonald, hard enough to make her drop the quaffle. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and called the foul. The quaffle was tossed up once more.


Hermione was engrossed in the game, keeping an eye on Harry. Several times it looked like he had spotted the snitch, but he'd yet to catch it. The game went on, with Gryffindor just keeping the lead. At one point, McGonagall relieved Terry Boot of announcing after he called Nott a "dirty cheating son of a bitch" when he and Pritchard tried to knock Ron aside so Zabini could score.


Suddenly the crowd was on its feet. Harry had spotted the snitch and was racing toward it, leaning low on his broom. Draco Malfoy saw it too and was closing in. Closer and closer they came, pushing forward. Suddenly, Sally-Ann Perks, a Gryffindor Beater, sent a well aimed bludger in Malfoy's direction and he was forced to avoid it. Harry's fingers closed around the snitch and the crowd went wild.


"Gryffindor wins, 220-60!"


Hermione and Ginny ran to the pitch, where Harry was being engulfed in a huge team hug about ten feet from the ground. They floated down slowly and the fans joined in. Sirius was patting Harry on the back and saying proudly, "That's my godson! Flies just like his father!" Ron was weeping with joy and embracing both his sister and his girlfriend, and Hermione, all at once. Colin and Dennis Creevy were giving each other high fives and jumping excitedly next to Hagrid. McGonagall rushed forward to congratulate her team, clucking over them like a mother hen. Harry caught Hermione's eye and grinned. In the midst of all the merriment, Draco Malfoy walked up to Ron and stuck his hand out. "Good game, Weasley," he said as the crowd fell silent.


Ron stared at him a moment, saying nothing, before breaking into a large grin. "You too, Malfoy," he replied, shaking Draco's hand. The crowd cheered even louder than before and Ginny gave her brother a kiss on the cheek before walking off with Draco. Ron looked at Hermione and shrugged before spinning her into a hug.


Back at the Common Room, the party was in full swing. Seamus and Neville had snuck to the kitchen and returned with large amounts of butterbeer, currant rum, and munchies. Lavender brought her Wizard's Wireless down from her room, and there was plenty of drink, dancing, and conversation. The Creevys' had a stock of trick candies from Weasley's Wizards Wheezles, and before long the floor was covered with molted feathers from one too many Canary Creams. Even Hermione put aside her homework until the next day and joined the celebration that continued until McGonagall came back a second time to send them all to bed.