"He's uh, kind of…errmmm…sorta…" Hermione continued, but she didn't have to tell him, she was interrupted. A pretty blonde, green eyed girl approached the table. Hermione recognized her as a Hufflepuff girl.

"Harry?" she asked, trying her hardest at a sweet smile. "Would you want to go to the Winter Ball with me?" She tossed her hair back over her shoulders, and waited for his response.

Harry's mouth opened and closed several times, as if he was trying to speak but nothing would happen. He blushed profusely and looked up at the girl. "Errmmm, I'm sorry…but…uhhh…I um…errr…no…I'm sorry…" He said, trying to think of the nicest way to let her down, he wasn't very good at it.

The blonde faux-sniffed and turned away, heading towards the Slytherin table. "Malfoy, can I ask you something?" Harry and Hermione heard her begin.

"Geez, do you know who that is?" Hermione said, stifling a laugh. She ran her hand through her hair, getting it out of her eyes.

"No, who is she?" Harry asked, his emerald eyes puzzled. He scratched the side of his head, as if in thought, and gazed over at the girl that was now sitting by Malfoy.

"That's Helena Wright," Hermione said, and coughed, "Biggest slut in school…well, she is, next to Cho…" she teased. poking Harry in the side.

"Hey, now, I don't make fun of you about Viktor anymore, so, don't make fun of me about Cho…I didn't know she was like that!" Harry defended, and returned the poke.

"Oh, you do so! Just yesterday at dinner you said you wondered if Vicky would like the pudding! And then you said 'Next time he sleeps over at your house, ask him'!" Hermione said, rising to her feet and walking off towards the History of Magic classroom.
"Oh, right, I forgot about that…but I haven't made fun of you about Vicky, I mean Viktor, at all today!" Harry laughed, following Hermione into the room.

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, who are you going to ask to the Ball?" Hermione asked, watching as Harry gently let down another girl asking him to go.

Harry blushed, thinking, 'Why do I get so nervous around her? Why can't I just tell her and get it over with?' "Well, I was thinking of asking…" He began, but was interrupted by Professor Binns beginning class.

"Please! Take your seats, and I believe none of you will be falling asleep for THIS particular lesson…" The Ghost said. A phrase in scarlet script protruded from his wand, "Soul Mates".

Parvati Patil leaned over to her friend Lavender Brown, and said, in a rough whisper. "Oh! I was waiting for this part! Not sure what it has to do with the History of Magic, but I guess this subject fit best!"

Professor Binns, with his normal drawl, began the lesson. "In case any of you were wondering what Soul Mates have to do with the History of Magic, I'll tell you. Many major events in our history were influenced by the sudden realization of one's soul mate. Edric the Evil, now known as Edric the Good, was changed by his Soul Mate, Hermia the Pure, and ended up saving the once completely Magical town of Lisbon from Alric the Conqueror. Now, how do you find out if the person you are with is your Soul Mate? It is said that when you share the first kiss with this person, your minds and souls open up to each other. You see what the think, how they feel, and are telepathic with this person while the kiss lasts. Now, about Edric the Evil, he began his quest of evil deeds in…"

Professor Binns had lost his audience when he stopped talking about what happened when you kissed your soul mate. Lavender and Parvati whispered excitedly about the subject, contemplating who their soul mate might be, and how to go about kissing them.

'Soul Mates? Is that what Harry and I are?' Hermione thought, looking over at the boy.

'Soul Mates? Is that what Hermione and I are?' Harry thought, looking over at the girl.

Their eyes met, and both blushed profusely. 'I can't help but think that we are…' They each thought in unison.

When the class was over, the girls had all clumped together, talking excitedly about Soul Mates, all save Hermione, that is. She walked with Ron and Harry, up to the Gryffindor Tower. Once they entered the common room, Harry and Ron sat down to play chess, Hermione watching, trying to pick up strategies.

Seamus Finnigan strode nervously over to Hermione, a determined yet scared look in his eyes. "Umm, Hermione? Can I ask you something?" he asked.

"Of course, Seamus, why couldn't you?" Hermione asked, not quite catching his drift.

"Ok, wanttogototheballwithme?" Seamus asked, his words running together.

Hermione blushed, thinking it over…'Well, Harry couldn't possibly want to ask me…so…rather than not have a date, why not?' "Sure, Seamus, I'd like that…" Hermione smiled, and Seamus, seemingly VERY relieved, bounded up the stairs to the Boys' Dormitory.

Harry's, having heard the exchange, heart sunk. Now Hermione was going to the Ball with Seamus, and he didn't have a shadow of a chance. 'That's was you get for waiting too long, you should have just asked her…'

Hermione felt awful, she didn't want to go to the Ball with Seamus, not that he wasn't a lovely person, she just didn't feel that sensation when she was around him, like with Harry. "Seamus?" she called, rising to her feet and walking to the base of the Boys' Dormitory stairs.

Seamus came down. curiously, wondering what Hermione wanted. "Seamus, I…about the Winter Ball, I just…I can't…" She stammered, avoiding looking at him.

"I understand…you don't have to explain, it's Potter, though, isn't it." Seamus said, not asking, it was a statement.

Hermione blushed, then nodded…walking back out into the common room.