Teotihuacan

Chapter Two-The Valentine's Day Dance

Katie seemed to be fitting in better. The Gryffindor's made her feel welcomed and so did the Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's.

After all of our classes, we headed to the Gryffindor common room. Immediately, when Katie stepped into it, she was overwhelmed.

"You do have common rooms for the houses in your school, right?" Harry asked, intrigued.

"Of course, but they aren't as nice as this," Katie said.

Harry smiled and shook his head.

Katie was easily impressed. Maybe that could turn out to be a bad thing. I didn't know, but this bad feeling kept nagging me.

"Well, we should get some sleep," I said.

"Yeah. I'm tired," Ron said, yawning and stretching.

"Good night, Hermione and Katie," Harry said, as he came over to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek and he gave Katie a wink before heading to the boy's dorm. Ron gave Katie a big grin. Katie grinned back. Ron followed Harry.

I went over to Katie and pulled her aside.

"Hey, I think Ron likes you," I said, smiling brightly.

"Neh, I don't think so," Katie said, shaking her head.

I looked at her shocked.

"What? I can see it! I've known him for almost seven years now. I can tell when he likes a girl,"

Katie shook her head again.

"It's probably just him being friendly,"

"I asked him flat out and he said 'yes'," I said, raising an eyebrow.

Katie smiled wistfully.

"Thanks, Hermione…but no boy likes me. They never have and never will. Which way is the girl's dorm?"

I pointed out the direction and my lower jaw dropped again. This girl was really insecure and she had no confidence whatsoever.

We are going to have to work on that. I thought.

Shaking my head, I followed Katie into the girl's dorm.

Katie's luggage had arrived the next morning with all of her clothes.

She changed into a navy skirt and a white shirt with a V collar and neckline. Her hair was left down and it fluffed around her shoulders. She looked real cute this way. Ron even thought so.

"You look really nice, Katie," Ron said, nervously clearing his throat.

"Thanks," Katie said, softly.

We headed to Transfiguration.

"Today we're going to transform a pen into a needle," Professor McGonagall said. "Point your wands at the pens and say, "Hysaret!"

The class pointed their wands at the pens and a low murmur of the spell "Hysaret" went around. Katie's pen remained the same.

"Oh crud," Katie said, frowning.

"Don't worry. Try flick and swish," I offered.

Katie did that. Still nothing. She was starting to get exasperated and frustrated.

"I suck at everything," she said, as she put down her wand.

"No. You just need help and practice," I said, brightly.

She managed a small smile.

"I'm going to help you practice during lunch," I said, firmly.

Again, Katie smiled.

After Transfiguration, we headed to Charms. Poor Katie wasn't so great in there either, but didn't give up and asked me if I could help her with that as well.

During lunch, we found an empty classroom and I began helping her with the Transfiguration Charm.

As the afternoon wore on, she managed to get the knack of the charm and was soon successfully changing pens into needles.

She brightened up a great deal.

Just before dinner, Professor Dumbledore made another announcement.

"As February approaches, you all know what goes on during that month, so, we've decided to host a Valentines Day Dance on February 14th,"

Moans, murmurs and giggles from girls floated across the Hall.

Harry grinned at me. I couldn't help but grin back.

Ron was looking nervously at Katie, who turned to me.

"Wow! I can't wait for the dance! I do hope someone nice takes you or are you going with Harry?"

"I'm going with Harry," I said, smiling.

I saw Ron's expression.

"Why don't you go with Ron?" I suggested.

Katie's expression darkened.

"I don't think he'd want to go with me,"

"Sure he would! Ron, tell her you'd like to go with her," I said, looking at him meaningfully.

Ron cleared his throat and nodded.

"Um, Katie? I would like to go with you,"

At that, Katie's eyes filled with tears and she jumped to her feet and took off running up the aisle and out the double doors to the Great Hall.

Looking totally confused and shocked, Harry, Ron and I followed her.

We found her looking out the window in one of the corridors. Her hands were resting on the windowsill.

"Why'd you run out?" Harry asked, stunned as we crowded around her.

"Because Ron's the first boy that is serious about going out with me…although I don't know why," Katie added quietly.

Suddenly, I got angry.

"You really have no self esteem…do you? You are a pretty girl! Any guy would be lucky to go out with you! You're nice, kind, caring and if a boy doesn't want to go out with you because of the way you look, then he's the most stupidest and ignorant person that doesn't deserve you," I snapped.

Katie looked at me.

"You really are a pretty girl, Katie. All you need is some confidence and esteem and you'd have any guy you want!" I added.

Katie's lower lip trembled.

"No one's ever called me 'pretty' before. Usually it's 'Hey ugly' or 'Porker',"

Harry lowered his head and shifted his weight uncomfortably on another foot.

"Well, it's about time they start calling you pretty," I said, firmly. "And when you go to the dance, everyone will see just how pretty you are."

Katie offered me a faint smile.

"I don't have anyone to go with,"

"Me," Ron replied quickly. "Erm, you could go with me if you like?"

Katie looked at Ron and broke into a first genuine smile that I've seen since she arrived.

"Sure. I'd be delighted," Katie replied.

Ron's expression brightened as well. Harry came over to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

"You really are a miracle worker, Hermione," he said, grinning.

I just grinned back.

As February 14th began coming closer, Katie began getting more nervous and worried.

Finally, on the day of the dance, I swore Katie was going to snap.

"Oh my God! I'm so nervous! What if Ron doesn't like how I look? What if I fall flat on my face?" Katie said, nervously pacing the girl's dorm room.

"Relax! Ron isn't going to dance more than likely. He doesn't like to dance. Don't worry about falling on your face with that. As for him not liking how you look? I beg to differ," I said.

Katie was dressed in a light pink dress robe. Her hair was now curly thanks to portable hair curlers lent to us by Lavender. I had applied light pink eye shadow on her and clear lipgloss. I showed Katie the mirror.

"I think Ron will be totally shocked," I said, breaking into a grin.

Katie's eyes widened.

"Wow…I look nice!"

"You look lovely," I said, smiling.

Katie turned her eyes onto me.

"Wow and you look beautiful!"

I was dressed in a light purple robe and my hair was straightened my Madam Lovely's SleekEeze Hair Gel. I had pulled my hair into a French twist. I had also applied light purple eye shadow and clear lipgloss.

"Come on. The boys are waiting,"

Katie and I left the girl's dorm and met up with the boys in the common room.

Immediately, when Ron spied Katie, he began blushing and he became speechless.

Harry looked me up and down.

"Say, where did you come from?" he asked, jokingly. "You're not Hermione."

I playfully smacked him upside the back of the head.

"You're funny," I said, linking arms with him.

"Ain't I?" he asked grinning.

We winked at each other and then looked at Ron and Katie. They linked arms. Ron met my gaze and waved energetically like a kid going off to camp for the first time. Laughing softly, we left the Gryffindor common room and headed down to the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was decorated in red and white balloons, streamers, and heart shaped cardboard cutouts. The enchanted ceiling had a midnight sky with sparkling stars.

The house tables were stacked against one wall and mini private tables were set up instead. There were at least 50 tables, each holding six people, three couples per table.

We found a table and sat down. Harry was on my right, Katie on my left.

Professor Dumbledore arose and faced the 150 students.

"We will have dinner first, then dancing till midnight!" Professor Dumbledore said.

Everyone clapped.

He looked down at his plate.

"Chicken Cutlets,"

They appeared. He was using the same ordering way as we did in our fourth year during the Yule Ball.

Murmurs of different types of food went around the Great Hall. I ordered lamb chops and mashed potatoes. Harry ordered pork chops. Katie ordered a chicken with broccoli.

Ron: roast beef. We all began digging into our food.

"So, Katie, tell me more about yourself…what's your family like?" Ron asked, clearing his throat.

Katie nearly choked on her chicken. With a worried expression on his face, Ron began patting her on her back.

"Erm, there's not much to tell really…me mum died when I was 4. She was murdered. Someone stabbed her while she was out grocery shopping. I live with me Dad," Katie replied.

Ron looked stricken. "I'm so sorry,"

Katie smiled. "Thanks,"

But then her smile faded. "After me mum died, I developed this weird gift,"

"What kind of gift?" Harry asked.

Katie hesitated.

"It's partly why people tormented me too…besides the name calling," Katie said, quietly.

"You can trust us. We won't tell anyone," I said, gently. "We're not like the other people."

Katie smiled. "I know,"

She took a deep breath. "I hear messages from…the other side if you will,"

Ron frowned; Harry tilted his head and I understood what she meant.

"You mean those that passed away talk to you?" I asked, slowly.

Katie nodded.

"Wow," Ron said.

"It became more pronounced when hit 16. My grandmother passed away and when I was at her funeral, she opened her eyes and said, "Please help me". The doctors couldn't find out what caused her to pass away. She told me it was a gallbladder stone the size of a silver dollar. My father thought I was crazy, but after I found out what caused his partner's brother's death, and it turned out to be true, he believed me," Katie replied.

(AN: the line: "Please help me" was taken from the FOX TV show Tru Calling.)

"Blimey," Ron breathed.

"Well, you don't have to worry. Your secret is safe with us," Harry said.

Katie smiled.

"I know. You guys are great. I'm lucky to know you,"

I gently put a hand on her shoulder and then returned to my dinner.

Harry leaned toward me.

"You look beautiful," he whispered.

I blushed and smiled.

"Thanks. You look handsome yourself,"

"I'm glad Katie decided to go with Ron. He was telling me last night that he really likes Katie…a lot," Harry replied.

"Aw, I'm glad. He deserves someone nice," I said, softly.

"Yeah. Ooh, look…Malfoy's actually here with a girl. I would think he'd be happier coming with Crabbe or Goyle," Harry muttered.

I followed his gaze.

Malfoy was sitting with Pansy Parkinson.

Crabbe and Goyle were not there.

I snorted. "Maybe Crabbe and Goyle are off having their own Valentines Day Dance,"

Harry burst out laughing. Ron was watching us curiously. I leaned over Katie and told him what I said. He too, burst out laughing and Katie joined in too.

"Yeah…there's magical nights ahead for them," Ron snorted.

We giggled more.

About an hour later, the plates were cleared and the music began. Professor Dumbledore got a local musical band called "The Mystical". They were actually better than the Weird Sisters back in our fourth year.

Ron and Katie were still sitting at the table talking. Harry and I were dancing. He had my right hand clasped in his left and his right hand was on my hip. I had my left hand on his shoulder and we rotated in the spot.

His black, untidy hair was it's usual poofy self and his emerald green eyes twinkled behind his glasses as he stared deep into my eyes.

"I love you, Hermione," he whispered softly.

"I love you too, Harry," I whispered back.

With that, I slipped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer as we rotated.

Our chins were resting on each other's shoulders. I didn't know what I would do if I lost him. He meant the world to me and I loved him more than life itself.

We had gotten serious last year during the sixth year of school.

Ron was happy for us. I was glad because for a fleeting moment, I thought Ron was going to confess that he was in love with me but it turned out that he just wanted to congratulate Harry and I.

As we rotated, I saw Ron and Katie getting up from the table and they began walking out of the Hall.

I felt smile forming. I shut my eyes and just enjoyed the moment.