12 Valentine's day
It had been a few weeks since the announcement that changed the meaning of the word practical learning. The training sessions were horrible, Mad Eye Moody was back to teach this time and he would randomly throw a curse whenever he felt like it. "CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he'd yell if the person didn't manager to block or dodge his spell. The classes were so difficult that even Hermione had to work hard to keep up. The duelling classes that had started we're progressing quickly enough but not many people understood that a real duel wasn't polite as the ones practised there.
It was february 5th and everyone was still on their nerves. On March 2nd was the end of their two month sentence of hell. The end of the waiting, some people wished the war would start soon just so they could not have to think about it anymore, wait for it anymore. At diner that night the usual tired conversation was dull. No one really had much enthusiasm to live life normally. Dumbledore stood up near the middle of the meal.
"May I have your attention?" he asked and everyone quieted down. "I would like to anounce some good news for you students." Many students looked at each other, what was going on...good news at a time like this? " The staff and I have decided to throw that ball we promised you all. I hope you all enjoy the first ever Valentine's day ball" every one cheered up a bit at the prospect of something normal happeneing. "I do not wish for you to lose your whole childhoods now because of Voldemort, the dance will be guarded and let me assure you, there will be nothing wrong on that evening." he said and sat down.
For the first time in a month the whole Great Hall erupted into loud conversations.
For the next week Harry thought of almost nothing but how he could get Hermione to go to the ball with him. All the ideas he had weren't worthy enough for Hermione. When everyone seemed to be paaired up, even Ron he decided to ask her as a friend and see if maybe things could grow from there.
"Hermione" he called out to her when he saw her walking ahead of him in the hallway. "Wait Up!" she turned and waved as she saw him running her way.
"Hi Harry" she said sweetly
"Hey 'Moine" he said in return only slightly panting.
"Why are you running after me Harry?" she asked laughing.
"Do you have a date for the ball?" he asked suddenly without beating around the bush.
"No, no I don't" she said smilling a shy smile.
"Me either, would you like to go with me?" he asked and her eyes lit up "as friends?" and the twinkle was gone.
"Yeah sure, that would be fun!" she said her eyes brightening a little bit. "We can have a blast"
They talked animatedly until they reached the library, Hermione's original destination and they then said their goodbyes. She entered and he kept going on his way to the prefects bathroom to take a long swim in the tub, he deserved it..he had asked Hermione to go to the ball with him.
It was finally february 14th, the day of the ball. The girls disappeared four hours before the ball was due to begin to get ready. Hermione was very glad she had bougght the robes she had because they looked great on her and she wanted to impress Harry. Her dress robes were long, all the way down to her ankles but their was a slit going up her right leg. It was a halter dress that crossed over her breasts and tied in the back of her neck, the lovely sparkly purple dress had cost her quite a few galleons but she felt it was worth it. The color was dark enough to hide all of her bodily imperfections. She knew she wasn't as thin as most girls but she didn't really care, she felt beautiful. she wore a plain silver chain with a purple heart pendant with matching earrings her hair was down in big, soft curls and she wore only a bit of makeup. She had on her best purfume and as she looked at her dorm mates she could tell she looked up to the 'girl' standards.
It was nearly time to go, all of the other girls were still running around trying to put their hair even better but Hermione was just sitting in a chair reading a book. Wait for the time to go down.
Harry was tying his shoes in the boys dorm he had showered, dressed, tried to comb his hair and he even borrowed some of Seamus's cologne. Anything to impress Hermione, anything to make her fall in love with him.
Harry was downstairs waiting for his 'date' to come down and accompany him to the great hall. He was surrounded by half of Gryffindors male population, all of whom were looking slightly nervous. One by one girls came down and left with their dates. Half the boys had already left when Hermione came downstairs and smiled at Harry, his knees went weak as he smiled back. 'WOW!'
She looked down upon him ready to melt, he always looked very handsome when he was dressed up. She made her way down to him and took his ofered hand to walk down. They went to a table with many other Gryffindors to eat. The ordering system was very close to the one at the Yule ball in their fourth year. the choices were more numerous. They had an enjoyable feast with soft music playing in the back.
"WOW" hermione said as she looked around the Great Hall "The decorations are great!"
"Yeah" Harry answered following his gaze "they outdid themselves again"
Dumbledore soon stood up and the remaining food disappeared from the golden plates. "Now may the Ball begin" The tables flew to the side of the room and the music became louder. The song was quick and upbeat.
"Do you wanna dance" Hermione asked Harry as she turned away from the dance floor she had been watching.
Harry remembered how happy she had looked when she had come back from dancing with Krum. He longed to see that again. "Sure, but I'm warning you...I'm horrible at it"
Hermione laughed as she took him by the hand and dragged him along to the dance floor. The danced in each others arms, Harry stepping on Hermione's feet now and then but it hadn't gone too badly. At one point they were dancing a to a slow song and they were talking about something or other, if you asked Harry the next day he wouldn't remember what they had been saying. All either of them could really remember was that Hermione had laughed at something Harry had said and as she laughed she threw her head back exposing her neck and the bottom of her chin. She brought her head back to it's normal level and looked at Harry who was chuckkling softly, he pulled her closer both of them still laughing and they laughed together for a minute looking into each others eyes the laughter dying away. Emerald was pouring into honey brown as their faces inched closer and closer to each other...their faces tilt sideways and Hermione turned her chin up to bring her lips closer to his. The soft slow song barely heard by the two. Their eyes closed and they could feel each others breaths on each others faces until...The slow song ended and some loud fast song started making the people around them jump around and knock into them. The moment was ruined.
'What did that mean?' Hermione asked Herself the whole night.
'Was she going to kiss me back?' Harry thought silently to himself.
Harry and Hermione swayed quickly with the music and spent the rest of the evening dancing and dwelling on the kiss that alomst happened.
A/N How was that?Well you know how to answer that question...Read and Review!
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