Chapter Two

The common room was empty when Harry entered it the next morning except for a familiar face sitting in one of the armchairs by the now extinguished fire. Hermione was pouring over a stack of catalogues that looked to be full of pictures of Muggle formal ware.

"Good morning" Harry said sitting on the armchair opposite Hermione and leaning forward so he could examine the other catalogues that were strew all over the floor in front of them. "Your up early".

Over the last couple of years sleeping in on weekends had become a very seldom occurrence especially when you had Voldemort or some other evil breathing down your neck, but Harry and his friends took it in their stride and usually found some other way to catch up on sleep.

"Oh, hello Harry" she said looking up from the catalogue draped across her knees, she smiled then looked back down and was engrossed once more.

Harry yawned and closed his eyes against the warm sun streaming into the room through the window. After about five minutes, just as Harry was about to fall to sleep he was jolted out of his doze when Hermione gave a great shout of joy.

Harry looked over to where she was sitting, startled. "What happened?" he asked expecting any minute to hear the sounds of the angry Gryffindors that had been disturbed form their Saturday morning sleep in. After he was sure no one was coming down to give them both an angry mouthful he went on. "What's with all of these catalogues?"

"They are for the dance" she said excited "I've put a charm on the images in them so that we don't have to go and buy a dress or a suit for the dance, all we have to do is tap the image of our preferred choice of gown or suit with our wands and it will appear in front of us".

Harry looked at her, stunned beyond belief. "That is incredible, but isn't that called stealing?"

Hermione smiled at him and shook her head "When we receive our clothes we have thirty hours to ware them, then they disappear and the catalogues are no longer enchanted"

"Your brilliant, Hermione" Harry said in relieved that he wouldn't have to spend a fortune on a suit.

"I've also enchanted the catalogue to allow a piece of clothing to be chosen only once, to avoid embarrassing situations"

Hermione gathered up her catalogues and took them up to the girls' dormitories she returned a few minutes later "Lets get breakfast" she announced, and grabbing Harry's hand (which made him blush terribly) she dragged him off to the Great Hall.

When they entered the Great Hall they were greeted with an almost empty room, the only other people in the Great Hall where two Ravenclaws whispering to each other, a lone Hufflepuff and at the staff table Professor Dumbledore.

"Good morning professor" Hermione said walking up to him.

"Ah, good morning you two" he peered at them through his half-moon spectacles "I trust you both slept well"

"We did thankyou," Harry said as he stifled a yawn.

Dumbledore nodded "Very good then, now what can I do for you two?"

Hermione took charge and thoroughly told Professor Dumbledore about the decision to have a dance and also about the enchanted catalogues. When she had finished she let out a long breath and waited impatiently for Dumbledore to reply.

After a minute he leant forward "That I believe is an excellent idea, when is the dance scheduled for?" he asked eagerly, eyes twinkling.

Hermione thought for a moment " I think December twenty-first, that way students can leave the morning after so they can go home to their families for Christmas"

Dumbledore nodded "Always thinking about others" he said "Very well, I will inform the staff, now go and have breakfast"

Ron joined them about fifteen minutes later and without even mumbling a good morning set to the task of filling his plate as full as possible and started eating. It was about ten minutes later when Ron seemed to notice them. "So what did you decide for the Christmas surprise this year" he asked thickly through a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

"We are going to have another dance," Harry said looking up form his breakfast.

Ron almost choked "Why did you have to go and do that?" he asked, "I still remember the other dance we had, that was a nightmare"

Harry and Hermione both exchanged exasperated looks, and then Hermione said: "That's because you didn't ask anyone to the dance until the last minute"

Ron didn't say anything.

News of the dance had spread quickly throughout the castle and by the time Monday rolled around everyone knew of the upcoming event. As December twenty-first was fast approaching all of the students who could attend the dance were preoccupied with asking out their crushes.

Harry was again faced with the same dilemma that he faced in his fourth year. At first he wasn't sure about asking Hermione to the dance because he thought that it might interfere with their friendship, but once he had decided to ask her out he was faced with the problem of actually doing it. It wasn't until two days before the dance that he actually gathered his courage and asked her.

It was late one night after quidditch practice when he finally asked her. He met up with her on her way out of the Library. Hermione as expected was starting her holiday homework early as to leave the rest of the break free.

Hermione stumbled out of the library with a stack of books so high that it covered up her face.

"Here, let me help" Harry said taking half of the pile from her before she could do serious damage to herself or others.

"Thanks Harry" she said adjusting the books in her arms.

"Come on, ask her now. There is no one around," He thought to himself. "Come on"

"Um…Hermione"

"Yes Harry"

"Um…I was just…I was just…um" Harry stuttered.

"She's not going to laugh at you if you ask her" he thought to himself. "I was just wondering if…"

"If I would go to the dance with you?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded meekly "You don't have to"

"I know" she said, then she smiled "But I want to, I'll go to the dance with you".

"Really?" Harry beamed in delight.

"Yes" Hermione nodded "I was wondering when you would get around to asking me"

Harry smiled "That's really great Hermione"

Hermione laughed "Oh, Harry" she smiled.

They walked on for a bit before Harry asked, "How long exactly were you waiting for me to ask you to the dance?"

Hermione smiled "Oh, a while now. Ever since I knew you liked me"

This took Harry by surprise "How did you know?"

Hermione gave the password to the fat lady before she responded. "When I took your hand two weeks ago you blushed like mad. That's when I knew"

Harry looked scandalised "I didn't blush".

Hermione set her books down on a spare table "Yes you did, you aren't a very good liar Harry so don't deny it," she said good heartedly. "There is one other thing you should know Harry"

Harry blinked "What's that?"

Hermione smiled "I was blushing too" and with that she tapped him on the nose with her finger, gathered up her books and started on her homework.

How was that? Keep me posted R&R. Thanks