Chapter Four

There was a nervous tension in the air as first time couples got together and headed down to the Entrance Hall to await the opening of the Great Hall.

Harry groaned in annoyance as he, for the third time that night failed to tie his bowtie.

"I'm so nervous" Harry said flinging his bowtie onto his bed.

Lavender, who had come up to see what was taking Ron so long, walked over to Harry's bed and retrieved his tie. "You'll be fine" she said "This is Hermione, you've known her for nearly six years, what is there to worry about" she placed the tie around his neck and began to tie.

"I guess. Its just that she is one of my best friends and if things don't work out and we have an argument she might not wanna be friends anymore" Harry said uncertainly.

Lavender shook her head and laughed.

"That will never happen Harry, you know that. You know she wants to be with you and she has always stuck by you when you've had arguments before. What makes this any different?" she straightened out the tie and crossed her arms "Perfect" she said.

Harry walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection, "Thank you"

Lavender walked over to Ron and took his arm "Come along then, don't want to be late".

The three of them headed down to the glamour of the common room. Students in classy tuxedos and glittering dresses wandered around waiting for their dates.

"She said she would meet you here" Lavender said to Harry as she and Ron left through the portrait hole.

Harry wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and waited, leaning against the lounge in front of the fireplace. He studied the other students and wondered if they were as nervous as him. Something made him look towards the stairs to the dormitories and just as he did Hermione came down the steps. Harry's mouth dropped.

Hermione looked in one word, glamorous. Her gown was made from the softest black silk. The skirt fell to the floor adding a touch of elegance and her diamond necklace and earrings added class. Her hair was swept up into an elegant knot. She handed Harry the coat and scarf for the dress and did a little twirl for him.

"What do you think?" she asked smiling.

"Wow!" Harry said, "You look…" he smiled "Wow!"

"Why thank you" she beamed "And how handsome are you?"

Harry blushed "Shall we?" he asked offering her his arm.

She slung her coat (which matched the length of her dress) over her arm, rapped the scarf around her neck and then took his arm in hers.

They walked out and into the crowded corridor. People stared at them as they passed. One of the main rumours around the school had concerned who Harry was taking to the dance. Now they knew. Harry and Hermione's secret was out. They walked down the marble staircase and into the Entrance Hall.

"Harry Potter!" came a squeaky voice to the couple's left.

They turned and spotted Dobby at a small stand, the sign above him read cloakroom.

"Hello Dobby" Harry said, "What are you doing?" he asked glancing at the stand.

"Professor Dumbledore thought it was a good idea for Dobby to be in charge of the cloakroom"

Hermione took her coat from her arm and handed it to him "Do you mind taking mine?" she asked.

"Not at all miss, not at all"

The sounds of violins wafted from the Great Hall, muffled by the closed doors. Students still were gathering in the Entrance Hall and it was by far becoming overcrowded.

With a loud bang the doors to the Great Hall flew open revelling, darkness. The hall was dark and the only sound was that of the violins playing. Students looked around puzzled, the music stopped abruptly. The sound of nothing was deafening until the soft melody of a cello and a piano filled the air. As the band began to play Canon in D lights in the Great Hall began to brighten. Light spread into every corner of the room showing a world that many of the students had never seen. It was like a muggle restaurant, small beautifully dressed tables, which seated six to a dozen people, were placed throughout the hall. In the middle of the hall however was a bare space surrounded by the tables, a dance floor, and poised high above the dance floor was the most magnificent crystal chandelier anyone could imagine burning brightly with a hundred small oil lamps.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore's voice boomed "To tonight's Gala event"

Students forwarded in, amazed at what was spread before them, they made their way to the tables. Harry and Hermione sat at eight-person table close to the stage and watched the band. The band wasn't only made of strings but also of brass and woodwind instruments and a grand piano. It was the equivalent to a muggle jazz band complete with a microphone for vocals.

Hermione beamed at this "I love jazz" she said "And there is going to be someone singing too" she gestured at the microphone.

Harry smiled "Up to some dancing later?" he asked mischievously.

"Why I'd love too"

They laughed.

"What are you to laughing about?" Ginny said as she approached the table with Dean Thomas " You look lovely Hermione".

"Thanks Ginny, and look at you. That dress is beautiful"

Ginny looked a picture in a strapless blue velvet gown, which shimmered in the light of the chandelier. They sat to the right of Harry and Hermione as Ron and Lavender had taken the places on their left.

"I should have guessed" Ron said, "I knew you too would hook up"

Harry and Hermione laughed.

"You didn't have a clue," Hermione said smiling.

"Yes, well… it doesn't matter" Ron said, red with embarrassment.

Hermione picked up her menu and began to read, telling Ron about some of the dishes he had never seen before.

The students ordered the food the same way as they had in fourth year and once the students found that out sumptuous food began to fill the many plates. Laughter and chatter blended in with the clink of cutlery and the soft melody of a saxophone.

"This is how it should be" Harry thought to himself "Laughter and fun like this should be apart of everyday life, not the fear of knowing that you could be killed with the blink of an eye"

Harry bought himself back to reality and smiled over at Hermione. She beamed back at him and they lovingly gazed at each other. Hermione blushed and turned away, continuing on with her meal.

"So, are you gonna dance with her?" Ron asked in a whisper.

"Yes, I will. It will hopefully be a lot better than fourth year"

Ron laughed, "Of course it will mate, at least you don't have to waltz around the place like a pompous git"

Harry frowned "Did I really look like a pompous git?"

Ron laughed again "Yes you did, could given Fudge a run for his money"

When the main course was finished dessert was served to those who wanted it straight away. While the course was served a beautiful young lady of about twenty-two made her way to the stage and stood in front of the microphone with her saxophone. Soon the sound of the instrument mingling with the piano filled the hall as she began to play Kenny G's hit "Wedding Song".

Hermione's eyes sparkled has they met Harry's "Come on, lets dance"

She took his hand in hers and led him to the dance floor.

There were only a few students of the floor so space wasn't a problem.

Harry turned to her and placed a hand on her waist and the other on her shoulder. Hermione looked up at him and they slowly rotated around the dance floor, nothing on their minds but each other.

"This is nice" Hermione said "You know I never…"

Harry smiled "Never thought that this would happen?"

"Yeah"

"Nor did I"

Hermione smiled and looked into his emerald eyes "Harry, I…I love you" she whispered.

"She loves me?" Harry thought, "I love you too"

He looked at her beaming smile and suddenly realised that their lips were only inches apart. Harry looked into her warm eyes and closed the gap between them.

The feel of their lips on one another took their breath away. An instant realization of true love swept over them as the embraced and kissed each other more passionately. Harry's mouth exploded with pleasure as Hermione's tongue entered his mouth.

He didn't want the kiss to end but eventually it did.

They smiled and Hermione lay her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him more tightly, feeling protected in his arms.

Harry could smell Hermione's vanilla perfume and could feel her soft hair under his chin. For the first time in his life he felt like a normal teenager.