Recap: Somebody spun to see Hermione. She sucked her breath in.

Hermione couldn't believe it. There he was! Remus looked GREAT! He had on a black suit, with the traditional white shirt and bright red cummerbumb and tie. His hair was slicked back and shining in the light of the fireplace. What caught herwere his eyes. Normally Remus' eyes were a dull gray tone, but tonight they were jet black and mysterious. Hermione stared at him for a few minutes, her mind racing.

'He will be my teacher! This is wrong for me to do, but still . . . He looks so nice and real and sweet . . . No! No! No! I cannot do this, I have to back out now. No! No! No! I have to go with him tonight. Tonight ONLY! But what if he asks me again? Oh , I want to go out with him! I cannot go out with him! Why is he staring at me like that? Oh! Daydreaming again!'

"Shall we go, melady?" Remus asked her jokingly.

"If you wish, my lord," she replied.

They crawled out of the portrait and meandered their way to the Great Hall. The Great Hall was a vision in itself. Instead of the normal magnificent House banners, it had different Valentine's Day decorations. Flying cupids lit the ceiling with firecracker arrows they sent soaring from their bows. A long table went across the wall, filled with assorted drinks and cookies.

The couple decided to dance for awhile before they sat to chat. They danced their way to the middle of the dance floor just as the Blues song ended. The new song was an old hand jive. Both of the teens loved it and the other students loved their dancing. Pretty soon Remus and Hermione had the spotlight.

After an hour of dancing, they headed over to the snacks. Hermione guzzled a cup of mystery potion (which ended up being Hawaiian punch) in a matter of seconds. Remus chuckled. Hermione then realized how unladylike she had just been, and blushed.

"No, I think it is great that you aren't prim and proper. Most girls around here act like they are in front of the Minister of Magic all the time. You are real. I like that," Remus stated when he saw her blushing.

Hermione felt her heart go off in a hurry. She really liked Remus - he was awesome as a kid! She was set to 'go steady' (as they said back then!) right then.

Somewhere inside though, Hermione knew that she couldn't get serious with Remus. She was only there temporarily.

"Why are you so serious Mimi? You look like somebody handed a Potions Exam," Sirius asked as he walked over to the group.

Mandy clung onto his arm, Hermione noticed. They did look cute together, with Sirius' black hair and Mandy's blonde curls. Mandy wore a sapphire colored dress that set off her bright blue eyes perfectly. Sirius looked fabulous in his suit, but it was a change from his normal school robes.

James escorted Lily to the group, who were now sitting outside. Hermione almost giggled at the sight of those two. Lily was in a pale white dress that turned her already amazing red hair into shining, rich tendrils. James had somehow managed to hold his unruly hair flat to his head, probably by some potion he had found. They looked so comfortable together. Hermione thought it was funny that she was best friends with their son, but she knew better than to tell them.

"Where are Peter and Hanna?" Hermione wondered aloud.

Sirius snickered. "We saw them making out over by the quidditch pitch."

Hermione rolled her eyes. She figured the rat would be up to something like that.

The six of them sat and talked for awhile, but as it got closer to midnight the other two couples left to hit the dance floor. Hermione smiled. She and Remus were left alone in the dark and snowy night. He continued talking to her, but her mind was numb with the mood. She had been enjoying herself so much! This was way better than the Yule Ball. There, her date had just sat there talking about himself. Remus was so . . . nice to her. He didn't just obsess over himself - he really cared.

"Well, Hermione, would you like to go present them with one final dance before the night is over?" Remus asked her.

She agreed, and they walked back to the Great Hall holding hands.

The last dance was a slow one. Hermione snuggled up to Remus as they slowly swayed together. It seemed like such a short dance, because it ended after what seemed like 30 seconds. Hermione tried to hide her disappointment. Remus noticed and took her aside.

"Hermione, I really like you. You are really nice, and . . . different." With that, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

Hermione was stunned. She managed to whisper a goodbye before she ran up to her room. This was not going to work! She couldn't ignore him, she liked him, but she couldn't see him anymore. She had to work on getting back to her time. He sadly couldn't come along.

AN:

So there's the dance! That was fun writing.

Please don't forget to review! For all of my faithful reviewers, you have my everlasting gratitude. Thank you for the nine reviews I do have!

Next chapter - Hermione figures out her twisted feelings for Remus.

Until then,

Meg