Holiday Ball
by bloomingfelton
Chapter 3: May I Have This Dance?
"Hermione, we have to leave. Hurry up!" Hermione's mother Elizabeth Granger called from the parlor and her voice echoed up to Hermione's room.
"Jackson," Elizabeth Granger said turning to son when Hermione did not answer, "would you be a dear and gather your sister and bring her downstairs?"
Without an argument Jackson trudged upstairs, only to return with a bickering Hermione. Frustrated Jackson turned to his father about the problem.
"Father! Please tell Hermione that she must change her dress," Jackson said to his father.
Henry Granger looked at his daughter's attire, "I agree young lady, rush upstairs and change immediately."
Hermione growled and set her hands on her hips. "Dad! Mother, please!"
"Now, Henry darling," Elizabeth Granger said as she turned to her husband, "the dress isn't revealing at all. It's just a bit tight and perfectly suitable. Hermione wears it very well."
"But Mum! She will be jumped on by every male there!" Jackson argued.
Before Henry could agree, Elizabeth answered.
"Well then, Jackson, it is your job to make sure she isn't. And we are already late. There's nothing you can do now. We must go."
Hermione smiled, having won the battle, and placed her faux fur coat on before she stepped out of the house and into the lightly snow covered carriage awaiting them.
Hermione looked around the ball room, which was already filled with a large amount of people. It was beautiful. Everything sparkled and was either red, green, or silver. The Malfoys had definitely outdone themselves this year.
Sliding her arm into her father's, Hermione walked down the grand stairs to the ball room. Jackson and Meredith followed behind them then parted from Hermione and her parents to say hello to other guests. It was customary to greet guests as a family and since Hermione was neither a legal adult nor married, she had to stay with her parents until the dancing would start.
Hermione spotted Danielle standing with her parents and her brother Luke who had married Hermione's older sister, Anne, making Hermione and Danielle sisters-in-law. Hermione dragged her parents to say hello to the Carthiers. As soon as Danielle, in her beautiful red dress, saw Hermione, she rushed forward to embrace her friend.
"Hermione!" Danielle gushed. "You look great!"
"So do you," Hermione replied quickly.
"Couldn't stay away from your sister, eh, Hermione?"
Hermione whipped around to see her older sister, Anne. "Ohh Anne, I missed you!" Hermione said as she hugged her sister. It had been a while since they had last seen each other. Hermione had been finishing up her last year at school and a pregnant Anne had been planning for her first child with Luke.
"So, boy or girl?" Hermione asked excitedly.
"Girl," Anne answered with a huge smile on her face.
"Ahh! We're going to be aunts!" Hermione exclaimed while hugging Danielle excitedly.
"You girls look to old to be aunts," Luke said teasingly as he turned towards his wife. He spotted Hermione and let out a low whistle. "Sheesh, Hermione, you look down right shaggable." He received a playful swat from Anne and Hermione blushed red as Danielle mouthed 'shaggable' to Anne then the two burst out laughing. "I mean it! If I hadn't already fallen in love with, married, and started a family with your sister, I would totally suggest we run off together." If anything, Hermione blushed deeper as Luke grinned at his wife and Danielle let out a chuckle. Luke laughed and pulled Hermione into a bone crushing hug.
"The hair!" Hermione shrieked before Luke let her go. As soon as she situated herself, Danielle tapped Hermione on the shoulder.
"Guess who just arrived."
Hermione turned towards the grand staircase to recognize James and Lily Potter walking down arm in arm followed by two devilishly handsome boys in black dress robes and green capes. Hermione stared at Harry Potter, and as soon as she started watching him, he glanced up as if he could sense her looking at him and grinned. Hermione blushed and turned around only to be engulfed in a hug by Gabby and Molly.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say that you and Mr. Potter planned to match tonight," Molly said giggling as Hermione let out a nervous laugh.
"So," Gabby said changing the conversation, "guess 'vho already 'as a 'voy."
"Who?" Danielle asked excitedly as Molly turned a deep red.
"Yes, Molly! Who is he? How'd you meet?" Hermione quickly questioned Molly.
"Well," Molly said nervously, "you remember my neighbor, Brendan Larwood?"
Suddenly, the conversation turned to Molly's new crush, Brendan Larwood, then to the cover of that month's Wizard & Witch Weekly who happened to be Hermione's brother-in-law, Draco Malfoy. Slowly, the girls separated and left with their parents to greet other guests, leaving Hermione with her parents, Jackson, Luke, and Anne.
"Hello again, Lizzy and Henry." Hermione turned from her conversation with Anne to see Meredith with Harry Potter. She quickly looked at her friends who had huge smiles on their faces and made gestures to turn back to the conversation.
Meredith continued, "I would like to introduce to you, my very good friend Harry Potter. Harry, you know Jackson." Harry and Jackson clasped each other's hands in a friendly handshake. "This is Henry and Elizabeth Granger, and their eldest daughter, Anne with her husband, Luke Carthier, and their youngest daughter Hermione."
Harry reached out and shook Hermione's hand and Hermione did everything in her power to not blush. Unexpectedly, the music started just as Harry let go of Hermione's hand. Meredith and Jackson left them suddenly to start the ball with Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy and Draco Malfoy and Ginny already on the floor.
"Well," Luke said turning to Anne, "would you like to dance?"
Anne smiled and Luke led them to the dance floor leaving Hermione with her parents and Harry Potter. It was uncomfortably silent as Anne and Luke left.
"Excuse me, Hermione." Hermione turned back to Harry, who was addressing her. "May I have this dance?"
Before Hermione could stop herself from saying anything stupid she answered, "I would love to." Harry offered Hermione his arm and the two walked to the dance floor.
As soon as they reached the dance floor, Harry twirled her then pulled her close to start off the slow waltz.
"So, you're the infamous Hermione Granger," Harry said as he twirled her again. "I've heard many stories about you."
"I hope all good stories," Hermione said as she looked up to Harry's face.
"Some," Harry grinned.
Hermione groaned, "Remind me to kill Jackson."
Harry laughed, "I am only kidding. Most of them were about your unexpected use of magic as a child."
Hermione groaned even more. Stories about her floating cookies down the halls, suddenly appearing with clothing on during baths, floating Jackson's underwear in the kitchen when he had friends (cough girls) over, and exploding nearly half of everything in Jackson's room almost every week when Jackson teased her, were clearly embarrassing.
Harry laughed again, "They weren't that bad. I once set a snake on my muggle cousin, Dudley, then locked him in its cage while we were at the zoo. But, now that I think about it, that makes me seem like an angel compared to you"
Hermione smiled, "That makes me feel loads better."
"Anytime, - " but Harry was cut off by a large camera flash and Hermione had to blink a few times to see what happened.
"Harry Potter, who is this lovely lady? Are you two dating? When did you learn how to dance? This is clearly your first ball? Does it exceed expectations?"
There was another flash and both Harry and Hermione covered their eyes to block out the bright flashes.
"Excuse me." A very angry looking Mr. Malfoy had just appeared and was questioning the photographer. "All paparazzi are not allowed inside my house."
Harry turned Hermione away from Mr. Malfoy and started moving closer to the center of the ballroom.
"Sorry about that," Harry said to Hermione. "Normally, I avoid them at all costs."
"Don't worry. I am see why. I have yet to recover my eyesight," Hermione answered teasingly.
Harry grinned.
"So, Mr. Potter, when did you learn these fantastic dance steps?" Hermione mockingly questioned him.
"Well, believe it or not," Harry started, "I never knew how to dance until yesterday."
"Really?" Hermione said looking up Harry's eyes. "I would never been able to tell unless you told me."
"It's true, Miss Granger," Harry answered. "Yesterday morning, while I was having the most pleasant dream, I was dragged out of bed by that brother of yours and his wife. And since yesterday's breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, my parents, Draco, Ginny, Jackson, and Meredith did everything in their power to pound dance steps into my brother's and my head." Harry paused. "Let's just say that I fell asleep early yesterday."
Hermione laughed, "Well, it seems you are a quick learner. Now, unfortunately, I cannot say the same thing for your brother."
Harry turned his head to see Andrew stepping all over his partner's feet. He grinned and turned back to Hermione. "Thank goodness, I am a quick learner."
Without notice, the music stopped and Hermione turned back to Harry.
"Well, thank you for this dance, Hermione." Harry said smoothly as her reached up and kissed her hand. "I'll see you later."
"Anytime," Hermione said blushing as Harry walked away and Hermione was quickly surrounded by her friends.
"Oh, Hermione, you lucky girl! What did you talk about?" Danielle asked quickly.
Hermione looked to Harry's retreating back.
"It's personal," she answered as she smiled, because it was personal.