Chapter 91

The Yule Ball

The next day at Breakfast Dumbledore made an announcement that made the older students take notice. He announced that there would be a Yule Ball this year on Christmas Eve, and those students that would like to go both to the ball and home for Christmas must let their Head of House know, so that things can be planned with Port-Keys or flooing or whatever.

That was told to them on Halloween, and the friends were talking about who they were all going to be taking. It was decided that they would each go with their respective partners, like there was any question to that happening. They had also decided that they all would go home for Christmas, and leave the Ball early so that they wouldn't be getting home to late. Harry was invited to spend Christmas with Hermione of course, and he accepted with haste. They decided that they were going to be only making a slight appearance at the Ball, for neither of them were one of the Champions, but would at least dance two dances before going home. The rest of the friends decided to stay until 11 in which time they were all going to be taking a Port-Key to the Burrow, and have Christmas there. Harry and Hermione sent there regards to Mr and Mrs. Weasley saying that they were going to be spending this Christmas Vacation with her parents.

The group of friends took the next weekend, which happened to be a Hogsmeade Weekend, to go do their Christmas Shopping. They decided to do all the shopping, and like the previous year to have a small get together before the ball to exchange gifts. They went out to a lot of different shops, and Harry managed to get away from Hermione for a few minutes to get her the gift that he wanted to get her this year. He got her a nice looking necklace, along with a pair of pearl earrings to match the pearl necklace. They met up at the three broomsticks for a drink and talking about what they were going to be doing for the rest of the day. "Did you get the rest of your shopping done Mione?"

"Yes I got mine done, how about you?"

"I got it done with the last gift that I had just gotten. What shall we do for the rest of the day? We're in our fourth year right, and we have been going out since the summer before last. Wouldn't you consider us both exclusive with one another, dating wise I mean?"

"Yah, I think that we would be considered exclusive in our dating, and I'm happy, why?"

"Well I was just wondering what you wanted to do once we got out of school in three years. I mean we start our OWLS year next year, and then NEWTS. I don't know about you, but I was thinking about going into either AUROR or Teaching. Maybe teach DADA somewhere. Have you thought anything about what you want to do after Hogwart's?"

"Of course I have thought about it Harry, but I didn't know you have been thinking about it so much. I don't care what I do, as long as I am around you to do it. I know it might sound like I'm a hopeless romantic or something like that, but I know already that I'm going to marry you one day. I know a few people might think that we're to young to be thinking about that kind of stuff, but I know that I love you, and also that you love me. So why not think about our future together? I am going to keep you to your promise you made me when you gave me this ring." She smiled at him and kissed him sweetly on the lips.

Harry smiled at this, and just sat there thinking that he had found the most perfect girl of his dreams. She made his life, and he was definitely looking forward to spending the rest of his life with her. "I plan on keeping that promise also Mione. Once we graduate, we are going to get married. Heck, if it was possible, I would marry you once we get done with our sixth year. I don't know what the law is like in the muggle world, but in our world, I think that the age of adulthood is 16 in the wizard world." He smiled at her and took a drink of his Butter Beer.

"Well in the muggle world it's 16 also I am pretty sure. Are you sure you would marry me while we are still in school, I mean that might make a few things weird with people around the school. I guess that there might have been married students before, and that we wouldn't be the first, so let's let our families know that we are wanting to get married in the summer of seventh year." She kissed him again, and they walked back to the castle.

When the Yule Ball came, they were all sitting in the Great Hall waiting for the Champions to get there with their dates. Harry and Hermione decided that they would go home after a couple of dances and the Champions got there. Cedric and Cho were the first to be announced and they entered dressed in their finest as they swooped into the hall to the applause of the students and teachers alike. Cedric had worn black robes with the colors of his house asa fringe around the collar and sleeves, while Cho wore Midnight Blue with silver highlights. They looked great together, and everyone could tell that they were in love.

Viktor and his date came in next. He had taken another student from Durmstrang, and they were both looking splendid in Black. They came into the room with a cheer and applause also. They went and stood with Cedric and Cho waiting for Fluer to get there with her date.

No one knew who Fluer was taking to the dance, but they all knew that whomever it was, was a lucky guy. There had been quite a few guys that had tried to get a date with her, but none were able to get close enough to ask her without getting tongue tied, and walking away frustrated. When she walked in with her date, there were quite a few gasps of surprise and awe at whom had finally got the guts to ask her out.

A/N: Ok it's a cliff hanger, but this date of hers is a set up for later in the story, don't worry you will find out in year 5, so don't worry. Just say that the dance went quite well, and I can't go any farther into this chapter without telling you the big secret. Mwahahahahaahha. Sorry, please read and review. ---Donald