Authors Note: I just wanted to say thank you so much for the reviews! Please continue reading! Oh and I fixed the problematic chapter 2 so now it is complete! I am sorry that chapter 3 is so short I kind got a little blocked with this one. It will be longer next time and I should be able to end it! lol Thanks again!

Manda

"Oh dear! Harry, maybe we should go back inside and...and..."

Harry put his arm around her to ease her anxiety and stared at the portrait hole thoughtfully. "No I don't think that is such a good idea right now. We can explain later, let's just go and enjoy the evening okay? She needs some time to cool down, trust me."

Hermione nodded and smiled timidly when Harry offered her his arm like she was some sort of princess. In all honesty he thought she looked unbelievably beautiful and he couldn't help but feel lightheaded at the prospect of spending the entire evening with Hermione like a date. Was this a date? He thought to himself...this was supposed to be a friendly outing between friends not a date, his mind corrected, but his heart kept getting in the way. The fact that she was with him was very intoxicating and it wasn't long till he long forgot about the entire incident with Ginny.

They slowly made their way into the entrance hall and found Ron and Luna deeply engrossed in some sort of conversation. "Just put it on Luna, I'm very, very sure that there aren't any roaming nargles in it." I checked it just like you told me too."

Luna examined the corsage suspiciously, "you even sprinkled sugar beets around it last night to ward them off?" Ron nodded proudly and Luna seemed to light up. "Oh Ronald, you did that for me?"

"I would do anything for you Luna, your my girl" Ron was smiling softly at her and for a moment Harry and Hermione both felt like outsiders looking in on something very private.

Hermione leaned into Harry and sighed wistfully, "That is so sweet! Don't you think so Harry?" Harry was speechless and gazed down at Hermione curiously. A realization seemed to dawning on him and he realized that the only reason he couldn't find a girl he could really care about was because he had already found her. How could he have been so stupid! He would do anything for Hermione. Wasn't he already doing things for her just to make her happy? Wasn't he already so intimate with Hermione that he could understand her better than anyone he had ever known? Why had it taken him so long to recognize the potential feelings he might be feeling toward her?

Hermione fiddled with the sleeve of her robes nervously under his scrutiny, but he just stared blankly at her and felt like a fool. He decided he couldn't do that to their friendship, it would ruin everything. Hadn't his silly tryst with Ginny ruined whatever friendship he might have had with her? Hadn't their break up almost cost him Ron's Loyalty as well? He couldn't bear to think about losing Hermione, not when he needed her so badly. Harry felt like he was in some sort of cross roads but he had no idea which direction he should take.

"Oi mate, what has got you all worked up? Ron was shifting his eyes from Harry to Hermione very suspiciously, and draped an arm around Luna who was dreamily staring at Hermione with a knowing look on her face.

"Ron, lets go inside to the party, I think we all can use a little dancing to lighten our mood." Luna said brightly and gently prodded him forward. He had a very bewildered look on his face until Luna whispered something to him which made him turn and gawk at his two best friends. Luna rolled her eyes and led him away from Harry and Hermione.

Harry felt like he was in a dream when he escorted Hermione into the Great Hall and had nearly forgotten about the glowing globes of twinkle lights he had placed around the head table. Hermione, however was clearly excited to see them, and pulled on Harry's arm with obvious pleasure. "Oh Harry! You did this didn't you? They are so lovely!" Suddenly Hermione leaned up and kissed him tenderly on the cheek which made Harry's heart nearly jump out of his chest. Her happiness over something so simple was more than Harry could withstand so he did what any warm blooded young man would do in the same situation--He asked her to dance.