Chapter 7

Every student at Hogwarts had returned in time for the New Year's Ball. Many boys had already asked their sweethearts to accompany them to the Ball, Ron was one of them. Lavender had always been a hopeless romantic but Ron failed to realise this.

"Lav, will you go to the New Year's Ball with me?"

"Maybe, why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you asking me to with you?"

"Well, that's obvious isn't it? You're my girlfriend, at least I hope so. And besides..."

"Yes?" Lavender looked eagerly at Ron.

"It would be kinda embarrassing for me, as a guy to be the only one there without a date."

Lavender sighed disappointedly. Ron had never been very good at noticing things.

"What?" asked Ron.

"Has it ever occurred to you to be even a little romantic?"

"What's the point? It's not necessary, especially when you already know that I love you."

"Yes, well, sometimes it makes us females feel a little better if you do try..."

"Women, why can't they be simple folk like us guys?"

"Because that's the way of life."

"Humph."

Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione hadn't planned to go but Ron and Lavender managed eventually, after a great deal of persuasion, to go.

"Ron, mate listen, I'm not going, there's o reason to go, I haven't got a date."

"So? You can sit with all the other dateless guys and watch me and the others make a fool of ourselves dancing."

Harry smiled.

"Alright, alright. I'll go along just for a laugh."

"Great. We're all going in Muggle clothes by the way. Last time at the Yule Ball, everyone felt really weird in robes..."

"I'll find something."

And so the New Year's Ball finally came and romance was in the air. The Great Hall was moved around for the occasion. Tables were lined up at the sides of the Hall and there were two entrances at different ends of the Great Hall followed by a long flight of stairs. The entrance on the left was for girls and the other was for boys.

Harry walked down the steps and walked towards the chairs when he stopped. Hermione was walking down the steps, she looked like a princess from a fairytale. She was wearing a long dress that flowed to the floor. It was a strapless baby blue with a butterfly tail... A few boys walked up in her direction and met her at the bottom of the stairs.

"Well, well, hey there, gorgeous. I'm Jesse. Would you like to dance with me?"

Hermione blushed. Harry turned around, no longer interested, he found Malfoy standing there.

"Haven't found a date yet, Potter? I wouldn't be surprised, you're not exactly good - looking."

"Shut it, Malfoy, not tonight."

"My, my, aren't we touchy. Oh I see. You've fallen for that Mudblood Granger, haven't you. Oh well, I guess, someone beat you to her..." Malfoy continued to sneer.

Harry, not wanting to defend himself, walked away.

"What's the matter, Potter? Not feeling too brave are we?"

Harry could take no more, he turned and lunged at him but Ron quickly blocked him and held him. He spoke quietly.

"Harry, mate, let it go."

Harry growled and straightened himself.

Jesse continuously asked Hermione for a dance, but she repeatedly declined. Her attention was fixed on finding Harry again. She had caught him staring at her and was about to go and talk to him before she was rudely interrupted by Jesse. Eventually, Jesse gave up and turned to his friends:

"She's a tough one to get hold of, let's go find someone else."

Where did he go? He looks so handsome tonight. Harry was wearing a black tux. The top button of his shirt was left undone. I need to talk to him.

Hermione stopped walking, someone had caught holding of her wrist. Thinking it was Jesse again, she spun round in annoyance and spoke.

"Look I already told..."

She found Harry looking at her:

"Oh, sorry Harry, I thought that you were someone else."

"So I guessed."

"How are you?"

"I'm ok, listen, do you want to dance?"

"Um, yeah sure."

Harry and Hermione walked onto the dance floor and began to dance to a slow song. Hermione's half forgotten lavender scent flood through Harry.

You comin off innocent actin all nervous and

Girl I can tell that you been here before

By the way that you block you ears and the way that you bite your lip

Girl you a trip

And I know that your lovin when hittin it feels like forever when we're doin it ooh ooh aah aah

Damn i like it and it dont really matter when we're doin it girl dont front just come with it ooh

Ooh aah aah damn and girl there aint

"Listen, Harry, I'm sorry about..."

"There's nothing to be sorry about."

Hermione bit her lip. How could Harry say that? Its like they were never together. They were silent.

When we be freakin it babe aint nothin wrong

If you be into it babe

Aint nothin wrong

Scream if u gotta boo aint nobody mad at u babe aint nothin wrong aint nothin

Wrong When we be hittin it babe aint nothin wrong if you be diggin it babe aint nothin wrong

Scream if u gotta boo aint nobody mad at u babe aint nothin wrong aint nothin wrong It's ok to be into me if you wanna experiment baby im down go where you wanna go ima lay you

Down right tonite from 0 to 69 on your mark get ready set go

And I know that your lovin when hittin it feels like forever when we're doin it ooh ooh aah aah

Damn i like it and it dont really matter when we're doin it girl dont front just come with it ooh

Ooh aah aah damn and girl there aint nothin wrong

"'Mione, what I meant was I don't care if you don't want to get back together."

That hurt, Harry was digging himself a hole, without realising. Hermione resisted the urge just to run out the Hall.

When we be freakin it babe aint nothin wrong If you be into it babe

Aint nothin wrong

Scream if u gotta boo aint nobody mad at u babe aint nothin wrong aint nothin

Wrong

When we be hittin it babe aint nothin wrong if you be diggin it babe aint nothin wrong

Scream if u gotta boo aint nobody mad at u babe aint nothin wrong aint nothin wrong

"You see, I'll always love you. I never want to let you go..."

"Harry, you have no idea how good it is to hear you say that after all this time. I love you too."

They had stopped dancing and were gazing into each other's eyes adoringly...

Cuz there aint nothin wrong with the way you freakin me there aint nothin wrong be the way you

Wanna be there aint nothin wrong dont think about it i said there aint nothin there aint nothin

There aint nothin wrong cuz there aint nothin wrong with the way we get it on there aint nothin

Wrong go ahead and tell your mom there aint nothin wrong dont think about it i said there aint

Nothin there aint nothin aint nothin wrong

Their heads tilted to one side and they kissed. The kiss lingered on, they drank in each other's long forgotten kiss...

When we be freakin it babe aint nothin wrong

If you be into it babe Aint nothin wrong

Scream if u gotta boo aint nobody mad at u babe aint nothin wrong aint nothin

Wrong

When we be hittin it babe aint nothin wrong if you be diggin it babe aint nothin wrong

Scream if u gotta boo aint nobody mad at u babe aint nothin wrong aint nothin wrong There aint nothin wrong

there aint nothin wrong

there aint nothin wrong i said there aint nothin

There aint nothin cuz there aint nothin wrong

The whole procession came to a standstill.. Everyone was watching Harry and Hermione intensely. Dumbledore beamed at the two, he was happy for the. Hagrid, as always, wailed like a roll of thunder and blew hard into a large spotted handkerchief. Professor McGonagall sniffed and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Everyone, but Snape and Malfoy were happy for the couple. Malfoy spoke loudly:

"Get a room, for God's sake!"

Fortunately, Ron came up to him and whispered.

"Silencio. There that should keep you quiet, oh and another thing..."

Ron connected his fist with Malfoy's nose and walked away smartly. Malfoy, unable to speak, bore his pain and ran out of the Great Hall...

Hermione and Harry broke off after several minutes... The whole crowd cheered and the boys congratulated Harry:

"Harry, mate, I think you just got the world record for the longest snog ever..."

The couple grinned impishly at each other and everyone began to dance to the next song.

"'Mione, I guess you can wear this again..." Harry held the heart - shaped sapphire necklace for Hermione to see.

"Where did you..." Hermione suddenly realised and turned around for Harry to put it on. Harry drew her in into a tight hug and kissed her lightly on the cheek...