Harry had barely stumbled into the tent upon completing his turn, egg in hand, when he heard a familiar shriek as Hermione had come to meet him throwing her arms around him in one of her signature hugs. He melted into her hug and was content to stay there for some time.

Unfortunately they were quickly interrupted with an "Ahem!" They both turned to find standing there looking awkward.

Hermione smiled at both of them, looking expectant that they would now make up and be friends again. Ron then began to apologize for his behavior but Harry barely heard him. All the unresolved anger that had been boiling inside him was finding its way to the surface.

He knew it wasn't entirely fair to be angry at this Ron, for things he hadn't even done yet and that wouldn't happen this time around at all now that Harry was planning to change it all for the better.

"Well I'm glad you've come to your senses" He began when Ron had finished. "But I can't forgive you" He said flatly, much to the shock of both of them.

"Harry" Hermione chastised gently.

"I'm sorry Hermione but I need friends I can rely on and Ron has proven he can't be."

"I said I was sorry!" Ron exclaimed, looking anguished.

"And I appreciate that. But it took you seeing a dragon chasing me to realize your error." His former friend bowed his head in shame at this.

"Please" He begged. "I promise I'll be better."

Harry just shook his head. "Ron you and I both know this was never about you not believing me. This was about your jealousy of me. Even though I've told you a thousand times how much I hate my fame. I had to lose my parents to get that fame Ron! Can you really say you want it at such a price as that?"

Ron looked stricken at this. "No" He answered honestly after thinking it over.

"Then maybe you can understand how much it hurt me to see you not speaking to me for a month over your jealousy."

"I get it" And for a brief moment Harry thought that he had. "Now will you be my best mate again?" Ron asked hopefully.

Harry let out a growl of frustration and turned on his heel, exiting the tent without another word, Ron staring open mouthed in disbelief. Meanwhile Hermione chased after him.

"Harry, how can you be so unforgiving after he apologized and everything?" She asked him reproachfully, struggling to keep up with his pace.

"How can you be so forgiving of him?" He challenged back. He didn't know how to make her understand. He knew she just wanted things to work out because she wanted him to be happy. In her mind Ron was still his best friend.

"Because I believe he's learned his lesson, you know he's a good person. Do you really want to throw away four years of friendship over this?"

Harry stopped and turned to face her. "Hermione do you trust me?"

Caught off guard by this she struggled to answer for a moment. "Of course" she assured him.

"Then please trust me on this. I can't explain it, not yet. But I have my reasons for not taking Ron back as a friend."

"Then tell me what they are."

"I can't."

"Why not? You know you can tell me anything!"

"Not this, not now anyway. I promise I'll tell you someday, hopefully soon." He debated within himself whether to use the gift he'd been given to give her her future memories here and now. It would make everything so much easier but he didn't want to be impulsive. He had to be sure it wasn't better to save it for Sirius instead first.

Hermione's expression went through a range of different emotions before she finally answered him. "All right. I'll trust you, for now. But you better have a really good explanation for this!" She added fiercely.

Harry simply hugged her in reply.

When the Yule Ball was announced the next day Harry began contemplating whether to ask Hermione. After all they could goes as nothing more than friends, right? Besides if he didn't ask her soon then Viktor would beat him to it.

And so it happened that later that afternoon when Harry and Hermione were studying together in the library as usual, he decided to go for it.

"Listen Hermione, I've been thinking…would you like to go to the ball with me?" He blurted this out quickly before he could change his mind.

She opened and closed her mouth serval times like a fish. "Me go with you?"

"As friends of course" He assured her and thought he saw a flash of disappointment in her face.

"Oh right, yes of course," She paused a moment still processing the idea, "But what about Cho?"

Harry couldn't have looked more surprised. He'd completely forgotten that he used to have a crush on her. He wasn't sure what to say. Finally he decided to be honest.

"Cho? Honestly, I haven't thought about her in a long time. Sure she's pretty and is a good quidditch player but I'm not interested in her in that way, not anymore anyway." She studied his face, looking for any hint of untruth in him but found him to be entirely sincere and earnest.

"Why me though?" She asked next. "I'm sure any girl in the whole school would be willing to go with you."

"You're my best friend" He answered simply. "I don't think I'd have as a good time with anyone but you."

Hermione's eyes began to water. "Then yes Harry, I'd love to go with you."

Harry couldn't believe he was feeling nervous. He'd been the Yule ball before and besides he was only going with Hermione as a friend.

Still, he wasn't prepared to see her when she came down those steps looking like Cinderella. She looked even more radiant than the last time. He hadn't expected her to make herself over like before. After all it wasn't like she was going with Viktor Krum this time.

"Hello Harry" She greeted him, her smile lighting up the room.

He replied with something real intelligent like, "Uh guh." Hermione laughed prettily.

"Shall we?" She asked, taking his arm. He nodded, still speechless at the sight of her.

They entered the great hall and Harry found he could not concentrate on anything else but her. Suddenly it was as if he was experiencing a kind of tunnel vision, unaware of his surroundings.

"Oh Harry it's so beautiful" Hermione exclaimed.

"Yes, you are" Came the dazed reply. "I mean it is!" He corrected when she blushed. "I mean you are too of course. I meant to tell you before but-"

She put a finger to his lips. "Thank you, Harry" She was beaming at him and he felt drawn towards her as if by a magnet.

Suddenly the music started up and it was time to open the ball with a dance. Harry shook himself out of his daze. Pull it together, he told himself.

Even though he hadn't practiced, he found he was much better at dancing this time around.

Soon after it was time for the banquet and they took their seats.

"Hello Harry Potter" Came the familiar dreamy voice of Luna, who had chosen to sit next to them.

"Luna, good to see you" Harry replied with a smile. He introduced Hermione to her and Luna professed that she had looked as if she'd been affected by wrackspurts. Hermione smiled politely and Harry quickly changed the subject.

"Who did you come to the ball with?" He asked curiously.

"Oh I came by myself" She responded nonchalantly. "Daddy asked me to so I give him details for the paper." She then rattled off about some conspiracy involving the ministry and how the yule ball was connected.

Harry was watching Hermione during this exchange and could see by her expression that she was bursting to comment on it. Not wanting the two of them to get into a heated argument, he asked Hermione to dance again as soon as they finished their meal.

"I'd love to" Was her reply. She turned to Luna, "Er it was nice talking to you." Harry almost laughed.

"Honestly Harry, I don't how you can tolerate her" Hermione admitted once they were out of earshot.

"She's funny and she's not afraid to be herself. Besides she's one of the few people who treats me like Harry and not the boy who lived. I think you'd really like her if you gave her a chance" He replied earnestly.

"Well I suppose I could try if you're really that fond of her" She conceded.

"Thank you." Now that Ron was no longer their friend, Harry felt he should really try to expand his social group and Luna was the perfect place to start with that. He knew she could be trusted and had many admirable qualities in spite of her quirks.

Half the night seemed to pass away and Harry was thoroughly enjoying himself unlike the last time he'd done this. He was certain nothing could ruin it so of course something had to go wrong.

"Excuse me, vould you be willing to dance wiv me?" Harry and Hermione had been sitting by the snack table, drinking punch when Viktor Krum came up to them. Hermione looked surprised but not wanting to be rude, accepted.

"Is that all right with you, Harry?" She asked when she noticed him glaring at Viktor.

"Not at all" He replied in a tone of voice that implied the opposite. Hermione gave him a soft look.

"I'll be right back" She promised with a smile and Harry nodded.

Just as Hermione and Viktor walked out onto the dance floor, Cho approached.

"Hi Harry. Would you like dance?" She offered. Harry opened his mouth the politely refuse but changed his mind. What else would he do otherwise? Glare at Viktor until his dance with Hermione was over. No that wouldn't do.

"I guess" and he let her lead him onto the dance floor. He tried not to think about it but couldn't help but steal glances at Hermione and Krum. Were they having good time? He couldn't tell.

The dance ended and Cho asked him for another as Hermione approached them. Krum was nowhere in sight and Harry felt relieved.

"Hello Cho" She greeted cordially but her tone was frosty. Harry looked at her in shock. Could she be jealous?

"Hello Hermione. Harry was just about to dance me with for a second song" Cho replied. "Weren't you Harry?"

"Er" Was all he could reply.

"You were?" Hermione looked hurt.

"I-I don't know" He stumbled awkwardly.

"Oh c'mon Hermione. You've been glued to him all night. Surely you can spare your boyfriend for a few minutes."

Harry opened his mouth to reply that they weren't together, at least not in that way but Hermione replied first.

"Of course not. But he promised we would take a walk in the moonlight and as the ball will over soon, there simply isn't time for another dance." Both girls looked at him expectantly but all Harry could think about was that Hermione hadn't corrected Cho about being boyfriend and girlfriend and was lying about a moonlit walk. She was also acting jealous. Could he dare to hope it meant what he thought it did?

Finally Harry answered with an apologetic look to Cho. "Er, she's right. Sorry Cho." Hermione looked pleased at this and Cho mumbled that it was fine and walked off.

Hermione took Harry's hand in hers and led him outside. She then pulled him into a secluded corner and looked at him with an odd expression.

"Can I ask you something and can you promise to answer honestly, even if it's a bit awkward?" She asked staring into his eyes. This caught Harry off guard.

"Uh sure. I mean yes you can."

"Did you mean it?" Her expression was unreadable.

"Mean what?"

"Asking me to the ball-"

"Of course I did! I mean we're here aren't we and-" Then it hit him. She thought he was still interested in Cho. Harry cursed inwardly and tried to think of the best way to assure her.

"No not that. What I mean is, did you mean the part about asking to go as just friends?" The conversation had suddenly taken a one eighty and it took him a moment to recover.

"No" He finally admitted softly. He couldn't pretend any longer. Hermione's whole demeanor changed at this, she was positively glowing.

Her hand lifted up and brushed against his cheek, then closing her eyes she leaned toward him. Harry felt his whole body erupt into a flurry of butterflies. He couldn't believe what was happening, it was like a dream. He leaned forward eagerly, barely able to contain himself. They were half an inch away from their lips meeting when suddenly he gasped and jerked backwards.

What was he thinking? He couldn't do this no matter how much he wanted it. The realization that he was manipulating her hit him and he burned with guilt. How was he any better than Dumbledore? Would she have fallen for him if she had her memories, had know what an awful friend to her he'd been back then along with everything else?

Hermione startled at his reaction and her eyes began to glisten with tears.

"Oh Hermione I'm sorry!" He exclaimed.

"No I'm sorry, I thought that- but I see now" She turned away from him. He seized her hand.

"No I want this, I want you! I just can't. There's-there's something I have to do first." She turned back to face him, tears slipping down her cheeks and he felt horrible to know he had cause them. He knew what he had to do.

"memini" He said aloud. The instant he said it, Hermione's eyes rolled in the back of her head and collapsed, he had just time to catch her in his arms before she could hit the floor.

"What did I do?!" He exclaimed in alarm. Had he said the spell wrong? Why had she fainted like this? Panic bubbled up in his chest as he tried to figure out what to do. Should he go get help? How would he even explain what had happened?

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her limp body through a different entrance so as not to cause a scene. He couldn't possibly take her back to Gryffindor tower like this so instead he took her to the Room of Requirement.

He pictured a room with a bed and some furnishings. A door appeared and he carried her inside, laying her on the bed. If she wasn't better by tomorrow morning he would have to take her to the hospital wing. He'd just have to play dumb about how she'd ended up this way.

Harry spent several hours doing nothing but watching over her and fretting over the state she was in. Still she did not stir. Finally sleep overcame him and he lay down next to her but quickly got up again, face burning with embarrassment at the implication of how it would look when she woke up. Instead he pulled up an armchair and, though he was already uncomfortable enough in his dress robes, settled down to sleep.