"I was this close," Hermione raged to Ginny, holding her thumb and forefinger about a millimetre apart. "I was this close to finding out who he fancies! Now I'll never find out."
"You might do. Halloween is in a few weeks, right? Well, Dumbledore's initiated a Masquerade Ball for that night for the upper school, namely fourth year and up. We'll send him letters from a secret admirer and then you can initiate a conversation with him about who he thinks it is and, more importantly, who he wants it to be."
"That's too risky. Besides we're doing the secret admirer things round Valentines day. I'll just talk to him. And maybe write him a letter."
"We have to get fabulous costumes for it don't we."
"Of course. I'm the head girl, wait. Head girl and boy always have to go together to the ball and start the dancing. Wait! I can't dance!"
"Yes you can. Besides, Harry can always teach you. It's a great way to get close to someone and let them know you fancy them."
Hermione said goodbye to Ginny and went off to her common room. It was after dinner and the girls had come away earlier.
She pulled a poster for the Ball off the wall and read it as she went.
She had just settled herself into her favourite sofa with her feet up with a book, when Harry entered and sat on her legs.
"Hey baby." He said brightly.
"Hi. And since when do you call me baby?"
He shrugged and grinned.
"What 'cha readin'?"
"Never you mind."
"Come on, surely you can tell me?"
"Nope. Nothing doing Harry."
He sat quietly and then tried to snatch it from her. She had anticipated this and resisted his attempts to get the book. Unfortunately they ended up in a rather compromising position with him almost lying on top of her.
She grinned and looked up into his eyes. Just a bit closer…
"Why didn't you want me to know what you were reading?"
"I was embarrassed."
"Why? It's not a naughty book is it?"
"No. If you must know, it's a romance."
"Since when do you read romance novels?"
"I have done so for many years. This one happens to be one of my favourites."
"Which is it?"
"Do you read romance?"
"Not much. Which book is it?"
"It's an old romance by Jane Austen. It's called Persuasion."
"I've read that. It's good."
"It is indeed."
"Who is your Captain Wentworth?"
"What?"
"Yesterday you asked me who my Lilly was. I'm returning the favour and asking you who you're Captain Wentworth is."
"I'll only tell you if you will tell me who your Lilly is."
"Fine, my Lilly holds the same position as the original Lilly. Head Girl."
"My Captain Wentworth happens to be lying on top of me right now."
They grinned at each other.
"Get off me Captain."
"As you wish Lilly."
He removed himself and sat on the sofa while she snuggled into him and continued reading.
"Go to the ball with me."
"Love to. Now will you excuse me, Captain Wentworth wrote a romantic letter to her and I love reading it."
"Read your favourite bits out loud."
" 'I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone for ever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own than when you almost broke it, eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. For you alone, I think and plan. Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. A word, a look, will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.' Isn't he romantic?"
"Indeed, dear. But I am not so romantic as the character you call me."
"I am not your dear mother either. I can never hope to have her goodness. But I think you can be romantic when you want to be. Can you dance?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Because there are several balls this year and I can't dance."
"That won't do at all, Miss Granger. Not to worry, I'll teach you. Now?"
"No, I'm tired."
"Rest on me, I don't mind."
Within ten minutes she was asleep. Harry carried her up to her room and laid her out on the bed. He kissed her forehead and then crept back to the common room to finish an essay on defence against a Dementor.
