Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter/Wizarding World. They were all created by the genius that is J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who's subscribed, added my story to their favorites, or reviewed…or all of the above. I'm glad that you're enjoying my story. And to Redwoodx….I'd completely forgotten about the horrific pet names…actually it's more like blocked them out it's painful to relive that.
Chapter 4: Coming Out
The snow that had begun on the day of the fateful Quidditch match had yet to give up. The school grounds were like a winter wonderland making for a magic…or at least a more magical back drop for Slughorn's Christmas Party. It was an event both Hermione and Harry had been looking forward to, after all it was their first official date as well as their first public experience as a couple. Sure there were plenty of rumors flying around the school about them; the only people who knew the truth were Gryffindors. The day of the party was actually pretty relaxed, as they'd finished their mid-year tests the day before. For those who were lucky enough to have an invitation to Slughorn's exclusive party, it seemed the perfect way to end the term. The train would be taking them home the next morning for the Holiday.
Most of the morning, Harry had been thwarting Romilda Vane's attempts to get him to ask her to Slughorn's party. He'd never seen a more determined person, well unless it was McLaggen with Hermione. Finally, after forcing him to take a box of Chocolate Caldrons, she finally gave up. Remembering what Hermione had told him about Romilda and her love potions and that Mad-Eye would have his for eating or drinking something he didn't know the origins, of he threw the box into the bottom of his trunk with the intentions of throwing them out or destroying them whatever.
While Hermione took her time getting ready Harry was sitting 'at their usual spot' in the Common Room along with Neville, Ron, and Dean. Even though Harry and Hermione were going together, they'd decided to use their extra invitations so that Ron and Lavender were able to go to the party as well. "Exactly what are they doing that's taking so long?" Dean asked in slight frustration. They'd all been in their dress robes for at least an hour and a half.
Shortly after lunch Hermione, Ginny, Lavender, and Luna had disappeared and still haven't been heard from. "You shouldn't question it…never ever." Ron said.
"There are certain things about the rituals observed by the female gender that a man should never know anything about." Harry agreed with Ron.
"This one time I saw my Gran wearing one of those green mask things. "Neville said the look in his eyes complete horror. "I still have nightmares."
The guys all shuddered. "Nobody should ever witness that." Harry said.
"Here-here," Ron agreed. "And what's the deal with those little cotton balls? I swear in the summer with Hermione and Ginny at the house they come out of the bathroom. There are millions of them littered all over the counter and they look like they've gone into battle."
"I know right." Harry agreed. "I mean, women say that men are slobs but I beg to differ. I honestly think that Ron's ghoul is much neater."
"And who needs that may pairs of shoes?" Dean threw in.
"And the millions of cosmetic potions and hair potions, that pollute every amount of counter and cabinet space in every bathroom in the house." Ron said.
"My aunt and uncle have three daughters. One time I was there when he had to snake the drain and I'm pretty sure that he pulled a Wookie out of it." Dean added. Harry busted out laughing not just at the story but the bewildered look on Neville and Ron's faces.
"He put a snake in a drain?" Ron asked thoroughly confused. "Bloody Muggles are a weird lot."
Dean shook his head and sighed and looked at Harry for help. "I'm tapped."
"Muggles don't have magical means to unstop their plumbing and so they take a really long wire and stick it down in the drain and it has a hook on the end to pull out whatever is blocking it. It's called snaking a drain." He explained.
"Bloody barbaric is what it is." Ron said with a look of horror.
"What's a woogie? " Neville asked.
"Wookie." Dean corrected.
He never got to explain because the girls took that moment to finally grace them with their presence. All of them looked stunning even Luna with her eccentric style and metallic party dress. Harry could tell by the look on Neville's face that it wouldn't have mattered if Luna would have been wearing her radish earrings, her butter beer cap necklaces, and her Spectrespecs he'd still think she was beautiful and Harry admired him for that.
The one who really stood out, at least for him was Hermione. He was sure that he'd never seen her look more beautiful not even two years before when she went to the Yule Ball with Krum. Of course that was the night he'd first realized she was actually a girl but since then she'd truly blossomed. The dress that she wore that night was subtle it was a pale blush of pink tea length that cut low but not too low in the front and in the back showing just a enough skin to keep you guessing. Harry walked over to where she was at and wrapped his arms around her kissing her softly, "You look….amazing." he said.
Hermione smiled against his lips. "Thank you."
"Oi you two we have a party to get to." Ron called to the couple.
"Leave them alone Won-Won." Lavender scolded playfully.
Ron cringed at the pet name she'd given him that he truly hated. He knew that once they were back in the dorms he'd never hear the end of it. He was just grateful for the fact that Fred and George had left school the year before. If they ever heard that nickname, they'd never let him here the end of it.
Harry chuckled a little wrapping his arm around Hermione, "We're coming." He assured Ron.
By the time they made it to the party it was in full swing. Slughorn had gone to a lot of trouble making sure that his office was exceptionally festive. The walls were draped in red and green and the only light in the room came from the fairy lights dangling from the ceiling giving the room an intimate feel and cast the room with almost a red aura. As soon as they were seen together all sorts of stories started to spread through the crowd. The fact that Hermione Granger, super nerd, and Harry Potter were dating was just as interesting to them as the actual celebrities Slughorn had invited to the party. What was it with Hermione and talented Seekers? When Harry saw the house-elves circling the room carrying trays that were almost larger than themselves he braced himself for the usual tirade about slavery and was shocked when it didn't happen. "Are you feeling okay?" he asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Hermione looked confused.
"The elves?" he said.
"Oh….that." she said. "I had decided that I would be on my best behavior tonight and not bring it up."
"Who are you want what have you done with My Hermione?" he asked.
She laughed, "Your Hermione?" she asked running her hand up his arm caressing it gently through the sleeve of his robes.
"Mhm." He said looking down at her, "Yes…*my* Hermione" he stressed the 'my' part.
"I like that." She said.
"Me too." He agreed. "Would you like to dance?"
"Now who's acting out of character?" she teased.
"Well it's a slow song you can't really mess it up." He pointed out leading her to the dance floor.
Harry had never been one to dance; the Yule Ball, which he and the other Tri-Wizard Champions had to open with the first dance, had been a nightmare. In fact Parvati Patil and her Padama still gave him and Ron dirty looks and barely spoke to them and it had been two years. This was different though, Hermione was different and he knew that he would do anything to make her happy, even give her his Firebolt. "So how do we do this again?" he asked looking down at her.
"Like this." She said taking his hands and putting them on her narrow waist before sliding her hands up his chest and swaying with him to the song. In that moment Harry knew exactly what Heaven felt like it, was Hermione in his arms. He leaned down and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair; his fingertips massaged circles in the smooth exposed skin of her back and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
Hermione's head leaned against Harry's chest and closed her eyes. She didn't care about anyone around them what they were saying what they thought for that matter. "Can we just stay like this?" she asked.
Before he had a chance to answer her, the song ended and Slughorn swept Harry away to meet some of his esteemed guests. Hermione made her way over to the referents table where she bumped into McLaggen. She tried to get away without his notice but it was too late. "Granger." He said in his arrogant 'my shit doesn't stink' tone.
"McLaggen." Hermione said socially as she went back to fixing her plate.
"So you're here with Potter." He said.
Hermione raised an eyebrow, "Obviously." She said.
"You know I had you pegged for one of those 'goody' type girls." He said. "You know, the kind who are too uptight to do anything fun."
She sighed and gave him a bored look, "Does this have a point?" she asked.
"First Krum now Potter you aiming to land every Quidditch player you come across?" he asked.
Hermione didn't know if she should be offended or laugh hysterically. "As someone who couldn't even guard a goal you should know that it couldn't possibly include you. I only like good Quidditch players."
With that Hermione turned to walk away only to have McLaggen grab her by her arm and pull her back. "Where are you going I've not had my fill of you yet."
Before Hermione had a chance to draw her wand Harry was across the room and shoved McLaggen back into the refreshment table. "What the bloody hell is your problem Potter?" he growled pushing himself up from the rubble that was once a food laden table.
"You're my problem." Harry said pushing Hermione behind him protectively. "You put your fucking hands on my girlfriend again you will regret it."
"Nice job McLaggen piss off the one person that not even You Know Who can kill." Ron said with a laugh.
The rest of the party was just kind of in silent shock. Dueling in the corridors wasn't uncommon though is technically forbidden this was different. "Sorry about your party Professor." Harry said.
Slughorn was still slack jaw. "It's quite alright Harry m'boy."
"How about we go for some fresh air?" Hermione asked Harry. He nodded letting her pull her from the party while Ron and Neville repaired the table.
As they walked into the hallway which was significantly colder than the party Harry pulled the jacket part of his robes off and wrapped it around Hermione's shoulders. "Better?" he asked.
Hermione nodded sliding her arms into the sleeves. "The question is, are you alright?" she asked.
"I don't think I've ever really been that angry before, not even at Umbridge or Snape or Fudge." Harry said. "When he implied…" he shook his head still seething over it.
"Harry, he's jealous of you." She said, and stopped him before he had a chance to protest. "Not just because of me but because of who you are. You are everything that he wants to be."
Harry shook his head. "Nobody wants to be me Hermione. Hell I don't even want to be me most of the time." He said wrapping his arm around her pulling her to his side.
"You're wrong." She said. "They would never admit it."
"Why though, why would they want this life?" he asked.
"From the outside it's adventurous." She said. "The things that you've done just since you've been here at Hogwarts, that's more than some people do in a hundred life times."
"I would give anything to be like them just a normal bloke who's mum and dad is still alive. I wish the only things that I had to worry about right now was Quidditch and studying and you." He said cupping her cheek.
"I'm the one thing in your life that you don't have to worry about Harry. I'm not going anywhere I will always be here." She promised. Harry leaned down and claimed her lips in a long slow kiss his tongue sweeping slowly into her mouth teasing hers. He'd never get enough of her sweet taste or the way her body felt pressed against his. He'd never known anyone as kind as she was and sweet and pure. "I love you Harry." She said softly against his lips.
