Chapter 25 – Confirmation

People normally react in two ways when they see a couple kissing, one – feel a warm fuzzy feeling, two – cringe! That's how you'd feel watching Ron and Lavender snog. I cringe every time I see them kissing. Or I feel like screaming 'get a room'. I'm so pissed off with Ron. He is going around behaving like he didn't hurt H at all. Like he is not responsible for anything. I, so, want to punch him.

Being the good girlfriend that I am, I have been spending a lot of time with H. She needs me. H refuses to be anywhere Ron and Lavender are. The common room is a big no no. Harry is mostly with Ron but I can tell that he is not happy. Harry gets really uncomfortable when Ron and Lavender start snogging, which is almost every time. I wonder if people cringe when they see us kissing.

"I never said he couldn't kiss someone else." H said one evening.

"Sure. Then why did you get so angry?"

"I don't know."

"H, you've liked him for a while now. You should have told it to him before this fiasco."

"Ya and give him a chance to gloat."

"At least you would have gotten it out of your system."

"I don't care anymore. If he doesn't care then I don't either." She said it more to herself than to me.

"By the way, he thinks, you've snogged Krum so you have no reason to be angry."

"This is not a competition! Ya, I kissed Victor but what Victor and I shared is different from Ron and Lavender."

"Don't tell me. That's what Harry told me. Why didn't it work out with Krum anyways?"

"He is always busy playing or travelling. It was difficult to keep in touch. Too bad they don't use phones in the wizarding world."

"Yes, phones would definitely make things easier."

"H, when Harry and I kiss does it make people cringe?"

"What? Why would you ask that? I think you both look really cute when you kiss. I feel like kissing someone when I see you guys kiss."


Christmas was approaching quickly. The castle was decorated with holly and tinsel garlands, candles inside the armours. This meant mistletoe at regular intervals on the corridors. Since the match, Harry has become even more popular. Girls would wait under the mistletoe for him but he knew all the shortcuts so he didn't have to kiss any of the other girls. I think, since I have been spending a lot of my time with H, everyone is beginning to think that Harry and I have broken up. It's gotten so bad that I heard some girls even planning to slip him love potions.

"This is only because Harry hasn't asked you to Slughorn's Party yet. And also because you are spending a lot of time with me." H whispered. We were in the library.

"I'm really concerned about how information passes around in this school!"

She rolled her eyes, "There are a lot of gossip girls here."

I nodded, "Who are you going with?"

"I don't know. I think I'll go with McLaggen."

"You don't even like him."

"I'm desperate. I don't know who to ask." She rested her head on the table.

"There are some really cute guys in our year. Terry, Justin, Michael, I think Dean's good looking too. Too bad he's with Ginny."

"I think Dean's good looking too. I never thought he would turn into such a charmer. The others are good but I think I'll get a reaction out of Ron if I go with McLaggen."

I sighed, "Don't go down that road, babe!"

"Which road?" Harry asked while taking a seat next to me. He pecked me on my cheek.

"Never mind." H said quickly.

"H here is thinking of asking McLaggen out for Slughorn's party. I was listing out some of the cute guys from our year that she could go with."

"McLaggen? I can't let you do that, Hermione. And what cute guys? Who are these supposedly cute guys in our year?" Harry said.

I ignored Harry's question, "Why don't you write to Krum? Ask him if he's free. I think it'd be fun, you both catching up." I suggested.

"I don't think Ron will like that." Harry said.

"And since when do we care about how Ron feels?" I asked.

"I don't know. I don't think I want to invite Victor. We've not spoken to each other in a long time and all of a sudden me asking him to go to a party with me that seems a bit selfish." H said. "Sounds desperate."

"You're impossible sometimes! Help me choose one of the guys I listed out. I'll ask one of them out as my date." I said.

"Excuse me!" Harry said.

"Yes."

"Why would you go to a party with someone else when your boyfriend is right here?"

"Well, my boyfriend is such a git. He didn't ask me till now to the party, so the rest of the girls in the school are plotting to get him to ask them. I decided to go with someone else."

"Why do I have to ask you?"

"Did you just assume we were going together without you asking me?"

"Again why do I have to ask you?"

"Let's see! To let me know you want to go as well. To give me the opportunity to say yes… or no. To let me know I have to pick a dress. See, there are so many reasons to ask me. Also, it would be the first time we're going to attend a party as boyfriend-girlfriend. It's tradition for the boy to ask."

"Since when did you get so traditional?" He asked me.

"In some matters I prefer going the traditional way."

"Okay. Ms. Shepherd, would like to go to Slughorn's party with me?"

"Oh my! I thought you were never going to ask. Of course, I will!" I said.

"Shhhh….! Or go out of the library!" Madam Pince warned us.

"Sorry," we said in unison.

"You both make me so jealous!" H said.

"We'll try to keep our chemistry to a minimum around you." Harry told her.

"By the way, Harry, you need to be careful." H said.

"Please, not this again! I'm not going to give the Prince's book to anyone." Harry said.

"It's not about that. A couple of the girls are planning on slipping some love potion to you. So be careful. Don't eat or drink anything from anybody."

"Why didn't you take the potion from them?" Harry looked scandalised.

"They didn't have the potion with them. I only heard them discuss strategies. They've ordered Fred and George's love potion." H said bitterly.

"I thought everyone's mail is being checked."

"Yes, but if they are going to send love potion disguised as something else, then Filch can't tell the difference."

Suddenly an idea hit me. "H, why don't you ask Will? For the party. You've always liked him."

Her cheeks went pink, "I don't know. He's your brother. It would be awkward."

"I would really like that. Harry, what do you think?"

"I…I didn't even know Hermione liked Will. He is older than her so I'm not sure."

"Just four years! Besides, H is mature enough to date older guys." I said.

H and Harry looked at each other then at me and shook their heads. I rolled my eyes at them. I saw Luna take a seat a few tables ahead of us.

"I'll see you guys in a bit." I told them and walked over to Luna's table. "Hey Luna."

"Oh! Hello, Natalie."

"So, are you going to Slughorn's party?"

"No. Nobody asked me."

"What do you think about Zabini?"

She looked confused, "I don't know him. A lot of Nargles around his head though."

"What?"

"I never see him with one girl. I think the Nargles confuse him and he goes out with a lot of girls."

"Oh! I didn't know that Nargles could do that. But I think he likes you."

She looked mildly surprised, "Blaise Zabini? I just saw him with someone else while I was on my way to the library."

I heard shuffling from the shelves, I turned and saw Blaise looking at us. "Excuse me, Luna. I will be right back."

I went to the shelves and found Blaise. "Ask her, ask her, right now."

"You can't tell me what to do." He retorted.

"You clearly like her."

"How can you tell that!"

"Well, you're here, aren't you!"

"Look, I can't go with her. I'm got a reputation to hold."

"Fine, go with me." Did I just say that?

"What? Don't you have a boyfriend! Or is it because you find me hotter than Potter?" He started getting cocky with me.

"No. You take me and I'll get Harry to ask Luna. You can get to talk to her on neutral territory and decide if you really do like her or no."

"Ummm…I don't need you to do this for me."

"I owe you one. Besides, you Slytherins think you don't need help. But everyone needs help at one point or the other. And one day you'll thank me." I looked at him triumphantly. "So, are you going to take me to the party?"

He sighed in defeat, "Okay. But only because you're so persistent and you're dying to go with me."

"Say whatever you want. Wait for me at the Entrance Hall.." I walked away from him. This is bound to get Draco's attention. How am I going explain this to Harry? H and Harry were discussing something. "Harry?"

He looked me and smiled, "Yup."

"I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"You'll have to ask Luna to go the party with you."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"Ask Luna to go the party with you as your date. But as friends."

"If I go with Luna, who are you going with?"

"Don't get mad! I'm going with Blaise."

"What?" H shouted.

"That's it, you three, leave the library now." Madam Pince ordered.

We looked at the floor and left the library.

"Why are you going with Blaise?" Harry asked seriously.

"I think he has a crush on Luna and I think if there are at a party together, they will get a chance to talk and maybe it can turn into something nice."

"He's a Slytherin. You want Luna to figure things out with a Slytherin?" Harry asked.

"He's a person too, Harry. Being in Slytherin doesn't define the person he is."

"Harry, calm down. She is right." H tried to calm him. "We can't judge people on the basis of the house they belong to, that would make us just like Voldemort."

"We'll talk later, Nat." Harry walked away.


Harry was not talking to me. I should have talked to him before spontaneously changing my date for the party. No matter how much I tried, he wouldn't talk to me. My insecurities were on an all time high when I would find Harry discreetly looking at Ginny. Going by what H told me, Ginny and Dean's relationship was at a bad phase.

It was the last day before the holidays, we were in Transfiguration class and Prof. McGonagall had asked us to change the colour of our eyebrows. We all sat in front of mirrors and tried to change the colour of our eyebrows. No doubt, H was the first one get it right. When Ron tried, he somehow ended up growing a huge handlebar moustache on his face. We all laughed including H. But Ron got angry that she laughed so he impersonated her and made fun of her which almost made her cry. She ran out of the class as soon as the bell rang.

I took both our bags and ran after her. When I reached the girl's bathroom, Luna was with her already, comforting her. We got her to stop crying, we all came out. Harry was waiting for us.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I'm okay, Harry." H said. "I've to go." She took off.

"I'm going to go after her." I said and left. It was just awkward. I didn't know what to say to Harry.


I was getting some homework done so I won't have to spend too much time with schoolwork at home. I was sitting in the corner of the common room. I heard Ron say, "Why would you do that?" as he took a seat on one of the armchairs.

Harry sat next to me on the floor. I didn't expect that so I raised my eyebrows at him.

"I did it," He said.

"Did what?"

"I asked Luna out as my date for the party."

"You did?"

"Yes, I did."

I was so happy, I hugged him and kissed him, "Oh my God! Thank you, thank you, thank you so much Harry."

"When my girlfriend gives me permission to go to a party with another girl I would be a fool not to take the opportunity."

I smacked him on his hand, "It's not like that and you know it."

"I don't understand the two of you. You wanted him to go with Loony to the party?" Ron asked incredulously. "Why would you want that?"

"I have my reasons. And don't call her Loony!" I told Ron. "What made you change your mind?" I asked Harry.

Lavender and Parvati joined us. Lavender sat on Ron's lap. Parvati took a seat on the other armchair.

"I thought about it. You're trying to do something nice for someone else because he helped you out, one time. I'm not sure I'm on board with the entire thing but I want to help you."

I pecked him on the cheek, "Someday you'll see that I'm right. I love you, Harry. I know this is hard for you."

He smiled, "I love you too. Just don't get to close too Zabini."

"You're going with Zabini?" Parvati asked.

"Hmmm…ya!"

"And you're going with Loony?" She asked Harry.

"Don't call her that!" I said.

"Yes."

"But you guys are still dating each other?"

"Yes." We said in unison.

"I don't understand! Is it just me or is this completely crazy and unheard off."

Harry and I chuckled.

"But Zabini is hot. We can't deny that. Is that the reason you're going with him? Parvati asked.

"You think he is hot?" Harry asked.

"Well, I think Slytherin boys have perfected the 'whole-bad-boy' thing. Girls find that pretty irresistible." Parvati explained. Harry looked at me confused. I nodded.

"I won't deny, he is attractive but that's not the reason I'm going with him." I told her. "Hey H!" I said when I saw her.

"Hey everyone!" She ignored Ron and Lavender completely.

"So, Parvati are you going to the party?" H asked Parvati.

"No date. What about you?"

"Yes, I'm meeting up with Cormac at eight." H said a little too nonchalantly.

Suddenly, Ron emerged from the kissing mass on the armchair and looked at H with what I supposed was curiosity. H didn't bother looking at him. I snorted at Ron's expression.

"Cormac McLaggen?" Parvati asked.

"Yes, that's the one. The one who almost became the Gryffindor Keeper," she said proudly.

"Wow, you certainly pick out the best Quidditch players, don't you? First Krum and now McLaggen."

"What can I say! Even if I don't like the game, I like the players. There's a certain appeal to them."

"Yeah, I agree. So, you and McLaggen are dating now?" Parvati went into her gossip girl mode.

"It's too soon to say anything, let's see where it goes. I've got to go get ready. Don't want to be late." She walked out of the common room with her head held high. I was so proud of her. She put Ron in his place even without saying a word to him.

"Looks like it's going to be an interesting party, after all." Harry said.

"Yup!"

"By the way, Romilda Vane tried to give me some Gilly water earlier."

"Noooo! You don't say!"

"Yeah, she did. When I would take it she gave me a box of chocolate cauldrons with firewhiskey in them."

"Don't eat them."

"Wasn't planning on it."

"Why wouldn't you eat the chocolates?" Parvati asked.

I forgot she was listening. "You wouldn't understand the pressures of dating Harry Potter." Harry put his head on my shoulder and started laughing. "Or being Harry Potter."

"You both are one weird couple." Parvati said sourly.

"Thanks." I turned to Harry said, "Sweety, I'm going to get ready."

"Don't dress too sexy for another man." Harry said.

"I will try my best."


Blaise was already waiting for me when I got to the Entrance Hall. "Oh wow…why don't you leave Potter so we could get together."

I smacked him on his hand. I was wearing a full length, cap sleeved, brown dress. It was tight till my hips and the fabric flowed down like water below my hips. I wore big earrings and straightened my hair for the occasion.

"That's not happening. Don't get your hopes up too high."

"How did you manage Potter to go with Luna?"

"A girl has her ways."

"Tell me."

"I told him that you have a crush on Luna and that this party would be a opportunity for you guys to get to know each other."

"You told him. How could you?"

"Stop being a drama queen. At least it got the job done."

"I don't have a crush on her. I'm just intrigued by her."

"Whatever you say, big guy!"

We reached Prof. Slughorn's office. Prof. Slughorn surely went all the way. The office was magically enlarged or else his office couldn't hold so many people. The decorations made it look like we were in a tent. It was kind of cool. Now, I wish I had come to the party with Harry.

"Nat!" I heard someone call out my name. H emerged from the crowd with McLaggen behind her. He looked bewildered when he saw me with Blaise.

"Hey H!" She was wearing a beautiful ocean blue full length, sleeveless dress. She looked beautiful. "How's it going?" I whispered to her.

"Not bad till now." She smiled. I looked at her curiously. "I'll explain later."

"Okay. Looking good, McLaggen!"

"You too, Shepherd." He smirked at me.

H and McLaggen took off.

"She's doing better than I expected." I said.

"Huh?! What?" Blaise asked.

"Nothing."

"Look, There's Potter and Lovegood."

Harry looked dapper in his robes. Luna wearing a silver, knee-length dress. I was not sure if I liked what she was wearing. But that dress was so her! Only she could wear something like that and be confident. Next to me, Blaise looked like he was having second thoughts.

They came towards us.

"I thought you said you wouldn't dress sexy." Harry said when they were close to us.

I smiled, "I just couldn't help it. Had to make sure you knew what you were losing out on!" I looked at Luna, "Hi Luna! You're looking nice."

"Thank you, Natalie. You're looking beautiful too."

"Thanks. I'm sure you know Blaise."

"Hello, Blaise."

"Hello, Luna."

"Harry, my boy! You came!" Prof. Slughorn joined us. "Ah! And you brought the delightful Ms. Lovegood!"

"Good Evening, Professor." Harry and Luna said.

"Come with me. I want to introduce you to some people." He practically dragged Harry with him and Harry dragged Luna along.

Blaise and I talked while eating and drinking. I saw H dancing with McLaggen. She looked like she was genuinely enjoying herself. "Let's go dance. I'm getting bored."

"Forgive me, I didn't know I was bad company. But okay."

We danced together for a while when someone tapped on Blaise's shoulder. Blaise turned and Harry was behind him.

"Mind if I dance with my girlfriend." He sounded a little jealous.

"Sure."

"Blaise, why don't you keep Luna company and maybe ask her to dance."

"Will do." He walked away.

"You sounded jealous."

"A random guy dancing with my girlfriend doesn't bother me at all." He brushed it off.

"I was bored. I looked at H and McLaggen and got jealous."

"She sure looks like she's enjoying herself."

"Yeah, she does. I'm not sure if I'm liking her with McLaggen but if she's happy then so am I."

We danced in silence.

"You look beautiful, Nat.", he kissed me quickly.

"You look very handsome, Harry. I'm really sorry, we didn't come together."

"Matchmaking certainly has it's perks. Look, they are dancing."

He was right. Blaise had finally asked her to dance. Luna looked surprised and happy.

"I think Blaise might be a decent guy." Harry said.

"What changed your mind?" I smiled.

"He seems to be treating her well. Although, I'm not sure what they can talk about."

"I just wanted Blaise to at least have chance to talk to her. He is interested in at least getting to know her. It depends on them now, where they want to take this. Our work is done."

He kissed me on my nose. "I didn't think I would like being here."

I was about to say something when there was a commotion. I saw that Filch had caught Draco by his ear and was saying something to Prof. Slughorn.

"He was trespassing. Said he was invited and got late." Filch said.

He freed himself from Filch's grip, "Fine. I was lying. I wasn't invited. I was gate-crashing!" He looked around. He stopped when he found me. His eyes just softened a little. When he spotted Harry's hand on my waist, he sneered and went back to looking harshly.

"It's okay, Filch. He can stay." Prof. Slughorn said.

"But Professor, I have the perfect punishment for him."

"It's the Christmas season. You can't punish him just because they wanted to come to the coolest party ever." Prof. Slughorn gushed. "Let him stay. It's not a problem."

I rolled my eyes.

"I think, I'll decide what has to be done with students in my house." Prof. Snape spoke.

"Now, Severus. No need to get harsh with students during the festive season." Prof. Slughorn said.

Prof. Snape nodded. But I could tell he was not going to let this go. Prof. Slughorn urged everyone to continue the party. When the music was playing again and everyone went back to doing whatever they were doing before, I saw Prof. Snape dragged Draco out.

I started to follow them.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"I just saw Prof. Snape go out with Draco."

"Draco?"

"Malfoy! It just came out. We'll discuss this later. Let's follow them now."

"Do you believe me? That Malfoy is a death eater?" He asked when we were finding for them.

I thought for a second. "No. I don't think he is a death eater but he definitely up to something and I want to find out."

We heard voices from one of the classrooms. We stood out the door to listen.

"Just leave me alone." I heard Draco shout.

"But I can help you. We could get it done quicker of you tell me what you're planning." Prof. Snape said calmly.

"So you can take all the credit. He asked me to do it. I have to do it."

"You don't understand. I made an Unbreakable vow to your mother."

"Mother doesn't understand that if I do this, I will bring our family glory. She needs to have some faith in me."

"Draco, I can help."

"You can't. I don't know anything." He said desperately. "Don't bother trying to get information out of me. I'm not going to tell you anything." He was coming towards the door.

We hid behind the door when Draco opened the door and stormed off. Prof. Snape let a few seconds after Draco. I wanted to follow Draco. This is way too much for me to handle. Oh my God! He is working for Voldemort now! He is a… I can't say it. I can't deny it anymore. Oh my God! What do I do?

"What is an Unbreakable Vow?" Harry asked.


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