Harry had awoken to someone shaking him from his slumber. "What…" Harry mumbled still half asleep but slowly coming out of his dream. His eyes slowly slid open to see Neville standing over him with an issue of The Daily Prophet clutched within his grasp. Harry soon became fully awake thinking they might have something on Voldemort or deatheaters on the front page. Harry sat up straight in his bed Neville holding the paper in such a way that he couldn't fully see what was on the front page.

"What is it Neville?" Harry asked pretty sure it had something to do with the newspaper.

"There is an article on you. And Hermione," Neville said then raising the paper from his side and handing it to Harry.

"What?" Harry asked still intrigued even though it wasn't about Voldemort.

Harry grabbed his glasses that were on his nightstand and put them on. He rose the paper seeing a picture with Harry holding his arm around Hermione and them disappearing down by the lake. Harry remembered this from the previous day. His eyes slowly scrolled upward to the front headline

Harry Potter Finally Finds Love

The headline read and Harry's face flooded with anger. The paper never could keep their noses out of Harry's business. Harry had been used to the paper writing articles about him ever since fourth year when he was entered in to the TriWizard cup. Never did they write the truth or anything good about him.

The article went on to talk about how Harry and Hermione spent the whole time in a hidden part of the lake. Some fellow students shared statements like "I knew they were a couple for a while now" and "They always kiss before they have to go to classes". Harry threw the paper to the side and Neville jumped a little bit as he did.

Ron had also awoken and he just saw the front-page headline and shook his head looking up to Harry. Ron seemed mad, but he wasn't mad at Harry. Ron was mad at the paper.

"Those people at the prophet can't just learn to leave you alone can they Harry!" Ron exclaimed shaking his head to Harry.

"No they can't. You should read the article. It is ridiculous," Harry snapped.

"Hermione has seen the newspaper too. Girls are already gossiping. I have heard them talking," Ron said looking sympathetically to Harry.

Harry knew how girls could be at this school. When this spread there would be no peace for Hermione or himself. Questions would be flooding them and this probably wouldn't be the only article that The Daily Prophet would post about him or Hermione. They would keep writing about it even when people had lost interest in the subject matter. They just wrote to fill their sick desires.

Harry threw on some clothes and hurried downstairs with Ron and Neville by his side. Girls looked to Harry and giggled then whispering to each other. Harry rolled his eyes then walking past the girls. Ron shot an angry look over to the girls as he moved along behind Harry. Harry's eyes darted from one side of the common room to the other trying to spot Hermione anywhere. Soon Ginny had run up to the three boys.

"Hermione isn't up here. After she saw the article she went down to the Great Hall," Ginny said already knowing the question Harry was going to ask her.

Harry nodded to Ginny and moved out of the common room with Ron, Ginny, and Neville tagging along behind him. As he made his way in to the Great Hall Harry heard more people giggle and some people shout from across the room "Go talk to your girlfriend Harry! Maybe give her a little kiss". Harry didn't pay attention to them. His eyes were locked on Hermione who was sitting at the Gryffindor table alone filling her plate with some food.

Harry took a seat next to Hermione and looked over to her. "I'm so sorry Hermione. That newspaper is a load of rubbish."

"It's fine Harry. Don't worry about it," Hermione said not looking to him.

"But Hermione…"

"Harry please!" Hermione stated firmly slamming her hands down on the table.

Harry took a deep breath and nodded to his friend then looking over to his plate and slowly filled it up with food. Soon more people filled the Great Hall and fewer people paid attention to Harry or Hermione. The group ate in silence for the majority of the breakfast until Dumbledore stood up from his seat and raised his hands in the air.

"Quiet!" Dumbledore shouted out in to the Great Hall. Soon everyone's attention was on Dumbledore and he nodded to the group of students. "I have an announcement to make. We all know that Winter Holiday is around the corner. And after thinking about it we have decided that Hogwarts will be holding a Winter Ball before everyone goes on holiday."

Soon the Great Hall filled with student's whispers and snickered. Dumbledore rose his hands again and students stopped talking again. "Now it will be held a week before Christmas Holiday. That means three weeks from now. Also, know that the day of the ball will be no school even though is on a Friday, which is usually a day for lessons. However we have decided that students will be too nervous and have too many things to do that they either won't show up to classes or won't adequately perform in them. So, remember this. Now get to lessons," Dumbledore said closing his speech.

Students immediately began talking again. Ron's eyes shot across the room. Harry noticed it, but he couldn't spot out who he was looking at exactly. Harry then looked over to Hermione who was now looking at anything but her plate. Harry thought to himself and then looked to his friends.

"Well I guess we best get off to our lessons," Harry said with a small smile.

His friends nodded and they all stood up and left the Great Hall together before they broke apart and made their way to lessons. Harry wanted to ask Hermione to the ball, but he wasn't sure if that is what she wanted. That would just supply the prophet with more firepower on how Hermione and Harry were a couple. He wanted to go with Hermione though.

After lessons were finished Harry made his way to Hagrid's hut and knocked on his front door. Hagrid walked up to the front door and smiled to Harry.

"Why ello Harry. Come on in. I have a pot of tea getting ready," Hagrid said waving Harry in and he staggered back in to the house.

Harry smiled to Hagrid as he walked in. He closed the door behind him and looked around Hagrid's hut. He then remembered the many times before that he went down and visited this hut. Thoughts burst in to his head of when Ron was throwing up slugs in to a barrel in the corner. At the time it wasn't funny, but it brought a smile to Harry's face.

"So Harry, what ye be comin' down here for. Haven't seen you in a while."

"Well I needed to talk to you about the ball," Harry said taking a seat.

Hagrid spun his head around and his eyes narrowed on Hagrid. "Sorry Harry, but I don't think it'd be proper for us to go together."

Harry laughed and as did Hagrid. "No it isn't that. It is just…I want to ask Hermione to the ball."

"That is a great idea Harry! I always wondered why you hadn't asked her to the Yule Ball to tell you the truth. I guess Krum beat you to her huh?" Hagrid asked pouring them both a cup of tea.

"Wait…You think we'd be a good couple?" Harry asked.

"I thought you two would be a good couple since third year. But I kept my mouth shut."

"Well I don't know if I should ask her," Harry mumbled looking down to his feet.

"Now why would you do such a foolish thing like that Harry."

"Because…I don't want Voldemort to exploit my feelings for her. And I don't want to the Prophet to get more fire power for them thinking we are a couple."

"Now if it is that bloody paper ye be worrying about then don't. Everyone should know by now that The Daily Prophet is a bunch of rubbish."

"I know…But still…Rumors would spread because of it," Harry said shaking his head.
"They'll always spread Harry. With or without the paper. So here is my advice…Ask her to the ball. If you don't then you'll just be missing out on another chance."

Harry looked up to Hagrid and nodded. They spoke for a little while longer before Harry left his hut and tried to find Hermione. He expected her to be up in the common room so he made his way up. Soon he reached the portrait of the "Fat Lady". He whispered the secret to her and ran inside to find that Hermione wasn't there. He did however see Ginny. Harry walked up to her and smiled.

"Hey Ginny…Have you seen Hermione anywhere?" Harry inquired thinking that she probably would have.

Ginny looked up to Harry and frowned to him shaking her head. "Sorry Harry I can't say I have."

"Really? I was sure you would have seen her."
"Well you can try the library. You know she is always down their studying or what not."

Harry hurried back down the stairs and found himself in the library again. Harry again was dumbfounded not seeing Hermione in the library either. Harry continued to walk around the school. He soon found himself outside. A cool wind was in the air reminding Harry that winter was on its way. Harry stuck his hands in to his pockets trying to keep them warm as he looked around for Hermione.

Soon a thought came in to Harry's head and he ran down to the lake. He slowly moved along the shore seeing if he could find Hermione by the place that he took her earlier that day. He could hear someone over in his area and soon Hermione was in his sight. Her eyes trailed over to Harry's eyes and she smiled to him.

"Hey Harry. I hope you don't mind that I was over here in your spot," Hermione said with a small smile.

"Oh no it is fine that your hear Hermione. I showed you it for a reason," Harry assured her then taking a seat next to Hermione. He looked over to her and smiled. He played with his hands still not sure if he wanted to ask her. At least just not yet.

They sat by the lake in silence for a while. Every once in a while they would look over to each other and lock eyes with each other. As soon as they did they would break away nervously.

Hermione finally broke the silence. "Did you hear that Ron asked Luna to the ball?"

"What!" Harry laughed then seeing that she was serious. "Did she say yes?"
"Yes she did," Hermione laughed and looked away from Harry. Never did she think that Ron would want to go to the ball with Luna. But she was just glad that he found the courage to ask someone.

Harry now was feeling pressure to ask her. Of course not from Hermione, but just from himself. Finally Harry just blurted it out without thinking. "Will you go to the ball with me?"

Hermione's head whipped around and her eyes grew wide. Her jaw dropped slightly and she struggled to find the right words. "What?" It was all she could manage to say.

Harry took a deep breath and this time he slowed down. "Will you go to the ball with me?"

Hermione smiled and laughed to herself for a moment. She then bit her bottom lip and nodded. "Of course I will Harry."

Although Harry was freezing cold when he got Hermione's answer he was filled with warmth. "Really?" Harry smiled and then pecked her on the cheek without thinking. Harry then flew back and clenched his teeth together. "Sorry…"

"Don't be," Hermione giggled. She hugged Harry tightly glad that he asked her. Now she was thinking about what could happen that night. She smiled still holding Harry close.

"I'm so glad you said yes," Harry laughed holding her close still. Harry then slowly pulled away looking in to Hermione's eyes. They locked gazes with each other and they didn't move. Hermione couldn't hear anything but her heartbeat in her ears. Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me. Hermione said inside her head waiting to see if Harry would make his move. She felt the butterfly feeling return and fill her stomach. It made Hermione feel warm and wonderful everytime it happened. The only time it did happen however was when she was with Harry.

Harry waited for a moment, but he couldn't fight the urge anymore. He moved in and kissed Hermione tenderly on the lips. Hermione immediately wrapped her arms around Harry and held him close leaning in to the kiss. They let the kiss linger on. Neither of them was wanting to pull away. Harry put one hand on the back of her neck and the other wrapped around her back. Soon Harry pulled away from the kiss not wanting to but he needed to ask her something. Although he didn't want to ask her this before he couldn't help it anymore. He would protect her no matter what. So he didn't want to wait any longer.

"Hermione I love you. I know I've been putting this off for your protection, but I can't help it anymore. I want to be with you. I want to be able to hold you and kiss you without having to worry about you being hurt. But the only way I see you being safe is with me. The only way I see you not being hurt is with me. I hope you feel the same way. Do you?"

Hermione smiled shaking her head. "I've been waiting for you to say that since school started," Hermione giggled then putting a hand on his cheek and caressing it. She then leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips again. They sat there by the lake kissing for the whole afternoon until they realized that dinner was on the way. They took each other's hand and walked by the lake. As soon as they school was in sight they took their hands back so no one would know they were a couple. If they didn't already think so because of the paper at least.

Dinner had passed and Hermione talked with Harry in the common room for a while until it got dark out and everyone has had vacated the common room. They kissed each other goodnight and Hermione disappeared in to the girl's dormitory.

Hermione soon fell asleep and had another dream. This was a dream of the ball. Hermione was in the middle of the room dancing with Harry. As they danced together Hermione and Harry slowly leaned back and looked in to each other's eyes. They locked gazes with each other for the longest time. They smiled to each other and slowly leaned in. Then the dream went black.

Hermione's eyes opened. She saw it was still dark out. Hermione shook her head and was angry the dream ended. It was the best dream she had in a long time. Hermione soon fell asleep again and had the same dream. However this time it continued on. Hermione and Harry kissed in the middle of the floor. Time then seemed to go to a stand still. They were oblivious to everyone around them except for each other.

Little did Hermione know that Harry was having the exact same dream at the exact same time as Hermione.

Harry had awoken in the morning. Harry sat up in his bed and looked out the window to see that new sheet of snow had covered Hogwarts. The first snow fall of the winter season. It was unusual for it to be this late for the first snow to come along. However, Harry cherished that snow had finally come. Harry always believed that Hogwarts looked best when snow covered the grounds. The sun was peeking through a series of clouds in the sky, but Harry could tell it wasn't providing much warmth. The cool brisk wind was shooting through the air making it colder. However, Harry didn't mind at all.

Harry heard movement behind him and turned his head to find that Ron was waking up. Ron rubbed his eyes and squinted at Harry.

"Good morning Harry," Ron grumbled. He then let out a large yawn.

"Hello Ron," Harry greeted his friend. Harry had a question on his mind all night. He turned around in his bed so he was facing Ron. "Ron can I ask you something?"

Ron let out another yawn and scratched the back of his neck. "Sure…What is it?" Ron said in his groggy morning voice.

"Are you starting to take a liking to Luna?" Harry inquired. Ron gasped and muttered to himself trying to find an answer. He didn't want to tell Harry the truth, but he believed that he already had ruined his cover of his feelings. Instead Ron admitted to it with a small nod.

At first Harry's jaw dropped in amazement, but then he thought it was good for Ron. He was glad his friend had found someone for him.
"Good for you Ron. I think she likes you too," Harry said with a smile.

"I think so too…Well she is going with me to the dance."

Harry then laughed nodding his head to Ron. "Yes that is true. So that must count for something."

"It must," Ron mumbled then letting out another small yawn. Ron then crawled out of his bed and slowly staggered to the bathrooms. Harry followed behind him and took a shower and got ready for the day.

Hermione was sitting in her bed for a little while with a small smile on her face thinking back to the dream she had. Hermione kept replaying it in her head, and each time she did her smile just grew even larger. She was unaware that Ginny was now looking at Hermione with a small smirk on her face.
"What are you smiling about Hermione?" Ginny asked Hermione with a small giggle.

Hermione looked up to Ginny and then laughed. "Oh nothing…Just a dream I had."

A great dream…

A/N: Please leave reviews! I hope you liked this chapter. I enjoyed writing it. I know it took a little longer then usual, but it finally is here. I hope you like it and there will be more chapters on the way.