1997.10.31

Entry 10

Harry kissed me.

: "You know, Hermione," Harry said before draining the last of his firewhiskey, "I had a great time tonight." He'd only had one drink and it wasn't his first. He and Ron had been slipping off for over a year for drinks at the Hogshead, but Hermione didn't know that.

Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend, she thought the alcohol was getting to him. His words weren't slurred and he seemed rather coherent, but Hermione wasn't going to take anything he said or did to heart. "That's nice, Harry," she said taking a drink of her warm butterbeer. She was slightly upset, he was her date, she didn't want him drunk while they were still enjoying their night together.

Harry laughed, "Hermione, I'm not drunk you know," he said as if she were crazy. "I can handle a small cup of firewhiskey, thanks."

Hermione didn't reply, she just looked at Harry, wondering if he was telling the truth. She knew she was over reacting, it was Harry after all. He was her friend not just some bloke that would get falling down drunk on their date together. He wouldn't have drunk the firewhiskey if he couldn't handle it.

He was waiting for her to reply but she didn't. He looked over at her and her eyes were still locked on him, going over the situation in her head.

Maybe a little of the firewhiskey had gotten to him because at that moment he cupped her face in his warm hands and pulled her lips onto his. Her lips reacted to his suckling hers softly, and she kissed him back, enjoying every second. She gripped the jacket he wore tightly and pulled him into her, not wanting to give the moment up for anything in the world.

When they finally pulled back, they're breath came in ragged gasps and both were unable to speak. They had no words to offer each other, no words to sum up the situation, no words they could say.

Harry was ready to say something but Hermione interrupted him, "I wont tell Ginny," she said quickly as she finally released his robes and leaned away from him. She thought he only did it because he'd had to much alcohol, not because he had any feeling for her. And she, she rationalized, had only kissed back from the shock.

"Okay," Harry said oddly, "why would I care if Ginny knows that we kissed?" he asked wondering what Hermione was going on about. He wondered if she had been the one drinking firewhiskey.

Hermione's mouth dropped, "You fancy her!" she replied back rather enthusiastically, though her breath was still a little labored.

"Ginny?" Harry said in shock, his voice high. He fought back a smile, "I don't fancy Ginny, Hermione," he said rather seriously, even if he was smirking like a fool.

Hermione was in shock now with a million thoughts running through her head, first and foremost the fact that she'd been wrong. "But, who, I mean, but you always blush around her and bite your lip and look at the ceiling!" she said fighting to be right more than anything.

Harry laughed, "Hermione, it wasn't Ginny that made me blush and bite my lip and look at the ceiling," he said before throwing a few coins on the counter and walking away. :

I think it was the firewhiskey really. I mean, why would he kiss me, of all people, if he wasn't a little drunk? No reason really, is there? No, I'm right, he was just drunk.

Of course, I kissed him back. I didn't really mean too, it was just the shock of him kissing me.

The shock doesn't explain why I enjoyed it, even if I don't want to admit it. So, it was the greatest kiss I've ever had in my entire life, which really doesn't mean much considering it was my first kiss. So comparatively it was the best ever, but singularly, it was the greatest most, I hope this isn't the wrong word, passionate kiss I could ever imagine.

His lips were so soft and they moved so slowly but the way they moved, so forceful. It was almost magical, like the world was on fire. It took my breath away.

Regardless of how insanely great the kiss was, it was just a kiss and Harry likes someone else. He likes another girl who I completely missed all those times he blushed, but who?

I don't know if I'll be able to figure that one out tonight, but I can describe the ball.

: Hermione gave her self one last look in the mirror before taking the secret passageway to the girls' dormitories. She walked quickly through the wide passage before emerging in the sixth year girl dormitories. She walked over to Ginny, who was struggling to get her dress over her head.

"Stupid muggle clothes, going to kill Hermione, I am," she said from inside the dress, "and that prat, Harry as well." She wiggled some more, trying to get the zipped dress down over her arms that were sticking in the air. "Those two are mad; lost the plot, they have," she said louder.

Hermione laughed and rushed over to her friend. She struggled to reach the zipper and when she finally took hold of it, she pulled it down. She grabbed a hold of the dress and pulled it down over Ginny's body, her face popping out rather comically. Her face was red and her hair was eschew as she looked at her best friend.

"Why? Why do you have to be completely and utterly mad?" she said angrily. "Muggle clothes, I tell you," she muttered before turning back around so Hermione could zip up the back of her dress. She turned to face her best friend.

Hermione smiled and fixed Ginny's hair, which wasn't hard as it always fell right back into place with a little coaxing. "I think that dress looks smashing," Hermione said as the last hair fell into place. She took a step back from her friend, "Matches your eyes perfectly."

Ginny stuck her tongue out at Hermione and crossed her arms across her chest, "Could've found a robe this color, and it would cover my shoulders," she retorted, "doubt this little things will hold," she said referring to thin straps of her dress.

"Just get your mask and get on with it," Hermione said rolling her eyes at her friend. She watched as the Ginny picked up a glittering mask that matched the color the dress and applied it to her face with a temporary sticking charm.

"Suppose you're not going to wear yours then?" Ginny asked as she rounded on Hermione, her mask making her look even more beautiful than she already was.

Hermione hadn't realized she'd forgotten to put the mask on, she'd been holding it in her had the entire time. "Oh," she said before applying it herself, "forgot."

"Alright, then?" Ginny asked giving Hermione a glance over to make sure everything was in its place.

Hermione did the same to Ginny, "Perfect," she said before they started towards the door. They stopped at the door and looked at each other. "You go first," Hermione said before pushing Ginny out.

She waited a little while and came out, her eyes falling on Harry as soon as she stepped onto the stair way. He was wearing all black in contrast to her bright white gown that glittered beautifully in the fire light. His jaw was hanging open and his eyes were locked on her but she thought they were on Ginny, the dancing firelight casting a shadow over the mask he wore, shrouding his eyes in shadow.

Hermione felt hurt, hurt that she couldn't even hold a boys gaze, hurt mainly that she couldn't gain Harry's attention. The pain continued on when she couldn't see his eyes following her as she walked up to him.

He gulped and bit his lip and blinked his eyes a few times, "You," he paused, "wow." Hermione wondered if he had been actually talking to her, not Ginny. His words were so indescribable, almost. He sounded stunned, shocked, unable to form sentences, but she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was Ginny making him feel that way, not her. :

When I came down from the girls dormitories, Harry was so focused on Ginny; I don't think he even noticed me. Not that I care, I would love for them to get together and be happy, but he could at least acknowledge me. I might have been better going with Draco; he'd at least take the time to insult me.

That's not really fair of me to say, he did say, "You, wow." I think he was still in shock of how beautiful Ginny looked. I know I'm not much to look at, but I'd like a little attention after taking all that time to get ready.

He was more civil at the actual ball, even if he was a little dumbstruck most of the time.

: Harry held his hand out to Hermione, keeping his mouth shut for fear of saying something stupid. Hermione could see the little beads of sweat forming on his neck, he was nervous, but she didn't know why. She took his hand softly, his hands a little moist in her own.

He led her out to the middle of floor; they were the first couple out there. They were there to start the dancing really, it wasn't as if it meant much more.

Harry pulled Hermione into him, their bodies pressed against each other softly. Hermione's dress crunched softly, the white fabric pressed against his legs. Harry's hand landed in the small of her back, one of his outstretched fingers touching the top hem and occasionally the soft skin of her back.

"Hermione, I…" Harry started, his voice trailing off after he lost his courage.

Hermione almost pulled back but didn't, she just replied, her words almost muffled by the fact that her mouth fell below his shoulder. "You what?" she asked softly, her words kind and comforting.

"Nothing, just, nothing, forget it," he said before biting his lip. :

He was nice at the ball. He asked me to dance for every single song, it was amazing. I remember he didn't dance once at the Yule Ball our fourth year, but he wanted to dance to every song this time. I did have to take time out to dance with Ron and Neville and of course Seamus and Dean.

The ball was fun, I must admit. I don't think there was one person not enjoying themselves that night, not one. I think even the Slytherins enjoyed themselves, which I like. They may be Slytherins and I may dislike them, but I'm still glad they enjoyed themselves, even if they hate me.

I just wish I knew who it was Harry liked.