The Book. That was all Harry could think about that last day before the dance. This was possibly one of the last days he had left to spend with people he'd never ever see again. Harry gained control of it by hanging out with the other Gryffindors as much as he could, relishing every moment. He talked quidditch with James, did homework with Lily and Remus. He joked with Sirius and teased Nina and Lira. In fact, the only people he really tried to avoid were Peter and Sammi.

"You think Harry 's doing all right?" Ron asked Hermione quietly after lunch. "I mean, having to leave his parents again, after all."

Hermione glanced up to watch Harry deep in an earnest conversation with James and Lily. "Yeah, I think he is. He's fortifying himself for the possible separation."

"You make him sound like a wall." Ron sniggered. He leaned back to look at Hermione from under his eyelids. "So, who're you going with to the dance?"

Hermione flushed. "NO, Ron. I'm not going with anyone."

Ron groaned. "C'mon Hermione! We're not going through that again after the Yule Ball!"

Hermione glared at him. "I see you've signed up for blind dates."

Ron shrugged. "I see you haven't."

Hermione stood up rather hastily. "I'm telling you, it's no one."

At that moment Lira came running over, her golden hair flying behind her. "Hey you guys, anyone here getting blind dates from Sirius?"

Ron glanced worriedly at Hermione as he raised his hand. "Uh, me actually."

Lira nodded, getting her breath back. "Right, I just heard from some one that getting blind dates from Black probably would not be very smart." She lowered her voice. "You know what he's done before?"

"No." Ron said looking confused.

"You know with his connections, he knows about everyone in the school. He could set you up with some troll-like Slytherin …or some Hufflepuff who doesn't know the first thing about dancing." She shuddered visibly. "Well. Just to warn you. Keep you're deal with Black if it's the last possible choice." She waved before heading towards a group of 5th year girls.

"A troll!" Ron exclaimed. "Geez, I wouldn't be surprised if he paired me up with one of those!"

"He wouldn't Ron!" Hermione said loyally.

Ron didn't look convinced. "Hey, how's Lira, do you think?"

Hermione looked confused. "How is she? I don't know, good I guess-."

"No!" Ron interrupted impatiently. "I mean how is she?"

Hermione stared at him. Was he serious? Him and…Lira? "Umm….no comment, I think."

Ron glared at her. "Think she's too good for me, eh?"

"No!" Hermione exclaimed quickly. "I suppose her nose is straight. Ask her if you want. I'm not stopping you."

Ron glanced at her. She stuck her chin out and smiled at him. She thought he'd chicken out. "I think I will."

Hermione looked mildly surprised. "Well good then. You'd better hurry up." She looked slightly tense. Ron frowned. What was going on with 'Mione?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By evening, it was evident of the event the next day. Those who didn't have dates frantically tried to find one. Girls flirted outrageously in the halls, tossing their hair and batting their eyelashes. Sammi practically had to have a bodyguard for those still bitter about her and Derek.

It was in the Common Room that Harry found himself being mauled by a tall gangly kid with red hair.

"You're choking me." Harry spluttered.

Ron quickly let go. "Whoops, sorry Harry." He waited politely for a few minutes for Harry to catch his breath before continuing enthusiastically. "Guess what?"

"What?" Harry croaked, scanning the common room. He'd had to hide somewhere if Sammi were coming. He still didn't have the courage to face her, or himself.

"I got a date!"

At this, Harry's head snapped up. "You what?"

"Don't be thick Harry." Ron was practically dancing with excitement. "I. Got. A. Date."

"I know I know. I heard." Harry waved his hand in front of his face. "You-who is it?"

"Lira!" Ron turned around in a 360 degree circle before finding the blonde chatting with some 7th year. "Yo!"

Lira looked up, and waved rather weakly in Harry's opinion. "Uh, that's great Ron." His words sounded hollow even to himself.

Ron didn't notice. 'I know." He stopped. "Wait, what about you mate?"

Harry shrugged. "No one."

Ron looked shocked. Probably because for the first time in his life, he had a girl when the famous Harry Potter didn't. "Well you've got to find one, mate! The dance is tomorrow!"

Harry shrugged again, feeling sick. "Yeah, well maybe I'm going stag." Hah, he'd made a joke.

"Mmm." Ron pulled Harry behind a large sofa. "C'mon, you can't spend the entire time hanging out with you parents or Sirius! You should have some fun!"

Harry shook his head, but suddenly thought of something. "Wait! Sirius isn't going with anyone yet either, I don't think."

Ron stared at him "You're not thinking-?"

Harry glanced at him. "Hmm? Oh….Ron! Shut up! I was saying we could both go stag." He could almost imagine it now. Sirius leaning against the counter, making jokes about the poor people struggling on the dance floor.

Ron started to stand, and then just as quickly dived down. "Sorry to kill you're idea mate, but look."

Harry raised his eyebrow at Ron who was lying flat on the floor, before raising his head. Hermione and Sirius were almost directly across from them on the opposite sofa.

"Can you believe it?" Ron hissed as Harry sat back down. "You think they're hooking up?"

Despite his instincts, Harry peeped back around the chair. Hermione was holding a quill, totally unaware that she was dripping ink on her completed moon rock essay as she laughed at something Sirius said.

Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Harry sat back. "Looks like it, doesn't it?"

Ron snorted. "Looks like it? Have you seen a time yet when they aren't together?"

"So?" A voice asked. Sammi sat down between them, crossing her legs.

Harry felt his heart beat faster as he fought his instincts to move away. This was the closest she'd been since Derek Damon asked her out.

"So?" Sammi repeated, looking inquiringly at Ron. "What's wrong with that?"

"What's wrong?" Ron sputtered for a minute, and then stopped, evidently not coming up with a suitable reason. All he'd succeeded in was turning himself purple.

"I think it's awesome." Sammi continued. "You have no idea how many times we've had to put up with girls who've had their hearts broken by Sirius Black. About time Sirius has found a girl who could keep up with him."

Ron snorted. "Hermione?"

Sammi shrugged, glancing back at the couple. Sirius was looking at Hermione as she talked about something. So Black was actually quiet for once. More brownie points for Granger. "Yeah."

Ron stood up looking indignant. "That's it. See ya Harry. I have to finish that stupid moon rock essay." He stomped off, looking around for Lily.

"You think Sirius asked her to the dance yet?" Sammi asked quietly when the two were alone. She didn't look at him.

"Uh, I don't think so. Not, uh, not yet." Harry clenched his fists. What was up with him? He was trembling slightly and cold sweat dripped into his eyes. He shook them away for the sake on simply doing something.

"Mmmm." Sammi looked up then. Her eyes were the stormy grey Harry had grown to look forward to. It was now or never. He didn't think he'd ever forgive himself if by chance they left, to have not made up with her.

"Listen Sammi. I uh-."

Sammi cocked her head as she waited for him to finish. She wasn't going to say anything.

Harry tried again. "I uh. Um." This wasn't working. "Oh what the hell." Harry bit his lip. "The point is I miss hanging out with you, Sammi." He flinched slightly as he waited for her to respond.

Sammi took her time. She studied him for a minute before nodding. "I do too."

"Really?" Harry asked in relief. He'd half gotten the idea she's stopped liking him, even in the friend way.

"Yeah." A smile grew on Sammi's face. "That was really stupid, just blurting out that Derek had asked me out in front of the whole common room. You started avoiding me after that, so I'm guessing that had something to do with it."

Harry nodded. Not that she knew exactly why. "So, uh, friends again?" It sounded corny.

Sammi smiled and to his surprise, squeezed his hand. "Sure, friends again."

Now would've been the perfect time to make his move. Could people go back on dates? Harry glanced at Sammi.

Sammi brought the subject up first. "You going with anyone? To the dance I mean."

Harry shook his head.

Sammi looked surprised. "Really! I just thought-never mind."

"No, what?" Harry asked quickly. Was she going to….?

She wasn't. Sammi smiled and stood up. "Well, Derek and I'll see you at the dance."

Harry nodded numbly. "Sure. See you."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hermione smiled to herself. She could hear muttering as Harry and Sammi conferred behind the huge sofa across from her and Sirius. A moment later, Sammi emerged looking slightly pink in the face. Hermione sat back feeling satisfied. So Harry had stopped his silent treatment with her. Finally. She glanced sideways at Sirius who looked up to smile at her. He was so sweet…but he still hadn't asked her to the dance yet.

That's so lame, her brain screamed. You're expecting him to do something you probably wouldn't have the guts to do yourself.

Oh yeah? Hermione thought fiercely. She sat up to turn towards Sirius. His hair was falling into his eyes, giving him a look that was both unkempt and stylish. Blushing a little, Hermione opened her mouth….and then closed it again. She couldn't do it. This was beyond her. If Sirius went with someone else to the dance tomorrow, it would be entirely her fault.

Hermione sat back, feeling her breathing accelerate. Rocks seemed to weigh in her chest. She hated hypocrites and wimps, but her lips wouldn't open. Her throat remained closed. Why couldn't she ask a simple question she could probably ask any other boy?

Because Sirius wasn't just any other boy. Viktor was nice, but he wasn't Sirius. Sirius was…different. Something like the Weasley twins, Krum, Harry, and even a bit of Ron mixed into one. Someone like that couldn't be treated lightly.

Next to her, Sirius stirred. He'd been silent for quite a while, each of them immersed in their own thoughts. He was looking slightly shy now; something Hermione had thought wasn't possible with him.

"Hey Hermione." He said slowly as if weighing each word on his tongue, "You going to the dance with anyone?"

A startled gasp escaped Hermione's lips. She was really caught off-guard with that one. "yes- I mean No! No, I'm not!" Her stomach tightened. Come on…come on…

Sirius paused, twisting his hands in his lap. Then with a quick shake of his head, said, "Well, do you uh, want to go with me?"

Hermione couldn't help it. She was so relieved. An enormous smile spread over her face. Sirius looked at her warily as if she might laugh at him.

Hermione controlled herself. "That'd be nice."

Sirius laughed then, looking relieved himself. He took her hand. "Yeah, it would be."

Yay! Sirius finally sucked up his courage. Now everyone has a date…except Harry. Don't worry though….stay tuned to see what happens.

As a Recap- (Lily, James) (Remus, Nina) (Ron, Lira) (Hermione, Sirius) (Sammi, Derek) (Peter, Blind date) (Harry?) There you have it, the starting lineup for chapter 10!

Now Review!

Thank You to all my reviewers!