Disclaimer: Don't own Harry potter, Harry and Hermione would be together if I did.

.:Hermione:.

I had my arms wrapped securely around Harry's waist with wind blowing my hair around me, while we flew. All I could think about was how good it felt to be so close to Harry. I was brought out of my daydream when I felt Harry shake my shoulder.

"You ok?" he asked, looking at me with concern.

"I'm fine," I said.

"One last practice before the Ball tomorrow?" He asked hopefully.

"Sure." I loved dancing with him, because it gave me an excuse to huge myself closer to him.

We had been coming to the R.O.R. every afternoon since Harry asked me to the dance, to practise and do homework.

He put his hand on my waist and I put my hand on his shoulder. He flicked his wand at the wizard radio in the corner and the music started.

Dancing was effortless with Harry after he got the hang of it. After a few minutes I asked Harry a question, "How are you going with all the fan girls wanting dates?" I asked.

He groaned and I laughed. "It's terrible! Can't they work out that if I wanted to ask them, I would?" he asked.

"Fame comes at a price," I said.

"I know," he said. "You're the lucky one, you just said your not going and everyone leaves you alone," he complained.

"What have you been telling them, when people ask who your going with?" I asked.

"I just say that they'll find out tomorrow. I think Neville's worked out I'm going with you, but he's keeping quiet," he said.

"You know how Ron asked Flur out?" I asked.

"Oh my God that was funny to watch, I think I nearly wet myself from laughing so hard," he said.

"Well I was up in the common room when it happened, and the guys brought him in. after he'd recovered a bit, he turned to me and said, 'hey Hermione, you're a girl,' and I said 'just worked that out have you Ronald,' then he tried to ask me to the ball saying how no one would have asked me anyway," I said.

"What did you do?" he asked, trying to keep his cool.

"I told him he was a bloody git and wouldn't go to the ball with him to save myself, then stormed dramatically out of the common room," I said with a laugh.

"That's my girl," he said.

'His girl' I like the sound of that.

We danced for a few minutes before deciding to go back to the common room. When we got there, we saw Neville and Ginny sitting in front of the fire talking and decided to join them.

"How you guys going?" Ginny asked as we sat down.

"Pretty good," I said as we sat down.

"Have you worked out what the egg means yet?" Neville asked.

"No, all it does is screech when I open it. Some how I think it's not meant to be opened in air.

Not meant to be opened in air. Oh my God. "Harry, I know how to open it."

"How?" he asked.

I grabbed his hand and started pulling him out the door, "No time to explain, lets go to R.O.R," I said.

A very confused Harry shrugged and followed me down the corridors to the R.O.R.

When we got there, I thought about the need for water and opened the door. When we entered, we were in a bathroom bigger then the prefect's bathrooms.

"Hermione, what's going on?" Harry asked.

"Go get changed in that room and I'll tell you when we come out," I said, heading to the other change room.

I pulled on the red bikini and left the bathroom. When I came out, I saw Harry turning on the taps. This was the second time I'd seen him without a shirt on, and I liked what I saw, he was wearing a pair of red board shorts, which he looked smoking in.

"See something you like?" he asked when he saw me starring at him.

My brilliant response was to blush that would put the Wesley's to shame and look away.

"Why do we need the water Hermione?" he asked, saving me from further embarrassment.

"I read in Hogwarts a History, that the Black Lake was filled with lots of magical creatures, one of these are the mer people. When they talk above ground, it sounds like awful screeching sound, under water we are able to understand," I said.

He nodded and turned off the taps and looked at me, "Lets see if you're right," he said, grabbing the egg and jumping in the bath.

I got into the bath next to him. "Lets go." We ducked under the water and Harry opened the egg.

Come seek us where our voices sound
We can not sing above the ground.
And while you're searching, ponder this:

We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,

And to recover what we took,

But past an hour - the prospect's black
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back.

I came up and looked over at Harry who seemed to have palled a bit.

"I have to breath under water for an hour, to rescue what I miss most and if I go over the hour, it won't come back," he said.

Before I knew what I was doing I had my arms around his neck, giving him a tight hug.

"It'll be ok Harry," I said.

"I hope so," he said. "Lets get back to the common room before Filtch comes after us."

I nodded and we got out of the tub and dried off.

I hadn't been wearing a cloak when I came down so I was now freezing. Harry saw me shiver and put his over my shoulders.

"Thanks," I whispered.

"Your welcome," he said as we made our way back to the Griffindor Tower. We made it back to the Fat Lady portrait 30 seconds before curfew, which is ridiculously good luck.

The common room was nearly emptied by the time we got there, which was good.

"I'll see you in the morning," Harry said, giving me a quick kiss on the check. "Good night."

I was to shocked to say anything, as I watched him smile at me and head for the boys dorm.

I absentmindedly caressed my check as I got ready for bed. As I lay in bed thinking about all the times I'd spent with Harry, that made my day, I finally admitted to myself that I was in love with Harry James Potter.

But its not like he could like me in that way. He could have anyone, why would he choose his bookworm best friend? A small part of my mind argued that he already had chosen me over any other girl for the Yule Ball, with that thought in mind, I fell into a positively blissful sleep.

When I woke up the next morning, the sun was just rising over the hill in an orange glow. I smiled when I remembered that tonight was the Yule Ball. I couldn't wait to see Harry's reaction to how I was going to look.

With that thought in mind and a smile on my face, I through my legs over the side of the bed and got dressed.

When I entered the common room, I found Harry, Neville, the twins and Ron organizing a snowball fight.

"Mind if I join?" I asked, sitting down next to Harry.

"Sure thing," Harry said. "We were going to go down to breakfast then head outside for the day, until the ball of course."

We were some of the first people to get breakfast as all the girls were sleeping in for 'Beauty sleep' as they call it. Please.

We walked down to the grounds and decided to build a snowman before the snowball fight.

As we were building the snowman, Harry asked Ron who he asked to the ball.

"I asked Padma Patil, she's pretty enough," Ron said. "Who you going with?"

"I've told you before Ron, You're not going to find out who I'm going with until tonight," Harry said, winking at me when they weren't looking.

Ron started to ogle at some of the Girls walking past and was in the perfect spot for me to through a snowball at him. There was a small pile of snow to my left, which I quickly scoped up and pegged and pegged at Ron.

"What the?" he yelled as the snow hit his check.

"Snowball fight!" I yelled as everyone started picking up snow.

Snow went flying as we fought for hours, laughing the whole time.

At three o'clock I told everyone I was going to go study. All the boys seemed to accept that and Harry gave me a knowing look. He walked with to the front door out of earshot of the others.

"I'm going to get ready in the R.O.R. stay with the guys and get ready with them. I'll come down and meet you once everyone has gone," I said.

"Ok, I'll see you tonight," he said, with one of my favorite smiles, and walked away.

As I walked to the room of requirements I had a huge grin on my face, I was going to the ball with Harry Potter tonight.

.:Harry:.

The guys and I played around for another hour before we decided it was time to go get ready.

Fred and Gorge headed up to their dorm while Ron, Neville and I headed for our dorm. Neville's robes were simple black and white ones like my own, classic yet normal.

Neville and I were in the bathroom, helping each other with ties and brushing our teeth when Ron entered. His dress robes looked like they were at least 100 years old, were brown, and had ridiculous frills all over it. Neville and I burst out laughing while Ron came up to look in the Mirror.

"I look like my great aunt Tessie!" he complained, he lifted his arm up and sniffed. "I smell like my great aunt Tessie!"

That brought on another round of laughter from me and Neville. "Murder me Harry," Ron said looking back in the mirror.

It was a few minutes before Neville and I could calm down from all the laughing and we all headed down the stairs to the common room. Fred and Gorge were already there, talking to their dates and Padma and Ginny.

"Hey guys," I said as we entered.

"Hey Harry," Fred said, "Who's your date?"

"I'm meeting her down there once everyone's inside. Lets go," I said.

I could tell they all wanted to know who I'd asked, but I wasn't about to spill the beans, they could wait like everyone else.

When we got down there, everyone was heading into the great hall, talking and laughing. I noticed the champions off in the corner wait for the grand entrance, and went to join them. Cho was there with Cedric and smiled at me when I joined them. Victor and Flur had decided to go together because they knew any other date would droll all over them.

When McGonagall saw me she came rushing over. "Potter, where's your partner?" she asked when she saw that I was by myself.

"She'll be here Professor," I said with confidence.

"The doors to the great hall will close in 30 seconds and you will be entering in two minutes."

"She's never been late in her life Professor," I said.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"You'll find out soon Professor," I said.

She nodded then made sure that everyone was inside and shut the doors. As soon as the doors shut I turned around to face the stairs. When I looked up I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Hermione was standing there with her hair in soft curls tied back with a few falling in her face. Her dress was amazing in a light lavender colour.

She smiled at me as I walked to the bottom of the stairs and held out my arm to her. She finished her decent and but her hand on mine, which I brought up to my mouth and kissed.

"You look beautiful," I said as I lead her over to line up with the other champions.

"Thanks," she said with a smile as we got into position.

A few second later the doors opened and we all started to walk forward. Victor and Flur went first, followed Cedric and Cho, with Hermione and I at the back. The whispers started the second people saw Hermione and I enter. When I looked over at Ron he was glaring daggers at me but I just ignored him and smiled.

When we reached the dance floor, Hermione and I got into position and waited for the music to start.

I could sense Hermione's nerves at being the centre of attention, so I lowered my lips to her ears and whispered, "Forget the people watching, this just another practice," I said.

She nodded with a smile and the music began. I blocked out everyone else and just focused on how beautiful she looked tonight. At that moment dancing with her in my arms, I admitted to myself that I was in love with Hermione Jean Granger. And I didn't care what anyone else had to say. All to soon the music stopped and it was time to eat.

I walked over to the table and pulled Hermione's chair for her. She smiled at me and sat down. We started talking with the other champions and professor Dumbledore. During dinner, Dumbledore made a comment about the room of requirements which made Hermione and I very interested in our food.

Once everyone had finished eating the tables disappeared and the weird sisters came up on stage and music started.

"Lets dance!" I yelled over the music. She smiled and we made our way to the middle of the dance floor and started fast dancing to the music. After about an hour of dancing Hermione and I were exhausted and decided to get some drinks.

"I'm having an amazing time Harry. Thanks for bringing me," Hermione said as we drank.

"You're welcome," I said with a smile.

"I'm ganna head to the ladies room. I'll be back soon," she said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.

As soon as she'd gone, Ron came up and sat down next to me.

"I can't believe you did this to me Harry," he said.

"What is it exactly that I did?" I asked, I wasn't in the mood for one of Ron's jealous tempers.

"The famous Harry Potter, who could anyone he wanted to go to the dance with, just has to choose the girl I fancy," Ron said.

"Just so you know Ron, I asked Hermione straight away, you didn't ask her until two days before the dance, that's what you get," I said.

Ron put his punch glass down and walked out the slightly open doors that Hermione had just left through.

After a few minutes, I started to wonder where Hermione had gotten to, it doesn't take that long to go to the loo.

I put my punch glass down and headed out the way Hermione and Ron had gone early.

When I got out of the great hall, I saw Ron and Hermione standing there, just finished with a yelling match. Ron glared at Hermione then turned on his heal and headed upstairs. Hermione hadn't seen me and sat down on the stairs and started crying.

I couldn't stand seeing her like that, so I went over and sat down next to her, putting my arm over her shoulder. As soon as she felt me there, she pulled herself so she was sitting on my lap with her head on my chest crying. I didn't know what to do, so I just patted her back and rocked her back and forth. After a while the tears stopped but she didn't stop hugging herself to me.

"Hermione, what happened?" I asked after a while.

She lifted her head up so it was resting on my shoulder and to a deep breath. "I'd just come out of the bathroom and was heading back to the great hall when Ron stepped in front of me. He started accusing me of being a fame seeking gold digger and I'd just come with you to get my hands on your money," she sobbed. "Harry I swear I didn't," she cried.

I brought my hand up to caress her cheek and brush the tears away.

"I know you didn't," I said. "You are my best friend, you'll always be number one in my book. No matter what Ronald Bloody Wesley says," I said, hugging her tighter to me.

"I know you say I'm always there for you Harry, but in truth, you're here for me more that I am for you. You saved me from a troll, you were my first friend who didn't mock me because I was smart. You and I went back in time together and you saved me there. Harry, I wouldn't be here without you," she said.

"I guess we're even then," I said, standing the two of us up. "Hermione can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Do you love me?"

She looked taken aback by the questions but still answered. "Yes." She said. "Can I ask you a question?"

I nodded.

"Do you love me?"

I moved my face forwards and had my lips right next to ear and whispered, "Yes."

I moved my head back so I was starring into her eyes. In them I saw hope, care and dare I say love. I didn't even know what I was doing, but I fund our lips mere millimetres apart.

"Just kiss me, Harry," she whispered.

With that, pressed my lips to her. People say that when you kiss someone that there's fireworks, well for me there was much more. It was like there had been an explosion inside me that was filling me with fire, a fire I didn't want to extinguish. I felt her lips part slightly as did mine. Before long it was a full on snogging fest. Finally, I decided that we needed air and slowly pulled away.

When I looked at Hermione, she was grinning from ear to ear and was literally glowing. My smile was just as wide as hers, if not wider, and it looked like my hand was glowing like she was, but it was dying down.

"That was so sweet, yet gross at the same time," we both turned to see Ginny standing there, along with the rest of the school.

Hermione started blushing furiously while I just smiled. Some one made a cat call, which set the entire hall into laughter. Just as the laughter was dying down, a strange thing, even for wizards occurred.

In a red flame, a golden phoenix appeared, while a silver raven appeared from a blue flame. The two birds landed on a stair so they were eye hight, but what really freaked me out was what the phoenix said, "Congratulations on your marriage, Lord and Lady Griffindor."