"The Yule Ball is first and foremost, a dance" Said Professor McGonagall to us. Us being a group of 4th year boys who suddenly groaned as one. But then she added insult to injury.

"Mr Potter"

"Yes Professor" I said coming forwards to the front of the group.

"You will be opening the dance with the other 3 champions so you will need to get a partner and get some practise. I do not what Hogwarts embarrassed by a champion who falls over every other beat" she whipped around to glare at a group of Hufflepuff students behind her.

"That goes for you as well Mr Diggory"

"Yes Professor" he replied the laughter dying on his lips.

"So all of you get some practise in before the dance. Dismissed"

Great that made me feel better. Dancing was bad enough but OPENING the dancing was even worse. Suddenly an idea had hit me. Hermione. Maybe she would teach me to dance or even come to the dance as my partner. Well only one way to find out. To the common room I go.

As I walk I think about my best female friend. She has grown up a lot over the summer and now she is no longer a girl but a young woman. Now I feel allowed to fancy her as I have done since she was unpetrified in second year. Of course now she was as close to him as anyone could be. I reached the common room and just as I went to give the password the door swung open and Hermione stepped out with a large tome in her arms.

"Hey Hermione" I said as she walked past me.

"Oh hey Harry" she said and stopped walking and turned to face me.

"Can I have a word with you?"

"Yea sure, what about?" Hermione's face took on a slightly puzzled look.

"No in . . . private" I said and I inclined my head towards the stairs.

"Yea sure Harry. What is it?" Her face now looked completely perplexed.

We walked in silence down to the edge of the black lake and sat under the large tree on the bank.

"So Harry what did you want to say to me?"

"Well it is more a question really" I said and I could feel my cheeks heating up. "You know about the Yule ball yes?" Hermione nodded and her eyes glazed over slightly.

"Well will you go with me to the ball?" I said trying not to sound too hopeful.

"Well . . . this is unexpected. Why me?

Well I had been expecting this question and I had planned to give a list of reasons but my tongue suddenly knotted and all I could say was,

"Cause your . . . well fucking perfect"

"Well Harry that's . . . nice" She tried not to look shocked at my language.

"I'm sorry Mione, I didn't mean to swear it's just I couldn't think of another way to put it"

"Well in that case, I would love to go to the ball with you Harry"