15 December 1994
Eloise surprised Hermione by doing as she asked, never mentioning her adoption or their earlier spats due to the end of third year. It wasn't an immediate fix to their friendship but it was a start, Eloise was still frustrated that Hermione disappeared with Harry and refused to say where, it seemed all her friends knew where to meet. Luna took the news that Hermione was adopted in stride, treating her no different from before. It was Neville that was awkward and uncomfortable after the adoption revelation. He seemed to have a difficult time reconciling what his grandmother told him about families who adopt and what he knew of the Weasleys. The families that would do something as heinous as adopt a child were dark and used blood magic, he always assumed they would be like Bellatrix Lestrange not the kind, treacle tart baking Molly Weasley. Though, he felt fortunate that Luna was ever patient sitting with him in the corridor for hours talking about nothing of consequence while he avoided the Weasleys.
"Harry! What are you doing up?" Hermione jumped as she saw her boyfriend's unruly head of black hair sitting in a chair by the fire. Harry turned to look at Hermione with wide, shocked eyes.
"Couldn't sleep." Harry mumbled uncomfortably as he looked at the clock, seeing it was half three in the morning. Turning back to the redhead who was shuffling her feet guiltily, he eyed her all black attire suspiciously."What are you doing? Leaving the tower dressed as a cat burglar?"
"I was...uh going to work on my transfiguration essay?" Hermione cringed at the obvious lie and tried to better conceal her rucksack behind her. Harry cocked his head to the side and raised a brow, obviously not believing her.
"Got another boyfriend I should know about?" Harry asked cheekily as he held his arm out for her to join him on the sofa. Hermione shuffled closer, depositing her bag behind an armchair before she sank down beside her boyfriend.
"Nah, just you." Hermione smiled brightly and kissed Harry on the cheek. She saw his eyes dart behind the couch and she mentally scolded herself for not running back to her room. "So, why can't you sleep?"
"Uh, it's nothing." Harry mumbled as he blushed and turned his head away in embarrassment.
"Bollocks. You can tell me." Hermione pouted as she snuggled into his side, Harry relaxed a small grin blooming on his face as he eyed her suspiciously.
"You tell me where you're going dressed like that and I'll tell you." Harry said with a sly smile, bringing his hand up to toy with one of her curls. Hermione licked her lips as she canted her head back and forth as if thinking over her options.
"It would completely ruin the surprise." Hermione sighed dramatically as she watched Harry from the corner of her eye.
"Surprise?" Harry asked with a smirk as he turned his body to completely face her while moving his hand down to rest on her leg. His smirk turned into a beaming grin as she flushed and averted her eyes guiltily. "So, it's a surprise for me?"
"Yes..." Hermione said hesitantly, avoiding his gaze by staring into the fire. Harry nudged her shoulder before grabbing her chin lightly to look at him as he pouted dramatically, his lower lip jutted out. "Fine, I planned to very publicly and loudly ask you to the Yule Ball."
"But...we're already going together, right?" Harry's brow scrunched up as he looked at her in confusion. "You said you didn't mind that I didn't ask and just assumed...I mean, you're my girlfriend. Who else would I go with?"
"Well, even though it's obvious to us...I just wanted to..." Hermione licked her lips as she looked down at her lap, her face red with embarrassment. "I wanted the other girls to know that we were going together."
"Oh!" Harry exclaimed, sudden understanding dawned on his face as he lightly put his hand on her cheek, drawing her gaze up to him. "Sirius told me I should have asked you...said my dad had a brilliant plan once, asked my mum with banners."
"Banners?" Hermione snorted, a smile blooming on her face as she gazed into his emerald green eyes brimming with mirth.
"Yes...multiple banners, lining the halls all day. All of them singing to her, asking her everything from holding his hand to having his children." Harry laughed sheepishly, rubbing the scar on his forehead with the heel of his palm. "What was your plan?"
"Fireworks." Hermione cringed as she saw the gobsmacked look on his face.
"Fireworks?!" Harry choked out, a bubble of laughter erupting from his mouth. She dropped her head heavily to his shoulder and groaned as he couldn't contain his laughter.
"Stop laughing! You would have said yes and then I would have snogged you in front of everyone. No more girls asking you to the ball!" Hermione groused, keeping her flaming cheeks hidden. Harry just wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly to his chest.
"I'm sorry, it just...fireworks! I mean that is so much more romantic than banners!" Harry chuckled, leaning his chin on top of her curly head. "Were they going to spell out your proposal? I'm sure my mum would have said yes to my dad if he did fireworks! Maybe I should tell Pads he's been giving me bad advice and wooing birds all wrong for years! No, you know-"
"Shut it! You git!" Hermione snapped, slapping him in the stomach, effectively knocking the wind out of him. She couldn't look at him, he was still shaking with silent laughter and she was sure she resembled a tomato. See if she ever tries to be romantic with him again.
"Hey! I am merely appreciating your thoughtful attempt at seduction and publicly claiming me! I'm not some piece of meat, you know! I have feelings and things that you need to respect. You can't just kiss and grope me whenever you-" Harry rambled, sounding dramatically indignant until Hermione snapped and jumped him. She pushed him back on the couch and kneeled above him, her face inches from his as she glared at him.
"How have you gotten this cocky? What happened to my sweet, awkward boyfriend who would have blushed and hid his face at the idea of me very publicly asking you to the ball?" Hermione pursed her lips as Harry continued smiling brightly even though she was trying to intimidate him with her glare.
"I have a very confident godfather who always tries to instill of a sense of marauderism into me. Also, I have a very beautiful, territorial girlfriend who I wouldn't mind publicly staking her claim." Harry just flashed her an infuriating smirk and shrugged his shoulders unrepentantly.
"Really?" Hermione said suspiciously, her eyes narrowed as she watched him critically.
"The only reason I'm not always trying to snog you, acting like Fred and Angelina is because I'm terrified your brothers will give me a dose of what they've been planning for Malfoy." Harry grimaced as he shuddered dramatically, making hermione grin. "That's not even the worst, you have an abundance of brothers."
"Hey! Charlie was nice!" Hermione snickered as she sat back her heels, moving back so Harry could sit up.
"Yeah, he just waited until your back was turned then he would do that whole 'I've got my eyes on you' thing and flex his arm." Harry grimaced and lowered his voice to continue. "He can make the opal eye dance!"
"Harry!" Hermione laughed happily and she playfully pushed his chest. "Here I thought it was Percy you feared most."
"Oh, I do! Have you seen him with his clipboard! He was unflinchingly cordial at the first task but I swear he was waiting until there were no witnesses and then he was going to smother me in his cauldron bottom regulation paperwork!" Harry cried out in horror dramatically, his green eyes wide and pleading behind his glasses.
"You're the worst!" Hermione giggled as she leaned forward to kiss his cheek, Harry turned his head and planted a loud smacking kiss on her lips.
"Don't even get me started on Ron. He may act like he's fine with it but no, he's clever and coming up with a strategy! Probably going to smother me in my sleep." Harry said solemnly, making Hermione roll her eyes with a fond smile on her face.
"Don't be daft! Ron is far too scared of me to try and take you out." Hermione waved a hand dismissively and tucked her legs beneath her as she took Harry's hand in her own. "So, why couldn't you sleep?"
"Well, I've been-Are you sure we shouldn't discuss the nefarious plans of Fred and George? Or Bill, he's a curse breaker, I'm sure he has all kinds of nasty untraceable spells-" Harry was cut off by Hermione giving his hand a squeeze and he took a deep breath. "I've been having nightmares."
"Harry, everyone has nightmares, it's nothing to be ashamed of. What are they about?" Hermione asked gently as she subtly leaned closer, Harry seemed to notice because before she could react he reached out and practically dragged her into his lap so that her head was tucked under his chin.
"They're not like the usual scary monsters or falling from my broom..." Harry said softly before taking a deep breath to continue. "I keep seeing Pettigrew, he's talking to Voldemort and...I watched him kill a muggle. Lately..."
"Harry?" Hermione whispered into his chest after a long moment of silence.
"Lately, I've been getting headaches...and my scar hurts." Harry said hesitantly. Hermione's head snapped up and she pulled away to look at his face. His head was lowered so she reached up, placing her hand on his cheek to force him to meet her gaze.
"How long has your scar been hurting?" Hermione asked nervously, her mind flashing black to their first year. Harry getting head aches all year, his scar exploding in pain when he faced Quirrell in the chamber. Harry bit his lip and he scrunched up his face in thought.
"They started around the same time as the World Cup...honestly, I didn't even really think about it again...until my name was called. I mean my scar's been hurting a lot but..." Harry shrugged sheepishly, not wanting to admit that since he an Ron made up his head aches were becoming more frequent and he was sure it had nothing to do with getting beaten at chess.
"Do you think...maybe it is Voldemort?" Hermione asked hesitantly, chewing her on her lip as she absently toyed with Harry's fingers.
"I'm sure it's just the nightmares. After all, I did see the dark mark for the first time that night. Then with the stress of the tournament..." Harry tried to smile but it came out as more of a grimace.
"I think you should tell Uncle Albus." Hermione said after a moment of silence, resting her head against his shoulder. She felt far too comfortable wrapped in Harry's arms.
-0-
"Harry!" Neville hissed urgently as he roughly shoved Harry's shoulder. Harry mumbled incoherently and reached to pull his blanket over his head, only to find he was trapped. Trapped by something warm and soft, something that smelled amazing, like vanilla and cinnamon. His eyes snapped open as he felt his large blanket move, Neville had a worried frown on his face as he looked down at Harry and Hermione intertwined on the couch, his eyes darting towards the staircase.
"Myne..." Harry mumbled, feeling a bit panicked as he looked down at the sleeping witch laying across his chest. Her black long sleeved shirt had ridden up during the night and her entire stomach was exposed, her face was buried into his neck and her soft breaths made him shiver.
"Nooo..." Hermione whined as she burrowed further into the warmth beneath her, refusing to open her eyes. Harry struggled and managed to free an arm that was trapped beneath her and quickly pulled her shirt down.
"Hermione! We need to get up to the dorms!" Harry hissed urgently, shooting nervous glances towards the staircase to the boys dorm. Hermione's response was only to wrap herself more firmly around him and press a kiss to his throat, making Harry groan.
"Just a little longer." Hermione mumbled against Harry's neck before she suddenly stiffened. She let out a squeak when she opened her eyes to find she was not dreaming of being in Harry's arms but was actually trapping her boyfriend on the couch, in the common room. Without so much as a single glance or parting word, Hermione grabbed her bag and rushed up the stairs.
-0-
"Albus, good morning!" Sirius said jovially as he stepped through the flames of the headmaster's floo.
"Good morning, Sirius. What do I owe the pleasure?" Albus asked with a bright smile on his face, he turned back to yet another letter from Lucius Malfoy. He was demanding the headmaster end the latest series of targeted attacks on his heir. The ancient wizard internally rolled his eyes as he reviewed the listed offenses, things like missing undergarments and embarrassing bouts flatulence.
"Came to speak of Moody, have you noticed anything off since our last chat?" Sirius asked conversationally, feeling slightly smug. After a brief conversation on the day of the first task he was one hundred percent certain something was off with his former mentor.
"While your devotion to Harry is commendable, don't you think you may be a bit paranoid, Sirius?" Albus frowned slightly as he watched Sirius take the seat in front of his desk.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Sirius asked defensively, his jaw jutting forward stubbornly.
"Oh, I meant no offense. I'm happy that Harry has someone looking out for him and I know you were once an asset to the auror force. It's just..." Albus trailed off uneasily, pushing the letter from Lucius Malfoy aside.
"Just what?" Sirius asked through gritted teeth, bristling at the headmaster's continued pigheadedness.
"You spent twelve years in azkaban, Sirius. Are you sure that you may not just be a bit paranoid." Albus said gently and raised his hand when Sirius looked ready to argue, making the marauder pause. "It's just, Alastor is getting on in age, you know. I think what we are seeing is just the beginning of an old auror's decline in his facilities. After decades of chasing down dark wizards, then in his retirement he became a recluse...I'm sure what you've witnessed is just Alastor reacclimating himself to being around wizards and witches again."
"So, you think he would just forget his old nicknames or maybe that this new skittish behavior is just due to old age. Maybe I'm just imagining things because I was locked in hell for over a decade, is that it?" Sirius said hotly, his lips curling into a sneer as he averted his grey eyes away from the man he held so much respect for.
"I have no doubt your mind is sharp as ever, Sirius. Don't twist my words." Albus said sternly, same as he did when he was a second year for letting off dung bombs in Filch's office. "I'm sorry to say that Alastor has been a bit...absent in his cognizance. I only met with him briefly when I asked him to take the position but that is no reason for you to throw accusations around."
"I'm only asking you to check him for potions or curses!" Sirius growled, not appreciating the headmaster's condescending gaze. "I'm not even making accusations, I'm only saying that that man is not the same Moody that trained James and I then mentored us through our time as aurors!"
"Sirius, please calm down." Albus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I have to leave for an ICW retreat and I will only be able to return once and that's for the Yule Ball. I'll speak to him after I return, if I find your suspicions confirmed...I'll convince him to be tested."
"Convince him? Even if he's not Moody he knows Moody well enough to pull of the paranoid act! Do you really think Moody would ever willing subject himself to any kind of testing he wasn't in control of?" Sirius demanded, looking at the wizened headmaster incredulously.
"So, you believe he is in fact Alastor?" Albus asked, perking up a bit, the usual twinkle returning to his eyes. "I know that I find myself lamenting the possible decline in his facilities and sometimes, I'm not sure how to handle it."
"Albus..." Sirius groaned, dropping his head heavily into his hands as he took a deep breath. Shaking his head he stalked to the floo, sometimes the headmaster could be so obstinate.
-0-
"Good morning." Harry said awkwardly as Hermione joined him in the common room after she showered and changed, she blushed scarlet, unable to meet his gaze.
"'Mornin." Ron yawned as he stood from the chair he was waiting in, he barely spared his sister and friends a glance as they silently made their way out of the common room. Neville kept shooting the couple concerned glances, even if they still held hands neither could meet the others gaze. Ron didn't seem to notice anything wrong, still half asleep and following his nose to the great hall for breakfast.
"Millie!" A familiar voice cried out in a panic as they were heading to the Gryffindor table. They turned to see Draco Malfoy, looking disheveled and distressed as he looked around the great hall erratically. For the first time, Hermione noticed the young Malfoy heir seemed to be balding, his normally sleek and styled blonde hair was much thinner and if she wasn't mistaken he definitely had a receding hair line.
"Stop Malfoy!" Millicent Bulstrode threw up her hands in front of her to block the blonde's advances as she threw a panicked look where Pansy Parkinson was sitting.
"No! I won't hide it anymore! You're going to the ball with Flint? How could you do this to me?" Malfoy demanded, closing the distance on the burly fourth year. It was a little disorienting to see the muscled figure of Millicent Bulstrode cowering before the lithe frame of Malfoy who was almost a head short than her.
"I'm not hiding anything! We have an understanding!" Millicent shrieked hysterically, trying to dodge Malfoy's clumsy embrace.
"We were meant to be, Millie! Can't you see that? Your mythical voice leads me like a siren!" Malfoy continued on, oblivious to the silent hall full of students watching avidly. The poor Slytherin girl looked close to tears as no one came to rescue her, perhaps because most in the hall believed she could easily knock out the blonde boy with one blow of her meaty fist. "Your eyes shine like the sea, haunting my dreams! Millie please I'll-"
"What is the meaning of this?" Professor Snape bellowed, cutting off the blonde from saying anything further.
"Uncle Severus! We have to write my father right away, I want to refute my betrothal. I must marry-" Malfoy started frantically, grabbing the potions master by the front of his robe but the potions master waved his hands away, cutting him off.
"Enough! Follow me, Draco." Professor Snape sneered, placing a hand on his shoulder to lead the hysterical blonde out of the hall. Millicent Bulstrode stood rooted to the spot as the great hall erupted in laughter, most students openly pointing at the girl.
"Had to slip my betrothed a love potion, did you?" Pansy hissed, loud enough for the entire hall to hear making the Slytherin girls around her guffaw.
"It's not funny!" Hermione snapped, smacking her brother and Harry who were chuckling quietly, they both turned to her eyes wide with disbelief.
"What?" Ron demanded, his mouth full of egg. Hermione made an impatient strangled sound in the back of her throat as she stuffed her napkin in his mouth.
"She may be a Slytherin but she's also one of the only ones who never says anything to us when Malfoy runs his mouth." Hermione snapped defensively, Harry lowered his gaze while Ron choked.
"She's a Slytherin, they're all the same!" Ron exclaimed after he pulled the napkin from his mouth.
"She looked absolutely terrified!" Hermione barked as she jerkily pointed in the girl's direction, Millicent took that moment to dash from the great hall as fast as she could. Whispers and laughter erupted as soon as the doors closed behind her, Hermione watched her best friend leave Neville alone at the Ravenclaw table to follow.
-0-
Ron turned to his sister with his bottom lip jutted out in a petulant pout as they sat at the Gryffindors table for dinner. "But 'Mione, I neeeed a date!" He whined just loud enough for her to hear.
"Then ask someone, Ronnie! You're a good looking bloke, great at quidditch and all that." Hermione said with a small smile as she laid a reassuring hand on his arm, she glanced at Eloise for support but she was uncharacteristically silent. Her blue eyes looking anywhere but the redheads.
"Seamus says all the good looking girls are taken! Even Luna has a date!" Ron grimaced as his eyes drifted to the Ravenclaw table where his dorm mate was in deep conversation with Luna and Millicent Bulstrode. Whatever the blonde said to the bulky girl seemed to have cheered her up because they spent the entire day on the grounds together. "Where's Harry?"
"He's with Sirius." Hermione shrugged indifferently as she watched Eloise fidget across from her. "Is something wrong?"
"Wrong? What could be wrong?" Eloise squeaked, her eyes darting to the Slytherin table guiltily, making Hermione frown in confusion.
"You look really nice today." Hermione smirked as Eloise blushed to the roots of her hair and smiled shyly, looking at her through her lashes. "Who's your date?"
"It's a surprise." Eloise grimaced, sending her a pleading glance, the same pleading look she'd been giving Hermione for two days. Ron looked up and his eyes widened as if he'd never seen the tall girl before. It was true, her acne had been clearing up all year and she was actually quite pretty when she wasn't scowling.
"Please?" Hermione wheedled, cutting her eyes to her brother to silence him. It was as if she could sense he was about to say something offensive.
"No!" Eloise cracked a small smile before wiping her mouth with a cloth napkin. "You ready?"
"Yes! I will get an answer out of you! Did you get one of the Durmstrang boys?" Hermione asked impishly as she stood up from the table, Ron following close behind with a petulant pout.
"I'm not telling!" Eloise sang, her eyes shifting nervously to the Slytherin table once again, making Hermione gasp.
"Well, it's either a Slytherin or a Durmstrang man!" Hermione smirked victoriously as she linked her arm with Eloise's.
"Slytherin?" Ron gaped incredulously as he moved to walk beside the scarlet girl.
"Honestly, Ronnie!" Hermione scolded half heartedly, casting a nervous glance up at her friend. Eloise's shoulders we slumped as she tried to make herself smaller, her eyes watching the floor as they walked through the halls. "It doesn't matter who you're going to the ball with as long it's not Malfoy!"
Eloise glanced up at that with a small snicker. "Oh I don't know, so much ego in such a small boy!" She guffawed, covering her mouth with her hand and loud laughter erupted from her unexpectedly. "But I wouldn't want to get between him and his true love, I heard about this morning."
"It was awful! She loo- Ronnie?" Hermione paused, tugging Eloise to a stop with her as she looked back at her brother who was standing still in the middle of the hall. His eyes were slightly glazed but they suddenly filled with determination as he turned on his heel and started walking towards a large group of seventh year Hufflepuffs.
"Oh no!" Eloise gasped, her eyes wide as she watched Ron storm right up to the group. Hermione cringed as she saw who was at the center of the group, Fleur Delacour.
"WILL YOU BALL ME?!" Ron shouted at the top of his lungs, startling the group. Hermione watched as Ron's ears turned dangerously red and the beautiful veela looked at her brother like he was a slug on her shoe. The red head bristled, releasing her wand from her holster as the group erupted into laughter, the loudest of them all was the blonde beauty in the center. Ron abruptly turned and rushed right past them, pushing a group of second years out of his way.
"Siderius paplum!" Hermione hissed under breath, shooting a light blue hex at the blonde. The veela walked into the great hall with her friends, unaware of the pimple growing between her eyes.
"What did you do?" Eloise demanded as she dragged the fuming redhead down the corridor after Ron.
"Did you see the way she looked at him?" Hermione snarled angrily, glaring straight ahead. "Like he wasn't even worth the glance. Granted, I know my brother isn't exactly smooth or anything but...urgh!"
"You didn't really think she would say yes!" Eloise snorted, rolling her eyes at her friends outraged expression.
"I suppose his approach was best...he could have scared a 'yes' out of her." Her whispered uncomfortably. Of course she didn't think her fourth year brother had a chance with the Beauxbaton's veela champion, but she certainly wouldn't tell her brother that. "Let's just find Ron."
When they reached the common room her brother already gathered quite a crowd. Harry was poking the stunned redhead with his quill, hissing his name in hopes to snap him out of his stupor. Fred and George stood directly in front of him, snapping their fingers and clapping their hands. A few other just stood around with amused expressions, whispers already spreading about his outburst.
"Sh-she...date...veela..." Ron mumbled, his face completely stricken as he looked down at his hands as if unsure what happened.
"Hey!" Harry stood quickly and a bright smile bloomed on his face he saw his girlfriend enter the common room, he immediately moved his books out of the way so she would have a place to sit. Eloise released her and moved to sit on the arm of Ron's chair where she proceeded to feel his forehead, a concerned frown on her face.
"Ronnie!" Hermione snapped loudly, her brother jumped inches off the chair. She turned quickly to glare at the spectators, making them scatter quickly.
"What happened?" Fred whispered, his eyes filled with concern as he looked at his mumbling little brother.
"He asked Fleur to the Yule Ball." Hermione whispered just loud enough for her brothers and Harry to hear, making Ron groan pathetically.
"She...she..." Ron mumbled, dropping his head heavily into hands.
"What did she say?" George asked eagerly.
Fred looked at him incredulously and snorted. "She said no, of course!" Ron mumbled something and the twins rocked back on their heels.
"She said yes?" They shouted out in shock, looking to their sister for confirmation.
"She didn't say anything!" Ron mumbled miserably, not moving his hands away from his face.
"She's a right bitch, Ronnie. You can do better!" Hermione said vehemently, laying a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Better than a veela?" Greorge snorted.
"Good luck with that!" Fred guffawed, eliciting a snicker from Harry. Hermione turned to glare at her brothers and Harry, her boyfriend cringed internally at her frosty stare.
"You are much...much better than any veela." Harry said quickly and nodded emphatically, ignoring the way the twins nudged each other with a smirk.
"I'm hopeless, I'll never find a date!" Ron groaned, the scene of him shouting incoherently at the most beautiful creature in the school playing on a loop in his head. "No one saw, right?"
"If they didn't see, they heard." Eloise grimaced, patting the red head on the back sympathetically.
"Would you go with me, Ellie? You know, as friends...right?" Ron turned his pleading eyes up to the girl at his side, she flushed avoiding his gaze.
"I already have a date, you know that." Eloise mumbled uncomfortably, looking to Hermione for assistance.
"You weren't joking?! You're really going with a Slytherin? Some Durmstrang minger?" Ron demanded heatedly, his ears turning a bright red that matched his hair.
"She told you earlier, Ron." Hermione interjected quickly, glancing between the two as they glared daggers at each other. "You know I think Pavarti still needs a date."
"Really?" Ron turned to her in surprise, his mouth hanging open. Pavarti Patil was one of the prettiest girls in their year, right after Lavender, in his opinion. He heard dean and Seamus arguing over who they would ask and he assumed Dean already secured the Gryffindor twin as a date.
"If you hurry, you won't be stuck with Hope." Hermione nodded reassuringly while Ron licked his lips, deep in thought.
"How do I?" Ron asked anxiously when Lavender, Pavarti, and Hope entered the common room, their heads bent together as they whispered and walked.
"Just don't shout at her." Eloise grumbled as she pushed him roughly to his feet. The redhead stumbled into the trio's path and he sent Eloise a look of betrayal before he cleared his throat.
"Yes?" Hope drawled drolly, her pale brow arched as she looked the lanky redhead up and down. Lavender gave Pavarti a pointed look as Ron shuffled awkwardly in front of them. He took a few calming breaths with his eyes closed as Hope openly snickered, Lavender at least put her hand over her mouth to smother her laughter as the Indian girl looked on with a hopeful expression.
"Could I talk to Pavarti...alone." Ron asked slowly when he opened his eyes, Hope opened her mouth to very sternly inform him he could not when the curly haired blonde lashed out and grabbed her arm to pull her up the stairs.
"Well, Weasley?" Pavarti pursed her lips as she glanced at the group standing obtusely to the side, all failing at looking nonchalant. What with Hermione quickly turning to point out the button on Harry's shirt as if he wouldn't know it was there while the twins examined an empty glass in the firelight as if they never saw anything so fascinating. Eloise smirked, looking up at the ceiling since her bag was already in the dorm room.
"Would you...go Yule with me?" Ron grimaced and took another deep breath, this time raising his blue eyes to actually look at the blushing girl he was asking. "Would you go to the ball with me?"
Pavarti pursed her lips, forcing herself not to smile as she looked him over critically. "I suppose I will, Weasley." She said after just a moments pause that felt like forever to Ron and his audience. A relieved smile bloomed on his face as he opened his mouth to thank her but she let out a girlish squeal and dashed up the stairs to her dormitory.
"Smooth." Fred grinned cheekily.
"Like butta." George nodded approvingly with an atrocious accent, only Fred and Harry laughed at his quip.
-0-
The astronomy lesson with Ravenclaw was going smoothly until a deafening BOOM shattered the silence. The entire class froze and explosions sounded off on the grounds, making the castle walls vibrate. Seconds later a ball of fire was released from the forbidden forest, the entire class watched with trepidation as it exploded in the form of a lion in the sky, making the loudest detonation yet. As the magical sparks fell, they formed words.
HARRY
WILL YOU BALL ME?
"Seriously?!" Ron exploded, turning to his gaping sister with a fiery look of betrayal.
"I didn't change them! They were supposed to ask if he would go with me! It's also supposed to say my name!" Hermione threw up her hands in surrender as she watched her brother's face turn as red as his hair.
"So...is this you asking me?" Harry asked with trepidation as the message flashed in the night sky, the letters becoming bolder as more magical sparks gathered.
"Uhh, that was the plan." Hermione said slowly with an open mouth as she nodded nervously.
"Then yes, you barmy woman!" Harry's face broke into a gleeful smile as he reached out and pulled her into a swift, hard kiss. Ron made a disgusted, strangled sound in the back of his throat that was heard over the girls in class sighing wistfully.
"That is enough!" Professor Sinastra clapped her hands to draw the students attention back to their star maps. The writing in the sky gave another deafening explosion as fireworks of all colors erupted in all directions. Bright missiles flew through the grounds, into open windows, into the lake and a few rocketed into the sky above their heads.
HARRY POTTER IS TAKEN!
"Oh..." Hermione gasped weakly as miniature explosions were heard throughout the castle as the fireworks her brothers helped her develop delivered their message.
"I believe a trip to the your head of house is in order, Miss. Weasley." Professor Sinastra crossed her arms over her chest as she stared pointedly at the blushing redhead.
"Fred and George are going to get it." Hermione mumbled as she quickly stuffed her supplies away, trying to ignore the blatant stares of her classmates and her boyfriend's smug smile.
-0-0-0-0-
Elli did not say anything to Skeeter about the book, that probably won't be explained until later in fourth year.
Alice1985: you get it :) gotta have creeps in there.
So, I hope your enjoying the story! I finished All For Her and BAM finally finished this chapter and the Yule ball! Also, have like ten stories started so...I'm trying to just pick one to continue while I write this.
Ridiculous! Thanks for the feedback!