A/N - Another gap between chapters I know, sadly real life has to take priority sometimes. Also I'm very aware I'm playing fast and loose with the date of the Yule Ball, mostly because it suits my narrative to do so.

Chapter 12 - If I Didn't Know Magic Existed…

Harry was aware that something was going on. His father and Sirius had been even more clandestine than usual. Normally it would suggest that they were planning some kind of epic prank, but the regular inclusion of Lily and Amelia Bones put paid to that thought. Harry's curiosity was further piqued by the absence of his Uncle Remus from the mix, although there were regular owls coming and going with what he presumed was correspondence from the missing marauder. When he asked what was going on, his father flat out refused to make any comment. That alone suggested that there was something hefty going on.

However, Harry found himself putting his plotting parents and others to the back of his mind. After all, he had a more immediate thing to occupy the front and both sides of that very same mind.

It was finally here. The day of the Yule Ball.

In the preceding days, Harry had noticed that his best friend had seemed a little 'off'. Naturally he had assumed the worst, namely that she was regretting her decision to accompany him to the yule ball. When there was still a couple of days to go before the ball itself so Harry, girding his loins and summoning what would have been his Gryffindor courage had been sorted into the house of the lions, he sat down with her and asked that very question.

"... I mean if you really don't want to go, it's ok, I'll speak to mum and dad and see if we can disappear for a few days." He couldn't quite look his friend in the eye.

For her part ,Hermione looked at Harry with sadness. "Oh Harry I'm so so sorry, that's not what's been bothering me at all. I'm really excited to be going with you, it's just that, well, this will be the first christmas that i've spent apart from my parents. I will miss them." Harry looked like he was going to respond before Hermione stopped him. "Can we talk about something else, I think I'd like something to distract me from these thoughts."

Harry nodded and the two fell into conversation, as they had done every day since they met. Harry however, was only paying enough attention to make sure that he could follow the chat, the other part of his brain was plotting.

Later that day he found the opportunity he was looking for when he happened across his mother and Professor McGonagall. "Mum, professor, can I speak to you both?"

"What's up?" was Lily's reply.

"Hermione. She's feeling sad 'cause she won't see her parents during the break because she's signed up to stay at the castle for the ball with me. Professor, I know there are students who aren't going to the ball who have gone home as normal. If I can get my mum or dad to side-along Hermione, can she go home the day after the ball to spend Christmas with her folks? I hate that she's feeling down because of me."

McGonagall nodded. "There are other students from wholly magical families who are being picked up from Hogsmeade after the ball for similar reasons. The express can't make repeat trips, and obviously her parents can't apparate her away from the village but if you can arrange for an alternative way for Miss Granger to return to her parents, that is acceptable."

Harry beamed at the elderly professor and turned his biggest and best puppy-dog eye look in his mum's direction. Lily just rolled her eyes at her son and nodded. "Speak to your dad, he's better at blind apparition than I am, he or Sirius will be able to get her home. Where does she live?"

"Somewhere in muggle London, Hampstead I think…"

After speaking to James it was eventually agreed that Sirius would apparate Hermione home. He grew up in London and thanks to his rebellious streak, was well versed with the non-magical side of the city. He knew there was a park about a mile north of Hermione's home which had a warded apparition point.

Harry and Hermione's friendship took another lurch forward when the young wizard told her about the conversation he had with his mother and the Head of Gryffindor, and with Sirius' agreement to be the magical taxi. She looked at him, wide eyed and after a few seconds of trying to hold back the tears, gave up and threw herself at Harry with a sob, clutching him in the tightest hug yet. Whispering thank you in his ear as she got her emotions back under control she drew back just far enough to see his smiling face. Gathering up her own Gryffindor courage, she gave him a shy and fleeting kiss on the cheek, causing Harry to blush up a storm.

As she recovered her composure she looked at Harry. "What prompted you to go to all the trouble?"

Harry shrugged and found himself, not for the first time, lost in her eyes. "You're my best friend. I knew you were only staying here cause I asked you to the ball, and I wouldn't want you to miss Christmas with your parents for me."

She couldn't help herself, Harry just had to be hugged again after that.

That was a few days ago, today was the Big Day, fully deserving of its capitalisation. After parting company from the library at curfew last night, Harry and Hermione hadn't seen each other. Since he had arrived, trips to the infirmary notwithstanding, today would be the first time that Harry had spent the whole day apart from his best friend. Despite knowing that they were going to get to spend the whole evening together, Harry couldn't help but feel a little melancholy, something soon picked up by his mother.

"Stop moping!"

"I'm not!"

"You very much are! You are going to see her at 6, it's just gone midday, and you Harry James Potter have been moping since breakfast."

"No I've not… I just…" Harry couldn't think of a suitable rebuttal which made his mother snort.

"Point to me! Seriously though, focus on getting ready. It's going to take you most of the next six hours to do something with that mop on your head. You may have got my eyes, but unfortunately for you, you definitely got your father's hair."

Lily looked at her son. He was growing up faster than she would like, partly due to the life they had to lead, partly due to the damn prophecy hanging over them, and recently partly due to Hogwarts, the people he had met here and a certain wild-haired Gryffindor. She smiled as she thought about the impact Hermione had on Harry's life. Harry was never one to complain, he bore the lifestyle he, his parents and the remaining marauders had chosen to live with a resolute stoicism.

It was the amount of time Hermione had spent with Harry and the Potters which had led Lily to notice a certain trepidation on the young witch as the ball came closer. With instincts that only a mother could have she was pretty sure she knew why. Hermione was not a vain girl, that much was obvious. She was naturally pretty without being what you could consider a classic beauty, and never saw the need to make an effort to 'prettify' herself. Partly because she never thought she would have cause to, and partly because she was so focussed on her academic pursuits. This of course meant that she wouldn't have much of an idea of what make up to wear or how to properly apply it. It was for that reason she had to tell her son that she was leaving, but wasn't for telling him where.

"I'll be back before you leave, don't worry. Besides, your dad and Sirius are much better versed at making sure you get ready for the ball than I would be!"

So it was that Lily found herself making her way to the Gryffindor girls dorm, having cleared her plan with Minerva first. The fourth year girls were shocked into silence as they realised that Lily Potter was paying them a visit, followed initially by looks of slight jealousy as it became clear that she was going to help Hermione look her best, that jealousy driven in part by the knowledge that Lily Potter was a beautiful woman who always seemed to dress with a sense of grace and style which many of them wished they could emulate. Lily had anticipated this however and after offering to help the rest of the girls once she had finished with Hermione, the few scowls there were, quickly turned to smiles. It was a win-win for Lily. She got to help Hermione look her best and helped the young witch's social standing slightly by also helping her friends.

Lily spent some time with the Gryffindor girls who wanted her help, but it was Hermione who was the focus. At the same time, Sirius and James were in the Heads room making sure that Harry was getting their unique brand of last-minute instruction.

Sirius, being the clotheshorse that he was, made sure that Harry had a set of robes which skirted with muggle fashion but were still sure to pass in the wizarding world. His robes were dark and almost iridescent with hues of dark blues in some lights, black in others, with highlights of a much lighter blue, one Harry didn't really recognise. There was a thread of this blue lining his cuffs and where the Hogwarts robes would have a house crest over the left breast, Harry's hard what looked like a pocket which contained a triangle of fabric the same colour as the trim. What Harry didn't know was that Lily knew that Hermione's dress and would be the same blue, called periwinkle, with a cloak style robe which was becoming all the rage amongst young witches and was a few shades darker. It was expected that the robes themselves would be discarded at some point during the night, so where Hermione had her dress, Harry had a crisp white shirt with a bow tie, cummerbund and black trousers.

Sirius had been 'educating' Harry in the ways of the woo. "Compliments, cub. Make them honest, make them meaningful, use your words, don't overdo it, you don't want to seem like you are desperate, but when you are talking to your young lady, eye contact. You are a teenager, so your eyes will want to wander over other interesting areas, for the love of Merlin, don't get caught! Now. Snogging. There's a knack..."

James couldn't help but pitch in. "Bloody hell Padfoot, do you really think I want to hear you scar my son with some of the stories of what your perverted mouth has gotten up to!"

Harry for his part was glad to get a chance to escape on the pretext of going to try and do something with his hair. Truth was, he knew it was a losing battle but took the excuse. He was already nervous enough the last thing he needed was his godfather polluting his mind with thoughts of what it would be like to kiss someone. Well, to kiss Hermione. To see if her lips were as soft as he was sure they would be. To imagine what they would taste like, to picture her dainty hand running through his hair… "Arrrrrghhh. Damn you Sirius!"

Fortunately he was snapped out of his musing by a knock on his door and the voice of his father coming through. "Out you come, your mum is back. It's just about time you got this show on the road!"

WIth a gulp Harry took his robe from its hanger and threw it on before exiting. As he did he had a last glance in the mirror and, hair notwithstanding, was fairly happy with what he saw. The assembled trio on the other side of the door all stood in anticipation of Harry's appearance. Lily couldn't help herself. When she saw her son, standing there looking as mature as he ever had, she couldn't help a tear from leaking down her cheek. James, she suspected as feeling something of her emotions, but being both a man and a victim of the pureblood expectations which permeated the wizarding world, was much better at keeping them in check.

"You look very handsome" she croaked out, having to actively resist the urge to draw him into a hug.

"Thanks mum. I hope…" he tailed off.

"...That Hermione agrees?" took up Sirius. "Of course she will. Fortunately for you ,the good looking erm… cheens?"

"Genes, Siri,"

"Thanks. Genes. The good looking genes you got from Lils were strong enough to overcome the ugly ones you got from your dad." Sirius' proclamation got the sought after response from said James, and helped ease the situation by making Harry laugh too.

"Come on then, we need to escort you to the main rotunda, you are meeting Neville on the way and then both meeting your dates at the bottom of the grand staircase."

"Why are you three coming?"

"Just the two pup" interjected Sirius. "I'm offski tonight, was originally going to be away for a few days but I need to be back tomorrow to take your young lady home. Tonight I'm going to meet Ami and then catch up with Remus."

"How's he doing? Harry couldn't help but ask.

"He's fine. The full moon was the 18th, so he was right as rain by the 20th. We are doing some research into a little project we will be working on with your dad."

Harry knew better than to ask. "Tell him to come back soon!" Sirius just smiled. Even after all these years, it warmed his marauder heart to have his family. They may not be blood (although there was a distant conjoinment between the Black and Potter families), but they were better.

"Back to the matter at hand then, why are you two coming?"

"To see you off of course. Plus, there are some younger students who have been asked by older kids, Dumbledore asked if some of the staff would attend to make sure that nothing untoward happened with them, we offered to help."

Harry looked at his mother with alarm. James just laughed.

"Won't worry son, we have already agreed with Albus that we will keep to one specific section of the great hall, it will be at the opposite end from the Champions Table, so you can avoid us all night. We don't want to cramp your style!"

Harry rolled his eyes at his father's antics and it was clear that there was still an air of discomfort over him.

"Ignore him. Honestly, you won't see your dad or I unless it's in passing. We have agreed to help out so that Hogwarts staff can look after the older students. We will not interfere with your evening." Harry relaxed at his mother's words and with a final girding of his loins made ready to leave.

"Well, as you said, lets get this show on the road."

As they made their way, James gave his son a last look over. "You'll do" was the sum of his comments, making his wife and son snort.

"Master of understatement" grouched his wife. They had reached the bottom of the Gryffindor tower where they met a clearly nervous Neville Longbottom. Harry's parents took this as their cue to ostensibly give the two some room, saying that they would catch up with them at the end of the night. As the two boys walked off in the direction of the Grand Staircase, where tradition dictated that young men met their partners for the evening, Lily's wand made a peculiar motion accompanied by "sonus cuniculi".

James looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Lily fought a blush. "I want to know what he says when he sees Hermione."

James snorted and the two hung back further, Lily's spell letting both hear the conversation clearly enough.

"You look good Nev"

"Thanks. I'm not sure I'm ready for this though. Gran is very traditional and has Views on wizarding events. She'd go mad if word got back that I'd failed to represent my family appropriately."

Harry looked at his friend. "Dad told me some of that crap" he said brusquely. "Just relax and have fun. Luna deserves a fun night, just be yourself and she will have just that."

Any further conversation was put on hold as the Ravenclaw in question came bouncing down the staircase dressed in a sparkly silver dress which clearly had some enchanted elements. There were hints of something slithering around the dress which, when combined with her blonde hair and blue grey eyes somehow gave her an even more other worldly look than usual. The event wa unique, eye catching and quintessentially Luna.

"Hello you two!"

Hermione had caused Harry to start to pay a little more attention to certain things, mainly what he thought of girls' looks. He was, he was starting to admit to himself a late starter, and so far his idle and casual observations had led him to start to form an opinion of what he liked. Luna, he had noticed, was a very pretty girl. It was clear from the wide eyes of his friend that Neville had reached a similar conclusion. With a subtle nudge, Harry prompted Neville to give a response to Luna's greeting.

"Hi Luna. You look spectacular!" The young witch beamed a smile.

"Hi Lu, Nev is right, that's fantastic. Where did you get that?"

Luna's smile widened further. "I made it myself. Daddy sent me some pre-enchanted fabric.

Harry was amazed. "Luna that's… amazing doesn't do it justice!" Luna blushed at the praise. "I will absolutely tell mum, she'll want to quiz you about it."

Off in the distance James Potter was struggling to contain a snigger, knowing full well that Lily would indeed like nothing better than to rush over to quiz the young girl. A swift elbow to the ribs ended that.

"Hermione will be down in a minute Harry. We should get going Neville, the Champions and their dates should be last to enter."

Years of training kicked in for Neville who automatically offered Luna an arm which she shyly took with a smile. "We will see you in there, Harry."

"Indeed Nev. Luna. Have a ball!" The other two groaned at Harry's pun and made their way toward the great hall. Harry for his part was left at the foot of the stairs, the time alone aiding and abetting his nerves as they started to build.

A minute later he was aware of movement coming down the stairs and turned to look. His jaw dropped as he locked eyes with the ethereal beauty that was Hermione Granger. Harry now understood the highlights of his robes, they matched the light blue of the dress Hermione was wearing under her robe perfectly. Harry's eyes were mostly locked on her face. He had recognised that he considered Hermione a level above all the other girls he'd seen in Hogwarts in the looks department based on her day to day look. This version however left him absolutely speechless. Her makeup was delicate and subtly enhanced her best features, highlighting her expressive eyes and her absolutely captivating lips. Her hair had been tamed for the night and fell in a gentle cascade of curls over her shoulders.

As she delicately descended the last of the stairs to make her way to her date, her smile broadened as she saw the effect she was having on him. Hermione had never really felt attractive. Growing up having a mother who was mixed race meant her skin was a few shades darker than most. London was a cosmopolitan city, so it wasn't a huge thing, but she knew that she was that little bit different, in many ways including her looks. The most common taunt was with regard to her teeth, being overlarge and a bit bucked, but now, now she had a boy who was coming to mean more to her than she thought would be possible staring at her open mouthed, with eyes full of something she couldn't quite name.

"Hermione…" gasped Harry as she walked up to him. Something Sirius once said to him struck him. 'Sometimes, less is more.' Of course, Sirius was fairly comprehensively drunk at the time. The advice stuck though. "Hermione you look truly beautiful." A simple statement but conveyed with feeling.

For her part, Hermione couldn't help but blush. "Thank you. You look very handsome too."

Harry was still recovering. "I just wish I could think of a better word than beautiful. If I didn't already know that magic existed, I'd believe in it after seeing you tonight."

Off in their hidden listening spot, Lily's eyes were starting to moisten as she eavesdropped on the two. The emotional honest with which the last statement was delivered made her gasp. She turned to her husband. "You could learn a thing or two from your son here." James nodded.

"I didn't know he had it in him!"

The young witch and wizard were still drinking each other's visages but knew that they would have to make a move and head to the great hall. Harry had one thing to do first. Reaching into a hidden pocket in his robes, he took out a long thin box. Hermione looked quizzically at him. Clearing his throat he hesitantly spoke. "Her… Hermione, I wanted to give you something as a thank you for agreeing to come with me, and for being my friend."

"Harry, you don't…" This time it was Hermione who was silenced by a finger to her lips. Harry shivered at the touch. Had it seemed this intimate to Hermone when she did it to him?

"It's not a Christmas present, you will need to wait until tomorrow for that, and even then you can't open it until Sunday! This is something I wanted to do. I wanted to show you how much I appreciate you, how grateful I am that you didn't tell me to get lost when I first came to speak to you." He snapped open the box to reveal a beautiful but delicate teadrop sapphire pendant, set in a gold holder and on a similarly gold chain. Hermione gasped at seeing it, the understated elegance showed that it was a quality piece of jewellery without being ostentatious or garish.

"Harry, I can't take this, it must have cost you a fortune!"

"It was my grandmothers, it has been sitting in a vault in Gringotts for the past 20 or so years. I told my dad I wanted to get you something, something which was hoping would show you how important you've become to me. He remembered it, he said I'd inherit it anyway, so if I wanted to, I could give it to you. When I saw it, I thought it was perfect. It was classy, classic and had a quality that's hard to define."

Hermione was doing her level best not to cry and was just about undone further by Harry's next three words.

"Just like you."

Harry moved to put the chain on her and Hermione quickly moved her hair to allow him to do it. She still couldn't believe that he had got her something which was not only so beautiful but that had clearly a familial history.

In their corner, Lily had lost the battle with her own tears. Looking at James, her leaking eyes asked the question that her mouth temporarily couldn't.

"He asked me a few days ago. I remember my mother having a pendant which would be perfect. There was a set of two, the sapphire and the emerald." Lily gasped at the realisation and her hand moved unbidden to her chest where, nesting under her blouse, was the sibling pendant to the one now worn by the young witch. James smiled at her. "He might not realise how much yet, but he's gone on her. Any decisions we make after this farce is over are going to have to factor her in now. I can't imagine Harry would be pleased if they weren't"

Lily cancelled her spell and gave her husband a kiss before they made their own way to the Great Hall. It wouldn't do to be late after all.

Copying Neville's move from earlier, Harry offered Hermione an arm which she gladly took and they started their own walk into the undoubted chaos which would be the Great Hall.

As they walked they made light conversation. "Any interesting date match-ups you are aware of?" asked Harry

"Well, you know Neville is going with Luna, I think Ron Weasley is going with a 3rd year called Romilda Vane, I can't see that ending well, but if I'm being honest, I've not really paid much attention. I've just been glad to be able to say that I have the best date of the night." The last part was almost a whisper, but Harry felt his heart rate increase as a result.

Before he was able to respond they found themselves at the doors to the Great Hall, along with the Hogwarts and Beauxbaton champions and their dates. Cedric Diggory was accompanied by Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw whilst another 'Claw, Roger Davies was standing beside Fleur Delacour with a somewhat glazed expression. Of the Durmstrang champion there was no sign.

Standing at the door was Professor McGonagall who nodded at Harry and Hermione as they drew up.

"Good evening all. I've sent Professor Flitwick to see if he can locate our errant champion. In the interim, I'll confirm that when the doors enter, you will be announced with your date and will make your way to the dance floor. The first formal dance will then be held which will open the evening After that the Headmaster has some words to say before the dinner starts. Our original plan was that Mr Potter would enter last as he is not technically representing a school, however… " She was cut off by a silver cloud which hovered before her, before the disembodied voice of Filius Flitwick was heard. "Found them, they will be with you in about 2 minutes, so if you start the entrances, they will be there in time"

The stern deputy headmistress could not hide the look of annoyance and frustration on her face. "Right. Well in that case, Mr Diggory, you will go first, Mademoiselle Delacour will enter second, Mr Potter will enter third and when he gets here…" the tone of McGonagall's voice could have cut ice at this point "..."Mr Krum will enter last."

WIth a wave of her wand, the doors to the Great Hall opened. The noise from inside leaked out before it started to tail off once the sound of the fanfare started up.

An enchanted voice cut through the remaining noise.

"Ladies and Gentlemen… The Champions!" A brief but loud round of applause greeted this before fading back into silence.

"Welcoming our first champion, representing Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, Mademoiselle Fleur Delacour, accompanied by, from Ravenclaw house, Mr Roger Davies." Another cheer greeted the first two. Fleur, head held high, glided into the great hall with effortless grace and style. Roger tried to to the same, but was clearly still being affected by the beautiful part veela. Hermione took a second to glance at her date. She half expected his eyes to be following Fleur as was the case with most of the men. She found herself being pleasantly surprised to see that instead he was scanning what he could see of the inside of the Hall.

"Our second champion, representing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, fro mHufflepuff house Mr Cedric Diggory, accompanied by, from Ravenclaw house, Miss Cho Chang."

The cheer was significantly louder as Hogwarts made it clear that they were supporting their own, something not missed on Harry. Turning to Hermione he gave a half smile. "We are going to struggle to follow that, aren't we!"

Hermione just tilted her head. "We aren't going to get that kind of reception, but I genuinely don't care. I'll be cheering for you, you'll be cheering for me, that's all that matters."

The same enchanted voice precluded a response.

"Our third champion, and our wildcard." It was clear the owner of the voice didn't have a script for Harry. "Please welcome The Boy Who Lived, Mr Harry Potter, accompanied by, from Gryffindor House, Miss Hermione Granger"

True to his prediction, the cheer for Harry and Hermione was much reduced from the previous one which welcomed Cedric and Cho, but was louder than they thought it would be. Harry had a fleeting thought that the two would enter the Great Hall to the sound of crickets, so he was, not that he would admit it, secretly quite pleased.

As the two made their way to their assigned spot on the dance floor, Harry looked around, casting an eye toward the top table which held the Headmaster, the other senior staff and a hideous looking woman in a pink dress and pink robes. Beside he was an excitable looking younger woman with a shock of pink hair. Harry smiled. He didn't know the pink horror, but he recognised the Black in the young woman, presuming that she must be Nymphadora Tonks. He was snapped out of his musing as the enchanted voice made its final proclamation.

"Our fourth and final champion, representing Durmstrang Institute of Magic, Mr Viktor Krum, accompanied by, from Gryffindor house, Miss Ginevra Weasley…"