Chapter Nine - The Yule Ball and a unexpected visit

The weekend which happened to be Christmas Day and Boxing Day went by so fast, Hermione and Rabastan spent as much time alone together as possible but now it was Monday and time to go back to Hogwarts for the Yule Ball.

Rabastan apparated with Hermione to the train station in a empty alleyway where she placed her glamour charm on and then they walked into King's Cross station then through the wall of platform 9 3/4s he then kissed Hermione giving her case to the person who puts the suitcases/luggage onto the train and she boarded the train waving to Rabastan as the train moved she then went to find Harry and Ron, she smiled opening the compartment and she sat down "Hi, how was your week leading up to Christmas, Christmas and Boxing Day weekend?"

Harry smiled "it was good thank you, how was yours? You mentioned your friend was coming over to visit at your grandparents and I'm assuming your parents were there"

Hermione smiled but fiddled with her ring she kept hidden for now "I had an amazing Christmas holidays thank you, it was good to see my grandparents, yes I saw my childhood friend who lives not far from my grandparents house"

Ron smiled "that's good that you had fun, do you uh have a date for the Yule ball?"

Hermione looked at him "well actually someone already asked me and I said yes, I won't tell you who as you'll only be angry even though I can go with whoever I want"

Suddenly Draco entered overhearing their conversation "Weasel leave Granger alone whoever she's going with has to be dumb enough to do so but she can go with whoever she wants to"

Hermione looked at him "Go away Malfoy but thank you for saying I can go with whoever I want to"

Draco looked back then left them, Harry looked confused but brushed it off as Malfoy being a nosey idiot.

When they arrived at Hogwarts everyone had the rest of the day to relax then tomorrow classes would begin again before the Yule ball at the end of the week on the Friday night.

The next day Hermione was summoned to the headmaster's office, she went up there and smiled as she saw Rabastan so without thinking she hugged him "how are you here?"

Rabastan smiled back hugging her then he too without thinking kissed her "officially I came to offer extra security but unofficially I wanted to spend time with my wife we are after all newlyweds"

Dumbledore smiled gently "So you're both married? That's wonderful news and I would love to hear more about it"

Hermione smiled and then said "Sir, I'd like this to remain a secret between us for now, Harry and Ron wouldn't understand"

Dumbledore smiled back "your secret is safe with me, this actually works out perfectly as I was going to ask you to show Mr Lestrange around Hogwarts so that he can help protect the students so that is what you will do and you'll stay with him in his quarters, don't worry your things will be moved there when I show you to your new quarters"

Hermione nodded "thank you sir and I will be happy to show Rabastan around Hogwarts"

Rabastan smiled "This is perfect thank you Professor Dumbledore"

Dumbledore nodded "there's no need, newlyweds deserve to be together even if one of the students are still in school, you'll also eat together in the great hall too though that could prove tricky as Mr Potter and Weasley might find out"

Hermione looked at Rabastan "actually sir we was going to tell them that you asked me to show Rabastan around and be with him at all times"

Dumbledore clapped his hands a little together "wonderful idea Miss Granger"

After the conversation Professor Dumbledore escorted them to the quarters in the castle where they would be staying then they made their way down for some dinner. Hermione lead Rabastan to the table and she saw Harry and Ron who looked confused as to who the young man she was with was, they sat across from them then Harry said "Hermione who is this guy?"

Hermione smiled "Harry, Ron I'd like you to meet Rabastan Lestrange he's an auror like Professor Mad-Eye Moody, Professor Dumbledore wants me to show him around the castle and to somewhat make sure his stay here is a pleasant one"

Ron looked at her "Bloody hell Hermione but why you? I mean I know you're clever and all but you're only a student"

Hermione rolled her eyes "Because Ron I trust Professor Dumbledore's judgment and so should you"

Harry nodded "we do trust him Hermione and we also trust you"

Everyone started to eat their food as it magically appeared and after dinner everyone left the great hall and up to their common rooms.

Four days of lessons and relaxation in between went by really fast for the students and their guests.

Hermione enjoyed spending time with Rabastan when she didn't have classes to go to and she was getting ready in the long pink dress with a little bit of frill to it when Rabastan wrapped his hands around her and kissed her "I'm sorry I cannot go with you to the ball but I am glad you're going with Viktor instead of your annoying redhead friend"

Hermione smiled "I wish I could go with you too but I don't want them to get suspicious besides Viktor's Igor's prized student and he plays for the Bulgarian quidditch team, this is more of a business arrangement than it is a love interest thing besides, I'm married to you and I love you so much"

Rabastan nodded whilst fixing his tux "you look beautiful even though you're wearing a glamour charm"

Hermione smiled "Thank you, Narcissa helped me choose it as green would've been a bit suspicious to wear even though it's also a colour of Christmas it's a Slytherin colour and I badly want to change it to green with colovera but I can't so i'm stuck with pink"

Rabastan kissed her "I know you do but we have to keep up the pretence that we have nothing romantically going on between us so for that reason you'll have to go downstairs on your own okay?"

Hermione nodded her head "I know, it just sucks but at least I won't look as ridiculous as Ron will he's wearing robes his aunt sent him"

Rabastan smiled whilst laughing a little bit "I know and that will be priceless to see"

The couple parted ways and Hermione went downstairs where Harry looked at her gobsmacked as he'd never seen her look more like a girl than she did tonight but he was mainly staring at his crush Cho Chang as she shook hands with Fleur Delacour.

Hermione smiled as Viktor bowed to her and took her hand so she didn't trip over the final step of the stairs, this made Harry and Ron shocked.

Harry was approached by Minerva McGonagall "Ah there you are Potter are you and Miss Patel ready? It's a tradition that the three champions but in your case four are the first ones to dance. Surely I told you this?"

Harry looked shocked "um no you didn't, tell me Professor"

Professor McGonagall straightened his tie "oh well now you know and you look smart" She then turned to Ron "Oh Mr Weasley you and Miss Patel may proceed into the great hall"

Ron nodded his head and took his partner Padma into the great hall. She was a tall girl with a thin frame and long black hair with brown eyes and brown skin as she was British-Indian and one of two twins she was wearing an orange sari with a pink scarf thing across and silver earrings.

The four champions entered the hall with their partners and each side of them was everyone else who clapped as they entered and once all four took positions to begin the dance Pavati Patel like her twin sister had long black hair, brown eyes and was a tall girl with a thin frame she was wearing pink with a orange scarf sari with silver earrings. Pavati had to remind Harry to take hold of her waist then the music began as all four couples danced then one by one each couple joined them with the same dance. After the dance was over Professor Flitwick introduced on the stage to the Weird Sisters a rock and roll band who strangely wasn't made up of females but of males. As Hermione danced with Viktor, Harry and Ron sat down at one of the tables, Ron made remarks as he was jealous this made Padma and Parvati annoyed that they couldn't join in on the fun.

After the music to the opening music that the band played, a student from Durmstrang took Pavati's hand asking her to dance. After that happened Hermione walked over to them a little flustered from dancing "Hot isn't it? Viktor's gone to get drinks. Do you care to join us?"

Ron looked angry and jealous "No we wouldn't care to join you and Viktor he's a Durmstrang and the enemy"

Hermione looked at him angrily "the enemy? Who was it who wanted his autograph?! You were excited that he was here and now all of a sudden you hate him? The whole point of this tournament is unity and magical cooperstion, next time pluck up the courage and ask me and not as a last resort!"

Ron looked back at her "He's Harry's competition Hermione and he's all wrong for you"

Hermione gasped at this "Wrong for me?! You have no right to decide who's right and who's wrong for me Ronald Weasley! Now off to bed the both of you!!"

Harry nodded his head not sure what to say, taking Ron upstairs to the Gryffindor common room and into the boys dorm to go to bed.

This made Hermione cry and she sat on the stairs, Rabastan went to her "what's wrong??"

Hermione wiped her eyes "Just a argument with Ron about going to the dance with Viktor, they can't know about us yet even though we're happily married it also frustrates me that I cannot be my true self yet"

Rabastan kissed her "I know, how about we go upstairs and make love?"

Hermione smiled "I'd like that besides we can put a silencing charm up so we're not disturbed"

Rabastan smiled taking his wife upstairs to their chambers where he comforted his wife and made love to her.