Chapter 7 - In The Boys' Dorms
Harry was again shaken awake by a familiar voice from his right.
"Harry," said the voice softly. "Harry wake up. Come on Harry, wake up."
"Huh?" said Harry, opening his eyes slowly and then seeing Hermione. It was at the crack of dawn when she woke him up. As happy as Harry was for seeing Hermione, he didn't want to be woken up.
"Harry, did you…did you carry me over to the couch and blanket me? And did you stay with me the whole time?" she asked soothingly.
Harry replayed the entire scene over in his head and he couldn't help himself from smiling.
"Yeah Hermione, I did. Why?" he said, but his smile slowly disappeared. "Oh look Hermione! If you're mad, I didn't mean to invade your privacy. I-"
She just smiled at him.
"No Harry. It's ok" she said. "But that was really sweet of you."
Harry breathed again, feeling relieved.
"No problem Hermione," he said. "It's still very early. You should go to your real bed and sleep a little more."
"I will Harry," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks again."
And with that, she stood up and walked to the girls' dorms. When Harry heard the door shut, he got up and went to the boys' dorm and plopped right on his bed still feeling very tired. He feel asleep right away.
***
What seemed like an eternity to Harry, with the stress of school, finding his feeling for Hermione, talking to Ron about asking Hermione to the Yule Ball, finally being alone with her, getting the courage to do it, actually asking Hermione to it, took the initiative to blanket Hermione, and having something nice to wear, the Yule Ball was finally here.
"You excited Harry?" Ron asked, getting into his dark orange dress robes.
"Are you kidding!?" Harry exclaimed, also dressing into his midnight blue dress robes, "I'm better off facing a dragon, swimming with ugly mermaids, who don't even look like mermaids, or going through a maze with deadly creatures in it!"
"That nervous huh?" Ron answered, sitting on his bed. "Don't tell me you're going to back out now!"
"No way! There is no way! I worked too hard for this!" Harry shouted, fixing his robes on straight, "I'm going to have a great time tonight with Hermione. I'm sure she's up in her room right now trying to look beautiful…" his voice trailed off, "…she doesn't have to try, she's beautiful already. With her hair and her dark brown eyes, that I can just get lost in. And her beautiful smile, makes anyone who receives it feel so special. You have no idea. I am so in lo…" Harry tried to finish, but found that he couldn't because he saw Ron looking at him, with an astonished look on his face.
"You have got to relax Harry," he said, "I've never seen you act or talk like that before."
Harry continued to look at Ron. The expression on his face going from astonished to a you-didn't-tell-me-yet look. "Harry, you still haven't answered my question yet."
"What question?" Harry asked.
"Remember? When you stormed out of the Great Hall after Hermione asked you if something was wrong. I went looking for you and found you in the common room."
"Oh that," Harry said. He was amazed that Ron had remembered it, even though it was long ago. "What was the question again?" he asked stupidly.
"Do you like Hermione?"
"Of course I do, Ron. Why wouldn't I like her? She's my best friend" Harry answered stupidly.
"You know what I meant Harry! Let me rephrase it for you: Are you in love with Hermione?"
"I…I…" Harry started. Even thought Ron was his best friend, it was difficult to answer him, "I…I…"
"Come on mate. Say it. You'll feel better afterward."
Harry gave a deep sigh. "Ok, I can see there's no fooling you Ron. Yes. I am in love with Hermione. Wow! That felt good!"
"See!" Ron said, "That's all I wanted to hear."
"What about you, Ron? Didn't you like her at one point in your life."
"Well, there may have been one time in somewhere in there where I may have liked her. I may even have shown it through all the insults and arguments. But quite frankly, I can't stand her! Her position stands well as my friend, period."
Harry nodded and asked, "You think she likes me too?"
"You're asking the wrong person, Harry. That question is for Hermione and Hermione only. Blimey! Look at the time Harry! We better get going. Don't want to be late for our dates do we?"
"No way!" exclaimed Harry.
And with that, they walked out of the boys' dormitories and hurried to the common room.