They entered into a huge room that had small booths surrounding the outside and a huge dance floor in the middle. Multi-colored lights were embedded in the floor that pulsated with the music. The DJ's booth was up in the front of the room and in the back was a bar. The dance floor was jam packed with people moving to the beat of the music.
Harry scanned the room trying to find Ron. He figured his flaming red hair wouldn't be hard to miss, but in this crowd he was very well hidden. There were dozens of different hair colors bobbing in and out of the mass of dancing people.
"Come on Harry, let's go dance." Hermione looked at him with puppy eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want to go find Ron and Alex first? Maybe they're waiting for us." Harry responded, trying to avoid getting sucked into her big brown eyes.
"We won't have a chance to find them unless we get out on the dance floor. I'm sure they're already out there." Without giving him another chance to protest, she latched onto his arm and dragged him out to the dance floor.
She weaved in and out of the people trying to find them a spot somewhere within the crowd. Finally as she turned to face him, the music suddenly stopped. A collective "aw" could be heard all the way through the club. The DJ announced that there would be a five minute break before the music would resume.
Harry looked at Hermione to see the disappointment on her face. He closed the gap between them rubbing his hands along her arms in a soothing manner. "Don't worry 'Mione. It's only five minutes, not the end of the world."
She looked up at him with what she hoped would be a look of agreement, but in reality she was trying to keep her composure. The gentle touch of his hands on her arms sent tingles throughout her entire body. She shuddered involuntarily as a result.
"You aren't cold are you 'Mione?" his voice deep and full of concern.
"Oh no, I'm fine. Just fine." She smiled again, backing out of his embrace a little. She didn't want him to realize her true feelings for him. They were just friends. Friends. "Oh hey, I think I saw Ron and Alex. Let's go."
She turned around and left without another word, no hand grab, no nothing and made her way through the dissipating crowd. Her actions managed to confuse Harry to no end. 'What did I do?' he thought.
He quickly followed the direction she had gone, and was relieved to find her talking with Ron and Alex at one of the small booths with a happy look on her face.
"Harry mate! There you are!" Ron spoke out of breath and red faced. His red hair was beginning to plaster itself on his forehead from sweat. It was obvious that he and Alex were dancing since the moment they had arrived. "This music is so bloody awesome. We really need to get out more back home."
Harry just nodded in response, keeping a subconscious eye on Hermione who was doing her best to keep her attention elsewhere.
Ron and Alex seemed to notice the newfound tension between the two of them, and if it were a blessing in disguise the music started once again on the dance floor. With a quick nod to each other, Ron stepped forward to Hermione holding his hand out to her. "Come on 'Mione lets go. I have got to see how well Ms. Know-It-All can handle herself on the dance floor."
Hermione broke into a smile, grabbed his hand, and walked off with Ron. Harry watched her disappear into the masses with Ron. "Oh come on Harry, let's go." Alex pulled him out to the dance floor before he could say anything because she really didn't want him to sit there and sulk.
They finally made their way into the mob after being pushed, shoved, and bounced into more times than Harry could count. Alex instantly started dancing to the music, swaying her hips to the rapid beat. Harry started too, feeling incredibly inept and uncomfortable. It was obvious that she knew what she was doing. He tried to mimic one of the guys behind her to mild avail. He was able to keep up with the beat so he didn't look like a total fool, while he continued to search around for Hermione without success. He thought he had seen her red top out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned for a closer look he felt someone right up on him. He almost shoved Alex out of the way until her realized it was her. The song had taken a slower saucier turn so she took the opportunity to get up close and personal.
"You dance absolutely fabulous Harry." She twisted around, allowing her skirt to flare up a bit.
"Uh…thanks." He replied monotonously. He felt rather uncomfortable being this close to her, so he tried to back away subtly.
"Harry, what's on your mind? You're dancing here, but it looks like you're off somewhere else." She turned ran her hands all over his arms and chest trying to get a rise out of him.
"Uh…nothing really. I'm actually having a really great time." In all honesty he would rather have been pressed up against Hermione than Alex.
She smirked at his response. She could see the way his eyes darted around the place searching. "What is it Harry? Am I not pretty enough?" She instantly morphed into this sad and distraught girl. Internally she was fighting to keep the smirk off her face. When it took him a second to respond she turned her head to the ground.
Harry broke out of his search to look at the sad girl in front of her. What was he to say? "No, Alex, really you're a beautiful girl. It's just…well it's just…"
Alex snapped her head up, a Cheshire grin spread across her face. "I knew it!"
Harry looked back at her with a look of confusion on his face. "Know what?"
"That you're in love with Herms!" She said it in a know-it-all tone to rival Hermione's.
He coughed suddenly and loudly in shock of her analysis. "What?" His eyes bulged out at her.
She smiled. "Come on Harry, you've got to be awfully thick not to pick up on it."
His face was now fully flushed in a red heat. He was glad for the darkness and flashing lights so Alex couldn't see it.
*~*~*
Ron spun around wildly with his hands swinging every direction. He was jumping around to the beat of the music much to the chagrin of Hermione. She moved along to the music but was more apt on staying a good two arm lengths away so as not to get beaten to death by the violent swings of his arms. It was entertaining to say the least, not to mention it looked like he was having a blast.
The song faded out and turned into a new one. Ron stopped and rested his arms on his knees to catch his breath. He looked up at Hermione with a huge grin on his face. He beckoned her closer with his finger, she reluctantly did, and not quite sure she knew what she was getting herself into.
He started dancing this time, not nearly as wildly. He seemed to take into account that she was within arms reach. "So how has life been? You know since I really haven't been able to talk to you a whole lot yet."
"Not too bad really. I've missed home a whole lot. It was really hard at first, but Alex made things a whole lot easier in the end." She smiled at him. "Now what about you? What is this I hear about Luna Lovegood?"
Ron's eyes lit up at the mention of Luna. "She's just, well, I've got a date with her tomorrow." He felt his face burn as he said this.
"That's so great Ron!" She smiled. "I'm really happy for you."
"Now what about you Miss Granger? Any guy in your life right now?" Ron subtly tried to pry her true feelings out of her.
"Oh no, not me. I'm bound to be a spinster for the rest of my life at the rate I'm going. Did you know I haven't been on a single date since I've moved?"
"Really? No one." Ron deadpanned.
"Really. I'm just waiting until my knight in shining armor comes and rescues me. Now, I know that isn't the case with you. I can't believe you dated Padma and Parvati at the same time!" She smacked him playfully on the arm and smirked at the smug look on his face. "I mean I knew those two were bit thick, but honestly. Padma is in Ravenclaw for Merlin's sake." She couldn't hold her composure and broke into a laugh.
*~*~*
The gang had been dancing none stop for a total of five songs and finally all decided to take a break for a bit to cool off. They sat down in the booth they had previously been sitting in.
"Oh great." Hermione muttered under her breath and her head tilted to the side to show Alex who was coming in their direction.
Harry, who had been watching Hermione, noticed the little head nod and looked in that general direction. Coming their way was a blond guy that was only a few inches taller then Hermione. He was wearing a baseball cap turned a bit to the side which let his hair creep out of the sides and he had on a very baggy pair of shorts that might has well have been pants because they were sagging way too low.
"Hey Hermione." This new boy said with a delighted look on his face.
"Aaron." Hermione said with an obviously annoyed tone.
Aaron looked around the group and glared at both Harry and Ron. "Who are your new friends?"
"We are 'Mione's best friends. Who are you?" Harry forced his words out venomously, ready to pounce on this Aaron fellow.
Ron noticed the glare on Harry's face and the uncomfortable look Hermione was giving. "I'm Ron and this is Harry. Hey Alex, you want to head back out to the dance floor?"
"Yeah sure, Hermione do you want to join us?" Everyone started to get up from the booth.
Aaron cut her off, "Actually no, she owes me a dance." He grabbed her by the arm to pull her to the dance floor but Harry cut in, pulling Aaron's hand off Hermione's arm.
"Actually, she doesn't have to do anything. And I suggest you take your hands off her." Harry snarled, the seriousness in his tone increased the tension that was already thick in the air.
"Harry, its fine. It's one dance and then I'll be back." Hermione place her hand on his arm to calm him down. She looked deep into his eyes, trying to tell him that it would be okay.
Harry sighed dejectedly and crossed his arms as he watched Aaron drag Hermione out onto the dance floor with nothing but a smug look plastered across his face. "Who is that bloody git? I might have just met him, but I don't like him" Harry said glaring out at the floor.
"That 'git' is a guy that has been completely enamored with our Hermione since her very first day at Gullveig. I wouldn't say he has ever been a problem, but he borders on psychopath. But don't worry too much, Hermione has her eyes set on someone else." Alex shared a big grin with Ron.
Harry was still staring out at the dance floor when Ron said "Harry…why don't you go out there and start dancing with her? You know you want to and I'm sure you don't want to be sitting here all by your lonesome cause Alex and I are heading out into the craziness."
"No, I wouldn't want to interrupt. I'll stay over here. The sooner he gets his little dance over with, the sooner he can leave."
"Alright mate." Ron shrugged as he and Alex made their way into the sea of people, making sure to deliberately go through Hermione and Aaron to give her a free second from the boy dancing wildly in front of her. She glanced over at Harry who looked deep in thought but quickly lost sight of him as people moved into her field of vision.
"So, Hermione I've missed you." Aaron had sidled up really close to her now, closing the gap that Alex and Ron had created.
Hermione tried to back away, feeling incredibly uncomfortable this close to him. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to go far because Aaron had wrapped his arms around her waist as he was grinding her up against him to the beat of the music. His hands drifted a little farther south.
"Aaron! Get off me! I said a dance not, not, not this!" She huffed getting more repulsed every second.
She recoiled away, trying to move from his grasp but he didn't seem to budge. Any attempt she made was futile.
"Hermione, baby, don't fight it. You know what we have between us is special." He crooned into her ear.
She felt his dry chapped lips against her cheek, and she tried again to push away. This time he was much sterner. He removed one of his arms from her waist, forcing her to face him. He went to kiss her lips.
She panicked and struggled not having anywhere to go. He had a firm grip on her. She did the only thing she could do which was stomp forcefully onto his foot and give him a swift slap on the cheek. She was sure by the way her hand was tingling that that was surely going to leave a mark.
"Why you little bitch! Aaron roared, his eyes blazing with anger.
He lunged at her, apparently going to give her a dose of her on medicine when he was completely blindsided from a fist that came out of nowhere, knocking him to the ground. Hermione looked up wide-eyed at her rescuer as he passed her by, making headway towards Aaron.
Harry knelt down and pinned Aaron to the ground with his foot and leaned over the top of him. "Do you think that's funny picking on a girl? You aren't even worth a fraction of Hermione's time. If you EVER touch her again, it WILL not be pleasant."
The threat in Harry's voice accompanied with the ferocity in Harry's eyes was enough to make Aaron jump up and leave the club. There was brief applause that broke Harry out of his moment. He looked around and saw that indeed a crowd had formed to watch the spectacle. Surprised he hadn't been kicked out, he realized instantly that he needed to check on Hermione. He turned to see that Alex and Ron had heard the commotion and were able to lead Hermione out of the crowd and over to the booth. He rushed over to find Hermione in Alex's arms an emotional wreck. It appeared she was more shaken up than he imagined. He was just glad he was there in time. He didn't want to think about what would have happened.
"There you are mate. Bloody good shot if you ask me. I would have helped but by the time I got there you seemed to have taken care of the situation." Ron grinned, clapping his friend on the back. "How's that for a rescue 'Mione?"
Harry ignored Ron's comment and knelt down to by where Hermione was sitting gently touching her arm. She broke from Alex's embraced, turned to him with her bloodshot eyes and faintly blushing cheeks. "Oh 'Mione…" was all Harry could whisper before she engulfed him with another one of her hugs. Alex and Ron took this opportunity to sneak out to the dance floor behind them.
Harry wrapped his arms around her tightly, protectively. "Are you okay 'Mione? Did he hurt you? Because if he did…"
She cut him off by putting her one of her delicate fingers to his lips. "Thank you," she whispered.
Harry found himself getting lost in her brown eyes. He could feel his heart beating in his chest, as if it were about to explode. He felt himself getting nearer and nearer to her lips.
Harry felt a hard poke on his shoulder and he jumped back letting Hermione out of his embrace. He turned to see Ron staring back. "What is it mate?" His tone was forced and annoyed.
Ron's grin at the scene unfolding before him couldn't be hidden. "What is it Ron?" Hermione repeated, the blush evident on her face.
Ron seemed to remember why he came over and his demeanor changed to that of a more somber one. "I can't find Alex. We were dancing over there, and then I did this bloody brilliant dance move, turned around and then she wasn't there anymore. I've looked around everywhere but I can't seem to find her."
"She is probably just in the bathroom." Hermione chimed in. "See there she is."
Alex was walking around very quickly, almost at a jog. She didn't look like she was in a very happy mood, but she was clearly looking for them.
"Ron what did you do? Alex is normally always so happy when we are at the club. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen her so upset."
"I didn't do anything. Like I said before, she just suddenly wasn't there on the dance floor." Ron said in his own defense. "I'll go try to smooth things over if you want."
"How about we all go, I think everyone knows how much of a great speaker you are." Harry voiced his opinion resulting in a giggle from Hermione.
Harry led the way with Hermione and Ron in tow. They caught up with her almost instantly.
"Is something wrong Al?" Hermione broke the silence. "Ron said you guys were having a pretty good time then suddenly you were gone."
Alex turned around quickly, a look of panic on her face. "We need to get to your house…NOW!"
**A/N: The dreaded cliffie. We apologize if you really aren't a big fan of them because we usually aren't either but they tend to fit these chapters really well. Thanks so much for all of your continued support. It's so true when they say that reviews help keep the writer(s) going. We've got our next chapter ready for update next week. It's now surpassed chapter 6 as our favorite chapter. We're excited to bring it to you. As always please take a couple seconds to let us know what you think in that handy little box down below.**