Chapter 2
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, everybody! This story is based off of my crazy life this past week, and is dedicated to the one who has taught me the most in our absence from each other, and to my PawPaw, who is with Jesus now, and, I'm sure, is talking everyone in heaven's ear off.
When Transfiguration was over, the seventh year Gryffindors burst out of the classroom, talking a mile a minute. The boys were grumbling about dressing up, the girls were talking excitedly, and Hermione…Harry looked at Hermione curiously, wondering what was going on in her mind. She was unnaturally quiet, but a huge smile was across her face, her eyes glassy.
"Uh, Hermione, are you all right?"
"Yes. Perfectly fine."
Lavender and Parvati swooped in beside Ron and Harry, whom Hermione was walking between. They began talking loudly and quickly, like a pair of birds trapped in a dark cage that has suddenly been revealed to the light.
"Ooh, aren't you excited about the dance?"
"This is the biggest social event…in Hogwarts history!"
"So what did that make the Yule Ball?" Ron asked bitterly, still smarting from that experience.
"Oh, that was a pretty big deal and all," Parvati explained, "But this is our last dance, all together! I mean, this is the last big event before we go our separate ways! Our last scene at Hogwarts."
Both boys looked at Hermione, expecting her to scoff at the girls' silliness. To their surprise, she burst into a big smile.
"What are you two wearing to the dance? I'm going to see if my Granny Granger can pick me out a dress, she has an amazing sense of style…"
Ron's mouth fell open, goggling at Hermione in surprise.
She waved them off and continued walking with Parvati and Lavender, listening to them talk about the frills and curls they would be flouncing two weeks from the date.
Ron looked at Harry, stunned and needing an explanation. Harry simply shrugged and smiled. "Hermione is a girl, Ron. It's nice to see her acting like one in the light of `the biggest social event in Hogwarts history.'"
Ron shrugged and went on with his life, but Harry couldn't stop wondering why Hermione was so excited. The way her face lit up clouded his mind, forcing his thoughts to only be towards her.
He shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind and walked beside Ron to the Great Hall, glad that nobody could see what he was thinking about.
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Later that night, the Gryffindors crowded around the common room fire, attempting to warm themselves in the beginning snow and talking merrily. Everyone, from the lowliest first year to the seventh year students, was talking about the dance. Harry, Hermione, and Ron, however, were seated near the back corner of the common room, watching the storm outside.
"Don't know what all the fuss about this dance is, really. Seems like a load of rubbish to me."
Hermione sighed and began to rummage around in her bag. "Ron, it's not rubbish! It will be fun, you'll see! You are going to go, aren't you?"
He shrugged. "I suppose so."
Hermione smiled and looked at Harry. He nodded enthusiastically. "Of course I'm going. It will be interesting to see everyone all dressed up."
Hermione pulled out her wizard's chess set and clapped her hands as a finality. "Great! Harry, do you want to play me?"
She noticed a smirk on Ron's face before he grabbed a piece of parchment and began writing, pretending not to hear his friends' chatter. Hermione caught his eye in a curious glance, a pulse of fear rushing through her, wondering if he knew her secret.
Soon, it didn't matter. She was having a great time with Harry, laughing and just being stupid together. Harry was hamming it up for all he was worth, and playing chess had never been so much fun.
"NOOOOOO You got me!" He fell out of his chair dramatically as Hermione captured his king, ending the game. She gave a burst of maniacal laughter, causing them both to go limp with hysterics for a few moments. When a silence occurred, Harry got up from the floor, dusted himself off, and looked at Hermione happily.
"Good game, Hermione, you beat me."
"Everyone can beat you…"
He playfully tapped her nose. "That was uncalled for, Miss Granger."
She mock punched him in the arm and he chuckled softly.
"I think I'm going to head on up to bed, seeing as how everyone's gone." Hermione realized for the first time that the common room was completely empty except for the three of them. She nodded with a smile.
"Sweet dreams, Harry."
"Sweet dreams, Hermione." He stepped forward and gave her a quick kiss on her forehead before leaving the room. Hermione seemed frozen, her face in a smile, blushing. She came out of her reverie at the roar of Ron's laughter.
"What is so funny?" She felt her anger more than her embarrassment. Ron shook his head at her, smirking.
"Just look at you."
"What?"
"You're still smiling."
She forced the corners of her mouth down. "Am not."
He sighed and rolled his eyes. "It's okay. I know."
"What?"
"I know you've been in love with Harry for a long time." He said it simply, almost as though discussing the weather.
She opened her mouth to protest, but realized it would be in vain. Flopping down beside him on the couch, she grabbed a pillow in her arms and hugged in fiercely. "So…what's it to you?"
"You should ask him to go to the dance."
She gave a deep sigh and looked away. "I can't."
"Yes, you can."
"No, I really can't."
"Do it."
"Why? You're not going with anyone."
Ron blushed, his face turning the same shade as his hair. "Actually, I'm going with Luna Lovegood." Hermione gave him a look of disbelief. "Hey, she's really pretty, and she isn't as weird as she used to be." She nodded, realizing he had a point, and sighed in defeat.
"I just don't know how I'm going to ask him."
"Just ask him straight out. Do it…do it tomorrow, after Transfiguration, before anyone else asks him and you lose your chance."
Suddenly, she got the feeling of being very small. "Are you sure about this, Ron?"
He smiled and gave her a little half-hug. "Of course I'm sure. You're like a sister to me, and it's pretty obvious you care for him. I mean, even I figured it out."
They laughed, remembering when Hermione had accused him of having no more emotion than a teaspoon.
"Well, if you're sure…"
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Hermione hardly slept that night. Her mind was so full of visions of dancing with Harry, held in his arms at last, that there was no room for sleep.
Finally falling asleep a few hours before dawn, her dreams were fitful and terrifying. She had just asked Harry to the dance, but he just laughed at her, before telling her he was going to the dance with the sorting hat, which was wearing the black and scarlet dress Hermione had drawn.
But in the midst of this bizarre dream, another one interrupted. She was dancing in Harry's arms, but, oddly, tears were slowly falling from her eyes. He leaned in and kissed them away, and…
Hermione woke up and rolled over in her poster bed, very alert for one who had spent the night barely sleeping. She got ready quickly and went to the common room, sad to find that Harry had already gone to breakfast. Even though she had been so reluctant in deciding to ask him to the dance, now that she had made up her mind, there was no stopping her. She rushed into the Great Hall, hoping to find him alone, but to her dismay, people surrounded him.
"Hey, Hermione, come over here!" He reached out through the crowd to grab her hand and pull her into the seat beside him. He grabbed a piece of toast, buttered it lightly, and handed it to her. "You're rather late this morning. Couldn't sleep?"
She shook her head, unable to speak with those green eyes on her. She took the toast and ate it quietly, somewhat disappointed that she couldn't ask him out right then. Of course, she could ask him in front of everyone, but that would be all the more embarrassing to have everyone watching as she crashed and burned.
Suddenly feeling ill, she was glad when it was time to go to class. In all of her classes, she tried to get a moment alone with Harry, only to get interrupted by random people. Finally, her chance came during Transfiguration.
Oddly, McGonagall wasn't in the classroom when class began. Instead, instructions were written on the blackboard, informing the students that they needed to get into pairs for the day's assignment. Hermione leaped at the chance to partner up with Harry, giving Ron a silent thank you as he reluctantly joined Neville.
As they waited for the arrival of their professor, Hermione knew in her heart that that moment in time was the perfect opportunity. The rest of the class was talking loudly, and no one would ever have to know what she and Harry discussed. She edged her chair a smidgen closer to Harry and gave a huge sigh. He turned to her and smiled, making her heart melt. She took a deep breath before taking the plunge.
"Hey, um, Harry, I was…wanting to talk to you about something."
He gave her a caring look with another gorgeous smile. "Fire away. You know I'm always here for you."
She nodded and pulled her lips together tightly, concealing her smile. "Okay. I know this is weird and all, but I was wondering-"
The classroom door was thrown open, making everyone jump. McGonagall walked in, her face grimmer than usual. She walked over to Harry and Hermione and placed her tiny, wrinkled hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"Miss Granger, dear, come with me. Leave your things." Hermione gave Harry a panicked glance, angry that her perfect chance had once again been taken. "Mr. Potter, please put Miss Granger's things back in her bag. Come, now, come on."
Hermione followed her out the door, feeling every eye in the room on her. McGonagall ushered her out into the hall and closed the door behind them. To Hermione's surprise, her muggle parents were standing in the Hogwarts' corridor, her mother with a tear-streaked face.
"W-What's going on? What are you doing here?"
Mrs. Granger came forward and grabbed Hermione in a tearful hug. "Sweetie, I'm afraid we have some bad news."
A/N: Please Review!!!
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