February 14th, St. Valentine's Day
The Great Hall
Hermione took a deep breath and put on her mask as she ran the spells through her mind, hoping that she would not forget them later. She checked her robes for any creases, and ran a hand down her usually bushy hair, tamed by copious amounts of Sleekeazy's Hair Potion, of course.
Her eyes scanned the shimmering rainbow of a crowd, until she spotted a bottle green along with the dark hair and green eyes that went with it. She took out her wand, pointed it at her throat and whispered "Tonorous Fivus". She cleared her throat, and was pleased to note that the spell had worked perfectly.
She took another deep breath and started to walk towards the green-eyed boy wearing the green robes to go with them.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice was now nowhere similar to her own, thanks to the handy spell she found in a book, but it was still pleasant enough. "I'm your Angel... Ready to dance?" She smiled.
Harry looked at the masked girl in the peach-coloured robes, and could not do anything but nod. By Merlin, she's... beautiful. Harry breathed. He could not see her face, but he was sure that she was beautiful anyhow.
The music started playing, but Harry made no movement, still wrapped up in his thoughts. Hermione laughed and took Harry's hand, guiding him to the dance floor.
"Er... Sorry about just now... I guess I was just day-dreaming somehow..." Harry whispered to his Angel as they danced.
Harry could see the twinkle of amusement as his Angel leaned in and smiled. "It's okay... Let's just enjoy the dance now."
Harry nodded and let himself dance, his legs surprisingly knowing how to do so. Each time they twirled around, Harry would catch a whiff of pumpkin pie and this fresh and somewhat familiar scent that Harry could not quite place. It took him some time to realise that the scent came from his Angel, and he suddenly became aware of how pleasantly warm her hand on his shoulder and the hand he was holding felt.
His feet disobeyed him for a moment, and he tripped, falling face forward... and his lips briefly brushed the right cheek of his Angel.
His face reddened immediately, and he started to apologise.
His Angel put a finger to his lips, smiling once again. "It's all right... Everyone makes mistakes sometime or another."
Harry nodded again, not noticing the shade of pink behind the mask of his Angel.
"Let's continue dancing... Oh, the music's stopped..." Harry's Angel said with what seemed like a slight hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Well, I had fun. I'll see you around, I mean, I'll chat with you again." His Angel smiled and turned to leave, but paused for a moment before kissing Harry on the cheek.
Harry's face turned red again as he managed to say "I had fun too..." in a choked sort of voice. By Merlin, I kissed her! And she kissed me! It was only on the cheek, but still...
"Hey Harry! How was the dance with your Angel?" Ron appeared to be very excited. "My Angel was great! I think..." Ron blushed slightly. "I think I like her..."
Harry's face turned pink for a moment as he thought about his own Angel, then he laughed. "That's great, isn't it, Ron? After all, Dumbledore organised this so we could get to know each other better."
"Ah... you're right, Harry. Are you going to get ready for your next dance?" Ron's face immediately changed. "I've got a male Mortal, so I'm obviously not dancing... I'm just going up to say hi..."
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about it..." Harry fumbled around for his mask, and put it on. "Wish me luck! Hopefully, I won't step on my partner's toes, literally."
Ron laughed weakly as he watched Harry leave, steeling himself to meet Gregory Goyle later...
Draco watched his Angel melt into the crowd, and laughed softly. "I guess she's not too bad after all... She may not be a Slytherin, but she's certainly much better than Pansy Parkinson or Milicent Bulstrode..."
"Maybe I should give her another chance..."
Harry checked his robes again as he spotted Cho in the crowd. He walked towards her, clearing his throat as he went.
"Er... Cho? I'm your Angel... May I have this dance?" Harry managed to say without stumbling over his words.
Cho smiled. "Why, of course."
They started dancing to the music, but Harry felt strangely awkward. Cho was pretty, but he could not help thinking that his Angel looked better somehow... Cho did not seem as pretty as he thought she was. His previous 'affection' for her now seemed like some childish infatuation.
He did not feel as comfortable as when he was dancing with his Angel, and he could barely keep from stepping on Cho's toes and tripping over himself.
Somehow, Harry just could not wait for this dance to be over...
Harry could not help heaving a sigh of relief upon seeing Cho vanishing into the crowd.
He heard a soft chuckle behind him. "Why, didn't you enjoy dancing with your Mortal, Harry?" he heard Hermione's voice from behind him.
He turned around, and found himself staring at Hermione, dressed in the same periwinkle-like robes she wore at the Yule Ball last year. Her hairstyle was less elaborate though - she had just let her hair down in a loose sheet - but she looked great all the same.
Hermione looked quizzically at Harry, a tiny grin on her lips. "What...?"
"Ah... you... look very nice Hermione." Harry managed to say.
Hermione's grin widened slightly as a light shade of scarlet settled upon her cheeks. "Of course. Now let's go and dance."
Harry allowed himself to be led to the dance floor, telling himself not to think about how good Hermione looked. You're her best friend, for goodness' sake. Stop thinking about her like -that-.
Hermione looked at Harry's face and grinned mischievously, her hand reaching out to tickle Harry at his side. "C'mon, relax Harry... It's only a dance... Let's just enjoy it, all right?"
Harry nodded, and they started to dance as the music played, this time with the melodious lilt of someone singing.
"You don't run with the crowd
You go your own way
You don't play after dark
You light up my day
Got your own kind of style
That sets you apart
Baby that's why you capture my heart
I know sometimes you feel
Like you don't fit in
And this world doesn't know
What you have within
When I look at you
I see something rare
A rose that can grow anywhere
And there is no one I know that can compare
What makes you different makes you beautiful
What's there inside you shining still to me
In your eyes I see
All the love I'll ever need
What makes you different makes you beautiful to me
You got something so real
You touch me so deep
See material things
Don't matter to me
So come as you are
You got nothing to prove
You want me with all that you do
And I want to take this chance to say to you
What makes you different makes you beautiful
What's there inside you shining still to me
In your eyes I see
All the love I'll ever need
What makes you different makes you beautiful to me
You don't know how you touch my life
Always so many ways I just can't describe
You taught me what love is supposed to be
You saw the little things that make you beautiful to me
What makes you different makes you beautiful
What's there inside you shining still to me
In your eyes I see
All the love I'll ever need
What makes you different makes you beautiful to me"
Throughout the whole song Harry could not help looking at Hermione and thinking about her - how they had become friends in the first year, her getting Petrified after figuring out that it was a Basilisk, how they saved Sirius and Buckbeak, how she had stood by him during the Triwizard Tournament...
He looked into her eyes, and a bolt of realisation hit him there and then. He knew, he finally knew.
His heart started to beat faster, and he became intensely aware of how close they were to each other, how Hermione smelt of pumpkin pie and something else, and that...
Hermione had put her head on his shoulder.
As the song ended, everyone started clapping but Hermione simply lifted her head and looked at Harry.
Harry's eyes were still on Hermione's as their faces neared, until their lips touched.
Harry had no idea how kissing should be, but his lips seemed to know. He tasted pumpkin pie and the rest of the world seemed to melt away as he drew her into a hug and their lips finally parted.
"Harry?" Hermione looked at Harry again, an unreadable expression in her eyes this time.
"Hermione... I think I've fallen in love with you."
Author's note: So... what do you think? I'm no expert at writing romantic scenes, so please forgive my attempt. And of course, do forgive my tardiness (yes, four months...) in writing this chapter. This chapter has been pretty nice to write, except that I wanted to get the dance with Cho over and done with so I could get to Harry dancing with Hermione =)
The song isn't mine, it's the Backstreet Boys' "What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)", a song which I feel is very, very appropriate for Hermione.
Well... I have no idea when I will update again, so enjoy this chapter. Until then, see ya!