A/N: It's finally time for the party! I am personally completely in love with this chapter, and I'm incredibly envious of Hermione. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Happy reading!!!
xo Allie
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Hermione Granger was bored. Her parents insisted on throwing her this extravagant coming out party, and as the guest of honor, she very well couldn't tear herself away. The majority of the school was dancing around to some pop song while Hermione sat at a table with her friends Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Ginny, the athletic girl in the group, was dressed as a figure skater. Imaginitive Luna's costume was that of a fairy. Lavender, the resident flirt, was dressed as a French maid, while her partner-in-crime Parvati was dressed as a nurse. Hermione was dressed as a flamenco dancer in a black and red dress, and her costume was what she liked best about the evening. She had taken flamenco lessons while on holiday in Spain, and had enjoyed them so much that she continued her lessons back home.
Hermione glanced at the clock. Damn, there's more than three hours left until this thing is done.
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning her head, she saw Draco Malfoy.
"Well Granger, may I have this dance?" he asked grabbing her head.
Hermione detested Draco, but she always treated him with civility. "I'm terribly sorry, Draco, but I need to go to the ladies'. I'm sure Ginny or Lavender would like to dance with you though." She gave him a small smile and excused herself.
Draco huffed before turning to Ginny. "Would you care to dance?"
Ginny placed her small hand in his, and smiled warmly. "I'd be delighted to."
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Hermione had lied to Draco. She didn't need to use the ladies', she just didn't want his hands on her. She ran to the cloakroom, certain that nobody would find her there. She sat in the corner, quietly singing to herself. After a couple of minutes, she heard a noise. She stopped singing and turned toward the door.
A young man dressed like Zorro stood at the door. "I'm terribly sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to intrude. It's just that I heard you singing, and I couldn't help but listen. You sing beautifully."
Hermione blushed. "Thank you. You're no intrusion."
"So why is the guest of honor hiding in the cloakroom at her own party?" the Zorro boy asked.
"I don't like being the center of attention. My parents insisted on throwing this party, and everyone in school wanted to come. I just wanted some time away from it all."
"I can understand that," he said. "Sometimes you just need a break from life." She nodded as he continued, "But you're the most popular girl in school, one would think you enjoyed attention."
"I really don't," she said. "I think the only reason I'm popular is because my parents have so much money."
"That could be a part of it, I guess. People around here seem to rely a bit too heavily on material things. But you're kind and beautiful as well."
"You-You think I'm beautiful?" she asked in disbelief.
"How could I not? You put this rose to shame," he said, handing her a rose.
"Well aren't you the charming one?" she asked, tucking the rose behind her ear.
"I'm not charming," he said, "just honest."
"So we go to school together then?"
"Yes. Don't we go to school with everyone here?"
"Good point," she said, "I'd almost forgotten about everyone else. So who are you?"
"That would surely take away my air of mystery, would it not?"
She laughed. "I suppose it would. So what can I call you then?"
"You can call me...James," he said.
"Alright, James. I'm Hermione," she said extending her hand to shake his.
She was surprised when instead of shaking her hand, he brought it to his lips. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Granger."
Hermione decided it was beginning to get a bit warm in the cloakroom. "Would you like to get some punch with me? I'm a bit warm."
"I'd be glad to accompany you," he said, gallantly offering her his arm, which she accepted.
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"Lav!" Parvati said, elbowing the blonde. "Look!"
Lavender followed Parvati's pointed finger to where Hermione was emerging from a hallway on the arm of a boy dressed like Zorro.
"Ooh!" Lavender squealed. "Did you see his butt?!"
"Grade-A top-choice meat!" Parvati giggled.
"She's been turning down guys all night long, I wonder why she's with him all of a sudden?"
"I don't know," Luna said, "but she looks quite happy."
The girls were startled when Dudley Dursley's large form stood in front of them. "Lavender, would you like to dance?"
"Oh, gee Dudley, I'd really like to, but-" she scanned the room for males in close proximity, "I already told Seamus I'd dance with him," she smiled sadly and yanked Seamus out onto the dance floor.
Dudley stood there flabbergasted before saying, "Parvati, would you like to-" but when he turned to Parvati and Luna, they were gone. He silently fumed and headed back toward the crowd.
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Hermione and James had just finished drinking their punch when the bandleader cleared his throat.
"Oh dear. I'm being presented now," she said, a small frown on her face.
"Don't worry Hermione, you'll do wonderfully. Just pretend there aren't so many people," James said, reaching for her hand and giving it a little squeeze.
"Thank you," she said, smiling. "You're rather kind yourself, you know." She made her way to the main staircase while James hurried down the side stairs.
"May I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen?" the bandleader asked. "May I present Miss Hermione Jane Granger!"
Hermione slowly made her way down the stairs, the spotlight on her. She smiled nervously, but focused her eyes on James, who grinned encouragingly.
Once Hermione had made her way to the middle of the floor, the bandleader spoke again. "And now Miss Granger is going to dance with the male of her choice." The band began to play "Unforgettable".
Hermione smiled and made her way through the crowd to James. "Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?" she asked, once more extending her hand. This time, she was less surprised when he kissed her hand.
"I would love to."
She led him to the dance floor, and wrapped an arm around his neck, while he snaked one of his around her waist.
"So," he asked, as other couples took to the floor, "why, out of all the blokes in this room, did you pick me?"
"They're all so fake. They all want to use me to gain status. You don't seem to care about that, and I've enjoyed the little time we've spent together. You're a breath of fresh air."
"That's probably the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me," he said. She noticed for the first time how startling his emerald eyes were.
"Really? Surely someone has said nice things to you before."
"Not really. I live with my aunt and uncle, and they don't seem to like me very much," James said.
"That's terrible! How could they not like you? I think you're perfectly lovely," she said sincerely.
"You're the first to think so," he said, "but for the record, I think you're perfectly lovely as well. Inside and out."
She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks as the song ended. She stood on tiptoe and kissed James on the cheek.
"Thank you for the lovely dance," she said, giving him a small curtsy.
"The pleasure was all mine," he said, bowing.
They both looked at each other and laughed. "Would you like to accompany me to the terrace?" she asked.
"I think I could do with a bit of fresh air."
"I'd be delighted to," he said, once more offering his arm.
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A large group of boys were clustered in the corner, watching as Hermione and the guy in the Zorro costume left the room.
"Who do you think he is?" Dean Thomas asked.
"I don't know," said Hermione's close friend Neville Longbottom, "but Hermione seems to be enamored of him."
"He looks a bit familiar. We should beat him up," Dudley said.
"That's the stupidest thing you've said all night," Draco sneered. "I've never seen him in my life. If she likes this guy as much as Longbottom thinks she does, she'll be right pissed with us if we hurt him."
"Draco has a point," said Blaise Zabini. "Let's just see what happens. In the meantime, there are plenty of girls who look like they could use a dance partner," he said, making a beeline for Parvati.
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"It's beautiful, don't you think?" Hermione asked, staring at the sky.
"It's amazing. The stars really put life into perspective for me."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, there are so many stars. It makes you feel so small, you know?" he asked. She nodded. "Well they make me realize that the world is so much bigger. I'm just one tiny part of this huge universe, and it's good to remember that. The stars are rather humbling. They remind me that not everything revolves around me, and there are so many more important things in the world that need to be helped. It's good for me, because I stop feeling so sorry for myself."
Hermione suddenly flung herself into his arms. He was taken aback, but pleasantly surprised. He wrapped his arms around her, gently rubbing her back. He heard her sniff, and he lifted her chin up. He was slightly shocked to see tears glistening in her chocolate eyes.
"I'm so sorry Hermione, I didn't mean to make you cry," he said, green eyes full of worry.
"That was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard," she said.
"You're kidding, right?" he asked, raising an eyebrow behind his mask.
"No, James. You really put things into perspective. You're completely right. There are so many more important things to worry about. You explained it beautifully."
"Well, it helped that I had a beautiful girl to talk to. I guess I was inspired."
She looked at him, her eyes full of an emotion he couldn't quite detect. There seemed to be happiness, sadness, adoration, concern and-surely he was imagining it-desire in her big brown eyes. Without a moment's hesitation, James leaned down and captured her lips with his. It was sweet at first, but he soon put a bit more ferocity behind it. Hermione returned his kiss with a hunger she didn't know she had.
Suddenly, a clock began to chime. James's head snapped up. "What time is it?" James whispered fearfully.
"It's midnight," Hermione said, noting the panic in his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"I'm terribly sorry Hermione. I need to leave. I'm so sorry I can't stay longer. You are truly amazing." He gave her a quick kiss and took off running.
Somewhat stunned, Hermione called out, "James! Wait! Please James!" She started following him, tears welling as she saw him scoot into a limousine. She noticed something shiny at her feet. She picked it up and examined it. It was a small lion-shaped cufflink, with tiny ruby eyes.
"This cufflink is one of James's! I can find him with this!" With a renewed hope, Hermione Granger returned to the ballroom.
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Harry was about a mile from 4 Privet Drive when the limousine turned back into a toy. He hid it in a bush before taking off toward the Dursleys'. He arrived a few minutes later, sweaty and out of breath. Dumbledore was waiting for him.
"Well dear boy, did you have an enjoyable time?" he asked, blue eyes twinkling.
"I sure did sir. Thank you so much! I'll never forget this night for as long as I live," Harry assured him.
"Unfortunately, I must now lock you back inside that dreadful cupboard so your relatives have no indication that
you left."
Harry nodded, before noticing that one of his father's cufflinks had attached itself to his t-shirt sleeve, but the other one was missing.
"I've lost one of my father's cufflinks," Harry said sadly.
"I wouldn't fret too much, my boy," Dumbledore said. "I've no doubts that you'll see it sooner than you think. I must be off now. Good luck to you."
"Thank you," Harry said. "For everything."
Dumbledore smiled and locked the cupboard door.