Meant to Be (Harry Potter X Hermione Granger)

December 5th

It was twenty days until Christmas Day, eleven days until the Christmas break and ten says until the Yule Ball and Harry still did not have a date for the dance. The panic began to set in as time grew shorter, he wouldn't have minded if he wasn't supposed to be opening the dance with the other champions! He had to act fast or he'd be a laughing stock.

"Potter! Focus." Drawled Snape's voice from behind ordering him to continue his potions assignment. The whole class was silent and only half an hour remained to finish the days work. Harry was barely half done. The situation was dim. He dipped his quill into his ink pot to prepare to continue on and saw Hermione rise from her chair opposite him, give him a reassuring smile and hand in her work to Snape. When Hermione left the class, Harry saw Ron scribble frantically and then hand in his work a few minutes after her. This can't be good, Harry thought as Ron left the class at an above average pace.

Hermione made her way for the library to study and wait for Harry when she heard her name called behind her. "Ron?" She inquired not expecting to see the redhead chasing after her. "I, um, damn, it's just well, I wanted to know if you..well you know you're a girl so.." He clumsily pushed the sentence out.

"Oh, so you've noticed have you?" She tried not to sound too aggressive. "Ron if you're going to ask me what I think you're going to ask then don't. I think it's wise for you take some time and reflect on yourself if you want to be friends with Harry and I." She pressed her books to her chest.

"I have! I know I've been a right prat and well I figured we could go..as friends I mean! I guessed no ones asked you and it's sad for a girl to go alone..."

"Oh, you guessed no one asked me? Why because I'm Hermione Granger? Well, for your information someone has asked me, and I said yes!" She turned on her heel, leaving Ron in the corridor. She never even realised that she'd gone in the opposite direction of the library and ended up on a typically quiet staircase near the Astronomy Tower to be alone.

Meanwhile, Harry barely got his assignment finished and handed it to Snape, who sneered at the messy work. "As usual, Mr Potter, meticulous work." He drawled. Harry ignored the comment and left class to find Hermione, figuring she'd be in the library. After the walk from the dungeons, he entered the library to be hit with the smell of books Hermione adored so much. However, after checking all the tables and nooks and crannies of the library, she was nowhere to be seen. Common Room, maybe?

Harry then set off for the Common Room but again, no luck. He asked Lavendar and Parvati if they'd seen her anywhere to which they said they hadn't. Parvati also smiled more than usual at Harry for whatever reason. Harry grew slightly worried as this was out of character for Hermione, however he knew she'd be okay. Stepping off the stairs to the ground floor he bumped into Hagrid who was dragging in one of the numerous Christmas trees for the Great Hall.

"'Ello 'Arry, ye alright? Seem in a rush?" He placed the tree down with a mighty thunk.

"Have you seen Hermione anywhere, Hagrid?" Harry panted from moving too fast down the stairs. Hagrid's face grew slightly troubled, "s'matter o fact I have, I saw her going to the staircase near the Astronomy Tower. She looked out of sorts, I were hoping she was comin' to find you 'Arry."

"I'll make sure she's alright, Hagrid, thank you!" And with that he sped off. He reached the base of the Astronomy Tower and went left to the door opposite if which led to an almost abandoned storeroom. Most people probably don't even know that there's a staircase in here to the tower.

Harry heard sniffling and picked up the pace, eventually finding Hermione sitting on the dusty stairs wiping tears from her eyes. "Hermione! What's wrong?!" He come to her immediately and settled beside her wrapping her in his arm. She rolled over into his shoulder and continued to cry to which Harry fully enveloped her in a hug. "Ssh ssh, it's alright." Harry was typically bad at dealing with emotions but with Hermione he felt he was capable. He rubbed her back and let her cry. After a few minutes she stopped crying but continued to hold onto Harry's collar and stayed against his shoulder while he rubbed small circles on her back with his thumb. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" He said gently. She sniffed again and brought her face up from his shoulder. His arms slipped from her but he held her hand still.

"Ron, uh, he asked me to the Ball." Harry made an O shape with his mouth. "That's not what made me cry though." She all but stamped her foot down to make sure Harry understood that part. "He said that he guessed no one had asked me and that it was sad for a girl to go alone." Tears welled up in her eyes. "Well...its sad for anyone to go alone." Harry tried to understand but failed to. "That's not what I meant Harry, you wouldn't understand!" She stood up to leave but Harry was quicker and grabbed her hand again, standing close to her. "Then help me understand." She felt his warm breath on her and she could almost feel his desperation to help her.

"He said he assumed no one had asked me. Probably because no one would ever ask Hermione Granger, the bookworm."

"Hey, come on, any guy would be lucky to go with you. What did you say to him?" Harry rubbed his hand on her hand. "I told him he was wrong and that someone had asked me and that I said yes." Harry stopped rubbing her hand. "You did? To who? I had no idea?"

"I lied to him." She looked at her feet shamefully. "No ones asked me, and no one will. I don't know why I care, it was naive of me to think I'd get to go...I even bought a dress for it." Harry hadn't seen her look this sad, maybe ever. "Is it a nice dress?" What a strange question to ask right now, Harry. Hermione thought, "Yes, my mother helped me pick it." She still seemed confused at his line of questioning. "Well I can't wait to see it."

"Well unless you want to go in my trunk and see it in its bag you won't get to, I'll just have to return it." Harry smiled at her, "I'll see it, I'll see it on you and you'll look great." Hermione sighed, still confused, "Harry I will not be putting on my dress just for you to see!" He smirked at her, "you say sometimes I'm a little dense and slow. C'mon Hermione, I obviously don't mean that. You'll wear you dress to the Ball and you can come with me?" He offered and lightly rubbed his thumb on her forearm. She looked shocked, "Really? You're serious?" "Of course I am, I don't know why I never thought of it before, I'd be honoured to take you Hermione. And after the Ball on the 16th we can leave for your home since Christmas Holidays start early this year. If I'm still invited of course?" Confident and forward Harry disappeared as he worried he'd crossed a line by assuming.

Hermione threw her arms around his neck and practically crushed him. "Of course you are, Harry! Oh, thank you, Harry! You really are the best friend I've ever had!" Harry's heart warmed to see Hermione so happy and he hugged her back tightly, burying his head in her shoulder and breathing in deeply.

Vanilla, she smelled of vanilla.

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Was that my best chapter yet? Feels like it to me, let me know!