Meant to Be (Harry Potter X Hermione Granger)

The Yule Ball

It was the night of the Yule Ball and Harry stood with the other champions of the tournament and their dates. Cedric was attending with Cho Chang, Fleur with Roger Davies of Ravenclaw and Viktor was with a fifth year Ravenclaw who Harry had never met. "Flying solo tonight, Harry?" Cedric inquired. "Hermiones supposed to be here but I'm getting a little nervous." Harry tugged on this arm of his bottle green dress robes. Cedric placed his arm on Harry's shoulder and offered a smile, "I'm sure she'll show Harry, girls just take forever to get ready," he raised his eyebrow and pointed his head toward Cho. "I'm happy for you, Harry, nice to see you with Hermione." Harry was floored, did people think we actually are together now?" "Oh no, we're not together, together. We're just attending as friends!" Harry could almost feel Viktor's eyes burning into the back of his skull. "Yeah." Cedric offered a simple reply, not exactly showing he believed Harry.

"Potter! Where is Miss Granger? The ball is opening very, very soon!" Professor McGonagoll came rushing towards him. "She'll be here, I'm sure she's just - ". Harry found himself unable to finish his sentence as his eyes caught Hermione coming down the stairs, practically floating. She looks...amazing. Her dress truly was spectacular and her hair was in such a way that Harry had never seen. She waved to him as she came down the stairs and joined him. He offered his arm, still speechless.

"Harry? Are you...okay?" She asked as his mouth was still agape. "Yeah...you just look really...really nice." Cedric lightly scoffed at Harry's reaction to his date and whispered something to Cho who also smiled. From Harry's compliment, Hermione's cheeks turned the same shade as her dress and Harry again said; "Wow."

"Harry please, you're making me blush". She smiled wildly and looked to the floor. "You look very nice aswell, I like your robes."

McGonagoll bid them to ready to open the Ball and Harry saw Hermione begin to worry. "Hey it'll be alright, Hagrid was right about you being the bell of the ball." Then, suddenly the doors to the Great Hall opened and applause sounded from the gathered students. They strode into the middle of the hall in a line and it was Harry's turn to feel nervous. He looked around and saw Ron scowling at him next to Padma Patil. Someone isn't happy about all this. Great. They assumed their positions and Harry placed his hands on Hermione's waist and took her hand. "Your eyes, Harry. They match your robes. Was that on purpose?"

"Yes." Harry nodded not even pretending he was serious. She scoffed, "yeah right, well let's regard it as a happy accident." With that, the music started and the four champions begin to glide across the floor. With her experience in dancing, Hermione was mostly leading Harry across the floor attempting not to stand on her feet. He looked up from the floor, confident that he could avoid standing on her feet and saw Hermione looking happier than he'd seen her in a while. "Thank you for asking me to come, Harry." As she said this other couples began to join the dance, starting with Dumbledore and McGonagoll. "I'm really glad I did," he smiled sheepishly at her, "although I think there are a few people who aren't too happy about it." Hermione looked at him quizzically, "For one, Viktor Krum. I could feel his eyes burning into me." She laughed at this, "I've only ever even spoken to him once. Who else is upset?" Despite asking, she already had a guess.

"Ron. I saw him scowling next to Padma." He raised her up in the air for a split second as did all the other couples. "I don't think he's happy I'm here with you."

"Well, to be quite honest, I couldn't care less. Harry, spending more time with you has made me realise that he didn't offer me anything as friends, even though I helped him with homework and stuff. I'd rather spend my time with you than him."

"I don't think he's a total lost cause but I've really enjoyed spending more time with you 'Mione." She cocked her head at his shortening of her name but he never noticed as he turned his head to scowl at Seamus whistling at his dancing with Lavendar Brown. When the first dance ended, the music shifted dramatically and the Wyrd Sisters began their show. Everyone ran toward the stage and the dancing changed from ballroom to well, who knows what you'd call it. Harry and Hermione amongst all the other students danced wildly to the rocking wizards for several songs and then retreated from the dance floor for some refreshments. Harry left his partner to get some drinks and Hermione gushed with some other Gryffindors about their dresses.

"Hey Neville," Harry greeted seeing him at the bar, "you really know how to dance." Harry smiled at him. "Thanks, Harry! You didn't look too bad yourself out there."

"Oh, that was mostly Hermione, she has some experience in dancing." He laughed. Neville's face changed a little, "about Hermione. Ron seemed pretty angry that you're with her here, I would watch out for him, Harry." He offered his thanks and Neville left with his butterbeer. Harry then left and rejoined Hermione and for the next hour they danced, talked with friends and laughed lots. Eventually they went to have a seat at their table and sat with an oomph, tired from the dancing. Harry took a spit from his drink but settled his glass down when he saw Ron coming over, leaving a dismayed but relieved Padma in his wake.

"Ron -" Harry tried to say but was cut off by Ron. "You knew I liked Hermione, Harry," she shuffled in her seat, "and you had to take her too! It's never enough for you, you always have to upstage me! Because I'm just Harry Potter's dumb friend!"

Harry stood up and stormed toward Ron, "take her? She's her own person, although you just think she's yours. Yours to do your homework, yours to listen to you complain and yours to wait for until you buck up the courage to tell her how you feel!" Ron pushed him and Harry looked shocked until he pushed him back.

"Oi!" Hagrid stormed over and picked both teenagers up by their collars. "What're you two doin'! I oughta hit you both o'er the head!"

"I didn't do anything, Ron is just insane and thinks that Hermione is his. She's her own person!" Hagrid shook his head and dropped both boys, "you two oughta sort yerselves out afore I do," Ron stormed off, "and, 'Arry, ye best go after Hermione." Harry turned and saw that Hermione was quickly leaving the hall and he sped up to catch up with her. "Hermione, wait!" She turned and Harry saw her in tears. "Why is he such a prat! He treats me with no respect and...and...he doesn't understand you!" Harry sat next to her and took her hand. "Don't let him ruin your night. And I won't let tonight end like this." She looked up at him and he stood, bidding her to join him. "Will you join me for the last dance?" She looked up at him and he wiped a tear from her face. She nodded meekly and wrapped her arm in his.

The Wyrd Sisters called out for the last dance, most students were gone by now and it was nearly past midnight but some remained, notably Neville and Ginny and Hagrid and Maxine. The band began to play, a slow song of course, and Hermione laid her hand on his chest and wrapped her arms around him. He laid her chin on his head and they swayed to the music. "Thank you, Harry." Hermione mumbled into his chest and Harry went to ask what for but got this undeniable feeling that he shouldn't. Instead he planted a kiss on her head and she hugged him tighter. For the first time in Harry's life, he felt a sense of completion and wholeness.

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I'm sure that doesn't even compare to some of the other Yule Ball chapters and stories but I hope you enjoyed!