Uhm ... *crawling out of the farthest curner* ... hi ... yes, I finally managed to finish the last chapter of my Yule Ball story. I'm really sorry that I didn't get it finished earlier. I just didn't really knew how to end this. But to my defence, this chapter is much, much longer than the previous ones. I also had to do ... eh no ... I'm still in the middle of my exams. I hope you'll find the time to correct it. Again, I'm really sorry that I took so much time.

My beta is on vacation at the moment and won't be able to look over this chapter for some time. So if you find mistakes you've got two options - point them out to me, or keep them ;)

Now I babbled enough, enjoy the last chapter (if there are still people who want to read it ...)

Chapter 5 - Finally

Harry and Hermione started to sway to the music. They twirled around the dance floor, both of them ignoring the jealous looks.

Hermione was really gorgeous in her pink-purplish dress and Harry looked rather handsome in his fancy dress robes. Nearly every girl in the great hall envied Hermione, wanting to be in her place. And at least every second boy would love to trade with Harry at the moment.

Professor McGonagall gazed with pride on her cubs. Their dancing had really improved since they asked her for lessons, especially Mister Potters. It wasn't perfect of course, but you can easily say, that they danced best out of the champions.

The boy who lived and the brunette witch didn't even realised what was going on around them. They had just eyes for each other. Harry had never noticed the light gold sparkles in Hermione's eyes and Hermione how deep green Harry's eyes really were.

They were leaning closer to each other, their lips nearly meeting, until …

"That was the first dance, now so we don't embarrass our champions further, join them in dancing." Professor Dumbledore's voice echoed through the great hall and under loud cheering he took Professor McGonagall's hand and led her on the dance floor. Soon other pairs joined them.

Harry and Hermione sprung away from each other, when their headmaster started speaking. Both of them avoided to look the other into the eyes.

*What has gotten into me? She is my best friend for hells sake.* Harry asked himself. He didn't understand how he could nearly kiss Hermione, his best friend. *But her lips looked so kissable in this light.* he thought further, until he shook his head like a wet dog. *No, I've to stop this nonsense.*

Hermione on the other hand was cursing Dumbledore silently in her head. *Why couldn't he wait for a few more seconds? It wouldn't have harmed him.* She was furious. *Now Harry finally noticed that I'm a girl and he must interrupt us.* But the brunette haired witch was sure, that Harry was going to kiss her this evening, because she was going to make sure of this.

"Do you want to continue to dance?" Harry asked Hermione hesitantly when the music started playing again.

The brunette haired witch was startled by his question. She had been lost in her thoughts and didn't even noticed, that the music had continued to play.

"Sure Harry, I would love to." She answered him. Maybe she could get her kiss now. But to her disappointment this song was a lot faster than the last one.

But she still enjoyed dancing with Harry. He really had got the hang of this and rarely stepped on her feet anymore.

While twirling around the dance floor she spotted Ginny dancing nearby with Neville. The redhead caught her gaze and grinned at her. Hermione just smiled back and watched the youngest Weasly twirling away with Neville. The normal so shy and plump boy danced really well. She doubted that Ginny had to fear for her feet.

Harry really enjoyed dancing with Hermione. He liked to have her in his arms. Lately he realised more and more that his best friend was indeed a girl, a pretty girl nonetheless. Suddenly he felt being watched. The black haired wizard looked around and caught Cedric's gaze. The other champion twirled Cho nearby over the dance floor. The older guy grinned and gave Harry thumbs up.

Nor, Harry or Hermione noticed the jealous gaze a red haired boy send towards them.

Suddenly the music stopped and everyone looked confused toward the big stage. Professor Dumbledore was now standing there with a microphone in his hand. As he saw the worried gazed of his pupils he chuckled softly.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to sing. I just want to announce our special guests. Here are the Weird Sisters!"

"Who?" Harry asked Hermione confused over the loud cheering that had erupted in the great hall.

"The Weird Sisters Harry. They're a popular music band in the wizarding world." Hermione explained to him, while wiping on her feet. Their sound was really intoxicating.

"Ginny told me about them this summer. She loves them."

"Ah … ok …." Harry said. He never really understood the hysteria about muggle bands. It seemed that it was the same in the wizarding world. Confused he looked at Hermione who was wiping on her feet.

"Are you feeling alright?" the black haired boy asked concerned.

Confused the brunette haired witch looked at him. Why shouldn't she be ok?

"Of course I'm alright. Why wouldn't I be?" Hermione asked him and continued before he ever had the chance to answer her. She wanted to dance for hells sake. And she would dance, even if she had to drag Harry onto the dancing floor. "Come on let's dance."

The brunette haired girl grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. They were having the time of their life, while they danced through many songs.

"Can we have a break?" Hermione asked after some time of dancing. Her feet were burning like hell and she was really thirsty.

"Sure." Harry replied relived. Not that he didn't liked dancing with her, but a break sounded heavenly.

The black haired boy led his date from the dance floor toward their table.

"Wait here, I'll get us something to drink." He said and walked away.

Hermione sighed when she sat down. Her feet were surly killing her. She smiled after the boy. He had been a perfect gentleman so far.

Harry was just about to get himself and Hermione some drinks, when a familiar voice spoke to him.

"Why haven't you told me?" Ron demanded to know harshly.

Harry looked startled at his best friend. He knew in the beginning that his best mate won't like his date choice, but he had at least hoped that Ron learnt out of his experience when he called Hermione a plain looking bookworm, but it seemed he hadn't.

"Ron, please calm down." The black haired boy tried, but the redhead wouldn't hear any of it.

"You're supposed to be my BEST FRIENDS! Why have you KEPT that FROM ME?!" the youngest Weasley boy now shouted, ignoring the confused looks everyone gave him.

Harry felt himself getting angry now. Why had Ron always to ruin everything? Why was he acting like a prat once again?

"Like I already told you before, my date and I both thought it would be better not to tell anyone, including our best friend." The black haired boy tried to explain calmly.

Unfortunately Ron didn't seemed to calm down, instead his face just turned redder.

"I'm your BEST FRIEND and you two DITCHED me!" he started to scream once again.

It got harder and harder for Harry to stay calm. The red haired boy was accusing Harry for ditching him, when he was the one who ditched his best friend when he became a triwizard champion unwanted.

"I'm sorry Ron, but at the moment I haven't time to discuss this with you. I would suggest you to get some air, maybe this will clear your head a bit." Harry said, grabbed two glasses of butterbeer and turned around to go back to Hermione; ignoring the glances he got.

"HARRY, wait you just can't…." Ron started to shout again, but suddenly he shut up. Curious about what happened he turned around and saw the Weasley twins standing beside their brother. Each of them had hocked an arm around Ron and covered his mouth.

"Come on Ronnykins…" one of the twins started.

"… let's get some fresh air." The other one continued.

"Sorry about that Harry." They said simultaneously and dragged their brother away.

Harry looked a little bit stunned at first, but then he started to laugh. He just loved the twins.

"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked immediately when her date returned to her. She had seen him and Ron arguing and it seemed like always the redhead acted like a prat.

"Don't worry Hermione, everything is ok." Harry reassured her. "The twins took care of him for the moment."

Hermione smiled and sipped happily on her butterbeer. Everything was alright, well, not everything because Ron acted like a prat like always, but she was so used to it by now, it hardly bothered her anymore, at least not at the moment.

Harry also looked quite happy while sipping on his buttbeer. Ron was taken care of for the moment and he sat here with a really gorgeous date.

They started to chat about random thinks and got lost in each other's company while drinking their drinks. Suddenly a voice took them back to reality.

"Partner change!" a grinning Ginerva Weasley said, grabbed the hand of the youngest triwizard champion and dragged him onto the dance floor, before the boy even had a chance to protest.

Hermione looked a little bit perplexed after her date and her best friend, but them she started to smile amused. Harrys face had been hilarious.

Someone cleared his throat to get her attention. Curious Hermione directed her gaze in front of her, just to find a very shy and nervous looking Neville Longbottom offering her his hand.

"Would you … I mean …" he started to stammer.

"Of course." Hermione said smiling and was led by her nervous classmate onto the dance floor.

Harry and Ginny glided more or less gracefully over the dance floor.

"Sorry!" Harry apologized for the fifth time when Ginny's face turned into a mask of slight pain, because he had stepped on her feet again. Dancing in general wasn't his thing and dancing with another girl than Hermione wasn't either. He was so used to her movements by now, so that dancing with her was really great. Ginny just moved differently that his Mione.

'Wait, she isn't my Mione, she is just Mione.' Harry thought to himself. Why did he consider Hermione as his property? She was his best friend and nothing more. And even if he felt more, there was no way that she would do too … .

"Don't worry Harry. I'm alright." Ginny said, while grimacing slightly in secret. One thing was sure, Neville was better at dancing that Harry. But what don't you do for your friends?

"So, how is the evening so far? You enjoy being with Hermione?" the red haired girl asked, thinking it was better to drop some hints for Harry or he would never come together with her best friend. Oh yes, she realised some time ago that the brightest witch of her age had a crush on the boy who lived. She wanted to help Hermione from the beginning, but the other girl always denied her, saying that there was no hope for her. Well, Ginny had another opinion and now was going to take the matter in her own hands.

"It's going … fine … . " Harry stammered. "Why are you asking?"

Ginny grinned as she saw how nervous the boy who lived got when it came to Hermione. "Oh, I just wanted to know, because this is Hermione's first date and that is important to every girl. It would be a disaster for her if you screw this up." A smirking Ginny told a gulping Harry who had gone pale.

"Maybe you should take her for a walk in the gardens later. That would be very romantic." The red haired girl continued smiling slyly.

Harry gulped again and nodded nervously. What was Ginny implying? Did she notice something? No, of course she didn't notice something, because there wasn't anything to notice.

Suddenly the music came to a halt and a relived Harry quickly led Ginny off the dance floor. He was looking around frantically, hoping to find Hermione and Neville. They weren't at their table anymore. Finally he spotted them nearby, Neville was just leading Hermione off the dance floor like Harry had done with Ginny. Quickly Harry dashed toward them.

Hermione was talking to Neville and was having a great time. The shy boy had come out of his shell a little bit while dancing and she really had to admit, that he was much better than Harry. Suddenly a familiar voice interrupted them.

"Hey Hermione, want to go for a walk in the gardens?" Harry asked, Ginny's playful suggestion the first thing that came into his mind. He grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged the confused looking girl after him toward the gardens.

"See you later guys." Harry called over his shoulder to Ginny, who was slyly grinning, and Neville, who looked as confused as Hermione.

"What was that about?" Hermione asked Harry while they were walking through the rosarium. Not that she didn't like the fact that the black haired boy took her out here. But she couldn't get rid of the feeling that Ginny had to do something with this.

It was beautiful out here. Small ways intertwined between the bushes passing pretty statues, water could be heard gurgling somewhere close, little fairies were flying around and the stars bathed the scenery in a silvery light.

"I just thought …." Harry started and asked himself what the hell he had thought. "Um … I thought that getting some fresh air would do you good. It was quite crowded in there." He quickly finished his explanation, hoping that he sounded reasonable. He felt relieved when Hermione nodded. She seemed to have brought his poor excuse.

Hermione grinned slightly to herself when she heard his poor excuse. This was just screaming 'GINNY'. Well, for once she was glad about her friends interfere. This way she hadn't to come up with an excuse herself to get Harry out here with her.

Before she could ponder more about it a shudder went through her body. It was really cold out here. But what did she expect? It was Christmas after all and Christmas was in December.

Harry was too lost in his own thoughts. They were walking in a comfortable silence. Well, until he noticed her shudder.

"Hermione, are you alright?" he could nearly slap himself for that question. Of course she wasn't alright when goosebumps danced over her whole body.

"Wait, don't answer that." Harry said and took his grown off. "Here, take this."

"Thank you Har …" Hermione started but wasn't able to continue. Harry had come near her when he was wrapping his grown around her, pretty near. The brunette haired witch was lost in his emerald eyes. It was as if the time had slowed down. They were leaning into each other slowly, closing their eyes and … voices could be heard nearby and for the second time that evening they sprang apart quickly.

Hermione cursed silently. Here just went her second chance away. Who had disturbed them this time? For hells sake she had crush on this boy for ages and now when she nearly had him they were disturbed several times.

Harry debated with himself. 'She is you best friend.' 'That doesn't matter.' 'I've been friends with her since our first year.' 'So? You still want to kiss her!' 'I don't wanna.' 'Yes you want.'

Both were took back to reality when they heard the voices again. Closer this time, so that they could understand what they were saying. One voice was dreadful familiar.

"… don't understand what you still want to talk about Igor."

"Severus, you can't pretend that this isn't happening." Karkaroffs voice sounded hushed and worried as if he didn't want someone eavesdropping. "It' getting clearer since months. I start to worry slowly, I've to admit …"

"Then flee." Snape replied harshly. "Flee, I'll find an excuse for you. I'm going to stay at Hogwarts."

Snape and Karkaroff turned around a hedge. Snape had his wand in his hand and tattered the rose bushes in thousand pieces with a cranky mine. Screams were heard out of the bushes and dark shadows rushed out.

"Ten points from Hufflepuff, Fawcett." Snape bawled at a girl that ran past him. "And ten points from Ravenclaw, Stebbins." He added when a boy rushed after the girl.

"And what are you two doing here?" he asked, finally taking notice of Harry and Hermione.

Harry realised that Karkaroff seemed pretty nervous when he saw him. He started to twirls his beard worse than before.

"We were taking a walk. That isn't forbidden, isn't it?" Harry answered while Hermione stood beside him motionless.

"Then go ahead damn it." Snape said and rushed past them with Karkaroff following him like a dog. Harry and Hermione continued walking

"Why is Karkaroff so afraid?" Hermione mumbled.

"And since when are they on first name terms?" Harry added slowly.

The brunette haired witch shook her head like a wet dog. She would think about this, but not now.

"Come on Harry, let's talk about something different. We can discuss about it later, but not now." She said.

Harry remembered Ginny words about not to screw this up and nodded in agreement.

They walked further and found themselves near a big stony reindeer. Over it they could see a sparkling fountain.

"Look over there Harry." Hermione said pointing to a stone bank nearby. She pulled Harry toward it and groaned when she sat down. Her feet were killing her or better, her shoes were killing her feet.

"Is everything alright?" Harry asked concerned hearing her groan.

Hermione smiled, her best friend and hopeful soon to be boyfriend could be really sweet sometimes.

"Don't worry, I'm alright." The brunette haired witch said, leaning closer into Harry's side.

The face of the boy who lived was now glazed with a slight blush. He lost himself in these chocolate brown eyes. They leaned even closer together, closing their eyes, catching their breath in anticipation and …. two voices could be heard nearby.

Harry and Hermione sprang apart for the third time that evening. The brunette haired witch cursed her bad luck. Why wasn't she allowed to get one kiss from her crush, why?! First Dumbledore, then Snape and Karkaroff and now … well, she didn't know who interrupted them this time.

Harry on the other and knew right away and for once he didn't care that much that he nearly kissed his best friend and was about to destroy their friendship (of course there were still two voices in his head 'Kiss her and don't make me go insane.' 'No, I won't, she's my best friend.' 'And?'), instead he quickly grabbed Hermione's hand and dragged her in the bushes nearby. He knew that voice pretty well – it was Hagrid.

"I just had to look at you once and I knew it immediately." Their big friend said with a strangely rough voice.

Hermione nearly gasped when she heard the voice of her gigantic friend, but fortunately Harry covered her mouth with his hand. They both had never heard him to talk like this.

"Wat 'ave you known 'Agrid?" Madame Maxime answered, nearly purring.

Harry and Hermione looked horrified at each other. They sounded like they didn't want to be interrupted and neither the brunette haired witch or her date intended to do so. They wanted to steal away.

Unfortunately when the black haired boy was about to make his escape Hermione held him back. Slightly angry Harry looked at her, but the brunette haired witch just gestured him to look closer and then he saw them. Fleur Delacour and Roger Davis, nearly covered by a rose bush and they seemed rather busy. But this way would've been the only escape. They had no choice, but to stay to hear and pretend that they can't hear anything.

"I knew right away … you're like me … was it mother or father?" Hagrid said.

Hermione and Harry had ducked deep behind the stony reindeer and really tried to concentrate on something else. The brightest witch of their age tried to remember everything Professor Bins told them about the great goblin war. The youngest triwizard champion on the other hand concentrated on a beetle crawling on the statue. He didn't want to eavesdrop on his friend. He was sure if he knew that would be embarrassing for Hagrid (it would be for him too).

But both things weren't interesting enough and with Hagrids words their curiosity won. They continued to eavesdrop, now really eager to know what that was about.

"I don't know wat you mean 'Agrid." Madame Maxime answered silently.

"For me … was my mother." Hagrid was now speaking silent too. "She was one of the last in Britain. Of course I can't remember much of her … she went away. I was about three years old. She wasn't the motherly type. Well, it's in their nature, isn't it? Don't know what happened with her … maybe she died … "

Madame Maxime seemed mute at the moment. Harry was pretty curious and looked over the statue (until Hermione pulled him down). He had never heard Hagrid speaking about his childhood.

"She broke my Dad's heart when she went away. Really small guy, my dad. When I was six I could scoop him up and sat him on the kitchen counter if he annoyed me. He always laughed when I did this …"

Hagrids deep voice broke. Madame Maxime listened him silently, but her gaze was on the water fountain.

"My dad raised me … but then he died, just when I got accepted in school. Afterwards I had to struggle through life. Dumbledore really helped me. He was pretty nice to me …"

Harry looked sadly at his big friend. He had known that his life wasn't easy with getting expelled and such things, but he never thought it was that bad.

Hagrid took a big dotted handkerchief out of his pocket and blew his nose quite loudly.

"Well … that was about me. And, what's about you? From who did you got it?"

Madame Maxime stood up suddenly.

"It's cold, I want to go back inside." She said, but it wasn't nearly as cold as her voice was at the moment.

"What?" Hagrid said confused "No, don't go! I've never met another one."

"Another what exactly?" Madame Maxime asked coldly.

Hermione would've loved to cover Hagrids mouth with her hand at the moment, to prevent him digging himself even deeper in trouble, but she couldn't do anything. She just stood in the shadow of the statue and groaned when her big friend opened his mouth to answer the question of the headmistress of Beauxbatons.

"A second half giant of course." Hagrid said.

"How dare you?!" Madame Maxime shrieked and her voice boomed like a foghorn through the peaceful night. Harry and Hermione could her Fleur and Roger dashing out of the bushes. "I've never been that insulted in my life before! Moi, a 'alf giant? I've got … I've got big bones."

She dashed off through the bushes; big colourful swarms of fairies flattered around, when she stormed angry through the bushes. Hagrid sat on the bench and stared after her. It was much too dark to read his face. Then, after a minute he stood up, and started to walk, not to the castle, he walked to his hut.

Finally Harry and Hermione were able to move. They both groaned when they stretched their aching limps.

"Have you known that Hagrid is a half giant?" Harry asked his best friend.

"No I haven't, but I've suspected something like this, but actually I thought that he fell in a growing potion when he was a child." Hermione said, as if she was talking about the weather.

"But why denied Madame Maxime that she is a half giant? It's obvious." The black haired wizard asked, not really having a clue.

Hermione sighed, but nevertheless answered him. "You see Harry, giants are considered as brutal creatures in the wizarding world, but I think that's just prejudice. It's the same with werewolves. But do you know any nicer people than those two? No, of course you don't. Just one thing Harry, don't tell anyone. You remembered what happen when it became common that Professor Lupin is a werewolf. So you can just imagine what would happen if someone knows that Hagrid is a half giant. By the way can we go back inside? I'm really freezing now."

Harry just nodded to everything she said, once again surprised by the ability of girls to talk so much in a short time. They made their way inside.

"Thanks again Harry." Hermione said once they were inside and she gave him his cloak back. Carefully she looked around and breathed in relief, when she noticed that Ron wasn't near. She did want to have a nice evening.

"Would you like to dance with me again?" Harry asked his date quite unsure. It's not that he liked dancing all off sudden, but the brunette haired witch really like it and sometimes a man … eh boy … must make sacrifices.

Unbelievingly but happy Hermione looked at Harry. He wanted to dance with her on his own will? The brightest witch of her age was pretty sure, that the black haired boy hated dancing, well, not really hated, but it'll definitely never be his favourite action.

"Of course, I would love to." She said and smiled at him. Feeling pretty nervous she took the hand he offered her, a shaking hand, meaning that he was pretty nervous too.

Until now it was quite late and there were just a few people left in the great hall and even less on the dance floor. At the moment they were playing a pretty slow song, a song where you normally dance close to each other, very close.

Harry gulped as he drew Hermione close to him. He could feel every curve of her body. Slowly his hands came on a rest on her back, just above her buttocks. Unsure if she was offended by this he looked down, only to find a mass of brown hair coming closer to him, until her head rested on his shoulder. It seemed like Hermione didn`t mind at all.

Hermione sighed and closed her eyes. It felt heavenly were she was at the moment. Smiling she inhaled Harry's scent and snuggled even deeper in his shoulder. She never wanted that evening to die. Her hands rested comfortably on his back.

Slowly they continued to the music, unaware that some eyes were watching them. One of these eyes belonged to Ginny Weasley. She was having a good time. Neville turned out to be a great dancer and came out of his shell the further the evening preceded. Also it looked like her best female friend wasn't going to need her help anymore.

Neville also watched this two. He thought actually for some time now, that Harry and Hermione belonged together. He just didn't want to imagine Ron's reaction to all of this. And besides he really had a great time. The dancing lessons his grandmother forced him to do finally paid off and he never thought that spending the evening with Ginny could be that great.

A third person watched the triwizard champion, a certain Professor who gave them dancing lessons. She always knew that these two belonged together. She was sure that her brightest charge knew this quite well, just the boy who lived always seemed a little clueless. But at the moment it looked like he wasn't that clueless at all anymore.

As the song was about to come to an end Hermione lifted her head to look up, because she wanted to ask Harry if they could continue to dance, but when her gaze fell upon his green eyes she hold her breath and couldn't utter a word. She was lost in his emerald green eyes. Slowly Hermione leaned closer to Harry and got on her tiptoes while closing her eyes. Her heart was beating like crazy and she was sure, if Harry wouldn't hold onto her she would fall down.

When Harry felt the girl in his arms moving he looked down onto her, only to find his breath going shallow, when his eyes locked with her chocolate brown ones. He was totally lost in her eyes. His heart, which was already beating much faster than normal, started to beat as fast as a herd of buffalos, when the beautiful witch in his arms got on her tiptoes to get closer to him. Finally he understood that he really liked Hermione, more than liked actually. He closed his eyes and leaned down.

Finally their lips met, their bodies were melting into each other. Both felt as if they could die out of happiness at the moment. Their hearts were about to burst with joy. It was as if someone started fireworks in their heads.

After a few seconds they separated, their faces flushed, slowly opening their eyes. Harry looked down on the most beautiful witch he ever met with a big grin on his face. With sparkling eyes Hermione gazed up on her boyfriend's face. *Boyfriend? Yes, boyfriend!* at this thoughts the brunette haired witch started to beam.

"So …." Harry broke the silence reluctant, none of them noticing that they had the attention of all remaining people in the great hall. "I guess we're boyfriend and girlfriend now, aren't we?" he asked and immediately after the question he could've beat himself for asking such a stupid thing.

Hermione on the other hand smiled lightly, that was her Harry. She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes." Harry answered grinning like an idiot.

Suddenly whistles echoed through the great hall and now the two of them noticed that they were in the centre of attention. Both blushed crimson red and Hermione hide her face in Harrys shoulder.

After some time slowly the music started again and they continued to dance. The other couples doing the same, while some people still glanced at them and whisper could be heard 'I know they belong together.'.

Ginny and Neville watched them dancing, both of them happy for their friends. Also Professor McGonagall's eyes rested on the young couple. She was happy that the boy finally understood.

"Want to go up?" Harry asked his yawing girlfriend, yes his girlfriend. He grinned happy at the term.

"I would love to. I'm dead on my feet." Answered the brunette haired witch, letting out another yawn.

The black haired wizard nodded, took her arm and started to lead her out of the great hall. Suddenly a voice stopped them.

"Hey Potter, wait!" was Cedric Diggory calling him. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Harry looked questioning at his girlfriend, who nodded, and jogged toward the older boy.

"Hey, have you figured out …."

"Do you have an idea what he could mean with that?" Harry questioned Hermione, who was snuggled in his side, when they walked hand in hand to the common room.

"Mh …. I think I've an idea, but I'm not quite sure until we try his hint out." The brightest witch of her age answered.

"Alright…" the youngest triwizard champion said and then he halted "Wait, what do you mean with 'Until we try his hint out?'. You can't come with me!" Harry exclaimed, his cheeks turning bright red as he thought of himself and Hermione in the perfects bathroom bathing together.

"Of course I'm coming with you. You won't be able to figure the riddle out without my help." Hermione teased him lightly, but when she saw his red face she stopped giggling and stepped away from him, until she was able to look at him properly.

"Harry James Potter, get your mind out of the gutter immediately! We're going to wear swimsuits." She admonished him.

"Of … course …. I never … .never thought something … else… ." the black haired boy managed to choke out, his face still crimson red.

Hermione looked at him with scepticism shown in her face, but in the end she was satisfied with his answer and snuggled back in his side.

Finally they reached the portrait of the fat lady. They had to shout at her together and it took some minutes until she swung aside, because she was extremely drunk.

Harry climbed through the portrait hole first, then he turned around and offered his girlfriend a helping hand, figuring that it must be difficult to climb through with her dress and that shoes. Hermione gladly accepted his help and got after him.

"Thanks Har …" she stopped mid sentenced, her eyes fixed on something behind her boyfriend.

Harry turned around, worried what got his girlfriend to stop talking, that's when he saw him. Ronald Billius Weasley sitting on a couch near the fireplace with a scowl on his face.

"Hey Ron, how was your evening?" he asked his best mate nervous.

Rons face got even darker. "How my evening was? HOW MY EVENING WAS?!" he roared. "WELL, I just got to know that my SUPPOSED BEST FRIENS SHAGGEG BEHIND MY BACK and you ask me HOW MY EVENING WAS?!"

Harry flinched away, but nevertheless he spoke up with forced patience. "Ron, I've never slept with Hermione and we just became a couple around an hour ago." Hermione laid a calming hand on his shoulder, herself at the moment out of words.

"Why her? You could've got EVERY GIRL you WANTED. Why the PLAIN looking BOOKWORM?" Ron screeched once again.

Harry felt furious, it seemed that Ron didn't learn his lesson. He was insulting Hermione once again.

Hermione's face fell as she heard Ron's words. Her evening was so great and now the redhead had to fuck it up once again.

"Yes Harry …." Suddenly another voice spoke up and a second voice finished " … why did you take the gorgeous bookworm?"

"It's such a loss for us." The twins said unison.

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Ron asked his brothers.

Hermione looked confused at them, while Harry, who was having his arm in reassurance around his girlfriend, suppressed a grin.

"We mean …" one of the twins started.

"… it's sad …" the other one continued.

"… that such a beautiful girl is of the market." They finished together.

The brunette haired girl blushed furiously and her boyfriend started to laugh.

Ron's face turned red too, but out of anger.

His brothers, sensing that a big outburst was going to come, quickly added.

"So, come with us dear brother … " Fred said and Georg continued "… let's drown our sadness in liquid."

Ron looked suspicious at his brothers and nodded hesitantly. Maybe it would do him really some good to go with them and forget Harry bloody Potter and his … girlfriend. The twins grinned at his nod and dragged him away, while looking smug over to Harry and Hermione.

Once they were out of their sight Harry laughed out loud. He almost felt sorry for Ron after seeing the mischievous look on the faces of the twin's.

Hermione, who was still tucked into his side, looked confused up at her boyfriend.

"What are you laughing about?" the brunette haired witch asked.

"Cause I don't know if I should feel angry at Ron or sorry for him." Harry chuckled.

"Why?"

The black haired wizard looked at his girlfriend. Was she playing with him? But a look in her face told him that the normally so brilliant witch really didn't know why he was laughing.

"Quite easy Mione, cause, judging by the look on their faces, the twins are going to prank him."

At this explanation Hermione started to laugh with her boyfriend. When she thought about the twins pranks she felt almost sorry for the red haired boy.

Suddenly the muggleborn witch yawned again. She really was dead on her feet.

Harry looked at his girlfriend and asked. "You're pretty tired, mh?"

"Yeah." Hermione answered with another yawn.

"I think we should head to bed." Harry said and it wasn't until his girlfriend started to giggle that he noticed how she could understood this.

"No, I meant each of us should head toward their own beds." He quickly explained the still giggling girl beside him. He never knew that she was the giggling type of girl.

"I know what you meant." Hermione said still giggling.

She was feeling great, finally she was together with her secret crush and Ron was also taken care of by the twins.

Slightly hesitating she got on her tiptoes and kissed her boyfriend passionately on the lips, before turning around blushing heavily and nearly running up the stairs to the girl's dorms.

Harry stood there frozen for a few seconds, touching his lips with his fingers and then started grinning like a fool. He walked on clouds to the boys dorms.

The next morning Hermione was up before Parvati and Lavender, getting ready for the day with an idiotic grin on her face. She danced around her dorm humming slightly. The day couldn't be better. She had the boyfriend she wanted and the last evening was just wonderful.

"What are you so happy about? It's too early." A grumpy voice suddenly interrupted the brunettes happy humming. It was Parvati, who was slowly opening her eyes, shielding them with a hand against the brightness in the room

"I just had a great evening, that's all." Hermione said joyful.

"Oh, that's all …" her dorm mate said, sinking back into her bed, but suddenly said up again.

"Wait, what do you mean you had a great evening?"

"I meant what I said, I had a great evening." Hermione just answered with a foolish grin and danced out of the room, leaving a complete confused Parvati behind.

The black haired girl looked unbelievingly after her roommate, who acted nothing like herself. She behaved like a little girl in love. Suddenly it was like someone put on a light bulb in her head and Parvati knew what was wrong with Hermione – she was in love with Harry Potter and obliviously they were together.

Open mouthed she sat frozen for a few seconds, until she hurried to her best friends bed.

"Lavender, Lavender wake up. I've to tell you something …."

When Hermione glided down the stairs she met an equally happy looking Ginny.

"Congratulations Mione. I'm so happy for the two of you."

"Thanks Gin." A blushing brunette haired girl said and continued. "But how was your evening?"

Turning as red as her hair the only girl of the Weasley clan started to talk. "It was great. Neville really is a good boy. We were one of the last couples to leave in the night."

"Couples?" Hermione asked grinning.

"You know what I mean." Ginny pouted.

Up until now they had reached the common room.

"Of course." Hermione smiled down at her best female friend (and only one).

"Where are the boys anyway? I asked Nev to meet us with Harry down here at half past nine."

Ginny said, trying to turn the conversation to a new topic.

"I bet they're still asleep, but don't worry. They will be down in a bit." Hermione said with an evil grin, took her wand and made a complicated looking swishing motion.

In the boy's dorm two boys suddenly sat straight up spluttering in their now wet and ice cold beds.

"What was that?" Harry asked grumpy. He was just having a great dream about Hermione and himself and didn't like the wakeup call.

Neville, who feared to know why this was happening, asked the boy on the bed beside his.

"Harry, what time is it?"

The black haired boy who just had put on his glasses answered.

"It's 9:35. Why are you asking?"

The round faced boy turned pale and explained "Cause we were supposed to meet Ginny and Hermione downstairs five minutes ago. I think that was our wake up call."

They looked at each other, not noticing that they were the last in their dorms, and sprinted into the bathroom.

"Hermione, are you sure they're going to come down?" asked an impatient Ginny. She was pretty hungry. Ten minutes had passed and there were still no sign of the boys.

"Don't worry. They'll be here in a moment." Hermione assured her, pretty sure that her wakeup call worked.

And she should be right. Just a minute later two sleepy boys stumbled down the stairs which lead to the boys dorms.

"Finally. What took you so long?" Ginny demanded to know.

"Sorry, we overslept." Neville apologised quickly, trying to avoid the rise of the famous Weasley temper.

"Good morning." Hermione greeted them and shyly hugged her boyfriend and kissed him on the lips.

"Morning." Just came a grumpy response from Harry, but he happily kissed his girlfriend back.

"What's the matter with you guys? Didn't you like my wakeup call?" the brunette haired witch asked giggling.

"What did you do Mione?" Ginny asked her friend curios.

"Let's say their wakeup call was wet and cold." Hermione laughed and was soon joined by Ginny.

"That was you?" Harry asked his girlfriend.

"Of course, who else could've been it?" the brunette haired witch grinned at her boyfriend. Her grin faded when she saw him grinning malicious.

"Harry, what are you up to?" the brunette asked his boyfriend and baking away, before turning around and running , with her boyfriend right on her heels.

Neville and Ginny laughed about them and went into the direction of the great hall.

They four of them sat together in the great hall chatting happily. The boys had their wake up call already forgotten.

Hermione laughed with the others about something that Neville said, when she saw the faces of her friends sitting opposite of her went blank and they started at something behind her and her boyfriend. She could only guess who now stood behind Harry and her.

Slowly the new found couple turned around and of course Ronald bloody Weasley stood behind them looking quite nervous.

Harry and Hermione looked with grim faces at him. His sister and Neville looked equally dark at the redhead.

It wasn't until he opened his mouth and started to speak that their mines changed.

"Can I talk with you?" Ron asked with a girlish high pitched voice.

The four sitting in front of them first grinned at each other, then they started to chuckle and then they laughed out loud. Hearing the big boy with such a girly voice was hilarious.

Harry and Hermione now knew what Fred and George had done to him.

After they calmed down the new couple looked at each other, both understanding the unspoken message in each other's eyes as they turned around to turn him down.

"Please hear me out." Ron pleaded again in the girlish voice.

Hermione looked at him closely. He had hurt her pretty much and never apologized for the things he said. But a look in his eyes showed her that he was serious.

Harry also looked at his supposed to be best mate. He has hurt Hermione badly and also hadn't been the nicest person to him when the whole thing with being the triwizard champion happened. Plus he nearly ruined yesterday evening. But after a look in his eyes he also understood that he was sincere about this.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other conversing nonverbally and then turned to nod at Ron.

The redhead looked relived and said. "Let's go outside. There we can talk."

They all walked together out of the great hall. Ginny looked at her brother and called "Don't screw up again or you're going to have a big problem." Neville paled when he heard her voice. If Ron really was about to screw up again he would hate to be him.

Looking at his little sister Ron nodded, shivering visibly at this thought.

They stood for a few minutes in absolute silence, while trying not to look at each other. Harry became impatient. He wouldn't start talking. It was Ron who had asked them out here and he was the one who should start speaking. If he didn't start soon the black haired boy would take his girlfriend back inside. She was shaking from the cold, even with Harry wrapping an arm around her. Besides he wasn't that warm himself. It was December for hells sake and they weren't wearing anything else than their ordinary thin school robes.

Hermine was shaking like a leaf. Snuggling into her boyfriend she looked for some warmth. It was freezing out here. She hoped that Ron finally would open his mouth. He was the one who had to apologize and not them. This time she wouldn't make the first step, like always. Just gulping down what he had said to her.

"Um … you see … " Ron started to stutter in his girlish voice and continued "… I'm … sorry…"

"Sorry for what Ronald?" Harry asked, while pulling the shaking girl closer to him. He wasn't ready to forgive the redhead just because he said sorry.

Hermione didn't say anything, but also looked with a dark mine at Ron.

"Well … I'm sorry for acting like a brat…." The boy said, hoping that it was enough.

But it wasn't. Both were still standing in front of him and looking at him expectantly and Ron understood that it wasn't enough. He needed to say more.

First he addressed Harry, figuring it would be easier to talk to him first.

"Um … you see mate … I'm sorry for not believing you … I mean when that bloody goblet spit out your name … I acted like an idiot." Ron mumbled, lowering his head. Now that he thought about it – he really had been an idiot toward his best friend.

Harry nodded slowly. He accepted the apology, but that didn't mean he would go right now goody goody with Ron. Such things need some time. Besides, there was also his girlfriend, still shaking in his arms, that the read head owed an apology.

Ron let out a huge breath of relieve. Harry forgave him, at least more or less.

But there was still Hermione and it didn't look like she would forgive him that quickly.

Hermione snuggled deeper into Harrys side. She was freezing for Merlins sake. Good, Ron had apologized to her boyfriend and he accepted it, more or less. But he still had to tell her that he's sorry.

The black haired boy beside the brunette witch looked at her concerned. She was still shaking like a leaf. He gave a piercing glare to Ron, who, for once, understood the message – talk now, or you're going to regret it.

The redhead took a deep breath and opened his mouth to speak, but not a sound came out of it.

"Yes Ronald, do you want to say something?" Hermione questioned him, still seeking warmth of her boyfriend.

"Uhm … yes …" Ron started and cringed when he heard his girlish high pitched voice. He was going to get Fred and George for that. Of course, he had been a prat and deserved it, but still, he was their brother.

"I … I'm … I'm really sorry Hermione. Not just for yesterday, but also for the things I said a few weeks ago. That was unacceptable and I just hope that you'll forgive me." Ron said and didn't even dare to look up at Hermiones face. He nearly cringed when he thought about the things he said to her. The redhead actually looked like a beaten puppy.

Hermione looked down onto the redhead, pretty unsure what to do. Sure he said pretty hurtful things about her, but his apology seemed honest. And besides, they've been friends with him since their first year, even if he could act like a prat from time to time.

The brightest witch of her age turned to look at her boyfriend for support, seeking an answer in his emerald green eyes. He nodded slightly. That was enough for her. If Harry could forgive him, she could too.

"I'll accept your apology Ron, but you still have some making up to do, to both of us." With these words Hermione turned around, grabbed Harrys hand and they walked to the castle, before Ron even could say a word.

"Thank you Hermione." Ron said silently to himself and his eyes grew as large as sausages when he heard his voice. It was normal again. His brothers just wanted him to apologize to his friends. A large grin on his face Ron set off after his friends.

So, this was the last chapter. Thanks to all who read my story :)