Yuletide Blessing

What if Hermione decided to teach Harry how to dance before the Yule Ball?

Warning: Includes scenes of sexual nature. Read at your own discretion.

Disclaimer: As usual – I claim no ownership of the Harry Potter world and its characters. I'm only here to play with it for my fun and yours. The rights are still belonging to J.K. Rowling and her business associates. I only own the few original characters added by me and the plot.

1 Yule Ball

It was the evening after professor McGonagall had told Harry about the Yule Ball. Being a champion, he would have to dance and he would need a partner for that. Harry didn't feel like dancing and dreaded the process of finding a partner. There were, of course, some girls who admired "The Boy Who Lived", seeing just the title, oblivious of the boy who carried it. He could probably ask any of them and they would gladly agree. Ginny Weasley and Romilda Vane came to mind. He felt like he could vomit at the thought. There were many other nice girls, he knew, but he wasn't close to any of them. Well, there was Hermione, of course. She was as smart as they come and was becoming quite a beauty. He had already noticed some older boys paying her attention. She had probably accepted one of them by now, he thought bitterly, surprised to feel that way.

He was just going into the common room when Hermione intercepted him. "We need to talk," she said, turning him around and grabbing his hand, walking back to the entrance hole.

"Can't we just talk here?" he asked plaintively.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Would I bother taking you out again if I thought we could?"

Harry followed her meekly. She opened the door to an unused classroom near the Gryffindor dorms, glanced quickly inside and then motioned Harry to follow her in. She locked and silenced the door before turning back to Harry.

Harry thought she looked very pretty at that moment. Her cheeks were flushed, her posture determined and her eyes blazing, although he didn't know why. "You're really beautiful," he blurted, not actually thinking of what he was saying.

Hermione's cheeks turned deeper red. "Well, thank you..."

"No, I really mean it," he said, making her blush even more.

Hermione took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She appreciated his compliment much more than she dared to admit even to herself, yet this was not a time to bask in it. Once she knew of the Ball she thought out a plan. It would help Harry, she was sure, and hopefully would help her as well. Both, really. "Harry, I know you need a dance partner for the Ball and I thought, maybe... I could fill that role." She couldn't believe that she was initiating a date with Harry, yet if she had to wait for him...

"I know a few dances, you see. I've taken some dance lessons before Hogwarts and even danced a bit during summer vacations, when my parents took me with them to a dentist convention. I can help you learn how to dance even if you'd rather take somebody el..."

"I'll take you to the ball," Harry stopped her from blabbering. "I thought you may already have a date, but I'll gladly be your date, if you'll take me." He felt something stir within, something he was unable to identify, yet it felt good.

Hermione beamed at him. "Thank you, fine sir, for the invitation. I'll do my best not to disappoint you," she said formally, with just a bit of mischief in her voice.

Harry smiled at her and took her hand in his. "Well, Milady, if you don't want me to step on your toes, you should really start teaching me."

Hermione lifted the hand he was holding and stepped closer, hugging him with the other. "Just put your hand on my back, near my hip," she instructed.

Harry followed her instructions, although his heart was starting to drum so loudly that he could hardly hear her. He wondered why she didn't say a thing about the noise. Little did he know that her heart was beating just as loudly.

By the time they returned to the common room, both wore wide smiles and Hermione's feet ached from being stepped over several times, yet she didn't mind. She had Harry for the Ball, and if things continued going that smoothly, she was planning to have him for much longer, maybe even for the rest of her life.

By mutual agreement, they decided to keep their date secret. Harry dreaded all the gossip this would generate and Hermione wasn't thrilled by it either. She wanted Harry to become much more than her friend, but she was in no hurry. As long as she kept him interested in her, she didn't need to escalate their relationship faster than she felt comfortable about.

They tried to spend as much time as possible on learning to dance together. Harry proved to be a good student, urged by his shame whenever he stepped on her toes. He also considered Hermione an excellent teacher. Having the chance to hug her for hours while practicing dancing was just a side benefit, wasn't it?

Ron was getting suspicious, though. His friends would disappear for hours on end, leaving him alone. He even went as far as looking for them in the library, to no avail. He confronted them one evening, when they returned to the common room, both tired and sweaty, despite the cold weather.

"Where do you disappear every evening? I was looking everywhere for you?"

Hermione looked at Harry, as if assessing the proper answer. "I'm helping Harry to learn how to dance. He needs to dance properly at the ball, you know."

"Why don't you teach me as well?" Ron moaned.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "First – you're not required to dance at the ball. You don't even have a date, if I've heard right. Second – Harry currently needs all the attention I can give, as he has never been to a Ball and has not even seen any dancing before."

Ron seemed like he wanted to argue some more, but Hermione's glare was forbidding. He just shrugged dejectedly and moved up the stairs to the boys' dorms.

Harry was going to follow suit, but Hermione stopped him, holding his hand. "Harry, I've just found a law book in the library. According to what I've read in it, I think you can ask for emancipation due to you being a champion in this tournament."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the tournament is intended only for of-age wizards and witches. By forcing you to take part in it, the ministry has practically declared you of-age. I think you should visit Gringotts during the holidays and check it."

"I don't plan to go home for the holidays. My relatives would be quite upset if I return there before the summer vacation."

"You don't need to go there. I'm sure my parents would be glad to get to know you. They already know about the troll. I just didn't tell them how big it was and how close to me."

"Are you sure? I mean, I'd love to visit your home, but I don't want to burden you or your parents." He really liked the idea, yet he dreaded meeting her parents. What if they didn't like him? He didn't want to lose her if her parents didn't approve. She was his best friend. Maybe even more than a best friend. How could he know?

"I've already told them about our dance lessons. I'm sure they will send you a formal invitation in a few days."

"Well, if you say so..."

"Do come! You won't regret it, I'm sure."

Harry smiled. They both knew he couldn't resist her, really. He would eventually do as she was asking so why even argue?

"Alright, I'll come if they invite me."

Hermione felt like giggling. She smiled brightly at Harry and then pecked his cheek, surprising them both, before saying "Goodnight!" and rushing to the stairs, hoping he didn't see her blushing.

Harry was still feeling the spot where her lips touched him, as if it was on a sweet fire. He didn't know what it meant, but he would not object to some more.

/\/\/\/\/\

As the date came nearer, who goes with whom was becoming the main topic of most discussions. Neville had asked Hermione to be his date, as did Seamus, Dean and Ron. Her answer, "I already have a date for the Ball," was not accepted kindly by Ron.

"Who would it be? Only another bookworm like her would be interested," he said loudly in the common room. Hermione was almost offended, yet Harry's hand pressing hers gave her the reassurance she needed and she pretended not to have heard Ron's words.

Some girls also approached Harry with a similar request. He also answered politely. "Had I not had a date already, I would have seriously considered taking you to the ball." Only Ginny seemed to have a difficulty accepting this answer.

Neville, although somewhat disappointed by Hermione's answer, was quick to notice that Ginny was still free. It didn't take him long to blushingly invite her. Ginny accepted his invitation with a blush of her own.

Harry got the official invitation from the Grangers a few days before the start of the winter vacation. Like all fourth year and up, Hermione had to stay for the Yule Ball, and Harry needed to take part being a champion, although by now it didn't look so ominous, and he would join Hermione on her visit to her parents only after Christmas. This still left them more than a week of vacation.

Hermione was the last to leave the girls' dormitory before the Ball. Most students had already left for the Great Hall, leaving Harry waiting alone in the common room. Some of the girls were sure that he had no real date, that he would just refrain from arriving at the ball, as most were thinking of Hermione.

When she finally descended the stairs, Harry's jaw dropped. The beauty coming down the stairs was breathtaking in her periwinkle dress, with her hair collected in an elegant bun over her head. The moderate neckline was showing enough to hint at the very feminine form hidden by the dress, which also accentuated her widening hips and her tight bum. Harry was sure that all the boys would envy him.

It was a really fabulous evening. Hermione attracted a lot of attention, as Harry had expected. The boys were stunned by her unexpected beauty and the girls envied her. Sitting at the champion's table, Hermione had a chance to brush her French a bit, speaking with Fleur, making both girls giggle. They danced mostly with each other for the rest of the Ball, but Hermione also danced once with each the other champions while Harry danced with their dates and with Fleur Delacour – the French female champion. He wondered why all boys were drooling on her. Fleur was quite nice, he agreed, but not even close to Hermione. When they exchanged places again, he noticed Fleur whispering something to Hermione, making her smile in delight. He wondered what they had to say to each other.

The common room was empty when they finally reached it. Both could hardly keep themselves awake, yet they didn't want to part either. Only the need to wake up early to catch the train forced them apart. Hermione thanked Harry for the wonderful evening and kissed his cheek, not as lightly as the first time. This was enough to make Harry smile throughout the rest of the night and wake up from a very pleasant dream.

It was odd to ride the train without Ron, who stayed at Hogwarts with his siblings, as did many other students. Harry was thankful that Malfoy didn't seem to board the train either, leaving them alone. It felt really nice to sit so close to Hermione, hug her shoulder and feel her leaning on him. It only widened the smile he was sporting since the previous night.

They talked softly. Harry wanted to know some more about the Granger family and Hermione was eager to tell, quite unlike her normal behavior at school. Harry was not as content when she asked about his home life. He evaded the question, though. "I've just remembered you said something about emancipation and Gringotts. We then talked about spending this vacation with your parents and I forgot about this. Can you elaborate?"

This seemed to be the right way to act, as Hermione turned into her lecture mode. "You see, once the Ministry forced you to compete, it actually made you a legal adult. As such, you are entitled to live wherever you choose and not be restricted by a guardian. You can finally leave the Dursleys!"

Harry's delight at hearing this was short lived. "Where else would I go? I have nowhere to live and no money. My relatives would just be glad to get rid of me if they hear of this. As much as I don't like it, their house is the only home I can remember."

Hermione felt furious at hearing this, but kept her expression calm. "I'm sure your parents left you some money and you can probably live in the house where you've got the scar, even if it may need some repair. Sirius may also have someplace where you can live and I'm sure Gringotts will have all the information you need. We should go there as soon as possible. Maybe even tomorrow."

"You'll come with me?" he asked-begged.

"Of course I will!" she assured him, making him smile again.

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