The following days passed in a blur of activity. With the Yule Ball approaching, Hogwarts was buzzing with excitement.
Students whispered about potential dates, fretted over their dress robes, and debated the music choices rumored to play during the event.
The castle halls seemed livelier, filled with an undercurrent of anticipation for the event, as it was something new for Hogwarts.
Hermione and I found moments between classes to sneak in some dance practice. Dancing wasn't something I'd ever done before, not even in my previous life, so I was excited for it.
Hermione, ever the perfectionist, had insisted we get it right. She borrowed a guidebook on ballroom dancing from the library, and we set up our own little practice sessions in unused classrooms.
"Relax your shoulders, Harry," Hermione said, placing her hands on them gently to guide me. "If you're too stiff, it'll look awkward." To my surprise, the correction felt intuitive, as if my body already knew how to adjust under her touch, and I followed her guidance with ease.
Hermione had taken some dance classes in the past, so with her help it was easy for me to learn. And I seemed to be a natural at this as well, considering the ease at which I could pick up dance moves.
I chuckled, teasing her as I spun us into position. "Easy for you to say. You've probably read half a dozen books on dancing already."
"Only about Ten," she admitted with a small smile, stepping back into position. "Now, let's try that spin again."
With practice, we quickly found our rhythm. Dancing with Hermione felt natural. By the end of our second session, we were laughing and moving in sync, a marked improvement from our first awkward attempts.
There was an undeniable tension between us, though. Every time our hands brushed, or our eyes met for just a moment too long, my heart raced. At one point, when I spun her, and she landed close to me, we both froze. Her cheeks flushed pink, and I took a step back, pretending to adjust my footing.
"Not bad, Potter," she teased, her tone light, though her smile seemed softer than usual. "You're picking this up faster than I expected."
"What can I say? I'm a natural," I replied with a grin, earning an eye roll from her.
Outside of dance practice, I spent some time considering my dress robes. I had already ordered a custom set from Madam Malkin's, opting for something classic yet elegant, in a deep emerald green trimmed with silver accents. It wasn't overly flashy, but had a certain elegance I liked.Hermione, for her part, was trying to keep her dress a secret. "You'll just have to wait and see," she told me with a teasing smile whenever I asked. I could tell she was excited, though. Her eyes lit up every time the ball came up in conversation, and I caught her humming softly to herself more than once while studying.Of course, I already had a good idea of what dress she'd wear, thanks to my knowledge of the movies, but who knew? Things here weren't always the same. Either way, I was sure she'd look stunning.Meanwhile, the rest of Gryffindor Tower was abuzz with preparations. Ron, ever the procrastinator, hadn't even thought about asking someone to the ball yet. "It's just a dance," he grumbled when I pointed it out. "Why's everyone making such a big deal?""Because it's more than just a dance," Hermione said with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "It's a chance to celebrate and make memories."
This was another thing that happened, Ron apologized to me and I forgave him, but differently from the original Harry. My friendship with him now had changed from being best friends to more like just how I was with the rest of my year mates.
He also apologized to me a lot later than in the canon, as I remember that he became friends with harry again after the first task and not this late. I guess these were just small changes that were happening due to me.
But given that I wasn't interested in us going back to how we were in the past and because of the growing bond between Hermione and me, he had himself not tried too hard to get close to me.
Ron rolled his eyes but didn't argue further, though later I noticed him casting furtive glances at various girls during meals. Ginny, on the other hand, had already been asked by Neville, much to her delight. "He's nervous about it," she confided to me one evening. "But I think it'll be fun."
As the yule ball came close, the students became that much more excited. Some teachers, like Professor Flitwick, gave up trying to teach them when it became clear that their minds were elsewhere.
He allowed us to play games in his lesson on Wednesday, and spent the lecture praising me for the spell that I had used during the first task.
Other teachers were not so accommodating. Professor Binns, for instance, remained entirely unmoved by the holiday spirit, continuing to drone on about goblin rebellions.
Considering that Binns hadn't let something as significant as his own death deter him from teaching, it was hardly surprising that something like this wouldn't either.
Professors McGonagall and Moody pushed us to work right up until the final moments of their classes, leaving no room for slacking. Snape, predictably, was just as strict.
Some students were still without dates, and as time went by, they became more and more nervous about whom they might have to go with.
Predictably, I became a very popular option for girls to go on a date with. And I had been approached continuously by many girls from the first day when yule ball was announced.
The first girl approached me during lunch in the Great Hall. Her blonde hair shimmered under the enchanted ceiling as she smiled nervously.
"Hi, Harry," she began, her voice a little shaky. "I was wondering if… well, if you'd like to go to the Yule Ball with me?"
I gave her a small smile, appreciating her courage. "Thanks, but I already have someone in mind."
Her face fell slightly. "Oh, of course. No problem. Good luck, then!" she said before hurrying off, with some tears already appearing in her eyes.
The second attempt came later in the day, this time in the courtyard. A Ravenclaw girl, who I vaguely remembered was named Amanda, stopped me on my way to the library.
"Harry," she said, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I just wanted to say you were amazing during the First Task. And I was wondering… would you consider being my date for the ball?"
I hesitated, not wanting to hurt her feelings. "That's really kind of you to say, Amanda, but I've already promised someone else."
Her shoulders sagged a little, but she gave me a gracious nod. "I understand. Whoever it is, they're really lucky."
The third time happened after dinner, when Romilda Vane cornered me near the Gryffindor common room.
"Harry," she said confidently, flipping her dark hair over her shoulder. "You don't have a date yet, do you? Because if not, I'd be happy to go with you."
I resisted the urge to sigh, keeping my tone polite. "Thanks, Romilda, but I've already made plans."
She frowned, not expecting to be being turned down. "Really? With whom?"
"I'd rather keep it private for now," I replied, stepping around her. "But thanks for asking."
And so on it went, with me rejecting girls continuously throughout the days while keeping up my dance practice with Hermione.