"So how did I score?" Harry asked Hermione. He was still recovering from burns and a few broken bones. Even though he was hit with the same spells Cedric was, his injuries were somewhat more extensive, partly due to his smaller size and lighter weight. Stuck in the medical tent for another two hours, they finished the event without him on stage.
"Well, it was twenty-five points per win," explained Hermione. "But you didn't get much of a bonus because they said your spells, and power, were... lacking. Your final score was only thirty-two, out of a possible fifty."
"What? Hey, I'm smaller than them! And I have to say I did a pretty good job of predicting their spells and dodging them."
"Unfortunately, they couldn't exactly tell you were using legilimency, and I don't think you should let them know. Apparently they were looking for more magic out of you, instead of the muggle-ish ways of keeping yourself safe."
"It's a perfectly valid way to win a fight! Well, it's just a few stupid points anyways..." grumbled Harry. "How did the others do?"
"Cedric scored the highest, fifty points for two wins, and twenty out of twenty-five bonus points for his magic. That puts him one point ahead of you."
Harry nodded. At least that poor performance didn't put him completely out of the running just yet.
"Fleur got a total of forty-one points, and Krum got 69. He only got one less than Cedric because of he didn't have much variety in his spellwork, but his strength impressed the judges."
That put Harry and Cedric almost tied for last, with Krum a good distance ahead and Fleur was still in a commanding lead. It would really depend on the next trial.
"So did Bagman explain what was coming up next?" asked Hermione, eager to delve into more research.
"Yes... there's actually two events coming up for me..."
"What? Two trials? How's that possible? I thought there was only supposed to be one per month! Unless the one in February is going to be notoriously difficult or something and they wanted to give you even more time to prepare..."
"Uh, no, no... the next trial is the Trial of Water. I'll get on that in a bit. There's just another event before that... um... you'll hear about it in class on Monday, I think," Harry answered nervously. He didn't want to tell Hermione that there would be a fancy ball in three weeks, and the fact that he would have to open up with the leading dance with her... and he didn't know how to dance. He wasn't sure if Hermione knew how to dance, for that matter.
"What? Why don't you want to tell me?" asked Hermione.
"It's... um... Hermione, have you ever been on stage? I mean, in the spotlight in front of a crowd?" Harry tried to ask without giving anything away.
"What, are you getting stage fright after you fought three duels in the middle of a stadium?" Hermione giggled. "Harry, you can be so weird sometimes. Three hours ago you got it in your head that Krum was trying to kill you, but you go face him anyways. Now, when there's nothing to fear, you're worried?"
"That's not why I'm asking! I just want to know..."
"Fine... umm... the last time I was on stage was when I was little. My parents put me in ballet."
"Oh... so you've danced before?" Harry hoped the innocuous segue wouldn't give it away.
"Hardly," Hermione pouted. "I pretty much just stood on stage. My parents took me out of ballet class once they realized how much I hated it."
"Why were you just standing there? I thought you'd be... well, doing some dancing in ballet..."
"I couldn't do anything on stage. I was... the Christmas tree."
"Huh? A tree?"
Hermione hung her head down. "Why are you making me tell you this? It's so embarrassing! It was a Christmas story we were doing in ballet. I was so frozen on stage that the instructor ended up making me dress up as the Christmas tree so I barely had to do anything." She then added in a barely audible whisper, "And I still managed to screw it up." She almost broke down in tears, but calmed herself by changing the subject. "Forget about that stuff. It was before I really discovered my love of books, anyways. What's this extra event? You still haven't told me."
Harry saw how agonizing the memory was for Hermione. Evidently she didn't like to dance... and especially not on stage. Things were different this time, obviously. It was going to be a ballroom dance, not ballet. And she'd be dancing with her boyfriend. Was that enough to completely change her opinion? Well... to be sure, he would have to make things extra special for her. Tomorrow was Sunday, another Hogsmeade weekend... and Monday would be the New Year's Ball announcement to the rest of the students.
"Um... actually, you'll find out about it on Monday. Professor McGonagall should be announcing it to everyone in a House meeting."
"Why won't you just tell me now?" Hermione was getting annoyed.
"Um... secret?" Harry knew that if he told her now, he'd end up asking her to be his date immediately. It wasn't that he didn't want to go with her, but he wanted to do it in a better position- preferably not while lying on a cot inside a tent with his breath reeking of medical potions like Skele-Gro. "Also, I kind of have to go into Hogsmeade to run some errands by myself tomorrow..." Harry said. I should be able to order a few flowers, at least, he thought.
"What? I was hoping we would be able to get started on the Trial of Water right away, Harry! Let's face it, you don't even know how to swim!"
"I know... I'll make it up to you, I promise," said Harry. "Wait, I don't know how to swim! What am I going to do?"
"Well, I was going to help teach you," said Hermione. "But if you don't want to..."
Harry cringed. "I'll really, really, really make up for it. Really." I might have to throw in a new dress while I'm at it... in for a Knut, in for a Galleon...
Harry got up early the next morning, eager to make sure that Hermione would be delightfully surprised on Monday. I wonder why I'm putting so much effort into this, he thought. It's not even the dance. I'm just asking her to go to the dance. But then again, this is one really important dance... and I can't imagine going with anyone else. I can't give her any reason to possibly say no, he justified to himself. After getting a light breakfast, he began the long walk to Hogsmeade, alone. Along the path, he noticed a group of Beauxbatons students already on their way. As he passed, a familiar voice called out to him.
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