Masay De Aiden

"MASAY DE AIDEN"

Chapter Three-The Dance

The next morning at breakfast, the Great Hall was buzzing more than usual.

I sat down across from Harry and Ron.

"What's up?" I asked, looking from Harry to Ron.

"Dunno. Professor Dumbledore's supposed to announce a surprise or something," said Ron, looking up at the head table.

"I reckon it has something to do with the tournament," said Harry, glancing over at Cho with a glazed look.

I bristled, but said nothing.

I wanted so badly to tell him, but not in front of Ron.

"Your eyes just fell out of your head, mate," said Ron laughing. "Need help putting them back in?"

Harry blushed.

I turned my face away toward the head table, hoping that Harry and Ron couldn't see my expression.

Professor Dumbledore was talking with Professor McGonagall, then he stood up.

"I have a special surprise for the volunteers of the Masay De Aiden Tournament!"

The hall quieted down.

"I am pleased to announce a dance will be held on Friday, April the 12^th from seven o'clock till midnight. Those that volunteered may ask whom ever they please to attend. The dance is open to everyone from third year and above,"

The Hall broke out into the buzzing again.

"A dance? Wow. I hope it's not like another Yule Ball," said Ron shaking his head. "The last time we had a dance it was last year."

"Yeah," said Harry. "Now we've got to figure out how to go about asking girls again."

I narrowed my eyes.

"It's really not that hard, you know,"

Harry looked up at me.

The feast began. Ron began digging into eggs, sausage and bacon. He apparently didn't hear me, but Harry did.

"Just go up to the girl you want to ask and say, 'Would you like to go to the dance with me?' and there you go," I said.

"It's the part about going up to the girl that we have trouble with," said Harry.

"'Arry's right," said Ron through a mouthful of eggs. "I don't fancy going up to a strange girl."

I turned my eyes onto him.

"Then don't. Why don't you just ask a girl you know? Sounds simple enough," I said.

I was hoping Ron would ask Lavender, so Harry could ask me.

Ron and Harry looked at each other.

"She's right. It would be a lot easier," said Harry.

I exhaled loudly.

A dreamy expression came across his face.

"I reckon I'll ask Lavender,"

I began day dreaming about Harry asking me...He corners me in the hallway.

"Hermione, would you like to go to the dance with me?"

I nod and grin.

Then, on the night of the dance, I'm dressed in a lilac colored dress robe; my hair is straight and then curled. I had matching eye shadow on and clear lipgloss. He and I are dancing and grinning...

"I'm going to try and ask Cho again this year. I mean, I know she misses Cedric. I don't want to cause her any weird feelings,"

I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of Harry's voice.

Nice. This is really nice.

I thought sarcastically. Who am I supposed to go with? Myself? I suppose I could ask Justin to go...

"Yeah. I don't think you'd want her mad at you, huh Harry?" asked Ron laughing.

Again Harry blushed.

"I'll take that as a no!"

I sat and picked at my food.

Ron stopped laughing finally and turned to me.

"Hey, what's wrong, Hermione?"

"Nothing. I'm just not feeling to well. My arm is still hurting slightly," I muttered.

"Maybe it was because you rode last night," said Harry seriously turning his eyes onto me.

I dropped my fork and it clattered onto my plate. I stood up, placing my palms face down on the table and leaned forward; my hair falling over my face.

"Or maybe it's because I'm invisible," I said, coldly. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go visit the horses before Potions."

I turned and walked out of the Great Hall.

As I was leaving, I heard Ron say, "Something's bothering her. She's not normally this moody,"

I just kept going.

Naturally, he was right. I wasn't. But this thing with Cho was bothering me. I could not shake it off. If I remembered, the last time I was like this was when Ron accused me of going with Victor Krum only to betray Harry. He constantly said that Victor was a spy and wanted to find out information on Harry for the Tri-Wizard Tournament in our fourth year.

I was jealous that Harry liked Cho. But the thought of telling him how I really felt scared me more. I was just more worried about losing him as a friend. I couldn't take that.

Surprisingly I felt tears forming in my eyes as I walked briskly out of the castle and out onto the grounds to Hagrid's hut.

Hagrid was outside with the horses grooming them. He was working on the dark bay horse.

"'Ermione! How yeh doing?" asked Hagrid, looking up cheerfully.

"I'm fine," I grumbled, opening the gate and stepping into the paddock.

I closed the gate behind me and locked it.

"I don' think yeh fine. Summat's bothering you. I can see it plain as day," said Hagrid, softly.

I went over to my horse and began stroking her mane. She arched her neck around and gently nipped at the sleeve of my robe. Hagrid came up beside me and handed me the currycomb, which loosens the hair, and brush. I began gently working the comb, loosening the loose hair.

"Is it because of the tournament?" asked Hagrid.

"No," I said, exhaling loudly. "It's about Harry."

"Ah. What has he gone and done now? Did he get himself into trouble?" asked Hagrid, sighing.

"No. He's not in trouble...at least not with the school," I took a deep breath and began telling him about my feelings.

"I'm jealous that Harry likes Cho. I want to tell him so badly how I feel. But I'm afraid that he doesn't feel the same way. Then, I'd feel like a totally git. I don't want to loose him, Hagrid. I'd rather have him as a best friend than loose him," I said sighing as I continued to comb the horse.

"So thas' it, 'Ermione," said Hagrid softly "I've known yeh for four years now. I know 'Arry would never hurt his best friend."

"I know. I don't want to say anything in front of Ron. I'd be nervous as it is telling Harry," I said, turning to Hagrid.

"Then pull Harry aside. It'll work out. Don' worry, 'Ermione. Yeh'd best be getting to Potions. Snape'll be thrilled to take points from Gryffindor," said Hagrid winking.

I smiled and left the paddock.

I entered Potions class a minute before the bell rang. I slid into my seat in between Ron and Harry. Luckily, Snape's back was to the class and he didn't see me. Malfoy threw me a crooked grin.

I ignored him.

Snape turned around and faced the class.

"For today's potion, you'll need a Krecken," said Professor Snape as his dark eyes roamed over the classroom.

A Krecken was similar to a bat used in Potions to help those who are under the Imperius curse.

We got to working on the potion.

After Potions, we headed to Transfigurations class.

I told Professor McGonagall that my arm was all right now and I could participate in the tournament.

She said that I still needed to take it easy, but if I was sure I could handle the tournament, I could go a head.

I nodded.

She informed me that Thursday would be a test run. Little did she know I already had a test run late at night.

I was leaving her class when I saw Harry and Ron talking to Cho and Lavender. I inhaled deeply and waited, watching them carefully.

Ron broke out into a grin.

Okay...does that mean he's going with her? What's with Cho and Harry?

I turned my eyes onto Cho and Harry. Harry was saying something to her. She shook her head and looked upset. She said something to him, and then she and Lavender headed off down the corridor. I exhaled and nonchalantly walked toward them.

"Hi! What's going on?" I asked.

"Lavender's going with me to the dance," said Ron cheerfully.

"Great! And Harry? What did Cho say?" I asked, forcing a smile.

"She said she's sorry, that she's going with Justin," said Harry quietly. "The second time she turned me down."

I felt bad, but on the other hand, I felt happy.

I tried not to break into a smile, so I put on my best sympathetic expression and tried to look concerned.

"I don't know, Harry. Maybe she doesn't like you," I offered.

"I'm beginning to get that feeling myself. Listen, want to go with me?" asked Harry raising his eyes to mine.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest.

"Um sure. Okay," I said, smiling.

He still looked slightly upset. Now I was beginning to feel guilty.

Friday night came so fast. I was in Gryffindor tower getting ready.

I was wearing a light lilac colored dress robe with a round neck with embroided flowers. I had applied light pink eye shadow and clear lipgloss. I don't normally wear makeup like this, but tonight, I was going to pull Harry aside and tell him how I felt. I had mulled over the thought and mulled over it until I had finally decided that I was going to tell him. I was just totally nervous right now. I had borrowed the make up from Parvati. My hair hung against my shoulders and was slightly curly. I took a deep breath and walked out of the girls' dorm and down to the common room.

Ron and Lavender were already there and they were talking. Lavender was wearing a pink dress robe. Her hair was pulled into a braid.

Ron's navy dress robe looked new. I stepped into the common room. Ron looked up.

"Hey! You look nice!" said Ron brightly.

"Thanks. Have you seen Harry yet?" I asked, clasping my hands behind my back.

"Yeah. He should be coming down any moment," said Ron.

Lavender gave me a smile and then the two of them began talking.

Sure enough, five minutes later, Harry entered the common room. He was wearing a rich forest green dress robe that really brought out his eyes. He looked up at me and his eyes widened.

"Wow. You look nice, Hermione," said Harry.

"Thanks. Are you ready?" I asked.

"Yup," said Harry.

The four of us began walking down to the Great Hall. It was decorated similar to when it housed the Yule Ball. The house flags were displayed on the wall. Streamers hung down from the ceiling, as well as multicolored balloons. The rest of the students were already there. There were about 100 round tables, seating 4. The head table had a gold tablecloth over it. The teachers were seated in their usual seats. Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Please sit,"

We all sat at a nearby table and waited as the Hall got quiet.

"First, there will the feast. Then, afterwards, dancing!" said Professor Dumbledore cheerfully.

The Hall exploded with cheers and clapping.

The food appeared on all the tables and talk began.

"Man, this is the best food!" said Ron, heaping a large portion of rice onto his plate.

"Just don't touch anymore food the elves cook up. Remember the last time you did," said Harry, laughing.

(A/N: I couldn't resist putting that in from "Raspberry Fear". I still laugh every time I read it J)

We all laughed.

Ron turned pink.

"Yeah. Trust me. I won't,"

I glanced at Harry, then my watch. It was 7:30. I was wondering if I should tell him now.

Before I got a chance to decide, Harry leaned close.

"Hermione? Can I talk to you?"

I nearly choked on my meatloaf and began coughing.

"Whoa. Are you alright?" asked Harry, lighting patting me on my back.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Sure, what do you want to talk to me about?" I asked as I stopped coughing and took a sip of water.

"Can I talk to you in private?"

My heart really began pounding now.

"Um, alright," I said as I stood up.

Harry did also and we left the Great Hall.

We went outside into the courtyard and sat on one of the stone benches. The sky was pink and the crescent moon was starting to become visible in the sky. We sat next to each other.

Harry cleared his throat.

"I just wanted to thank you for coming with me tonight. I really didn't want to go with a stranger,"

He fell silent and stared at the ground.

That's what he wanted to talk to me about?

I recovered.

"Oh. Yeah. No problem," I said, biting my bottom lip. "I need to talk to you too."

Harry turned his eyes onto me.

I took a deep breath.

"I think it's a good thing that Cho turned you down again,"

Harry looked at me like I was bonkers.

He went to say something, but I held up my hand.

"Wait. Please, let me finish."

He nodded and fell silent.

"The reason why I think it's a good thing is because now someone who really does like you and love you can ask you out,"

Harry raised his eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Answer me honestly. Would you want a girl who doesn't care about you to go out with you? Regardless of her looks,"

Harry sighed.

"No,"

I swallowed.

"There is someone out there who does love you and care about you,"

Harry raised his eyes to mine.

"Really? Do I know her?"

"Yes and yes,"

Harry frowned deep in thought.

"Who is it?"

Again, I swallowed.

"Me,"

Before Harry could reply, a loud shrill whinny erupted. We both looked up as one of the horses had broken loose from the paddock and was galloping full speed toward us. The ears were laid back and the whites of the eyes were showing. The thunder of hooves was loud. The horse was aimed directly for us like a bullet. Without hesitating, Harry grabbed me and we dove off the bench with Harry landing directly on top of me. We felt the horse jump over us and right through one of the windows of the Great Hall. Glass showered the grass. We heard the screams inside the Hall.