Harry Potter and the Goblet of Love

With a pocket full of galleons and a newfound fire in his heart, Harry headed to Hogsmeade to buy Hermione the ultimate present. The village was not as crowded as he expected, probably due to the soulmate search occupying their minds more so than Hogsmeade. Therefore, he found maneuvering his way through the stores to be quite easy. In less than an hour, he how found the perfect present and decided to go to Zonko's for a bit. They were having a Valentine's Day special on prank love letters for your enemies that would spit red ink in their face when they read them. Harry considered getting one and sending it to Malfoy, but he didn't think Hermione would approve.

Upon leaving the joke shop, he saw an unusual sight. Professor Severus Snape, whom he had never seen outside of the castle grounds, was walking with a very circumspect manner into a store called Madame Moser's Memorabilia. Harry could not help but wonder what he was up to, and decided to investigate. He snuck over to the dirty window in the corner of the shop and peeked in. The store was dim and had a strange appearance to in. Snape moved between the shelves of various items, walked up to the counter, and rung the bell. A moment later, a short, thin woman with purple hair appeared behind the counter. Harry could just barely hear their voices from inside the shop. Snape seemed to be looking for something.

"Do you have it?" he asked Madame Moser in a voice that was entirely not his own. This voice sounded nervous and considerably less cold.

"Right here, Professor," she said, reaching behind the counter and pulling out a large, leather-bound book with a latch around it. The Hogwarts crest was embroidered on the bind, and below it was written the year 1968. It looked to Harry like a school yearbook.

"Thank you for holding it, Janice," he said quietly. "I never thought I'd have the want to look at it again."

"No problem, Professor," she replied. "I bewitched it with a conservative spell that should have kept it in perfect condition."

"Very good, very good," said Snape, dropping a silver sickle on the counter. "Thank you for your trouble. Good day, my lady."

Since when does Snape have those types of manners? Harry wondered, watching as Snape concealed the yearbook within his robes.

Harry was forced to duck down behind a bench near the shop as Snape made for the door. He stayed there until the Potions Master had left and was clean out of sight. Once it was safe, he followed the path back up to the castle to find Ron and tell him what he had seen.

"Why would Snape want an old yearbook?" Ron wondered aloud, after Harry had told him the story.

"I don't know," Harry replied. "It's really strange. I mean, I never thought of Snape caring about his years as a student, as shameful as they were."

"I still say he's demented," Ron said, shaking his head. "Perhaps he was having some sort of relapse."

"Maybe," said Harry. "Anyway, did your mom send you some new dress robes?"

Ron rolled his eyes.

"Maroon, as usual. What about you?"

"Bought some new ones before term started. Have you talked to Hannah, today?"

Ron blushed.

"Well, there was only a little bit of talking involved."

Harry gave him a disapproving look.

"Really, Ron," he said. "You ought to at least go on a date with a girl before you jump on her and start making out."

"Sure, sure, whatever you say, Harry," Ron grinned. "By the way, have you talked to Hermione?"

Harry sighed. He had been avoiding this subject with Ron since that morning when Harry had found the parchment. The truth was, he was terrified to go near Hermione, and he assumed she must have been feeling the same way because he had not seen any of her all day. He wasn't sure he would be able to face her at the ball that night.

"Well?" Ron pressed the subject.

"No, I haven't," Harry replied reluctantly.

Ron clicked his tongue.

"It's not your wedding day, Harry, you can see her before the ball."

Harry shook his head.

"No I can't, Ron."

"And why not?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Fine, then," Ron said. "But I expect you two to be a couple by tomorrow."

Before Harry could utter another word, Ron fled the dormitory.

Stupid git, Harry thought, and went to unpack his dress robes.

The Common Room was, how you say, chaotic that evening. Students were dashing about from place to place, looking for a dropped earring or their breath mints. First years wined, girls giggled, older students made out in the corners, and any female who had reached puberty was going bonkers over their hair. It was simply a madhouse. Harry and Ron avoided it all by playing Wizard Chess up in their dormitory until time for the ball.

"Knight to A6," Ron commanded.

The small figurine moved across the board, drew up its mace, and smashed Harry's rook to pieces.

"Damn," Harry said, trying to contemplate how he was going to get out of this rather grim situation. Before he could, however, Ginny Weasley appeared in the doorway. She was dressed in a beautiful emerald gown that complemented her hair, which was pulled back in a tight bun with two curls of red hair moving down either side of her cream-colored face.

"You boys better get moving," she said. "Wouldn't want to keep Hermione waiting would we Harry?"

She winked at him and dashed out of the room.

"Okay," Ron said to her back. "I'm locking her in room and not letting her watch any more soap operas."

"Yeah well, we probably should get going," Harry replied, though he was feeling a bit anxious about the ball.

"Right behind you mate," Ron said, and the left the dormitory.

The Great Hall was a magnificent sight. Thousands of miniature hearts were floating in the air accompanied by the usual floating candles. The floor was set up much like the Yule Ball, with dozens of round tables around the edge of a large ballroom floor. Where the teacher's table usually sat was a grand stage, where the newest wizard band, Jim and the Broken Wands, was performing for the guests that had already arrived. A few students were gathered on the dance floor already, enjoying the music of the band.

Harry and Ron arrived with a few other students from Gryffindor Tower, among them, Seamus, Neville, and Ginny. The group seated themselves at a nearby table and ordered their dinner for the night. While they waited for their orders to be filled, Ginny and her friends got up to listen to the music while Harry, Ron, and the other seventh-years talked about life after Hogwarts.

The food came, and it was the most delicious meal any of them had had in ages. Harry felt so full after eating that he thought he might vomit if he tried to dance. However, that thought was quickly erased from his mind with the appearance of one person.

He had just downed the rest of his drink when he heard his name called from behind him. The sound of the voice and the gentle breath that followed sent chills running down his spine. He turned to face the newcomer, and the sight of her knocked the wind from him.

Hermione was standing there, but it was not the usual appearance that most would associate with her. An elegant ruby gown fell tight about her curvaceous frame, a sight that made many males in the room grow uncomfortable in their pants, and the gown came to rest around her feet, where she wore matching-colored high heels. Her hair was a gentle cascade of chestnut curls forming a cocoon around her beautiful face that was tinged with just the slightest bit of make-up. Harry was astounded by her beauty, and found it hard to believe that this gorgeous creature was here for him.

Almost forgetting his manners, Harry quickly jumped to his feet and took her hand in his.

"May I have this dance, my lady?" he asked, smiling, his eyes locked with hers.

"I thought you'd never ask," she replied, returning his smile with her own winning one.

Harry grinned and led her out on to the dance floor, where a slow song was conveniently playing. As soon as Harry grabbed her around the waist and took the first step of their dance, he was in heaven, a very clumsy heaven, as he was still not a good dancer, but it was heaven nonetheless. As their gentle movements took them sailing around the dance floor, their eyes never left eachother, and supreme joy and enamor never left those eyes. Harry and Hermione were in their own little world, a world in which only they existed, and they were completely unaware that everyone it the Great Hall, including the unusually quiet Professor Snape and the often snotty Draco Malfoy (who had learned with fury that his soulmate was in fact a muggle-born). Nothing else mattered at that moment, except that they had eachother in their arms, finally.

Subconsciously, the music was keeping time with their tempo, for as it slowed, so did they. Just before the song concluded Harry leaned in gently, and did the one thing that had been building up inside of him for so long. He kissed Hermione, long and hard on the lips. Showing her own signs of gratitude, she returned the kiss, and they both shared their first long, passionate kiss with the person they knew was their one true love...and they were sure to make it known.

When the kiss had ended, Harry whispered in Hermione's ear, "I love you, Hermione Granger. You're the only girl for me."

She smiled back at him and gave him another short kiss.

"Thank you, Harry Potter," she said. "I feel the same way about you."

"Then can I ask you something?" he inquired.

"Certainly, Harry," she answered.

"Will you marry me?"

Hermione's eyes went wide with a mixture of shock and confusion. Harry then pulled out the present he had bought her in Hogsmeade: a gold, diamond ring. She stared at it like someone had offered her life itself.

"Oh, Harry, I mean...yes, yes of course I'll marry you!"

He beamed at her and caught her lips in another passionate kiss, love burning in their hearts and willing itself to never go out. The perfect couple, if ever there was one, had finally been made, and they were lost in each other's love, completely oblivious to the cheers and applause going on around them.

The End