chap16pg4

�Hey Harry,� she said. �Do you want to� dance?� Harry flinched slightly.
�Alright, but I�m warning you, I am a terrible dancer, so I hope you wore your steel toed boots tonight� there�s going to be a lot of stepping on toes�� he told her. She giggled nervously, and they walked out onto the dance floor. Once they reached it, they faced each other.
�So, erm, do you know what I�m supposed to do?� Harry asked quietly. Hermione laughed softly at this, which made Harry feel even more embarrassed.
�Well, first you put your hands like this�� she said, taking his hands and placing them on her waist. Harry�s heart started beating very quickly. �And I put my hands like this,� she told him, putting her arms on his shoulders. �And then we just sort of, rock back and forth I suppose,� she laughed. They started moving with the music together, and Harry could feel himself tensing up. The last thing he wanted to do was to make a fool of himself. �Oh, come on, Harry!� Hermione laughed, �Loosen up!� She pulled closer to him, so close that Harry could feel her soft breathing on his neck, giving him goose bumps. He didn�t dare moving his hands any farther down her waist, but he tried to relax. He looked across the room at Ron, who was dancing with Lavender. He also looked very tense. Harry tried to remember that Hermione was only a friend, and that he shouldn�t be so nervous around her, but he couldn�t. He saw her in a whole new light now, knowing how pretty she could be.
She closed her eyes and put her head on his shoulder. Although they weren�t really dancing, Harry thought it was going well. However, almost as soon as it had started, the slow song ended and a faster song started up. Harry and Hermione broke apart, and then looked at each other. �I�ll go get us some punch.� Harry finally said after standing there silently for a bit.
�Alright,� Hermione said. Harry walked over to the drink table, and picked up two glasses of punch. He walked back over to Hermione, handing her the glass. Suddenly, Harry had an idea.
�Hey, Hermione, I was wondering,� Harry started. �Would you uh, like to go for a walk with me out in the garden?�
�I�d love to!� Hermione exclaimed. Harry smiled graciously at her, glad to not have to dance again. They walked out into the garden, surrounded by green trees and blooming flowers. A warm breeze rustled the leaves and fireflies danced in the air. Harry and Hermione walked along silently. Harry didn�t know what to say to her, he had never had trouble talking to her before, but for some reason, today was different. Harry couldn�t put his finger on it, but either way he still was too afraid to say anything.
�Do you want to sit on that bench over there?� Hermione asked suddenly, startling him slightly. He looked over to where she was pointing, and saw a small, stone bench situated underneath a wooden arbor. The arbor had pink and red flowers twisted through it, and fireflies floated lazily around it.
�Oh, ok,� he said unsurely. They walked over and sat down, staring out at the beautiful garden.
�It�s so pretty and romantic here, don�t you think?� Hermione said softly. Harry nodded, as he trying to figure out the mixed messages that Hermione was sending him. �This night has been really fun, Harry. I�m really glad you asked me to go with you.� Harry wondered how Hermione could be so direct with the statements she was making.
They looked at each other simultaneously. Harry stared deep into Hermione�s eyes, which seemed more hazel in the light, now that he was really studying them. Her lightly freckled face practically glowed in the moonlight, and her shiny, auburn hair reflected the dim lights around them. Harry was entranced, and for some reason, he couldn�t think properly.
�What are you thinking about?� Hermione asked abruptly. Harry, still staring at her, said the first thing that came to his mind.
�I�m thinking about how beautiful you are, and how I cant believe I never noticed how gorgeous you are before tonight,� he crooned softly. Hermione�s eyes widened in surprise, and then she blushed. However, they didn�t break eye contact.
�I never thought I�d be here, with you, like this,� Hermione whispered. She put her arms on his shoulders, and he welcomed it. He leaned in towards her and hesitantly placed his hands on her waist. They slowly leaned closer to each other. Harry�s heart started racing, but he couldn�t hold back any longer.