"Not before you make yourself look like a fool, and at least then we'll share the experience," Hermione laughed. "Is this why you bought all this? Just because you were afraid I would say no? Harry, were you trying to bribe me?" She gave him a disapproving look.
"I'm sorry! I mean, no! That's not the only reason. Well, when Fleur explained it, it made sense..."
"What is it with that girl?" Hermione put on her annoyed face again. "If I didn't know better, I'd think she was trying to snatch you away from me."
"She's... actually interested in Cedric. She told me in Hogsmeade. Anyways, when she heard about what a horrible boyfriend I've been, she and her friends suggested that I make it up to you with this date."
"How did she get that idea? You're far from horrible, Harry," she reassured him.
"Well, maybe not horrible, but unsatisfactory. At least, to her standards. So I followed her advice... and I wanted to make this date absolutely perfect for you, Hermione. You have to admit that we haven't done much together other than study and train together... and a Hogsmeade weekend or two."
"You didn't have to do all this for me!" She laughed as she hugged him. "Although, I wouldn't mind more of it... so what's the gift?"
"Open it." Harry handed the box to her. Hermione carefully took off the wrapping, making sure she wouldn't tear any of it. Lifting the lid off the small box revealed a pair of silver earrings with a hefty sapphire that dangled from a thin chain. "I was hoping you'd wear these for the ball."
"These look fabulous, Harry!" She held one delicately in her hands, still afraid to put it on. "You didn't have to do this for me!"
"Maybe not, but I wanted to. I know how much you were teased about your looks before. They might not be so brash about it any more now that everyone knows you're dating the Boy-Who-Lived..."
"What they say doesn't matter to me, Harry, as long as you still love me."
"I know, but this time, I want you on stage with me, and I want to let everyone see how beautiful you are to me. Everything they've been saying behind your back, Hermione, I want to prove them wrong." Harry was going right into his loving, protective mode as he embraced Hermione. She let him hold her, keeping quiet as he got to play the knight in shining armour for her. A thought struck her that she couldn't keep to herself.
"You know, we'd still end up looking like fools if neither of us can dance."
"Do you know anyone who can teach us? And in less than three weeks! This is going to be horrible!"
"Don't sweat it, Harry. You've learned harder things in less time. We can always stick to something basic. We can probably ask Professor McGonagall."
"Let's do that tomorrow," Harry said as he waved his hand lazily. They lay together on the bed, munching on Honeyduke's finest dark chocolate bar, until the door swung open. Neville came walking in. Seeing both of them, he sighed in relief.
"There you are, Harry! Hermione walked into the tower almost as soon as you left, and I had no idea when you would be back. I thought it would be best if she just waited for you here."
"Thanks Nev, I think it did turn out to be the best." Harry smiled at him. "Want some chocolate?"
"Thanks," Neville said as he took a piece. "I'm just glad you two found each other. Where did you go, Harry?"
"Oh, when you mentioned that Hermione was doing research or something for the Trial of Water, I thought she might have gone down to the Black Lake... I flew around there, but didn't see her." Turning to Hermione, he asked, "Where did you go, anyways?"
"Room of Requirement. You didn't think I'd be crazy enough to jump in the lake when it's this cold out, did you?" Seeing Harry dart his eyes away, she laughed. "You did! Oh, Harry, there's far better ways to learn how to swim, you know!"
"Wait, you were in the Room? But why didn't I see a door? And what kind of room did you make?"
"A swimming pool, obviously. Heated water, at the perfect temperature, of course. I... uh... kept the door hidden and locked because I was kind of afraid that someone would find me, actually."
"Why?"
"Uh..." Hermione glanced nervously at Neville. "I was wearing a bikini."
Harry's eyes bulged out as he imagined Hermione wearing the skimpy swimwear. Neville just looked confused. "What's a bikini?"
"It's a muggle thing. I didn't want anyone walking in on me because, well, you know how old-fashioned wizarding society is..." Harry was still silent, his imagination running wild. Hermione punched him in the arm. "Harry, if you stop daydreaming for a second I'll actually bring you there with me. You need to get started on swimming lessons."
Harry's mouth hung agape until he finally managed to say, "But I don't have a swimsuit..."
Hermione leaned in and whispered, "Neither did I. I wasn't expecting to go swimming at school, you know, so I just transfigured my bra and knickers."
Harry's lips curved into a dumb smile as his eyes glazed over. "Uh... how... when... when?" he managed to ask.
"Well, swimming takes quite a bit of effort to learn, so I think we'll have to practice every day for the next month..."
Harry let out a little gurgle of happiness as he stared at the ceiling. Neville looked curiously at him. "You know, if he has to swim for the next trial, why doesn't he try some gillyweed?"
Hermione was surprised that Neville had mentioned something she'd never heard of before... not in this lifetime, at least. "What does gillyweed do?"
"Oh, it kind of turns you into a merperson temporarily. Well, you don't get the fish tail, but you do grow gills and fins on your feet, and you'll be much more comfortable with the water temperature and stuff. It's only found in the Middle East, though, so it might be hard to get," Neville explained.
"Thanks, Neville! That might be just what he needs! Although, I would still like to give him swimming lessons, just in case the effects of the gillyweed don't last long enough." That was more of an excuse, however, as she fully intended to taunt and tantalize Harry with her newfound power.
"I'll see if I can order some with the same company that I used for the eyesight potion," Harry said as he finally recovered.
"Welcome back, Harry," Neville chuckled. "Seriously, what made you drool like that? Does it have something to do with that bikini thing Hermione mentioned?"
Hermione gave him a wicked smile, and said, "You know what, Neville? Meet us in the Room of Requirement after class, just like we did with Harry's duelling training. Bring Luna, of course."
The next morning, when Harry woke up he already couldn't wait for classes to finish. Down in the Great Hall, he noticed something odd- people weren't looking at him with as much hostility as before. Some of the Ravenclaws, who had been mostly cold and indifferent. The Hufflepuffs were the biggest change, by far. For the past few weeks before the duels, they were still unfriendly, but restrained, thanks to Cedric. This morning a few of them seemed apologetic. As he made his way to the Gryffindor table, he overheard a few conversations.
"...best Defense professor in five years, and friendlier than Moody..."
"...says that Dumbledore would let him become one? He's fought two wars!"
"What a load of bollocks. He saved that girl, didn't he?"
He sat down, wondering what was going on. Fred walked up to him, saying, "Don't worry, Harry. We've always known that Skeeter was a bit daft."
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