Lucius and Narcissa had spent very little time visiting their unconscious son before they had to go home to hide in their embarrassment. Draco Malfoy would spend the next week inside of the hospital wing lying on his front because he couldn't sit on his arse. Throughout that week George, Fred, Hermione, and Harry were at work on a new product. Or, three products. A giant squid action figure, a Hungarian horntail action figure, and a Draco Malfoy action figure which also turned into a hairless ferret. They also sold a small net and the squid and dragon would then play ping pong with Malfoy. The dragon would also breathe fire at him and then Malfoy would run around the table until the squid put him out with a blast of water. You could buy the entire set for one galleon and fifteen sickles and they sold out of them almost immediately.
It wasn't just that most people wanted the set. It was that everyone wanted the set. Ginny began making a list of preorders with help from Colin and people were happy to pay in advance for the sets which they had Hedwig help deliver as well as Winky who Dobby had found drinking heavily during the first task. The little elf had then asked his master and mistress to please take Winky on too. Hermione understood that house elves needed to have a master and she reluctantly accepted it. Knowing it was a requirement didn't make it feel any less like slavery to her. Winky was her elf and happy to deliver the toys once they were made.
It was the day that Draco Malfoy was released from the hospital wing that McGonagall made an announcement, "Every time that the Tri-Wizard Tournament has been held there is a ball thrown over the Christmas holidays. It is called the Yule ball and there will be formal dancing. Lessons are of course offered. Only fourth years and above can attend however if you wish to ask a younger student that is acceptable. It is also the only way third years and lower can attend."
Once McGonagall released the class Harry looked at Hermione, "I don't know how to dance Hermione but will you go to the ball with me?"
She smiled, "Of course Harry," she gently kissed him, "I'll teach you."
Neville smiled at his friends. "I think I'll ask Ginny. No offense girls," he said to their classmates, "but this way she can attend."
"None taken Neville. It's a good idea," Parvati nodded. "Maybe I'll ask Colin Creevey so he can come too."
Draco was standing in his godfather/head of house's office, "What do you mean I have to still compete?! I was nearly killed!"
"Yet you're alive," Snape said. "You are required to attend the Yule Ball and to finish the tournament. Now, champions open the ball dancing with their dates. Do find someone. Embarrassing your parents is not the way to go in this Draco."
"I didn't know it was a dragon!"
"Did you even try to find out? Of course not. You did no training, no preparation. The other three did so and received perfect scores. I would hope you can learn from your mistakes." With that Snape excused him. Malfoy walked away slowly; it was how he had to walk since the task. Who was he going to ask to the dance?
Hermione and Fleur sat talking in the Room of Requirement on the beach Harry had first created for his lover's birthday, "So how many boys have asked you?"
"Seven," Fleur admitted.
"And do you have a date?"
Fleur gave her friend an appraising glance before answering, "I do have a date. 'Owever I do not wish him to be asked to duel so I will not be saying who he is."
"Not even to me?" Hermione pouted.
The blonde laughed, "Not even to you. You will find out ze night of ze Yule Ball."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at the secrecy of her friend before asking, "Do you like him?"
"Since meeting him here I have come to appreciate him," she said carefully, "and he is a gentleman."
"That's not an answer to my question."
Fleur sighed. "Oui, I like him. It is hard to like someone when you are a Veela."
"Not if they are understanding. Being a Veela isn't a bad thing. We just attract more jerks."
"Oui that is true." Fleur settled back on the towel, "He will protect me from ze jerks. Not that I need ze protection."
"Neither do I but for boys it's an ego thing. They like to try and defend their girlfriends whether we need it or not."
"Fragile male egos," Fleur joked.
"Without a doubt," Hermione sighed, "they're such drama queens." The two girls dissolved into giggles at that.
Harry rubbed his forehead, frustrated. "What's wrong Harry?"
He looked up to see Neville looking at him concerned, "I have to get a Christmas present for Hermione."
This confused Neville, "She loved her birthday present."
"Yeah but that was before…" Harry stopped. Only Fleur knew that the pair was sexually active. He changed course, "before our relationship became so serious. I don't want to blow it."
"You can't blow it. She loves you." Harry gave Neville a half-smile and the boy walked off. Harry sighed. Everyone just assumed that he and Hermione had a perfect relationship and that it was all so easy. Granted very few people knew about his past with the Dursleys but for Harry, being in a relationship with Hermione had terrified him. And at times it still did. Only Hermione knew it.
-Flashback-
Harry sat on their bed and sighed. "That's your self-deprecating sigh," Hermione said, sitting next to him and pulling him into her arms. "What's wrong?"
"I love you so much Hermione," Harry began, "and I am sure that this conversation is not starting well even based on my limited knowledge of relationships."
"Which is why you're worried about something," she kissed his jaw gently, "what is it?"
"Well Remus and Sirius sent me this book about relationships and it said that people who come from abusive families…"
"Harry I have two parents in the medical profession. I am well aware that studies indicate that people raised in abusive families often become abusive."
The look on his face was nothing but fear, "What if I hurt you?"
Hermione gently kissed him on the lips, "Harry Potter I can turn into a half-bird, half-woman harpy that shoots fireballs that can destroy solid objects. I am also the top witch in my year and quite able to fight off any attackers magically as well as physically. My parents sent me to self-defense classes when I was six."
Harry smiled at that and she rubbed his arm gently, "Harry you are nothing like those people. Those same studies also say that people from those homes can come out well-adjusted in spite of their upbringing. You are that group Harry. Despite those Dursleys and one headmaster I'm debating roasting, you have grown to be an amazing man. You're loving, compassionate, supportive, brave, thoughtful, always willing to offer a helping hand, and you've not let yourself be swept up in your fame or in your sorrow for what's happened to you and the ones you love."
When Harry smiled again there was a sincerity to it that had been missing the first time. She cupped his cheek, "Harry, just the fact that you're worried you might hurt me tells me the kind of man you are. I love you."
"I love you too Hermione," he said before returning the hug and resting his head on her shoulder as a few tears escaped.
"Harry, you have been a fantastic boyfriend. My birthday was amazing, the things you picked out for me in Hogsmeade were perfect, don't doubt yourself. When it comes to me you haven't failed me once and you seem to always do the right thing even when you're not sure."
"What if one day I don't do the right thing?"
"So long as you love me Harry you can't," she promised.
-End Flashback-
Harry grinned at that memory. He knew what to do now. He got up off of the couch and headed up to the owlery. He had a letter to write to two dentists.
It had not been a fun time for Draco Malfoy since the task. He still couldn't sit down and the hair-regrowth potions couldn't be taken until his burns healed. His burns were incredibly severe and his head was covered in purple paste and bandages. The school was full of people laughing at him. 'Ferret Mummy' and 'Roasted Rat' followed him through the halls. Jokes that he was dragon roasted and Granger would be happy to char him if he wanted to be more well-done got old quickly but everyone always laughed. The toys created by the Weasley twins and Potter and Granger were incredibly popular. Pretty much every student in the school had them and there was cheering and laughter as the squid and dragon played ping pong with him.
Now Draco Malfoy was dateless. No one wanted to go with him to the Yule Ball. Complaining to his father had gotten him nowhere. The girls all laughed at him, even Bulstrode. After the task Slytherin en masse bought the buttons and the toys from the four people making them. Distancing themselves from him seemed to be an agreement throughout the house. Even Crabbe and Goyle were keeping away from him. Draco really hated the way his life was going.
Fred was finishing up an order of the ping pong set when George came into their dorm, "We need to get Harry and Hermione something for Christmas. Without them we wouldn't be so successful. Our Canary Creams are finally ready to be sold thanks to their help creating and selling other products."
As he often did, Fred smile as his mind drifted to the memories of their help.
-Flashback-
Fred and George were working on their Canary Creams when Harry and Hermione entered the common room, "I think we could do it Harry. The spellwork is tricky but I'm good with charms."
"Brilliant. It'll be a great way to build unity among the schools and all of the students. Should we put on something insulting Malfoy?"
"The Hufflepuffs tried that already," she reminded him, "it was poor at best. They might as well have said 'Malfoy Stinks!' It would have worked just as well."
Harry could imagine Malfoy coming up with badges that said 'Potter Stinks' if Harry'd ended up in the tournament. "Yeah. How much should we sell them for?"
"Well I can't make them all and even with your help it'll be hard to fill the orders if they sell like I think they will."
The twins could no longer take not knowing what they were talking about, "Sell what?"
"Are you two planning a business?"
"Well sort of. Did you see those buttons some of the puffs were wearing at breakfast?"
"Yeah," George nodded.
"Harry thinks we should make some with all three champions names. You know, 'Support Cedric Diggory', 'Support Viktor Krum', 'Support Fleur Delacour'. We want to encourage an air of goodwill as regards this tournament. I could charm some buttons to do it but it's a ton of work."
"We can help!"
"We can share the money we make."
"I don't need the money guys," Harry began.
"Nonsense it's your idea and Hermione's surely got the spell. We'll go in with you guys."
Harry looked at Hermione as the two had a silent conversation. It fascinated most people or freaked them out a bit. Not Fred and George. They had long communicated with just a look. "Okay we'll do it."
The twins quickly made room at the table for their friends to sit and Hermione drew her idea on a sheet of parchment with a pencil she kept in her bag. The twins added in some ideas; Cedric would be in yellow, Krum in red, and Fleur in light blue to further distinguish them. Hermione decided to spell them so that at the tournament when it was time for that champion to go all the names would be static and shift only when it was someone else's turn. So long as she had a button that could control the others they would be fine.
-End Flashback-
"Those badges were brilliant."
"Yeah but I think the action figures are easily the best things we've created so far."
"Right so what do we get them for Christmas?"
"Something special that is just for them," George answered. "Not that I know what that is but I think that's what we should work on."
"Agreed," Fred nodded, putting the figures in a box and onto the pile of boxes to be delivered.
Emma Granger was surprised to see a snowy owl sitting on her counter, "You're that owl that comes when Hermione writes to Harry aren't you? I think Hermione calls you Hedwig."
Hedwig offered her leg out and Emma took the letter off and unfurled it to read:
Dr. Granger,
Hello. I'm Harry Potter. I asked my owl Hedwig to deliver this to you. See, I want to get Hermione a perfect gift for Christmas and I was thinking of getting her some jewelry since we're attending a ball and she graciously accepted my invitation. I was hoping that you might have a jewelry catalog or something that I could look at and order from. I have friends who can get through the muggle world as easily as the magical and they can make my order and pick it up for me.
I don't know how much Hermione has told you about our time together but I love your daughter more than I ever thought I would and I feel so lucky to have her in my life. She says she's the lucky one but I assure you, I am. I'm thinking about buying her a necklace. Maybe you could get matching earrings for her? I want her to shine at the ball like the beautiful young woman she is.
Hermione says she wants me to spend the summer with your family. I'd be quite delighted. Anyplace that isn't the cupboard under the stairs at my aunt and uncle's house is great to my mind.
And I promise I'll be a gentleman at the ball. I have a friend who takes pictures and he can make them muggle or magical. I'll be sure you and Hermione's father get a couple.
Thank you for any help you can offer. I don't want to screw up my first real Christmas with my girlfriend.
Harry James Potter
Emma had a smile for most of the letter until she got to Hermione's desire for the lad to stay the summer. She knew her husband wouldn't go for that. Then he mentioned living in a cupboard under the stairs and Emma understood why Hermione was so protective of Harry. She'd often wondered why the boy didn't visit and why his clothes were so big. Now she knew the answer. Still, this might encourage Dan to calm down about his daughter's boyfriend. Harry they knew of from Hermione's letters and if there was one thing that riled Dan up more than anything it was child abuse. She'd just have to wait until Dan came home from the footy game he'd gone to watch.
Harry hoped that the Grangers would help him. He'd do anything to soften their opinion of him before finding out about the Veela thing and sleeping together every night destroyed their opinions of him, their daughter, and quite possibly the magical world as well. He really hoped Fleur's mother could break the news gently and to explain it as more than two horny teenagers.
Hermione was waiting for him in the Great Hall. He kissed her, "I had to send a letter."
"To who?"
"Can't tell you or it will ruin your Christmas present," Harry said, winking.
"Ginny got a letter from home today. Apparently Ron is returning." Harry groaned and frowned. "That's my opinion. Apparently he's really upset he missed seeing Malfoy embarrass himself and missing Krum on a broom."
"And drooling over you and Fleur," Harry added.
She rolled her eyes, "Regardless, he's done his homework and the Weasleys have agreed to let him come back."
"I'm sure Ron can't wait to see you two at the ball," Neville agreed. "Probably ask you."
"Silly me hoping he'll come back a better person," Hermione sighed, "if only to leave me alone."
"If not then you can serve up some barbecued weasel to go along with the dragon roasted ferret," Harry grinned.
Classes ended one week before Christmas. A Hogsmeade visit was scheduled and Hermione was glad. Mrs. Weasley had picked out green dress robes for Harry. He'd returned them along with Hermione's dress robes. He knew Mrs. Weasley meant well buying his robes but he wanted his robes to match his girlfriend's dress so he had returned the green robes and Hermione's since hers would no longer fit her given her body's changes. The money had been put in his vault for both and he'd written to Gringotts to ask that the money be sent to him.
He handed Hermione the pouch they'd sent, "I'm not picking out my own robes."
"Smart man," she kissed his cheek. "Ready for our day in Hogsmeade?"
"Yes but who is helping you pick out your dress robes?"
"Fleur," she smiled. Harry chuckled. He should have seen that coming. "I intend to make your jaw drop when you see it."
"I look forward to it," he kissed her sweetly.