As she slowly swirled around the floor in Viktor's arms Hermione couldn't help but admit that she was having a good time. The sound of the band and feeling herself being adored by one of the best Quidditch players on the planet, she couldn't help but feel slightly giddy. Other than her parents, Hermione couldn't remember anyone ever paying this much attention to her unless you counted Harry and Ron and all the times she'd had to help bail them out of their collective homework assignments.
Finally the band finished the more upbeat string of music they had been playing to work in a slow song. Hermione glanced at Viktor to see him smile and bow once again holding his hand out to her in offering of a more intimate dance around the floor. Smiling she took his hand and her other on his shoulder as they slowly began to waltz around the floor. Looking around she could see the rest of the students from the other schools dancing and enjoying themselves while constantly laughing and intermingling with the students of Hogwarts.
She looked to her right and saw Draco Malfoy dancing with Pansy Parkinson and she quickly turned her head in distaste. She secretly admired Draco for his brilliance and even a little bit for his arrogance which was not completely unfounded. As she continued to dance around the floor with Viktor she would catch glimpses of them dancing around the floor and Draco's apparent regret at being drug out onto the floor with Pansy was evident all over his face. Burying her face into Viktor's shoulder Hermione hid her secret smile from the rest of world at his discomfort. She could never see herself with Draco no matter how much she secretly admired or how physically attractive she found him. He was just to…to….Draco. He would never be, could never be nice to anyone. It was beyond his capabilities in her opinion. But still as she turned her head and pretended to rest it against Viktor's shoulder she would go out of her way to find Draco dancing around the floor so she could look at him a little longer.
After the song ended, she looked at Viktor and smiling said, "I need to rest of a bit. All this dancing has worn me out. I'm going to go say hi to Harry and Ron for a minute. Why don't you go get us some drinks?"
"Of course. I shall meet you at the table shortly," he replied and turned winding his way through the crowd over to the refreshment table to acquire their drinks.
Spotting Harry and Ron sitting at a table by themselves she walked over and unceremoniously plopped down in the chair next to Harry. Other than their usual hellos, they sat in silence watching the dance floor. Hermione could see Draco across the room dancing to a more upbeat number and to Hermione's surprise actually seemed to know what he was doing. "It's hot, isn't it?" Hermione asked watching Draco hips gyrating on the dance floor. Looking over at Ron and Harry she said, "Viktor's just gone to get us some drinks."
"You mean he hasn't had you start calling him Vicky yet?" Ron said scathingly.
Glaring at Hermione she instantly knew where this was headed and as much as she wanted to avoid making a scene she knew deep down it was inevitable. Ron proceeded to denounce her for coming with "Krum!" to the ball and that she must have obviously been either helping him to solve his egg or to hurt Harry in some way. As the argument continued to get worse, people around the room began to stare at the two of them arguing. Hermione not wanting to make a scene led Ron out of the Great Hall and as they continued their heated exchange she eventually just told both him and Harry to go to bed and that Ron had spoiled everything. As she sat down on the steps letting the tears fall down her cheeks she took off her shoes and slowly began wiping the glitter off her fingertips. Suddenly a shadow fell over the front of her feet and she looked up to see the one person she didn't want to see her like this. "Draco? What do you want?"
"Why are you crying Granger?" Draco asked looking around as if expecting another Slytherin to show up at any moment.
"What do you care? If I'm nothing more than a long-molared mudblood? Isn't that what you called me not but a few days ago?" Hermione asked angrily.
Quickly changing tacts, Draco looked around and then sat a step down from Hermione. "So Weaslby made you mad huh? Not exactly the straightest wand in Olivander's, is he?" Draco said mostly to himself.
"Doesn't matter. The night's spoiled now. What do you want Draco? Why are you here? Aren't you afraid one of your guppies will see you talking to me?" Hermione asked supremely frustrated.
"Well for being a…..not being a pure-blood I just thought I'd mention you clean up rather nice Granger." Draco said slightly embarrassed to say such a thing to someone he was brought up to believe was below him. He stood up to walk back down the steps.
"Why do you think he did it? I know you were watching us argue. Why do you think Ron started the argument with me?" Hermione asked to Draco's back as he began to walk back down the steps to the great hall.
Stopping and dropping his head, he paused taking in a deep breath and without turning around said, "Jealousy is a green monster Granger. It will make men do stupid things. Especially young men."
"You didn't answer my question," Hermione said surprised he even bothered to answer at all.
"Because the darkness got the better of him. We all have darkness inside of us, Granger. Even you, and sometimes no matter how hard we try to stop it….it still gets out." Draco said before walking away.
Hermione watched Draco walk away pondering whether he was right or not. Was it jealousy over Viktor that made Ron speak out against him to Hermione? As she sat there on the steps wiping away her tears another thought struck her suddenly. Was Draco trying to tell her something? She thought about what he said. Maybe he tries to keep his darkness at bay and can't. Maybe that's why he was always so mean to her. Then the more she thought about it the more she realized that maybe he was right. Maybe there was darkness inside everyone. Even her….