Disclaimer: Regardless of how much I wish it was, none of the HP world is mine.
Summary: Hermione peered nervously down the banister and felt the butterflies ravage her stomach… until he flashed her that smile.
A/N: Just a little drabble I felt like writing. Feel free to leave me some reviews; they feed me!
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Surely this was a mistake. All of it. No way could she go out there like this; she'd be laughed at. Hermione stopped on the second to last step of the moving staircase and took a deep breath.
"Malfoy put him up to it," she told herself resolutely. "Obviously. It's all a huge Slytherin prank to make me look like a complete idiot."
Had there not been a flood of girls rushing down the steps, she'd have turned and hightailed it back to the Gryffindor common room, feigning an illness of some dramatic nature. Of course, the girls behind her weren't content with waiting for Hermione to make up her mind and continued rushing down the steps, pushing her off.
Hermione nodded to herself and placed her foot back on the bottom step, ready to end the night before it had begun. Suddenly she felt a warm hand on her shoulder and turned to see Ginny smiling. "Don't even think about it, madam," she admonished playfully, pushing Hermione towards the Entrance Hall.
Her breath caught in her chest as Ginny hurried off down the steps looking for her own male partner. Hermione peered nervously down the banister and felt the butterflies ravage her stomach… until he flashed her that smile.
Hermione wasn't aware that anyone had noticed her, or that they were all whispering and muttering about her; as soon as her eyes connected with his, she felt as ease with herself. She strode proudly down the steps towards the Great Hall and took the arm he offered.
"You look lovely," he whispered into her ear. Hermione blushed and smiled in response.
Shooting a quick smile at Harry, Hermione entered the Yule Ball on the arm of Viktor Krum.