After the Ball

Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything else.

~DM~

It was the year after the war, and finally things were going back to normal. To celebrate, Hogwarts was hosting yet another Yule Ball. All wizarding schools were invited to enjoy the festivities, and everyone spent months preparing. Unlike last year, things would be more modern and less formal.

Only hours before the ball, Hermione straightened her hair, then curled them into big, luscious curls that shortened her hair to her shoulders. She did her makeup, applying white eyeshadow and soft black eyeliner. Then she added a delicate amount of mascara, and some light blush. Then she stepped into her dress.

Hermione peaked her head from the wall at the top of the staircase. Cautiously, she stepped into view, and the whole hall fell silent. Of course, everyone expected Hermione to look gorgeous, but now… she was breathtaking in a different way. Her silver dress sparkled in the moonlight (Hermione's dress: g02. . ). She bounced down the steps, causing her hair to bounce freely. Unlike the previous Yule Ball, she wasn't strapped into a ball gown, she was free. Her eyes shined like a million stars. That was, until Lavender Brown came along.

Lavender entered quite differently. Parvati and Padma dashed to her side at the top of the stairs, and together they cued the pop music and acted as background dancers. The two wore identical bright purple To everyone's surprise, Lavender was dressed like she was going to a club. For one thing, her hair was sleek and straight. Its color was an artificial shade of yellow, and you could tell she recently died it because it was bone dry. Her attempt at a smokey eye was a little messy. Her makeup was so thick, it seemed almost like a mask. Her dress was metallic and black, and too tight to be worn by anyone, including her. (Lavender's dress: . ) If I wore that dress, I would constantly pull it up in the northern area and pull it down in the south, thought Hermione. Lavender bopped her hips with her minions, and preformed an entertaining show for all the boys in the house. Hermione, who was watching from the bottom of the stairs, surveyed all of the boy's faces. In their eyes were a fire of lust, and Hermione just rolled her eyes. Teenage boys.

Hermione was about to make a witty side-comment to her boyfriend, Ron, but he was gone. Spinning around looking for him, she spotted him and his orange hair on the staircase, approaching Lavender! Oh my Merlin. What is he doing? Hermione was nervous. She didn't want to be. She wanted to trust him, she wanted to know that he would not make a move on her…but she could sense that part of his heart was for Lavender. It was always for Lavender.

Watching Ron walk up the steps caused Hermione to sweat. As he finally approached the dancing "popstar," he grabbed her hand. Lavender whipped her face to meet his, then realized who it was and smirked. Padma and Parvati dashed to change the music to Latin as more and more people gathered to watch the two. Seeing the attentive audience, Lavender spun into Ron's arms and he dipped her back. Hermione was standing in complete shock, and as their lips grew closer, tears welled up in her eyes.

As their lips were just about to meet, Hermione fled the scene in tears. As she pushed through the sea of people, her gold bracelet got caught onto someone's suit. Without knowledge of the cussing person stumbling behind her keeping up so that they wouldn't rip their suit, Hermione burst into tears. As the cheers and shouting grew fainter, Hermione's sobs grew heavier. She heard someone yelling at her, but she was too distraught to care or hear over her uncontrollable hiccups. The person's hand grabbed her arm, but she violently shook it off. Suddenly, the person grabbed her shoulders and pinned her to the wall.

"Granger, what the hell? Are you deaf or something? If you knew how much this suit- Wait. Are you crying?" he asked, squinting his eyes to inspect her face as he untangled his suit and her bracelet.

"…just let me go," she said pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

"Let me guess, it was Weasel, wasn't it?" he snorted, "Was that damn son of a bitch getting heavy with that slut again?" he asked, trying to meet her eye. Avoiding eye contact, Hermione now look upward. She wasn't going to let this low-life get inside her head.

But what if what he's saying is true? Has Ron been with Lavender this whole time?

"[sniff]…what do you mean by again?" she asked weakly, biting her lip.

"Man, Granger! Don't tell me you didn't know!" he grinned, amused. "Those two sneak around all the time! I ran into them a few time entwined in a dark corner while I was on night duty," he stated. Unfortunately for Hermione, Malfoy was tall enough to tower over her, meeting her eye. Hermione looked at him with a pleading look, breathing shaking breaths from the crying. Tears again, began to roll down her soft cheeks once more.

"sonofabitch," she muttered under her breath, glancing down.

"Sorry Granger, couldn't catch that," he asked, amused. She then locked eyes with him.

"My apologies, Malfoy. I said, son-of-a-bitch. Seems to me like you're the one who's deaf," she said, her voice dripping with bitter sarcasm.

"Kitty has claws! You know, that comment really hurt me. My heart is in pain," he said standing up, holding his heart with a pained look.

"You know what else is in pain?" With that, Hermione wound up her fist and fired it right in-between his ribs.

"Gah!" Gasping for air, Malfoy hunched over, and Hermione took her chance and sped off to Gryffindor Tower. Just as the portrait was in sight, Ron, Lavender, Parvati and Padma were exiting from the portrait. Bringing her hands to her face, she realized her mascara was smeared and eyes were puffy from crying. They couldn't see her in this state! She, for the second time that day, dashed from the scene. With her glittering dress and curled hair floating behind her, she fled to the pond, the only deserted place she could currently find.

Plopping down at the edge of the pond, Hermione finally was alone, in the darkness of the night. Running her hands through her hair, she absorbed the cool air. She was in peace, and was no longer sad.

Well, that was a lie. She did feel disappointed, with who, she didn't know yet. Was she upset with herself for not opening her eyes to see the truth, or Ron, who stooped so low and cheated? She was so busy contemplating, she didn't hear the footsteps behind her.

"Nice to see you here."

In her shock, Hermione lost her balance and fell forward into the freezing pond. Flailing her arms, she gasped for air as she gulped down gallons of water. The water was black in the night, and was so cold, Hermione could feel it chilling her bones. The girl began to sink, as bubbles streamed from her mouth. She cursed herself for wearing gold accessories. No! I can't die, not now! To think, I've faced giants, dragons, an army of deatheaters, and I'm going to die drowning in the school pond? For goodness sakes, Hogwarts is the safest place in the world! Hermione fought the pull, but she would never make it to the surface in time, and she was growing more exhausted by the second. Hermione started to grow weaker and her eyelids grew heavier. She was about to drown when someone plunged into the water. The figure grabbed her from under the armpits and lugged them both out of the freezing water. Both of them dripping, Hermione coughed madly and rolled onto the grass.

"Damn it, Granger! Why did you have to do that?"

Gathering her composure, Hermione glanced up at the standing figure. He wore no shirt, and was dripping wet. He was extremely pale in the moonlight, and his soaking hair was falling in his face.

"Edward?" Hermione asked, mystified.

"Who the hell is Edward?" he asked, completely baffled.

"Never mind, muggle reference, and not a good one," she told him, beginning to stand up. She flicked her hands to get them dry, and it splattered into his face.

"Ach!"

"Oh! I'm sorry!" she said, biting her lip nervously. "Well, my clothes are soaking."

"No kidding. Mine to," he said, toneless.

"I need something else to change into," she said, looking around on the floor. Sighing, she whipped out her wand. "Accio." Soon, a yellow shirt and jeans came buzzing from the halls into her arms. Spinning around, she muttered, "Bush…bush…bush…Bush!" and dashed behind to a tall bush.

"So…you're changing? In front of me. The Slytherin Sex God?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Not in front of you, I'm behind a bush, duh. And, come on! I'm Hermione freaking Granger! You have no interest in me, I think I'm safe," she said emerging from the bush. Malfoy stared at her shirt. It was a soft, faded yellow, and fitted enough to show off her curves.

"What?" she asked noticing his stare, and looked down at her shirt.

"Nice rack, Granger," he said with no shame, his eyes not leaving her breasts.

"[scoff] Nasty face, ferret," she sneered with a hint of a blush, tying her hair up into a high ponytail.

"Oh please, you can't resist my sexy beat-like bod! Nobody can!" He said, running a hand through his hair.

"Beast is right," she grumbled, balling up her dress and storing it in her beaded handbag.

"Stop hiding it. I know you're in my fan club, it's nothing to be ashamed of," he claimed while standing like superman.

"Oh no! My secret is out! Whatever shall I do now?" she exclaimed dramatically, falling to the floor as if she were dead.

"Hardy har har. Har. Hey, you still haven't thanked me for saving your life!"

Hermione then stood up, and bowed, saying, "I give you my most sincere gratitude, my liege."

"Funny. Was that too much to ask?" he asked, flipping his blonde locks.

"Yes. You run around acting like a king, when really, you are just a little bully. You have been so nasty to me in the past, I shouldn't thank you. You put other people down, and that brings you joy. Like how it brings your little aunt joy when she tortures people. Where is she now? Off torturing more innocent children? Oh wait, she's dead," she said with extreme confidence, but then looked at Malfoy. He glared at her with all the hate he possessed, and scowled.

"Take that back."

"No, it's a fact and-" she said, crossing her arms with her head held high.

"I said, take it back. Now!" he shouted, advancing her with red flame in his eyes.

~DM~

Author's Note: I spent many hours on this chapter and I can't wait to hear what you think! Do not be shy with the comments. Please, if you find any mistakes, please point them out to me, or just tell me if you liked it. If you didn't, feel free to tell me why. I want to make this story as good as it can be. I've already started on the next chapter, so be ready for more! Remember, I will reply to every comment at the beginning of every chapter,t so PLEASE COMMENT!

You may have noticed the links to Hermione and Lavender's dress. Just highlight, copy, then paste into the "bar". I don't know about you, but when I read a story, I like to have the picture of what the author is describing in my head. My sister, she likes to imagine the things herself. My sister and I are so different… Oh yeah, let me know what you think. In the future, do you want me to have the links, or do you just want me to describe the dresses? Let me know what you prefer in a comment!

Some may be upset that Hermione was crying so much, and think that it's out of character. I, on the other hand, thinks it's completely fine. She just watched her boyfriend make a move on his ex in front of the whole school, which is pretty traumatic. After liking Ron for years, I believe that it is perfectly normal to be emotional. Just wanted to put that out there, because I got attacked on a previous fanfiction for making Hermione emotional. Let me know what you think, is this just too out of character of Hermione, or do you agree with me and think this response was normal.

Enough of me, I should be working on the next chappy! Hope you guys liked it!