Disclaimer: No I don't own the Harry Potter series, just this story.

Chapter 1

Christmas at Hogwarts was the best time of the year – it snowed excessively and the castle was decorated delightfully in enchanted candles and singing holly wreaths.

Strolling slowly to the Gryffindor common room, Hermione began to think about the upcoming Yule Ball…who am I gonna go with? I doubt someone will ask me…

A brief sigh escaped her mouth before she entered the common room, Ginny bounding on her and embracing her, Harry and Ron just muttering a quick 'Hey 'Mione', for they were busy playing Wizard Chess.

"Hermione, you HAVE to get a dress for the Yule Ball soon, it's in a week! So little time…you need a date as well…hmm…"

Ginny's ranting was giving her a headache, so she loudly replied, and Ginny fell silent,

"It's ok…I've already got a dress, I bought it yesterday" which she had.

Squealing in joy, Ginny dragged Hermione to the girl's dormitory, eager to see the gown Hermione would be wearing.

Marching to her trunk, Hermione carefully took out a gold box, wrapped with a white ribbon.

"The theme is snow so I got a white dress…"

Untying the ribbon cautiously, she lifted out a shimmering white dress, made of silk so soft that it felt like water. It was strapless, with a fitted bodice, trimmed with crystals. The skirt was quite wide, with 6 underskirts, all made of the white silk.

Ginny's jaw dropped, her eyes wide,



"Hermione…Oh Merlin…its perfect…"

Grinning, Hermione also showed her the sparkly tiara that she bought with it, and a matching necklace. Ginny fussed over her best friend's outfit, so jealous that she wasn't allowed to the Ball because she wasn't in fourth year like Harry, Ron and Hermione.

The rest of the evening was spent in the common room, Ginny listing names of boys that apparently 'fancied' Hermione. She's lyingggggggg, Hermione thought, I'm not half as pretty as some of the girls in out year…

x;;

On the other side of the castle, in the Slytherin common room, sat Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini, deep in conversation about who they could take to the Yule Ball.

Blaise had been teasing Draco about Pansy fancying the living daylights out of him, something Draco was not proud of at all.

"Blaise! I don't care if she does, she's not pretty at all, I've seen second years that are prettier than her and she's as dumb as anything, Merlin knows what's inside that head of hers…"

He knew where Draco was coming from: Pansy was actually quite ugly. With short black hair in a bob, a pug nose and only about 5"0 tall, she didn't appeal to either of them, not to mention the rest of the male population of Hogwarts.

With Draco and Blaise both at a towering 5"11, Pansy was the equivalent height of a first year – not a fourth year! She also hadn't developed at all, Blaise didn't hesitate of point out, none of the girls had yet.

Except for one or two, Blaise grinned, the image of Hermione Granger plastered in his mind, the memory of seeing her and that Weasley girl swimming in the lake one night in September. The Weasley girl was skinny and had no chest, but Hermione…Merlin she's nice, Blaise recalled fondly, remembering the way her waist went in and out, and how large and curvy her chest was, she had the body 

of a woman years older than her, it was hard for him not to salivate when he thought of her, who would of guessed a studious girl like her would be so attractive?

By then end of the night, they had no idea of who to take to the ball, Blaise had been fantasizing about taking Hermione for most of their conversation, but Draco was obviously too tired to take notice, and at half eleven they headed up to the boys dormitories, Draco with nightmarish thoughts of Pansy in his mind, Blaise with ones of Hermione in a swimsuit, the water of the lake caressing her body…Blaise this isn't healthy…stop thinking about her!

x;;

The next day was very cold, and also a Saturday, time to find a date, Hermione thought, as she stared across the Great Hall, the fourth years were the oldest there because the older years had gone to a school in France for something called the Triwizard Tournament, whatever that is, Hermione muttered.

Her eyes were not excited by what they saw, so she left the Great Hall, Ginny hot on her heels, ranting about finding a date…again.

Wrapping themselves up in scarves and thick cloaks, the two girls went outside, and sat on a bench sheltered by tall trees, each one coated in a substantial layer of snow.

"What about Draco Malfoy…I mean…he's on our side isn't he? Since Harry killed Voldemort last summer A/N: It's just part of the story, sorry! :), and you gotta admit, he's the cleverest and best looking guy in your year…"

"Ginny…he HATES me…with great intensity at that! Why would I want to go to the Ball with him?! It's absurd…we're ENEMIES…and he's a prejudice arsehole!"

Crossing her arms and putting on a sulky face, Hermione glared at Ginny, but this didn't stop her, the words now flowing freely from her mouth,

"Oh come on Hermione, he risked his life to be on the good side! He's really…handsome and he's got brains – you and him are always top of your 

classes, Harry and Ron both told me that! Put the past behind you – and don't even think about saying he wouldn't go with you; your beautiful Hermione and I mean that – one of the most beautiful girls in the whole school! You're also the cleverest one as well, and boys love a girl with brains…and…oh wait it doesn't matter…"

Rolling her eyes, Hermione laughed and begged Ginny to tell her what she was hiding, quite curiously,

"Have you never seen him stare at you?! Oh Merlin 'Mione! He looks at you from across the Great Hall when you're not looking! He looks so sad when he does, disappointed even!"

Beaming at Hermione, Ginny nodded her head, Hermione's face wearing a slightly shocked expression, she cannot be serious…Malfoy? I mean…what the HELL…he hates me!?

"Talk of the devil…" Ginny whispered, nudging Hermione.

True enough, Malfoy and Blaise Zabini where strolling outside, having a heated conversation about dates for the Yule Ball. Giggling to herself, Ginny dragged Hermione up, and linked her arm in hers, walking dangerously close to the two boys. Both Malfoy and Zabini glanced or ogled in Blaise's case at Hermione, who smiled innocently back. Damn! Why is she so nice, I mean…now I'm on her side, she won't say a bad word against me! What's happened to her?!

Blaise's voice snapped him back to reality, listing off names of 'girls to avoid at all costs', Pansy and Millicent Bulstrode being top of the list.

Funny how Hermione's name didn't appear on that list, Blaise thought sneakily, suspicious that his best friend might fancy her…ooh this will be good, he chuckled to himself, an evil grin spreading across his face.

x;;

A/N:

Yo.



Well...what do you think? It's not gonna be dramatic like my last stories – a nice fluffy romance story :)

Please review or PM me with your thoughts/criticisms, thanks!

Oh yeah…If anyone wants to know what the dress Hermione will wear looks like, tell me by PMing me, and I'll draw one and email it to anyone who wants it! It will take a few days though so bear with me!

Love,

InLoveWithTheEnemy

x x x x