Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related. That is all thanks to the works of JK Rowling.
(Update: 8/01/2014 I know I started this story in August 2011 but to be honest my writing was dreadful so I am going to be editing these chapters and making them better - at least I hope so. Whilst I'm working on this, it will be refreshing my memory so Chapter 14 should be much better. )
It was the beginning of their fourth year at Hogwarts, and it certainly seemed like it would be a strange one, Hermione thought, thinking back to when she got her supplies list.
On it was two unusual items that weren't there last year: dress robes for boys and dresses for girls.
The thought of a dance sprung to Hermione's head almost immediately after reading that they'd need a dress. The last dance she'd been to was the Year 6 leavers dance which was four years ago. This one would obviously be different as it was held at Hogwarts! She pondered over how the Great Hall would look; who she'd go with and most importantly why there would be a dance.
The answer to one of her questions was finally answered early November. As part of the Triwizard Tournament, the school would be holding a Yule Ball. All the girls buzzed excitedly after hearing that the boys would be the ones to ask the girls out and that Houses would have to be involved in Dance Lessons. Many of the girls were whispering about the Durmstrang boys and the boys were eyeing up the Beauxbatons Girls. The other schools seemed indifferent about the fact that there would be a ball. Apparently they had balls and dances all the time in their school, so they weren't too bothered about this one.
That only left her last two questions still unanswered. The first would be answered at the time of the Yule Ball and the second one? Well she'll find out soon enough.
It was Monday and dance classes had started. Hermione was quite excited as she hoped to be paired up with Ron. She also had hoped that Ron would pluck up the courage to ask her to the ball as she had had a crush on him since the end of their first year. But the idiot didn't seem to realise that. Shaking her head, Hermione turned her attention towards Professor McGonagall who had just walked in with the one and only Head of Slytherin: Professor Snape.
"Attention students. Professor Dumbledore and I have discussed how these lessons will pan out. We decided that the dance classes would be mixed, meaning that two houses will have to... mingle."
This statement was met with gasps of shock from the whole room. Hermione knew something was up the moment Snape walked in; they were going to be paired with the Slytherins. Holding back a groan, Hermione focused her attention back on her Head of House.
"The more observant ones amongst you might have guessed which house you will be paired with. If you haven't already figured it out then, Merlin help you, it's Slytherin."
The girls could do nothing but stare wide eyed at Professor McGonagall as if she'd suddenly grown a second head and started singing the National Anthem. Once they'd gotten over the original shock, complaints could be heard across the room.
"What if I get that stupid Crabbe guy?!" Lavender complained.
Some were not complaints though.
"I hope I get Theo... he's cute!" Fay Dunbar whispered to her friend Maria.
"You will all have to pick a name out of a hat and whoever you get will be your dance partner. You will be set homework at the end of the lesson, which will be completed with your partner."
Hermione watched as each of the boys went forward; Ron got his first and turned a slight shade of green once he'd read it. Once he'd sat back down he handed his piece of paper to Harry who read it, laughed and then passed it to Hermione. On the piece of paper it simply said one name: Pansy Parkinson. Hermione chuckled. Pansy wasn't as bad as everyone made her out to be, Hermione thought. She was just an automatic enemy due to her House.
"Good luck with that Ron, heard she has two left feet," said Harry who was trying to surpress his laughter.
"Shut up Harry. Any way you're next!"
Harry stopped laughing and glared at Ron as he walked up to pick out his the name of his dance partner. He smirked once he'd seen it and strolled back over towards Ron. Triumphantly he shoved it in his face. His piece of paper read: Daphne Greengrass.
"Now that's just not right! I get Pansy the Pug and you get the best looking girl in Slytherin!" Ron complained.
"Tough luck mate." Harry smirked.
Ron was lost for words. Hermione couldn't help but giggle as Ron opened and closed his mouth looking like a fish in water. He soon snapped out of it though as he registered what Professor McGonagall had just said.
"Never mind that now! Hermione, it's the girls turn!" Ron said trying to change the subject.
Hermione paled and looked over to where the hat was. Lavender and Parvati had already been up and got theirs and from the look on their faces they had got Crabbe and Goyle as dance partners.
This left Hermione feeling very nervous. As she walked up to the hat she ticked off theb boys who had already gone, which was just Crabbe and Goyle so far. It was good that the two worst boys of Slytherin had gone, but that left Nott, Zabini and, worst of all, Malfoy. Her heart raced as she put her hand inside the hat and closed her eyes. With a deep breath, she pulled out the piece of paper and nearly fainted. She'd gotten Malfoy.
Walking back over to Harry and Ron, she tried to keep a neutral expression so that anyone that may be watching her wouldn't figure out who'd she'd gotten. Once she reached the place that her friends were, Hermione sat down and silently held out the piece of paper for them to see the name written on it.
Expecting laughter, she was shocked when she heard none. She turned to look at her friends to see faces full of sympathy staring back at her.
"I honestly think you're worse off than me!" Ron said.
"Ron! You're not helping!" Hermione moaned. Harry glared at Ron and began to speak.
"C'mon Hermione, cheer up. On the bright side, he's pureblood so technically he should be a good dancer which means a good grade for you. But just in case he does try anything let us know and we'll sort him out."
Hermione sighed and nodded in admittance. The upside was that she would get a good grade. The downside was that she'd have to put up with the most bigoted male that had ever existed since Hitler. That may be an exaggeration but it was all she could think of right now. Taking another deep breath, she sat silently waiting for the Slytherins to enter.