Hermonie sat up in bed and listened to the girls talk about the boys who asked them to the ball and what they were going to wear. When she was asked about what dress she was wearing, she just smiled and said she didn't even know if she was going. Before the lights were to be turned out a tap came at the window and the girls turned to see a spotted owl holding a letter at the window. Someone opened the window and the owl flew in and dropped a letter into Hermonie's lap, then it flew to the edge of the bed and sat there patiently waiting for her reply. The other girl's went about their business while Hermonie opened the letter and read.

"Dear Hermonie,

I would greatly appreciate it if you could meet me an hour before the dance tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you in the tower of this house.

Love, your friend, Harry Potter."

"Yes my friend, and that all you'll ever be." She sighed and pulled out a new piece of paper and quickly wrote,

"Dear Harry,

I will meet you, but if you aren't there I will never speak to you again because that would be a cruel joke to play on anyone.

Love your friend, Hermonie Granger."

She set the piece of parchment into owl's talons and sent him back out the window. She curled up in her bed and drifted off to sleep.

Hermonie woke with a smile. She went to the library early in the morning and stayed there all day reading books about dancing. When the time came she left to meat Harry. Slowly she walked up the steps to the tower where she saw him sitting and looking onto the Quidditch field.

"This isn't a joke Monie. I have to ask you something." Her heart jumped and her legs went numb. She tried to calm herself but she couldn't. 'He probably wants to know if you would ask someone to the ball from him.' she thought to herself.

"Yes?" She asked and turned away from him and looked out to the front of the school. She felt harry walk up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders turning her around to face him.

"Monie, will you go to the ball with me? I know it's short notice and all and I'll understand if someone already asked you and you said yes, or if you just don't want to go with me but-" She put her finder to his lips and he stopped talking. Hermonie had to take a few deep breaths to calm herself down and to stop herself from screaming.

"Harry I would love to go with you."

"Really? That's great, I was really afraid to ask you."

"You shouldn't have been." He smiled. "I should go get dressed for this ball, hu?"

"Yeah, I should to." He turned around and they walked back to the house and then went to their separate rooms.



Hermonie went to the bed and pulled out the box, dress, shoes, and crown. She shoved into the bathroom with almost all the girls in her house. She found a spot in front of the mirror and did her makeup exactly like she had before. Slipping into her dress she flicked her wand and her hair flew up and curled, with random curls falling down framing her face by a few well placed curls. She slipped the crown on her head and Lavender and some other girls gushed over how good she looked and how they had never seen her where makeup before. She made them promise not to tell anyone that she was wearing makeup or about her hair or anything and when she did she let them leave to find their dates.

Hermonie left the bathroom to put her shoes on and she did another little turn before she slowly walked down stairs to meat Harry. As she walked down stars she saw him standing by the fireplace with his hands behind his back. He was in a white tux and he looked stunning. His mouth dropped open when he saw Hermonie on the stairs.

"Monie, wow."

"Do you like?" She asked doing a little turn for him.

"You look beautiful." No one had called her beautiful before. She smiled and fixed his tie that was a little to the side.

"You look very handsome Potter." He laughed.

"What have you got behind your back Harry?" She said noticing he still had his hands hidden. He moved his hands from behind him and handed her a clear plastic box with a yellow corsage in it.

"Oh Harry, how did you know I was wearing yellow?" "It was white but Lavender told me your dress was yellow and Ron changed the flower color for me. She didn't tell me you looked like a goddess though."

"Oh, I told her not to tell." She laughed as Harry slipped the flower around her wrist as they went to the dance together arm in arm. They couldn't wait to get into the hall and as they did they were greeted with balloons and streamers while glitter floated in the air. The music began and Harry pulled Hermonie out onto the floor. She rested her head on Harry's shoulder as his arms circled her waist, and her arms wrapped around his neck.

"Monie?" Hermonie lifted her head from his shoulder and looked into his bright green eyes.

"Yes?" She said a little afraid that he wanted to stop dancing with her and dance with someone else.

"Would you mind if I kissed you?" She smiled and her stomach felt like it held butterflies. She didn't answer him, she just closed her eyes and turned her head up towards his and waited. He slowly lowered his head nearer to hers and pressed his lips against hers. He felt the warmth of her body next to his and the softness of her lips upon his. He held her tighter never wanting to let her go, but a sharp tap on his shoulder made him break his hold and look up. Hermonie gasped and also looked in the direction Harry looked.

"May I cut in?" Draco stood there in his black tux and didn't even wait for Harry to answer; he grabbed Hermonie by the waist and whisked her away from the place where Harry stood with his mouth open in astonishment. 'H-e-l-p m-e!' Hermonie mouthed to Harry.

"Hermonie, you look wonderful. Why did you come with him?"



"Maybe, because I didn't want to come with you." They didn't speak while they danced but Draco mouthed words to himself as they moved around the room. It was a love spell that he had found and tested, to make Harry jealous of him. He didn't need to flick his wand but he did have to sprinkle power onto Hermonie so slowly he eased a small bottle of blue power out of his pocket and opened it behind Hermonies back and sprinkled it onto her without her noticing. He slipped the now empty vile back into his pocket and smiled. He pulled her closer to him and she didn't resist like the other times that he tried. He caught a glimpse of Harry sitting at a table with a frazzled look on his face.

Hermonie felt different halfway through their second dance. After the first ended Malfoy still wouldn't let her go back to Harry, but she liked the way he pulled her around with him as they went along and she also noticed how good he smelled.

"Hermonie?"

"Yes Draco?"

"Do you want to dance with Harry again?"

"No! Of course not."

"Good I'm glad. Do you want to come outside with me?"

"Umm hmm." She couldn't believe she was acting so stupid. He took her by the arm and led her outside. They sat on the bleachers and looked out onto the Quidditch field. He cupped her chin with his hand and tilted her head towards his.

"Hermonie!" Harry's voice made them turn their heads in his direction.

"What are you doing here Harry?" Harry starred in shock at the two.

"I'm taking you back to the dance, you came with me Hermonie and you're leaving with me. I don't trust him." He grabbed Hermonie and lifted her to her feet and led her back to the dance.

"Why don't you trust him? He's ever so sweet." Harry starred at Hermonie.

"Have you gone mad? What did he do to you?"

"Nothing."

Draco just leaned back and smiled. He watched them walk away and new that once he and Hermonie were together he would finally have something to make Harry feel horrible.