Announcements

The next few weeks flew by and September soon became chilly October. Before she knew it, Halloween had arrived and she found herself staring out of her dormitory window, onto the frost settled grounds, her breath condensing on the glass.

Her thoughts drifted to the tutor sessions between her and Malfoy, which weren't getting any easier, but occasionally he did ask her for help and she was more than happy to comply. They met up every Friday in the library at 8pm and had managed to keep their insults to themselves for the past few weeks, although this was probably due to their minimal conversation.

Hermione was relieved that today's lesson would be cut short as Dumbledore had announced a Halloween themed ball. Umbridge had been outraged by this news, but was thankfully over powered by the other teachers who agreed that it was a good idea. The ball had been announced at the last minute, leaving all students, from 4th year and above, only a week to prepare.

Therefore, as Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast, it was chaotic. Owls flew in and out, crashing into bowls of cereal, desperate to deliver their owners parcels and receive their attention in return. Hermione sat down at the Gryffindor table next to Ginny who had just received a parcel from Errol. She tore off the brown paper packaging enthusiastically and held up a red riding hood costume.

"Nice costume!" Dean yelled over the commotion, holding up his own in return, a werewolf mask. Hermione had been surprised to discover that wizards celebrated Halloween almost exactly like muggles, as their costumes were similar. The Patil sisters were going as conjoined twins, Harry as a vampire (although he had joked about using his invisibility cloak to appear headless), Ron as a clown and Luna had even made a costume to match her Gryffindor lion head.

"You still haven't told me what you're going as!" Ginny pouted. Hermione smiled mischievously and reached into her bag, pulling out a bloody surgeon costume. She showed it off to a jealous Ginny, whilst a certain blonde Slytherin walked passed and raised an eyebrow. She scowled and ignored him, returning to chatting animatedly to her friend.

Draco POV

Hogwarts had decided to host yet another ridiculous ball, which he had sworn not to get himself involved in. That was until he had started talking theoretically to Blaise Zabini at breakfast about if he decided to go then what would he wear? And before he knew it that if had changed to a when as Blaise slowly persuaded him to go and by the end of breakfast they both had their costumes planned out.

They planned the rest of the upcoming evening and he eventually said goodbye to Blaise, after promising to meet him in the Slytherin common room later. Blaise had nodded in agreement, whilst stuffing scrambled eggs into his mouth and waved a hearty goodbye. Draco smirked at his friend and stepped out of the Great Hall, making his way to first period.

Not paying much attention to his surroundings, he turned a corner and walked straight into a solid figure with bushy brown hair. Books scattered onto the floor and an ink bottle smashed, staining the marble tiles.

"Watch where you're going Granger."

He muttered, lacking the usual irritation. He cast a quick scourgify spell and knelt down to collect the books that had fallen. He pressed them into her hands, and looked up at her surprised expression, as she stuttered out a quiet "thank you."

He nodded curtly and brushed past her feeling just as shocked as she looked. He realised he had just been unintentionally nice to Granger and tried to block these thoughts out of his head as he carried on walking to class, ignoring the strange sensation in his stomach.

Hermione practically skipped to their library session, full of excitement for the ball that was taking place in a few hours. She only had to spend one short hour with Malfoy before she could start getting ready. She entered the library and headed over to their usual spot in the corner, hidden from everyone else.

Malfoy was already there and he groaned as he took in her ecstatic expression. He had hoped for a quiet afternoon before having to spend an entire night with the insufferably timid, Pansy Parkinson. He watched as she slid into her seat and opened her books, cheerfully greeting him. He desperately wanted to ruin her good mood, in spite of his foul one, and make this hour much harder than it needed to be.

"So I was thinking-"

He scoffed, "No surprise there."

She rolled her eyes and continued, "I was thinking that today we could start with the homework McGonagall set us on transfiguring books into chalices."

"How exciting." He commented.

She glared at him before droning on about how the more intricately designed the chalice was, the better and how he could achieve better marks for it or something like that. He wasn't paying attention as he let his mind drift to the events that had occurred earlier this morning between himself and Granger. He grimaced at his polite actions towards her and wondered what had come over him. He shook his head, pushing the thought to the back of his mind and saying the first thing that came to his head to distract himself.

"Who is taking you to the ball?"

He instantly regretted it as soon as it left his mouth and he forced a nonchalant expression. She looked at him puzzled for a moment, before slowly replying.

"I'm going with Harry."

He couldn't stop himself from raising an eyebrow.

"You and Potty? Can't say I'm surprised, but I always thought that you and Weasel had a thing."

She paused before answering carefully.

"We did have a thing, not that it's any of your business, but it didn't work out and he's dating Padma now."

He nodded. Was that relief that flooded over him? No. It couldn't be.

"So Harry?" He pressed, curiously.

She shrugged, "We agreed to go as friends."

She eyed him curiously, "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious." He stated, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Who are you taking?" She pondered.

"Oh Merlin, I somehow agreed to taking Pansy."

He grimaced as he realised he had spoken aloud and cursed himself for it.

She chuckled, "Trouble in paradise?"

He didn't reply, but looked up to meet her gaze. Her hazel eyes held his for a second before she looked away, glancing down at her watch and coming to her senses.

"Oh no, I'm late for meeting Ginny!" She cried.

He looked down at his silver, serpentine watch and realised they had been sitting here for nearly two hours.

"I've got to go," she said, whilst dumping a pile of books in her bag and grabbing her robe. He picked up his own books and slipped them into his bag, turning to walk towards the exit, with Granger clumsily following. They parted ways at the stairs and he stopped as he heard her call his name, and she asked a question she had suddenly remembered.

"What's your costume?"

He gave her a mischievous smirk before turning on his heels and heading back towards his dorm. She stood staring at the corner he had just disappeared around, wondering why the look in his silver irises just then had caused an unfamiliar feeling to stir inside her. Whatever it was, she liked it.

A/N: Thank you for following and reviewing my previous chapter, I'm grateful! I will try and update the next chapter soon (by Sunday hopefully) and it will include the ball. Please leave a review.