As Hermione was getting ready for the Yule Ball, she was thinking over what would happen. "I have two dates to the Yule Ball… I'm such an idiot." She yelped, accidentally stabbing her ear with her earring. "I deserved that." Slipping on her heels, she walked out the door.
She had just arrived at the Yule Ball, trying to find Harry. He would know what to do. She scanned the whole room with no luck, and instead found Draco. "Oh no…" she thought to herself. This isn't going to go well."
"Well hello beautiful," said Draco with a smile, and kissed her cheek.
"Hi Draco…" She replied, overwhelmed by his appearance.
"You look, good!" She laughed.
"And you, Ms. Granger, look stunning."
"Why thank you," replied Hermione with a smile.
"I… do think we need to talk about something though…" said Hermione, thinking of Ron.
"I know what we are. I know we aren't necessarily together, but we like each other. Now don't get me wrong… I do like you a lot. But there's also some-... someone else."
Shocked, Draco replied "Who!?"
"It's Ron… No we aren't together, yet I've had feelings for him since we broke up. I like you too, though. That's my problem…" replied Hermione slowly.
"Why… why don't we just stick to what we had. Friends with benefits. That way I can't hurt you. We still like each other, so that will work." said Hermione.
"I… ok. I'll do whatever for you." Said Draco.
Hermione glanced over and saw Ron.
"Hey Draco, I'll be back in a few minutes."
Hermione ran over to Ron, and spent the whole rest of the night with him. Draco was sitting by himself, watching his love spend the whole night with the other guy she still had feelings for. After a while, Draco could not take it anymore. His heart had shattered into a million pieces. He knew at this point that trying to fix all the shattered pieces of his heart would only hurt him more. He got up and slowly walked back to the Slytherin common room, doing everything possible to keep himself from completely loosing it. He entered his room, slammed the door and cried. "Wait until Crabbe and Goyle see me like this…" He thought.
After the Yule Ball ended, Hermione made her way back to the Gryffindor common room. She was immediately shocked by a sad realization. "DRACO!" Shame filled her inside and out.