With Me, Chapter Two –Dance

The fourth year Gryffindors pushed their way through the overcrowded halls, making their way through the sea of people towards their Transfiguration lesson with Professor McGonagall. Although the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students had been staying at Hogwarts for over three months now, there were still many confused faces. Book bags were spilt, people were pushed around and feet were stepped on during this mad rush from between class to class. Hermione was sandwiched between Ron and Harry, who were trying to keep her small frame from being knocked over. Finally, they reached the small courtyard that separated the Charms and Transfiguration classrooms. The bushy haired fourth year felt like she could breathe again. Hogwarts usually seemed so big, she thought to herself as she shuffled with Harry and Ron across the courtyard.

As they made their way across the small open area, a group of Beauxbaton students stopped them.

'You're Harry Potter,' said the girl at the front of the small group, straining the word 'Potter'. 'Je m'appel Elle,' she said, reaching her hand out towards Harry. It was obvious that Elle was the leader of this small group; she was the most beautiful, with long blonde hair that reached her waist, and blue – almost purple – eyes. She was slightly shorter than Hermione, though she seemed older than them by, perhaps, a year or so. Her legs were long, her waist thin and her nose was high, face in the shape of a tear drop.

'Um, hello,' Harry said, shaking her hand. A few giggles came from the back of the group. 'Nice to meet you…'

'I vos vondering, vould you go to ze Yule Ball viz me?' Elle asked shyly but bravely, batting her long eyelashes at Harry.

'Oh… about that…' Harry started to explain, 'I'm sorry, I'm already going with someone else…' He trailed off nervously. It were as if Elle's eyes had started to shoot fire, glaring at Hermione with anger. 'Oh, no, no, not with Hermione…'

'Vell it vas very nice meeting you,' Elle said curtly, striding off with her groupies, murmuring in French. She seemed disappointed and angry at the same time. Harry and Ron's eyes trailed after her whilst Hermione laughed quietly.

'We better get going,' she said through her giggles. Looking around the now less crowded hallways. 'McGonagall's not going to be happy if we're late you know, Harry Potter,' she mimicked Elle. The two boys looked at her, broken from their longing glances after the French girls' shadows. Harry looked like someone had just Stupified him. Ron and Hermione had a short moment of eye contact, before he burst out laughing too.

'Oh, Harry Potter,' Ron gasped through laughs. 'Don't you wish you'd have chosen one of those Beauxbaton girls instead of Ginny? Ah, looks like you've got... yourself… some… admirers!' Harry gave Ron a look which made him laugh even harder. Thumping him on the back, Ron and Hermione trailed along behind Harry as they made jokes about starting a Harry Potter fan club as they walked to Transfiguration.

Fortunately, McGonagall had not yet arrived as the three walked toward the crowd of Hufflepuffs, Slytherins and Gryffindors waiting outside her classroom.

'Ah, Potter. Got yourself a little fan club, have we?' Draco Malfoy said sarcastically. 'Was it a picture with your ugly scar they were after? Or did they want your signature?' The blonde mused. His cronies laughed quietly behind him, Crabbe and Goyle having to hold onto each other for support as they laughed at his joke about Harry's scar. 'Why'd they leave so fast? Did you scare them off by telling them about mummy and daddy? Or were they scared of how shabby Weasel-bee looked in his hand-me-down robes and the stench of mud from Granger?'

'I bet it was the mudblood's hair. It looks like a road sign that says "stop! Don't come near me! I'm hideous"!' Pansy Parkinson laughed from behind Draco, stopping as the blonde did not laugh at her joke.

Hermione flinched at the word 'mudblood' and Ron noticing the small action, stepped up, towering over Pansy.

'Well at least she doesn't have the face of a pug,' glancing at Pansy's scowling face 'And Malfoy? At least he has someone that wants him who doesn't look like a pug or a potato.'

'Ah, funny that you say that, Weasley. Can Potter not fend for himself now? A potato himself? Too precious?' Malfoy smirked.

As Ron was about to lunge for Draco's collar, Professor McGonagall opened the door.

'Sorry to keep you waiting out in the cold. Come in,' she said, introducing them to the classroom.

Except the classroom no longer looked like the regular Transfiguration classroom – with benches and tables lined up neatly. The tables were gone and there was a line of benches pushed against the far side of the classroom. The walls and floors were no longer made of grey bricks, but now as if they were made from solid ice blocks. The curtains were drawn, and a chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the ice walls with a silver glow.

'Today, we are not having a Transfiguration lesson,' McGonagall explained. 'This is a smaller version of what the great hall will look like on the night of the Yule Ball – which all of you are expected to attend, especially Mr Potter,' she said, looking at Harry, making him feel uncomfortable and alienated. 'There is a traditional dance which is led by the competitors and their partners, where all the other guests are expected to join in with. And I will not have Hogwarts students ruining our reputation by looking like a bunch of monkeys on skates! I expect grace and elegance from all of you. And by the end of this double period, I assure all of you that no one will be leaving this classroom without an acceptable dance. '

Many of the boys in the class grumbled in objection to the fact that they were going to be learning how to dance during the lesson. Most of the girls sat straighter, and looked around the room for a male who was not going to bruise their feet during the lesson.

'Ladies, you will not have to look around for a partner, because I have already assigned you partners,' McGonagall noted, seeing the many craning girls. She produced a list from her pocket and started to read out names. 'Mr Potter, you will be with Ms Abbott,' the professor told Harry. Hannah and Harry looked quite pleased that they were paired with each other and shuffled across the room to stand together. 'And as for you, Mr Weasley, you have been paired with Ms Bulstrode.' Ron groaned in disgust. 'Is there a problem with my pairing, Mr Weasley?'

'No professor,' the ginger murmured, shuffling unwillingly towards the bulky Millicent Bulstrode. Harry from across the room was laughing silently, clutching his stomach due to his best friend's bad luck. Hermione gave Ron an encouraging smile which was of no use to Ron, who looked like someone had told him he had failed his test, and was going to get an F for the rest of the term.

Professor McGonagall proceeded through the list, and finally she got to Hermione. Please, please let it be someone like Ernie, Hermione prayed silently in her head, or Neville is fine too.

'Ms Granger, you will be paired with Mr Malfoy,' the witch told her, moving onto the next student.

Hermione looked like someone had told her Voldemort was actually a nice wizard and was attempting to save Harry instead of killing him, fourteen years ago. Malfoy, on the other hand, looked as if his father had told him he was adopted and actually a muggle born wizard. He shot her a look and she glanced back at him. Harry and Ron looked sympathetic for Hermione, but both looked as if they were to burst out laughing at any time.

Hermione strode towards Draco, looking him in the eye with her chin held high. Her heart was beating fast and her head was spinning slightly but she held her posture and greeted him formally.

'Malfoy.'

'Granger, don't pretend you aren't thrilled to be paired with me. It's your only chance to actually touch a real pureblood wizard. And I know you want to,' he whispered quietly in her ear, causing the hairs on her neck to stand up and sending a shiver down her spine. 'Don't trip over your own feet before we even start dancing, Granger.' His breath smells like mint toothpaste and winter air, she noted as he mocked her. You shouldn't be thinking of that, Hermione, she scolded herself. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of Malfoy. 'Already dreaming of how my hand will feel on your back, mudblood?' The word mudblood made Hermione flinch, bringing her back to reality.

'Thinking of how to avoid your clumsy feet, Malfoy,' she whispered back angrily.

'Nice try, but I think it'll be your clumsy feet I'll be trying to avoid, Gryffindor princess. But I've had ballroom dancing lessons since I was five. Brought up in a rich family that has high social expectations and parties to attend, you know… Unlike Weasley,' Draco said, glancing at Ron.

For some odd reason that Draco could not explain why, he enjoyed this verbal sparring that he had with Hermione. It seemed to him that she was the only one capable of conveying what she had in her mind with words that were not repeated over, and over again. She had the intellect that was on a similar level to his, and perhaps, was the only one who could actually have an argument with him that did not always end pathetically due to the lack of diction.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, cutting off Draco's thoughts and stopping all of the whispers and murmurs that had been going on as she adjusted the large record player that stood in the corner of the room. 'Now, I expect most of you to know a little bit about ballroom dancing….' The old witch explained for five minutes about the origins of ballroom dancing and what she expected her students to be able to do by the end of the lesson. 'Now, gentlemen, place your left hand on your partners' waist and hold her other hand like so,' she explained, demonstrating with a very confused Terry Boot. 'And ladies, place one hand on the arm that he is extending towards your back and hold his hand.'

'Are you ready, Granger?' Draco whispered to Hermione, amongst the other nervous and embarrassed murmurs.

Draco took Hermione's hand with his own and placed another on the small of her back with such pressure that it was almost as if it were not there, but yet, somehow, still there. Hermione's small hand in his own was a strange feeling. She had long, slender fingers like his own, but her hands were smooth, unlike his calloused and rough ones.

She's quite beautiful, he thought to himself, looking down at her. Hermione flicked her eyes up to Draco's. Her eyes are the colour of liquid chocolate, he noted. Hermione's ivory skin glowed a soft, subtle pink as they made eye contact. She looks quite beautiful with a pink glow. And her hair… It doesn't look too bad. It's just wavy, not a bush, he corrected. Wait… This is Hermione Granger, get a grip of yourself, Draco Malfoy! He scolded himself.

Hermione liked the feeling of Draco's hand. She knew she shouldn't, but she did. It was larger than hers – covering her own hand, as if he were holding it to protect her, and his rough and calloused skin had a worked, masculine sense to it. Their fingers interlocked perfectly.

'Good, now hold your pose like this,' McGonagall interrupted, demonstrating the correct posture.

Draco stood slightly taller, the hand on Hermione's hand pushing slightly harder, so that she was pressed more closely against him and so her back was straighter. He readjusted her elbow so that it was at a horizontal angle.

'Didn't know you were a dance teacher, Malfoy,' Hermione said to Draco, looking up at him as he smirked. Hermione noticed the dimple that was barely there when he smirked. And the way that Draco's eyes turned a glassy blue when they were in the light. Even his eyelashes are blonde, she thought.

'Now, start moving your feet to the music,' Professor McGonagall said, flicking her wand towards the music player.

'Just follow my step, Granger,' Draco told his partner. 'And don't step on my shoes. They're new.'

'Oh please, Malfoy. Forever caring about how you look,' Hermione laughed, following the beat and his step.

Professor McGonagall weaved through the students, correcting their posture and helping students like Neville with their step and students like Ron with how to avoid his partner's feet. 'Very well done, Ms Granger, Mr Malfoy,' she praised, as she walked by the Slytherin and the Gryffindor. It was as if the brunette and the blonde floated, or walked upon clouds. Their movements were smooth, and they glided across the ice-tiled floor, never once bumping into another pair.

'Ah, thank you professor,' Draco said, as McGonagall walked away. 'It's all me. 'Turns out Granger isn't that much of a know it all.'

'Excuse me! I am too! I'm the one leading the dance here, Malfoy! Stop taking credit for the work that I'm doing!'

'Oh really? You're the one who's been stepping on my feet every once in a while, Granger. Not me, no.' Hermione fell silent.

'That was only twice!' She argued.

'Twice was enough,' he replied calmly. 'So who's taking you to the Yule Ball, Gryffindor princess?' She did not reply. 'Has no one asked you?' He laughed. 'I suppose… Weasley is a backup plan?'

'No, Ron isn't my backup plan.' She said quietly. 'Yes… someone has asked me, but I just don't know if I want to go,' she said as they dodged past a clumsy Neville and Padma Patil.

'Well why not?' He inquired thoughtfully. 'Fear you will look ugly next to the other girls?' He threw in at the end, just to sound like Draco Malfoy.

'I just don't want to go, nosy prat. And who are you going with, Malfoy? I suppose, you'll be going with Parkinson?' He, as she did before, did not reply. 'I'm sure you'll look better than her in the photographs, Malfoy. Don't worry! The Slytherin princess will look beautiful, I'm sure. The tiara is all yours!' She mocked.

'I don't know if I will be going with Pansy. I just…'

The music stopped and lesson was over. Thus, bringing the short lived moments where Draco was friendly towards Hermione to an end.

'Oh, that lesson was terrible!' Ron complained as the Golden Trio walked to the main hall for lunch. 'Bulstrode is such a bull! I swear, she was the male and I was the girl. The number of times she stepped on my feet… I can't even count!'

'Oh lighten up, Ron,' Harry laughed. 'At least you won't be taking her to the Yule Ball.'

'Easy for you to say, Harry. I mean, you were paired with Hannah Abbott! She's not the size of Hagrid!' Ron continued to whine as they slid into seats at the Gryffindor table. Ron continued to complain about Millicent as he ate.

'Hermione, are you alright?' Harry interrupted Ron. 'You've been really quiet since Transfiguration… Did Malfoy say something to you?'

'Oh! No, I'm fine, just thinking about the Care of Magical Creatures homework we were set.' She replied half-heartedly. But truth be told, Hermione Granger could not get the image of Draco's dimple out of her mind. Behind all that anger and hatred, there must be someone nice down there. Someone who is caring, and pleasant to be with, she thought to herself. She peeked shyly over Ron's shoulder, looking in the direction of the Slytherin table where the blonde haired boy was sitting amongst his cronies, smiling weakly at something Goyle had just said. 'How was Hannah? I heard she's not that bad of a dancer, and you weren't bad either!' Hermione commented, striking up a conversation.

'Oh, Hannah's not bad at all. She's been taking ballroom dancing lessons ever since she was five…' Harry said. Just like Malfoy, Hermione thought. 'But she was a tad annoying. She kept correcting my posture. She reminds me a little of Aunt Petunia when I'm doing the dishes. But overall she was alright…' Harry trailed off, looking behind Hermione.

Hermione turned to see Ginny standing behind her, Luna linked onto her arm, gazing into space.

'Hi,' Ginny said shyly. 'Erm, Ron, Luna has agreed to go to the ball with you, haven't you Luna?'

'Oh yes,' Luna replied, her voice dreamy. 'Hello Harry Potter, hello Ronald Weasley, hello Hermione Granger,' she greeted. 'It's very nice of you to ask me to the Yule Ball, Ron. I thought I would be going alone… Although that's fine by me. I don't mind going alone. No one seems to like me much; they all think I'm… peculiar.'

'Oh… it's alright Luna. I don't mind going with you… You seem…' he hesitated to find the right word. 'Unique.' He decided after a while.

Luna looked pleased.

Students started filling out of the Great Hall to their lessons as did Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Luna.

Audrey O'Young – 31st December, 2011