A/N: Next submission!
House: Gryffindor
Category: Short Story
Prompt: Dancing in the Moonlight
Word Count: 1,082
Title: Our Own Party
Enjoy!
When Ron had invited Hermione to his brothers' party at the Three Broomsticks, she thought it would be an opportunity to try and make some more friends. Once he'd kissed her cheek after a few drinks had made him tipsy, she felt a little flutter in her heart, but not much. She hadn't drank anything herself; she wanted to be aware of what was going on, in case the Weasley brothers got up to anything.
Now, it was dark outside, the street lamps spreading a fuzzy glow through through the front windows, the moon illuminating the back. Most of the partygoers were either passed out or talking to each other in slurred voices. Hermione's dress clung to her with sweat from the sticky room, her hair getting poofy like it was when she was younger.
She pulled out a small book she'd kept with her in case she got bored. She had already begun to read when she looked up and someone caught her eye. He was on the other side of the room, staring out the window, the moonlight reflecting off his pale skin. His short blond hair was combed neatly. He finally turned his head around so Hermione could see his face.
Oh, wonderful, she thought bitterly. It was Draco Malfoy.
She hadn't expected him to be there; he wasn't one to be very sociable, and he certainly didn't like the Weasleys. So why was he there? Perhaps as a party crasher? Only he didn't look happy to be there at all.
Hermione shut her book, put it down next to her, stood up and swiftly walked over to Draco. She had her arms crossed and an interrogative look on her face to show she didn't care to make smalltalk. "Malfoy. What are you doing here?"
Draco looked at her skeptically. "I could ask you the same question, Granger." He crossed his own arms.
Hermione turned her nose up at him and scoffed. "I was invited."
"So was I."
"And I'm here with Ronald."
"That's wonderful. And where's your little blood traitor boyfriend now?" Draco smirked.
Hermione fumed a bit at that. She looked over her shoulder, and saw Ron passed out on a chair. She turned back around to face Draco. "He's...elsewhere."
"Uh-huh. Why'd you even bother showing up? You look like you knew this would happen."
"I could ask you the same question, Malfoy. Why are you here?"
Draco shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure, but I certainly didn't expect it to be so...pathetic. Just a bunch of students getting drunk and snogging all night." He rolled his eyes.
"What did you expect, then?" Hermione put her hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know. Not this."
"You don't get out much, do you, Malfoy?"
"No, but neither do you. I saw that book you had. You're just as bored as I am."
Hermione thought for a second, before an idea came to her. "What if there was a way to fix that?"
Draco raised an eyebrow. "And how do you expect to do that?"
"Just follow me." Hermione grabbed his hand, to his surprise. She pulled him to his feet and led him outside.
"What-Granger-where are you-get your hand off of mine"
Hermione finally let go of his hand when they were outside in the street of Hogsmeade. The moon was almost full, and partly hidden by a small cloud. Music could be heard from back inside the Three Broomsticks.
"I'll ask you again- what the bloody hell are we doing out here?" Draco asked angrily.
"Let's be honest, Malfoy- you wanted to get out of there as much as I did." Hermione took a deep breath, crossed her arms and looked at the ground. "I need to break up with Ron."
"So you brought me into the middle of the street just to say that?"
"No. And to answer your earlier question, Malfoy, I came to the party hoping I'd be able to-" She stopped her sentence short.
"To what? Spit it out already!"
"To dance," Hermione said. "Ron is a horrific dancer, did you know?"
"Not surprised..." Draco chuckled a bit. "So you think you can dance?"
Hermione rolled her eyes but then looked at the ground. "I'm not sure I'm any good at it. But I'm willing to try."
"Well, I'm not going to dance with you, if that's where this is going," Draco said firmly.
Hermione smirked. "Oh, so you don't know how?"
"No. I just don't want anyone coming out of a shop and seeing me dancing with an irritating, intelligent, beautiful Gryffindor in the middle of the street at night."
"And I would rather not be seen dancing with a stuck-up, arrogant, smart, handsome Slytherin. And yet, here we are."
Draco hung his head and sighed. "Fine. I'll do it."
Hermione smiled. "Shall we?" She held out her hand.
Draco took it and pulled her to him, getting his other hand around her waist. She did the same to him, feeling that flutter in her heart, much stronger than it had been when Ron had kissed her. They slowly shifted their feet around, clumsily tripping over each other at first. Hermione looked up and saw Draco beginning to look frustrated. "This isn't working," he muttered.
"You need to stop trying. How about I lead for a while?"
Draco shrugged.
Hermione took the lead, and eventually their steps matched up so they were moving together. At one point Draco let go of one of her hands, and she spun. The skirt of her dress flared out. Her hair swirled around her face. Draco stared in awe.
"I really should put my hair back," Hermione said. She had a ponytail holder on her wrist, and she began to put it on.
"No! Your hair is fine." Draco avoided her eyes as he said it.
Hermione looked at Draco and smiled. "Okay, then, Draco. I'll leave it down." She brought her hands back to her sides.
Draco rubbed the back of his neck and blushed. "It looks better down, that's all."
"Sure." Hermione smiled. She walked back up to him, noticing his hair had become messy. "Your's looks better when it's not combed."
Draco reached up to touch his hair.
Hermione grabbed his arm before he did. "Don't worry, you still look good," and she blushed and looked away.
Draco cracked a bit of a smile. "Should we...continue? You know, with the dance?"
Hermione smiled and looked back up at him. "Yes."
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