Disclaimer: I own nothing as always

Chapter 6

Slytherin Common Room

"So Pansy have you figured out how you're going to tell Draco about his dad yet?" Blaise asked her while they were finishing their charms homework. "No not yet. I just don't know how to let him no. I mean he's of age and the money, companies, and the house are all in his name so it's not like he's going to be ruined if his dad returns."

"Yeah but his dad knows all the charms and protection spells on the manor so if he wanted to get to Draco he could," Blaise argued. "That's true but it's only October so maybe he'll be able to get them changed and what-not during Christmas or something." Pansy stated.

"Yeah, maybe," Blaise said not sounding all that sure of things.

Room of Requirements

"Ok this is going to be our last day of rehearsal so let's make it count." Draco started to say, "I'm sorry I called this at the last minute but I wanted to make sure we've got the whole routine down without any issues," Draco finished.

After about twenty minutes Draco decided the routine was right at perfect and was very excited to start getting ready for the ball that night and called it a day.

"See you tonight and please don't hurt yourself before we have to perform," Draco said looking smug. Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes at his cockiness. And with that they grabbed their things and went separate ways only to return to the same place. Luckily Hermione wore shorts to rehearsal and kept a pair of sweatpants in her bag. Once they round the corridor Hermione pulls her clothes out of her bag and put them one. She shrinks her bag, sticks it in her pocket and makes her way back to the common rooms

"Malfoy, where did you go off to this morning?" Hermione asked trying to seem like she had no idea where he went.

"Why does that matter to you Granger?" Draco asked getting annoyed that she accepted his apology for getting annoyed but still refuses to accept his apology for the past years and his friendship.

"What's wrong with you Malfoy?" Hermione asked wondering what happened between the rehearsal and the common room to piss him off so much.

"MY problem is you. What's your problem Granger?" Draco asked getting more and more pissed off.

"I didn't have any problems until you decided to blow up for some unknown reason. I thought we were getting along but apparently not. This is why we could never be friends Malfoy because your head is so far up your ass that you think you have every right to blow up on someone without cause. Do the world a favor and get your bipolar issues medicated." Hermione screamed as she marched up to her room and slammed the door.

A few hours later….

Thank God Malfoy is getting ready down in the Slytherin Dorms. What the hell was his problem all of a sudden; the rehearsal went fine, why did he blow up on me like that we were getting along fine. And here I though I could forgive him. Now I have to dance with this asshole and I don't know if I can anymore.

Hermione felt like crying the whole time she was in the shower, but finally managed to pull herself together when the water started getting cold, and she realized that Pansy and Ginny were waiting on her so they all could get ready together.

As Hermione came out of the bathroom wearing her bathrobe she noticed that Pansy had a huge smile on her face and couldn't help herself and was smiling as well.

"So," Pansy started, "I hope you two didn't spend any money on masks because I ordered masks for you guys." Pansy said with a giant smile on her face as she handed Ginny and Hermione wrapped boxes.

"Oh wow, Pansy you shouldn't have," Ginny said in awe over the beautiful mask Pansy had gotten her, "These must have cost a pretty penny."

"Yeah Pansy it really wasn't necessary," Hermione started looking like she was about to go into shock. "They're absolutely amazing."

"I know it wasn't necessary but you two have been fabulous friends that I don't even deserve and I want to say thank you for forgiving me for everything I've done to ya'll in the past. I don't deserve your forgiveness and I really appreciate it." Pansy said as she started tearing up.

"Pansy," Hermione began trying to keep her own emotions under control, "You apologized and were incredibly sincere when you did so and you are incredibly sweet. But I have to ask why were you so horrible? Your dad has been prosecuting death eaters, what ties did you have to Voldemort? Please don't think I'm resending my acceptance I just want to know."

"I understand, my mom was a death eater. And I loved her very much and looked up to her but now that I think about she was a horrible person. She never treated me the way Draco's dad did him, but she was still a quite nasty person." Pansy said apparently not wanting to go into too much detail just yet about her past. "So how have rehearsal been?" Pansy asked changing the subject.

"Rehearsals have been great." Hermione explained, "But Malfoy blew up on me this morning for no reason and I don't understand why. He was asking what my problem is like I have done some horrible injustice to him. We've been getting along great and everything."

"Aww poor Hermione." Ginny said giving her best friend a hug.

"Well have you accepted his apology?" Pansy asked. "No," she answered looking at the floor. "Then that might be your problem. He's getting along with Ron and Harry really well, but at the same time the boys are almost stand offish around him. He wants you to forgive him and possibly be his friend. He likes you Hermione and he respects you. I think he's having a hard time copping with the fact you don't want to be his friend." Pansy elaborated feeling pleased with her insights.

"I do want to be his friend Pansy, I really do. But I'm just not completely ready to forgive him yet. I thought I was this morning before the blow up. I was going to tell him that I was ready to be friends with him at the dance when he realized I was his dancing partner."

"Well maybe things will be okay after the ball." Ginny jumped at her chance into the conversation pleased to be able to voice an opinion. "What do you mean?" The other two asked in unison.

"What I mean is that his outlook and opinion of you may change when he realizes it's you he's been dancing with for the last week. Meaning that he will probably realize that he blew up at the wrong time, and notice that you were incredibly comfortable dancing with him alone and put so much trust in him while dancing because there is no way you don't have some kind of moves that you have to trust him not to drop you during. Then he'll apologize for blowing up on you and beg for your forgiveness." Ginny ended with a smug smile.

"That's nice and all but the real question is, are you going to forgive him?" Pansy said looking at Hermione with a serious face.

"I guess I'll decide that when I receive his response to his dance partner being me." Hermione answered thinking hard on what Ginny and Pansy said.

Slytherin Common Room

"Jeez Draco what's got your thong in a freaking twist?" Blaise asked getting sick of Draco oh woe is me attitude.

"I blew up on Granger like a fucking idiot." Draco answered staring intently at the floor. "I got so sick of trying to be nice and friendly with her for her to blow off my apology. I just wanted to be friends with her and possibly date have you seen her body Blaise?"

"Yeah I've seen the body she has, but I've also seen her use her brains to kick yours' ass." Blaise said laughing. "I don't know what to tell you man just apologize to her and start groveling. Other than that, try to keep your distance for the next couple of weeks."

"Just great advice Blaise. Has any one ever told you how useless your advice is sometimes?" Draco said feeling like crap and unsure what to do.

Back at the Heads' Common Room…

"Oh my goodness Pansy your dress is beautiful." Ginny complemented almost stunned at the elegance the dress had. Pansy couldn't help but to smile at the complement as she spun around in her poofy creamed color dress.

"Now that we've got our dresses and make up on I believe it's time to fix our dancing star's make up and hair." Pansy said grinning.

After about forty five minutes Hermione's hair and make up looked amazing. The girls had pulled her hair half back and placed silver crystal flowers through out her hair so that it not only matched her dress but gave her more sparkle in the light.

"I'm so surprised and jealous of you Hermione." Pansy said. "Not only do you have amazing skin and hair, but any one else would look ridiculous with all the shininess." Pansy finished slightly laughing.

"Well lets get going." Hermione said standing and putting her mask on.

As the girls took their turns going down the stair Ron and Harry who were waiting couldn't help but stare as the girls came down the stairs looking like gracefully empresses.

"Wow," Ron began. "You girls look amazing." He said smiling moving to allow Pansy to take his arm.

"You boys don't look too shabby yourselves." Ginny said taking Harry's arm.

"Time to go." Hermione said as she set her camera on the timer so they could all be in the picture.

The five students made their way to the great hall all excited to see how the night's events would play out. Hermione unfortunately was both excited and worried how things were going to go between her and Draco….

Ok everyone so so sorry about the long time between up dates. But please feel free to review they will be much appreciated. And so are ideas on what you'd like to see in the story.