Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

The Silver Couple

Draco sat outside of Hermione's door. It was very late and he was contemplating on how he was going to tell her. He sighed and knocked on her door. After a few minutes the door opened to show an exhausted Hermione. Her hair was messed up and she was wearing a black shirt and red pants. She was startled to see Draco standing there. "What is it?" she asked. Her voice was soft.

"We need to talk." Draco said. He pulled her down to the common room.

"What do we…?" Hermione started to say.

"We can't be friends anymore." Draco said quickly. He looked at her eyes. She didn't seem to comprehend. "Are you listening to me?"

"I really don't understand Draco." Hermione replied.

"We can't be friends. We can't be seen together. Do you understand Granger?" Draco asked. Hermione finally understood.

"Can we still be friends in secret?" she asked.

"I can't risk it." Draco answered.

"Draco…"

"It's Malfoy from now on Granger. Get it right." He ordered. Hermione just looked shocked. "By the way, we're not going to the ball together. Sorry for the inconvenience." He went up to his room.

Hermione was still in the common room. As she got up and walked to her room silent tears fell from her face. She wasn't expecting that.

Draco sat on his bed. His face was in his hands. She didn't deserve that. She was the one who comforted him, but he endangered her life. For her to live, he had to cut all ties to her. Draco saw that his hands were wet. A drop fell on them. He was crying.

---

Blaise sat at breakfast. Draco came and sat with him. "You look miserable. What happened?" he asked as he played with his food.

"I broke off all ties with Herm…I mean Granger." Draco explained. Blaise dropped his fork on the plate.

"I didn't know you were that strong to do that." Blaise said.

"I'm not." Draco replied.

---

That night, Draco entered the dorm. Hermione was sitting near the fireplace reading a book. He really wanted to talk with her, to hear her voice and just be near her, but he couldn't. "What are you reading?" he asked.

She looked up at him. "Nothing." She replied. She closed the book.

"I'm taking Astoria Greengrass to the ball." He said. Draco couldn't see the hurt in her eyes.

"That's nice." She answered.

"Do you have a date?" he asked. Hermione nodded. "Who is it?" She didn't answer.

"It's getting late, I'm going to bed." She said. Draco watched her go to her room.

---

The next day was the day of the ball. Everyone was excited. All the girls were giggling and some of the guys were happy that there were no classes. Luna walked toward the Head's dorm. When she got inside she saw Draco sitting across the room with a book. "What are you doing here Lovegood?" he asked.

"I'm here to help Hermione." She said as she held up a dress bag. Draco sighed.

"She's in her room." He said. Luna walked to the door.

Hermione sat at the vanity. She heard the knock on the door. She opened it and Luna walked in. "Luna, I'm sorry, but I don't…"

"I'm just here to drop off your dress Hermione. I understand. It's a sensitive situation." Luna explained.

"Are you sure it's alright?" Hermione asked.

"I'm glad it's you and not some toad." Luna said. Hermione smiled. "I'll see you at the ball." Luna said as she left.

---

Draco got ready in his room. He wore a black suit. Astoria said she was wearing a green dress, so he was wearing a green tie. He put on his green eye mask and looked in the mirror. He walked out of his room and out of the dorm.

Hermione heard Draco leave. She didn't like the barrier he created, but she was starting to learn how to deal with it. Hermione applied her make up and put her hair up. Her hair was a cascade of curls and she tied some of it back and let the rest down. She took out the dress Luna left and gasped. It was beautiful. When she put it on, her mouth dropped. It was a silver gown with slender spaghetti straps that held an alluring v-neck. The silky material was shirred along the sides of the bodice and ended in an upside down v over her hips. The rest of the gown flowed fluidly to the mid-thigh and flared out down to the floor. The dress was backless, showing off her skin. There was shirring at her lower back and a ruffle down the rear of the skirt. She had to admit that she looked nice. Hermione hoped that no one would stare at her.

---

Draco reached the Slytherin common room. Astoria was there. She wore a sleeveless green gown that went down to the floor. Her hair was up in a bun and she wore a green eye mask. Blaise was there as well. He was in a black tuxedo with a silver tie and a silver eye mask. Draco went to Astoria and kissed her hand. "You look lovely tonight Astoria." He said. The girl giggled.

"You look handsome as always." She replied. He wanted to puke.

He turned to Blaise. "Who's your date?"

"My date is expecting me to pick her up right about now. So, I have to go." Blaise said. He left the room.

---

Hermione put on her mask. She heard someone arguing with the portrait. She made her way down and opened up. Her date's mouth dropped. "You look beautiful Granger." He said. She blushed. "Are you ready to go?" Hermione nodded. He smiled and linked his arm with hers.

---

Draco entered the ball. Already there were a lot of people there and everyone stopped. All eyes were on him and Astoria. She was soaking it all up. He just wished that they would all look away. He could everyone whisper. "That's Astoria Greengrass with Draco Malfoy." Some said. "She's so lucky." Others replied. No one noticed the other couple who entered.

While dancing with Astoria, Draco recognized a lot of people. He saw Harry dancing with Ginny, who was wearing a light blue halter gown and her hair was up. There was Ron who was with Lavender. She wore a light purple gown with long sleeves and her hair was also up. Draco turned his head and saw Pansy, who was in a gold dress dancing with Goyle. He saw Dean Thomas with one of the Parvati twins and Seamus Finnigan was dancing with Luna Lovegood. Luna wore a pale yellow sleeveless gown. Draco began to notice that many had stopped dancing. When Astoria stopped, she stared at something. He looked in the same direction.

In the middle of the room was a couple. The boy wore a silver mask and the girl wore a silver mask and gown. What caught most people's attention was that the couple was so beautiful. The boy had bronze colored hair and had a pale complexion. The girl had dark auburn hair and fair skin. Her dress didn't have a back. Many guys watched in envy as the couple twirled. They seemed to be oblivious to the rest of ball and their movements flowed into each other. Draco recognized Blaise at once. The girl smiled. He knew that smile. It belonged to Hermione. Instantly, his heart began to break. "How could they?" he whispered. Astoria looked up at him. Her eyes started to water.

Ginny knew it was Blaise, the one she wanted to be with at this ball. She also knew it was Hermione. Lavender began to rub her back. "How could she? I thought she was my friend?"

"Don't cry, you'll ruin your make up." Lavender said.

---

Dumbledore watched Hermione and Blaise dance. He turned to Severus Snape. "I really wasn't expecting this."

"I already knew sir, but I'm not sure of Mr. Zabini's intentions." Severus said. Dumbledore nodded.

The others started to dance. They wanted to have fun that night and they did.

---

Blaise walked Hermione to her dorm. They talked about pretty much anything. When they got to the portrait Blaise kissed Hermione's hand. "Just to let you know Hermione, I only think of you as a little sister." He said.

"I love you like a sibling Blaise. Thank you, I had fun tonight." Hermione replied. Blaise just smiled. "Why did you take me instead of Luna?" she asked.

His smile faded. "I'm sorry Hermione, but that is not your business. All I'm going to say is that it's the same reason why Draco didn't take you." He gave her a hug and left.

---

Blaise neared the Slytherin common room. He felt that something very bad was going to happen and it did. He was slammed into the wall causing his eyes to close. When he opened them he saw the face of a very hurt Draco Malfoy. "I want you to explain now." Draco demanded.

"Explain what?" Blaise asked. Draco pressed harder on his throat.

"How could you do that to me? You know that I care for her, but why did you take her to the ball and you looked at her like that? I thought you cared for Lovegood!" Draco said.

"Listen, mate. I broke it off with Luna for the same reason you did with Hermione." He managed to rasp out.

"That only answers one question." He said as he pressed a little harder.

"Draco believe me when I say that I only think of Hermione as a little sister." Blaise pleaded. Draco released him. He gasped for air. "You didn't have to be so harsh."

"Why did you take her?" he asked again.

"Let me ask you this: Would you rather have Hermione dance with me, your best friend, the one and only Blaise Zabini or would you rather have her in the arms of the Weasel?" Blaise asked. Draco looked at his friend.

"I'm sorry mate." Draco apologized.

"It's alright. You didn't kill me." He said. After a minute of silence, he spoke up. "I'm guessing you're not staying with her this holiday." Draco shook his head. "Right."

---

Draco entered the common room which he shared with Hermione. Her mask was on the coffee table. He looked at the mask. Draco looked at Hermione's door, it was open. He took the opportunity to talk to her. He saw Hermione sat at her vanity again, letting her hair down. She was still wearing her dress. Her back was to the door and she started to comb her hair. Draco watched her from the door. "What do you want Malfoy?" she asked. He was surprised she knew he was there.

"You left your mask on the coffee table." He said. She turned around and he almost gasped. She was breath taking. He took a few steps into her room. "You looked beautiful tonight."

"Thank you." Hermione answered. She walked up to him and took the mask. She placed it on her bureau.

"Can I have a dance?" he asked. Hermione looked confused.

"I thought you didn't want anything to do with me." She said.

"It's just a dance." He replied. He offered her his hand. She took it. They didn't really move. They just swayed back and forth in her room. After a good five minutes, they stopped. "Thank you. Have a good night." Draco said before leaving her room.

---

In the morning, Draco got on the train. He didn't sit with Hermione in the Head's compartment. Instead he sat with Blaise, Pansy and Goyle. Soon, the train started to move and they were on their way home for the holidays. The train stopped at a station and Draco was looking out the window. He saw Hermione walking with her luggage. She didn't look happy at all. He swallowed. She was greeted by a bald man in his forties. He wore a black suit. The man just patted Hermione on the head and took her bags. Hermione looked at the train and her eyes met Draco's. He stopped breathing. She smiled slightly and walked away.

Is it broken?
Can we work it out?
Let's light out the town, scream out loud!
Is it broken?
Can we work it out?
I can see in your eyes
You're ready to break
Don't look away
-'Broken'-Secondhand Serenade

That's all for now. I hoped that you liked it. If you want to see what Hermione's dress looks like send me a message and I'll give you the link. Please Review.