Chapter Six: Partners
Ginny warned, "I'm serious Hermione, don't go there. I'm warning you, don't go there."
Hermione threw her hands up in the hand and then slapped them down on Ginny's bed. "Who said I was going anywhere?! Nothing is going to happen."
"I'm just making sure because this is something you can't get involved in. It's too much. There will be too many problems for you to face, even if there are two people to face it."
"I know! Who ever said that there will be two people? Who ever said that there will be problems? You make it seem like I've already fallen for him."
"Haven't you?"
"No! Of course not!"
Ginny raised an eyebrow in disbelief. She sighed. "Hermione. Stop lying to yourself. Ever since you kept it a secret that Malfoy carried you to the hospital wing, there has been something there. You didn't have to tell me in secret afterwards, you could've just said it in front of everyone else."
"You know how Harry and Ron are. They will kill Malfoy, thinking that he did something to me to cause me to lie on that bed."
"Well, let them think that. Isn't that what happened? From what you told me a couple of weeks ago, it seems like that's what happened."
"That is definitely not what happened! You only listen to what you want to and twist my words to make it seem like the biggest thing in the world. I fell unconscious because I breathed in the rat poison and Malfoy just carried me to the hospital wing."
"I still don't believe you. How could it be that simple?"
"I don't know. I didn't believe it either until Madam Pomfrey told me it was Malfoy that carried me there."
"Doesn't he hate you? Why don't he just leave you there to until someone else finds you? There is something going on between you two, I can feel it. Whether you guys are complete idiots and don't know, or you're in denial, or you're just not telling me something, I know something is going on."
"There's nothing going on Ginny. I'm not in denial, I'm not hiding anything, nor am I a complete idiot. There is nothing going on. End of story."
"The end of one story is always a beginning of another one Hermione."
"Ugh. I'm going back to my room Ginny." Ginny grinned, knowing that for once Hermione didn't have anything to say. It was true. There was something going on between Malfoy and her, and Ginny was the only one feeling it.
Professor McGonagall made a huge announcement at the daily prefect meeting. "As you are all aware, Christmas is just around the corner, a couple of weeks or so away. This year, for something special, we will be holding a Christmas Ball the day before your vacation begins." Everyone gasped. A Christmas Ball! Hogwarts is finally having another dance! McGonagall waited for everyone to settle down before speaking again. "Yes, the Christmas Ball. As with any other dance, the Head Boy and the Head Girl must go together. This year, it is also required that prefects go together too. That is, they have no option but to attend the Christmas Ball, whether they want to or not.
"Also, it is your job to tell everyone about the Christmas Ball. Make flyers, announce in classrooms, I don't care. If anyone is not attending the Ball, write down their names and we will assign them to a classroom, or classrooms, to have their own Christmas party, where they can do anything they want within the rules. Everyone understand?" Everyone nodded.
"Now is the time for everyone to pick their Christmas Ball partners. It can be anyone you want, even if you are in the same House." Ron smiled. FInally, he get to have a chance to be with Hermione.
Malfoy didn't know what overcame him, but he suddenly got out of his seat and walked over to Hermione. He opened his mouth and asked, "Granger, will you dance with me?"
Hermione's eyes flew open and her mouth dropped, as did everyone's in the room. Did Draco Malfoy, THE Draco Malfoy, just ask her to go to the Ball with him? Ron was also speechless. He was just about to gather up his courage to ask Hermione to the ball when Malfoy was just a second ahead of him. He said, "Hermione! Don't listen to him. He's just playing with you. Go with me to the Ball."
Malfoy scoffed. "Go with you? That's ridiculous. And I'm not playing around Granger, go with me to the Ball."
Pansy interrupted. "You're not really considering actually taking to the Ball are you Drakie? You can't! You're suppose to go with me! You're in love with me Drakie!"
Malfoy shook his head. "I'm not in love with you Pansy. I was never in love with you Pansy, I was just playing with you." He turned to Hermione. "I'm serious, go with me. I'll show you what having a great time is all about." He stared sincerely at her.
Hermione closed her eyes slowly and let out a deep breath. What just happened? Why was Malfoy asking her to the Ball? It made sense that he would go with Pansy, since they were practically boyfriend and girlfriend. She knew that she should say yes to Ron because they were best friends, but what about Malfoy? She knows she should say yes to Ron, but she couldn't open her mouth to say it.
Malfoy held out his hand, waiting for her to accept it. "So, Granger, will you go with me to the Ball? And make me the happiest man in this room?" Malfoy was a sweet talker, and he could melt any girl's heart with his words.
Just in time, McGonagall said, "Go back to your seats. Your prefect duties are about to start. You can pick your partners again tomorrow for those who haven't made a decision yet."
Everyone filed out of the room when McGonagall finished assigning them places. Ron wanted to stay with Hermione very badly because he didn't want Malfoy to have extra time during their duties to convince her to go with him to the Ball instead of going with Ron. "Professor McGonagall! Do you think I can make rounds with Malfoy and Hermione tonight?"
McGonagall said sternly, "No, you may not Mr. Weasley. Now all of you, on with your duties."
Malfoy smiled. This was going to be fun. "I know you've made up your mind Granger, it's going to be me, isn't it?"
Hermione looked away in disgust. Was she really considering going with THIS guy to the Ball? "Don't get too full of yourself Malfoy."
"I'm not. I'm the perfect choice to take to the Ball."
"And why shouldn't I take Ron? He's my best friend."
"But he's only a best friend."
"Why do you even want to take me anyways? Why not take Pansy, since you're always with her anyways."
"Are you jealous that I'm with Pansy all the time?" Hermione gave him the look. "Okay, okay. And I don't know why I asked you. I just did and when I realized I did, I was like hey, why not?"
"Hey, why not? So you're just playing with me."
"No, I'm serious. I want to go with you. You just weren't my first choice, but I've made you my only choice now."
She shook her head in disbelief. "Do you really think that I'm going to believe all this crap that you're feeding me?"
"Maybe. But it's not crap, I know it, and you know it too."
"I hate you."
"The feeling's mutual."
"I have a problem Ginny."
"I know. When I heard that you were asked out by my brother and Malfoy, I knew you would come to me sooner or later. What did I tell you?"
Hermione flopped onto Ginny's bed and sat next to Ginny while holding onto one of the pillows. "I hate how you're right Ginny. I mean, I don't like Malfoy, I'm sure of it."
Now it was Ginny's turn to give Hermione the look. "Really now? After you've had all this time to think about it, and you're still saying that you don't like him? That's a lie, and you know it."
"It's not a lie Ginny, I'm being serious here. I dont' like Malfoy. I don't hate him anymore, but I am far from liking him."
"Then what are you confused about? If you don't like him, then why not take Ron to the Ball?"
"That's why I'm here asking you! I don't like your brother either, he's just my best friend. But the reason I'm considering Malfoy is because I don't hate him anymore. How can I choose between my best friend and someone I don't hate anymore?"
"You mean how can you choose between your best friend and someone you like?"
"No, it's not like that Ginny."
"Hermione! You have to admit it. Even though I don't approve of you and Malfoy, and never will, you have to stop denying that you like him."
"But I don't like him."
Ginny threw back her head and groaned. "You're hopeless Hermione." She sighed. "Just choose a guy to go to the Ball with. Maybe it's because he's my brother, but I think Ron will be the better choice. But knowing you, you would probably choose Malfoy to go to the Ball with."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know you better than you know yourself. You're going to the Ball with Malfoy and maybe, just maybe, you'll stop denying to yourself that you like him."
Hermione couldn't stop thinking about what Malfoy said during their rounds. She was not his first choice, but she is the only person he'll take to the Ball now. Hermione sighed. 'You just weren't my first choice, but I've made you my only choice now.' "You're right. Not about the denial, but about taking him to the Ball. I've decided to take Malfoy to the Ball."
"See? It was as simple as that." Hermione went down under Ginny's covers. Why had she just chose Malfoy over Ron? Ugh!
"So, Granger, have you chosen yet?"
Ron smirked. "Give it up Malfoy, it's going to be me. We have known and been close to each other since the first year."
"We'll see when Granger answers me." Malfoy turned back to Hermione. "So what's it going to be Granger? Me or him?"
Hermione sighed. "It's going to be you, Malfoy."
He smirked. "Didn't I tell you that you were to chose me over Weasley?"
Ron was furious. "Hermione! How can you pick him over me?! You don't seriously like him, do you Hermione?"
"Ron! How can you think that about me? Why would I like Malfoy?"
"Then why are you going to the Ball with him?!"
"Give it up Weasley, she already chose me over you. Don't make a further fool of yourself." Ron grabbed Malfoy by the collar as if he was going to fight him. Malfoy quickly pushed him off. "Who do you think you are? Potter? Even the legendary boy who lived couldn't touch me. What makes you think that you can?"
Hermione groaned. Why did she pick this ferret to be her date for the Ball?