Days passed and Hermione and Draco were getting closer and closer. They didn't want to spoil it and kept their thoughts to themselves. By the end of the autumn, McGonagall instructed the heads and prefects to arrange for an end of autumn ball. It was announced in one of the meetings. "I have an announcement to make. I already told you that you have to arrange three balls for this year, the first of which will be held by the end of autumn. I want you people to work together and organize it. I will be of help but I want you to do the major part of the arrangement. You can get help from all the other seventh years. The main motto of making you organize the ball is to promote house unity. I want each and every seventh year to work for it. I will make the announcement today at dinner. Work hard and bring out a good result. All the best!" said McGonagall.
Hermione was really excited. The head duties and the necessity to study for the NEWTS kept her very busy. She had not seen harry and Ron in a long time. She was glad that this chance gave them a chance to be together. She missed their "trio moments" as they called it. She was really looking forward for the ball now. But the problem is, who will she go with? It was very obvious that ron had pansy and harry had Ginny. Will Draco ask her? She was really excited!
McGonagall made the announcement that night." Your attention please! I have news for you all! There s going to be an end of autumn ball in two weeks and the specialty of this ball is that it is going to be fully organized by your seventh years lead by the heads and assisted by the prefects. The main motto is to promote house unity. The ball will be held in two weeks. All students are permitted to attend the ball in formal attire. The seventh and sixth years are allowed to stay as long as the like but for the other, the curfew will be at 11.30 PM. I request the heads to start the arrangements as soon as possible. Now off to bed all of you!" she said.
Harry, , Draco, ginny, blaise, pansy, Neville and Luna or "The Gang" as they were called now, met outside the great hall. This had become a habit recently. Neville and Luna were dating and joined them as well. "At last we get time to be together!" harry said hugging Hermione." I know. I was waiting for something like this! I am really excited" she said.
Draco looked at Hermione." Will she accept if I ask her to the ball? I really want to go with her. Maybe we will go together to the ball and I will find out what she feels about me! I hope this works out! But who am I trying to kid? I am an ex-death eater and she is a beautiful good hearted princess. I must ask blaise for help" Draco thought to himself. Meanwhile Hermione was lost in her own thoughts. She wanted to know how Draco felt about her. She was confused and decided to get some advice from Ginny and dragged her to the common room.
They went to her dorm and locked the room. Hermione put up a silencing charm and confessed everything to Ginny. "Ginny I have something to tell you! Yes! I like Draco. I really feel something for him. I want to go to the ball with Draco. I want to know if he feels the same about me. I want something to happen between us. I really don't know what to do Ginny." She said.
Ginny stared at her friend and smiled. She knew this was coming and also knew that Draco had something for her too. It was very obvious to anyone who notices the way he looked at her and Ginny was an expert in that field. But Ginny didn't want to tell Hermione about Draco. She wanted her friend to know things by herself so that she gets the pleasure of the suspense. She was really happy for Hermione and was ready to help her.
"Oh 'Mione! Don't worry! Just let things happen on its own. Don't worry about things. It will definitely happen! Just don't rush into things. Draco is a great guy and I will be very happy if things happen between you two. Be yourself and it will surely happen don't worry! This ball is going to be great! I am really excited! Let us put this all aside and worry about the preparations and dress shopping! Okay?" asked Ginny. Hermione smiled at her friend and decided to let it go for now. They spent the next few hours talking about the ball and the plans.
Meanwhile, Draco sat with blaise in the slytherin common room and poured his heart out. "I really want to go to the ball with her mate. She has changed me completely. I am head over heels for Hermione. I want to take her to the ball and confess everything to her. I want us to be together. But the thing is, she is too good. I am an ex-death eater and she is an angel. Do I deserve her? I don't think so. She deserves the best which I am not. But I just can't stop thinking about her mate. I am dying" he said.
Blaise listened to his friend patiently. He of all people knew the real Draco. He wanted Draco to be happy in life. He made so many mistakes in the past and he had already paid so much for it. It was time he finds someone who makes him happy in life. He had noticed Draco and Hermione many times and knew that they both felt something for each other. He also suspected that Ginny would know something about this and decided to ask her about this later. But first he wanted to make Draco understand few things.
"Listen mate! We all make mistakes! It is all the past. Just forget it okay? You deserve someone who makes you happy and she deserves the same too. If you guys like each other and make you happy, then go for it. Just forget about your past and move on. Ask her out to the ball and you will know the result eventually. Whatever it is you will know only if you ask so go for it mate. Now listen. I was thinking about someone. Daphne greengrass. I think I like her. I am going to ask her out tomorrow. Mate wish me luck!" said blaise.
Draco smiled at his friend and they started talking about other stuff. They did not notice a silent figure that stood in the corner and listened to the conversation." So this is why Drakie is not interested in me!" said Astoria greengrass coming out of her hiding place. "I am not going to lose him to some mud blood. I am going to do something about it." She said smirking and walked up to her dorm.
