Chapter 9: Preparations and nice things

School was finally out, and it was only 4 days till' Hogwart's great Winter Ball.

"Hey Everyone!"

Hermione, Parvarti, Lavendar, and Monique looked up from their magazines and books to see Ginny with the biggest smile on her face.

She plopped herself down on the sofa Hermione was sitting on, grabbed a magazine and began humming a tune. They were in the Head's Common room just hanging out amongst themselves.

The other girls stared at her with shocked expression. The last time they saw Ginny her face was tearstained and her hair was as messy as ever. Today, her face was lit up and her hair was tied into a neat pony tail. She looked like a different person.

"…Good day?" Monique awkwardly asked, hoping to figure out what was on Ginny's mind.

As if waiting for this question, Ginny quickly tossed aside her magazine and let out a very wide smile and exclaimed,

"Harry asked me to the Winter Ball! Harry asked me!" Ginny cried out excitedly.

Knowing Ginny, she had probably forgotten completely about Geldman now. The other girls felt relieved and congratulated her with hugs and smiles.

"So, who are you girls going with?" Ginny asked excitedly.

"Well, you know me!" Monique said. Monique has been dating Adam Tophy, a rather charming Gryffindor, since second year. No doubt they are going together, Hermione thought.

"Ron." Lavender said as the heads turn to her, questioning her the same thing. "You guys know that!" Her cheeks flushed a slight red color.

The faces then turned to Parvarti.

"I…" Parvarti muttered uncomfortably, "don't laugh okay?" she said as her head seem to droop lower and lower.

"C'mon Parvarti!" Everyone asked excitedly, having no clue of who it is.

"Alright…it's…um…William Roger…the Hufflepuff…" She choked out.

Just as the girls were happily chatting away about Williams, who is a year younger than them, an owl knocked at the window.

Hermione stood up and retrieved the letter, as she sat back down with her friends, their eyes were all focused on the letter with a cursive writing Hermione on it.

"What's that?" Ginny asked

"Open it!" Monique demanded.

Slowly ripping the letter open, there was a white letter and Hermione began reading out loud.

"Dear Hermione,

I don't know how to begin this letter. Well, I guess it's a little awkward since we have been enemies for quite a while. But, I was hoping you can forget that fact, and hope we could start over as friends. Well, more than friends. Okay, I'll just be straight forward here… I really like you."

Hermiones heart pounded loudly as the other girls gasped at this line, she took a deep breath and continued reading.

"This might sound a bit corny, but let's forget about the things that happened, our differences and all that name calling. My feelings are true, I can ensure you. Well, I'll just end this by asking you, Will you go to the Winter Ball with me?" Hermione paused for a while, "From Draco Malfoy."

The girls around bursted out screaming and giggling.

"So sweet!" Monique said. "Are you going to accept him?"

"I…I'm not so sure…"

Before she could finish replying, the owl flew in the room and dropped off a beautiful, flawless, red rose on Hermione's lap.

On the rose was a small note attached,

Think about it. No pressure!

"I'm not so sure," Hermione continued, "An enemy asking me to the Winter Ball all of a sudden? Who knows what he has planned!"

"Maybe he doesn't see you as an enemy anymore!" Ginny pouted, "will you just go with him?"

Hermione was quiet, something didn't felt right. These things don't just happen.

The girls left shortly because they had to be back in bed. Hermione sat in the Common Room by herself, thinking about what Draco Malfoy had said.

The door to the Common Room swung open and Blaise walked in.

"Hey." He said cheerfully sitting down next to her, "What's with the sad face."

Hermione smiled.

"Nothing! Just thinking about….stuff." She said.

"Hungry?" Blaise asked as he picked up a 'Witch Weekly' from the pile the girls had left.

He brushed along his hair while looking down. He really is pretty cute… Hermione thought as she looked into his light brown eyes.

"No…not really. Let me change and we'll go patrol the hallways." Hermione said as she was making her way to her room.

After patrolling the hallways, Hermione changed into shorts and a tank top (her pjs) and decided to take a breath out at the balcony.

To her surprise, Blaise was there as well. Blaise was sitting on the rails of the balcony, with his back turned to her, looking down at the magnificent view.

"Kinda dangerous on that railing." Hermione said in a soft voice.

Blaise spun around to face her,

"Oh, you. Yeah, can't fall asleep." He said.

"Figured" Hermione smiled.

Hermione walked to the railing and leaned against it, taking in the fresh cool air blowing against her, and looking at the countless stars.

Blaise ran his eyes down her body, from her thin, soft neck down to legs. Damn. He thought. He still really wanted Hermione.

He took a big breath of air,

"Hermione…" he said,

"Hmm?" Hermione turned to face him

"Will you," He looked into her honey eyes, "Will you go to the winter ball with me?"

Hermione stood silent for a while.

She was stuck between two.