Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable characters or settings.

After all the girls had decided on their outfits, everyone collected their things and paid. Lavender and Parvati left in a rush, saying that they had somewhere to be. Meanwhile, Hermione stuck around and waited while Ginny worked something out with the shop keeper. After about ten minutes, they were both set, outfits in hand and out the door.

The two were laughing about some joke Ginny had told, when she ended up suggesting that they get hot cocoas before going back to Hogwarts. Hermione agreed, knowing that even if it was still fall, it was a bit chilly, and some cocoa could definitely help. So the two ducked into the three broomsticks. Ginny, knowing the owner quite well, handed Hermione her bags and headed off to order the cocoas.

Now, the bushy haired girl was stood in the doorway, struggling to hold two heavy ball gowns, two pairs of shoes, masks, gloves, and a few pieces of jewelry. Even so, Hermione glanced around the room. She'd always liked it in there, even if a pub might not be the best haunt for a teenage girl. It was a bit dark, but usually pretty quiet. The food was good, and she really did just like it there. The table in the far back corner had the most comfortable chairs, and was one of her favorite places to bring a book.

She waited by the door while Ginny was swept up into conversation with the woman behind the bar. Harmione, always being the curious one, scanned the tables with her eyes. Before she even realized what she was looking for, Hermione found it. Rather, him. Draco was in the Three Broomsticks. She had no idea what he was doing here. Draco never came in here. It felt like all the breath had been sucked out of the lungs suddenly, and she swept out the door into the cool fall air.

It took a minute for her to compose herself, leaning against the wall of the pub for fear of falling over. What was he even doing here? She didn't really care, but she knew he had seen her and it was just too much to deal with. The girl took another deep breath and leaned her head back against the wall, once again cursing herself for letting that Slytherin control her thoughts like this.

A few moments later, Ginny stepped outside with an apologetic smile. "I swear I didn't know he was going to be in there 'Mi. Do you want to to say anything to him?" her friend asked gently, her voice soft and gentle like Hermione would burst into tears with one wrong word.

Hemione shook her head quickly, taking her cocoa and handing Ginny her dress, shoes, and various other things they had purchased. Still holding the green gown on one arm, she took a sip of her cocoa and started walking back towards the school she so adored.

Seemingly by instinct, Hermione glanced over her shoulder, a couple hundred feet from the pub. Draco was coming out. Of course. Before she could look away, they made eye contact. She still couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling. She had never noticed how closed off he could get, especially if he didn't want to let you in. She had to look away when Ginny started talking to her though, hoping to distract herself and not think of him any longer.

They talked the whole way back to school, and surprisingly, Hermione's walk passed without any more thoughts of the blond boy.

The girls had ended up putting away their new clothes and then going to find Ron and Harry. Getting pulled to watch their Quidditch practice, completely skipping lunch, and actually racing in the halls. Hermione had never been too interested in childish games like this, but it was fun to just be with her friends again. After dinner though, she eagerly anticipated going to bed a reading her new book, then sleeping as long as she liked.

But, arriving back at her room, she noticed something on her bed, which she quickly picked up and brought into the bathroom, a bit nervous about opening it in front of the other girls.

It was a small white box, wrapped in a green ribbon. She had a feeling about who it was from, but highly doubted it. After all, how could he have gotten into the tower? And wouldn't she have noticed him missing from dinner? It was odd. But, either way, she took a deep breath and took off the ribbon, opening the box.

Inside was a note, written in simple black ink on parchment, and something metal underneath.

I always knew green was your color.

I'm sorry Hermione.

The note would have been enough, but as she lifted it to see what was underneath, Hermione gasped. Is was a beautiful charm on a silver chain. An intricate and detailed silver and green dragon curled around a golden flower. Now her suspicions had been confirmed. No one else could have given her something so beautiful and expensive looking. Something with a definite meaning that she did not miss.

Picking up the charm delicately, Hermione put the chain around her neck, realizing that it was long enough to, luckily, be hidden by her school robes. Now there would be no suspicious glances. She just stood, one hand still over the gorgeous necklace, for a moment, before heading back to her bedroom and tucking the box in a drawer.

She had decided to sleep in the beautiful necklace, so kept it on as she changed into her golden tank top and red pajama bottoms.

Hermione read for about an hour before finally going to sleep. For the first night that week, sleep came easily, and it took no more than a few minutes to fall asleep.

The next few weeks passed without any word from Draco. No glances sent her way, no conversations, no more mysteriously placed presents, nothing. And then, all to soon, it was time for the ball.

A/N: You guys voted, and green won out (wonder why.) I know it seems a little bit worrisome right now, but I promise this story has a happy ending. And it was short, because mostly it was filler. But the ball should be pretty great. Please leave a review, they all mean a lot to me.

Now it's time for my explanation. These past few weeks have been really rough. My horse was put down, my dog was diagnosed with epilepsy, my grandmother had a stroke, it's just really been a lot to deal with. So, I do apologize for not adding more to this story. But hopefully that will change now.