Finally after days of agonizing over it, the Yule Ball had arrived. Hermione still hadn't worked up the courage to unwrap the present from Malfoy convinced it was laced in some sort of poison. For the past week, Hermione awoke from nightmare, clawing at her skin after envisioning herself in the dress, her skin slowly becoming saturated with some untraceable poison. She would then spend a good part of her morning preparations using charms to conceal the scratches she inflicted upon herself from fear.
The dress turned out to be harmless. The alterations Malfoy had made were nearly perfect, posing the question as to how he was able to gauge her size so accurately. Hermione quickly dismissed the question, trying not to let all the disgusting thoughts take hold of her. Every where else in the castle older students were running around excitedly, ready for the minute respite from the war around them. She could almost feel the happiness of her peers echoing in the hallways.
She examined herself cautiously in the mirror. The silver of the dress was created to match the cold grey eyes of the Malfoy men, which Hermione couldn't detest more. Her shoulders shook as she collapsed into tears while slipping her shoes on her feet. The fabric wrinkled and her hairstyle began to fall apart as she failed to secure it in place. She sat still for a moment, staring at her bed across the room. Ernie peered into the room to say a quick hello before disappearing down the stairs off to meet Morag. Hermione pulled herself to her feet and began to try to pretend she was fine. She pulled her curly hair back into a loose ponytail, while using a few spells to tame the damage she had done to the dress. She didn't care for makeup (she would probably spend half of the night weeping quietly in an empty stall in the girl's restroom, anyway), and her jewelry was limited to a small pearl necklace and matching earrings. If Malfoy asked anything about them, she would simply tell him that her mudblood parents gave them to her. The thought of his reaction to that news brought a smile to her lips.
She made her way down to the Great Hall alone, planning to meet Malfoy there. Anyway she could limit her time spent alone with him, she was fine. Unfortunately, she spied him making his way down the hall towards her as she rounded the corner towards the Yule Ball.
"I was going to meet you at the Ball," Hermione stated flatly.
Malfoy smirked. "And miss the chance to see Weasley go completely mad at the sight of us together?"
Malfoy smiled as he walked Hermione down the hall, a facial expression which seemed foreign and cruel on his face. "Tolerable," he evaluated as he took her arm in his. "Even your hair looks acceptable." Hermione swallowed and blinked back angry tears that were threatening to fall. She would not let herself become the weeping innocent maid who needed rescuing tonight. She had shed enough tears over this; she was stronger than this. Malfoy joined the queue of couples waiting to enter the ball with Hermione reluctantly clinging to his arm. There were a few whispers as people began to notice the two. Malfoy smirked at the students around him, while Hermione stared at the doorway blankly, pretending not to notice the intense stares. They were joined shortly by Ernie Macmillan and Morag MacDougal. Morag chatted amiably separating Hermione from her date temporarily. The heads and their escorts were called to the front of the line and ushered in to a table that was large enough to seat all the prefects and their dates. Hermione looked down the table to see Ron entering with Lavender while Harry took his seat at another table, where he was joined by Neville and Luna.
This Yule Ball was a lot less formal than the previous one, prompting many of the boys to forgo their clumsy dress robes for typical muggle formal wear. Harry was wearing a simple black suit with a plain white shirt underneath unbuttoned at the top and missing a tie. Malfoy observed the general lack of dress robes and commented on the need to reeducate society on propriety and social conduct. Hermione smiled as she noticed Ron wearing a muggle suit, possibly one of Harry's, as the trousers seemed a little long for him. Neville wore traditional dress robes while Luna seemed to carry enough eccentricity for the two of them in her royal blue ball gown with what looked like miniature Dalmatian-print disco balls linked to a silver chain that formed a long necklace that draped down to her belly button (despite wrapping it around three times), with matching dangling earrings. Her hair was secured in a tight blond bun with a clip that looked remarkably like a screwdriver. Upon closer inspection, Hermione found that it was in fact a screwdriver, wrapped tightly with a rubber band. Hermione didn't even try to reason that one out.
The rest of the students had filed in after the prefects and heads and were now mingling. Most of the table was now empty as her fellow prefects left to find their friends. Hermione noticed Professor McGonagall speaking to Professor Sinastra, while Snape pretended to listen to whatever Professor Flitwick was discussing. She politely excused herself while Malfoy was distracted by Ernie and Morag's argument over quidditch teams and took this as the chance to escape, pushing through the crowd towards Harry and Ron. Harry smiled and hugged her assuring her that she looked beautiful albeit slightly shell-shocked. Ron smiled briefly before turning his attention to Malfoy who had noticed her disappearance and was now glaring at the trio while Ernie babbled loudly in his ear.
Harry then broke the tense silence between the trio by commenting on the hall. Hermione had been too distracted to notice the decorations earlier, but now was blown away by it. The hall was decked out in a typical Christmas fashion with all the magical trimmings. The tables were rearranged to form the larger prefect table and staff table with smaller tables for other students. The floor was charmed to look like a snow covered field, and a few fifth years had started a small snowball fight in the corner. A large evergreen stood behind the prefect table, alight with all its Christmas finery, including floating candles and color changing glass ornaments. The dance floor was a frozen pond, charmed so students wouldn't go crashing into one another. There was a small stage in the corner where a ragtag group of wizards sat unpacking their instruments. The prefects in charge of music had done away with the typical Weird Sisters and found a little known jazz rock band that had some completely unpronounceable name from some Eastern European country. Hermione heard people referring to them as gypsies even after the band was introduced, and from that point on, they were described simply as the gypsy band.
The band started to play some popular jazz muggle songs and the students began to dance as the music picked up. Despite the request for students to bring dates from outside the house, only a few had actually bothered to listen. The Slytherins separated themselves most visibly from the rest of the school, heckling the band for the horrible music (as Pansy Parkinson put it).
Harry was now dancing with Hermione for the moment, while Ron danced awkwardly with Lavender. Noting his friend's discomfort, Harry cut in and took Ron's place, leaving Ron to dance with Hermione. Hermione teased Ron for his horrible dancing and he laughed, trying not to step on Hermione's exposed toes.
"Who wears open toe shoes to a Yule Ball anyway?" he joked. Hermione frowned and yelped when Ron stepped on her right foot. "You see what sort of problem you've caused with those blasted shoes?" he teased again, before pulling her closer promising not to do it again.
McGonagall began separating couples from the same house, pulling Hermione away from Ron.
"Now students, when we set rules regarding how we are to behave at the Yule Ball, I expect that the rules are to be followed. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff should be friends. Gryffindor and Slytherin should be friends. Despite years of rivalry, I think that now is the best time to put this all aside and unite. After all, Hogwarts students should stick together. So, Hufflepuff dance with Gryffindor and Slytherin with Ravenclaw." She paused and glared at the students.
"Let's experiment, shall we? The next dance is mandatory and your partner will be from another house. If you cannot find a partner from another house, then sit down," she said firmly. She gestured towards Ernie and Morag to set an example before turning her attention to Hermione.
"Get your filthy hands off my date Weasel," Malfoy growled. Ron grabbed Hermione's hand defiantly, despite her protestations.
"Bugger off Malfoy."
"I believe you heard your Head of House just threaten the entire student body. I suggest you leave your little Mudblood princess for someone who's more able."
Ron lunged at Malfoy's throat before Harry pulled him back before Ron could land a punch. Malfoy laughed maliciously and made an obscene comment about "the Weasel's boy toy" saving the day before leading Hermione away from Ron. She whispered an apology before reminding him about the house points. Malfoy smirked triumphantly before taking Hermione's arm and leading her to the center of the dance floor, where Morag and Ernie were already dancing.
Hermione could feel students staring in disbelief as Malfoy snaked his arm around her waist. She glared at her partner urging him quietly to loosen his grip; he responded by pulling her closer and smirking at Ron.
Fearing the wrath of McGonagall and ashamed that Ron's inability to dance had not allowed her a proper chance to show off her vibrant yellow dress, Lavender had asked Daniel to dance, leaving a fuming Ginny behind. She began to argue with the girl quite loudly, forcing Ron to tear himself away from watching Hermione in order to intervene in the Ginny situation. Lavender barked at Ginny saying that Daniel had planned to leave her all along, while Ginny hissed all the promises Daniel had made her. Ron watched his sister's heart break and stepped between her and Daniel. With one swift motion, Ron had knocked Daniel to the floor, while Harry grabbed Ginny and pulled her away from the scene. Professor McGonagall ran over to break up the fight, docking ten points from her house reluctantly. As she lectured Ron about inter-house cooperation, Daniel and Lavender had slipped away.
Ginny clenched her jaw and watched her head of house's retreating form disappear into the crowd. "Ron, I never liked that tramp Lavender," she stated firmly before turning on her heel and fleeing out the door. Harry nodded his head in agreement before running after her.
Ron sighed and retreated to the now empty prefect table, watching Hermione dance awkwardly with Malfoy. He watched as Malfoy's lips moved slowly, Hermione's eyes narrowing ever so slightly in response. Her lips remained drawn in a very severe frown, disregarding everything he said to her, becoming increasingly aware of the young man watching her quietly from his corner.
Outside the Hall, a devastated Ginny sat on the cold stone floor, her knees pulled up to her chest. Harry sat beside her and nudged her gently.
"Well I guess you've learned to be more careful about falling so easily in love," he joked quietly. Ginny turned her tear-stained face to him and shook her head remorsefully. She asked herself if it would be possible for Harry to still love her despite her mistakes.
"I only did the kind of things I ought to," she said quietly. "I mean to you, I was as faithful as can be," she paused and added "for me," as an afterthought. Harry groaned at Ginny's correction. "It gets unbelievably lonely you know."
"Oh believe me. I know. Besides, the whole thing doesn't sound very good to me," he replied. Ginny's eyes welled up with tears and she frowned reminding him that her embarrassing outburst in front of over half of the student population should be enough to tell him how regretful and apologetic she was. "Ginny, I know that was horribly embarrassing, but I need to know if you'd be faithful to me." Harry cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her swollen eyes.
"What?" Ginny asked disbelievingly. There was a slight glimmer of hope in Harry's words. She smiled at the young man in front of her, marveling at his sudden maturity. She asked herself how she could've ever cheated on him in any form, feeling nothing but love from his soft emerald eyes.
"Ginny, with me it's all or nothing. Is it all or nothing with you?" he asked sincerely. Ginny nodded dumbly. Harry frowned and continued, "It can't be 'in between.' It can't be 'now and then.' No half and half romance will do."
Ginny began to laugh at his demands placing her hand gently on his cheek, as if to silence him or mock him. Harry stated that he was serious and he couldn't just sit and wait for her to come around anymore. She smiled at him again before leaning over and kissing him softly.
"I promise you Harry Potter. I won't make the same mistake again," she swore as he wrapped his arms around her in a loving embrace. The reunited couple sat quietly for a few minutes before standing and retreating to the Gryffindor Tower. Ginny reached down and entwined her fingers with his, saying, "I'll give you all of me." Harry kissed her firmly again before leading her through the portrait hole and saying goodnight. Both were finally at ease now that the whole situation had passed.
Elsewhere in the castle, the dance had ended and the students were escorted back to their dorms by the prefects. Hermione followed the Gryffindors back to the dorms dodging any awkward moment alone with Malfoy, who was swept away by his own house. Ron pushed through the crowd of Hufflepuffs in the doorway, trying to get to Hermione. Frantic, he snaked his arm through the crowd and pulled her around the corner.
Hermione panicked briefly, thinking it was Malfoy that came back for her. She was relieved to find a beaming redhead instead.
"Ron, you nearly scared me to death. I thought it was Malfoy," she hissed. He smiled and took her trembling hand in his, relishing the feeling of her fingers between his. In the dim light he could see her blushing as she pulled her hand away. She turned on her heel and started to walk towards the Head dorms still feeling slighted from Ron's earlier date with Lavender. She had promised herself that she wouldn't become some swooning blubbering idiot once Ron came to his senses. She had also promised herself earlier that she did not need Ron to validate her, and was not some ridiculous helpless maid in distress.
"I'm sorry Hermione," Ron whispered as she walked away.
Hermione stopped. She turned and stared blankly at the young man before her, unsure of what she had just heard. The sheepish look on his face told her that she had heard correctly.
"What are you sorry about?" she asked coyly. He stepped forward and took her hands in his again.
"I shouldn't have taken Lavender," he confessed stroking her palms
"I don't care that you took her. I'm just sorry that the entire school had to see Ginny's heart break because of that stupid girl," Hermione retorted.
"Liar."
"I'm not lying. Ginny is my friend. Why would I wish for bad-" she broke. Ron stepped forward and clapped his hand over her mouth.
"I meant you're lying about not caring about Lavender," he smiled. "Besides, the whole school is talking about us." Hermione paused. It was true; gossip about Ron and Hermione would only increase following the Ron's behavior at the Yule Ball, even if he was known for his short temper.
"Why do they think of stories that link my name with yours?" Hermione asked Ron. The corners of her mouth turned into a small smile that comforted Ron.
"Because bored children do evil things like that. Remember our 4th year?"
Hermione did remember. Even the Daily Prophet had invested in gossip regarding the young teens. She laughed softly. Ron grinned wildly at the memories of the raging jealousy he had felt seeing Hermione's name paired with others. He stepped forward and gently removed the hair tie that held her curly brown hair back. Hermione raised her eyebrow in surprise and smirked as she watched Ron gaze down at her with nothing but affection. He pocketed the small hair tie prompting Hermione to comment.
"Ron, you're going to have to stop collecting my things. Are you building a shrine to me?" she giggled. The two had begun the slow walk back to Gryffindor Tower, careful not to attract the attention of the roaming Mrs. Norris.
"Are you worthy of a shrine?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Give me back my quills and books, you kleptomaniac."
"Why?" Ron asked. He had always taken these belongs of her under the pretext of being completely helpless in his N.E.W.T. level classes which Hermione never doubted. Somehow now, with the strange happenings and Ron's newfound courage in the matters of the heart, Hermione was even more uneasy with his behavior.
She sighed and turned to face him. "People will say we're in love," she mimicked. Ron grinned.
"It's not just me. Don't hold my arm like that," he teased, pointing with his free hand to his elbow that was held tight in the grasp of Hermione's slender fingers.
Hermione immediately let go of his arm and narrowed her eyes at him.
"It felt nice though," he whispered as he took a step towards her. "You know. Let them talk. Let them say we're in love."
"Ron-" she whispered, before he silenced her with a well-timed and gentle kiss.