Draco Malfoy & the Goblet of Fire Chapter 10: 10: The Ball, a harry potter fanfic

Draco was sitting on his bed, completely ready for the ball in the suit he'd worn to the Quidditch World Cup. Meanwhile, Blaise was standing in the bathroom, double checking EVERYTHING in the mirror.

"Blaise, it's fine!" Adrian called as he and Theo entered the dorm room. He would be taking Lisa Turpin and Theo was going with Mandy Brocklehurst. Both girls were in Ravenclaw. Even Crabbe and Goyle had managed to find dates, even though they were the desperate ones...in other words, Milicent and Astoria, respectively.

"It's so bloody itchy!" Blaise complained.

"Would you rather go naked?" Theo asked. Draco snorted. Blaise would probably say yes if he didn't have his dignity and sanity to answer to.

Draco knew that tonight wouldn't be as boring as he thought it was going to be. His friends were going to be there with him. And for the most part, the girls he would see were sane. Plus, he'd promised Herimone Granger that he would talk to her at the ball.

Why was he being so nice to her? The ferret confrontation wasn't that long ago, and he'd insulted one of her best friends then. But it was probably because Granger wasn't her usual uptight, lying self. She'd welcomed Draco as a friend.

Draco hoped that she wasn't sharing this with her friends. The last thing he needed was for the world to know that he was civilly associating with a Gryffindor squib-born. But technically, she was still a pureblood. It was just the fact that she was friends with Potter and Weasley.

While Draco and his friends forced Blaise out of their room, Hermione was getting ready for the ball.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" Lavender asked from their room.

"I'm fine!" Hermione answered from the bathroom.

"Why won't you tell us who you're going with?" Parvati asked.

"It's a surprise."

"Well," Padma, who'd come over from her tower to get ready with her sister, said, "we're heading down to the Great Hall. We'll see you there!"

"Bye!"

Hermione sighed in relief. Sure, they were her friends, but they could get a tad bit annoying sometimes. Speaking of her friends, Harry and Ron probably thought that she was in her room, crying her eyes out. She would show them.

But that's not the real reason you're spending so much time on dressing up, Hermione told herself. She wasn't doing her hair for her best friends. She wasn't wearing makeup for the girls. And she most certainly hadn't picked her dress to suit Krum's outfit. She was doing all this for Draco Malfoy. He didn't even think of her that way.

He was going to ask you to the ball, a voice in her head said. But that was only because he thought she was more sane than most of the other girls in their year.

Still.

Hermione almost slapped herself before heading out of the bathroom. The second the left the common room she headed back. She emerged from her dorm once more, this time, wearing shoes.

As she descended the last flight of stairs, Parvati, who was standing next to Harry, turned around.

"You look beautiful!" Parvati exclaimed.

"Thanks," Herimone replied. Harry followed his date's lead.

"Wow, Herimone," he said. "You ready?"

Hermione nodded as Krum came up to her and bowed. She put her arm on his and they proceeded to enter the Great Hall.

Draco definitely had to commend Dumbledore on a job well done when it came to decorating the Great Hall. The place looked like an ice palace. Stalactited hung in the air, but it seemed that they had been charmed not to fall. There was a large Christmas tree, brought in by Hagrid himself, at the front of the hall and it was covered with snow, only, the snow couldn't be moved. The ground was normal, but it looked like an ice rink. Overall, it was truly astounding. He voiced this to Pansy.

"I agree," she said. "Dumbledore has gone over the top. This place look completely different than our dining area."

"It's pretty cool, I'd say," Theo chimed in from next to Draco. The three of them turned to the left to see Daphne chattering away about who-knew-what while Blaise did nothing but nod. When he caught Draco's eye, he glared. Draco sheepishly grinned.

"I don't believe he'll ever forgive you for that," Pansy whispered.

"But it's downright hilarious," Adrian stated from Pansy's other side.

"Shush!" Pansy said. "The champions are coming out."

The first couple was Fleur and some Ravenclaw person. They were followed by Krum and Granger.

"Granger's here with Krum?" Pansy asked in slight disbelief.

"Yeah," Draco said, "but it's not like she wanted to. Honestly, I'd say he creeps her out."

Pansy said, "How would you know?"

"I happened to be there when she got asked. She looked so unsure. It was actually quite amusing."

Draco turned back to the champions. Granger had cleaned up nicely, it seemed. Behind her was Diggory and the Ravenclaw seeker, Cho Chang. Last, but not least (in most people's eyes), was glorious old Potter himself with Parvati Patil.

The champions and their dates approached the dance floor, and everyone gathered around them. Draco caught Granger's eye and winked. He gave her a thumbs up.

Finally, they began to dance. After eight measures (of course Draco knew this. He was trained as a musician.), Dumbledore brought McGonagall onto the floor. Karkaroff and some old lady who looked very stern were next. Surprise of all surprises, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbotton walked onto the dance floor.

Theo elbowed Draco.

"What?" he whispered. Theo pointed to Filch and his cat. Filch was acting like Mrs. Norris was a beautiful lady and his dance partner. The boys snickered at this.

Soon, everyone was dancing. Draco spun Pansy around and she said, "Thank Merlin we had those dance lessons when we were younger."

After the formal dancing was over, a famous band in both the Muggle and Wizarding world came out. The band was called Skillet and Draco happened to love their music.

They played a few great songs before everyone decided to lift Professor Flitwick and pass him around.

They eased into more of a background song while everyone mingled. Krum kissed Hermione's hand and went to get them some drinks. Hermione was actually having a pretty good time. She walked over to her friends and sat down in Parvati's empty seat. It seemed that the poor girl had been bored to death and had left to dance with someone else.

"Hot, isn't it?" Hermione said, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead. "Krum's gone to get us drinks. Would you care to join us?"

"No," Ron said, "we would not care to join you."

"What's got your wand in a knot?"

"He's a Durmstrang. You're fraternizing with the enemy."

"The enemy? Who was it wanting his autograph? Besides, the whole point of the tournament is International Magical Cooperation, to make friends."

"I think he's got a bit more than friendship on his mind."

Hermione stood up with a shocked expression. She couldn't believe him. She marched away and retrieved her drink from Krum.

"In the spirit of the tournament," the frontman of Skillet said, "we will be selecting two random yet capable students to take place of our guitarists."

He pulled out his wand and tapped his guitar with it. The instrument shot out a stream of fire that spelled out "Blaise Zabini". Everyone cheered as Blaise, relieved to be leaving Daphne, walked onto the stage. The guitar "selected" another person and of course, it was Draco.

Hermione almost did a spit take. Draco couldn't play guitar, could he? And he didn't seem like the type of person to like a Skillet song.

"This is Rebirthing!" the frontman announced as he stepped off the stage. That was one of Hermione's favorite songs!

Draco played the beginning guitar part and then he began to sing in an unnatural American accent.

"I lie here paralytic

Inside this soul
Screaming for you 'til my throat is numb
I wanna break out I need a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I'm suffocating

Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I've died

Rebirthing now
I wanna live for love wanna live for you and me
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow
Rebirthing now
I Wanna live my life wanna give you everything
Breathe for the first time now
I come alive somehow
Right now, Right now

I lie here lifeless
In this cocoon
Shedding my skin cause
I'm ready to
I wanna break out
I found a way out
I don't believe that it's gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I'm suffocating

Feel your presence filling up my lungs with oxygen
I take you in
I've died

Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when I'm gonna breathe you in
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'm gonna feel alive

Tell me when I'm gonna live again
Tell me when this fear will end
Tell me when I'm gonna feel inside
Tell me when I'll feel alive

Right now
I come alive somehow
Right now
I come alive somehow"

At the end of the song, everybody burst into cheers and applause. Draco and Blaise had a hard time getting back to their friends because everyone kept crowding them.

Finally, the two boys managed to escape to the punch bowl.

"I wish they had some real food here," Blaise commented.

"You and me both," Draco replied. Blaise grabbed a cup and filled it.

"Cheers, mate," he said. He knocked his cup with Draco's and left.

"Good job."

Draco whirled around to see Granger looking at him.

"Thanks," he said.

"I love that band."

"Really? I wouldn't put you down as a music girl."

"Well, I could say the same for you. What other bands do you like?"

"Ever heard of Fall Out Boy?"

"Love them! What do you think of..."

They went on for a while, discussing their likes and dislikes in the music industry.

"Well, I'd better get back to Blaise," Draco said. "He had to come with Daphne Greengrass."

"He had to?"

"Um, maybe I suggested to Daphne that Blaise wanted to go, even if he didn't."

Hermione chuckled. "You're certainly in for it."

"I sure hope he's forgotten about it."

"Yeah." There was an awkward silence before Hermione said, "Well, see you later?"

"Yeah."

They both parted in opposite directions. Hermione danced with Krum some more before going to find Harry and Ron. This turned out to be a terrible idea.

"He's using you!" Ron said to her about Krum.

She headed for the Great Hall exit and he followed her. Sh whipped around. "How dare you!"

"Besides," she added, "I can take care of myself."

"I doubt it. He's way too old."

"What? That's what you think?"

"Yeah, that's what I think!"

"Well, for your information, I'm not at all interested in him like that."

"Yeah, but I bet he could have you right here in the Great Hall if he tried."

Hermione's mouth dropped. "Ronald Bilius Weasley!"

Ron looked unsure and saw someone behind Hermione. "Harry!" he exclaimed.

Hermione spun around. "Where have you been? Never mind. Off to bed. Both of you!"

"They get scary when they get older," Ron whispered to Harry, but Hermione heard him.

"Ron, you ruin everything!" She dropped onto the steps and began to cry. The real problem was, she didn't know why she was so upset.

Draco's friends had decided to call it a night. "We're heading down to the dungeons," Blaise said. "You coming?"

"I think I'm gonna go find Dumbledore," Draco replied.

"Alright, mate, well, see you later."

Draco made his way over to the punch bowl where Dumbledore was.

"Sir, I have to say that the decoration is amazing."

"Why, thank you, Draco, but of course I had a lot of help from Professor Flitwick."

"It looks cool. I'll see you around then."

Dumbledore nodded and left. Draco exited the Great Hall to find Granger crying on the steps. He instantly rushed to her side.

"What's wrong?"

Oh great, Hermione thought. Draco Malfoy's seen me cry.

"Nothing," Hermione replied.

"Nonsense."

"It's just Ronald. He takes everything way out of hand. Just because I've come to the ball with Krum doesn't mean that I'll be sleeping with him tonight!"

Draco snickered. "He said that?"

"Of course you're laughing. You boys are all the same."

"No! It's just that it's stupid of you to get upset because he's Weasley. He doesn't know what he's talking about half the time. I mean, the Chuddley Cannons are terrible!"

This actually lifted Hermione's spirits.

"Come on," Draco said, taking her hand and pulling her up. "Let's go dance."

He dragged her to the Great Hall. Since it was later in the night, the slow songs were playing. Draco put his arms on Hermione's waist. She placed hers around Draco's neck.

"See, this night isn't so bad," Draco said after a few songs. He started to walk her to the Gryffindor common room.

"I know. I'm glad you came and cheered me up. Thank you for that."

"It was nothing."

"No, it wasn't." Hermione stopped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait and spoke the password. "We're supposed to hate each other. If not for our houses, then for our friends and our past. My parents are squibs, too, so that doesn't help."

"None of that matters. Well, actually, let's not tell our friends about this. I think we're the only sane ones in the school."

Hermione chuckled. "I'm serious, though. Thank you for being there for me. And not just tonight." She leaned forward and kissed Draco on the cheek. She quickly stepped through the portrait before she could register the expression on Draco's face.

Draco walked down to the dungeons. He wasn't thinking about the kiss. No, he was wondering what she had meant by "not just tonight".

It was in the dead of night when he realized that she had meant through all these years. How he had demonstrated his knowledge, his wit, his strength. It was then that Draco finally realized that Hermione Granger fancied him.

A/N: So I threw in a little musical performance by our hero. Totally wouldn't happen if he wasn't the character I've turned him into. Normally I'm not a big fan of Draco singing a song that shows up in the world ten years later, but I just had to do it. I know it's incredibly lame and unbelievable. That's the point of this series. By the way, Hermione's feelings are ONE-SIDED so far. Draco thinks of her as no more than an aquaintance.