We got ready in our dorm with Ginny, we all chatted excitedly as we got ready

We got ready in our dorm with Ginny, we all chatted excitedly as we got ready. My make up didn't take long but my hair did, we spent half an hour just trying to tame it. Finally Ginny put on a necklace with a small green leaf shaped pendant, I put on a fine silver chain with a silver crescent moon and tinny sapphire in the corner, my parents had bought it for me when I got my letter about Hogwarts. We walked down the stairs and saw them, Ron's Lavender dress robes clashed terribly with his hair, the colour Seamus red robes looked no where near as good on him as it did on Parvati. The green suited Harry well but everything paled in comparison to Blaise and his midnight blue robes, his eyes met mine and he smiled and held out a bunch of flowers.

"Please tell me this is your idea of a joke and your real date has taken Polyjuice potion." Ginny whispered in my ear.

"Sorry Gin, this is him, as real as they come."

We walked over to our dates and I noticed Ginny wasn't the only one looking on in disbelief. I didn't care; all I cared about was the guy holding my hand, the guy standing right by my side.

"Hermione you look beautiful." I looked up blushing.

"Thank you and I love the flowers."

"I think your friends want an explanation."

"They can wait."

"You're right, do you want a drink?"

The hall looked amazing, there were the usual trees but the ceiling had been enchanted to snow, the snow vanished the moment it touched something but the effect was beautiful.

We started to dance, the first songs were all fast and after an hour we got tired and stopped for another drink. We walked over to the other who were sitting down, when we got there Ginny said "Hermione I need a bit of fresh air do you want to come?" Before I had a chance to reply she grabbed my arm and pulled me outside, leaving Blaise alone with a rather murderous looking Harry and Ron.

"So what's the deal with Zabini?" Ginny demanded.

"We met this year and got talking, he's nice I really really like him Gin."

"That's not the point, he's a Slytherin, are you sure that you can trust him?"

"He's not like that, he hates his house and they hate him, he gets fresh bruises every week."

"That doesn't stop him being a deatheater."

"His arm's clean, you can check if you like, he wanted to join the order but knew he wouldn't survive the war if he did."

"He could've been a spy."

"He didn't know about Snape and do you think he would be trusted if he just turned up and offered his help?"

"True, but are you sure that you like him?"

"Yes, I'm positive, does he pass now?"

She smiled "Yes, with flying colours, I'll just see if the boys are done interrogating him yet."

She came back with an incredulous look on her face and said "You won't believe this." She led me back to see Ron, Harry and Blaise not only talking laughing like old friends.

A slow song came on and all the couples walked onto the dance floor, Blaise took my hand and brought me into his arms as we started to dance. As I rested my head on his chest I whispered "What did you say to them?"

"Just the truth, delivered with my usual irresistible charm." For the rest of the night we danced, when it ended Blaise walked me back to the Gryffindor common room. "I had a really nice time tonight, thank you Blaise."

"It's no problem; I should thank you for making this the first dance I've ever actually enjoyed."

"Well, good night."

"Night"

"Be careful wont you."

"Of course."

He pulled me into a long good night kiss and walked off down the corridor.

She walked down the stairs and my stomach clenched, she looked amazing. I took her hand aware of the filthy looks I was getting, this would be the first time I ever had a date. The first time I didn't sit alone watching everyone else have fun, the first time I had bothered going for years.

We danced together and all I concentrated on was her, I wouldn't be able to name a single song we danced to even when they had just ended. Her dress suited her perfectly; the blue dress was like the night sky with silver sequin stars and her moon necklace. The lighting made her skin look paler than usual, snow white and unblemished; she looked just like a moon goddess.

We stopped dancing and her cheeks were flushed, I smiled at the way even when she was tired, sad or angry she still looked beautiful. We grabbed some butter beers and she started walking over to her friends, oblivious to the dagger like looks they were sending my way. We reached them and I was relieved that at least I had Hermione to stop her friends if they tried to swing at me. Then Ginny took Hermione outside leaving me with Ron and Harry.

"Sooo…" I laughed nervously.

"Shut up Zabini." growled Ron.

"What do you want with Hermione? 'Cause I swear if your intentions are anything but honourable, Ron and I will personally rip you limb from limb." menaced Harry.

"I love her; I swear I won't hurt her."

"Why should we trust you?" demanded Ron.

"Because I'm telling the truth."

"Show us your left arm." ordered Harry.

I rolled up my sleeve and showed them my arm was bare.

"How did you get all those bruises?"

"I'm not exactly popular in my house."

"You mean Malfoy did this to you."

"Him and others."

"Why?"

"I don't fit in and I don't agree with their pureblood ideas."

"Why not?"

"Because your blood doesn't make you any better than anyone else, I mean look at Hermione, she's filth in their eyes and yet no one can beat her. No offence Ron your blood is purer than half of the Slytherins but without Hermione your grades would be poor."

"None taken it's a fair point."

"But you are obviously getting roughed up already, going out with her is practically suicide, what's in it for you?"

"Her, I love her and don't care what they do they don't scare me anymore."

"You have correctly answered all our questions, what do you reckon Ron?"

"He's all right I guess."

"He's better than Krum." Ron's expression rapidly darkened to a look of hatred.

"Wait a minute. She went out with Krum? The Victor Krum?"

"Yeah, she and Vicky went to the Yule Ball together." I burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Just the thought of Duck Feet dancing."

I did my best impression on Krum's terrible dancing and then clumsily apologising for stepping on her feet in thickly accented poor English. We were all laughing so hard we didn't notice Hermione and Ginny come back with disbelieving looks on their faces.

As the couples moved onto the dance floor Ron hissed in my ear "Yeah, alright we like you but it doesn't mean you won't spend several months in St Mungo's if you hurt her." I smiled and led Hermione onto the dance floor.

The very last dance was another slow one, I swayed with Hermione in my arms and her head tucked under my chin. Her soft hair tickled my neck as I breathed in the smell of her perfume and shampoo. The night had passed so quickly but I didn't want the song to end, I took her to her common room and said. I lay in bed waiting for my punishment to come but it never did.

Thank you for the reviews but I need some more to get to my goal, i know you were looking forward to the dance I made it especially long and I hope it doesn't dissapoint. I have a question which is that we are nearing the the end and i have two possible endings and I either end it with the possibility of a sequel a few years later or it stays the same length but i leave it at a close and don't write another HGBZ again. I would like to know and if you don't tell me i just wont finish it i'll leave it at a horrible cliff hanger and you'll always want to know what happens and you will never find out so please tell me if you want a sequel or not.