Author's Note: Well, its definitely been a long two weeks. Redbean99 and I hope you will enjoy our new edition to the story. A big thank you to all those people who have been with us this long and are still sparing time to read this. It means a lot to us. So without further ado, read on.

It was Hermione's first feast in the Great Hall since the incident in the woods. The hall was decorated with sparkling lights and the roof only added to that with its twinkling stars. Hermione smiled, it was good to be back. After one month of almost total isolation from the rest of the school, it felt great to be among the many students once more.

The room fell silent as the Headmistress stood.

"Attention all students. May I please remind you that the Forbidden Forest remain forbidden and may I enforce how dangerous it is. By no means can you enter the Forbidden Forest. We are trying our best to sort it out and will notify you once we have. Unfortunately, Hagrid has still not been found," Headmistress McGonagall announced gravely. Whispers erupted in the hall.
"We may have to bring the Ministry into this if he is not found by the end of this week."

Hermione turned to Harry. "Why didn't you tell me that Hagrid went missing? How did this happen?"

Harry looked down at his plate.

"Was he- was he looking for me? Is that how he went missing?"

"We didn't want to make you feel bad, especially when you were so ill."

"How did this happen?"
"I don't know. He just vanished into thin air."

Hermione buried her face in her hands. Guilt suffocated her.

"Don't feel bad, Hermione, don't blame yourself for what happened."

McGonagall drew the attention back to herself.

"That's enough. Now, onto some good news. The Yule Ball is coming up very soon."
There was a loud cheer.

"That's right, Hogwarts is bringing the Yule Ball back. Unfortunately, we cannot risk holding the Triwizard Tournament after what happened last time and especially after what is going on right now. We may never hold it again until we are able to fully ensure your safety. To make up for this, we have decided to hold the Yule Ball, with the usual schools- Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. The Yule Ball will be held in two weeks time. We hope to see you there."

It took Professor Squirrel quite a while to quiet down the class, who were bubbling with excitement about the Yule Ball.

"Quiet, students. Now, today we will be learning about the of Dementors and their impacts on wizards and muggles alike. I know that most of you have seen and heard of Dementors, but this lesson you must do extensive research on them. I expect a 2 page essay by the end of this lesson. This is to be done in your pairs."

The students shuffled into their pairs and hurried on with their task for the lesson.

"Hey Hermione. Are you feeling better now?" Draco inquired.

"Better than ever, Malfoy. I feel like it's been too long since I've attended class though."

Draco was looking at Hermione a little strangely.

"What?"

"Nothing. McGonagall's dumped a load of work for us to do for the Yule Ball. We've basically got to organise the whole thing. Not that you mind."
"I don't."
"So I was thinking that we should meet in the Head's common room after dinner."

"Ok sure."

"And Hermione, about the fight..."

"Let's not bring that up right now. We've got the Yule Ball to think about."

As Hermione walked out of class, she was pulled aside by Professor Squirrel. His eyes were puffy and red, his sideburns lacked its usual trimmed neatness.

"Hermione Granger, how have you been feeling lately?"

"I'm alright, professor."
"Hmm… so I pulled you aside to talk about the little… misunderstanding a few weeks ago. I thought that you were skipping class and was too stubborn to listen to your friend. I didn't believe you were actually missing and I am ashamed to admit I was planning on deducting marks off your NEWTS that day."
"Professor, it's ok. I'm sure any professor would've done the same."

"That's not true. I'm not just an awful professor, I'm an awful person. I ignored your friend's worries and continued on with the lesson like nothing was wrong. You have to forgive me Hermione, I am new at this."

Hermione smiled. "Honestly, it's ok."

Professor Squirrel nodded slowly. "Ok, then. Anyway, I was meant to let you know that you know that you can hand in your essay any time today, and I'll mark it as if it was handed in on that day."

Hermione filled with gratitude. "Thank you, professor."

"No problem. You really are a sweetheart."

That night, Hermione entered the Head's common room with a tall stack of books.

"Woah, watch out, Granger. You wouldn't want your one and only true love to be your demise."

"Shut up, Malfoy. These books are all about the Yule Ball. Professor McGonagall gave them to me just then. In them are the preparations that must be made, the history of the Yule Ball, the conflicts that could occur-"

"Granger, that's great and all, but I don't care. I'm just here to have fun."

"Being Head isn't all fun and games, Draco, it is a huge responsibility. Not that you would understand anything about responsibility," Hermione muttered the last part. Hmmm

She seemed to forget she was carrying a tower of thick books in her hands. As she was ranting at Draco, she wobbled precariously backwards and forwards.

But it was too late. Hermione fell backwards towards the ground. She closed her eyes, preparing herself for the fall and wondering why she had been such an idiot. But the fall didn't come. Something stopped her from her fall. Hermione was suddenly engulfed by a feeling of warmth. It wrapped around her as the endless amount of books toppled onto the ground.

A memory entered her mind, a moment of déjà vu. Hermione had felt this way before, she definitely had. Her eyes opened, to see a pair of stone-grey eyes.

"Draco. Were you, were you there that night?"
Draco let go of Hermione. "Um… what night? You should really be more careful, Granger."

"You know what I'm talking about, Malfoy. Were you there that night in the Forbidden Forest. I thought that it had just been Ron, but I've been having weird dreams lately."

"What dreams?"
Hermione blushed. "They're none of your business. Just answer my question already."

"To answer your question, Granger, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Ok, if you say so. Sorry, I must've been mistaken."

"You must've."

Draco brushed his hands on his shirt and sat back down.

"Take a seat, Granger. Who knew you were such a clutz."

Hermione fumed. "Whatever. Let's just get on with it."

As the Yule Ball beckoned, the excitement of the students increased. Hermione still hadn't found a date yet, but nevermind, she had better things to worry about. A week had passed and Hagrid still hadn't been found. Hermione tried her best to ignore the members of the Ministry walking around the school, jotting down notes as they went. Hermione missed her visits to Hagrid's house and every day he remained missing filled her with crushing guilt. Hermione sat down at lunch one day, tired from spending the night before with Draco preparing the Yule Ball.

"Hey Hermione, did you hear about what happened yesterday?" Dean asked her.

"No, I was working all night. What happened?"

"Lavender and Ron broke up."

"What?" Hermione's books slammed on the table.

"Yeah. Apparently they had a huge fight. It was about Ron not asking Lavender to the ball. You know how Lavender is."

Hermione tried to hide her grin. "Oh… ok. Do you happen to know why Ron uh… wasn't asking Lavender out to the ball?"

Dean stared at Hermione.

"If you don't… it's totally fine, I was um… just asking."

Dean continued staring at her. "Oh… really?" He shrugged. "Well, now that Ron's finally freed himself from the demon herself, he can finally focus on other… things."
"What?"
"Nothing. Well, I'll see you around, Hermione. Who are you going with to the Yule Ball."

"I haven't found anyone yet."

"That's a shame. Let's just say that a window, or door really, has opened for you Hermione." Dean winked.

Hermione blushed. "I uh-"

But Dean had already walked away.

The dim light from the stained glass reflected on Draco's ivory-pale face. It was late in the common room, the clock's hands close to striking midnight in the Head's common room. Hermione had already left. "Don't stay up too late," she had told him, yet that was exactly what he had done.

The late night's adventure from a few weeks ago had taken its toll on Draco and had resulted in many sleepless nights. He still felt dizzy thinking about it. Draco's eyes stared at the flickering light in contemplation. Why hadn't he told her about that he had being there that night, her lifeless body in his arms? Was it the guilt that he felt for succumbing to the forest's strange magic? Was it the pain that he was constantly struck with when he thought of that night, the guilt for not being strong enough to be her hero? Was it embarrassment at the fact that Weasley did in all truth save her?

Never had he felt an emotion as strong as the one he felt that night. Almost like a sudden storm, a new feeling had taken over his mind. The thought terrified him and he could only hope that it would pass and die out soon, like the wavering candle in front of him.

"Oh my Merlin! The Yule Ball is tomorrow and I haven't even bought my dress yet."

Hermione tried to block herself from the sounds of anticipation for the Yule Ball, but to no avail. She hated the screaming girls, who were gossiping about who was going with who tomorrow night, what dress they were going to wear for that night, and other girly things that Hermione found unbearably idiotic. She wanted to take away House points just to get them to stop, even though they weren't doing anything wrong. But, Hermione couldn't help but feel as if they were rubbing in her face by talking about their dates. It has been yet another week and she still hadn't found a date. Hermione had spent half the week trapped in the Head's common room with Draco, desperately trying to organise everything before the deadline. The students never stopped swarming around Hermione, full of questions and requests for the Yule Ball, which just added to the crushing pressure and stress Hermione had already been suffering from.

Draco spent the entire morning of the day of the Yule Ball preparing the decorations and dusting away the cobwebs from the rickety chandeliers. Afterwards, he went to the library, already exhausted from the morning's preparations. Draco tried to hide his sigh as none other than Pansy squished beside him.

"Draco dear, so do you have a date for the Yule ball?" Pansy batted her eyelashes and inched closer towards him. She placed her hand on Draco's shoulder.

Draco shuffled away, leaving a large gap between him and Pansy.

"I'm going with Blaise as friends. You know I am. In fact, I might tell Blaise I'm sick and I won't go at all. I've had enough of this Yule Ball rubbish."

"Come on Draco, it's today and you know how much I've been nagging you." Pansy sighed in exasperation. "The Yule Ball doesn't happen everyday, you know. If you hurry, you may be able to find a date. I know many girls who don't have a date yet who would be perfect for you!"

Draco almost shuddered. Could Pansy make it more obvious that she wanted to go to the ball with him? He feigned obliviousness to this and wiped his sweaty palms against his pants, looking for an escape.

"Mr Malfoy, Professor Mcgonagall has requested that you meet her in her office in five minutes." Madam Pince called out. Draco sighed with relief, Madam Pince had given him an exit from the awkward conversation. Draco rushed outside with not another word to Pansy.

Climbing up the steps to the Headmaster's Office, Draco realised that Hermione didn't have a date either. Perhaps I should ask her. Draco thought. We could go together, as Heads. Yes, I believe that would work.

Entering the office, Draco couldn't help but look at the old professors who eyed him behind their frames with disdain. "Please, sit. I have a lot to discuss." the headmistress told him. Draco was about to tune out and plan how he would ask Hermione when he heard the words:

"I'm extremely sorry to be the one to inform you of this... but your father is dead."

Hermione sat at the bar. She let out a huge sigh. Two hours into the ball and no disasters- yet. Everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives, everyone except for her. Apart from a few people who approached her and asked her how she was feeling, to which Hermione gave the same automated response "better", Hermione had never felt more isolated in her life. Even the people who did bother to talk to her seemed bored in an instant. Hermione could read it in their eyes, as soon as she began to talk about the NEWTS. Her conversations with these people were rapid, they wanted to leave as quickly as they came. Hermione wondered if that was why Ron had cheated on her, because she had become such a bore and she wondered where Draco had gone. He had disappeared and she hadn't seem him the whole night. Hermione guzzled another drink down her throat.

Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to escape. Just as Hermione was planning to walk out of the place, with the excuse that it was getting late and that she needed to study, somebody had pushed the stool beside her, which had been empty for around an hour, sat down and ordered a drink.

The boy turned to face Hermione. She gasped.

"Ron."

He smiled. "Hermione. It's been awhile. I haven't been able to talk to you, since your head is always buried in a book. "

Hermione nodded. "The NEWTS are coming up and I wouldn't want to fail."

"Oh Hermione, all you seem to care about is your grades and what not."

Hermione rolled her eyes, although she had to admit that was becoming quite true.

Ron's playful blue eyes suddenly turned dark with solemnity.

"Do remember, four years back, at our first Yule Ball? I was wearing these hideous dress robes from my Great Aunt."

Hermione laughed. "Yeah, that's hard to forget. My nose is still recovering from the smell of it."

"Do you know what my biggest regret was in fourth year?"
"Wearing those ugly dress robes?"
"No, it was not asking you to the Yule Ball."

Hermione heart skipped a beat. She didn't know what to say.

"When I saw you, dancing with Viktor Krum, looking more beautiful than ever- well you were looking beautiful, not Viktor Krum- I was so, so jealous that it hurt to even breathe.

I thought that I could never feel that way again, until I saw you with him that night… in the forest."

"What? But we were alone... weren't we?"
"Not necessarily. Someone else was there, too. When I saw you with him, I was hit with the same envy I had felt four years ago. I wanted to be him so badly."

"Wha- what are you saying, Ron?"
"I love you. I've never stopped loving you since that night. And I know that you probably don't feel the same but I just had to say it."

It was at that point that the world seemed to stop for Hermione. Her stomach filled with butterflies, tears built up in her eyes. During her short-lived relationship with Ron, after the war, Ron had said those three words many times. But, they had never been filled with as much meaning, as much sincerity, as it was now.

Hermione hesitated, but only just for a second. "I- I love you too, Ron."

Relief flitted through his face but he covered quickly enough. Ron leaned in, his eyes closed. Hermione's eyes widened, she felt like pinching herself, wondering if she was in the midst of a dream.

"Ron, I-"

She was interrupted mid sentence by the closeness of his lips that radiated warmth. Hermione paused only for a second before she leaned in, their lips following a perfect rhythm as they kissed. Time stopped. An unforgettable memory made. Hermione ignored the gasps and stares around her. She was in her own happy place with her childhood best friend, her companion, her past boyfriend and the cause of her revenge, which now seemed so long ago. The person of whom she loved, and still loves, with all her heart.