A/N: Sorry for the long wait..But here it is. Hopefully, you all like it. And I almost have FIFTY reviews! Heck yes! I'm so happy! Yeah, I was going to put a karaeoke part on this during the ball, where Draco would sing to Hermione and Ginny would sing to Blaise and Hermione would sing to Draco..but I deleted it because I didnt think that was something Dumbledore would actually do..And I didnt wanna get flamed. xD So sorry for that. But anywayy, enjoy. xP
Disclaimer: Dont own anything but Natalie.
x0xShortandTuffx0x
Dark Secrets
Chapter 11: The Christmas Ball
"MIONE!" Hermione winced and held back her laughter as she heard Ginny yell her name from the girls' showers. Hermione was sitting on Ginny's bed when Ginny came out wearing a half scowl half smile.
"Yes, Gin?" Hermione asked sweetly.
"YOU had something to do with this, didn't you?!" Ginny said, narrowing her eyes and trying to look stern but failing, instead she burst out into laughter.
"Whatever are you talking about, Gin-Bug?" Hermione asked innocently smiling.
"Ron and Pansy are now together, my dear brother asked her to the ball. And apparently, Harry and Natalie are getting along a little well." Ginny accused, after she was done laughing. She attempted another stern look but failed miserably again. Hermione smiled.
"And what if I did?" She said mysteriously, quirking an eyebrow.
"Then you're a bloody genius!" Ginny shrieked, giggling. Ginny looked up at a 'thump' and saw that Hermione had fallen off the bed in laughter, thus making both girls laugh even harder so that both of them were clutching their stomachs and rolling around on the ground.
"Of course I am." Hermione said five minutes later, recovering from her laughing fit, though still giggling softly. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I think hanging out with Slytherin's is having an effect on you, Mione. You're conceited." Ginny said. Hermione snorted and rolled her own eyes.
"Just because I can admit I'm a genius does not make me conceited, Gin." Hermione protested, grinning. Okay, so maybe she did sound a little like Draco, but she would never admit to Ginny that she was right. Ginny laughed again.
"I can't believe the ball is tomorrow!" Ginny shrieked, excitedly.
"I know! It feels like yesterday that we were buying our dresses!" Hermione cried, smiling. (A/N: Ironic huh? It really was just last week that they bought their dresses xP Sorry; I find that part kinda funny and really ironic.)
"C'mon, let's get to breakfast." Ginny said, getting up from her comfy spot on the floor.
They took their seats in the great hall beside Harry and Ron. Suddenly, all conversations stopped as Blaise stood up on the Slytherin table and cleared his throat, looking very nervous while Draco and Pansy snickered at him.
"I- Blaise Nathaniel Zabini of Slytherin- am in love with Ginerva Weasley of Gryffindor. And I don't care what anyone thinks!" Blaise announced proudly, and stepped down from the table, walking over to the Gryffindor one and pulling a scarlet Ginny to her feet, kissing her passionately. Half of the school cooed while the Slytherins' glared at the couple.
Later that day, Draco was walking in the halls when he crashed into Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil- Gryffindors- causing them to drop their books.
He was about to sneer at them when he remembered his dare. Fuck!
"My apologies, ladies. Here, let me help you." He said, forcing a smile and bending down to help pick up their books, cursing inside his head all the while, as he ignored their shocked looks. Stupid bitches. Should watch where they're going. Merlin.
"Have a good day, ladies." Draco murmured, forcing another smile. Boy, this was harder than it sounded. He heard them mumbling abut how Hermione must have had an effect on him, either that or he fell off the astronomy tower and bumped his head; hard.
Hermione, Ginny, Pansy and Natalie were all in Hermione's dorm getting ready for the ball. Hermione left her curly hair loose, a few strands framing her face. She wore her new red dress, with a silver necklace that had a lion on it with dangling silver earrings. Pansy had chosen a deep blue dress that was strapless and sparkling. She curled her black hair. Natalie wore a spaghetti strap gown that was black and brought out her curves. She'd pulled her hair back into a bun with a few blonde strands framing her face. Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. Ginny had curled her long red hair into loose ringlets, and wore a gold necklace with a cross on it, as well as gold dangling earrings.
"I'm so excited!" Ginny exclaimed. The other girls nodded in agreement.
"I honestly can't believe I'm going to the dance with Harry Potter!" Natalie shrieked, giggling. "What would my mother say?!" She continued, and rolled her eyes bitterly. "Not like I care, she can say whatever the hell she wants. I've realized I obviously always was on the wrong side. Harry's really nice and Voldemort's just a bloody asshole. I'm glad I've changed." Natalie smiled. Pansy smiled too and silently agreed with her. Hermione and Ginny grinned broadly.
"Harry's a great guy. Even though he's so famous, he hates all the attention. Anybody else would have been in their glory to have been in the triwizarding tournament or have met and been favored by Gilderoy Lockhart, but not Harry. He never was." Hermione said, smiling softly yet sadly. "The war is going to change everything."
"I'm scared; but we have to be strong Mione. For Harry." Ginny said, placing a hand on the older girls forearm.
"Of course, Gin. Harry needs us the most. Anyway, let's talk about happier topics. Like when are those damn boys going to get here?" Hermione cried, frustrated. As if on cue, the portrait to the common room opened and the girls heard the boys arguing about something. They decided to listen in.
"Mione'll look the hottest. No matter what you guys think." Hermione heard Draco say. She smiled.
"Yeah, you keep thinking that, Malfoy. 'Cause I know Gin will look brilliant tonight. Even better than your girlfriend." They heard Blaise argue with Draco. Ginny snickered.
"Will you two grow up?! If the girls heard you right now…they'd call you immature, so stop." Harry hissed at the two other boys. "Girls? Are you ready yet?"
"We're coming, Harry." Hermione cried, giggling softly. She led the other girls down the stairs and into the common room.
Draco was wearing black dress robes and had his messy blonde hair brushed, for once. Blaise was wearing dark green dress robes and had spiked his brown hair. Harry had chosen black and red dress robes and had kept his black hair messy, probably not by choice though. Ron was wearing red dress robes and kept his hair messy.
"Hermione, you look amazing." Draco whispered, taking her hand and kissing it. She giggled. "So do you, Draco." She whispered back. He pulled her to him and kissed her lips lightly.
"Are you two ready? Or will you be another 5 minutes?" Blaise complained, annoyed.
"Ahh, give us another 5 minutes." Draco said, smirking and leading them all out of the common room.
They reached the Great Hall and saw that there was a mistletoe right above the entrance to the great hall. Draco stopped directly under it and grabbed Hermione's waist and kissed her passionately. She giggled.
Blaise did the same to Ginny as Pansy kissed Ron. Harry and Natalie stood awkwardly underneath it. Finally, as Harry was trying to decide what to do, he felt a jinx hit him and push him towards Natalie. His hands landed on her waist as she laid her hands on his chest. He smiled shyly and gathering his last bit of courage, bent down and captured her lips with his.
"Aww!" Hermione cooed. It was her who cast the jinx on Harry. Harry obviously knew this as he pulled away and he playfully tapped Hermione lightly on the arm as if she were a young child who had done something bad. She however just smiled innocently and grabbed Draco's arm to go dance.
"Hello Hogwarts. Welcome to the Christmas Ball! We have a few things as entertainment tonight, such as swapping dance partners and maybe some other activities." Dumbledore spoke from the front of the great hall.
A song that Hermione knew and liked came on and she dragged Draco to the dance floor to dance.
"Time to swap partners, students!" Dumbledore called after a while. Hermione felt someone tap her shoulder and turned to see Blaise holding a hand out to her, she smiled and with one last look at Draco, took his hand and allowed Blaise to lead her to the dance floor. Draco asked Ginny to dance, while Ron asked Natalie and Harry asked Pansy. Hermione found herself dancing with everybody that night. After Blaise, she danced with Harry, and then Ron, and then Neville and Seamus. And then finally, she was back with Draco. She smiled at him.
As the end of the ball approached, Draco and Hermione went for a short walk by the lake.
"Mione, I have something to-er tell you." Draco began, softly. Hermione could tell he was nervous about something. She smiled softly and took his hands.
"What is it, Draco?" She replied. He smiled softly and reached into his pocket to pull out a velvet box. He opened it and she gasped. It was a beautiful gold ring that had a diamond that was huge, it must have been expensive.
"Hermione, I-I think I'm in love with you. I never thought I'd hear myself say that but I think it's true. It's been true all along, I just kept denying it and refused to see the truth, that I-Draco Lucius Malfoy, a Slytherin am in love with some beautiful girl who was my enemy all these years." He paused, and Hermione gasped softly. "This is a promise ring that I'm giving to you because I'll love you forever Hermione Granger. Even if you don't love me, I'll still want you to have this ring." Draco whispered, slipping the ring onto her finger.
"Oh, Draco!" Hermione whispered back, tears forming in her honey coloured eyes. He searched her eyes nervously, awaiting her reply. "I love you too!" She finally cried and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him passionately. His eyes widened and he smiled through the kiss. This was the happiest moment of his life. He'd been planning on giving Hermione the ring since after their visit to Hogsmeade when he finally realized his true feelings for her. He was in love with a Gryffindor; but he didn't care, because it was the truth and he meant everything he told her; he would always love her and he would always be there to protect her. He loved Hermione Jane Granger.
A.N: Aww, ever cute, huh? I like it. Draco confesses his true feelings to the Gryffindor princess! xD Its so adorable. I realized I kinda got into the romance part a lil quick, like with Draco already admitinghe loves her, but they HAVE known each other for 7 years..I mean so it did kinda take em a long time to finally realize theyre meant for each other..even if it's not gunna happen like that in the real books. Ever sad. But oh well. Theyre in love. xD
Next Chapter Called: The Holidays At Malfoy Manor
Preview?
"Hermione! Run! Don't worry about me, just leave the manor! Just get out of here as fast as you possibly can! He's here!"
Review if you want!
x0xShortandTuffx0x
