Chapter 11: The Yule Ball

This is gonna be so fun!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and the songs included in this chapter.

Hermione's POV

Okay! Tonight is the night that many waited for so long. Someone shouldn't spoil it for me or for others. Everything needs to be perfect. My gown, check! My make-up, check! My hair, check! Well, it seems to be that I'm ready after all those butt-aching hours sitting on a chair and fixing this hair of mine. I need to go. Draco must've been waiting for me at the Great Hall already. I told him to wait for me at the bottom of the stairs.

Speaking of Draco, I kind of treated him rudely these past few days. But I guess he deserved it after all those years which he spent unwisely. He did nothing but tease us. Past is past. Maybe I should let go of the past like what he did. He forgot all that happened and changed. Draco is very outstanding.

I wonder what Ginny and Luna would look like. Ginny could be wearing an aqua blue sleeveless, knee-length dress which has glitters on the bottom part of the skirts and a small bow with ribbons lying loosely at her back. Luna might be wearing a yellow sunny knee-length dress that was fitted her chest tightly and fluently flows down upon her knees. Harry could be wearing his usual dress robes. And . . . Ron. (I let out a giggle) I wish he would wear something . . . different this time perhaps, the one more appropriate for this occasion. If I'm correct in all of this, then I really am a know-it-all.

I found myself standing at the top of the staircase. At first, I didn't see Draco but then I saw him wearing a black American tux. I wonder where he got that. He was talking to Crabbe. I saw him look at me. Then he looked at Crabbe again. And he looked at me in awe. He seemed to be surprised.

Hermione was wearing a blossomy pink cocktail dress. There was a fainted lavender color around her waist. Her hair was smooth, glossy and straight until it reached the end of her hair which has small ringlets that lay on her shoulders and back. The moment Draco saw her, Draco remembered the color of the leaves of a cherry tree.

Draco's eyes were only focused on Hermione while she was making her way down the stairs.

"Hi, Mione." Draco said with his usual heart-melting smile.

"Hello!" Hermione said.

She didn't seem to mind Draco. She was obviously looking for someone else. Crabbe cleared his throat.

"I'll be going now, Malfoy." Crabbe whispered on Malfoy's ear.

Draco turned to me and reached his hand out to me. I held it and we walked toward the Great Hall.

The Great Hall looks . . . wonderful! The usual wooden tables and chairs are gone which are replaced by grand ones. There are also balloons of different colors that lay on the ground. There is a stage in the middle so that the people can surround the stage. The place is lit with multi – colored lights.

"Wow." Hermione muttered under her breath as she made a turn to see everything that is there. "It's wonderful, isn't it?"

"Yeah." Draco said, his eyes laid only to Hermione.

Hermione made a giggle and pulled him with her toward her friends. Ginny was there with his partner which Hermione had never seen in her past years in Hogwarts but he's kind of cute too. Luna came into view, passed by in front of them and ran to the stage with a boy with him. Harry came with her tall partner. Ron wasn't there yet. Hermione had been looking for Ron since she met Draco down the staircase.

"Hey guys!" Hermione said. Her eyes were on Ginny's dress. "I knew it! I was right!" She looked at Luna who was still running to the stage. "Yup."

"What is she talking about?" Ginny asked Malfoy.

"No idea." Malfoy said and shrugged.

"Shall we go take a table?" Hermione asked.

"Sure." Ginny said.

Ginny, her partner, Hermione and Draco sat on a table for four near them, leaving Harry and his tall partner. Hermione started the conversation.

"May I ask what your name is?" Hermione asked facing Ginny's partner.

"I'm Justin." said Justin.

"Oh." Malfoy said. He must be also thinking who he is. "From which house?"

"Ravenclaw." Justin said.

"Blood status?" Draco solicited.

"Half-blood."

"Your father?"

"Wizard."

"So your mother probably is a Muggle." Malfoy said.

Hermione elbowed Draco on the rib. "Ow." Hermione glared at him.

"I'm Malfoy by the way. Draco Malfoy." Draco said.

"You're a Malfoy?" Justin said almost standing in his seat. He reached out his hand to Malfoy. "I am so pleased to meet you."

Draco took Justin's hand and shook it.

"And I'm Hermione." Hermione said after they shook their hands.

"Okay."

"May I ask why I haven't seen you around before?" Hermione asked.

Justin opened his mouth to speak but he was distracted by the loud sound of trumpets as Dumbledore, the heads of the houses, and the other professors entered the Great Hall. They all sat together at the front.

Dumbledore stepped forward and spoke. "I want this to be a perfect night. So, let's get started. Let the Ball begin.

Everyone stood up with their partners and surrounded the stage. They all danced to a slow Muggle song "That Should Be Me" by a Muggle singer, Justin Bieber.

Everybody's laughin' in my mind

Rumors spreading 'bout this other guy

Draco thought that the song was perfect so she asked Mione the question that kept bugging him that night.

"Mione may I ask you something?" he asked.

"What?"

"Do you love me?" Draco looked straight at Hermione's eyes.

Do you do what you did when you did with me?

Does he love you the way I can?

Did you forget all the plans that you made with me?

Cause baby I didn't.

Hermione reminisced back the moments when he was with Draco and he was happy but he was much happier whenever she's with Ron.

"Only as a friend, Draco. I'm sorry. Only one person has my heart." Hermione answered trying not to look at Draco in the eyes.

Draco's eyes instantly became watery.

That should be me holdin' your hand

That should be me makin' you laugh

That should be me this is so sad

That should be me, that should be me

Draco sang along with the song.

"That should be me feelin' your kiss. That should be me buyin' you gifts. This is so wrong. I can't go on 'till you believe that that should be me." He thought the meaning of the song was perfect for his situation right now.

Ron was watching Malfoy and Hermione. He didn't mind his partner. When the chorus part of the song came, he sang along.

"That should be me, holdin' your hand. That should be me makin' you laugh. That should be me, this is so sad. That should be me, that should be me." He was jealous so he thought that he should be in Draco's place.

After the song they all sat down. Draco said that he wanted to go to the bathroom. Dumbledore stepped again and spoke.

"I decided to have a surprise dance. Boys should look for another partner and choose whoever they like whether your friend, sister, or girlfriend. Get moving boys. You don't want to end up with no partner." Dumbledore said and he nodded down at Ron.

Ron already knew that this was his chance. He ran toward Hermione and knelt down before her.

"Hermione, would you like to dance with me?" Ron asked looking at Hermione in the eyes.

"Of course, Ron. Of course!" Hermione said, standing up.

They were the first couple to dance at the middle of the Great Hall until the floor was crowded. The music started and the couples danced. Some remained on their seats.

"Who's singing? She has an amazing voice." Hermione asked.

Ron looked up at the stage and saw Luna and Neville holding microphones.

"You'll never believe this. Luna and Neville." Ron snorted.

"They're singing a duet, eh?" Hermione said with a giggle.

"This Muggle song is called Can I have this dance." Luna said in the microphone.

Take my hand, take a breath

Pull me close and take one step.

Keep your eyes locked on mine

And let the music be your guide.

"So why did you pick me?" Hermione asked. "There are other pretty girls there."

"I want to spend this night with the most wonderful woman not only tonight but since I met her." Ron said still looking at Hermione in the eyes.

Hermione blushed and leaned closer to Ron. She even tilted her head to his shoulder.

"You're so romantic, Ron." Hermione complimented.

"Only for the lady that always gets my attention. You deserve it." Ron said sweetly.

Hermione smiled as Neville and Luna continued singing.

"I think I'm the first one to tell you that you're gorgeous Hermione." Ron said.

Hermoine giggled. "You are so charming, Ron Weasley."

It's like catching lightning the chances of finding someone like you.

Its one in a million the chances of feeling the way we do.

And with every step together

We just keep on getting better.

"Hermione, can I ask you something?" Ron asked.

"Yeah."

"I was just wondering . . . do you . . . love me?" Ron stuttered.

Hermione laughed. "Yes, Ron! I love you! I really, really love you! I've been waiting for years for you to ask me that." She almost cried.

"Do you want to be my girlfriend, Hermione?" Ron asked hopefully.

"Yes. YES!" Hermione answered.

Ron raised his wand and muttered "Lumos."

Dumbledore saw it and the ceiling magically opened. Everyone saw it then, there has been a fireworks display.

"Wow. Wonderful, isn't it?" Hermione said.

"Yes. Very wonderful." Ron answered his eyes locked only on Hermione.

"You planned this, didn't you? That's why he nodded at you a while ago." Hermione guessed.

"It's so hard to hide things from a know-it-all. Yes, Hermione. I planned all of these." Ron told the truth.

"You are so sweet, Ron." Hermione said.

Then the song changed. "We give you this Muggle song called Kissin' U by a Muggle singer, Miranda Cosgrove." Neville said.

Sparks fly. It's like electricity.

I might die when I forget how to breathe.

You get closer and there is nowhere in this world I'd rather be.

"I know that song!" Hermione said.

"Then sing to it!" Ron said with a smile.

"Cause when I'm kissin' u my senses come alive. Almost like the puzzle piece I've been tryin' to find falls right into place. You're all that it takes. My doubts fade away when I'm kissin u. When I'm kissin' u it all starts making sense. And all the questions I've been asking in my head like: Are you the one, Should I really trust. Crystal clear it becomes when I'm kissin' . . ." Hermione sang but he was cut off when Ron kissed her full on the lips.

Ron wrapped his arm around Hermione's waist and played with her soft hair with her free hand. Hermione played with Ron's red hair and her other arm wrapped around his neck. All the people stopped watching the fireworks display and watched the couple kissing instead.

"This one's more wonderful to watch than those fireworks." Someone said.

Hermione heard this so she let out a soft giggle and the two let go of each other. They breathed heavily, not minding the people watching them.

Harry stepped out of the crowd. "Good job, Ron!" he said.

Ginny stepped out of the crowd too. "Great, Hermione." she said.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other. Harry walked closer to Ginny. Ginny blushed. Harry knelt down and whispered something to Ginny's ear. Ginny nodded and looked at Hermione. Hermione winked at Ginny. Hermione and Ron continued to kiss. Harry and Ginny kissed too.

Malfoy came back from the bathroom. She saw all the people watching two couples kissing at the center. She recognized that it was Hermione and Ron. He ran back crying toward the bathroom again. He lost two things. He lost Hermione and he lost the challenge that he made up between him and Ron.

And my story ends here. :)

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