The Ball

A knock came on Hermione's door promptly at 7pm. Running from her room, she put on her earrings while rushing to the door. She started her apology as she yanked the door open.

"I know, I know. You don't like to wait. I'm try-" He looked gorgeous. Hermione couldn't even finish her sentence.

Although Draco was always somewhat sauve and put together, it was nothing compared to him dressing up for the ball. He was wear a set of emerald green dress robes that practically shined in the light. One would expect him to pick nothing but jet black like the night, but no. Instead, he went for the more elegant green. And it was an amazing choice.

Not only did the green suit his complexion, but it practically made them look like a matching set. Hermione had chosen a silver gown that sparkled as she moved. It was backless and clung in all the right places as it draped from her shoulders to the floor.

"Just let me grab my shoes and handbag," she said, leaving him standing against her doorway before she could say something more embarrassing.

"We might as well chuck the contract," he said from the door. "We seem to break every rule."

"I told you, I'm almost ready!" Hermione returned to her living room with a shoe in one hand while frantically looking for her clutch. Stepping into her second shoe, she snatched up the clutch off the couch and proclaimed, "See! I'm ready!"

Draco picked up her wand off the coffee table. "Aren't you forgetting this?"

"I was going to grab it on the way out," she lied breezily, taking it from his hand. He smiled cockily. He knew how much he was getting to her.

"Whatever you say," he said with a bit of a grin. "Are you ready to go then?" Draco walked into the room and shut the door behind him. "You might want to latch that by the way. We're traveling the right way this time."

"I would hardly call it the right way. It's just the wizards' way." After latching the door, Hermione joined Draco by her small fireplace. He produced a small bag from his pocket and pour a gritty powder in Hermione's hand. "I do have my own Floo Powder, you know. I don't always travel by car."

"I wasn't sure. You seem to do everything as they did in the dark ages." Pocketing the bag, Draco offered her his arm. "Ready?" he asked.

She looped her arm through his. "As I'll ever be."

They stepped into the fireplace, threw down the powder, and shouted their destination.

The main floor of the Ministry of Magic had transformed into a beautiful ballroom for the evening. The normal business atmosphere was gone and then entire floor was light with warm, golden lighting emitting from small balls of light that were suspended in the air. Who needed paper Chinese lanterns when you had magic?

Hermione and Draco sprang through the fire entrance arm and arm as other couples around them did the same. Hermione was absolutely breath taken by the changes of her normal workplace. A large golden fountain had been brought in and was pulsating water along time with the music, and there was an elegant buffet table set up with almost any cuisine one could possibly want on the edge of the dance floor.

But it was the dance floor that had to be the most amazing. What seemed like every witch and wizard she worked with filled the room in their very best attire. Dresses and dress robes swirled together as people laughed and danced across the gold, sparkling floor. It nearly looked like a dream.

"Come on, Granger, stop gaping." Draco snapped her out of the stupor she had over the ballroom and led her to one of the grand tables set up near the food.

She took a seat in one of the plush, cushioned chairs and kindly asked Draco to get her a drink from the bar.

"Fine," he said. "But no alcohol."

She wouldn't dream of it after what happened last weekend, but she resented him treating her like a child. "I can handle a glass of wine." She looked at him pointedly and he stalked off.

Sitting alone, she watched as familiar faces and strangers alike passed by her table. There were people everywhere eating, dancing, and socializing. Hermione didn't realize there were so many of them that worked for the Ministry. Maybe that was because she hardly ever made it out of her own office. It was good to be out among everyone a get a good perspective on all the people she actually works with.

Someone sat a glass of wine on the table and took the seat next to her. Hermione turned to tell Draco thank you, but soon realized it was not the brooding blonde who had taken a seat with her.

Instead, she peered into the calming blue eyes of Ron Weasley.

"Before you say anything," he said. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have picked a fight with you the other night. I was a bloody git. It's none of my business who you date. I don't know what came over me." Hermione stared without saying a word. This was more than she could have ever dreamed. Not had Ron had a jealous fit over her, but he was actually apologizing for it. Could this be real? "Look," he went on moving the wine glass toward her. "I got your favorite, chardonnay, to make it up to you. Do you forgive me?"

"Of course I do!" she said. Although, her favorite was actually merlot. Details.

Ron sighed with relief. As if there was any doubt she wasn't going to offer her forgiveness. She always had in the past. Why wouldn't she now?

Hermione smiled as she took a sip of the wine and set it back down. It was hard to keep the smile after the drink. She really did prefer merlot.

A hand sat another glass next to her and she looked up to see Draco had returned.

"Oh right," Ron said darkly. "Of course you brought him."

"Or I brought her," Draco retorted. "Either way."

Were they going to fight again? Was Hermione going to be caught in the middle once more? Ron had just apologized for the last incident. He wouldn't start another now, would he?

Ron stood. "Hermione, save me a dance," he said looking down at her. Then his head snapped up and he gave curt nod. "Malfoy."

"Weasley." Draco returned the nod as if they had some unspoken understanding. A gentleman's code over how they would behave from now on. Or for the moment anyhow.

Hermione reached over and gripped the glass of merlot and took a satisfying drink. Oh merlot, dark and seedy just like she liked it. It was thoughtful of Ron to bring her a drink, but she couldn't see herself drinking a white wine. She couldn't stand the taste of light wines.

They continued to people watch for a while, until finally Hermione became fed up with sitting around. She did not spend so many Galleons on this dress to sit on the sidelines and wallflower. "Let's dance," she said, standing.

She assumed she would have to drag him to dance floor or go by herself, but he surprised her by standing and saying, "All you had to do was ask."

Their scheme was going so good they blended in with all the real couples seamlessly. The way he danced so close to her and his eyes bore into hers. Hermione felt as if she was in a trance. Like she was Cinderella enjoying the ball with her prince. And like Cinderella, she was almost sad when it came to an end.

Ron came up to them and tapped Draco politely on the shoulder to ask Hermione to dance. Without saying a word or even making the slightest facial expression, Draco let go of her waist and allowed Ron to cut in.

She laid her head on Ron's broad shoulder and swayed as she watched Draco walk away.

"Hermione?" he asked quietly.

"Hmm?"
"Why are you dating him? I know I told you it's none of my business, but I'm trying to understand."

Hermione lifted her head to look into his eyes as they spoke. "I'm not sure it's something I can explain."

"Try."

"He's just- I don't know. Kind. He's different now. He does things I ask and remembers things I like."

She could feel Ron stiffen as she spoke. "I see."

There was really nothing more to say. So she laid her head back down and swayed with him until the end of the song.

"Care for another dance?" he asked her as the melody wound down and came to an end.

"No, I should go find Draco." It was lovely dancing with Ron. And she was proud of the way he carried himself. He was showing her he could change by not arguing or trying to start anything with petty comments.

However, she was getting rather tired and she needed to find Draco to ask about going home. Should they leave together? Would they go back to one place and then split off? Or is it possible he'd found another girl to take home? Surely if he had he would at least take Hermione home first to continue their ruse.

She realized she needed to find him before he went home with someone else. No could see them leave with other people. Then their fake-ship would be seen straight through, or in the least people would think they were on the rocks.

At last, she found him sitting at the bar chatting with the bartender. For as many comments he made at about her staying home and not socializing, she could give just as many about how secluded he was. In a room full of his peers, he had still found a dark corner and a single stranger to chat with.

"Ready to go?" she asked walking up next to him. She leaned in closer. "We should probably leave together so people won't get the wrong idea."

He agreed and set down a tip for the bartender. Proffering his arm once more, he walked her back to the line of fireplaces.

"Let's go back to my place," he whispered in her ear as they waited for a vacant portal to leave. "And then you can go home from there. None will be the wiser."

She smiled at him as if he had whispered something more charming. Their plan was going perfectly.