A/N: Merry Christmas.
his christmas list.
CHAPTER TWELVE: DANCING.
Hermione looked into the mirror and gazed at her own reflection. Was she pretty?
It doesn't matter, it doesn't, she kept repeating to herself, a never-ending mantra of low self-esteem.
Draco thought she was pretty. At least, she thought he thought that she was pretty. Oh, what was she even saying anymore? Draco Malfoy had kissed/dated/danced with girls much, much prettier than she. Much.
Uncomfortably, she smoothed her dress.
"You look gorgeous, Hermione." Ginny told her, appearing from the bathroom. She had helped Hermione get ready. "And Malfoy will think so too, I know it."
Ginny was the only one who knew who Hermione's date was. Hermione wasn't so sure how it'd go down with the boys. (I.E: Harry. Ron.)
Hermione took a deep breath. "You're right, Ginny." she said, suddenly business-like. "I'm going down, care to join me?"
Ginny nodded emphatically. "Sure! I wonder what Harry's wearing..." she drifted off into dreamy silence.
Ginny was wearing a lovely green dress, and Hermione had braided ivy into her hair. She looked simply beautiful. Hermione knew Harry would agree with her.
What was Hermione wearing?
Red.
Brilliant, Christmas red.
She wasn't sure if Draco liked red.
When Hermione reached the stairway, it occurred to her that this was the stupidest idea ever, and Hermione Granger was not stupid, so she turned around and tried to make a break for it.
Ginny caught her at the last second. "Hermione! Shame on you, being a Gryffindor and all. You've been spending too much time with that Slytherin."
Hermione was having a panic attack.
"Oh, shut up, it's just Malfoy." Ginny told her soothingly. "And anyway, the ballroom looks incredible. I can barely believe my eyes!"
Ginny was right, of course. The ballroom did look rather nice.
"We'll go down, Hermione. It'll be fun, you'll see."
So Hermione gripped Ginny's hand as hard as she could, and slowly descended down the stairs.
She stared fiercely at the ground, feeling ugly and large and clumsy. When she reached the bottom step, Ginny squeezed her hand. "Look who it is."
Hermione peeked.
And it was Draco.
He looked dashing, as she assumed he would.
Black dress robes and shiny shoes, hair falling in his eyes. But the loveliest thing was the way he looked at her, at that very moment.
And she smiled at him.
When he bowed and asked for her hand, it seemed there was nothing else to do, but do it.
So she did.
And they swirled about the ballroom, dancing in candlelight and Christmas colors, around and around, flashes of joy, glimpses of love.
Draco tried to tell her once or twice how beautiful she looked, but she had thrown her head back and swum in the music, mouth laughing, eyes closed, and nothing came out of his mouth.
Soon, people stopped to watch them, the two angels dancing around the ballroom, and even the music felt prettier.
Then everybody started dancing, closer and closer to the two people, but they didn't even notice. They were too lost in each other.
When their feet felt like falling off, they went and got some drinks.
Harry and Ron joined them, along with Ginny and Lavender Brown, their dates.
"You look happy." Harry remarked stiffly. "I'm—glad."
Hermione threw her arms around him, and his glass of pumpkin juice fell on Ron.
"Me too." grumbled Ron, hoping for a hug, which he too received, albeit a little less whole-hearted, since she took great care not to touch the pumpkin juice stain and ruin her dress.
Draco stuck out his hand. "Thank you, gentlemen." he said formally, and they all shook.
"How about an evening of Quidditch?" Draco forced out, his dignity wilting up and dying on the spot.
Harry and Ron looked at each other in surprise.
"Er— okay." Harry answered finally. "Tomorrow?"
"Day after."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Fine."
"Oookay, everyone." Ginny interrupted, giving them all strange looks. "Back to dancing?"
"Actually, I'm okay right here." Harry objected hopefully.
Ginny glared at him, and he whimpered, following her back to the dance floor. Ron and Lavender also tagged along after them, and then it was just Hermione and Draco.
"Back to dancing?" Hermione asked him, and he smiled at her.
And off they went, spinning and swirling and dipping. It was a lovely feeling, even just to watch the two of them.
Soon, the ballroom was dim, and it was only them.
Draco stopped, and Hermione stopped, surrounded by silence.
"Here," Draco said abruptly. "I have something for you." And out of his pocket he pulled a book.
"I didn't want to put it under the tree, so I could give it to you myself." Draco added, searching her face with his eyes. Hermione opened the book, and she smiled. It was filled with pictures of them during Christmas. The nicest, prettiest pictures. "So that's why the walls felt so bare today." Hermione teased, smiling at him. "Thank you. It's beautiful." She hugged the book to her chest.
"I have something for you, too." she told him, pulling something out of her purse and tapping it with her wand to enlarge it.
Draco took it and eyed it curiously. "What is it?"
"It's a radio," Hermione told him, eyes sparkling. "Or a CD player. You can listen to music with it."
Draco grinned at her, and pressed one of the buttons.
"...I really can't stay,"
"Baby, it's cold outside," the two people chorused, then laughed.
Draco turned off the radio, and cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Um, also, on a side note. I'm in love with you. Merry Christmas."
Hermione sputtered and choked. "W-what?"
"Merlin, Granger, don't die on me!"
"What?!"
Draco sighed loudly and obviously. "I'm in love with you. Honestly, pay attention the first time. How many times do you expect me to repeat it?"
Hermione was in shock. "What?"
Draco snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. "Granger. Are you okay in there?"
"I-I love you too." Hermione stuttered out, staring at him. "I think. I don't know what love is. I mean, I think you're kind of attractive."
Draco stared at her.
"Granger, you better love me back. I'm not exposing my feelings for you to admire them. We're supposed to go and sleep together now."
Hermione hit him in the head with her book. "No."
Draco scowled.
"Merry Christmas, anyhow." Hermione told him. "I'm going to bed. See you in the morning."
"Is this how it goes?" Draco asked the ceiling, trailing after her. "Express feelings, go to bed. Is this how it works?"
"Yes, Draco." Hermione replied patiently.
"Well, fine! I'm going to bed to nurse a broken heart! Goodnight!"
As he stomped away, Hermione laughed. Then she turned around and tackled him from behind.
"Christmas night in the common room?"
Draco stared at her, then grinned.
"That's fine by me."
And it was.
the end.
