Personal
Hermione has the worst night of her life at the Yule Ball until someone gets close and personal with her.
Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. They belong to JKR.
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I heard footsteps approach me, though I didn't look up. A black pair of shoes peeked out from a new set of perfect, sleek dress robes. It could only be one person.
"Granger, I just wanted to inform you that your… ahem… date is associating himself with that pretty little brunette from Beauxbatons." I looked up to, indeed, see Viktor take and kiss the hand of a brunette from the French school. As if it wasn't bad enough.
"Oh, why am I such a failure!?" I cried into my hands.
"What was that?" He still towered over me.
I looked up and whispered, "Ron said that Viktor was 'trying to use me,' and now it's confirmed." I looked back at my lap.
Malfoy sat close next to me. "Well, I don't think it's worth it to be upset over a guy who clearly doesn't care about you."
"But that's the thing. I didn't even like Viktor that much."
"Then why date him?" He cocked his head to the side.
I sighed. "We weren't really dating, but I guess because I wanted to make Ron jealous, and most guys don't really have an interest in me." I sheepishly tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"A calming draught?"
"What?" I looked at him.
"I can smell it on you. Why would you need one?"
"I was nervous about the dance, and apparently for good reason. But now I think it's wearing off because I am definitely not calm." I put my hands on my arms and shivered.
"Here," and suddenly my arms were covered with Malfoy's robe.
"Thanks, Malfoy."
"Hermione, I have a first name, you know." It was the first time he had ever called me by my name.
"Ok. Draco, then." I smiled. "I sort of like your name."
"Really? I used to get made fun of because of it. Not that that mattered since I had my father to deal with things." He paused. "Your name is sort of odd."
I laughed. "Yeah, Viktor couldn't say it."
"Krum."
Confused, I asked, "What?"
"Krum. When you don't like someone, call them by their surname. It's less… personal."
I thought about it. "Is that your system?"
He smiled. "I guess it is, Hermione."
Lifting my eyebrows, I said, "So, you must like me then, Draco."
He smiled and shook his head at the same time. "Enough to get past your last name, yes. Like¸ I don't know." We sat in silence for a minute or two. Then he offered his hand to me. "Come with me."
I got up gladly, taking his hand. He started to walk down the stairs, but I pulled him back. "Where are we going?"
He turned to look at me with a mischievous look on his face. "You'll see."
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