Disclaimer: i doooo nooot own harry potter

CHAPTER 12

"Hermione, you look beautiful" Harry smiled, giving her a hug and ignoring Draco's glare.

Hermione's cheeks turned slightly pink, "Why thank you so much Harry! You look quite dashing yourself!"

Harry grinned, "Thanks. Have you seen Ginny?"

Hermione shook her head as she scanned around the Great Hall. "No I haven't yet"

Harry's face fell a little bit, "I wonder where she is"

"Probably trying to hide from you. I don't blame her, I'd be embarrassed myself if I was a girl and I had Potty as a date" Draco snickered.

Hermione ribbed him hard, as Harry glared at him.

"Harry!" A voice called out from behind him.

Harry whipped around and was attacked by a pair of arms around his neck. "Ginny there you are!"

Ginny grinned, "been looking all over for you"

Harry eyed her up and down, noticing her once straight hair is now in long ringlets and her dress hugging her figure. "Wow you look amazing"

Ginny winked at Hermione, "Come on Harry, let's start dancing before more students fill up the dance floor"

Harry told good bye to Hermione, and gave a disgusted look to Draco as they left.

"What a loser" sneered Draco.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Honestly, you're pathetic"

Draco narrowed his eyes and took her hand, "You remember that bet we had?"

She looked at their connected hands, feeling heat coming off of her, "What bet?"

He took her other hand, slowly leading her to the dance floor, "You said I can't dance"

"Did I? Must have slipped my mind"

He smirked, "Scared? That's why you're backing out now? Or maybe you can't dance..."

Hermione glared at him, "I can dance"

Draco placed his hands on her waist, making her gasp in surprise. He continued smirking as he held her closer to him, moving his hands towards her lower back, but carefully not to make her uncomfortable. She smiled at him as she lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck, and laid her head on his chest, feeling oddly content.

Hermione's heart started beating rather fast, but she tried to tame it. Calm yourself down woman! It's just Malfoy! She thought.

"Prove it then" Draco whispered in her ear, causing her to slightly shiver.

Hermione looked up at him, thinking, Why you?

They began swaying in the slow tempo of the music, not caring people staring at them in surprised that the odd pair was dancing together. Hermione felt so peaceful, she felt she could be in his arms all day.

Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up at the direction and saw Ron Weasley, smiling at her.

"Would it be alright if I can have a dance?" He asked, his face growing red.

Hermione laughed, and looked over to where Lavender was, who was busy talking to another male student. Hermione looked at Ron and grinned. She disentangled her arms from an annoyed looking Draco.

"Hey, I'm going to dance with Ron for just a minute. That okay with you?" Hermione asked, not noticing the death glare he's giving her best friend.

Draco looked at Hermione, face blank. "Whatever"

Hermione frowned slightly, "It would just be a short dance"

She took Ron's hand and lead him to where Harry and Ginny was.

Draco dragged himself to one of the tables and plopped down on the chair. He glanced to where Hermione was and felt a surge of anger when she saw her laughing, obviously having a good time with her Gryffindor best friends.

She's suppose to be dancing with me, not the Weasel King Draco thought to himself, still glaring at them. Why does it matter? She's just a filthy mud- muggleborn. He noticed the way she felt comfortable towards Ron, She looks like she's having a great time. Why can't it be with me? Draco shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He looked away from them, and got up to get a drink. Why do I care? He angrily thought to himself. He shouldn't be feeling jealousy towards them. They're just friends. Nothing more.

Finally the music ended, and he glanced at them again. Ron took Hermione's hand and brought it up so he can give it a kiss which caused Draco to feel his heart being slight pulled, and looked away. He tossed his cup on the table and walked outside, trying to cool his head and sort his confusion.

"Have you seen Malfoy?" Hermione asked Parvati.

Parvati frowned, "I thought he was with you?"

"Ron asked me to dance so I left him for a while" Hermione explained.

Parvati's eyebrows raised, but then looked at her sympathetically. "You best be looking for your man then, Hermione"

"He is not my man" Hermione muttered, walking around, trying to find the familiar blond head.

She saw a nearby chair and sat down, giving up.

"Draco, where are you?" She whispered to herself, feeling her mood going down.

She noticed the Great Hall door was slightly opened and got up without thinking. She opened the door and noticed the hallways were empty and dark, but she felt this sudden urge to walk towards the place outside where Draco would usually find her reading near the lake.

There, she saw him sitting down, leaning against a tree.

"I thought that big greasy blond head looked familar" Hermione smiled softly, sitting down next to him.

Draco looked at her, a small smile playing in his lips. "You dare make fun of my hair? Look at yours"

Hermione scoffed, "My hair looks perfectly fine right now"

"For now. Tomorrow morning, it would go back to its disastrous self" He smirked, looking back at the lake.

Hermione laughed, placing her hand on his shoulders. "Come on, we're here to dance, not sit and stare at some lake"

"You were dancing with Weasley. Looked like you were having the time of your life too. Go dance with him and leave me alone" He muttered, the humor disappearing from his face.

Hermione stared at him. "Malfoy, I only danced with him for a little bit."

Draco ignored her for a few minutes, then said "So what? Now he bored you? That's why you coming back to find me?"

Hermione looked at him in anger and confusion. "Draco, what the bloody hell are you talking about?"

He turned to her, slightly off guard that she cursed for the first time in front of him. "Go dance with Weasel. He's your best friend, after all. Don't let me ruin your happiness again."

Hermione shook her head, she had enough of his childish spoiled behavior. She took his face with her hands, making sure they were eye contact with each other.

"Yes Ron Weasley is my best friend. But you, Draco Malfoy, is the biggest spoiled git ever." She slightly laughed at his glare, "But it was you who asked me to the ball. It was because of you I went all out and let myself look pretty for once. It was you who showed me that even though a person who acted horrible on the outside, doesn't mean he really is on the inside. You taught me that a person can change for the better, without even knowing it. I want to dance with you, Draco Malfoy. You're my date. Not Ron Weasley. Understand? or do I have to hex you to make you understand?"

Draco stared at her. That sudden unfamiliar feeling of fondness and attraction gathering up all because of this muggleborn girl in front of him.

"We're not going anywhere, if you don't take your hands away from my face, Granger" He said, first thing came to his mind.

Hermione blushed, letting go of his face and getting up.

Draco got up and looked at her, smiling. He held his hand out which Hermione accepted with no hesitation. "And for the record, I always thought you were pretty. I just couldn't be telling you that because you were even more over bearing all these years. Can you imagine me telling my friends I thought the muggleborn know-it-all was good looking?" He made a disgusted face, "That would be pure horror. "

Hermione laughed, "You are so melodramatic, Malfoy"

Draco looked at her, satisfied they were in good terms again, "Let's go. I didn't ask you to the ball just so we can stand here and talk, you know."

They swayed to the music and danced to the rhythm. Draco couldn't help feeling how happy he felt whenever he was with her. It still confused him to no end.

It was a slow tempo of music again, so they began slow dancing. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning her head on her shoulders.

My goodness, he smells good She thought to herself as she inhaled his scent.

Draco placed his left hand on her lower back, and brought his right hand on her head, stroking the hairs that came lose from her bun. They moved slow, enjoying each others company and felt surprisingly comfortable in each others arms.

Draco leaned his cheek on top of her head, thinking If only you were a pureblood. He sighed, closing his eyes. Millions of thoughts running inside his head.

Hermione enjoyed the sensation she felt as Draco's hand stroked her hair, and feeling his heart beating strong.

She felt so confused, but she didn't care. She's having a really great time, and it's with someone she least expected. Why him? Why him? She shoved those thoughts behind her head, and looked up.

Draco opened his eyes to see Hermione looking up at him, smiling. He smiled back, thinking I don't care anymore, and leaned to kiss her on the forehead.

She closed her eyes as his lips touched her skin, and opened them again when he leaned back, staring at her.

She stood on the toes, so she could reach and kissed him on the cheek, whispering, "Thank you" Thank you for this odd friendship we have.

He stared at her, his eyes searching her face. He was relieved to see she's enjoying herself with him. He doesn't know what these feelings are, but it's a feeling of longing and sudden passion. He brought his hand up and stroked her cheek, feeling the warmth radiating from her skin. She closed her eyes, and leaned towards his touch, smiling slightly.

He had this sudden urge to just go ahead and kiss her on the lips, but he was afraid she might take it the wrong way.

But he doesn't feel that way towards her anymore. He doesn't care that she's a muggleborn and he's a pureblood. He doesn't want to know what his father would say nor does he care. Now, he respects her, he admires her bravery and humor. He suddenly feels very protective towards this girl, and doesn't want any harm coming her way. He doesn't know why yet, but before he goes to sleep tonight, he intends to find out for himself.

He lowered his head and felt his lips brushing against her soft cheek. She shivered involuntarily, enjoying this small intimate gesture.

He smiled as he leaned back keeping their foreheads touching, and continued swaying as they were finishing their dance.

Neither of them realizing they share the same feelings towards each other.

"I guess I lost this bet" Hermione sighed, as they headed towards the Head's compartment.

Draco looked at her in confusion, "Bet?"

Hermione rolled her eyes, but smiled at him, "You really are a good dancer"

He grinned at her as they stopped in front of the portrait.

"Dragon's Farmer" Draco said, ignoring Hermione's snickers.

As they walked inside, he noticed Hermione yawning.

He asked, "You tired already?"

She laughed, "Yeah I am actually."

"That shows how in shape you are" He joked.

Hermione gasped and smacked him in the head. "Did you call me fat?"

Draco laughed, lacing his fingers around hers, shaking his head. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, realizing that's his favorite thing to do for now, and said, "No, Granger. You're great"

Hermione blushed, looking away. "Compliments will get you no where, Malfoy"

He smirked, "We'll see. Good night, Granger"

She looked at him, disentangling their hands and walking towards her door, "Sleep well, Malfoy. Good night"

Draco followed her to her door, whispering good bye and closed her door behind her.

He walked back to his own room, readied himself for sleep and laid on his bed, rethinking his thoughts.

Finally after what felt like hours, he turned to his side and turned off the nearby lamp.

He closed his eyes, and fell asleep instantly after he realize the reason he was confused about this unfamiliar feeling, was because it was a feeling of being in love.

A feeling he never thought he could feel towards any girl, until now.

Fiiiinaaallyyyy he sorts his feelings out!

BTW.. School suuckss. lol

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