Chapter 13 Learning a few tricks, Exams and Preparations

Christmas has passed already. It was back to days of cramming for the seventh years. The N.E.W.T.S. exams are already nearing and every seventh year students are studying furiously at the Great Hall.

"Excuse me…" a first year Hufflepuff said to Blaise.

"Damn it! Can't it wait?" then Blaise stormed out of the Great Hall.

The boy stood there shaking and wetting his pants. "What's wrong with these people?" he said to himself.

At the Head's tower, Hermione and her friend studied peacefully, that was until Draco and his friends threw the portrait open. Mind you it created a big noise they didn't intend on doing.

"Ehem." Pansy said.

The boys looked apologetically and went straight to Draco's room. The five of them continued studying until their heads hurt.

"Damn it! My head hurts already!" Ron said. Pansy approached him and started rubbing his temples.

"Hermione, can we go to your room?" Pansy said.

Hermione looked at them suspiciously but just nodded. "Don't destroy or ruin anything." She reminded.

Pansy led Ron to the room. He sat at the bed and looked at Pansy intently. "Ron, dearie, what do you say I teach you a few tricks just to get your mind rested for a moment?" Pansy smiled sweetly.

0000

Draco and his friend were ticked since there were so many lessons to be studied. Consider the fact that there was someone inside Granger's room making a noise that was unbearable.

"Damn it." Draco said finally. He went through the bathroom and opened the door to Granger's room.

0000

Hermione and her friends were also experiencing the same feeling as with Draco and his friends. The noise was getting louder and Hermione had to stop it. She stood and went up to her room.

At the same time, Draco and Hermione said, "Will you two pipe down?" Hermione and Draco's eyes met for a second and then they turned away. The sight in front of them was unbelievable. Ron sat on Hermione's bed with his toes at the back of Pansy.

Ron and Pansy were so embarrassed that they immediately put on their clothes. They went back to studying and this time, Ron was not having any headaches.

0000

(A/N: I'm going to fast-forward it now…) Finally the dreaded exams were finished. Harry and the others breathed a sigh of relief. No more studying.

"Finally!" Ron exclaimed happily and placed an arm on his girlfriend's shoulder.

"You do realize that there'd still going to be preparations and stuff." Hermione reminded.

"Oh don't worry 'Mione, it'll be the work of the Heads and the Prefects anyways. Not ours." Harry grinned while Hermione rolled her eyes and groaned in frustration.

"Damn, well I have to go to Dumbledore, he'll be explaining to us everything. See you guys later."

0000

"Now as you all know the Graduation is in week. The announcement of the honor students would be on Thursday, two days before the Graduation proper. We'd be needing extra help for the decorations especially for the ball that would be at the night of the Graduation day." Dumbledore explained.

The heads and prefects nodded intently. All were excited for the Ball instead of the Graduation itself. They knew that Graduation would only bring tears to them and that the ball is the last chance for them to spend time with their friends at their second home.

They discussed more about the graduation and went on with the ball. After a couple of hours, they were finished. Dumbledore dismissed them except the heads.

"Now as you two know that it's tradition that the Head Boy and Girl would start the ball with a dance. You two would be commencing a rehearsal with Professor McGonagall starting this afternoon. The rehearsals would be every afternoon at 4 pm. It would be held at the Room of Requirements. That is all I think…you two may go now."

Hermione was left stumped. She was supposed to dance with Malfoy. With Malfoy for Merlin's sake! She wasn't even talking to him! She stared blankly into space not noticing that Draco locked the door after Dumbledore left.

"Granger," he said.

Hermione jumped in surprise. She stared at the close door behind him and began to feel nervous.

"Relax Granger, it's not as if I'm going to murder you or something." He said chuckling nervously.

"I would've preferred if you did." She muttered lowly.

"What?"

"Nothing." She turned away.

Hermione and Draco stood there for who knows how long without a word to another. It was Hermione who broke the silence.

"I better go," Hermione announced and turned to leave but Draco caught her arm.

"Granger, we'd be rehearsing together for at least a week. You can't keep on ignoring or avoiding me." he said.

"Fine." She turned to him for the first time.

"Uhh…g-good." He stuttered. The way her brown orbs stared at him made him loose his senses. He shook his head violently to stop thinking about it.

"Can I go now?" she said.

"Uh…s-sure." He said.

Hermione went out of the room her heart pounding loudly while Draco stood there his nagging himself at what he was feeling.

0000

Later that day, Hermione and Draco met at the Room of Requirements for the rehearsal. They stood there waiting for McGonagall to come. When she had arrived their session had started.

"Okay Mr. Malfoy, please put your right hand on Miss Granger's waist." She instructed.

Draco felt his ears burning and he shakily raised his hand and placed it on her waist. "Yes, that's good. Now the beat will be one two three! One two three! One two three then glide turn and repeat to the top." She said.

Hermione glanced at Draco and a blush crept on her face. "Okay now, go!" McGonagall said and the two swayed in rhythm perfectly.

0000

Thursday came and it was announced to everyone in the Great Hall about Hermione's achievement of being the class Valedictorian. Hermione felt really happy and the Gryffindors had celebrated at the Gryffindor tower. Even McGonagall was there with them to share the joy and honor of having a student in her house get the achievement.

They partied and ate food that some people took from the kitchens At exactly 10 o' clock, people turned to bed as they were ordered by McGonagall, explaining that Hermione still has to do her speech. Everyone obliged and gave their last congratulations to Hermione before turning to bed.

Hermione on the other hand said her goodbyes too to her friends and headed for the Head's tower feeling extremely happy.

0000

Harry and Ginny lay in each other's arms at the boys' dormitory. The two were happy that school was finally going to be over. But the fact that Ginny was still a year younger that Harry and that Harry would be venturing out in the open world with probably a million other women to look at made Ginny felt scared.

She didn't want to loose Harry. It wasn't that she didn't trust him; she just didn't trust the other women. She sighed sadly as a tear suddenly dropped from her left eye. She wasn't completely ready. In fact, she was afraid of the real world when her time would come. Truthfully, she wasn't at all ready to face the world without her brothers pulling her back when she's about to fall. She was just used to having her 6 brothers standing up for her and guarding her then she realized that more tears were coming out now.

Harry felt his shirt getting soaked so he turned to the crying Ginny. He pushed away the tears and kissed her forehead. "Gin what's wrong?" he said.

"I-I'm just a-afraid that, if my time…c-comes for m-me to g-graduate. I-I think t-that I'm not y-yet r-ready." She said.

"Shh, Don't worry Gin. I'll always be here. I promise. No matter what happens." He kissed her forehead again.

In fact, Harry felt afraid too. He felt scared that there would be no Ginny to stand by his side for one year since she has to finish her seventh year at Hogwarts. He felt his heart breaking at the thought of Ginny not being there. He hugged her tightly and cherished their moment.

0000

Ron stared at Pansy's sleeping form. He smiled. He knew that Pansy would probably want to go somewhere after the ball and that they would soon part ways. He was okay with it. He wasn't much that into commitment in fact. He wasn't quite sure that if he felt with Pansy was what you call love. Maybe that's the reason why she wouldn't want to do it yet, cause he doesn't love her that deeply.

He shrugged off the thought and imagined what would happen at the ball. He would be wearing a plain dress robe that would definitely have no ruffles in it. He could also imagine Pansy wearing something that would hug her curves and compliment her body's perfection. He smiled and closed his eyes.

Pansy on the other hand wasn't at all sleeping. She was just there with eyes open thinking of what would happen after the ball. She knew that they'd part ways. Pansy never expected that Ron would be into long commitments anyway. She was already surprised when they had reached a year of being together. It was fine already with Pansy, truth be told. She wasn't that much affected of the fact that after the ball they wouldn't be able to see each other again. They would just have a normal goodbye with each other and then they'd separate ways.

She sighed at the thought. Was it really what she wanted, to separate after the ball? Somehow Ron had grown closer to her that she was afraid. But she couldn't keep on hoping. She would just do what Ron expects. At least that way they both would be happy, even without each other.

0000

Hermione lay on her bed thinking of what would be her speech. She decided to make it tomorrow and think first of what's laying ahead of her. There was a mix of emotions inside of her. She felt happy, sad and nervous.

She felt really happy since she'd be the class Valedictorian and that she, Ron and Harry had planned that they would still be in touch after Graduation. Hermione remembered telling the two of becoming a lawyer, as she had always wanted to voice out her opinion. They were proud of her and said that they were also happy.

Harry on the other hand had planned on becoming an Auror. It was a dream of his to help people and save them from those who do bad things. Hermione knew Harry always had the kind heart, he thought about other's condition before of himself. She smiled proud of having Harry Potter as her friend. She suddenly got a notion to include friendship in her speech.

Next was Ron. Ron planned on becoming a Quidditch player to fulfill his lifelong interest. He had always ranted on about how he wished of being a star player at a great team. Hermione was very happy for him.

Hermione wondered though what would happen to Ron's relationship with Pansy. She hoped really hard that he'd still be with her since Pansy was really becoming really close to the group.

Aside from happiness, Hermione felt really nervous. She was still unsure of what lay ahead of them. She didn't know what it would be like outside in the real world with no more Hogwarts to take you back when you feel cold.

She sighed in melancholy as she thought of Draco. He was the main reason she felt sad. She knew that probably after the ball he'd still be pursuing Kim. She knew that he wouldn't give up after all the work he's done. Hermione just hoped that Kim would give him a chance. She knew that she couldn't take it if she sees him looking rather sad. It would probably even crush her.

0000

Draco sat on top of his bed. He didn't think about Kim that time. There was another girl that flooded his mind. Hermione Granger. After she had revealed that she fancied him, he couldn't help but think about the brunette. He was even shocked to know that he hadn't thought about Kim ever since the incident.

Draco sighed morosely. He wasn't so sure himself if he still liked Kim or not. He knew that she was still there looking hot and sexy. But then there was Hermione. The Hermione who showed him that, girls are not just food that you pick out that easily. She was the one who proved to him that not every one would fall instantly just because you wink at them. She opened his eyes to the truth and made him think of his feelings for Kim.

He started to stare at the ceiling only to find himself imagining Granger. He sighed. He thought if it was possible that he would like Hermione. 'Maybe. Just maybe…' he thought.