As Draco led me down the steps towards the Great Hall my heart raced. I honestly couldn't tell if it was from my nerves or my proximity to him. I could hear the buzz of the students behind the closed doors. They were all waiting to see Draco and me enter. While I tried to steady my nerves Professor McGonagall stopped us at the doors.

"Now, the two of you will enter through the doors and make your way towards the center of the dance floor."

"Then we will welcome everyone to the ball then announce The Dark Empress", I added.

McGonagall raised an eyebrow.

"No, dear. You and Mr. Malfoy will be leading the opening dance."

My eyes went wide.

"Lead the dance", I asked while almost choking on the words. "When did this happen?"

"Malfoy didn't tell you? I informed him about this change a few days ago."

I turned to Draco. "How could you not tell me we had to dance?"

Draco shrugged. "It's only once dance Hermione. You didn't expect to dance at a ball?"

"I didn't expect to start the dance with everyone looking at me."

Draco huffed. "You think you're that hot in that costume that no one will notice me?"

"You're not wearing stilettos. If I had known this I wouldn't have let Ginny talk me into wearing them." My shoulders slumped. "I'm going to make a fool of myself."

Draco tightened his hold on my arm.

"Hermione Granger, no one looks like a fool with me leading them."

"Miss Granger, you will do just fine", McGonagall added. "You just need to remember to breathe."

I let the breath I didn't realize I was holding in out.

"The two of you will be just fine. I'm about to open the doors so smarten yourselves up."

I let out one more calming breath, straightened up and squared my shoulders ready to face whatever was about to happen.

As the doors opened up I could feel Draco pull me closer to him.

"Smile", he whispered quickly into my ear before the doors fully opened.

I could feel everyone's eyes on us. I had to force the blush that threatened to creep up my face away as I heard a collective gasp.

Suddenly I heard a magnified voice.

"Let me introduce you to the host of our first annual Halloween Ball",

Professor Slughorn announced. "Put your hands together for Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy."

A stun silence followed as only a few students clapped.

Draco, who seemed unfazed by anything, led me towards the center of dance floor. As we got closer to it I head the beginnings of a haunting intro start to play.

As we walked by our classmates I could a few catches of, "That can't be goody two-shoes Granger. Who does she think she is? How dare Malfoy put on an angel costume. What trick are they playing?"

Before I knew it Draco and I were in the middle of the dance floor. As Draco turned to face me the lights dimmed, a spotlight fixed on us and the music tempo started to pick up.

"Do you know how to tango", Draco quietly asked me.

"I know the basics but I've never danced it."

Draco smirked. "There's a first time for everything." He grabbed my left hand in his and put his left hand on my waist all the while pulling me closer.

As soon as Draco started to move my body moved in sync with his. The rhythm of the music coursed through him and into me. Each turn, dip and step was led with graceful strength that it was easy to follow. When the music reached it's feverish end my heart was pounding, blood was racing to my ears and I could tell that my face was flushed.

Suddenly I realized that I was staring deeply into Draco's eyes and he was staring into mine. I could feel a pull towards Draco that I couldn't resist but the rest of the world came crashing through when I started to hear a loud applause.

I reluctantly broke eye contact to see the sea of people standing around us. I was shocked to see the same people who had recently been gossiping behind our backs cheering for us.

Draco grasped my hand tighter and started to pull me after him.

"We've got to introduce our guest."

When we reached the stage Draco motioned for me to start.

As I looked out into the crowd a guitar started to faintly play as a low fog creeped along the stage.

I stepped up to the microphone.

"Fellow students, thank you for coming to this year's first annual Halloween Ball."

The students cheered and the guitar grew louder.

"Tonight, I would like to present to you our special guest…"

The guitar started to whine as a haunting string quartet and bass started to play along.

"…The Dark Empress!"

Suddenly the black curtain behind us fluttered to the ground to reveal the band and singer who were hiding behind it.

My classmates erupted in screams as they all rushed towards the stage.

I stepped back as the lead singer walked up to claim her microphone. As Draco and I walked away she winked at us before turning her full attention to the crowd.

"Hogwarts are you ready to rock", I heard her scream as Draco and I descended the stairs to join the rest of the crowd.

The students screamed so loud I could feel it reverberate in my ears.

"Then we're going to kick it off with our favorite song 'Solitary Drowning'!"

The magnitude of my classmates' screams reached a fevered pitch at this announcement. I had to admit that Draco picked a very popular and well-liked band.

As The Dark Empress's music swung into high gear I couldn't help but to move along to the rhythm of the music with my peers. Draco and I danced together and it amazingly fun and freeing.

It felt wonderful to be caught up in the pure happiness of the moment. I was still caught up in the moment when Ginny and Blaise came up to us.

"Oh my Merlin, Hermione! That entrance was amazing", Ginny yelled at me.

"It was all thanks to Draco", I admitted. "I had no idea what I was doing."

"You looked wonderful though", Blaise added. "The two of you totally commanded that floor. No one could take their eyes off of you."

"Of course not", Draco stated while smirking. "We're the best dressed couple in this room."

"I'm going to have to agree."

Draco, Blaise, Ginny and I all turned around to find Harry, in a vampire costume, standing near us.

"Did you just say something Potter", Draco asked with a frown.

"Yes, I did. If you had listened closely you would have noticed that it was a compliment."

"No wonder it sounded so foreign."

"Look, we just came over to be civil."

I raised my eyebrow. "We?"

Harry looked at me confused then looked around him. After a few seconds he pulled a mass of red hair from the masses.

"Ron and I came over to be civil."

Ron was wearing a clown costume. Draco and Blaise snickered.

"So what's the sudden change of heart", Ginny asked. "You guys have been ignoring us for quite some time."

"It's not that we've been ignoring you", Ron started.

"We've just been busy", Harry finished.

"Busy", I asked. "With what?"

"Secret business", Harry answered.

"Well, if you're not going to share you really shouldn't have said anything", Draco stated.

"It's really none of your business Malfoy", Ron argued. "It's only between Harry, Hermione and me."

"Ron, if you're talking about what I think you're talking about then you can go ahead and state it out loud. I trust Draco, Ginny and Blaise."

"But they're not a part of it", Harry stated.

"Oh yes they are. Draco and Blaise have pledged their alliances to our side to help defeat Voldemort and Ginny has been by our side since the day she has entered this school. Did the two of you forget what she did for us at the Ministry of Magic?"

"Okay, Ginny I understand", Harry agreed, "But those two Hermione?"

"Have proven to be better friends to me of late than you two."

"Ouch", Blaise playfully stated behind me.

"So a few months of good from them out weighs the years you've had with us", asked Ron hurt.

"Ron, what I'm stating is that the two of you have hardly been here for me."

I could see Ron and Harry starting to retort but I held up my hand to stop them.

"Now, because we have such a great history between us I am willing to forgive you."

"Forgive us", both Harry and Ron asked.

"Yes", I stated. "For leaving me out of the loop, even though it was for my safety, I will forgive you. For being complete jerks I will forgive you. As long as you can be civil to my new friends and stop keeping secrets I will completely forgive you."

"And we will overlook the horrid fact that you are friends with Malfoy and Zabini if you take us back as your friends", Harry stated.

"And help us with our studies again", Ron stated.

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Ron you are horrible", I stated as I rushed to him and Harry to give them a huge hug.

When the hug was over I let go of them and turned around to Draco, Blaise and Ginny.

"Think we can all get along", I asked them.

Draco shrugged and said, "No, but hopefully it won't kill us to try."

I ran to him and hugged him the same way I hugged Harry and Ron.

"I'm so happy", I cried out loud.

"Hermione, you get over emotional about stuff", Ron stated.

"Oh, Ron."

"Hey", Ginny exclaimed. "What's this secret you two were talking about?"

Harry and Ron looked at each other and then looked at me. I nodded to them to say that it was okay.

In a lowered voice Harry started, "Last year I was given a mission by Dumbledore to search out for horcruxes.

"Horcruxes", Draco hissed. "What did he have you searching for those for?"

Harry looked at Draco.

"You know what they are?"

"When you come from a family that prides themselves in knowing all manor of dark magic you come across a thing or two."

"What are they", Ginny asked.

Harry turned to her.

"They are objects that embody part of a soul of a person so that if that person is killed they can still remain alive."

"And that's dark magic how", Blaise asked.

"Because in order to be able to split your soul you must commit a gruesome act beforehand such as murdering someone."

Draco spoke up. "Are you trying to tell us that Voldemort has created a horcrux and that's why he didn't die the night he killed your parents?"

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Well, you're not as slow as I thought you were."

Draco scowled at Harry.

"But it's not just one horcrux I'm talking about" Harry quickly continued.

"He created more than one", Blaise asked.

Harry nodded. "And I've been on the search to find them. Dumbledore found one last year. Ron and I found another hidden as a locket. Ginny, you actually found one your first year."

"Tom Riddle's diary", Ginny asked while going pale.

"Yeah", Ron stated, "but Harry destroyed that one with a basilisk fang."

Harry lowered his voice even more and we all moved in closer to hear better.

"Right now there are four more items that need to be found. Dumbledore believed them to be objects related to the house's founding members. Right now we have Hufflepuff's and Ravenclaw's to find. I believe that Hufflepuff's is a cup that was stolen by Voldemort while he was still Tom Riddle."

"A cup", Draco asked. "What's so special about a cup?"

"Well, apparently Voldemort had an obsession with collection items that belong to the Hogwarts founders", Harry answered.

Suddenly someone bumped into me then excused themselves as they walked quickly away.

"I think we should continue this conversation somewhere else at another time", I stated.

"I think you're right", Harry agreed.

"Then let's enjoy ourselves tonight", Blaise exclaimed. "The night is young and I still have some dancing moves left in these feet."

I laughed as we all returned our attention to the music and started to dance the night away.