Story: New Events

Author: LadyLissaLight

Summary: "The Tri-wizard Tournament is to be held again" - "I could get any girl." "Even Granger?" "Yep." "I dare you to seduce her." "Done." - "Hermione, who are you going to the ball with?" "... Draco Malfoy." "WHAT?" Please read!

A/N To all the people who are thinking Hermione shouldn't go to the ball with Draco, or are wondering if she will, its written in the summary ^^^ that she does.

He gave a sigh of frustration as what must have been the fiftieth girl asked him to the ball. Yes, it was gratifying to have proof he was definitely wanted, and yes, the attention was rather good, but he was a bit sick of it.

There was only one girl he wanted to take to the ball. Hermione.

But he couldn't ask her. Not because it was too hard, because it would be the easiest thing in the world, but because she probably wouldn't allow it.

He grunted in annoyance and suddenly her voice said, "Draco? Is something wrong?"

He turned; she was looking at him in faint concern. He gave her an easy smirk, concealing his inner problem, and replied, "Nothing whatsoever. Just pondering which of these girls is perfect enough to take to the ball."

"Oh." She nodded. Then "you were right. Herbert asked me."

Ignoring the flash of anger that shot through his brain, Draco curled his lip. "And I suppose you said yes?"

"No, I lied and told him I was already going with someone. I like Herbert but not enough to go to the ball with him."

"Did Goldstein ask you as well?" he asked, pleased she had turned down the Frenchman.

"No, he's taking a Beauxbatons girl. But I was talking with Blaise and he said that if nobody asked me that I wanted to go with, then he would ask me for us to go as friends."

Draco much preferred this idea. If he himself couldn't go with her, better Blaise than anyone else. "Since when were you two such good friends though?" he asked curiously.

"Oh I don't know," she shrugged. "Somewhere along the way we just became friends. Bit hard not to, since I'm always with you now, and he's your best friend."

"I see. So you're going to go with Blaise then?"

"If nobody that I want to ask me, asks me, then yes, I suppose I will."

"Who do you want to ask you?" he dared to question, wishing she would say him.

She hesitated… but all he got was another shrug and a bit of a smile, before she was beckoned away by the Veela 'Blanche' who she was now friends with apparently. First Blaise and now Blanche. Hermione was confusing.

Draco returned to his room to find Blaise. "I heard about your offer," he said as he closed the door behind him, five minutes later.

"That doesn't bother you does it?" Blaise asked, looking up from his book.

"No, I'd much prefer you go with her than anyone else."

"Damn it, that was supposed to annoy you into asking her!" Blaise cried in a disappointed voice.

"I want to – I just don't think I can." Draco said, exasperated.

"Why not?" Blaise whined.

"Because, she probably only goes to balls with friends, or people she's in a relationship with," Draco grunted.

"She went with Viktor Krum, and she wasn't in a relationship with him," his darker friend pointed out. "At least… I don't think she was."

"That's true…" Draco nodded. Maybe there was some hope after all?

"So…" Prompted Blaise.

"I think I'll go and find Hermione," Draco said, getting up and opening the door. He'd take the risk. Blaise gave a large grin.

XXXXXX

Hermione was talking to Blanche about her choice of dress for the bell, which Ron had apparently still not asked her to.

Hermione shook her head. "Ronald probably just presumes you're already going together. Just tell him someone else asked you and see what he says."

Blanche frowned. "You really think zat will work?"

She nodded assuredly, just as Draco rounded the corner.

"Hermione, I need to talk to you." He said.

Blanche gave her the thumbs up as she walked away, and Hermione grinned. She was hoping he was going to ask her to the ball.

They reached a spot alone in the hallway, and Draco turned to Hermione. "We were just talking 5 minutes ago, what's so urgent?" she asked. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine," he said, then paused. "Will you go to the ball with me?" His expression was perfectly calm.

He'd asked. She wanted to jump up and down squealing 'yes' in a very un-Hermioneish way, but instead she matched his calm expression. "Yes, alright." She replied.

His face was neutral but she saw a flash of joy in his eyes as he pulled his into a hug. She hugged him back, enjoying the feel of his arms around her, even though she knew she shouldn't be this close to him. She felt him sigh. Stepping back from one another, Hermione and Draco began walking along.

"I thought you wanted to go with one of the French girls," Hermione said shyly.

"Too bad for them I suppose," he gave a mock sigh.

She knew he wasn't going to say anything that would reveal any of his feelings, if he had any, so she let the matter drop. "And too bad for Blaise, he'll be devastated." She grinned.

"Somehow, I think Blaise got exactly what he wanted," Draco muttered.

XXXXXX

"Persephone" Hermione said, stepping into the Beauxbatons head's common room, uninvited.

Persephone raised a perfectly waxed eyebrow at Hermione's intrusion. "Yes? What is ze meaning of zis?"

"I have come to talk to you about Ronald Weasley." Hermione's voice was firm.

"Bah, zat loser," Persephone grew angry at once.

"Ron is NOT a loser!" Hermione said fiercely. "He is one of the most caring, decent, kind, brave people I have ever had the luck to know. Your sister was lucky to choose him as her mate because she couldn't have chosen anyone better! Ron is loyal to the end, he always tries to help whenever he can, and he'll love Blanche completely, forever." She and Blanche had decided that she would try and convince Persephone that Ron was a decent match for Blanche.

"You theenk I care about 'is personal attributes? Bah! 'E is not a worthy match!" was the only response she got, however.

"Ron has the purest of bloodlines," Hermione said coldly, losing her temper. "He's related to the Blacks, the Malfoy's, the Prewetts, if blood means anything to you. And he helped defeat Voldemort! Can your mate say the same? Can he profess to ridding the world of the greatest evil it has ever faced? I don't think so! Blanche should consider herself lucky she got Ron, because there are a thousand girls out there who'd be dying to be in her place! And you should be welcoming him." She strode out of the room, too angry to stay in the room with Persephone, who she doubted she had made any headway with.

Blanche was waiting nervously down the hallway. "What happened?" she asked nervously.

"Your sister is horrible," Hermione said flatly. "And to be honest, I don't think I made much of a difference."

"Well, thank you for trying Hermione," Blanche gave her a hopeful smile. "And, your ozzer idea worked."

Hermione laughed. "What happened?"

"I was talking about what colours I might wear, and zen I said zat red would be good because Marcus Bouilion asked me and 'e has dark hair." Blanche gave a grin. "Ronald… er, completely freaked out. He said 'I thought you were going with me!' and I said, 'But Ronald, you 'ave not asked me!' and then 'e said, 'Blanche, will you go to ze ball with me?' and I said yes, of course!" she laughed happily.

"I'm glad," Hermione smiled.

"I heard zat Herbert asked you and zat you said no," Blanche returned.

"Yes, I err, was hoping someone would ask me. And he did." She gave a little smile.

"Ah, ze blonde boy you are always with, yes? 'E is very handsome, I can see why you like him." Blanche winked, causing Hermione to blush.

"I don't like him!" she protested.

"Oh, you are in denial!" Blanche cried.

"I am not!" Hermione went red. "It's complicated."

"'Ow?" Blanche asked sceptically.

Hermione explained the situation to her, and she nodded. "Eet is so much easier when you are a Veela," she commented. "Well, I theenk that zis 'Draco' likes you also, and zat if you give him time, he will like you enough to want a relationship."

"Blanche, Hermione," Ron's voice sounded across the hall from where they were standing, interrupting Hermione's reply. He walked over, looking unsure. "What are you talking about?"]

"Nothing, love," Blanche said, taking his hand and giving Hermione a secret smile.

"So, Hermione, who are you going to the Yule Ball with?" Ron asked, turning to his brunette friend.

She hesitated. "… Draco Malfoy."

"WHAT?" He almost yelled.

"Ron, don't!" Hermione said irritably.

"Are you two – a – a couple now?" he blustered.

Before Hermione could answer, an arm swept around her waist and a loud voice said, "Yes, Hermione and I are a couple. In fact, she's pregnant."

"Draco!" she turned to face him, scowling.

"What? Don't fight it, love," he gave Ron a smirk.

"Now, now, Weaselbee, don't make a scene," he said mockingly as Ron clenched his fists.

Blanche whispered something in Ron's ear and he sighed, nodded at her and then turned away, walking off down the corridor without another word to her.

"Malfoy!" she snapped, unintentionally using his surname. "You always cause fights! Why do you always try and wreck things that are important to me!"

She ran after Ron and Blanche, leaving Draco. "Ron! He was lying, obviously," she panted as she caught up to them. "We're just going as – as friends. Please don't be mad."

"I'm not mad at you, 'Mione. I just think you should choose your friends better." He gave her a look, before putting his arm around Blanche and walking off again.

XXXXXX

Draco groaned as Hermione hurried away from him. Why did he always ruin things when it came to them? But she shouldn't expect him to just be lovely to everyone! He was a Malfoy and a Slytherin besides. He was breaking the rules by even being friends with her. And she knew he hated Weasley, and he'd always been nasty to him, but now she suddenly expected him to be nice?

No. This time he was not going to apologise.

So when he saw her in the dining hall that night, he breezed right past her, ignoring the hurt look that crossed her face.

XXXXXX

It had been 2 days, and Draco still hadn't spoken to her. She hadn't sat with him at breakfast, lunch or dinner, and they hadn't spent hours studying, or just talking. She missed his presence like she missed Harry's, but she'd grown used to being apart from the latter. The worst thing was Draco was right there, in the same place as her, and they never spoke. He never even looked at her. She'd been angry at him about Ron, yes, but that anger had quickly faded. Now she just missed him.

On the upside, Hermione and Blanche had become very good friends, and Hermione had to admit, she was glad of some female company. She and Ginny exchanged letters, but it wasn't the same.

Blanche would often watch her watch Draco and on the third day that they had been fighting, Blanche pulled Hermione aside. "When are you going to make up with Draco?" she asked crossly.

"He is always trying to cause fights between Ron and I, and I'm sick of it," she said lamely.

"But you miss him!" Blanche exclaimed. "Why does it matter, 'e is your friend, you cannot expect 'im to be perfect!"

"Why don't you hate him?" Hermione asked curiously. "He's awful to Ron."

Blanche shrugged. "You like 'im, and 'e is decent to you. Zat is all zat matters."

"I do not like him!" Hermione blustered.

Blanche raised an eyebrow. "I theenk it is time you admit your feelings for Draco. I would say zat 'e returns zem anyway."

"I can't have feelings for him, I just can't." she said, miserable. "He would crush my heart. He's Draco Malfoy! Do you know what they call him back at Hogwarts?"

"I can guess," Blanche said wryly. "But 'e likes you, I can tell!" she insisted. "You need to admit zat you like 'im," she gave Hermione a final, superior smile, before waltzing away.

Maybe she did like him. Was it normal to want to kiss your friends? Definitely not. Normal to have them flirt with you? Probably not. Although, he was Draco Malfoy. Was it normal to get butterflies when your friends touched you? She knew it wasn't.

Great, she thought, I have to resign myself to the fact that I have a crush on Draco Malfoy.

A/N just some housekeeping issues, so to speak. I'm sorry for having random spelling issues, that last chapter was unchecked, I just uploaded. I should probably have a beta, but as I've written out this story already and I know exactly what it needs to have/say, I would have trouble with my beta changing things, which is why I don't have one.

Well, I hope you all liked the chapter! The reviews I got for last time made me smile so much, they were great. Please review this chapter!

Lissa.