A princess of the ball

One moment to change it all

It was ruined beyond her care anymore. Her one chance to be the princess, the girl everyone boy would dare to look at again and it had been ruined by another's cruel words.

Even after her date attempted to make it better she couldn't stop the tears, at first they burned her eyes and their escape.

But out in the frozen air they froze her cheeks making her shake, her anger pushing the cold away from her bones as she slipped and stumbled her way across the frozen hard ground.

With one last strangled sob she collapsed in the many folds of her dress, her hands now offering coverage for tears that she had no power to stop.

So enraptured with her sorrow and her rage at her so called best friend she didn't see the boy standing over her, nor did she see him bend down beside her. The only announcement of his presence was when he placed a warm hand on her now frozen arm.

A startled yelp caused the pair to spring apart with him landing with a thud on his backside, for a moment she stared at him before glaring.

"Sorry" he winched out with pain trying to ease the pain now coursing up his back, a sudden switch flicked in her and she shocked them both by laughing out loudly. Gapping at her a blush stole across his face before he too started to chuckle along with her.

He stopped when he realised her laughter had pitted out into sobs again and she once more covered her face while her pale shoulders now exposed to the elements shook.

"Please don't cry" he rushed getting to his knees hastily patting her shoulder unsure how to deal with a crying girl.

"It didn't hurt that much… my ego took a blow but it's better now I know you care so much that your crying for it" he offered with a cheeky smile only to hear a hitch in her sobs before she turned to face him with a watery smile that held no light.

"I'm not crying because of you" she admitted hoarsely the tears still streaming down her cheeks, with a sigh he smiled tenderly at her keeping his warm hand on her shoulder.

"Oh well my ego is hurt again" he joked as she gave a watery laugh before shaking her head and growling when her elegant hair do now tumbled out of place.

"It's just… my whole night was ruined" she admitted sadly feeling the sorrow for herself build up once more and her attempts to hold back the tears failing.

"I doubt that… everyone watching you and Krum. You were the bell of the ball" he admitted before blushing when she gapped at him.

"N-n-not that I was w-w-watching" he stumbled as the corner of her pink lips rose a little and she looked away.

"No the evening has been wonderful until Ronald Weasley ruined it all by being a stupid git" she spat wiping the tears away harshly wrapping her arms around her now shaking knees.

Without a second thought he removed his robes and wrapped it around her shaking shoulders leaning in closer then before.

With another small smile she gave him a thankful look snuggling under his robe to kept the warmth from escaping.

"Well I'm sure Weasley was just jealous… probably wishing he had asked you" he admitted as she growled and glared at the ground before her.

"He did ask me… only as a last resort. I mean if he was really interested in me then he would have asked me first" she snapped as the boy sat beside her and frowned not out of confusion because he was pretty sure he remembered how boys thought at that age but because she was so angry.

"Boys don't tend to think rationally at that age… he probably thought it was the best idea when he asked you. Probably thinking he had some how swept you off your feet with his rather late request" he admitted gaining a snort from the girl beside him as she wiped her eyes again.

"I sometimes wonder if he even thinks… because it was rather clear to night, I'm not like other girls… I don't dress up just to please boys, I don't giggle over them ever hour of the day and I don't wait around for him to get it through his thick head to ask me out on a date" she exclaimed as the boy beside her lower his chin tugging at his fingers refusing to look at her.

"Is that what you want… for him to finally see you as the beautiful girl you are" he questioned in a low whisper his eyes still focused on the ground that he missed her blush.

"Yes… no… I don't know. I mean yes I like him because he's my best friend and along with Harry we've been through a lot of things. But I just guessed… well I guess I just wanted to prove to them both I'm still a girl, Harry noticed and didn't mind once that I was with Krum but Ron… he just made this out to be an attack on him and Harry" she growled before her voice broke a little with tears of rage and sadness.

A chuckle made her glare at him, she huffed when he showed no signs of stopping.

"I'm sorry but….but the only reason he felt so angry at Krum taking you to the ball wasn't because he thinks it's wrong or Krum is trying to gain some information it's because for the first time he saw you as the beautiful, smart and wonderful young woman you are becoming. Lashing out was the only way he could think to make you think that" he admitted as she thought for a seconds before shaking her head.

"I'm not beautiful I know that but tonight at least I looked like a girl" "Who says your not beautiful" he asked shocked while she rolled her eyes.

"Please, you don't have to be overly nice… I know I'm not like the other girls, I'm a bookish, know it all book worm who is too stubborn" she declared coldly as stiffened.

"That's why your better… hear me out, your not beautiful like the other girls but that is better because not every boy is drooling over you. Your not bookish your smart and your not afraid to show it which can scare even the most besotted boy and so what if you stubborn, it's a wonderful thing because it means your loyal enough to stand your ground" he declared all matter of factly wondering how she could doubt that.

She blushed madly trying to gather a response that wasn't a bark of laughter, it was sweet but she didn't want pity.

"It's freezing out her your lips are blue" he ordered dragging her to her feet while she took a wavering breath when his scent washed over her.

"You can go back inside but I rather be alone thank you" she said coldly shrugging his robe off gaining a confused look from him. What had he done wrong apart from telling the truth.

"Well if…" he stopped looking around for an excuse to stay out here with he spotted it in the form of the frozen lake. It glistened in the moonlight, sparkling despite the dark ship trapped in it's clutches. Smiling he grabbed her hand, he didn't stop smiling when she looked at him ready to hand his robe back.

"At least give me the honour of a dance" he requested slipping the robe over her shoulders with one hand while still holding her other hand tightly.

"Why… why would you want to dance with me" she asked meekly disbelieving that anyone would want to dance with her, the bookish know it all book worm.

"Because just like every other guy in the great hall I want one chance at dancing with the only girl who looked like a princess" he stated firmly smiling fondly at her blush and ducked head. With a tug he dragged her to the frozen lake.

Smiling with reassurance when she stopped at the edge of the lake he squeezed her hand stepping out first and waiting for her. Chewing her lip she studied his eyes before stepping on the frozen water after him, she shot him a look when after stumbling a little he held her close keeping on the slightest of gaps between them.

"There is no music" she declared meekly as he frowned feeling his heart sink a little before he fished his wand out and waving it towards the school while muttering something under his breath. He smiled when she gasped when the soft melody of a song rose up over their heads and encased them together.

Taking her other hand once putting his wand away he led them slowly in a delicate dance, managing to keep himself and her up.

You're in my arms

And all the world is calm

The music playing on for only two

So close together

And when I'm with you

So close to feeling alive

As the words washed over them she finally gave a sigh and rested her head against his shoulder, her small feet moving inches while her eyes slowly drifted closed.

A life goes by

Romantic dreams will stop

So I bid mine goodbye and never knew

So close was waiting, waiting here with you

And now forever I know

All that I wanted to hold you

So close

Stepping back he smiled when she lifted her head up letting her eyes fly open to stare at him, lifting his hand he grabbed the last of the pins holding her hair back and released them from their duty. Pocketing the pins he quickly ran his hand through her hair admiring the softest and warmth that was spread through out him at the touch. With one last brush of her hair he returned his hand back to it's previous job and held her hand tightly.

So close to reaching that famous happy end

Almost believing this was not pretend

And now you're beside me and look how far we've come

So far we are so close

He pursed his lips when she stepped back this time but quickly grinned when she simply removed his robe from her shoulders and laid it on the ground before turning back to him holding her hand out. Feeling brave he pressed a kiss to her hand before wrapping his arm around her waist and leading them back to the dance.

How could I face the faceless days

If I should lose you now?

We're so close

To reaching that famous happy end

And almost believing this was not pretend

Let's go on dreaming for we know we are

So close

So close

And still so far

As the song faded the pair still moved softly now clinging to each other both lost in their own musings of the words. The night had been so close to being ruined but now it was going back to being the most perfect night.

"HERMIONE" a female voice broke the night and sadly their little bubble causing the pair to stumble apart his hand darting out to hold her up. With sadness and unshed tears he watched as she looked at him, but when her eyes met his she couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you" she thanked before they walked back to the land, he picked up his robe and went to offer it to her again but she shook her head.

"No I'm warm" she assured feeling her cheeks heat up when he stared at her.

"I better get back to Ginny" she admitted spotting the red head through the trees scanning the grounds for her.

"I better get back to… I meant to be helping keeping the younger students out of trouble" he admitted scuffing his shoes gaining interest in looking at them.

Snapping his head up he was shocked as she pulled away from his cheek her lips still pursed from their kiss to his cheek.

Flushing she ducked her head pushing her hair back, with a quick glance through her lashes she blushed again.

"Thank you for being prince charming" she muttered before turning and hiking her dress up a little made her hurried way back to her friend while he stared dazed after her. Smiling he lifted his fingers to his cheek.

"Your welcome princess" he whispered watching her being engulfed by her younger friend and dragged to the castle.

The second part of this one shot will be posted soon I promise. I got the idea from watching Enchanted and hearing the song 'So close'