Chapter 25

"Hermione, you're absolutely gorgeous!" Serena exclaimed the moment she spotted me waiting anxiously in the lobby for Chuck's arrival.

"Thank you," I replied; feeling radiant and confident, "you look beautiful too," And indeed she did, her golden mermaid silhouette sparkling avidly in the light as she gave a little twirl.

"Thanks!"

"I hope Chuck will be impressed,"

"Oh hells yeah he will be!" Serena assured me.

The elevator dinged. My stomach immediately erupted with butterflies. Reality hit. I really was about to be attending a debutante ball as Chuck Bass' girlfriend. This was a major New York event and the Bass' were pretty much celebrities! To think that the entire Upper East Side would be there for that matter…it was mind boggling. The most formal event I had ever attended was the Yule Ball, which was by all means the equivalent to a high school formal. If I hadn't been asked by Viktor Krum, I probably wouldn't have gone at all, especially with Ron's immaturity back then, and him only asking me as a last resort. It was still surreal to me that I was here in New York, in the most beautiful dress I could ever imagine, about to attend a ball with my own Prince Charming. I smiled to myself as the elevator doors opened and I turned around.

Chuck was absolutely divine in his black tuxedo. I smiled as he approached Serena and I.

"Ladies," Chuck acknowledged us. He then turned his full attention to me.

"Hermione,: his gloved hand extended for mine. He planted a suttle kiss upon it. I blushed. He was a true gentleman. No one had treated me like that since the Yule Ball; even Ron never acted so gallantly towards me; the pig. He was the complete opposite of my current gentleman.

"You look absolutely beautiful," Chuck said.

"I know," I agreed confidently. For in this dress, I felt brighter then the star on top of the Christmas tree. Chuck grinned, enjoying my newfound confidence.

"And I am in complete agreement with you," He placed his left hand atop his right which was currently caressing mine.

"You ready?" he questioned.

"As ever,"

Well it seems that our new A-List couple has made an executive decision to go public. Little do they know, the paparazzi are really the least of their troubles tonight. Let's see how they fend off the voracious vixen.

xoxo

gossip girl

"Welcome to the 37th annual Cotillion Debutante Ball!"

"Chuck," Hermione moaned, gripping my arm tightly as we entered the ballroom after dinner. The room was glistening with silver and sapphire, truly supporting the winter wonderland theme. A towering white Christmas tree stood proudly in the center of the dance floor as people hurried about gossiping and preparing for the debutantes.

"Relax," I told her, "you're Hermione Granger,"

"Well isn't that the point? That I'm a nobody?"

"Hermione," I said, "don't be nervous, you're not the debutante,"

"No, but it's not as if I'm a part of Manhattan's elite either,"

"No you're not," I agreed with her, "you're a part of England's elite,"

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Come on, don't be so modest. You're gorgeous. You fit in perfectly!"

"Okay,"

"And have I mentioned just how stunningly beautiful you look tonight?" I asked, brushing her cheek.

"Yes, about a billion times actually," she exclaimed, laughing.

I glanced down at my watch. It was 7:30

"Look, I gotta go," I said, "we debut in half an hour, and we have to get ready,"

"Alright," she said, planting a quick peck on my cheek, "good luck!"

As Chuck disappeared, I suddenly felt stranded and vulnerable –lost, almost. I was in a world full of people whom I didn't know at all, and I had no idea of what I was to do or say if by chance someone acknowledged me. Who was I? What sort of title did I uphold? None. I frantically searched the crows for a trace of the Bass/Van der Woodsen clan. It was too packed though, and I found myself pacing aimlessly through the busy crowd. I was invisible. No one asked my name or who I was. I was right. I really was a nobody. No title, No inheritance to speak of. No one noticed me and no one cared.]

"Escargo?"

I had been so consumed in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed the curly, brown haired server standing next to me. I frowned at the snails.

"No thanks, not really my cup of tea," I answered.

"Not really a big fan here either," he admitted. I laughed. Even though I was here with Chuck, something about this boy really seemed to attract me.

"But thank you," I replied. He didn't move.

"So obviously you're not from this part of town," he said, noting the accent.

"Yes," I answered, "I'm from Birmingham, England,"

"Gotcha," he said, "what brings you here?"

"I'm here with my boyfriend," I stated smoothly, "Charles Bass,"

His expression suddenly darkened.

"Do you know him?" I asked.

"Yes," he said darkly, "As a matter of fact I do,"

"What's wrong?"

He paused for a moment.

"You know that Chuck Bass doesn't do girlfriends," he finally said. His words stung. My temper was becoming shorter by the second.

"You would think,' I snorted, "but obviously you don't know him at all, for I am his,"

"So you would think," he retorted, "do you really know how many girls he's screwed?"

"Of course I do! He's a womanizer!"

"Ok," he relapsed, "but if I were you I would watch it with him and take it slow,"

That was it.

"Who do you think you are?"

"Dan Humphrey," he shrugged. I knew it. Chuck had warned me about this scum. Of course he would be one to badmouth Chuck, his arch nemesis.

"Now Mr. Dan Knowitall Humphrey, I don't believe that this small talk that you're making is part of your job. I could easily get you fired, but since I have a heart, I'll allow you mercy as long as you get away from and stay away from me throughout the rest of this evening," I felt overwhelmed with power. I stalked off, fumed. What a nosy douche! Chuck was right, Dan Humphrey was nothing more then a piece of trash.

I walked to the bottom of the staircases where the debutantes were lines up,. Chuck was speaking with Nate, while the slithering snake's hand wrapped around my Chuck's waist. They're only debutante partners, I told myself. Only partners. But no matter how much I tried to reassure myself, the fear still remained. Then Humphrey's warning echoed. Chuck Bass doesn't do girlfriends. But at Hogwarts our relationship was completely fine! Dan doesn't know how real it is for both of us. He doesn't know us at all. Perhaps I'm just too overprotective, I decided. After all, the way that she was looking at my boyfriend was sickening. I felt like running up there and taking the bitch right out then and there but I restrained myself from doing so. Jealousy is such an evil thing, and all it would do is ruin Chuck more. He loves me. I know he does.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a deep male voice announced, " we now give you, the 2011 debutantes!"

Applause arose around the ballroom and I clapped along. After a short speech from the ball director, the debuts began.

"Mara Lawson, escorted my Jason Chung,"

As the ramble of over privileged hoped and dreams prevailed, I could not believe what a big deal they were stirring up in the crowd. I was on the brink of falling asleep by the time I heard Blair and Chuck's names called.

"Blair Waldorf, escorted by Charles Bass" I glared as the slithering bitch made her way proudly up the steps. Chuck smiled politely as her extravagant plans for Yale were revealed, and Chuck's destiny to take over Bass Industries when the time was right was locked in place. Finally, Chuck and the snake walked off to the next ballroom on the second floor where the debutantes were to have their first opening dance. I raced upstairs to see this, because although I didn't approve of Blair and Chuck, I could imagine it would be rather hilarious watching him dance.

And what a dance it was! I must say that Chuck didn't shape up too poorly. He partnered Blair rather well, with no faults or mishaps. As he passed me, cast me a wink that said, 'your turn next,'. I honestly could not wait any longer.

"How'd I do?" he asked after the couples had dispersed and we all had the dance floor to ourselves.

"Absolutely wonderful!" I exclaimed, "Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would see Chuck Bass dancing!"

He laughed, "Guess I got the moves then,"

"You've got more then just moves going on Bass," Hermione said seductively. She planted a kiss on my mouth, "you're marvelous,"

"And so are you," I caressed her face in my palm.

"Dance/" she asked. I led her out to the dance floor.

"So how does it feel to have debuted?" Hermione asked.

"One less thing to worry about," I paused wondering if now was the time to tell her what Bart had told me before the start of the ball.

"Well I'm sure that your father is proud of you," she said. Hat answered my ponderings.

"He is," I twirled her around and reeled her in again, "he said so,"

"Really?"

"Yeah, he came and talked to me before Cotillion,"

"And?"

"I guess you can say we made up, and we have a better understanding of each other. I kinda get things a lot better now…like why I'm a wizard?"

"So he knew all along?" Hermione asked.

"Let's sit down,"

As we sat, I recounted all that Dad had told me, ending with my mother being in Slytherin.

"So that's what brought you to Hogwarts," she said, understanding.

"Yep," I decided to share a concern that I hadn't shared with anyone else.

"The hat- sorting hat that is- seemed to be keen on putting me in Slytherin,"

"Well your mum,"

"yeah I know. But for some reason it placed me in Gryffindor,"

She thought for a moment.

"The hat does take ancestry into account," Hermione spoke, "but it takes your personality into consideration as well,"

"But I'm not brave or strong!" I exclaimed. She shook her head.

"You tell me this enough, now I'm going to tell you : don't be modest. How you just those true feelings that you have kept locked up inside to your father today; that took a lot of courage. And how you've handled the whole muggle to magical transition- it's difficult and overall, you managed it well. That's strength right there,"

I grimaced. No one had ever talked about me that way, but I could see that she was absolutely right.

"Plus, you're not nearly rotten enough to be in Slytherin," she laughed. I grinned.

"Yeah. I guess Malfoy's a bit of a prat,"

She smiled, "you surprise me Chuck Bass,"

"And why is that?"

She shrugged, "when I first met you, that's exactly what I thought of you- a ridiculous, selfish, womanizing git,"

"You weren't that nice yourself," I joked.

"Hey! No, all I was trying to do was help you!"

"And be a knowitall," I teased. She blushed.

"Why you!" she slapped my arm with a laugh, "Ah, I suppose you're right. But however," Hermione continued, "I've been lucky enough to see you, who you are. And frankly I wouldn't change anything," She gave a small smile.

"I wouldn't change anything about you either," I told her, "you're perfect, just the way you are"

As if on cue the music slowed down and Boyce Avenue's cover of 'Just the Way You Are' erupted from the speakers.

"Dance?" I whispered. She nodded with a smile on her face.

'Oh her eyes, her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair, falls perfectly without her trying
She's so beautiful, and I tell her every day

Yeah, I know, I know when I compliment her she won't believe me
And it's so, it's so sad to think she don't see what I see
But every time she asks me do I look okay, I say

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing, just the way you are
And when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing, just the way you are,'

Hermione leaned into my chest

"I love you," she whispered, "with everything," I glanced down and immediately got lost inside her beautiful eyes. This girl- this girl right here…she was everything. Everything I could have ever asked for. Glorious, sexy as hell. Not to mention witty, smart, with the biggest heart I had ever met. And she loved me. Me, Chuck Bass. Surely, I didn't deserve this. The less I give her, the more I seem to get back. If I had control over that, I would be getting a hell of a lot less. The thought of losing her, losing Hermione…I absolutely could not bear to think of life without her. If something were to happen to her…I don't know what I would do. And with almost sickening realization, I realized just how dear she was to me, and that indeed, it was true…

"Hermione," I muttered.

"Chuck," she breathed.

"I lo-,"

"Chuck!" I was cut off. I spun around, the voice belonging to none other then Nate. I was fumed.

"What?" I spat, acidly.

"They want pictures now. For the Times,"

Fuck you. No really, fuck you. Just when I was about to tell her, to really open up to her about how I felt about her, bang! My opportunity was snatched away! Of all the timing in the world…

"Shit," I cursed aloud. I turned to Hermione, "wait here, I'll be two seconds," I scrambled after Nate.