*** CURRENTLY BEING REWRITTEN ***

The song ended to applause and kissing couples. Hermione kissed Severus softly and broke into an evil grin, worrying him a little. The music kicked back up and the lights returned to normal. Hermione grabbed his hand and pulled him into the crowd, causing him to fight a nervous blush. She spun him to the music and forced him to ignore the students around him, focusing solely on her. The two waltzed around wildly, moving faster as the pace of the music sped up.

'Dance with me, my dear,
On a floor of bones and skulls!
The music is our master,
The devil controls our souls!'

The two began to spin wildly as the other students copied their moves.

'Swirling and swirling!
The music all our turning,
Swaying to the sounds of
A demonic BEAT!'

She grabbed his hands and turned them both to the left, leading with their hands they moved through the sea of people.

'All the dead our partners
As we walk into the room…
Frightening but delighting
Our host unearthly gloom!'

Hermione stopped and spun away from Severus, their hands still locked.

'Cold blood in my veins roars
I've been too long uncaged!
My body's in wild convulsions
As I'm falling into the dust!'

She began to spin the potions master around, eyes locked with his.

'A ring of death is on me
Like a halo to the Gods
I'm bathed in mortal sorrow
My innocence is lost!'

She let go of him and Ginny took up his hands. Draco immediately took up Hermione's and the dance went on.

'Dance with me my dear
On a floor of bones and skulls
The music is our master
The devil controls, controls!

Swirling and swirling!
The music all our turning,
Swaying to the sounds of
A demonic BEAT!'

Hermione and Ginny traded off their partners, taking up each other's hands as they finished the song. Severus and Draco stood there puzzled for a moment after the girls had pushed them together.

'A ring of death is on me
Like a halo to the Gods
I'm bathed in mortal sorrow
My innocence is lost!'

The pair bowed and smiled at the crowd and Ginny took Draco's hand as Hermione went back to the stage. "We've got one more slow song for all of you. Make this one count!" she smiled and the lights took on the blue hue once again. Daimion took up the vocals and Hermione went back to Severus, holding him close and gazing into his eyes.

'Eyes betray the soul and bear it's thinking.
Beyond words they say so many things to me.
A stranger here reborn it seems
awaking wonders deep in me.
If nothing's ventured nothing's gained
so I must seize the day.

And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me.
I bear my heart for all to see.
With my face turned to the sun
There ever standing still.

It wasn't you, it wasn't me, it wasn't anyone.
It was a day so long awaited and a chance to be as me.
I let the wind run through my hands
as I turned to walk away.
In distant days I long to sense it all so clear.

And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me,
I bear my heart for all to see.
With my face turned to the sun there ever standing still.
And fighting time so much I ask.
I will this morning last forever.
Though seasons change and things come to pass
remain inside of me.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.

I had no faith before that day in any vow or deed.
Days followed days and years were meaningless.
Despite the wisdom of defeat
I bore my heart for all to see the wonders I'd seen…
The wonders I'd seen…

And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me.
Through my eyes stare into me,
I bear my heart for all to see.
With my face turned to the sun there ever standing still.
And fighting time so much I ask.
I will this morning last forever.
Though seasons change and things come to pass
remain inside of me.
And fighting time so hard I pray
that this moment lasts forever.
And will the world stay standing still at least for me…'

Severus stroked Hermione's cheek lovingly and kissed her deeply as the music ended. She smiled and took his hand, leading him towards the stage. As she passed Ginny and Draco she pulled them along as well. The four got up onto the stage with all of the others from the Parlor.

"Now, then – let's finish this thing up proper!" Hermione called out as the strumming chords of the final song started up. "Let's get rowdy, everyone!"

As the music broke out, everyone in the room started moving and Hermione started singing.

'Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again
Five hundred years like Gelignite
Have blown us all to hell
What savior rests while on his cross we die
Forgotten freedom burns
Has the Shephard led his lambs astray
To the bigot and the gun…'

Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again?'

Every single person on the stage sang out the next couple of lines.

'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies!'

Those who were not playing any instruments locked arms and started dancing around the stage and Ginny sang out next.

'I watch and stare as Roisin's eyes
Turn a darker shade of red
And the bullet with this sniper lie
In their bloody gutless cell
Must we starve on crumbs from long ago
Through bars these men made steel
Is it a great or little thing we fought
Knelt the conscience blessed to kill

Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again?'

Some of the audience members joined them in singing the next line.

'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies!'

Hermione and Ginny sang out together as the song went on.

'Ah but maybe it's the way we're taught
Or maybe its the way we fought
But a smile never grins without tears to begin
For each kiss is a cry we all lost
Though nothing is left to gain
But for the banshee that stole the grave'

'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies!'

Everyone on the stage started a procession down into the crowd as the music went on. When the last of the band was on the floor, the girls continued singing, with their arms still locked with everyone not playing music.

'I sit and dwell on faces past
Like memories seem to fade
No colour left but black and white
And soon we'll all turn grey
But may these shadows rise to walk again
With lessons truly learned
When the blossom flowers in each our hearts
Shall beat a new found flame

Must it take a life for hateful eyes
To glisten once again?'

They made sure everyone sang along as they finished the song, dancing along in a line around the great hall and out into the main corridor as the song ended.

'Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies!

Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess
Singin' drunken lullabies!

Singing' drunken lullabies!'

The doors shut behind them, but they could hear the roaring applause as it echoed throughout the room.

A/N: Ok, we've reached the end of the Yule Ball! Uh-oh! Time to tell Sev… Eeeek!

Songs: Dance with Me by TSOL, Standing by VNV Nation and Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly. Review! Please?