A/N Thank you for the kind reviews and opinions. It makes me feel accomplished as a writer knowing that people can actually respond to my writing haha.

I'm really glad people are picking up on the arm folding because there are a few reasons for that. One of them is that it is a defence mechanism that both of them do. It's a way to protect themselves and attempt to close themselves off from each other when they know they're becoming really open emotionally or perhaps even physically. I feel that Reece and Hermione are both incredibly smart so they are both picking up on how close they are getting, and are in fact worrying about not closing themselves off from one another and becoming too attached. That's one of my personal reasons, but everyone has their own opinions and I know there are a lot more responses to things like this so feel free to have your own.

Chapter 36

"Your full attention please." Snape drawled, glaring down at Goyle because the boy was ogling at his official girlfriend, Millicent Bulstrode. "Full Goyle – not ten percent." Goyle stopped staring immediately, twisting in his chair so that he was facing the front exactly. "Now, I know you Gryffindors have already been told but my house has not, so," Snape began, eyeing Reece for a moment before continuing. "As some of you may know, the Yule Ball is to be held in December." A muffled giggle from Pansy was loud enough to get everyone's attention. Reece looked behind him to notice that Daphne had just elbowed her sharply in the ribs – probably to get the brunette to stop talking. "Obviously, dress robes will be worn, and the ball is open to fourth years and above – if you choose to invite a younger student they will be allowed to accompany you." Snape explained in a sour tone, clearly not liking the fact that he had to inform students of this dance. "The Yule Ball will begin at eight o'clock on Christmas day and shall end at midnight. Any questions?" Just as Blaise Zabini was about to raise his hand, Professor Snape cut in. "No? Good, you may copy down your homework – it is due in on Monday and I want two rolls of parchment."

"You're having a laugh." Blaise groaned once people began packing away. "Two rolls of bloody parchment I was hoping to spend some time with Daph-"

"Do we have a problem, Mister Zabini?" Professor Snape questioned sternly as students stopped packing away and began to wait for the bell. Snape had just been handing out an unnecessary detention to Seamus Finnegan so Blaise was definitely shocked when he heard his name called.

"No sir." He replied quickly, discreetly moving his foot and kicking Reece in the back of the leg to stop the snickering coming from his friend.

"Oi you fucking dickhead!" Reece laughed once Snape had turned around, moving his own foot and pressing it hard into the back of Blaise's left knee. Blaise's left leg gave out immediately and Reece howled with laugher as his friend almost collapsed to the floor.

"Not in here! Weasley what are you sniggering at?" Professor Snape's unimpressed voice boomed suddenly. He looked as if he was about to scold the two boys (and Ron Weasley for that matter), but luckily for Reece and Blaise they were saved by the ringing of the bell. As people started to move Reece and Blaise both dashed for the door, kicking at each other's legs in attempt to trip the other up as they made their way down the potions corridor, howling with laughter.

"So you taking Daphne to the ball then?" Reece asked once the two had reached the hall; the idea of a large lunch making the two call truce as they made their way over to the Slytherin table.

"Well yeah," Blaise mumbled as they sat down and began helping themselves to the sandwiches that were stacked high on a large silver platter. "I mean, I've still got to ask her officially, but because she's my girlfriend I guess we're automatically going together." Reece gave a small nod in agreement as he piled a load of crisps on his plate. "Who're you gonna ask?" He asked as he swallowed the last of his cheese salad sandwich.

"Granger." Reece said without second thought. The look on Blaise's face turned to one of shock and as his jaw dropped open Reece started to laugh. "I'm just messing." He said, secretly wishing that it wasn't a joke and that he could ask Granger. "I'm going to go and ask Danielle Rousseau I think."

"Oh," Blaise nodded approvingly. "The hot blonde that hangs around with Fleur Delacour?"

"Hey watch how you're talking." Reece warned light-heartedly. "How do you think Daphne would react if she heard you talking about a seventeen year old French bird like that?"

"She'd hex me, I reckon." He grimaced at the thought of his girlfriend firing a nasty spell in his direction. "You scared me for a moment a minute ago mate," Blaise said seriously, putting down his goblet and eyeing a composed Reece suspiciously. "When you said Granger I thought you were bloody serious – especially after potions, I wouldn't put it past you."

"To be honest," Reece muttered, leaning on the table rudely with his elbows and looking at the Gryffindor table without an ounce of his usual discretion. He spotted Granger instantly. She was seated with Potter and the two youngest Weasleys with a book propped up against her goblet, eating her soup and barely paying attention to Ginny who was trying to engage her in a conversation. "She's actually quite fit-"

"What? Now her teeth are actually the right size?" Blaise cut in sharply, giving Reece a glare that told him to stop being so daft. "Stop staring at her." He hissed, smacking his friend's arm roughly in attempt to get Reece to snap out of the trance that she had somehow put him under.

"Ugh Weasley's glaring, what the fucks he looking at?"

"Glad to see you're back with us." Blaise said in a worried tone that Reece didn't notice. "Weasley's probably glaring because he's caught you staring at his best girl mate, it'll be him trying to tell you to back off or sommat."

"Yeah well he can glare all he wants because a good view is not something I'm going to give up easily." Reece argued as he glared back at Weasley for a moment before returning to his food.

"You're calling Granger a good view?" Blaise snapped in annoyance. "Seriously mate, it's like you're suddenly obsessed with her. First outside potions and now this – you'll be flirting with her in runes next."

"And so what if I do?" Reece asked aggressively, flicking his gaze between an overreacting Blaise and the Gryffindor table. Ginny was watching him suspiciously again and Reece couldn't help but be slightly annoyed with her after her obvious hinting session before the first task. "Come on Blaise, look at her – like actually look at her. Ignore the baggy robes that could easily disappear and those idiots around her and just appreciate how naturally hot she is." Blaise reluctantly did as Reece was saying, and he looked for a moment before quickly returning to his lunch without saying a word.

"You're right." He mumbled in a tone of embarrassment and humiliation once he had had enough of Reece's intimidating glare. "I never wanted to see it but you're right."

"Yeah I am fucking right." Reece replied arrogantly. "So don't be a dickhead about it again, because I'm gonna keep looking at her whether you like it or not."

Grow some balls, go up to her, and ask her.

That was Reece's plan for asking Danielle Rousseau to the Yule Ball. He just had to stay calm and he continued to tell himself to do just that as he made his way down the entrance hall staircase. Reece stopped in his tracks just before he entered the courtyard, using a spell he had learned just for this to make a thorn-less rose appear in his left hand. His right hand went in his trouser pocket and Reece plastered a charming half smile on his face before making his way outside.

Thankfully he spied Danielle quickly. She was standing with Fleur, Juliette and a few other friends and Reece had to muster up some extra courage to stop him from turning away. He made his way over to the group suavely; twisting the rose between two fingertips and avoiding the gossiping of the groups of Hogwarts girls waiting around to be asked. Their huddles broke out into whispers as he passed, but Reece had one goal in mind as he finally reached the group of girls in blue.

"Danielle," Reece greeted politely, keeping the attempt of a smile on his lips when he noticed her grinning at the sight of the rose. "Would you do me the pleasure of allowing me to escort you to the ball?" She happily took the rose as she smiled at the girls surrounding them and Reece couldn't help but feel as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Of course." Danielle said, giving him a seemingly flirtatious wink before leaning in and kissing his left cheek softly. "I'm glad you asked."

Well that was easy.

"You managed to bag a French bird?" Malfoy questioned incredulously over the table as Snape passed by them, pretending to not hear their chatter as he made his way over to Potter and Weasley.

"Yeah," Reece muttered in confirmation. "She's one of Fleur's friends – its Danielle, you know, the one with the dirty blonde hair and the killer smile." He said proudly as he continued to sail through the work set without a struggle. "You got anyone yet?"

"I'm taking Pansy Parkinson." Draco mumbled as he put a neat line through a mistake in his written work. "So then there's Goyle and Bulstrode going together and Greengrass and Zabini going together which I presume you already knew about."

"What about Tracey Davis?" He asked while he placed all of his work in a neat pile ready to give to Professor Snape. "Any news on who she's going with or is she just gonna go with Nott or Crabbe?" Malfoy snorted slightly at the question, suggesting that he had a little information on the matter being discussed.

"Well according to Pansy, our little halfblood has managed to bag herself a fifth year Ravenclaw, so she won't be a backup date for either of them I'm afraid." Draco suddenly sniggered. "The couples mean that all Nott's and Crabbe's female friends are taken so they're actually going to have to ask someone. Nott might be able to get a date – probably a desperate third year wanting to get into the dance but at least it'll be someone. Crabbe won't though, I don't think – especially now that his wingman Goyle's got that monstrous Bulstrode attached to his arm."

"Here, I'm going to go and hand this in." Reece said as he placed his book under his arm and picked up his written work. "I've got some advice for your night with Pansy you might want mate," Draco raised a brow in question, gesturing for him to continue. "Make sure you talk about outfits with her, she'll probably cry about not discussing it if you don't."

"Good to know." Malfoy replied in a sour tone as he made an attempt to finish his work as Reece made his way over to Professor Snape. Snape took the work from his hands and just as Reece was leaving the hall he overheard Granger snapping at that idiot Weasley, saying that someone had asked her to the ball. Intrigued, he made his way out of the hall slowly and was soon met by the fast, angry walk of Hermione Granger. She was pissed off (even Potter probably knew that) and her anger seemed to reach a new level when Reece grabbed her arm and pulled her into a nearby broom cupboard.

"What are you doing?" She hissed angrily, pulling her arm out of his grasp and turning to leave. Hermione was nearly out the door when Reece blocked her, pushing her back inside and placing his hands on the door either side of her, pinning her against it so that she couldn't leave so easily.

"Why so snappy princess? Did one of your royal subjects say something that upset you?" Reece murmured arrogantly as he leaned forward slightly. Their bodies were now only mere centimetres apart. And they were in a cupboard – so it was getting a little bit awkward although Reece would not admit it. It was rather dark and even though he couldn't see her clearly Reece didn't need to. He could literally feel that heat that was being given off by her body and it was near to intoxicating; so intoxicating that he had to mentally remind himself to keep his cool. "What have those two prats done to get you in this state?" Reece continued quietly, referring to her erratic breathing and her angry fast walk.

"Why are we in here?" Hermione countered his question with one of her own.

"So you can tell me what's wrong and so you can calm down." Reece answered as the two stared each other down, their eyes battling to see who would blink first and lose. "Now tell me what they've done."

"Ronald seems to think that I'm incapable of getting a date for the ball – even though I've already been asked and said yes!" She ranted quickly. Reece was incredibly amused by her rant but the thought of someone else showing an interest in her did not sit well with him for some reason. "He's the one without a partner; and all of a sudden he's saying that I can go with him or Harry because apparently it's embarrassing for a girl to show up without a date."

"Well I for one am not surprised you've been asked if it's any constellation." Reece said smoothly, pushing away any feeling of jealously and the uncomfortable pushing of a broom on his back. He didn't want to move even if it was jabbing into his spine because being in this position with a very fiery Granger did not happen often. "I would've asked you myself if I could." He added in a sincere mutter.

"Really?" Hermione gasped and shifted her feet on the spot. "You would actually ask me to a ball? To somewhere you have to dance?"

"It may come as a shock to you but every pureblood with an expensive upbringing knows how to dance – including myself." Reece said in a tone of discomfort as he intentionally moved a tiny bit closer in a desperate attempt to get a strong smell of that enticing perfume that she often wears due to the repeated nagging of Ginny. It worked. And Reece inhaled deeply as soon as he could just to take it all in so that it would calm his discomfort and his jealous nerves.

"I should've guessed." Hermione said as her breath hitched when she noticed what Reece was doing. He smirked when he heard it but refrained from mentioning it out of fear of her hexing him due to embarrassment or irritation.

"So which lucky bastard is taking you to the ball?" His voice was suddenly deeper, raspier than before she noted, and they were so close now that when he spoke Hermione could almost feel his breath hit her skin.

"It's a secret."

"Not to me." Reece retorted. "Either you tell me now or I go and pester Ginny until she tells me." He was demanding, and the look in his eyes told Hermione that he wouldn't give up until she told him the valued secret.

"Viktor Krum asked me." Hermione gave in with a small sigh. "And we agreed to keep it a secret until the ball so you better not let this get out. You're going with Fleur Delacour I presume?"

"Ew Granger she's like a sister to me that's a little weird." Reece laughed, finally removing his arms from the door and trying to move the broom that had been sticking into his spine in a most uncomfortable way. "Like I'd dance with her and stuff but it's not like that between us."

"So who are you taking then?" She asked.

"One of Fleur's hot friends." Hermione's eyes narrowed slightly as she folded her arms and he couldn't help but chuckle. "What? You expect me to show up alone?" He questioned coolly.

"No, I was just thinking about how you like to talk about what girls look like. You're almost as bad as Ron; he says that he won't go to the ball with anyone that isn't pretty."

"Well I don't know why his standards are so high I mean he's got nothing going for him." As Reece said this bluntly Hermione shot him a glare. He smirked but backed down under her gaze, not wanting her to go running off from their catch up in the broom cupboard. "Oi don't keep looking at me like that, you know you like my honesty."

"I suppose." Hermione replied flatly, failing to keep a straight face and making Reece laugh as the corner of her lips peaked on one side. "But I'm trying to make you see that I'm not happy with what you said about Ron – even if he's being a-"

"Dickhead,"

"-at the moment, he's still my friend Reece."

"But I don't like him." Reece whined. "He upsets you and pisses you off all the time, so don't get all arsey with me when I say he's a twat because he bloody well is and you know it."

"I really don't appreciate you saying that about him, and yes I know sometimes he can be insensitive and rude but that doesn't mean he's always like that." Hermione argued heatedly. Reece simply smirked smugly in a way that was sure to wind her up, and it did so. "You're being really judgemental. You don't know Ron, or Harry for that matter, well enough to have a proper opinion."

"You done?" Reece asked, making her jaw snap shut in shock as she continued to give him a death glare.

"Yes."

"Did we just have one of our first fights?" He asked, amused.

"Perhaps."

"One of the first of many?"

"Definitely." Hermione replied with coy smile as she turned, opened the door and left without letting Reece say another word.