Recall

Draco searched the crowd for Hermione and worried that she waited long. He caught sight of Blaise standing with Theodore and Millicent.

"Oh, bugger me, here comes the prince," Blaise said, loud enough for Theodore and the others to turn around and face him.

(o_o)…(o_o)…(o_o)

Chapter 34

…Ball

(o_o)…(o_o)…(o_o)

Blaise busied himself with his sleeve and ignored what the others' reactions to Draco were. Draco walked on and tried to ignore the Slytherins staring at him.

They know, he thought and searched the room for the reason of their stares.

Hermione walked towards Blaise and was about to ask something but noticed Draco standing in front of them. She shifted consciously and wanted to leave again but that would reveal how uncomfortable she felt.

Draco, seeing her internal struggle, moved towards her, passing the eyes that followed his moves. He watched her react silently to his steps and he hoped that none of the Slytherins harmed her while he was away.

Why does she have to be a Gryffindor?

Seeing Blaise and Theodore with them, he felt relieved that she had people to defend her.

Pansy arrived with Alex Warese. They joined the group of staring Slytherins and Blaise witnessed how Pansy's jaw tensed and how her eyes narrowed as Draco went nearer and nearer Hermione. Draco offered his palm to Hermione and waited for her to raise her hand on his. He wanted to pull her away from the piercing eyes.

She receives this treatment from the Slytherins just because she's a Gryffindor… what more if they find out she's Hermione Granger?

When Hermione rested her palm on his, she followed him to where he guided her too. She felt how he was handling her: suggesting and not forcing. She was bothered by something else but his presence was clouding her mind.

"…good," Hermione caught the word from Draco's mouth and realized she didn't hear the rest.

"Pardon?"

Draco glanced at her. "You look good."

Hermione stared down at her pink dress and felt her cheeks warm up.

"Thank you?" She didn't mean to make the statement come out as a question. Draco eyed her then glanced ahead and saw Kia standing a few meters away smiling at him.

What is it this time? He thought and let Hermione's hand go so he could walk ahead. Hermione watched him walk towards the Head Girl and wondered what just happened. She held the hand that Draco had been holding a while ago.

"Good evening," Kia greeted him with a smile.

"'evening," Draco greeted back while searching her expression. "Did… someone…"

Draco did not continue, hoping that Kia, as brilliant as she is, would get what he meant to ask.

"Yes, someone did," Kia said.

Hermione stayed on a spot a few feet from them, listening to the conversation but not making a move to interrupt. She was trying to decode why a Ravenclaw asked a Slytherin to the dance but as she thought about it, the irony of her situation dawned on her: she was a Gryffindor.

Blaise placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder and grinned at her.

"What are you up to this time?" Hermione asked him, not tearing her gaze from Draco and Kia.

"You'll see," he smirked. He let go of Hermione's shoulder and walked towards the Heads.

"Good evening," Blaise greeted them both and turned to smile at Kia. Draco looked at him and caught up with the situation when Blaise offered his hand to Kia.

"Hm," Hermione appeared beside him with her arms crossed over her chest when Kia and Blaise walked away.

"You knew about that?" Draco asked.

"No," she said. "It's not a surprise though."

"Draco," a familiar voice said from behind and Draco felt like the night will turn up with more surprises. He turned and Hermione did too. Pansy stood tall with Alex beside her.

"Pansy," Draco greeted her.

"I assume you know Warese. Alex," Pansy gestured towards Alex and snaked a hand around his arm. Alex moved his head slightly and Draco gave a curt nod. What happened to Theo?

"Why don't you introduce your fiancée?" Pansy suggested.

Draco set his mind. "Ivana, Pansy."

Hermione glanced at Draco then turned to Pansy and smiled politely – something she almost perfected. Pansy clenched her jaw when Ivana's name was said first.

"When are you getting married?" Alex asked with a half-smile.

"No definite date," was Draco's automatic answer and they both knew they never really thought about marriage -- in a mutual sense.

"Malfoy, it's time to sit for the speech," Hermione whispered to him and he was glad to have an excuse to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere. They both walked towards the table that Blaise, Kia, Theodore and Millicent occupied.

"Good evening to all," Professor McGonagall appeared with a podium in the middle of the dance floor. "For tonight, let my congratulations be brief and let fun be plenty."

Hermione looked up, surprised by the Headmistress' lack of words – or speech.

"Let this be a night that you will not forget and carry it as a memory of your hard work for seven years… a night of goodbyes and congratulations but let it also be a promise to meet in the future."

Blaise glanced at Draco, who looked at Hermione. Hermione furrowed her brows and gestured him to look at the professor.

"I will not bore you any longer. Enjoy," Professor McGonagall ended her short speech and waved her wand, letting the hall be filled with music, before she disappeared.

The hall burst with noise and laughter.

Hermione searched the room for Ron and Harry but couldn't find them. To her, this party wasn't going to be a goodbye to her friends. She sat down and noticed the food that appeared on the table. She took the goblet and drank, wondering where Draco disappeared to. Everyone was suddenly on the dance floor.

"Do you need company?" Lavender approached her and Hermione smiled. Hermione was thankful for a nosy Lavender at times like this – times when she feels like forgotten wallpaper. Hermione nodded.

"Where's Neville?" Hermione asked when Lavender sat.

"With the Patil twins," Lavender said.

"He's quite popular," Hermione smiled.

"He suddenly is," Lavender shrugged, her shiny hair sliding to her back.

"Since when?"

"He topped half of his subjects since Hermione left," Lavender said. "Did I tell you about Hermione?"

"Yes, yes, you did," Hermione replied quickly, uncomfortable with the idea of talking about herself.

"He told me he used to sign up the same subjects as Hermione to try and surpass her."

"Really?" Hermione asked, genuinely interested.

Lavender nodded. "Where's Blaise Zabini?"

"Probably with Kia Mizan," Hermione said.

"You let him dance with her?"

"Er, yes. Is there a problem with that?"

"There has been a rumor," Lavender began.

Not a surprise, thought Hermione.

"…that Blaise asked Kia to go with him here but if he's with you, Kia must have…"

"No, I'm not with Blaise," Hermione interrupted her, realizing how the situation a while ago was misinterpreted.

"Then… who?"

"It's Malfoy," Hermione said, answering the question and announcing his arrival.

Draco eyed her then glanced at Lavender, knowing her reputation with rumor mongering. Lavender looked behind her when she noticed Ivana/Hermione watching someone.

Draco reached a hand out towards Hermione and she pursed her lips, noticing how often she's being pulled away from conversations. Lavender stood up.

"I hear Neville calling me," she said and rushed away from them.

Draco sat down when Hermione did not accept his invitation to leave. "Not having fun?"

Hermione shook her head. "Where have you been?"

"A problem in the kitchen," he replied.

"The elves?" She asked.

"They're fine," he said. "They think cats were let loose in the kitchen. A prank, probably."

"Sounds like something you'd do," she teased.

"I didn't," his tone was serious.

"Mm – hmm," Hermione drank from her goblet and looked away from him.

"Do you want to dance?" Draco asked, shifting in his seat.

"If you'll tell me where you're going to scatter cats the next time," she said and chuckled.

He glared at her and the more it amused her.

"It's not funny," he said.

"It is, to me," she shrugged and stood up. "Are we really going to dance?"

Draco stood up and they walked to the dance floor. Lavender appeared beside Hermione and Draco with Neville. Lavender grinned at Hermione as she swayed her hips. Hermione smiled back and danced with her.

Hermione glanced at Draco, who wasn't dancing. "What's wrong?"

"I don't dance this," Draco said, waving his hand to the upbeat music.

"Just move your feet, Malfoy," Hermione demonstrated and Draco shook his head.

"You're not fun," she muttered at the same time that the music changed.

"This, I know," Draco placed a hand behind Hermione's back and one in the air, waiting for her. She rested one hand on his shoulder and the other on his open palm.

"I wonder how you survived the Yule Ball," Hermione said to him and he remembered having fun with Pansy for the first and last time. And after the Yule Ball, he didn't acknowledge her that much.

Hermione glanced at Neville and Lavender and she never imagined the couple to form such a bond.

"She may be an annoying roommate but she sure chooses seriously," Hermione thought aloud.

"Who?" Draco asked as they waltzed with the people around them.

"Lavender," Hermione gestured her hand to them.

"Was that sarcastic?" Draco asked.

"Which one?" Hermione looked at him, puzzled by the question.

"She chooses seriously?" Draco said and suppressed a laugh.

"No," Hermione said and glared at him. "You're rude. Neville's nice."

"It's only now you noticed?"

Hermione muttered "boor" before turning her head away.

Draco turned her twice without warning her and smirked when she returned to his arms shocked.

Draco glanced to the side and saw Theodore and Millicent dancing.

"I thought he was going with Pansy," Draco thought aloud. Hermione watched the couple he was staring at and eyed Draco.

"Is that why you're not with Pansy?" Hermione said, slurring her words slightly.

"Are you alright?" Draco asked. He let her go and stopped dancing, noticing her unfocused eyes.

Hermione shook her head.

"I'll rest for a while," Hermione said, fighting the headache that was splitting her head. "I'll be back."

Draco stood there, watching her walk away. Because of the turning or Pansy?

Hermione moved to the doors of the Great Hall and walked to the castle grounds, thankful for the cool air piercing her bare shoulders. The cold wind kept her from feeling weak. She sat on the cemented flower box and held her head.

"I didn't think he'd replace me for a Gryffindor," Pansy's voice broke the relief she was feeling.

Hermione looked up at her and waited for the sob story. Her head was splitting and she wanted to get this venting done before her headache goes away. It would result to her head aching anyways.

"Say what you want," Hermione said, letting her voice be as gentle as possible.

"What spell did you put him under?" Pansy asked. "It's working. He actually turned me down."

"It's not my fault."

"He broke up with me because of you."

"It was his choice."

"You're not even pretty. I thought he'd replace me with someone who has more."

Hermione didn't say anything to that. She would agree if she was in a third person view. Her head throbbed painfully. She thought about Harry who had these headaches and she now knew how it felt like: torture.

"Pansy," Draco's voice interrupted.

Hermione fought the darkness trying to bury her. She stood up and walked towards Draco.

"Malfoy," she managed to whisper before surrendering to the darkness.

(o_o)…(o_o)…(o_o)

"Are you that boring?" Blaise said as Draco laid Hermione on the hospital bed.

"She fainted," Draco said and fixed Hermione's dress to cover her legs.

"What did you do?"

"Pansy was talking to her."

Blaise snorted. "Just talking? She could have thrown a curse at her, for all we know."

Draco thought for a while, trying to ignore the guilt of turning he during the dance. "She mentioned Pansy before she left the hall."

"Isn't this too much?" Blaise asked, suddenly serious.

"She fainted too many times," Draco said at the same time that the door at the far end of the room opened and Madam Pomfrey came rushing in.

Madam Pomfrey looked worried. "Oh dear. Again."

"Again," Blaise echoed.

The nurse looked up at them. "Leave now boys. She'll be fine."

Draco and Blaise left, returning to the party seemed like a bad joke but they did. Blaise didn't want to anger Kia and Draco didn't know what to do.

"Too bad," Pansy said with a smirk when Draco and Blaise passed her.

"You're bitterness brightens up the room," Blaise smiled at Pansy. He patted Alex on the shoulder and walked away with Draco as Pansy glared at them.

(o_o)…(o_o)…(o_o)

"Aren't we going to be punished for escaping the ball?" Draco mused with a smirk on his face.

"The hell with it! We're graduating tomorrow!" Blaise said and brought out a small bottle from his coat pocket.

"What's that?" Draco asked, eyeing the bottle.

"Firewhiskey," Blaise showed it to him. "The handy ones."

Blaise laughed and brought out another bottle to give to Draco. Draco took it and shook his head as Blaise drank his bottle empty. Draco placed the bottle in his pocket when Blaise wasn't looking.

"Slow down," Draco warned as they walked to the Hospital Wing.

Footsteps met them as they walked the dim hallway. Someone was walking towards them with slow and heavy steps. Blaise and Draco stopped walking and waited for the figure to come within their range of view. Draco grabbed his wand from his pocket to ready himself and Blaise did too.

It was Hermione. She looked like she was carrying a ton on her back. Every step she took seemed to require much effort.

"What happened to you?" Blaise rushed to her but Draco got to her first, pulling an arm to drape around his shoulders.

"They – they killed her," Hermione said, panting.

"Who?" Blaise asked. "Who killed who?"

"Cloaked men, Pomfrey."

"What did they do to you?" Draco asked.

Hermione looked down at her legs. "I don't know but my head hurts."

"We can't take her back to the Hospital Wing," Blaise thought aloud. "The Prefect's bathroom."

"Why?" Draco asked.

"To hide?" Blaise said with an eyebrow raised. "Do you need help carrying her?"

"No," Draco pulled Hermione upright and carried half her weight as they walked.

"I don't feel well," she muttered and lost consciousness on their way to the bathroom.

Draco felt her sudden dead weight pull him down. Blaise turned to him and carried Hermione. Draco opened the door for them and followed them inside after checking the hallway.

"Why are we hiding?" Draco asked.

"You heard her: cloaked men killed Pomfrey," Blaise said.

"You think it's them?"

"Who else?"

"Why did they leave her alive?" Draco waved a hand towards Hermione.

"Because she's their daughter," Blaise said matter-of-factly.

"Then why are we hiding?"

"We don't know what's going to happen," Blaise said. "If you want to risk your arse, go on."

"They're not supposed to attack tonight," Draco said.

"How do you know?" Blaise raised an eyebrow. "For a death-eater's son, you're not well-informed."

"You know I failed the first time."

Blaise shrugged and turned to Hermione. "Now, what's wrong with you?"

Blaise moved a hand to open her eyes and they noticed her eyes blank and dead. He felt for a pulse and wondered what was wrong.

"Hermione," Blaise shook her. "Wake up."

"You think that'll work?" Draco drawled.

Hermione stirred and looked up at Blaise, her pupils unfocused.

"She's drugged," Blaise said.

"How do you know?"

"A potion spreads through the body and takes some time while a spell is instantaneous," Blaise said. "I thought you were smart."

Draco glared at him. "I thought you had some special way of knowing."

"I'm special, I found it out," Blaise said, teasing Draco further.

"Shut up," Draco carried Hermione and moved her closer to the wall. Her hand hit the wall and the glass charms of her bracelet clinked. Draco reached for her hand.

"It's a gift from grandma."

Draco eyed the charms and turned it in his hands.

"I think the paper inside has the instructions on how to make the potion," Hermione said.

Blaise unclasped the bracelet and studied the tiny bottles. He took his wand out.

"Engorgio," he whispered and one of the bottles grew in size.

Draco took the bottle and broke it on the stone floor. He reached for the paper and avoided the broken shards. Blaise watched him read the paper.

(o_o)…(o_o)…(o_o)

Author's Note: R&R! Thank you!