AN: Not the shortest chapter, but not a very long one. I apologize for the slightly longer wait for this chapter than usual, I've been having a lot going on. There was a math camp for three days that practically blew my anxiety through the roof which had a negative impact on my depression and that has been a struggle to navigate. This is a relatively happy chapter compared to the previous chapter so it was harder to write. It's easier to write dreadfully emotional scenes because I'm practically putting all my thoughts into a document. This isn't that great quality of a chapter, but I hope it'll do. The next one should be a bit better, hopefully. The camp is over, but Friday I won't get much time to write, but writing doesn't really help distract from anxiety so Saturday is a give or take. This fic itself is getting relatively happier, which is a serious struggle to write when I've had very little social interaction, and even less positive interaction. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again: It's amazing to see people favorite and follow and review and comment and kudos (depending whether or ao3 because I'm lazy enough to just copy and paste). It might be a bit longer of waits between chapters but I doubt it'll be significant. Not for at least another month until at least a week or two before school starts back again for me.

U_U

~~AlicornEagle11

Disclaimer: I'm too lazy to keep writing the full thing out every single time. You've seen this five times already. I'm not J.K. Rowling. Don't own anything but OC's and plot.

The days passed by agonizingly slowly. Classes seemed pointless — she drifted even more lifelessly through them than usual. Despite her interactions and smiles on Halloween, she somehow managed to revert to the gloomy and pessimistic person she had been. Her nights were spent in the Astronomy tower, gazing at the stars as she contemplated the idea of throwing herself out through the window. If it wasn't that, then she was letting everything consume her to the point of breaking, letting the cracks build up day by day. It was so overwhelming, dealing with everything, even though there was a voice in the back of her head telling her you don't have anything to deal with, you just want an excuse. She believed it.

She and Draco had few interactions. He didn't join her in the Astronomy tower and she never went back to the ballroom, avoiding it at all costs. If she let that temporary happiness affect her, she'd just fall back into a deeper hole. She almost, almost, wanted it to change, but hated change. The air felt stale, almost, and stuffy, hard to breathe in. Her dormitory was only for getting ready and pretending to sleep. The Room of Requirement was avoided as much as the ballroom after what it had done to her.

That change that she both desperately wanted and desperately hated came two weeks before winter break was to begin. It was not a good change.

She had walked into the Eighth Year common room to see everyone murmuring amongst themselves, excitement and nerves in their every movement. She narrowed her eyes, looked around, and then her gaze landed on a flyer pinned to the bulletin board of announcements.

WINTER YULE BALL

All students years four and above are invited to the Winter Yule Ball,

taking place on Christmas Eve (December 24th) at 7 P.M. Younger

years may attend if they are asked by an older year student. Dinner

will take place during the Ball.

Well, shit. A fucking ball. Now she knew what the dress robes on their school list were for. But they could piss off. She wouldn't be going.

— || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

"Oh, you are going to that Ball, Hermione Granger!"

She sighed and fell back onto her bed as Pansy and Daphne hovered in front of her, the former with narrowed eyes and pursed lips, and the latter with a slight smile and amusement in her eyes.

"You are going," Pansy told her without giving an inch, "and we will drag you there if we have to. After we drag you to Hogsmeade to buy some dress robes."

"Beautiful, sexy dress robes," interjected Daphne.

"Yes," Pansy nodded. "We will drag you to the Winter Yule Ball if we have to, after we drag you to Hogsmeade to buy some beautiful, sexy dress robes."

"Do I even get a choice?"

Pansy considered that for a moment before giving her a firm "no."

"The next Hogsmeade weekend is in two days. If you do not find us in the line to leave, we will just buy you whatever dress we want and have them put charms to make sure you fit. If you go with us, then you get at least some choice."

Daphne made a mediocre argument, and Hermione was smart enough to know she wasn't getting out of this. She'd just have to make the best of two days of freedom before she was dragged along for the horrors of dress-shopping.

— || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

Those two days were pointless. She got nothing out of them. It was just wandering around aimlessly but not finding anything worthwhile and then sitting in the Astronomy tower.

On Saturday morning she accepted the inevitable and joined Pansy, Daphne, Blaise, Theo, and Draco in the line for Hogsmeade. Pansy and Blaise perked up when they saw her, clearly happy she decided to accompany them. Draco simply raised an eyebrow and Daphne and Theo were too busy talking quietly to each other to notice.

As the line moved along, Pansy announced proudly, "First stop: Lady Alessandra's Attire for All."

Hermione whistled slowly. "Isn't that supposed to be extremely high end?"

"It's also where you'll find the absolutely sexiest dress without it breaking any social rules. Besides, barely anyone will be there. Just us six. Us and Daphne will get our beautiful dresses while the boys get their robes and everything will be perfectly perfect. Do you have anything in mind for your dress?"

"I don't even want a dress. I didn't exactly choose to be here. If you want to get me a dress, be prepared for me to not give a damn about what it looks like or the jewelry and hairstyle I plan on matching with it."

"Well, someone's high-strung. Relax. You look like you need a spa day. We'll probably do that before the ball, anywho. As well as get our nails done.

"How likely is it that I'll be able to get out of all that?"

"You're here, aren't you?"

She huffed. Pansy seemed rather proud to get in the last word, and the rest of their entourage was just silently laughing at her predicament. She gave them a face as they made it to the carriages that would take them to Hogsmeade. They all got inside one and made idle chit chat during the rather bumpy ride to the village.

The first snow had happened the day before, and the buildings were still covered in a neat layer of it, along with the ground. The snow on the cobblestones was not nearly as neat of a layer with all the footsteps. Hermione traipsed behind the group with a frown that Pansy had bluntly told her to "turn upside down."

Lady Alessandra's Attire for All was on the opposite side of the village, near Madam Puddifoot's. A bell rang when they entered and a witch appeared from behind a counter that had a register on it. The store was much larger than it appeared on the outside and was full of racks with lots of clothing hanging from them.

"Hello, dears. I assume you're here to get dress robes for the Yule Ball?"

They all nodded their heads.

"Hmm. I'll start with the boys, they're usually quicker. You girls can browse until I'm done."

"Of course," Daphne agreed. Lady Alessandra ushered the three boys to the fitting rooms at the back of the store, critiqued them before pushing each of them behind a curtain and grabbing a number of suits from racks on the left side of the shop. She flitted around, her flowy, lilac robes billowing around her figure, her hair somehow staying perfectly in place and her lips pursed.

Hermione hung around near the door as the other two girls rushed over to the racks and eagerly hurried over to the racks, looking at the dresses that the shop had to offer.

The three boys took about ten minutes total, and they came out of the fitting rooms each with a suit in their hand. Lady Alessandra also reappeared and gestured for the girls to come over. Pansy and Daphne had practically had to drag her over as Blaise and Draco snickered at her expense. (Theo was rather busy staring at his girlfriend's ass… he had his priorities straight.)

Hermione went into the fitting room as the witch shoved a dress in her arms. It was a cerulean blue bodycon with an illusion neckline. She frowned at it, but tried it on anyway, stepping out from behind the curtain. Lady Alessandra frowned, and Hermione mirrored the expression.

"No, darling, I doubt that'll work. I don't think bodycon is right for you, but I'm also doubting ball gowns, and it's entirely unlikely that warm colors would do."

The next dress was a deep purple handkerchief dress that reached her knees. It was better than the cerulean one, but it wasn't her style and she doubted it would work for a formal ball.

"No, no, definitely not that either. I wonder…"

Alessandra rushed to a back room that Hermione hadn't noticed, emerging quickly with the most beautiful dress that Hermione had ever seen. She tried it on and withheld a gasp. It was a dark slytherin green, but still a vibrant color, the top with a silver sequin and rhinestone design and an asymmetrical skirt, reaching her knees at the front and just brushing the skirt at the back. She walked out with it, and Lady Alessandra nearly squealed. She heard Blaise whistle from his position near the register counter.

"Oh, that's absolutely perfect. Come, come here."

Still wearing the dress, Hermione followed her to the back room, to be stopped by Alessandra rushing back out with a diamond silver choker necklace and matching earrings in her hands. She handed them to her and Hermione quickly fastened them around her neck and in her ears, respectively.

"It's beautiful. Do you want it?"

Hermione nodded slightly.

"Lovely, darling. Why don't you change back into your robes while I finish up with your friends and you dears can pay."

Hermione could only nod and carefully undressed and redressed in the fitting rooms before heading over to the register, not saying a word to the boys as she reached it.

"The dress, earrings, and choker will be 30 galleons, 3 sickles, and 12 knuts, darling."

Hermione gave her the coins and let her carefully bag the dress and earrings. When they had left the shop, the six of them put their clothes over an arm and headed back to the carriages, done for the day.

All that was left to do now was get through the Ball itself.