A/N: Wow! Thanks everyone so much! ^^

I told you guys that I'd update as soon as I get over 50, and that was fast! Thank you so much everyone!

This time, I'm setting the goal of 75, since I will be a little busy for the next few days, so yep! :)

Anyway, here's the next chapter!

Franny/books13: It's not too short anymore! Happy? :)

Hermione POV

I pulled my hand away in shock. I was still holding his hand?

I remembered the shock when his hand first touched mine, and the warm feeling I got when his hand was holding mine.

My face was burning.

The next day, I walked into Transfiguration with Draco right behind me. Everyone was chatting loudly.

I looked at Draco. He was holding his jacket behind his back, with his green tie loosened. He caught my eye and smirked his sexy little-

Oh Merlin. Did I really just say that?

"Sit down everyone." said Professor McGonagall, walking briskly into the room.

"Now, before we start the lesson, Headmaster Dumbledore has asked me to notify you all of a very special event that is going to happen very soon."

Loud whispers filled the room.

"That's right, class, we will be having a ball!"

A ball. A BALL! I was slightly excited to go, even if it was mandatory that we do.

As I walked to my next class, a low voice stopped me. "Hi Hermione."

I quickly turned around. A boy named Kyle MacCree stood behind me smiling.

"Hi Kyle." I said, returning a smile.

"So about the ball..." he put his hands in his pocket and took a step closer to me. "Do you have plans yet?"

"Well, actually-" I started.

"She does." said a familiar voice. Draco had walked up and put his arm around my shoulders. "Sorry." he smirked.

I looked up at him, and gave him a questioning look.

Kyle just walked away.

"What was that?" I hissed.

"What do you mean?" asked Draco.

"You just drove away the guy who asked me to the ball!"

"Well of course. But it's not like you could go with him anyway." he said, rolling his eyes.

"And why not?" I asked, pissed.

"Because, you're going with me!" he replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"No." I said, flatly before walking away.

He easily caught up to me.

"What do you mean by 'no'?"

"I mean I'm not going to the ball with you!" I said, exasperated.

"Why not?" he asked.

"Well, an invitation would be nice, rather than someone deciding without my input on who I'm going with." I told him.

He sighed. "You're so picky, Hermione. Fine. Hermione Granger, will you do to the ball with me?" he asked me.

"Fine." I mumbled.

Days passed, and the ball was approaching. Dancing practices were done daily, and honestly, I was almost sick of it. In fact, the ball was the only discussion topic there was.

"I'm so excited! I mean, Harry is so sweet!" squealed Ginny. "Then again, he always is..."

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Sheesh, Ginny! Is Harry part of every sentence that comes out of your mouth?" I asked her.

"Not usually, but sometimes. Anyway, I'm just excited for the ball!" she squealed again.

I smiled at her.

"Oh! Right! We have got to go! Hogsmeade awaits us, as well as our dresses!"

Ginny and I arrived at Hogsmeade, the day before the ball, I might add, and she pulled me straight into a store called "Madame Maroon's Styling Shop". I could not wait for this to be over.

She pushed my in through the door, and we immediately squealed.

"Look at all of these dresses!" she exclaimed. She ran over to the nearest rack. "They're all so beautiful!" she gasped.

"Can I be of any service?" asked a pleasant voice. We looked up to see a beautiful woman probably around her 30s smiling down at us. A piece of jet-black hair fell in front of her face, and she pulled it aside.

"Oh, help would be nice." said Ginny, still drooling over the dresses.

"Alright then. My name is Madame Maroon, and I will be your personal stylist for the day." said the woman, smiling.

We spent hours looking at dresses. Madame Maroon told me that the best color for me was a light pink color, and Ginny's was a purple.

"No, no, no." fussed Madame Maroon. "It's too dark." she was looking at the pink dress that I was modeling.

She walked over to a rack in the back, and gasped.

"Yes. This color might work!"

She handed me a dress, and I went to try it on. Once I did, I looked in a mirror and gasped.

The dress was perfect. The color was a gorgeous and sweet bubblegum pink, and the material was comfortable. It was a long, strapless dress that touched the ground just slightly. Obviously, magic was used to make the length just perfect. The skirt didn't just fall right down; it had a shape that fit my figure perfectly. It was simple, but I was in love with it.

"Hermione?" called Ginny, walking in. She saw me and gasped. "Merlin's Beard, that is perfect!"

Madame Maroon came in and gasped as well. "Magnificent!" she exclaimed.

I just blushed. The I took a good look at Ginny. "Ginny! You look amazing!" I gasped.

Her dress was knee-high, but it flowed right down to it. It was a light purple with a halter neckline, and an open back. She looked stunning.

"Thank you, but not as well as you do!" she said, hugging me.

"Alright, darlings, is this the final decision?" asked Madame Maroon. We nodded.

"Alright, then take them off! We should never outwear the dress before the time of need comes!" she told us.

We did as she instructed, and she took the dresses and wrapped them in a small package. She also added a bag with a pair of heels for both of us-matching the color of the dress.

"There you are!" exclaimed a voice. Harry and Draco had just walked in.

"We were looking all over for you two!" exclaimed Harry.

"We were just trying on dresses. We have to pay, so-hey!" Draco had snatched the parcel from me, and Harry took Ginny's.

"What? Don't look at them yet! It's a surprise!" whined Ginny.

"Oh no, we aren't looking," started Harry.

"We're paying." finished Draco. "Damn, am I becoming friends with you, Potter?"

"I should hope not." replied Harry.

Ginny and I rolled our eyes.

"No! We are paying for our own!" I said, getting back on subject.

"I don't think so." replied Draco, already walking to the check-out table.

"No!" I called.

"Why not?" asked Draco.

"Give me one good reason." I said, crossing my arms.

He smirked. "Alright, I have money. Now go stand by the door."

I was shocked. "Are you calling me poor?" I screeched at him.

"In wizard currency, yes. In muggle currency, probably not." he said.

Damn it. He managed to insult and compliment me at the same time. I couldn't get mad at him.

"Fine." I said, grudgingly. "But don't think you've won."

"Oh don't worry, sweetie. I don't think so, I know so."

A/N: So what did you think? It was fun writing this chapter, getting them all ready for the ball :) Predictions are nice, if you want to leave me with any!

Quick thanks to Franny for helping me come up with these dresses. We just made them up, so I don't know if they're real or not...

I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it!

Thank you all so much! I'd be nothing with out you!

PLEASE REVIEW!

Luv,

Cherri :)