Yes! It worked! Sorry it took so long to update, fanfiction was being rather annoying with documents. Anyways, don't let me hold you up! Enjoy!

The Moonlight Glares

Liza Lew

Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters.

Chapter 16

Pansy Parkinson's beady little eyes had followed Hermione nearly the entirety of the Social Opener. She had not, as before noted, seen her slap Malfoy, but had watched Hermione dance and talk with Malfoy for a very long time. When Potter and Weasley left Hermione and Draco, however, she had followed then with her gaze. It was then that something dawned on her. Potter was a half-blood. He wasn't, by the rules, allowed in her society.

She abruptly got up and walked over to her father. She gave a small curtsy and then asked to see him in private. Mr. Parkinson raised an eyebrow, but followed his daughter away. When they got to a small parlor, Pansy turned around letting her orange dress spin out around her.

"Father," she said, "There is a half-blood in our pureblood society."

"Really?" said Mr. Parkinson, half-interested, "Do tell me, I must meet this girl."

"Not a girl," said Pansy, "Potter. The Harry Potter that was announced second-to-last this evening with the arm of that Weasley girl!"

Mr. Parkinson didn't look phased at all, in fact, her chuckled, "Didn't you hear?" he said, "The Collaborator has lead the committee to a unanimous decision to let the-boy-who-lived into society. It was passed last night. There's even talk of rules to allow other less-famous half-bloods that descended from the finest pureblood families to enter society. The Dark Lord was half-blood. . ."

"Father, don't say that!" Pansy gasped, "And how could the committee even think that? To let half-bloods dilute our blood? It's . . . scandalous!"

Mr. Parkinson chuckled, "You know what they say, Pansy. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Plus for those non- Dark Lord Followers, he is Harry bloody Potter, the most famous wizard in the entire world."

Pansy crossed her arms and huffed, "I suppose the committee has decided our way of life needs more popularity then?"

"Well, yes," said Mr. Parkinson oily, "We would rather alter our ways in a tiny bit then let them die out all together. You know. . ."

"I know, I know," Pansy said, exasperated, "Purebloods are dying out. Half-bloods and mudbloods are outnumbering us. Our traditions are being thrown aside. I've heard it my whole life. Every day."

"Then you know the reasons Potter is allowed in the Season." Mr. Parkinson said, "Now, your mother was looking for a dance. Go find your little friends."

"Fine," huffed Pansy, walking away with her head high.

On the other end of the ballroom, Hermione had just walked away from Draco and started a conversation with a few ladies near the refreshments. Draco could see her from where he was standing. She seemed to be smiling and laughing, acting perfectly natural. He sulkingly walked out of the ballroom and into a side parlor. He circled around for a minute. Then he started pacing.

What the heck was that? She was not supposed to do that! She's not allowed to do that! He touched his cheek again as he thought. She's freaking insane! If anyone had seen, we'd be ruined! He stopped pacing for a moment. But that would give her freedom then, wouldn't it? It's not like she has an obligation to be in pureblood society. . .

But why would anyone want to leave pureblood society once they'd entered it? It . . . what was it these days? A bunch of snooty rich kids, wasn't it? No, it was tradition! That's it! Magnificent tradition! Yet the new additions to it were the most exciting. . . no! That wasn't right! Especially the new people that just entered it! That couldn't be it!

His mind wandered to the new people who had entered today. Then his mind strayed to a certain face. Although she was kind of hot when she was angry. . . Draco shook his head to clear the thoughts. No, I just need to focus on Society right now. Which means I need to get back out there.

Meanwhile, Hermione had met two girls around her age. One was a French girl who knew Giselle, the other part of a powerful German family. Hermione was laughing with them about some of the fashions you saw on the others when a short, black-haired girl came running up dragging a panting Ron on her arm.

"Hello ladies!" the girl proclaimed, then turned to Hermione, "Who are you?"

"Chels, this is Hermione Granger, of Lane, Black and Danforth. Hermione, this is Chels Arina Copalia, of Copalia and Danforth. I believe you two are cousins, no?" One of the girls said.

"Ooooooooohhhhh, so you're my cousin!" Chels exclaimed, "You're really smart, aren't you? Ronnikins said you're first in all of your classes at Hogwarts!"

"Er. . . yeah. . . sure. . ." said Hermione, then raised her eyebrow at the exasperated Ron.

"Oh but you have to introduce me to all your friends! Ronnikins said you're best friends with the Harry Potter and his little girlfriend!"

The German and French girls' eyes lit up at this and instantly Hermione was bombarded with questions and squeals. During this, however, the subject of the conversation came up behind the three squealing girls with Ginny, and gave Hermione and Ron a questioning looking. Hermione shrugged.

"You guys I can't answer all your questions at once. Why don't you ask Harry yourself. He's right behind you." The three girls went silent and turned around, and then, led by Chels, charged Harry. Ginny, laughing made her way out of the heap and towards Hermione and Ron.

"You think he's surviving in there?" asked Hermione to Ginny, and they both cracked up.

"Oi! Harry! Don't get any broken bones!" yelled Ron.

Harry's head popped up above the chaos, "I'm trying but I don't know if I'll succeed!" He yelled before he was pulled back under. Hermione, Ron and Ginny laughed again before Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Excuse me," said a male voice, and Hermione turned around to face a tall, brown-hair man, "Would you like to dance Miss Granger?"

Hermione smiled politely, "Of course." With that, Hermione let herself be led out onto the dance floor.

Draco had just finished sorting through his thoughts- partially- when he emerged from the side parlor. He scanned the floor, noticed Pansy dancing with Goyle, and then noticed Hermione. Dancing with another man. Anger weld up inside of him for a moment. She wasn't supposed to dance with anyone else! Wait. . . as top couple, they had to dance with many others as well, didn't they? Draco tried to get the blood in his veins to cool down, but it didn't exactly work. He still felt intensely jealous when he saw Hermione dancing with other people.

He saw Chels and some others fawning over Potter while Weasley and Weasley watched. He went over to them, roughly pushing the Weasleys aside to get there. Chels, who had been pushed out of the inner circle of Potter attackers, crossed her arms for a moment and scanned the room. Her eyes rested on Draco, and she came over to him, smiling. She took his arm and dragged him out onto the dance floor. Draco didn't protest.

Hermione was dancing nicely with the third boy when she saw someone drag the blond-haired brat onto the floor. He seemed to be smirking, she noticed from a distance. Then the couple spun around, and she saw who he was dancing with. It was her good-for-nothing cousin! Hermione had seen from the instant that girl had walked up she was nothing but trouble, and now she'd gone and taken Hermione's boyfriend. . . wait. No. I did NOT just think that. Hermione thought, and then tried to concentrate on the dance again. But she couldn't help herself. She kept glancing back at Chels and Draco.

Draco wasn't dumb. He noticed Hermione's head turning towards him the entire song. His smirk grew wider at every turn, and he ignored Chels' ramblings. He was going to show Hermione what was what. How he had control over everyone and everything around him.

Hermione was getting dizzy by the end of the dance. And it wasn't from the spinning. By the time the music faded, she had to give some lame excuse to get away from her partner. Draco saw her sneak off and shoved Chels off him to follow her. Chels latched onto another guy and forgot about Draco, who followed Hermione until a bumbling Crabbe stood directly in front of him.

"Hey Draco," said Crabbe.

"Er. . . hi Crabbe," Draco said, craning around Crabbe to try and see Hermione. She had disappeared. Darn it.

"You're the top couple this year."

"Yeah, sure,"

Crabbe scratched his chin, "Doesn't that make you. . . uh. . .famous?"

"Whatever," said Draco, still trying to locate Hermione.

"Who're you dating?"

"Granger," said Draco through gritted teeth.

Crabbe's eyes grew wide, "But uh she. . ."

"She's pureblood apparently, Crabbe," said the whiny voice of the sneering Pansy who had just joined them. She turned to Draco, "Drakie dear, let's dance" she latched herself onto Draco's arm and tried to make her face look pouty, "Please?"

Draco, who had finally given up looking for Hermione, reluctantly brought Pansy onto the dance floor, his mind still preoccupied.

Harry, Ron and Ginny had been talking to some other teenagers when Harry spotted Malfoy with Pansy on his arm. He knocked Ron on the shoulder and said, "Look's like Malfoy's finally found his true calling. Waiting on pugs."

Ron started laughing, and the rest of the group, who hadn't heard Harry, gave him a quizzical look, to which Harry shrugged and said, "Stupid joke." The rest went back to their conversation, but Harry went back to watching Malfoy.

Chels, on the other side of the dance floor, had latched herself onto none other than Blaise Zabini. She hung off his arm, complimenting him, and finally said, "Blaise, let's get some drinks."

The two went over to the refreshments and were about to sip their punch when a furious Giselle marched over to them.

"Blaise Zabini wat doo yoo think yoo are dooing!" She batted the glasses out of their hands, and turned on Chels, "I've heard of yoo. Yoo are zat Copalia girl zat went bad! You hit on every boy in zee room!" Giselle took Blaise's arm and marched off with him. Chels shrugged, grabbed another drink, downed it, and turned to go in search of another boy.

Hermione, meanwhile, had snuck off the dance floor and into a side parlor. She clutched her head in her hands. No no no! I can't like him! Not even one bit! I hate him! I hate him! He's a jerk! He tries to beat me at everything and he bitches when I beat him! Like that time he and I tied for charms scores, and Flitwick decided to use my paper for an example instead of his! He ranted for a week to the school about my fat nose! And he's plain rude to my friends and to me! That's it! I hate him! Nothing else! Hermione sat down against the wall, and leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. It was a painting of two little angels playing in the clouds. They were moving, enchanted. They were peaceful.

But. . . is it possible to hate some one and at the same time love them?

A/N: Well, I personally really enjoyed that chapter. Just all the randomness. I think, however, next chapter will be the end of the ball (sadly) but don't worry, we still have all season to look forward to!

And again, thank you sooo much to all my readers & reviewers!

Also, props to the few people who answered last time's question! This time's question is:

What's another name for monkshood?

And, last but definitely not least, thanks sooo much to my beta, Flo. The grammar would be much worse without her! And the ideas would be much drier! See you all next chapter!