A/N: this is it, the final chapter! Thanks to all who have followed, favourited, and sent me reviews throughout the story. Some of course, have been since the day of this story's posting, and as a first-time writer, that means a lot :) especially when there's probably better versions of this premise, but hey, I'm proud of this. This story wouldn't have turned out the way it did if it weren't for you guys!

Originally I wanted this done by last Hallowe'en... but things happened and the story got delayed. Oh well, here we are, Lighthearted goodness coming right up :)

Chapter 32

October 31st
Hallowe'en Dance Preparations, Great Hall
Six o'clock

Ernie and Hermione had assigned two Prefects to a task.

Ginny Weasley and Anthony Goldstein were on pumpkin carving duty. Each ranging from basic to extreme designs. Once completed the two of them would arrange the jack-o-lanterns all along the dining tables throughout the hall.

Daphne Greengrass and Ron Weasley were on lighting. Charming the lights to move around the area, while shifting through the colours of the rainbow in tune with the music, and dry-ice machines giving the whole area a more... dance hall feeling.

Padma Patil and Justin Finch-Fletchley were on setting up the dining tables, arranging six seats to each, decorating the table cloths, and center pieces around the jack-o-lanterns, using autumn leaves collected from the day.

Hannah Abbott and Draco Malfoy were on music detail. Charming instruments to play upbeat tunes, as hiring a band wasn't an option, but McGonagall provided them with a guide so the instruments would know what to play when a song got selected. Although the duo still managed to find fault with each other about which order the songs would go in to charming a certain instrument too loudly, leaving Ernie to intervene several times.

This left Hermione and Ernie with setting up the snack table.

"Remind me again why did you partner my girlfriend with your wanker of a boyfriend?" Ernie huffed after returning from yet another altercation.

"Need I remind you, you were the one who set up the patrols?" Hermione flicked her wand above the table magicking a sign saying when dinner would be. "If you felt this strongly about it, you should have paired her with Anthony or... Ron"

Ernie's lips twitched at her hesitation saying Ron's name. "Speaking of him... I heard this strange rumour..."

But Hermione didn't say anything. Ernie's eyes flicked over to Malfoy again, "According to some paintings, Weasley got transfigured into a weasel"

Hermione smirked at the memory, oh yes Ron had quite the eventful evening indeed...

**flashback**

Hermione hummed away, as she viciously tugged on the leash. She locked her bedroom door and then waved her wand, to remove the Invisible Spell she cast upon him shortly after leaving Draco, to save herself from being bombarded with questions of her 'new pet'.

She gave Ron a side-ways glance, watching him glance about her room anxiously before she Accioed some catnip from her dresser drawer. Then crouching down to her knees, Hermione began rubbing the catnip pouch all over Ron, who squeaked and sneezed, to which she guessed he was laughing from the sensation. Much like herself, Ron was fairly ticklish.

"Crooks, come here boy!" She said, Banishing the catnip back to the dresser drawer. With another high-pitched squeal, Ron tried to duck behind her legs for protection, only to have his tail captured by the ginger cat's paws.

There was nowhere Ron could hide, Crookshanks barely let him out of his grasp before he proceeded to bite and claw him...

**end**

Hermione shook her head, and sighed. It had lasted an entire hour before she removed Ron from her pet's clutches, distracting him with the actual bundle of catnip before she gave Ron some Sleeping Potion. Her eyes had strayed off to where Ron was with Daphne and grinned. When she transfigured Ron back to human form, he had been riddled with scratches, bite marks and even some bruises. He couldn't look at her in the eyes for the entire day, but eventually Ron swallowed his pride and apologized to her, promising her anything she desired until the school's end.

She accepted the apology, but refused his lavishing.

"You are correct, Ernest," She said returning to look at the Head Boy.

Ernie cringed, "Ugh, please, I much rather you call me Ernie, thanks."

Hermione raised an eyebrow but then shrugged. Deciding on giving him as little information as possible, "Ronald was being is usual crass and disrespecting self, so it was purely instinctive"

"Except you weren't the one transfigured him!"

Hermione felt her eyebrows twitched as she saw Ernie motion off to Draco. "Malfoy did it,"

"And just where are you intending to go with this?"

"Just confirming, is all..."

But Hermione didn't believe him.

"Say Hermione? Ernie?" called a female voice. Distracting the two Heads from their current conversation.

Both of them turned to see Padma and Justin, "The tables are all set and ready to go!"

"Same with our pumpkins!" Chimed in Anthony as he and Ginny arrived as well. "I say it's a record! We still got what... forty minutes left before people start showing up?"

Hermione nodded off to them, "Well job well done, all of you. You can go and get yourselves ready now."

"But remember," Ernie huffed to Ginny and Anthony, "You two have the first hour so be sure to check in with your partner-"

"Yes we know the rules," Ginny said dismissively before she and the other three left the Great Hall.

"What about you guys?" Ernie hollered as he and Hermione strolled over to the other quartet or Prefects. "Everything in order?"

Hannah was the first to speak, "Well it was quite tiresome to say the least," She gave Draco a pointed look, "But we got it done, regardless" then returned her gaze to Ernie. "But I'll be damned if I patrol with him! I mean really, we're going to the dance together, why not patrol together as well?"

"I agree" Draco said with a firm nod, his eyes completely focused on Hermione. Waiting to see if she would fight him on it. "But we'll take the last shift,"

"What?" Hermione said suddenly as though not fully comprehending the situation. "Just a moment, neither Ernie or myself agreed to-"

"It makes sense, doesn't it?" Hannah said, walking up to Hermione, "Why make ourselves miserable..." she gave Draco another pointed look, "When we can easily enjoy the evening by spending more time with each other?" She turned to Ernie. "I mean... so what if we're two Hufflepuffs, we're just monitoring the dance anyway! Not really a big deal you know!"

Ernie rubbed his chin, "You know, I didn't even think of that." He glanced to Hermione for confirmation, "What do you say? You be with your date and I'll be with mine?"

"No need to question it," Draco began, "We'll take the eleven to midnight. You and Hissy here can take the hour before us,"

"HISSY?!" Screeched Hannah, rounding on Draco once again, ready to attack him.

Draco rolled his shoulder, "Well you have been quite vocal about lame shi-"

"Draco" hissed Hermione as she jabbed him in the arm, "Be...nice"

"Pardon the interruption," Daphne said adjusting her glasses, "But if there's no issue with the lights or music, can Weasley and I go?"

All four of them turned to Ron and Daphne, standing off anxiously to the side. "Then you can carry on with your lovely conversation..."

Ernie studied the two of them for a moment, "Err... right, sorry guys, you can go. As for... switching...well, I see no issue with it, do you Hermione?"

Hermione swallowed, staring at Draco before she shook her head. "No... it's fine"

"Right then, see you lot in a half hour," Ernie said with a nod as he took Hannah by the arm and dragged her out of the hall.

Hermione watched them go and was about to leave herself before she rounded on Draco. "Alright, so um, see you... here then at seven"

The wheels turned in his head. What kind of gentlemen would he be if he didn't pick up his date?

"Sure thing," he said slowly, reaching over to brush back a strand of her hair, but being mindful to not actually touch her skin.

Hermione shivered and then smiled, "Right, see you" and then left.

Gryffindor Common Room,
6:55 p.m.

Ginny smiled at Hermione as the two girls stared into the floor-length mirror. Ginny dressed in a pale purple floor-length simple gown and Hermione wore the dark-red dress she once used at Bill and Fleur's wedding, but extended the length down to cover her feet.

"It's a pity Ernie shot down my masquerade idea," Ginny said thoughtfully, giving herself the once over. "I found the perfect mask to go with my gown..."

"Maybe next time." Hermione said brushing out her hair, before she twisted it up into a high bun. "Alright Ginny, you ready?"

"Yep, what about you? Nervous at all?"

Hermione bit her lip, 'Incredibly' she closed her eyes and shrugged, "Just a bit, I mean... technically it would be our second date."

Ginny rubbed her back gently, "Is he waiting for you outside of our tower like Lavender's date is? I mean he is Malfoy's friend isn't he?"

Hermione shook her head, "No actually, we've agreed to meet in the Great Hall."

"Really? He didn't offer to take you to the hall himself? How... ungentlemanly of him!"

"I requested it, actually..."

Ginny folded her arms, "Trying to prolong the inevitable for as long as possible hmm?"

Hermione didn't say anything. She just swallowed tightly and ran her hands over her queasy stomach. Ginny placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder, "Sorry, look it's gonna be just fine."

"I know," Hermione whispered before she placed on her wand on a hidden pocket for safe keeping.

"You know, I still can't believe that Lavender's going with Theodore Nott! When you told me that the first time I thought it was just a joke! Ron of course is still rather bitter about the whole thing..."

Hermione snorted, 'Figures'

"But he is on the mend." Ginny continued, "I suppose the whole weasel thing had something to do with it,"

Hermione smiled to herself as the two of them walked down to the Common Room where most of the pairs of the younger years were already together. Seventh year boys were off on their own, except for Neville, who was standing right next to Parvati, arm in arm, much to Hermione's surprise.

Dean walked over to Ginny, "You look lovely, Ginny" he offered her a hand. "And you as well, Hermione"

They all heard the clicking of heels until Lavender showed up. Dressed in a tight deep green dress resting just below her rear, with a wave of ruffles running along the right side of the gown. Her hair lay perched high on her head in an elegant knot. She sprayed some perfume upon her neck and then tossed the bottle into her matching clutch before she noticed that she wasn't on her own.

"What are you lot staring at? Shouldn't you all be off collecting your dates or something? Hermione and myself are exempt because our dates are coming here," Lavender said as she joined Hermione's side.

"And really" Lavender's eyes fell on Hermione's dress, she reached into her clutch to pull out her wand and pointed it at the Head Girl's knees, "Diffindo!" with a light flick of her wrist, the dress severed, revealing her shapely legs and golden heels.

"Laven-"

"Tut, tut!" Lavender replied, waving her wand to vanish the torn piece of gown to negate any chances of Hermione using a Reparo spell. "You wear the school skirt you know, so it's not like he hasn't seen your legs before! Come to think of it," Lavender repeated the Severing Spell, cutting off another few inches, revealing more thigh than Hermione was comfortable with.

"YIKES!" Hermione squealed, the heat rushing to her face from the sudden brush off cool air hitting her once, covered skin. "This is meant for a dance party not some... some..." Hermione got too flustered to speak, once she felt the dress mold into her body like a second skin. It felt more like a cocktail dress than a gown! 'I can't let Draco see me in this!'

"And of course showing off a bit of curves wouldn't hurt," Lavender giggled then proceeded to sever off the straps of Hermione's dress.

"Well there's that, and then there's modesty!" Snarled Ginny as she went to Hermione's aid. "Reparo!" The straps Lavender didn't get to vanish away reattached themselves to her shoulders as did the extra strip, making her dress back to knee-length.

Lavender rolled her eyes, "Just trying to help, is all"

"Well thanks but no thanks" Hermione huffed, as she tried to stretch her dress from clinging to her body.

"I still think ya should give Malfoy the ol' boot, Hermione," Seamus said shaking his head, "He doesn't deserve ya, no matter how sorry he claims ta be," he extended his hand to her, "Can I escort ya at least?"

Dean gave Seamus a light pat on the shoulder as he and Ginny were the next ones to leave. Followed by Harry, Ron and then Neville with Parvati.

Hermione smiled, "I don't see why not?" she placed her hand in his. After all, Draco was waiting for her in the hall.

Grinning from ear-to-ear, the Irishman led the Head Girl right out into the hallway, only to step back in shock a second later.

"Seamus?" Hermione said, "What's-"

But the answer to the unasked question, stood before her, dressed in the usual black and white dress robes and holding one single pink rose - her favourite flower!

"Draco!" she said in surprise of seeing him standing before her.

"Hermione," he said with a firm nod, his eyes trailing over her body, "You look..." he hesitated on which word best to describe her, "Positively..." again he hesitated. 'Oh bollocks, to hell with it,' he cleared his throat and finished his comment "Beautiful,"

Hermione felt a warm rush over her body, her heart doing the weird jig in her chest again. 'He said it... he actually said I'm...' before she let herself get lost in the comment, she felt to address him as well. "You don't look so bad yourself," almost immediately regretted it, 'Ugh that sounded so... pathetic!'

Draco smirked at her inner turmoil expression and then moved to the man beside her as though just remembering they were not alone.

"My apologies, Irish..." Draco approached Hermione, handing her the flower. "But I'm afraid I'm going to have to steal my date from you,"

Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She half expected him to say something... off-putting, from how he handled Hannah earlier, but became pleasantly surprised and happy. 'Good he's not purposefully being a cold-hearted git anymore'

"I thought we agreed to meet in the Great Hall?" Hermione said, glancing at Seamus for a second, catching his glowering expression, before returning her gaze to Draco playing with the flower's leaves.

'How did he know that's my favourite flower? Did Lavender say so?' But she knew that to be impossible as apart from Monday, Hermione never spoke to the girl, let alone share secrets about herself.

Draco broke out into a grin, "Well... I wanted to surprise you" He turned back to Seamus. "So... are you going to leave or what?"

'Well that was short-lived'

"On one condition." Seamus shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress robes, "I get ta dance with Hermione for two songs. My choice of course."

"Won't your date be upset about that?" Hermione said folding her arms. Still staring at the flower, watching as Draco taunted her with it by swaying it back and forth just inches from her face. 'Rather I'm interested to know if Draco will be...'

Seamus smirked, "I actually got the idea from her. She requested a few songs to dance with her Hufflepuff lot, so I thought it wouldn't be that much of an issue. Besides, Dean gave me the go ahead for Ginny... and Neville with Parvati... Say did you know Ron got transfigured into a weasel?"

Draco stopped swaying the rose, to which Hermione reached over snatched it from her date, then brought it to her nose, inhaling the fresh scent from it.

"Well actually..." Hermione said smiling at the rose, she caught the questioning look from Draco and laughed lightly, "I was there when it happened," her eyes slanted over to Seamus to gauge his reaction.

Seamus' eyes shot wide, "No way, that was you, Hermione?"

Hermione nodded, giving a wink to Draco.

"Huh..." Seamus tapped a finger to his chin, "I suppose that makes sense of why he didn't wanna talk about it that mornin'! Or how he got all those scratches and bruises."

Hermione stifled a giggle behind her hand, drawing both Draco and Seamus' attention.

"What?" they said together.

She thought about brushing it off completely, by blaming it on the mental image of it, but in the end, decided against it.

"Actually, Crookshanks should get the credit for that." She began to play with the pedals of the flower, debating on how exactly to approach the scenario. 'A little white lie wouldn't hurt...' Hermione smelt the rose again before answering, "He's not into me having more than one pet, you see"

Seamus let out a bark of laughter, "No kiddin'?! I remember the stories about Scabbers and that cat!"

Hermione inhaled from the rose again, "Well Scabbers wasn't actually a rat but an untrustworthy wizard. Much like Ron was to me," her eyes strayed to Draco again. "So Crooks came to my rescue."

Seamus howled away, "Oho, that's even better! A cat! Oh man, brings tears ta ma eye just thinkin' it!" He brushed away a fallen tear, "No doubt that's gonna last in ma brain forever."

"Tell you what, Irish," Draco said combing his fingers through his hair, "Just walk with us. Something tells me there's more to the story,"

Hermione pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing and shook her head, "No actually that's all of it. I brought Ron into my room and Crookshanks just... well..." she lingered on the memory of rubbing the catnip all over Ron, "jumped him."

Seamus snickered again, "Oh man, that's priceless, Dean'll agree of course when I tell him!" Just after he said that he looked right at Hermione, "I can tell him right?"

Hermione nodded, "Sure," and then turned back to Draco, "But are you serious? You... you're letting Seamus walk with us?"

Draco shrugged, "Makes sense when we're going to the same area, doesn't it? Oh and before you ask," Draco looked to Seamus, "Yes, you can have your dances"

"Well thanks Malfoy, I suppose yer not that much of a git after all," Seamus gave the Slytherin a harsh smack on the shoulder before he strolled off with a spring in his step.

Dance Party
11:45 p.m.

The dance was a hit! Hermione never felt so proud in all her life. Everyone enjoyed themselves, both in the younger years and the older ones. Many gave props to everything from the decorations to the lighting and music. But now, nearing the evening's end, only a handful of students were left.

'Who knew so many were fans of instrumentals?' Hermione wondered as she took a sip of punch. She caught Draco staring at her from his position from the other wide of the hall, and felt a sharp pain of guilt in her stomach. She hadn't much of a chance to dance with him, as it turned out many others than Seamus ended up dancing with her, including Ron. And when they got together again, Theo and Lavender ended up switching with them and then it was time for dinner.

Now, they stood on opposite sides of the hall as she and Draco were on patrols, much to Draco's displeasure. Hermione couldn't help but feel a little sad, they only got about five dances out of the entire four hours they were together...

**Flashback**

"You know, you'll focus better if you look at me and not your feet,"

"Yes well, I've about danced twice in my life time and I don't quite fancy tripping or... stepping on your toes. Not all of us are well-practiced in it as you, you know."

She sucked in a breath before lifting her head to stare into his ice-grey eyes.

Draco nodded, "Just one of those... things Mother forced me to do when learning about proper etiquette."

"So what," she began, a small smile playing on her lips, "You don't like to dance?"

At this time, Draco twirled her around with one arm and then pulled her back in close, "Not with my Mother's friends, no."

Hermione snorted, "You... you have to dance with her friends?"

"And their daughters... got quite annoying over time,"

She snorted again. "How unfortunate for you! The only thing my parents ever signed me up for was skiing lessons." And then she launched herself into explaining the sport.

"Sorry," she said quickly after her spiel, "I've bored you stiff, I'm sure,"

Surprisingly to her, Draco shook his head, "Actually it was quite the opposite. I envy your passion at times,"

Hermione blinked, stopping herself mid-dance that a couple, Terry Boot and Padma Patil knocked into her, "Oh sorry Hermione!" Padma said blushing, "I wasn't watching-"

"It's okay," Hermione said stepping closer to Draco to let the twirling couple pass them. After that, Hermione could feel his eyes on her, but then his hand dropped to her shoulder.

"You know," she heard her voice go up and octave. "I don't think I thanked you for the flower before..." she turned around so she could face him again. She lifted the flower and sniffed it.

"Here," Draco took the flower from her and snapped off its stem. Transfigured the part into a needle to which he pinned it right to the strap of her left shoulder and decorated it with its own leaves. Then pocketed his wand.

"Another tip from my Mother. She gave it some name..."

"Corsage..." Hermione felt her lips spread to a smile, "And here I thought only Muggles did this,"

"Oh really?" he said offering his hand for her to take again.

"Yes," Hermione took his hand and stepped back into formation. Her hand on his shoulder as his went to her waist, "most often at a big dance, either it be for graduation or just a little get-together, the males would present a flower or corsage to their date, usually to impress both the girl and her parents. As you see it dates back into the late 1895, back when males would often court a female, cause you see they would be married well into the teenaged years, so-" but then she stopped herself, blushing. "Oh... I did it again..."

Draco just smiled, twirling her around.

"You get embarrassed quite easily don't you?"

"Only sometimes..."

"Right well, let me get your mind off it then. Tell me what really happened with Weasley and your cat!"

"Alright Malfoy, you had five dances in a row" Seamus said, cutting in, "I believe it's ma turn,"

**end**

Hermione sighed and downed her glass of punch where she Luna and Anthony joined her. "Well I hate to see it end, but alas it is midnight now."

'Midnight?' Had she really day-dreamed the last fifteen minutes away? Her eyes caught on the atmosphere, seeing that the Great Hall was back to its regular setting, minus the tables that were still perched on the side of the room, where she found Draco conversing with Lavender and Theo. Hermione shook her head once she realized Luna was staring at her.

"Sorry Luna, was just a bit lost for a moment," she set down her glass to hug Luna properly, "I'm glad you had a fun time,"

Hermione turned to Anthony, who nodded at her kindly and shook her hand. "We had a blast. Any chances we'll do the same thing for Christmas?"

"We'll see. Good night,"

Soon after the Professors have gone, almost all the students left until there only Theo and Lavender, Pansy and Draco.

"Don't think this makes us friends, Gryffindor," she heard Pansy say as the quartet neared her. "I'll still hate you come tomorrow!" and with that, Pansy strutted out of the room with her nose in the air.

Theo rolled his eyes then brought up Lavender's hand to his lips, "Can I walk you back to your Common Room?"

Lavender giggled, "Y-Yeah sure thing!"

And then they were alone. Hermione gave Draco a pleasant smile, "Sorry the evening didn't work out as well as you planned..."

"On the contrary, Hermione," he said pulling out his wand and magicking the instruments to play once again. "The night is not over..." he extended his hand to her and smiled.

"We have Dark Arts in the morning!"

Draco shrugged nonchalantly, "Let that be your fault for plotting a dance on a Wednesday."

Her eyes trailed to the moving instruments, "How did you get those to play again? Flitwick said the charm has a life of five hours!"

"True, but what that is, is Theo's creation. A Replay Spell. Got the idea off a pair of Omnioculars..."

Hermione's mouth dropped open. Did he really expect her to be here until five in the morning dancing?"

"Oh and before you ask..." he reached into his robes and pulled out a small chain with a small hour-glass on its end. Hermione knew it at once. A Time-Turner.

Her eyes shot open this time, "But those are Ministry only-"

"Have you forgotten? My Father once worked in the Ministry." Draco ran the hour-glass along his finger tips. "I managed to get it before the Ministry, when they arrested him"

"So... so..." Hermione felt her heart race again. 'So this is why he wanted the last patrol! Or why he wasn't that upset he didn't get to dance with me...'

"Let us use this time as our own..." Draco stuffed the Time-Turner back into his robes, "We'll dance until we can't anymore and I'll warp us back to this time, ten after midnight. Will even carry you back to that portrait of that lady if you're tired enough"

He extended his hand out to her for a second time. "If... you give me the chance that is,"

Hermione studied his hand for a moment. It was like being in one of her fairy tales. Alone on the dance-floor with no one to bother them. Him taking her back to Gryffindor Tower if she got too tired. 'Who knew Draco could be so... caring?'

"Okay," she said, before placing her hand in his, and then watched him flick of his wand to dim down the lighting before he led her to the centre of the floor.

'I suppose dating him again...wouldn't be that bad of a thing after all...'

[ THE END ]

E/N: and there you have it. No more waiting for updates... it's over! I hope some of you weren't that disappointed that I skipped over the entire dance, but it would be boring, no matter how many times I've tried to make it work.

I had to research when the corsage came to be, and 1895 is what I got