A/N:

A/N: Here I am again! I know it hasn't been long since the last chapter, but I *have* the whole thing written, and I am just posting the chapters at intervals. I know most haven't had the chance to R&R the last one yet (seeing as I only got 2 REVIEWS), but I'm anxious to post the ending! Two more chapters people!!!! Please R&R!!!!!!!!

This chapter is dedicated to frannie, since she is my newest reviewer, and one of the TWO that reviewed the last one (thanks also to Draco's Lil Angel, the other reviewer)!!!!! Thanks for your support!!!!!!!

Moonlight Shining

By Amanda H (aka Niffler)

Amy rushed into The Three Broomsticks. Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny, were already seated around a wide, circular table. She waved hurriedly to Hermione and walked over, taking the remaining chair between Hermione and Harry.

"Hey! Glad you could make it!" Ron greeted her as she brushed the annoying strands of hair behind her ears again.

"Yeah, thanks!" She said, breathily, her face flushed from rushing and from the cold.

"So where were you?" Harry asked politely.

"Oh, just around. Went down by the lake. It's pretty nice." She answered vaguely, as the waitress came over. It was the same girl as earlier. She smiled at her this time.

"Can I have a butterbeer please?" She asked, noticing that everyone else had already received their orders.

"Sure." She replied happily, but looked at Amy closely. "Amy right? Amy Quizzlequon?" She asked. Amy smiled.

"Yup. Courtney right?" She asked.

"Yeah you got it! Weren't you in here earlier today?" She asked, puzzled. Amy fumbled for a response. She hated lying, to anyone.

"Uh, yeah, but that was lunch. I mean, the food is so good I just keep coming back!" She replied.

"Right hon." Courtney replied raising her eyebrows. "I'll bring you a drink. Hang on." She smiled and whisked back to the bar.

"Who's she?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, our Dad's work together for the ministry." Amy explained. "I think they came over for dinner once." Just then Courtney came back to the table and set Amy's drink on the table in front of her.

"It's on the house guys!" She chirped with a grin, and walked off.

"That was nice!" Amy smiled. She sipped her butterbeer, still smiling and set it on the table. Ron and Harry began chatting about Quidditch while Ginny and Hermione pretended to be interested by nodding their heads occasionally. Amy let her mind slip away to the Yule Ball.

"Will my old dress robes still fit?" She asked herself. "I don't know, I've grown quite a bit. Maybe Hermione will help me shop for new ones. Something in purple maybe, to compliment the Slytherin green." She thought. Suddenly Hermione elbowed her in the arm. She snapped out of her daydream.

"What?" She asked, trying to suppress what had become a permanent grin.

"Amy you're not paying any attention at all. I just told you the castle had been over run by Death Eaters and burnt to the ground. You nodded." Hermione chided.

"Sorry! I was unaware the conversation was so important." Amy apologized happily.

"No problem." Hermione replied, though she eyed Amy suspiciously, biting her lip. "Though you are a bit giggly." Hermione said thoughtfully. "You did go off supposedly with someone else instead of us. And you came here for lunch. And you were down by the lake. And you haven't wiped that slap-happy grin off your face since you arrived." She said. Amy shrugged.

"So?" She asked.

"So! Anyone care to draw conclusions?" She asked the group of confused faces.

"Enlighten us." Ron responded.

"Well, that leads me to only one conclusion." Hermione grinned broadly.

"Does Sherlock want to shut up?" Amy asked hopefully.

"Nope!" Hermione grinned triumphantly. Everyone looked at her expectantly. "Amy's got a date for the ball!" She squealed happily. Everyone at the table responded with large smiles.

"Who?" Ginny asked.

"Draco." Amy mumbled quietly. Everyone leaned closer.

"Who?" Ron asked.

"Draco." She replied again, slightly louder but still no one was able to hear.

"Oh for heaven's sakes Amy!" Hermione chided.

"Draco!" Amy finally spit out loud enough for everyone to hear. Ginny covered her mouth with her hands. Ron's jaw dropped and Harry just stared at her. They sat like that for several seconds, though it felt like an eternity.

"Someone say something." Amy said hesitantly.

"Draco, as in Malfoy?" Ron managed to say. Amy frowned.

"Yes." She replied.

"Why?" Ron asked again, clearly surprised.

"Because, I like him. No, I really like him." She said, raising her chin slightly into the air.

"You like him?" Ron asked astonished. "Amy, have you lost your mind? Or maybe only your memory. He blackmailed you less than two months ago!!"

"Yes, but he's changed a lot. And he's done some really nice things too!" Amy protested. Ron just snorted in contempt.

"My brother can be a real moron sometimes Amy, so try not to pay any attention to him." Ginny said, glaring at Ron. "Why, I seem to recall him punching Harry in the eye once." She said with a fake smile.

"Still very sorry about that one Harry." Ron murmured. Harry nodded understandingly.

"I mean, I think it's wonderful that you and Malfoy, er, Draco are going together." She continued happily.

"I'm glad I have some support." Amy scoffed.

"I mean, he's really quite handsome, with that blond hair and those steal gray eyes." She continued.

"Hey!" Harry spoke for the first time. "Since when have you been admiring Malfoy's eyes?" He asked defensively.

"I was trying to make Amy feel better!" Ginny replied.

"UmHum." Harry huffed, wrapping a protective arm over Ginny's shoulders.

"What has Malfoy ever done for you other than blackmail you?" Ron asked, still not ready to accept his friend's date.

"Well," she thought, "he rescued me from the library once." She suggested.

"Rescued you? From the library?" Ron asked disbelievingly.

"Yeah. I feel asleep on the couch and he didn't want Mme Pince to catch me so he levitated me out." She smiled.

"Well, where did he levitate you to?" Ron asked, his brow creased in concern.

"Does it really matter?" Amy asked exasperated.

"It does to me!" A moment of realization dawned on Ron's face. "He took you to the Slytherin dorm didn't he?" He asked, angry.

"You're being awfully nosey, and I don't think your nose belongs where it's headed." Amy reprimanded.

"I think it does!" Ron replied angrily. "And I think it's gross!" Ron shuddered.

"Oh! Come off it Ron!" Hermione commanded disapprovingly.

"Hermione," Ron began.

"Ron, this is Amy we are talking about. Think before you speak and show a little understanding." She replied.

"Alright." Ron replied grudgingly. "Watch your back Amy." He concluded, crossing his arms and sitting back in his chair.

"Well," Amy sighed, "that's three down and one to go. Harry?" She asked, emotionally bracing herself.

"I hope you two have fun." He replied. There was no undertone of anger, no sadness or regret. Only exactly what he said.

"Pardon?" Amy asked, puzzled.

"I said that I hope you two have fun." Harry replied, his tone only light and carefree.

"Oh. Thanks!" Amy replied in the same tone, smiling back.

"Hermione," Amy asked, twisting to face her friend, "do you think you could come with me later and help pick out some new dress robes. I don't think mine fit anymore." She asked.

"Sure!" Hermione replied happily. The topics of conversation quickly turned to lighter matters until the five had finished their drinks.

"Well, I guess Amy and I are off to Madame Milks dress shop." Hermione said with a quick glance at Amy. "Anyone else want to come?"

"No thanks I've got Christmas shopping to do." Ginny replied. "See you later Harry!" She chirped happily kissing him lightly on the cheek and excusing herself from the table.

"Yeah, I've got to do a bit of shopping myself." Ron said, standing.

"I think I'll join Ron." Harry said, as the two excused themselves and left the building.

"Come on Hermione! It's already 4:00 and the carriages back to school leave at 5! We'd better hurry." She urged, as the two left the restaurant and hurried through the white snow to the robes shop. They hurried through the door, shutting it tightly behind them against the blowing snow. They shed their cloaks and hung them on a rack near the door.

"So, what colour were you looking for?" Hermione asked.

"I guess purple, or green." She suggested, moving towards the dress robes and flipping through the rack. Hermione followed her and pulled a dress off the rack.

"What about this one?" She asked, holding it up.

"It's pink." Amy replied.

"No, it's a reddish purple." Hermione answered critically reviewing her choice. "I think it would look nice on you."

"It's pink." Amy repeated. "I don't wear pink."

"Fine! No pink!" Hermione smiled and continued flipping through the dresses. Finally Amy found one she liked. She quickly headed to the dressing rooms and changed. She emerged and Hermione scrutinized her appearance.

The dress was long, not quite touching the ground below Amy's short form. It was a deep forest green with long, tight sleeves that narrowed at a triangle above her wrist. At the tips of the triangle were white-silver rings, which fit perfectly around her middle fingers, holding the sleeves in place. The neckline was a low 'V' edged with lace and tiny ivory roses. The shoulders were low leaving her neck and shoulders bare. The high waistline was also trimmed with the tiny roses. The material shimmered almost metallically when she moved. Hermione smiled.

"It's perfect!" She praised.

"I agree." Amy smiled. They quickly purchased the dress as well as a matching pair of slippers and headed for the carriages. As they walked leisurely through the town Amy's watch piped up again.

"It is now 5:00." It informed. "The carriages for Hogwarts leave at 5:00." It said. Hermione and Amy exchanged a quick glance and started running, the large bag colliding with Amy's shins as she ran. As they arrived at the carriages the first ones had already begun to leave. Amy pointed to one of the last ones, which was just shutting its door. They sprinted to the carriage and opened the door. Seeing one side empty they jumped in a closed the door, just as the carriage started to move. Opposite them was sitting Parvati and Lavender. They smiled at their two roommates.

"Hi!" Amy said breathlessly as the carriage jolted over a bump.

"Kind of late aren't you?" Lavender asked teasingly.

"Yes, well we didn't notice the time." Hermione replied curtly.

"What were you doing?" Parvati asked cheerily. Hermione was about to answer snippily, but Amy cut her off.

"Shopping!" Amy smiled, holding up the large bag.

"Wow!" Lavender squealed in delight. "What did you buy?" She asked eagerly.

"I got a dress for the Yule Ball." Amy explained, happy to share her news.

"Oooooh! Can we see?" Lavender asked.

"Sure!" Amy replied, pulling it out of the bag and unfolded it. She stood up in the carriage, barely having to bend her short head, and held it up in front of her.

"Oooooh!" The two girls squealed in delight. "It's beautiful!" Parvati breathed.

"I was just going to wear my purple one from last year." Lavender explained.

"Well, you can add new your new necklace and earrings." Parvati consoled.

"True. But yours is absolutely stunning!" She praised.

"Thanks!" Amy chirped, folding it carefully and placing it back in the bag.

"So, who're you going with?" Lavender asked after a moment of silence. She turned politely to Hermione. "I mean, I know you're going with Ron, right Hermione." Hermione nodded curtly.

"So whose your date Amy?" Parvati inquired.

"Draco Malfoy." She replied without hesitation. Hermione regarded her questioningly, but said nothing. Lavender wrinkled her nose slightly, but Parvati sighed.

"Oooooh! What a hottie!" Parvati sighed. Lavender raised an eyebrow at her.

"Well yeah!" Parvati defended herself. "I mean, have you even seen his eyes? He just looks so commanding. And his hair is so cute. Definite hottie!" She drooled.

"I guess." Lavender shrugged. Parvati rolled her eyes.

Just then the carriages jerked to a stop and the doors swung open. Hermione stood immediately and hopped out, waiting on the ground for Amy.

"Bye girls!" Amy called, hopping out after Hermione. They called a goodbye to the two and departed in another direction. Hermione and Amy headed for the dorm.

"You don't like them very much do you?" Amy asked.

"No, I don't." Hermione answered curtly, her voice still angry.

"Why?" Asked a puzzled Amy.

"I just don't. They're so trivial and unconcerned with anything except makeup and boys. They don't pay attention to marks or other's feelings. They don't even seem to care about Voldemort!" She said exasperatedly. As she mentioned his name a passing student stopped to look at her, his face horrified and he hurriedly continued on.

"I suppose, but they might say the same thing about you, your marks being trivial." Amy suggested.

"I hardly see marks as trivial." Hermione scoffed.

"Exactly. They hardly see boys and looks as trivial. It's all how you set up your priorities." Amy explained as Hermione muttered the password to the Fat Lady.

"I suppose." Hermione consented. "You go drop your bag, I'll wait here." Hermione suggested, leaning against one of the plush chairs. Amy nodded and headed up to the dorm. She opened her trunk and thrust her bag inside. Then, quickly glancing in the mirror on her way out, she headed back down the stairs.

She arrived in the Common Room only to find Hermione involved in a fairly intense snog session with Ron, who had also arrived in the Common Room. She sighed out loud. They didn't notice. She moved a few steps closer and coughed loudly. Still they remained immersed in each other. Giving up and sighing exasperatedly, she went back up to her bed, grabbed a book and bounded back down. She quickly found a chair by the fire where she curled up to read in peace.