The Parchment

Chapter three: The Ball

The day of the ball approached quickly and now, it was only two days away. In the girl's dormitory, they were all at work. Parvati and Lavander were busy concocting perfumes in their room, Ginny and her friends were busy picking out dress robes to ware to the ball with her friends, and most of the fifth years were trying out hair potions and trying to come up with the best hairstyle. Hermione never bothered such; she just spent her time studying and reading books under the curtains of her four-poster. Parvati and Lavander tried strenuously to pull her nose out of her books but to no avail. She said that she would just worry about it on the actual day of the ball.

The two days passed rapidly though, it seemed as though nothing had happened. The Gryffindor common room was filled with conversations and discussions that night and all of the people in the room were dressed in elegant dress robes. Harry was warring a stylish scarlet robe with light crimson linings at the bottom; around his shoulders was a gold plated chain that bore the initials of the name of his father. Ron was dressed in an excellent violet, velvet robe, which had a beautiful drape at the back of his shoulders. Neville was in a black, plain but suitable robe. Seamus was together with Lavander warring his emerald green robe, which fitted nicely with Lavander's pink lace robe.

Meanwhile up in the girl's dormitory Hermione was with Parvati, actually trying to tame her bushy hair with tons of doses of the Sleaky Hair Potion. When they finally finished, Hermione looked elegant. Her hair was flat and still and was neatly styled with an elegant bun at the top of her head with simple braids surrounding it. A few loose strands were tucked neatly behind her ears, from which was daggling, stunning blue sapphire earrings carved in the shape of mystic dragons. Her dress robe was simply brilliant; it was a midnight blue robe with stylish silk linings at the edges accompanied with a neat cloak lightly positioned on her delicate shoulders with a single sapphire in the middle of her chest holding the two edges of the cloak together.

"Hermione, you look stunning," affirmed Parvati admiringly as she placed the finishing touches on her look.

"Not too bad yourself" said Hermione as she straightened out Parvati's long scarlet robes.

"C'mon Hermione, You do not want to keep Ron waiting, do you?"

"O.K. Let's go"

Hermione walked down the stairs going to the Gryffindor common room. She could hear the loud chattering of the students as well as Parvati's continuous words of support. When she at last came to the common room, it suddenly grew silent and then she felt all eyes fall on her. Ron approached her and knelt down. Then her took her hand and slightly put a light kiss on it, he stood up and then motioned for her to come and take his hand, which she gradually accepted. The whole common room burst with applause as Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley lead the couples of the Gryffindor House towards the Great Hall.



The Great hall was magnificent. Colorful drapes were hung at the ceiling and fires all around the walls were sparkling in different colors, the armor displayed at the entrance hall that was usually dusty and dull, was now spotless and shimmering as though they were made of silver. It was simply splendid.

As the Gryffindors entered the room, several eyes met their way. The Slytherins were glaring daggers at them, as they seemed to be the only ones who caught attention at the ball. Seeing that they had made a glorious entrance that certainly made the whole hall.

Ron and Hermione sat down at the table together with the other Gryffindors definitely proud of such a wonderful entrance they had made.

"An excellent entrance, if I do say so myself," declared Hermione as she raised her goblet, proposing a toast.

"I definitely agree," replied Ron as he clinked his wine glass together with Hermione's.

"Hey you guys" interrupted Dean "Look at Malfoy, he's practically glaring daggers over here, see"

Hermione bolted slightly at the mention of Malfoy's name; she glanced over at the Gryffindor table and looked in to his eyes again. She felt like her insides were cringing as his silver eyes that were currently filled with anger were looking in to hers. 'They seem to look right through you' came the thought in her mind but swiftly disappeared as she came to the conclusion that more things were important than staring at two silver pools of fire that didn't seem to appreciate you.

"Hey, Herm" came Ron's husky voice "Would you care to have this dance?"

"Sure" said Hermione as she snapped out of it and directed her attention back to Ron.

Hermione stood up, escorted by Ron and they made their way over to the dance floor. Hermione noticed that Malfoy had stood up too 'Probably going to dance with Pansy' she thought. It had only now she had noticed but Malfoy looked particularly brilliant tonight, in his dress robes. He was warring a black, but stylish velvet robe lined with dark green and finished with metallic black cloth around his waist serving as a belt. His cloak was a delicate shade of dark green with an emerald fastening at the canter of his chest keeping the two ends jointly connected.

Malfoy stood up and glided over to where Pansy was sitting and seeming genial, he asked her to dance. Pansy was acting like an overgrown child; obviously joyful at the fact that Malfoy had asked her to dance. They, too proceeded on to the dance floor and began to dance to a sweet tune sang by the Weird Sisters. Hermione and Ron danced quite close to them and Harry together with Cho. Harry was rather amused at the fact of Hermione and Ron being such an appealing site as a couple. Malfoy was not however; he was conceited at making a better scene than Ron and Hermione could ever be. Malfoy lead Pansy on to the center of the dance floor and they started to dance to a tender, melodious song.

For a Slytherin, Malfoy certainly had excellent standards of being a gentleman, and considering that he was a Malfoy made no one doubt why. Even though if he evidently didn't enjoy being with Pansy, he still could handle her as well as a gentleman would handle a lady. He was as graceful as you could ever imagine, and to Hemione, this was something no man in the Hall could ever match, not even the person she was dancing with.

She didn't know why but at the site of Malfoy, Hermione felt weak inside. She felt as though she would collapse if Ron weren't there with his arms around her waist. 'Why am I like feeling this. He's just Malfoy, your enemy, a Slytherin, and he's just dancing with another dirty Slytherin. So what's your problem Hermione? What's happening to me?' she thought as she finally gave up on dancing for a while.

"Ron, I'm tired" she complained, "I'll just sit down for a second, I'll be back after a few minutes."

"Tired? But we've just been out here for some seconds and you couldn't have bee-" before Ron could finish his sentence, Hermione was on her heels, she pivoted around and strode towards the Gryffindor table.

'I still don't understand. How can Malfoy make me feel that way when I despise him and he despises me? Its not as though he is a Veela that he can make me feel what I don't know I feel. He is just Malfoy, the one who has made me miserable since I entered Hogwarts. He can't mean anything to me, Its not as I am in love with him.' With that thought, Hermione felt deep contradiction crossing her conscience. 'No it can't be, I'm Hermione Granger and I of all people know what is right and what is not; what is a lie and what is the truth. And the truth is-that I am not in love with Draco Malfoy,' she breathed at that.

The song finally finished, and Malfoy broke off the dance leaving a disgruntled Pansy alone in the middle of the dance floor. Hermione felt a breath of relief as Malfoy let go of Pansy. 'There it is once again' she thought 'could I possibly. No! IMPOSSIBLE!!! This can't be, I couldn't possibly be in love with him. Perhaps. I am attracted to him. *slightly* attracted to him'

"Herm, are you all right?" questioned Harry worriedly as he waved a hand in front of her face.

"Wha. Harry, oh. Yeah." she answered apprehensively. "I'm sorry I'm awfully tired and, I think I'll be off to bed now."

Hermoine stood up uncertainly, and trotted out of the Great Hall. She was going up the stairways that lead to the Gryffindor tower, when she reached a dark narrow hallway. She couldn't see anything it was absolutely pitch dark.

"Damn light, why don't they use electricity like the muggles?" she muttered under her breath as she reached for her wand.

"Lumos,"

Hermione finally saw where she was when she noticed a tall figure approaching her way. She directed her wand at the outline of a boy and saw who it was.

"Granger," said Malfoy

"What are you doing here Malfoy?" snapped Hermione as she pulled the thick needle that held her bun out of her hair and shook her head to straighten it out.

"Why, Granger, walking of course, is it illegal?" he teased in a sarcastic tone.

"Malfoy, in your case you should be perfectly aware of what is legal and what is not" answered Hermione with a triumphant smile on her face.

"What's that supposed to mean mudblood?" a scowl pasted on his face.

Hermione stayed silent. She couldn't concentrate with those soul draining, wonderful blue-silver eyes fixated on her.

"What Granger? Do I have anything on my face?"

"No" she answered silently. She felt blood climbing up to her face as she turned away as though he wouldn't see her. Malfoy, obviously confused, brushed angrily past her nudging her shoulder to the wall and knocking her almost out of balance. She could hear his last word as she watched the retreating figure. She slumped down the on wall to pick up her wand and started heading towards the Gryffindor tower. She took a few steps and then heard a slight sound of crumpling at her feet. She had stepped on something; a piece of parchment perhaps. Hermione knelt down to pick it up and tried to make out the words written on it but she couldn't. It was far too dark. She decided to read it when she got to her dormitory, Hermione creased the piece of parchment and tucked it in the elegant cloak if her dress robe, she then made her way up to her dormitory.

She entered the Gryffindor common room, noticing that it was almost empty; except for some fifth years and her fellow seventh years: Harry together with Ron, Parvati, Lavander, Seamus and Dean. Hemione strode over to the corner of the room where they were chatting and slipped in to conversation.

"Hey Herm, great night huh?" commented Harry

"Yeah" she answered abruptly

"I thought you said you were tired," asked Ron a tad irately because of the fact that she had left him alone on the dance floor.

"I was, but it turned out I just needed a refreshing walk in the corridors" she explained

"Hermione," continued Parvati "what happened to the bun I made?"

"Removed it. The needle got caught on a. a. drape. Yeah a drape that was hung loose in the corridors."

"Oh"

"So, what were we talking about?" interrupted Ron

"We were talking about the nasty dress robes that the Slytherins were warring," continued Lavander "Honestly Ron, how could you be so forgetful."

"Hey, Did you see Crabbe and Goyle?" said Seamus with a sneer.

"Yeah, you know they remind me of something"

"What do they remind you of Harry?"

"Trees! Like they do every year."

They all burst out with laughter. Especially Ron.

"And Oh, did you see Blaise Zambini?" asked Dean.

"Yeah," they all answered

"He looked like an overgrown red bell pepper sprout!"

They all laughed yet again. "How bout Pansy, Pansy Parkinson?" asked Hermione excitedly waiting for a glorious insult that they could throw at her.

"Yes, yes, Pansy, Um. it looked like that her dress robe was made out of the drapes that were hung in the hall, apparently she wouldn't have looked any different if she was hung herself." said Harry. Lavander and Parvati practically spit out the hot chocolate that they were drinking simultaneously as they coughed out laughs together with the others who were actually laughing at them.

"And don't forget Malfoy," Ron cut in pointlessly "Yes, yes, Malfoy" continued Seamus.

"He looked like a baby dementor if you just add the hood and the horrid feeling it gives you when you come near it, wait Malfoy already gives me a horrid feeling when I'm near him." Said Ron obviously proud at his insult. Hermione trembled a bit at this. It was though as she was guilty. of what you ask? She couldn't understand it, she was having that feeling again the feeling that she was having when she was at the ball; the feeling she had when she had bumped in to Malfoy at the narrow hallway. At that moment Hermione remembered; the piece of parchment that she had found in the hall. 'I have to read it now, but not here' she thought. Hermione then stood up and- "I'm tired," she said with a yawn. Ron eyed her suspiciously. "I mean really tired Ron, I'll be seeing you tomorrow, G'night"

"Goodnight Hermione," bided Harry as she walked slowly up to her dormitory.

"Sweet dreams," muttered Ron.

Hermione entered her dorm and whispered thankfully that it was empty. She tossed her cloak on to the bed and then came in the bathroom. Once she was done she slipped in to her satin nightgown quickly and threw herself on to her bed. She caught her cloak and ravaged around it in search for the little piece of parchment.

"I found it!" she said delightedly as she held it up in the air as though it was a flag being raised after the war. She clenched it tightly in her hands excitedly not knowing why she wanted to see what was written on a piece of parchment that she couldn't care less about. As she unraveled it, a small spark came out of it that went straight right for Hermione's eye.

"Oww" she moaned, her hands over her eye.

The piece of parchment fell under her bed, as she didn't notice. When she finally regained her composure, she couldn't seem to find it. She went to bed that night slightly exasperated. 'That thing must be cursed' she thought, as she drifted off to a sweet sleep.