Chapter 37: Masquerade Ball~ Part 2

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Hermione was grasping Draco's arm as they both headed out into the gardens. The gardens had sparkly lights glowing all around them as part of the decoration. The flowers were glowing in the moonlight.

Also it was an orange full moon that was pressed against the dark velvet sky. Hermione smiled sweetly. The moon was beautiful, but also quite scary. Hermione didn't know why.

Hermione hesitated and said, "Draco? Do you think I forgive people too quickly?"

Draco smirked, "Well, I am irresistible. How could you not forgive sweet little me!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, and said, "Well, your costume was one of the reasons I forgave you so very fast."

Draco smirked. Hermione did love his costume. He was suppose to be some kind of vampire, except that his pants were tight leather, and the black and gold shirt accented his muscles quite, okay, VERY nicely. Draco noticed Hermione staring. He winked and raised his eyebrows suggestively, "So, I know what you want to do out here."

Hermione slapped him lightly on the arm, and sighed, "Okay. We need to talk. We can't leave the matter where it is. I mean, I can't just forget all those things you said to me, Draco. I can't. We really have to sort things out in this relationship of ours. We have been getting into way to many fights. All because of your father's threats. We have to do something. Understand?"

Draco didn't say anything, but he nodded. Hermione smiled, and led him to the nearest bench. It was by a fountain, that had glittering water. Hermione looking at the roses, and lilies growing around it. ~ It's so romantic, ~ she thought sadly ~ But why does it have to be? It's making me sad. ~

Hermione stared directly into Draco's gray eyes. She said firmly, "We have to talk about this."

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Jewel smiled at Ron and Pansy dancing. They were so unbelievably cute together! Who would've known? Maybe the barriers between Slytherin and Gryffindor were finally falling. It was a lot to hope for, maybe too much, but Jewel didn't care.

Jewel also loved being at this ball. It made her feel safe, and content. She felt so happy. Happier then she had ever been. She would really enjoy tonight.

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Pansy couldn't help but notice that Harry kept glaring at Ron and her, while they were dancing. Pansy whispered, "Uh- Ron, should we stop? I mean, I don't think your friend Harry likes this too much."

Ron looked over and shrugged. He just kept dancing. Pansy was amused, "You don't care what he thinks? I mean, isn't he your best friend, Ron?"

Ron smirked, and stroked Pansy's blonde hair. She could feel herself blushing. Ron said, "No. I don't care what he thinks. You cannot let your friends control everything, Pansy."

"I suppose so."

Pansy laid her hand on Ron's shoulder, and she smiled. This was so much better then dancing with Crabbe. Crabbe, as fat and stupid as he was, was way to absorbed in the food to even noticed Pansy.

"Pansy?" Ron muttered

"Yes?"

"I think I knew what Hermione meant when she actually got to know Malfoy."

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Hermione stared deep into Draco's gray blue eyes, and whispered, "We need to work out what's going on in our relationship, okay? These stupid fights can't keep going on and on forever."

Draco nodded solemnly, and laid his head on Hermione's shoulder. Hermione felt her heart flutter. She cooed gently, "Draco?"

He replied, "Hermione, I don't know what to do. I acted like a bastard to protect you. I made you feel like crap, I bet. But I don't know what I can do to protect you from fath- I mean LUCIUS."

He said the name with intense hatred. Hermione kissed Draco on the top of his head, and whispered, "I wish I would have known how bad your father was before. I would have helped you. I wouldn't have ignored you, and been mean to you these past six years."

"If I only knew what a great girl you were, I wouldn't have been mean to you. No of us would."

Draco looked up and kissed the side of Hermione's lip. She felt shivers go up and down her spine. Hermione entangled her fingers in Draco's blond hair. She cooed, "I love you, and I won't let Lucius or Voldemort or whoever hurt you."

Draco smiled broadly. Hermione grinned. He was so handsome when he smiled, and not smirked. Hermione eyed Draco up and down. She winked, and said, "I like you sexy vampire costume."

Draco winked, "Oh. I am a vampire. I want to suck your blood."

"Oh Draco."

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Harry couldn't stop looking across the Great Hall at Pansy and Ron. Why was Ron dancing with a Slytherin? He just didn't understand. All the dark wizards and witches were in Slytherin. Couldn't Ron clearly see that?"

Ginny snuggled close to Harry, and wiped away some tears from her eyes. Harry looked down at her and whispered, "What on earth have you been crying about?"

Ginny sighed, "Well, everything is so different. Mione was one of my best friends, and then she went and got involved with that Malfoy. Then she gets in those stupid lover spats with him. But no, she still has to be friends with Pansy, and make a fool of herself in front of everyone with those damn Slytherin colors."

Harry shrugged, "I don't know. I must admit she had quite a good voice."

"Yeah, that's true. So did Parkinson, " agreed Ginny.

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Blaise's green eyes narrowed across the Hogwarts lawns. She smirked, and thought ~ I am full of horrid success. That sweet little 'Angel' should be here in a few hours. I will see Lucius now, to make sure he has the full preparations. I hope the students at Hogwarts enjoy their last happy moments. ~

Blaise looked into the Forbidden Forest, and she rubbed her arm contently. Slowly Blaise lifted up the sleeve of her costume. On the shoulder, the Dark Mark was branded on her.

Blaise shuddered as she looked at the arm. The Dark Mark had been branded on her in her third year. Blaise was told that it was the right thing to do. Her parents said that they were proud of their 'Lil Death Eater Princess'

Blaise sighed, and headed back to the ball. She just needed some fresh air out here, and she didn't want to be caught outside. How suspicious would that look?

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"OUCH! Draco you're hurting my neck! Enough with the suction power all ready! Sheesh!"

Draco smirked and stopped sucking Hermione's neck. Hermione rubbed it and sneered, "Hey! Now I'm probably going to have hickeys all up and down my neck. How wonderful would that be if Ron or Harry noticed?"

Draco laughed, and put his arm around Hermione, "I am sorry. Please. It was just way too tempting. Anyway, lets talk."

Hermione giggled, "Well-"

Draco suddenly put a finger to his lips. Hermione stared at him and heard. There were two voices talking. The voices of Ron and Pansy. Draco's gray eyes lit up. He bent forward and whispered, "Lets go see what they're up too."

Hermione gave Draco a warning look, and she whispered back firmly, "Lets not."

Draco laughed silently, and crept over to where the voices were. He peered in between the bushes that were behind the two. Draco waved his arm over at Hermione, and she slowly got up and stood next to Draco.

Hermione could see both Ron and Pansy standing together. Pansy looked flushed from dancing. Pansy threw back her blond hair and purred, "So Ron, what is it that you wanted to tell me out here?"

Ron shrugged, "Uh- I just wanted to tell you that. Uh- I don't know. I just wanted to get out I guess."

Hermione could feel Draco laughing silently next to her. She slapped him. "Ouch!"

Pansy looked up, and stared at Ron quizzically, "Did you just hear something?"

Ron shrugged again, "Who cares!"

Hermione felt herself smile. This was actually kind of cute. She was glad Draco wanted her to spy on the two. They were so cute together.

Pansy sighed, and said, "Well, that dance was very interesting wasn't it Ron?"

"I guess, but Pansy. Is there something going on between Malfoy and Hermione that I don't know about?"

Pansy twisted a blond strand of hair nervously, and bit her lip, "Well, why do you ask that?"

Ron walked over to where the rose bushes were. He sighed, and said, "Can you tell her I support her? Even though Malfoy is an asshole, can you tell Hermione for me that I really support her in whoever she likes?"

Pansy giggled, and patted Ron on the shoulder, "That's sweet. Sure, I'll tell her."

Hermione felt herself smile broadly, and she slowly went back to the bench that she was sitting on. Draco, however, wasn't too impressed. Hermione looked up at him, and whispered, "What's up with you?"

Draco sneered, "I thought Pansy could do much better then that. And I am most certainly not an asshole!"

Hermione giggled, and rested her hand on Draco's shoulder. Draco put his arm around her, and muttered, "Well, should we start talking about the 'problems' in our relationship?"

Hermione nodded, and replied, "Yes Draco. I really think we should open the lines of communication more. I want to know if you receive any more threats, or if you spot anything odd about Hogwarts. Where your father is, You-Know-Who is probably there as well."

Draco raised his eyebrows skeptically, "Oh really? Well, then I suppose I should just be extra careful. But Hermione? I thought the whole group of Death Eaters would come prancing into the school as soon as Dumbledore died."

Hermione bit her lip, "Well, they didn't. Which makes me think, that they're planning something. I bet it's not something good."

Draco began to laugh, "Of course it's something that's not good! What do you think? That it's something nice?"



Hermione scowled, "Of course it isn't! You are so immature."

"I know."

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Jewel saw Blaise enter the Great Hall again. Where did she run off too in such a hurry? What was she up to? Other then the fact that Blaise was a cold-hearted bitch, Jewel knew that there was something else not to like about her.

Blaise walked by Jewel and smirked. Jewel glared, "What do you want?"

Blaise sneered, "Nothing Malfoy. I just wanted to see if you were enjoying the ball or not. That's all."

Jewel stared at Blaise. She noticed a strange flicker in Blaise's eyes, and Jewel realized that she didn't want to mess with her right now. Jewel put on a fake smile, and muttered, "Oh I'm enjoying the ball just fine."

Jewel turned around and walked away from Blaise. Blaise muttered under her breath, "Well, that's a good thing. After all it will be your last."





PART 3 WILL BE UP SOON*~

~*Sophiebabe