Chapter 2: The Halloween Ball
A week later Hermione came down to breakfast and walked straight past the Slytherin table to sit at Gryffendor after a week of avoiding the place.
"Hullo Hermione," Neville greeted as she sat down beside him. "Been awhile since you sat here with us."
"Hello Neville," she replied, glancing quickly at the Slytherin table and immediately regretting it.
Pansy Parkinson was sitting practically on Draco's lap, feeding him toast and stroking his hair.
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again, Harry and Ron were standing in front of her. "Hello," she said, meekly.
"Hello Hermione," Ron said coolly. "Got sick of the pure bloods and decided to visit us lowly folk?" he sniped at her.
"Hermione!" Harry said, elbowing Ron in the ribs. "Good to see you." He sat down across from her.
Ron glanced at her as her face fell and he melted. Poor girl. He went around the table and sat down beside her. "I'm sorry, Hermione. It's just that I hate Draco and I've always wanted to pound his face in, even more so now because he's dumped you for that slut Pansy."
She gave him a small smile. "Thanks Ron, that means a lot to me. Really."
He blushed. "Yeah, well. He deserves it. Certainly doesn't deserve you." He hugged her gently. "I'm glad you're back with us."
"Me too." She patted his arm. Looking, up, she saw Draco bristle. He was glaring at Ron. She lifted her chin defiantly, resisting the urge to stick out her tongue at him. If he could move on, so could she. "Hey, Ron, do you have a date for the Halloween Ball yet?" she asked, turning to him.
Draco bristled as Ron sat down beside Hermione and put his arm around her. He hated Weasley. Hated him with every fiber of his being. Hermione's eyes came up and met his. She looked back at him defiantly then turned to Ron and asked him something. His eyes lit up and he nodded, grinning like a fool. Well, that was fine. He had Pansy now. She was really annoying, pathetic, and dumb. His father would love her, unfortunately, but she would have to do for now.
"Draco!"
"What?" he snapped.
"You're not listening," she whined.
"What is it?" he asked, automatically. It was probably something really dumb, just like her.
"I can't wait until the Halloween Ball. It will be so perfect!"
He nodded, taking a bite of toast and glancing at Hermione.
She was laughing with Potter and Weasley. She looked happy. Why did it bother him so much to see her with him? "I'm not hungry." He pushed the plate of toast away and stood up, dumping Pansy onto the bench beside him.
"You want me to come, honey?" We have time before first class," she purred seductively, placing her hand on his leg.
"No," he growled and left the hall.
Over the next few weeks, Pansy became increasingly annoying and Hermione's friendship with Potter and Weasley was bothering him more and more. Hermione was ignoring and avoiding him as much as possible. When she had to talk to him, her comments were clipped and short.
He sighed, doing up his dress robes. It was the night of the Halloween Ball. He stepped out into the common room and glanced at Hermione's door. He'd finally admitted to himself that he was in love with her. He'd broken up with Pansy and was going to the Halloween Ball by himself. He'd had countless offers, from all sorts of girls but had refused them all. He'd gotten a howler from his mother and father about it and had laughed throughout the whole ordeal because it pleased him to know his father wasn't happy with him and couldn't even touch him.
"What are you doing?"
He snapped out of his reverie and looked up. Hermione was standing in front of him, even more beautiful than before. "H-Hermione…" He gulped. "You look beautiful."
She looked taken a-back for a moment before composing her face one more into a cold mask he'd come to know well when she was around him. "Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go meet my date." She walked by him but he caught her arm.
"Hermione, I…" he began.
"Yes?" she asked, eyeing him coolly. Inside, she wanted to run to him, to throw herself into his arms and kiss him.
His face hardened. "Forget it. Have a nice night with Weasley."
"Same to you with Pansy," she replied stiffly.
"I'm not going with her. I'm not going with anyone," he replied, then whirled around and left the room, leaving Hermione staring after him in confusion.
She entered the Great Hall, her mind in a state of turmoil. Before it had been so easy. Draco hadn't cared. It used to be black and white. It had always been them against Draco. Even when she'd started going out with him, he'd still been nasty to Ron and Harry. Some things didn't change. But then again something did… like Draco's attitude towards her. She wished he would admit his feelings… she'd seen them written plainly on his face when she'd come out of her room that evening and caught him by surprise.
"Hermione, you okay?"
She looked up. Ron's face swam into focus. "Yes, fine Ron." She forced a grin for him.
"Okay." He grinned back and put his arm around her, steering her towards their table, composed of them, Harry and Ginny, Neville looking miserable with Padma Partil, and Seamus and Parvati Patil.
As the feast was finishing, Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder and Ron's face hardened, telling her exactly who it was.
"We have to open the Ball with the first dance," Draco said in a tight voice, glaring back at Ron. "Don't worry Weasley," he added to her date. "You'll have her back in one piece."
Hermione wiped her mouth with her napkin and stood up. "I'll be right back," she said, following Draco to the head table, Harry and Ginny right behind her. They students were all standing and the tables moving to the edges of the room. The other prefects were lined up and Ginny and Harry waved as they took their place.
"Let the ball begin," Dumbledor called out. "Would the Heads and Prefects lead the dancing with the first dance, please?" He beckoned and they started out onto the floor.
Draco offered Hermione his hand. "Shall we?"
She nodded, following him stiffly onto the floor. He turned her and placed his other hand on her waist, not even looking at her, instead he looked around the room at other people.
"I can't believe you," she said. She couldn't help herself. She was the one in pain and he was being an asshole about it.
His eyes snapped to her face. "What?"
"You are the biggest asshole I know… Why are you doing this to me?"
"Doing this to you?!" he half yelled. People started to look at them and he lowered his voice. "You have been ignoring me, avoiding me and being a brat about this whole situation and you tell me I'm being an asshole about it. Grow up, Hermione."
"Grow up, Draco? Sure, I'll grow up when you admit that you felt something, anything for me while we were together. Then you might be able to convince me that you're not a cold-hearted bastard that doesn't care about anything but getting back at your father."
"Can we talk about this later, perhaps?" he said in a low voice. "People are starting to stare."
"Who cares!" she yelled, wrenching away from him. "You're just an arrogant bastard who doesn't feel anything for anyone because it's been programmed into you by your bastard of a father." She was almost in tears. "I thought you were better than that, Draco. I thought you could actually break away from your father's legacy, but no, you're nothing but a Malfoy." She spat out his name like a curse.
"I am nothing like my father," he said, dangerously low.
By now everyone had stopped and was staring at the scene before them. Nobody moved, for fear of breaking the spell. The band had died away minutes before, all the members staring at the two.
Draco and Hermione just stared at each other, sparks practically flying from their eyes.
"Prove it," she replied, deadly calm, then whirled on her heel and stalked out of the room.
Draco glared at the crowd around him. "What are you looking at?" he bellowed. "Keep dancing." Then he took off after Hermione as the band started up again.
Okay, that's it. Thanks to all you guys who reviewed! I know, I know, another cliff hanger… sorry! But I'll have the next chapter up tomorrow, promise! Ciao! : )