Chapter 6: Dance Of A Fairy Tale

On Saturday October the 31st excitement was running through Hogwarts, but in one particular common room, nerves were running through the occupants.

Draco was looking at himself in the mirror in his room. He felt as if he had been standing there for ages. He just couldn't bring himself to walk out of the room. Maybe it was because Hermione was there. Maybe because he was nervous about what people would think of his costume. 'But everyone is dressing up Draco. Everyone will look as stupid as you' he thought. But he didn't look stupid. He actually looked quite handsome and prince-like even if he didn't want to admit that to himself. He took a deep breath and walked out into the common room.

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Hermione was still in her room. She had started getting ready an hour ago and she still wasn't done yet. She had her dress on and it was flowing more beautiful then ever. Her hair was up in an elegant bun and she had also done a spell so her hair glittered like her dress. She had put a lot of effort into the way she looked, which she didn't usually do and she wasn't sure why. She convinced herself that it was only to be a good role model as Head Girl, but Draco kept crossing her mind.

She finished applying her make-up, put her sparkling tiara on her head and giving herself one last look in the mirror and taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

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Draco turned around and his heart stopped. There stood Cinderella in the flesh. It was like her whole body glowed as well as sparkled. He thought she looked like the most beautiful girl in the world and he couldn't convince himself otherwise. When he tried to say something nothing came out. All he could do was stand here and gawk at her.

Hermione saw the effect she had on him. She had expected that from someone. She had had a couple of boys come up to her and ask her out this year already. But she didn't expect that reaction from Draco Malfoy of all people. When she looked at him she tried to laugh, but couldn't. He looked so cute standing there in his costume and she noticed he had taken an extra effort in his appearance with his hair slicked back more perfect than usual. She tried to think of something to say, but nothing came out. She had to say something.

"Umm..standing there like that Malfoy is not very prince like."

Malfoy snapped out of his trance. "Oh yeah..um..ok." He walked up to her and offered his arm. She took it and laughed.

"Well done Malfoy. You had me worried for a second there."

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Down in the Great hall, heaps of people were already sitting down for the Feast. There were many great costumes and the room was full of colour and excitement. When Draco and Hermione walked in Lavender cried out.

"Wow Hermione!"

That was all people needed to hear to turn and look at the pair. There was a lot of "oohs" and a lot of "ahhs" and also a lot of people who were so shocked at how good both of them looked together they couldn't say anything. There were some that weren't sure what to say as these two had been enemies for years and now they were at a ball together.

There were three people in particular that weren't happy with them. Pansy came up to Draco at the same time Harry and Ron came up to Hermione and pulled them away from each other.

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For the Feast Hermione and Draco had a table to themselves although they were right next to the prefect table. Draco started to act like a gentleman and pulled out Hermione's chair for her.

"Drop the act Malfoy," Hermione laughed. Draco laughed with her as he sat down, but quickly covered it up so people wouldn't think the wrong thing about him. When Hermione saw him laugh again she relaxed a little. She had been afraid that he would turn back into the sneering jerk that he was. 'Or used to be.' Eventually the two started to relax around each other and during the feast they had a good, freely flowing conversation. There were jokes, laughs and smiles all round.

Near the end of the feast the DJ came in and started to play music. A fast song was first and then a slow song came on. Draco and Hermione had both finished eating and stopped talking as soon as the song started. The two looked at each other for a moment both expecting the other to make the move. Draco knew it was up to him to make the first move, but didn't want to seem too keen. He also didn't want anyone else to think that he actually wanted to dance with her. But of course he had a job to do. He was just about to speak when Harry came up and asked Hermione to dance. And before she could answer he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to the dance floor.

"Harry what did you do that for?" Hermione asked while rubbing her arm.

"You've spent all the time you need to with him tonight. You don't need to be around him anymore."

"Who said I didn't want to?" Hermione mumbled this so that Harry couldn't hear.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Once again Draco found himself left alone. He watched Harry and Hermione converse. Hermione, for some reason, didn't look too happy. 'I guess I should take that as a good sign. I might be earning her trust' Draco thought, but he didn't feel happy about it. A second later Pansy came up and pulled him onto the dance floor as well.

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The two stayed apart for a couple of hours until Professor Dumbledore started to talk.

"Hello everyone. I hope you are all having a good time. There are some wonderful costumes here tonight and I would like to thank you all for putting the effort into your costumes to make a lovely evening. And now I am going to announce the best. If you do not know the teachers have been asking all the students who they think are the best dressed and have also voted themselves. The winners are.." There was silence in the room. "Our Head Boy and Girl, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger."

Some people clapped, some people glared at them and others weren't sure what to do. It was a very tense situation. One person who was clapping was Dumbledore who continued speaking.

"Now would the prince and princess like to dance?"

Hermione and Draco's eyes met across on opposite sides of the room. Very slowly and hesitantly people cleared a space for them. The two slowly walked into the middle of the room as another slow song started.

Reluctantly Hermione put her arms loosely around Draco's neck as he put his arms the same way around her waist and they slowly started to rock. At first they wouldn't dare look at each other or even hint that they might have been enjoying the dance even the tiniest bit. But as everyone started to dance around them their eyes met and they relaxed again. During the dance they got closer and closer and were so rapt in each other's attention that they didn't notice the song had stopped. They did notice however when someone holding a camera started taking pictures of them.

"Look this way please."

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At 12 o'clock that night Hermione left the Great Hall. The dance was going for half an hour more, but a lot of people had decided to leave, either because they were tired of their partners or because they wanted to spend more time with their partners.

About 5 seconds after Hermione had reached the common room Draco entered.

"Trust Cinderella to leave at midnight." Draco laughed.

Hermione laughed as well. "Sorry I forgot to leave my glass slipper behind."

"That's alright, I wouldn't want to put it on the wrong foot again." They were silent for a moment.

"You looked good tonight Granger," Draco said smiling.

"You too Malfoy." Hermione smiled as well and Draco could have sworn her dress sparkled even more.

"Goodnight Cinderella."

"Goodnight Prince Charming."