A/N: Hi all!! It took quite long time to do this chapter. I have pondered what should happen in this one. So many good suggestions and thoughts… well, here it is; hope you will like it ;)
DISCLAIMER: You know I don't own them. Just read the story! ;)
------------------
CHAPTER XVII – The ball
Hermione stepped into the common room. Delicate brown curls landed beautifully to her shoulders and her back. Her dress was long and it was deep purple with black trimming. The dress was very light, not heavy at all. It was like a dream.{{If you don't like it, then just picture a dress you like.}}
Hermione's make up wasn't heavy but not too casual either. She had lip gloss and pale purple eye make up. She looked very beautiful. Even more beautiful than in the fourth year's ball. She looked like a real seventeen year-old.
Hermione looked around trying to find Draco somewhere. He wasn't there though. Hermione was, much to her disappointment, sure he had already gone to the Great Hall. She walked to the portrait and was about to leave when she heard Draco's room's door open. She turned around. Draco stood looking Hermione in amaze. His jaw dropped. Hermione giggled a bit. Draco was wearing nothing but black. But this time he didn't look like a vicar. No, this Draco was looking very sexy. Very handsome. Very unbelievably nice. A faint smile appeared on Hermione's face.
'my goodness he looks SO good!' Hermione's mind screamed.
Draco was obviously trying to say something but didn't know what. Should it be something mean? No…she looked so…beautiful… How could he say something bad about her when he knew it would be a lie?
"is everything alright?" Hermione broke the silence.
"er, yeah, er…yeah", Draco stammered.
Hermione laughed a bit and looked down. Draco stared her like this was his first time when he saw a girl. Hermione blushed a bit.
"you look…beautiful…", Draco finally said still looking pretty confused.
'did Draco Malfoy just say I was beautiful?'
Hermione giggled.
"thank you… I think you look very handsome", Hermione answered politely.
Draco smiled.
"well, I better get going… Ron's probably already waiting me", Hermione said.
"ok…" Draco said as Hermione stepped out of the room.
"But he doesn't deserve you…" He muttered when Hermione was out of the room.
Hermione and Draco had done great work with decorations and food plans. Crabbe and Goyle were already eating everything they could reach their hands to. Hermione was little scared what kind of band Draco had arranged. Soon she noticed it was a DJ when she walked in to the Great Hall.
There was already almost the whole school dancing and having good time in the Great Hall. All the teachers were talking to each other looking very sophisticated. Hermione laughed at them. They obviously wanted to dance but were too shy to ask each other.
Hermione's eyes wandered around the Great Hall looking for Ron. Finally she found him talking with Harry. Hermione walked to them.
"hi boys!" She said happily.
Harry and Ron turned to see her.
"wow Hermione! You look very beautiful", Harry said smiling.
Hermione blushed just a bit.
"oh, thanks Harry", Hermione smiled at Ron and Harry.
"yeah, absolutely beautiful", Ron added.
"so Harry…where's Lavender?" Hermione turned to look at Harry.
"she's stylishly late", Harry said.
Hermione laughed.
"yeah, that's our Lavender."
"hey Mione. Wanna dance?" Ron asked stretching out his arm to Hermione.
"yeah, why not", Hermione said and took his arm.
Just then the DJ changed the song and this new one was a slow song. Hermione put her hands to Ron's shoulders and Ron put his hands to her waist.
Much to Hermione's surprise Ron didn't step on her feet at all. Hermione rested her head on Ron's shoulder. She saw Draco ten feet away from them. He was talking with Pansy. Pansy was wearing a silk dress which was light yellow. Her hair was twisted up into a knot at the back of her head and few strands were left free. She had two rosebuds in her hair too. Actually she looked somewhat "pretty". But that's all what Hermione could or wanted to say of her. She was just pretty. Hermione was beautiful and could beat her when ever she wanted. Hermione found herself smirking and immediately wiped it off when she saw that Draco turned to look at her.
'she looks even more beautiful in this light…' Draco thought.
He would've asked her to dance with him if it wasn't all this Slytherin-should-always-despise-Gryffindor thing. If he now walked to Hermione and asked her to dance with him, everybody in the Great Hall would start staring at them and all the Slytherins would think he had turned his back to them and joined the enemy.
'maybe this was their tactic…to make him fall in love with a beautiful Gryffindor girl and then leave the Slytherins…' Draco laughed a bit to his crazy thought. '…But do I love her?'
Hermione saw him smiling at her and she blushed. He had saw her staring at him. Draco winked at Hermione and then the slow song ended. Ron and Hermione broke apart.
"want something to drink?" Ron asked as a fast rock song started.
Hermione nodded and Ron left. Hermione glanced at where Draco and Pansy just a minute ago were standing.
'oh my God!' Hermione's head screamed when she saw Draco walking to her.
Draco had apparently left Pansy talk with her Slytherin friends.
"are you enjoying?" Draco asked smirking.
"yes. You chose a good DJ", Hermione replied wanting to know what Draco wanted from her.
"you know, Granger…you look even more beautiful in this light", Draco said what he had earlier thought about.
He had this weird expression that made Hermione blush and look down.
"thank you."
Hermione looked back at him. What was this look? Lust? Nah…no, not lust… Love…? Couldn't be…
"so, where did you leave your partner?" Hermione asked.
"you mean my bitch?" Draco corrected and Hermione's mouth dropped open in amaze.
Draco started laughing.
"isn't that what you called her few days ago?"
"oh…yeah, hahahaha…" Hermione laughed now too.
"she's talking some girly stuff with her dimwitted friends", Draco said and glanced at Pansy and her friends.
"yeah."
"where's yours then?" Draco asked.
"Ron? Getting some drinks", Hermione said.
Draco nodded.
"seems to me it's going to take a while", Draco laughed and pointed at Ron.
Hermione turned around and saw Ron talking with Harry and Seamus. She heard Harry say word 'Quidditch'.
"yeah, you're right", Hermione nodded, "they're talking about Quidditch."
"what kind of partner leaves his date over something less important?" Draco asked Hermione.
"well, you tell me", Hermione glanced at Pansy.
Draco realized that he had done exactly the same and pale pink rose to his cheekbones. Hermione laughed at him.
"but it's ok to me if Ron wants to talk with Harry and other guys. Unlike to some people…" Hermione laughed and pointed to Lavender who was glaring at Harry.
She had a very murderous look, probably because she wanted to dance with Harry. The rock song ended and a new slow song started.
"so…want to make a scene?" Draco asked.
"huh?" Hermione asked. "Make a scene?"
"yeah, dance with me", Draco explained smiling at Hermione.
"oh…" Hermione laughed though inside of her it was all like: 'oh my God!! He asked me to dance with him! He must like me! Well duh…he almost kissed me today!! But he still asked not caring what the others would think!'
Hermione would've wanted to jump up and down in happiness but decided to just say: "ok", and give him a smile.
Draco put his hands to her waist and Hermione put hers to his shoulders, just like she did with Ron. But Draco didn't leave his hands loose like Ron did; he held her tightly. Hermione felt good in his arms. He was so muscular and tall…just what every girl dreamed about… Hermione sighed. Draco was so warm; Hermione almost melted in his arms. She put her head on his chest. She felt everybody's eyes on them.
"what are you looking at?" Hermione heard Draco say. "We are Heads…we have every right to dance together. Mind your own business!"
Everyone who were looking at them turned their eyes off them. Hermione sighed again and smiled to no one particular. She wanted to stay like that forever. Draco was so warm…so…wonderful… He still smelled like green apples and Hermione liked that scent. Hermione closed her eyes and snuggled deeper to his chest. She felt his warm breath on her forehead. Draco's hand dropped just an inch above from her butt. Hermione opened her eyes and snickered, but so quietly that Draco wouldn't hear her. Hermione closed her eyes again. She would've wanted to look up at him and kiss him never letting go… but there was always the crowd…but who really cares… Hermione felt happiness inside her. For the first time in her life she knew she was in love. In love with the enemy…Draco Malfoy.
~~~~~~~
Draco smelled her hair. It smelled so good. She was so warm too… Draco closed his eyes and imagined him and her alone somewhere where no one could ever come to ruin anything... Somewhere where he and Hermione could always be together. Though Draco knew no one would approve that he loved Hermione Granger, he didn't care. Like this was the first time he had not obeyed the rules. Draco felt Hermione snuggle deeper to his chest. Draco smelled her hair once again. It smelled so…good. How lucky he was. Having a beautiful girl in his arms. Draco let his hand drop near her butt. But then he realized that Hermione might not like him touching her butt so he left it there.
~~~~~~~~~~
'what would he say…' Hermione thought. '…I want to kiss him…'
'what would she say if I kissed her?' Draco thought.
'she'd probably slap me', Draco laughed silently.
'he would just start screaming', Hermione thought.
It was like heaven to Hermione and she was flying. But then…the song ended. It took few seconds before they let go of each other. When they broke apart, they looked to each other's eyes.
'I love you', their thoughts said at the same time.
"Hermione!"
Hermione and Draco turned to see Ron running to them.
"were you dancing with him?!" Ron exclaimed.
"er.. yeah", Hermione said.
Ron frowned and glared at Draco. Ron didn't say anything but Hermione knew what he was thinking and what he wanted to ask.
"we are Heads Ron…and –", Hermione glanced quickly at Draco, "Dumbledore said that it would be good if we would dance even once."
"twice", Draco corrected.
Hermione and Ron turned to see him. Ron looked dumbfounded and Hermione's left eyebrow was lifted and her mouth dropped open.
"Dumbledore said 'twice'", Draco said, and winked at Hermione when Ron turned his gaze to the floor for a second.
Hermione tried to hide a smile. Dumbledore never said anything about that they should dance. They both knew it very well.
"right", Ron said dryly and still glared at Draco.
"well I better go now…bitch's waiting", Draco laughed.
Hermione snickered.
"what was that about?" Ron asked Hermione when Draco left them.
Hermione just laughed and said she would explain it later.
Few hours passed and Hermione was having fun with Ron, Harry and Lavender. They were telling jokes to each other. What could possibly be better than having fun with your best friends? Well…except the little thing…the blond haired boy at the other side of the Great Hall. But soon noticed Hermione that he wasn't at the other side of the Great Hall.
"how about that second dance now?" Draco asked Hermione.
His appearance made Hermione almost jump. She thought he was somewhere else.
"yeah, sure", Hermione said.
"er…what is she doing?" Harry asked Ron.
"Dumbledore had said that they should dance together", Ron said through gritted teeth. "Wait here!"
Ron ran to Ginny who was dancing with her date. Ron seized her arm and pulled her aside.
"I need your help, Ginny."
"argh, not now Ron! Can't you see I'm dancing?" Ginny exclaimed.
"I need your help!"
"ugh, ok! What is it?" Ginny frowned.
"Hermione's dancing with Draco, see?" Ron pointed to them.
"ohh, yeah…what about it?" Ginny asked.
"go to them and say Hermione you have to talk to her or something", Ron ordered.
"what? Why?"
"what do you think?! Malfoy is a slimy perverted git! He might do…something", Ron exclaimed.
"why don't you go?" Ginny asked.
"because I already tried. And besides you are her girl…friend", Ron explained.
"yeah, and she's like 17, so would you mind", Ginny shook her arm off from Ron's grip.
"yes! I would mind!" Ron exclaimed and seized her arm again.
"please Ginny, I beg you", Ron pouted.
Ginny sighed.
"ok."
She started towards Hermione and Draco who were now dancing.
"umm, Hermione? I have something to say to you", Ginny said.
"ok, say it", Hermione said turning to Ginny.
"in private", Ginny said glancing at Draco.
Draco rolled his eyes and left. Hermione looked sadly how he disappeared into the crowd.
"what is it Ginny?" Hermione asked when she recovered.
"er…"
"yes?"
"er…it's…er…I think Ron's going to die", Ginny said quickly not thinking.
"what?!" Hermione almost screamed.
"er...no! Sorry! I wasn't thinking, er…" Ginny slapped herself mentally, "I think, er, I look fat in this dress."
"is that why you wanted to talk to me? In private?"
"er, yeah", Ginny said.
"well Ginny, you don't look fat in that dress and I think you know that too. Ron sent you, huh?" Hermione frowned.
"er, yeah…sorry", Ginny said looking down.
"it's ok Ginny… I'm not mad or anything", Hermione said putting her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Besides, it's nearly twelve o'clock and I'm kinda tired. I think I need some sleep."
Hermione yawned and walked to Ron.
"Ron, if it's ok, I'm leaving. I'm tired."
"yeah, I'll escort you", Ron announced and that made Hermione giggle.
They left the Great Hall. Draco saw them leave and was about to follow them but then Pansy ran to him.
"where are you going Draco?"
"umm… I remembered something" he lied.
"oh… what?" Pansy claimed.
"umm… nothing important. I have to go now", Draco said quickly and started after Ron and Hermione.
"then I will come with you!" Pansy announced happily.
"no! Will you just once leave me alone!?!" Draco snapped.
Pansy turned pale and stormed away. Draco sighed and turned to leave but then he noticed that Hermione and Ron had disappeared.
'damn!' He thought. '…Maybe they left to our common room…'
He started running and headed to Heads' common room. He stopped when he saw Ron and Hermione in front of the mermaid portrait. Draco hid himself behind a some kind of statue where he could see them. Unfortunately he couldn't hear what they were talking about.
'why am I even doing this?' Draco thought.
"I know what you tried, Ron. Ginny isn't a good liar", Hermione said.
Ron blushed.
"I'm sorry…I just don't trust that git."
"it's ok. I understand", Hermione smiled. "You are a good friend."
Ron smiled her back.
"thanks for being one for me", Hermione said and hugged him.
'what are they doing!?' Draco thought angrily. 'Get off her you stupid carrot top!'
Draco wanted so badly to run there where they were hugging, and strangle him. Hermione was his girl! Or…yeah, she was! What had they said that made them hug each other? Draco was about to explode in anger.
'how dare he touch her!?!'
Draco tried to calm himself down. What ever the reason was, he couldn't be sure. It could be just a friendly hug… yes! It was just a friendly hug! That's what Draco told himself.
Then Hermione and Ron broke apart. Draco let out a sigh of relief. Hermione smiled to Ron.
Hermione started talking again and Draco tried to listen carefully.
"it's not like I love spending time with Malfoy", Hermione lied, "I would rather spend all my time with you and Harry."
Ron smiled. She was being sincere. Maybe she told the truth… But Hermione knew she didn't.
Meanwhile Draco was trying to hear what Hermione said to Ron.
"it's --- I --- love --- you --- and ---", Draco heard her say.
'what!?!'
He was furious now. This was it. Hermione had flirted with him and now she had turn sides. She just announced that she was in love with Ron Weasley!! Draco wanted to kick the living daylight out of Ron. His heart was now torn.
'no one does this to Draco Malfoy! No one!!'
He saw Hermione give a quick kiss on Ron's cheek and go into the Heads' common room. Ron walked away.
Draco wanted to attack on Ron but got a better idea. Hermione had made him suffer like this. It means revenge.
Draco ran back to the Great Hall and tried to find Pansy somewhere. Finally he did. He found her sitting alone looking very miserable.
"hi", Draco greeted like nothing had happened before.
He was somewhat scared of her reaction.
"what do you want Draco?!" she snapped.
"er… I'm sorry Pansy…dear" he added the 'dear' carefully.
She turned to look at him. Pansy had very sulky look on her face.
"why were you such a jerk towards me Draco?! Why!?"
"I was just …I dunno…I guess I was just tired… I'm sorry", Draco said pretending to feel guilty.
Pansy smiled: "it's ok"
'phew!' Draco sighed. 'She's so easy to calm down.'
"so. You haven't seen my common room yet?" Draco asked very cunningly.
"no. Do you have something in mind, Draco?" Pansy giggled.
"maybe", he said slyly.
Pansy giggled again. Draco took her hand and they left the Great Hall and walked to Heads' common room. When they stepped in Draco saw Hermione sitting on a couch reading a book. She obviously hadn't noticed them because she didn't even lift her head when they came in. This was just too easy for Draco. He knew exactly what to do.
"cool room!" Pansy said.
Now Hermione noticed their presence. Draco knew his time had come. He grabbed on Pansy's waist and pulled her closer. Draco started kissing her passionately in front of Hermione.
Hermione's mouth dropped open and her heart started beating hard. It was like a knife had stabbed her heart and it was now bleeding. Why was he doing this all of a sudden? Hermione had thought Draco liked her like she liked him. Why…?
Draco had almost kissed Hermione and she was sure that he would've done it this evening too! Now…it was Pansy who he was kissing…passionately… Hermione dropped her book. She couldn't feel anything anymore. She didn't want to see anymore.
'stop it…', she ordered in her head.
Hermione felt like crying. She tried to block her tears but couldn't. A single teardrop fell down on her cheek. Hermione felt weak for the first time in her life. How can one guy do this? Make her feel like even wind could kill her, even a touch could kill her… All the good feelings she had earlier were now gone. Anger grew inside of her…among the sorrow.
Hermione ran to her room and slammed the door behind her. She breathed heavily and slid down to the floor. Another teardrop fell. The third one. The fourth and fifth one…
---------------------
A/N: Well, I guess you didn't see that coming! Or did you? Many of you probably thought that this chapter would be it: the one where Draco and Hermione finally find each other. Well, in a way they did, lol, but then Draco got it all wrong! Argh, damn him! Lol. No, seriously, tell me what you think about this chapter and ummm…yeah. Lol. SO REMEMBER TO REVIEW!!!
Special thanks to my reviewers:
Apie – Yeah, something interesting happened ;) lol.
Hildie – Lol. Thanks!
Meg – Lol. Thanks for the suggestion. I liked it but I had already thought how this chappy should go. But like I said: I like your suggestions and they're always welcome! :D
CrackHead – Lol!
2oo3~DrAcOzAnGeL~2oo3 – I hope there was action between them in this one ;) Oh well, there's lot more to come.
Mione-n-Draco4ever – Lol. We all hate Dumbledore for that ;)
Carmen – Your computer got a virus!? :S I hope you liked this chapter :)
Hermione Double – Lol. That's a good thing then ;)
Uglinessrox55 – Here you go! Lol
Xxhxx – Lol!
Evilearthwiccan – Thank you =)
WOW!!! Eleven reviews! Thank you all!
Angel Innocent
