A/N-Hey hey!! Good news! Friday will probably be my last day of school until after Christmas. So I'm gonna have some free time and I can get more done!!! Yay!! And I'm suffering from writer's block again. Good thing I had some stuff planned out! Thanks to all who reviewed so far!!!!!

Disclaimer- I'm not making any money off of Harry Potter and I'm not claiming him….. And the song is by Mariah Carey called Hero. And Matchbox 20 called Bent.

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The ball had already started when Hermione and Draco arrived , each looking around for their own friends. Neither of them spotted one so they stayed together.

"I told you that you were gonna make us late."

"Oh get over it" she snapped, looking over her shoulder for a sign of Landon. Suddenly the lights dimmed and a song started to play.

"Shall we dance?" asked Draco making some fancy gestures that Hermione had seen in an old movie and bowing deeply.

"Yes we shall." she giggled slightly and took his hand and he led her to the dance floor.

There's a hero,

If you look inside your heart,

You don't have to be afraid of what you are,

There's an answer,

If you reach into your soul,

And the sorrow that you know will melt away,

And then a hero comes along,

With strength to carry on,

And you cast your fears aside,

And you know you can survive,

So when you feel like hope is gone,

Look inside you and be strong,

And you'll finally see the truth

That a hero lies in you.

Hermione got lost in the moment and snuggled against him.

"Don't look now, but we have an audience." he whispered in her ear. Hermione looked up and saw Pansy standing there watching them and shooting Hermione daggers with her eyes. Hermione matched her steely gaze with her 'why don't you go crawl in a cave and die' look. Then she smiled sweetly and pulled Draco closer to her. Pansy's eyes widened and her mouth dropped opened. Then she gave Hermione one last more look and spun around flipping her hair over her shoulder. Hermione giggled evilly and caught the eye of another person. A person with bright red hair and freckles scattered across his face. Ron stood there, staring in disbelief.

Hermione? Actually enjoying herself with Malfoy? When did this happen? But damn did she look good! But she chose Malfoy over me? He spun around and flipped his hair over his shoulder *I hope I don't confuse anybody with my weird sense on humor but sorry I just couldn't resist!!* 'Well that will teach him a lesson!' thought Hermione. The song ended and they pulled apart.

''Um, alrighty. I guess I'll see you in a little bit." said Hermione.

"Alright. I guess I'll go and talk to……Crabbe and Goyle," he said he turned around and disappeared through the crowd. Hermione watched him leave and turned around to meet her own friends. Harry was sitting with Lavender, who he had come with as a last resort. Ron was no where to be seen. Hermione noticed that Harry was looking quite good himself. He had on the same green robes as last time, but he seemed to have grown into them. There was no denying that Harry was now a very handsome young man. He glanced up and his jaw dropped. He left Lavender in the middle of a sentence and stood up to talk to her.

"Hermione! Ron was right! You look hot!" said Harry looking her over. Hermione blushed.

"Thanks, Where is Ron at by the way?'' she asked looking around for any sign of him.

"I'm not sure. He was here a minute ago but he went to look for you. He came back and told me you were looking fine tonight but then he said he had to get some fresh air." said Harry. "Why is everything alright?" he asked curiously.

"Yea. Everything's alright. I just really need to talk to him about something. I'm gonna go find him. I'll talk to you later." she gave him a quick hug and whispered to him "By the way you look really good tonight." he smiled and she walked off.

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Hermione walked outside to the decorated gardens pulling her cloak closer to her. She walked down the paths and marveled at the decorations. The hedges and bushes had little, golden flames that flickered as they sat on the branches. Winter had come early so the water coming out of the fountains was frozen and in some places been carved into ice sculptures. The snow on the ground sparkled, giving the whole garden a enchanted feeling. Hermione looked up and saw Ron. He was sitting on a bench staring into space. She went and sat down beside him. They sat there for a few moments, neither of them daring to break the silence. Finally Ron spoke.

"What do you want?" he asked bluntly. Whatever Hermione expected, that wasn't it.

"To talk," she said, unsure of how to respond.

"About what," he seemed to be talking in monotone.

"You didn't even give me time to explain." she said trying to look him in the eye. He avoided her gaze and continued.

"Explain what?" he said in a petulant tone.

"Ron don't play stupid with me. I know you know what we are talking about." she said shivering slightly.

"Whatever." he turned away from her debating whether or not to get up and leave. He didn't like the way this conversation was going.

"Ron just listen. The only reason I went with Malfoy is because Dumbledore made us. He thought it would be a good idea. That's why I couldn't go with you."

"So you would've gone with me if you didn't have to go with Malfoy?" he asked hopefully.

"Well……yes, I would have." she said. Ron looked at her for a bit then started to lean in. Hermione didn't know what to do! She had never been kissed before!

'Do I want Ron to be my first kiss? No. I don't like him….like that." she turned her face at the last minute and Ron kissed her check. He turned bright red and Hermione stood up and changed the subject.

"It's getting a little cold out here. I think it's time to go inside." she said. Ron stood up and they walked inside together.

'So much for teaching a lesson,' thought Hermione.

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"Hey where have you been?" said Malfoy approaching her. Ron gave him a cold look and wrapped his arm around Hermione.

"She was with me, Malfoy." Ron answered for her.

"Oh, I see," he said shortly and walked away.

"Wait!" he kept on walking. "Ron why did you do that,"

"What do you mean," he asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Oh Lordy! Here we go again! Never mind. Just forget it," she pushed Ron's arm off of her shoulder and walked off. Hermione walked over to the refreshment table and poured herself a glass of punch.

"Hello,'' said a voice Hermione didn't recognize. She looked up and found herself staring into a pair of beautiful brown eyes.

"Hello," she replied.

"My name's Landon Johnson," he said.

"I know, said Hermione. Landon looked at her expectantly.

"And your name is……."

"Oh yea, Hermione. Hermione Granger." she said blushing and smiling at the same time.

"Hermione? Interesting name. Nice to meet you." he said. He smiled down at her sincerely. "I don't want you to take this the wrong way or think that I'm just some slimy git trying to hit on you but you look really beautiful." Hermione blushed again.

"Thanks. So how do you like Hogwarts?"

"Well, It's alright. I miss home though." his smile drooping slightly as he said the last part.

"Where's home?" she asked.

"A little town in California called Wisemen." he said sadly.

"Wisemen? Interesting name." said Hermione. Landon smiled a bit. A song came on and the lights dimmed some more.

"Wanna dance?" he asked hopefully.

"Yea, sure." she said.

If I fall along the way

Pick me up and dust me off
If I get too tired to make it

Be my breath so I can walk

If I need some of you love again

Give me more than I can stand

When my smile gets old and faded

Wait around I'll smile again

Shouldn't be so complicated

Just hold me and then

Just hold me again

Can you help I'm bent

I'm so scared that I'll never

Get put back together

Keep breaking me in

And this is how we will live

With you and me bent.

Malfoy stood there watching them dance. They were so perfect looking. 'That could never be me. I will never fit in with her. Or with anyone. All because of my damn father. I still have to do that stupid task too.' Malfoy dreaded it, deep down inside. 'Which do I save? My skin or hers? What has she ever done for me?' He left the ball and headed for his room.

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Hermione spent the rest of the ball talking to Landon. He was sweet and nice and was interested to hear what Hermione had to say. The ball ended around 12 and the hall emptied quickly. People were anxious to get to sleep or talk about what had happened that night. Landon kissed her on the cheek good-bye. It felt different from Ron's kiss. Hermione's cheek was still warm by the time she got into bed.

'What an interesting night.' she thought as she drifted off to sleep.

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That night, Hermione had another dream:

She was fighting. There were people she knew fighting with her. Bodies were lying everywhere. People were screaming obviously being tortured. Hermione could hardly stand it. Someone was coming at her with their wand. Hermione lifted her hand and knocked them backwards. She seen a flash of green light and woke up. She lay there for the rest of the night with tears falling down her cheeks trying to figure out what all this meant.

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A/N- Hey hey! Thanks for reviewing! Sorry I keep taking so long to update! Please please please forgive me!! Anywho….

AlluringAngelC- I know they aren't supposed to be able to have electronics or anything with electricity on Hogwarts ground but I was hoping people would mind if I made it okay in my story. I think it went like this :He turned on his stereo. *I know that it shouldn't be able to work in Hogwarts. But just go with me here. Let's just pretend* After all that's what Fanfiction is all about isn't it? There aren't any boundaries. I've read stories that are slash or have Hermione being a prostitute. It's whatever you want you know?

Wondergirl- here you go! Lol!

Anonymous- thanks sooo much!

hasapi- yea I know I dunno where I got that from…hehe…I hope I don't disappoint you with the ball. I kinda disappointed myself. It isn't what I wanted but I don't know how to get what I want. Does that make sense? Lol

BluLightning-Lol here ya go! I'm so glad I can expand your horizons a lil! Hehe. Thanks I'm glad you like it! Yea I knew deep down inside she could be girly!

Mimi girl- thank you….yes I do think Draco is so darn cute! Whoever doesn't can just suck my big toe…lol juss joking.

Risquer- thanks Ris! I'm glad I kick ass! And don't worry you're not being rude I totally understand!

Couch-potato- I just love your name. It describes me perfectly. Lol.

Um………-glad you like my story! Lol you crack me up…..I hope I didn't make you too angry….J

Mirei- Thanks!!!!!

Kerbi- I'm glad you like it. I have to go back and finish your story!! It was so good I loved it!!!

Irish Lass- hehe….wrote more 4 ya!

An93x- thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you liked it!! I hurried up for ya1