Chapter 6: Saltatio Ferventis

            Hermione finished the smoothing charm on her hair and pinned it back with a gold clips shaped like butterflies. She took one last look at herself in the mirror. Her dress robes were a beautiful emerald green and gathered under her breasts with a golden butterfly clip. She didn't need any make-up tonight, her cheeks were flushed pink with excitement already and her eyes sparkled. Would Draco like it? Taking a deep breath, she stepped into their common room.

            Draco was already waiting by the fireplace. He looked very happy but a bit nervous. He swung around when he heard her enter.

            "Oh Hermione…" words failed him.

            She blushed crimson.

            In a few strides he had walked over to her and held her in his arms. She could feel his strong arms under his expensive Malfoy dress robes holding her tight. The material of his cloak was soft, fine and expensive. They were a midnight black but clasped at the throat with a silver dragon with emerald eyes. If possible, he looked even more handsome than usual. With a shock, she realized that out of his school robes, he now had every appearance of a full-grown man- it was just that she was so used to thinking of him as a student.

            "Miss Granger, you are beautiful." He held her close and breathed deeply into her hair. It was the scent he had smelled the first time she had lain next to him in his bed all those weeks ago…strawberries and cream.

            "And you, Mr Malfoy, look like a girl's naughtiest fantasy."

            "Have you been fantasizing about me, then?"

            "A little."

            "Mmm…I like it when Miss Granger talks dirty."

            "You are mussing up my hair." Hermione removed a small golden butterfly clip from his nose.

            "I hope this works" he said standing a few feet back from her and taking out his wand.

            "Don't worry, it will."

            "I wish we didn't have to hide this, hide us."

            "I know Draco, but if your father hears about this…"

            He nodded grimly and lifted his wand towards her. "Aspectus Deceptio Ipse Excipio!"

            A shower of sparks erupted around Hermione and fell around her like snow. Then the sparks vanished. She smiled.

            "You look the same to me, 'Mione" he said, worried that the spell hadn't worked.

            "I'm supposed to. I will only look different to others."

            "I sure hope this works. Ginny knows, you say?"

            "Yes, but she won't tell."

            He offered his arm to her, "Well then, Miss Greenleaf, shall we?"

            She took his arm proudly and they left their rooms, making for the Great Hall.

            Harry, Ron and the other prefects had done a spectacular job decorating it for the Yule Ball. There was a large Christmas tree glowing with a thousand candles at the back of the hall, the sky snowed gently, imitating the weather outside and there were rows of fairy lights strung all across the hall. It was Christmas Eve all right.

            Hermione was feeling a little nervous herself. They had practiced the spell a few times on different objects and it had always worked but she didn't know if her behaviour would give herself away.

            "Hi Draco!" simpered Blaise Zabini, on the arm of Crabbe. Zabini was wearingv an outrageously low-cut robe of bright orange. Crabbe's eyes were firmly on her chest. Disgusting thought Hermione.

            "Hello Blaise."

            "Who's your *partner*" said Blaise giving Hermione a look colder than ice.

            "Helen Greenleaf. From Durmstrang. Helen this is Blaise Zabini."

            "Hello Blaise."

            "Hello Helen."

            "My my look, it's Potter and that Weasley kid" said Draco, trying to diffuse the tension and pointing across the hall. To Hermione he whispered, "It's working!"

            Hermione nodded and held Draco closer. She couldn't help but notice the withering looks all the Slytherin females were giving her and how some of them stared at Draco like their eyes would pop out of their heads.

            All heads turned to Harry and Ginny as they entered, closely followed by Ron and Parvati. Hermione was pleased to see that Harry and Ginny made a really handsome couple. Harry was in burgundy dress robes and Ginny was in very pretty shade of gold that showed off the gold accents in her red hair. She noticed how close Harry held her and how they would smile and laugh together all the time.

            Ron looked rather funny in orange robes that clashed rather badly with his hair. However, Parvati looked absolutely stunning in a light blue dress robe. That was, till one looked across at her sister, Padma, who if possible looked even more stunning in silver dress robes and proudly on the arm of…Neville Longbottom!

            None of the Gryffindors spoke to Draco of course, although many of the younger girls from her house looked wistfully at him as he walked by in his sable robes. Hermione realized she was getting envious stares even from girls of her *own* house.

            Now Professor McGonagall was talking to Ginny Weasley. Both women were laughing about something Harry had said.

            "Good evening, Mr Malfoy."

            "Good evening, Professor Snape" said Draco, turning red.

            "Well, well, what a *charming* young lady. And she is?"

            "Helen Greenleaf. From Durmstrang" said Draco in a rather choked voice.

            "I see. Welcome, Miss….Greenleaf. Foreign students are always so interesting to have around. Isn't it odd that the Head Girl is missing tonight, Mr Malfoy? I've heard the story going around that she had a touch of flu"

            Hermione turned red. Oh my god, she thought, Professor Snape KNOWS. But then again, he had been the one to read Draco's textbook.

            "Well, I won't disturb you young people," said Snape with a long-suffering air. "I must congratulate you on the success of all that practicing during my potions class. I hope you used Line Number 2. Good Evening, Mr Malfoy, Miss…Greenleaf." Professor Snape gave Hermione a sharp look before marching off to the punch table.

            "Well, he knows" said Hermione to Draco.

            "Snape? Aah, it doesn't matter. He's all right. And I *am* his favourite student."

            "Oh no, here come Pansy and Millicent."

            "Hello Draco!" Pansy and Millicent giggled piercingly.

            "Good evening, Pansy, Millicent." Said Draco stiffly, desperately looking around for a means of escape.

            "Well, you haven't introduced us to your friend. I'm dying to meet her." Said Pansy, staring daggers at Hermione.

            "This is Helen Greenleaf. She's from Durmstrang."

            "Oooh, I didn't know you had a girlfriend Draco" said Millicent, giving Hermione equally furious glares.

            "Well, I do. Good evening ladies." Said Draco shortly, excusing himself and ushering Hermione toward the dance floor.

            Hermione heard Millicent whispering to Pansy, "she doesn't look like a hag to me Pansy…"

            The music slowed down. The Weird sisters launched into a low, haunting melody. The couples on the dance floor who had been dancing the tango a moment before went into each other's arms and began dancing slowly. Hermione caught sight of Dumbledore dancing with Madam Pomfrey.

            She didn't quite know where to put her arms on Draco. They had never danced together before.

            She looked down in shyness as he slowly placed her hands on his shoulders and put his arms around her waist. He pulled her close and she looked up into his face. The lights of the Great Hall lit up his blonde hair and gray eyes. He is so handsome she thought. And he's dancing with ME. He was the tallest man on the dance floor.

            "Hermione, what are you thinking" he said softly to her.

            "That I never want this dance to end," said Hermione, shyly.

            He pulled her closer to him so that their bodies touched. She felt his strong chest against hers. She couldn't help but think of the scars on him.

            "That was exactly what I was thinking, 'Mione"

            They danced together for a while, ignoring all the eyes on them. Everyone was surprised to see the Draco Malfoy dancing with a strange girl as if he were a million miles deep in love with her. Ginny Weasley grinned to herself, glad for her friend. Professor Snape couldn't resist an approving smirk. Pansy and Millicent seethed.

            Draco put him fingers under Hermione's chin and lifted her face to his.

            "Hermione, do you trust me?"

            His eyes were clear and bright. There was nothing in them now but tenderness. For the last few years, they had always been full of hurt and malice.

            "Yes, I do Draco."

            "I will never hurt you, Hermione. But I need you to believe in me…"

            "…yes…"

            "…because it is so hard for me to believe in myself."

            "Oh Draco."

            Although they had grown even closer over the term, Draco had never kissed her. Suddenly, she felt as she had all those weeks ago when he had held her wrist while she was reaching over for the towel. The ants began crawling all over her skin again, her breathing became a little laboured and she felt like she was drowning.

            When he kissed her she thought she would faint from pleasure. It was everything she had imagined and more. His kiss was hard and urgent- he was a Malfoy after all- and yet tender and considerate. She felt his arms tighten around her as he crushed her to him. His lips were soft, his tongue gentle, his breath warm. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself up to the moment completely.

            When it ended, she found she was flushed and breathless. He was smiling.

            "Not bad at all, Miss Granger" he whispered.

            "Not bad yourself, Mr Malfoy" she replied softly.

            "Thank you, considering I've never had any practice."

            "What? Malfoy…you mean that was your first? But I always thought, you know, you being so handsome and with all those girls hanging around…"

            "Handsome, eh? I think I'll change our room password to what you just said."

            "Don't you dare."

            "Was it your first kiss,'Mione?"

            She blushed. "Yes" she said, smiling at him.

            "I hope…I hope I made it…"

            She laughed. "Don't worry, you *did*."

            "Better keep me in practice." He said wickedly, drawing her close to him again.

            Before she lost herself in him again, she swore she saw Dumbledore wink at her as he waltzed past with Professor McGonagall.