Disclaimer: Blah blah blah I don't own anything!
Hello, you probably all think that I died or something because I haven't updated for awhile but I'm here now, I'm really sorry I couldn't update sooner, it was my first week of school, and It was REALLY hectic. Anyway here you go, and thank you to everyone who reviewed it makes me smile.
The 2 couples had a wonderful time playing laser tag, especially Ginny Joel and Draco because they had never heard of it before let alone played it. Hermione watched with amusement in her eyes, she wondered if she was that giddy when she first stepped into the magical world. Ginny and Joel were on one team and Draco and Hermione were on the other, and by the end of the date Joel had asked Ginny to be his girlfriend, and Ginny delightedly said yes. The week that followed Ginny got many stares from the Gryffindors, and Ron refused to talk to her, but she ignored it. Hermione and Ginny stuck together since everyone in their house thought they were insane, and they would occasionally eat at the Slytherin table with Draco and Joel, to get away from the stares. The ball was rapidly approaching, and on Wednesday the great hall had been covered in Halloween decorations. The 4 of them had made plans to meet on the night of the ball in the heads common room, which is where we are now.
Ginny and Hermione had spent the whole afternoon preparing, and you could tell they looked gorgeous. Hermione was wearing a 2 piece dress. The top was a silvery color that shimmered red In the right light spaghetti strap that came down to a point just above her bellybutton, and a point that came just below her cleavage line, as not too show too much but to flatter her. There were ties all across her back, holding the top on. The skirt was the same color, and had a long slit on one side that came up to mid thigh. She had hair long curly hair down but with a few pieces pulled back with butterfly clips, and she charmed it to have silver streaks in it.
Ginny was wearing a glittery emerald green dress. It was a one shoulder spaghetti strap that went down to her feet but cut off in a slant. It was simple but beautiful, she put her hair up in a half pony tail with a fancy clip and curled her hair.
The boys were down in the common room waiting anxiously for their girlfriends to arrive. When they heard Hermione's bedroom door open they quickly turned their heads for a view of the door, and their jaws dropped as they watched Ginny and Hermione walk out. The girls smiled knowingly at each other when they saw the boys reactions. The boys slowly got up and went to meet them at the bottom of the stairs, with their jaws still hanging open. When Hermione reached Draco, she smiled seductively at him.
"If you don't close your mouth I'm going to take that as an invitation and we'll never get to the ball" and she playfully kissed his nose, and then his lips.
"Hell, that might not be so bad"
"But I worked so hard, don't you want to show me off?"
"Well" Draco looked conflicted "Yes and no, I liked your idea better"
"Who says I can't respond to the invitation after the ball?" she smiled at him, and he smiled back as he took her arm.
"I'm keeping you to that"
The 2 couples walked down to the Great hall hand in hand. Hermione smiled as she looked at Joel and Ginny, they were talking quietly and smiling.
"Hey babe what are you looking at?" asked Draco as they turned a corner, the great hall was straight ahead.
"Just Ginny and Joel, they're so cute"
"Ya we did a good job" He pulled her into a kiss, before they opened the doors to the great hall. They were some of the last people to arrive, and they left Ginny and Joel to go sit at the teachers table as they were instructed to do. After about 5 more minutes of waiting, Dumbledore motioned for the ball to begin, and Draco led Hermione out to the dance floor. A slow melody filled their ears, and Draco pulled Hermione close to him, Hermione felt as if she were in heaven, with just her and Draco. She was vaguely aware of anything going on around her. Voldemort himself could have walked in threatening to blow everything up and her smile would have remained. Draco too felt this way, it was almost as if they were made for each other, the way their bodies fit, the way they could read each other, it was magical. They danced a few songs slow and fast, and soon decided to retire for a little while, and Ginny and Joel followed suit. The 4 of them sat at a table talking and laughing, and the boys went to get some punch for everybody.
"Oh Hermione" said Ginny "I'm having such a wonderful time, are you?" Ginny had a dreamy far away look in her eyes.
"Ya I'm having a wonderful time too. We're lucky to have 2 guys as good as them"
"Don't I know it" the 2 boys came back, and they started talking about other things once more.
"Lets switch dance partners" suggested Ginny "Ya know for a little flavor"
"Oh ya, it would be nice to have someone who knew how to dance" Hermione winked and looked at Draco.
"Excuse me! I do too know how to dance, I'm insulted" they all laughed at Draco.
"I was just kidding Draco, calm down" she placed a kiss on his lips and they all went out to the dance floor. Ginny danced with Draco and Hermione danced with Joel, each of the couples chatting away about the others significant other. It turned out to be quite fun, but none of them wanted to be away from their girlfriend/boyfriend for too long so they switched back to the original arrangement after one dance. But soon after someone else interrupted Hermione and Draco, they were in a middle of a dance, swaying to the rhythm chatting slightly but mostly just enjoying the others company. She looked into Draco's eyes, they were sparkling.
"I'm so happy" she whispered before laying her head on his shoulder.
"Me too, I don't think I could have asked for anyone better but you" she smiled, and he placed a kiss on his forehead. The song ended and Hermione felt someone tap her on her shoulder. She turned around and her eyes met with Harry's she'd recognized those eyes anywhere.
"Hi Harry"
"Potter" Draco nodded his head towards Harry.
"Malfoy. Can I steal a dance from Hermione?" Hermione turned her head to look at Draco, he could tell she wanted to so he nodded his head, and she gave him a quick kiss before taking Harry's hand.
"Are you having fun?" she asked
"Yeah I am, I can tell you are"
"Ya, its wonderful" there was a brief pause.
"This is just like the old times" she said with a bit of a sad tone in her voice "Except for Ron"
"Ya, its nice. But what ever happened with you two?" Hermione closed her eyes blinking a rebel tear.
"I don't know I want to talk about it, I don't want you to turn against him."
"Hermione please tell me" his eyes bore into hers.
"If you really want to know, he tried to r…rape me" Harry's eyes grew wide in shock, but she cut him off before he could say anything. "But please Harry don't leave him stay his friend, I've forgiven him, but I'll never forget that's why it will never be the same again, but he needs you."
"Jesus, Hermione I never knew, how come you didn't tell me, I could have knocked some sense into him"
"No really Harry don't worry about it, it's over, just pretend I never told you"
"Well I can't do that, I care for you Hermione, but if you forgave him I can try and forgive him"
"That's why I love you" Harry chuckled
"People really underestimate your power sometimes, you're a strong girl, I bet you could do anything"
"No, not everything" they smiled and continued talking even though the first song had passed them by, but at the end of the next song they decided to go back to their respective dates because Draco was getting fidgety and was on the verge of having a murderous glare in his eye. Even though he knew there was nothing between him, he was still a bit possessive, and he didn't trust any of the male race with his beautiful goddess. When it came time to break a part, Hermione found that she couldn't, Her bracelet stuck to a loose thread on Harry's shirt. They tried to get it off but it was unsuccessful. So Hermione had to unclasp it from her wrist so they could try and get it off better. When they finally got it off of Harry's shirt he offered to put it back on her, Hermione having forgotten once again just exactly what the bracelet was covering let him. He was just about to hook it when she heard a small gasp, she looked down at her arm and quickly pulled it away but it was too late he had already seen. He stood before her with tears welling in his eyes not knowing whether to be mad or furious. So he decided he didn't believe it.
"Hermione" he said calmly "Please tell me that's not…" Finally the dam of tears that had been developing broke free, and sob came from her throat
"It's what you think it is Harry" she tried to wipe away the tears but it was a steady flow, and more kept coming. Harry's throat burned, and tears were threatening to spill from his eyes.
"How… w..why, Hermione?" Hermione opened her mouth to try and explain but he didn't want to listen. "I trusted you Hermione" with each word his voice grew louder, and her tears became more painful. " I told you everything I was most afraid of and this whole time you've been a deatheater! You've probably even been spying on me for Voldemort" at this word everyone's attention turned to them. Draco started to walk closer to see what was happening he couldn't tell there were tears on her face because of the lighting. " What have I ever done to you please tell me hermione, is this about revenge or something." Harry paused for a moment not knowing what to say. "I thought you loved me and cared for me… how come everyone I ever love leaves me… why, why did you do this Hermione? I told you everything, and I stayed by your side when no one else would, and this is what you do, the whole time I've been defending a deatheater" there was a collective gasp from the students, Hermione's heart was breaking, and her vision was slowly starting to blur. An unwanted tear broke free from Harry's eyes and he started sobbing along with Hermione while still shouting "WHY? THIS ISN'T FAIR! YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE WHO EVER UNDERSTOOD, AND NOW I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO THINK You're part of the reason why I can't go anywhere unaccompanied by an adult, you're ruining my life. I hate you, I hate you for becoming one of them, and I don't even know why, it's probably all my fault too"
"Harry" her meek voice pleaded.
"Why Hermione?"
"Harry please" Hermione was growing weak and she could barely stand. Draco was still pushing through students to get to Hermione.
"I can't talk to you anymore, I hate you for this Hermione and I'm not as strong as a person as you I can't forgive you" Harry sobbed, and he turned and left the great hall. He was conflicted part of him still didn't believe it, and the other part didn't know what to think. This is the Hermione who was like a little sister to him, the Hermione he would do anything for, but at the same time he wanted to hate her, even though he was having a hard time at it, but she betrayed him. But the main thing running through his head was Why? He wanted to know why she turned to that, there must be some reason, he racked his brain on that question until he passed out from exhaustion in the middle of a corridor.
Back in the main hall, Hermione collapsed, just as Draco pushed through the crowd to where she was standing. He saw her on the ground and Ginny and Joel trying to pull her up and soother her, he too immediately went down to her side. She was unconsciously scratching her dark mark again , causing blood to mix with her salty tears on the ground, he took her hands and held them so she couldn't do that, and performed a healing spell. Dumbledore was busy trying to get the other students away from them. Hermione seemed to be in another one of her depression worlds, mumbling random words.
"Harry…. Please….hate….ugly….no… hate me" He picked Hermione up and ran up to their common room Ginny and Joel following. Dumbledore sent Snape up with a dreamless sleep potion. But by the time he got up there, they had soothed her out of her dreamlike state. She was sitting up in her bed with a blank expression. Draco and Ginny were holding her hands, and Joel was sitting at the end of her bed. Draco was talking to her to try and get her mind off of things. Snape gave draco the potion and bid her well and left, much to everyone's surprise she said bye back. That was the first thing she'd said since she collapsed. After a little while longer Ginny and Joel decided to leave, and she said bye to them too. Draco was still talking to her, just random stories, but she grabbed him closer to her, and he held her in his arms. She liked the feeling of him, he was her protection
"Please say something baby" he kissed her forehead.
"Harry hates me"
"It'll be okay, remember you're doing this to protect him, everything will turn out all alright, and he won't hate you once he knows"
"Is it worth it anymore?"
"Yes Hermione it's worth everything. We've got to figure out your parent's research so we can kill voldemort, and you won't have to serve him anymore, you'll be free from him and you can be friends with Harry again."
"It's so hard, I just want to end it, it would be so simple too"
"No you can't do that" he held her tighter "I need you Hermione, I lo..care for you too much to live with out you" She snuggled into him even more.
"Will anything ever be the same?"
"Yes, love it will be"
"do you promise never to leave me?"
"I'd never dream of it"
"Draco I think I'm falling in l…" She was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Dumbledore emerged from behind the closed door.
"How are you doing Ms. Granger?"
"I'm doing okay I guess"
"I don't know everything Ms. Granger, but I know that Harry doesn't hate you he loves you too much to ever hate you, he's just shocked, and he feels betrayed, but this may very well be the last thing he needs so he can kill Voldemort in the moment when he kills him all of this rage will come out with it, which insures a better chance that Voldemort will actually die. Continue with your parent's research, and find a way to weaken Voldemort, and soon everything will be normal again." Tears were glazing in her eyes as she heard this piece of hope. "Just give Harry his time"
"Thank you Professor Dumbledore"
"I think its time for me to get some sleep, good night" As Dumbledore walked out of their common room a single tear rolled down his cheek, thinking that no one deserved to bear that burden.
Draco was going to get up so could let Hermione sleep, but she held on even tighter.
"Don't leave me" she whispered
"I'll never leave you" he tilted her head so he could see into her eyes and gave her a soft kiss
"Good night"
"I broke my promise" Draco remembered their conversation before leaving to go to the ball.
"meh its okay, but next time you feel up to it, it better be good" he winked at her, and a small smile came to her lips. She was amazed by him he was the only one that could put a smile on her face in her darkest hour. She was falling in love with this boy, she hoped he was falling in love with her, and her hope would come true because at that moment he was thinking that he might have just found the "one" someone to spend the rest of his life with, Now he just had to find someway to tell her he loved her, and he wanted to say it at the right time. Both of their dreams were filled with thoughts of each other.
Hey, please review and tell me what you think. This chapter was depressing to write anyway, I don't think this is one of my best works but tell me what you think anway I hope you liked it. I'll try to update sooner this week. Love you all
