Disclaimer: I think I'm getting used to writing this…I don't own Harry Potter, but some day very soon, I will own Tom Felton. =)
Authors Note: Okay, here are the people this chapter is dedicated to:
Okay…well…everyone. ^^ I love you all. Thank you much! ::huggle::
Oh! ::hides:: I guess my attempt at a cliff hanger worked? ::nervous laugh:: Sorry! ^^;;
Hermione took a deep breath as she and Ron walked through the two doors leading to the Grand Hall. She looked over at Ron, who looked very nervous. "What's the matter?"
"I…uh…I can't dance."
Hermione giggled. "That's all right, it's not that hard! If you want we can just dance the slow dances." She suggested.
Ron nodded. "Well, as long as you have fun." He smiled.
"Oh, you're so sweet Ron." Hermione said. She looked around at the décor. "Wow! It's so pretty!" The ceiling showed the sky, clear and the stars looked like little crystals hanging from the ceiling. It was then that her gaze fell upon Draco, who was standing as far away from Pansy as he possibly could. Hermione sighed, feeling a wave of sadness rush over her..
"It sure does look fancy," Ron said, looking at the ceiling.
Suddenly, a large orchestra appeared in front of the professors' tables. They started playing slow music.
"Care to dance?" Ron said in the most formal way he could.
Hermione giggled. "Of course!"
Malfoy sighed as he glared at Pansy's back as she talked to Millicent. I hope that I don't have to slow dance with her…maybe I should fake sick. He looked around at all of the people dancing and his silver eyes stopped and widened when they landed upon Hermione. …Hermione…? He wanted badly to dance with her. He scowled as Ron smiled and Hermione laughed at him. She should be enjoying this dance with me, not with that red-headed-twit. He stopped his thoughts and attempted to shake them out of his head. I can't keep feeling like this! She's a Mudblood…we shouldn't even get along, let alone…kiss…He continued to watch her.
Pansy turned to him and smiled. "Want to dan—," She noticed that he wasn't even looking at her. "Draco?" She glanced in the direction that his eyes were so fixated on. She turned back to him. "If you love her so much why did you say you'd go with me?!"
People in the Grand Hall slowly stopped dancing and looked into the direction of Pansy.
Malfoy sighed and said between gritted teeth, "Pansy, don't…"
Pansy took a deep breath. "Draco, you better not look at her for the rest of the dance or I'll tell everyone your little secret." She whispered, smirking.
Malfoy growled at her and grabbed her hand in his and placed his hand on her hip.
She grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck and they started to slow dance to the song that started playing.
Everyone turned around to face his or her date and resumed dancing.
Hermione pulled her eyes away from Malfoy. "Ron, I'm going to get some punch." She said, smiling.
Ron grabbed her wrist. "No! I'll get it for you. Wait here!" He said quickly before running off in the direction of the punch bowl.
Hermione stood there for a moment and turned her head slightly to look at Malfoy. Oh, God…I can't…She felt as if she were going to cry. A second later, she saw him glance over in her direction. They stared at each other for a moment and Hermione felt as if it were just Draco and she. She smiled slightly at him.
Hermione…Draco thought as he watched her smile at him.
Unexpectedly, Pansy stepped on his foot. "Draco," She whispered threateningly.
He rolled his eyes and looked away from Hermione.
Pansy grinned triumphantly.
Hermione sighed.
Ron walked back over to her smiling. "Here's your punch, Hermione!" He handed it to her.
"Thank you, Ron." She took a sip.
He stared at her for a moment longer and said, "Hermione, lets go outside for a moment."
Hermione blinked and nodded. "All right…" They passed Harry as they walked outside into the school garden and Hermione smiled and waved at him.
Ron sat down on a bench a motioned for her to sit.
Hermione sat down slowly and looked at him, concern etched on her face. "What's the matter, Ron?"
He didn't say anything.
"Ron?" She put a hand on his shoulder. "Ron…what's wrong?"
Ron looked up at her, "Hermione, this…this is hard for me to even think about…but…Harry and I talked last night and he said that I should talk to you about it."
Hermione stared at him for a moment.
Ron took a deep breath. "Hermione…I know…how you feel about Draco."
Hermoine felt all the happiness from the night slowly fade away. "Ron…"
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. "Hermione…I love you. And I want you to be happy," He started.
Hermione felt tears come to her eyes and she grabbed Ron's other hand and held it. "Ron,"
"And, if he makes you happy, then," He took another deep breath, "Well, I don't want you to feel like you have to be here at the dance with me."
"Oh, Ron," Hermione felt a few tears run down her cheeks and she leaned forward and hugged him tightly.
He gently pushed her away, "But I can't keep doing this if you really do love him. One of us will eventually get hurt, and it will be me." He looked into her eyes, "I love you, and I will always love you, Hermione. I can't keep you from what you want. Screw the school and what everyone says."
Hermione felt more tears stream down her face. Ron…Ron…oh, God…She thought to herself as he continued.
He smiled and wiped them away with his thumbs, "Don't keep doing this just because you think it's what I want. What I want is for you to be happy." He stood up. "I'll leave you alone for a few minutes." He leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead. With that, he made his way inside, somewhat briskly.
Hermione couldn't hold it in any longer. "Oh, Ron…!" She yelled as tears streamed down her face. "I'm so sorry...!" She lay down on the bench and cried into her arms.
Meanwhile, Ron walked over to the blonde, "Malfoy,"
Malfoy stopped dancing with Pansy immediately, "What, Weasley?" He asked with that annoying bratty tone that he uses.
Ron sighed heavily. Don't punch the git, don't punch the git…He said over and over in his head. He leaned forward and grabbed Malfoy's arm, pulling him away from Pansy, who stood alone scowling in the middle of the dance floor. "Hermione's outside, you need to go talk to her."
Malfoy blinked and the smug look on his face disappeared. "Oh…thanks." He said before walking across the dance floor to the door that leads to the garden.
"Hermione."
The brunette opened her eyes and looked up. "Who's there?!" She sat down.
"Over here."
She turned around, "Who—no!" She yelled.
The hooded figure that attacked her those many days ago was standing only feet from her. "We meet again." He advanced toward Hermione and grabbed her wrist, pulling her up off of the bench. "This time, you won't get away alive…" he performed the silencing spell on her.
Hermione opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Her eyes widened as the figure raised its wand. No…
I hope you all don't kill me for stopping there! That's the longest chapter so far, I think! ^^ Kind of a tear-jerker for me at the part with Ron and Hermione… ::sniff:: Well, review and tell me what you think!