Chapter Twenty Seven: The Last Dance
Hermione looked at Draco. They were out in the rose gardens, beneath the dark,
cloudless night sky, the stars resembling pinpricks in the vast sheet of blue-black overhead.
He held her tight, and indeed, in his arms, she felt safe, as though she were protected from
her surroundings, oblivious to the circumstances that threatened their happiness.
She allowed her thoughts to drift, and then something came to her.
"Draco?"
"Yes, Hermione?" he asked.
She immediately felt silly for thinking about such trivial things, but couldn't stop
herself. "I don't want to miss the last dance."
He smiled as his eyes met hers. Instantly, she knew he didn't think her asinine in
the least. He brushed a wisp of her dark chestnut hair from her face, intertwining it
between his fingers. "We'd better be heading back then." And with that, the two walked
back to the majestic castle, his arm draped around her, holding her close to him, the
warmth of one another drowning out the cold of the chilly November night air.
They entered the Great Hall as the melody of a song faded away, and Dumbledore's
voice resounded throughout.
"This has been a wonderful experience, but sadly, most good things must come to an
end sometime." He paused. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, the last song of the night.
But, before we start it, I would like to wish good luck to Gryffindor and Slytherin at the
match tomorrow, and may this be a tradition that we can continue, and in many ways, as I
said earlier, a new beginning."
The eyes of the headmaster twinkled familiarly, as he gazed on the students,
pausing momentarily at Draco and Hermione, and then at someone at the staff table, it
appeared, a few tables behind them.
Narcissa had been sitting at the staff table when Dumbledore had spoken. While she
had danced for what seemed like the whole night, first having a few dances with Professor
Flitwick, and then Hagrid, and even Dumbledore himself, she felt as though she ought to
sit this one out. And yet...
There was one person she hadn't yet danced with, and even though she longed to,
from the depths of her heart she did, she certainly did not expect him to...
A voice interrupted her thoughts. It was smooth, silky, one that she had heard so
many times, and yet tonight it seemed different, as though he had given in to the desire
they both secretly shared, but dared not admit to.
"May I have this dance?"
Narcissa looked up to meet his dark, nearly black eyes, which were normally cold
and deprived of all emotion. This time, however, they were filled with longing, warmth, and
something else. Passion? Love, perhaps?
No... She could only hope for that. But maybe, just maybe...
She smiled. "Certainly, Severus."
He took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor, where she noted other happy
couples, some her own doing, but all looking as she felt, silently wishing that the night
would never end. She smiled as she looked at her son. He had indeed changed for the
better, and everything in her life, it seemed, was coming together.
After Dumbledore spoke, Draco whisked Hermione onto the dance floor, and the
sound of Daniel Beddingfield's "If You're Not the One" filled the air. Hermione leaned her
head on Draco's chest, as they danced slowly, her arms around his neck, and his encircling
her thin waist. He breathed in the smell of her chestnut locks, the way her head had
seemed to find just the right spot, how their bodies fit together. It was perfect. He looked
across the dance floor to see something that made him smile wider.
His mother had not looked so happy in quite a long time, and this made him feel all
the better. It was wonderful to know that she too had been able to find comfort and begin
to rebuild her life in this difficult time.
Draco returned his gaze to Hermione, their eyes meeting, and it seemed as though
they were the only people in the world. No, it seemed like they were the only two people
on earth, as he allowed the words of the song to sink in while he looked into the eyes of the
girl he loved.
If you're not the one
Then why does my soul feel glad today?
If you're not the one
Then why does my hand fit yours this way?
If you are not mine
Then why does your heart return my call
If you are not mine
Would I have the strength to stand at all?
I never know what the future brings
but I know you're here with me now
We'll make it through
and I hope you are the one
I share my life with...
I don't wanna run away
But I can't take it,
I don't understand
If I'm not made for you
Then why does my heart
Tell me that I am?
Is there any way that
I can stay in your arms?
If I don't need you
then why am I crying on my bed?
If I don't need you
then why does your name resound in my head?
If you're not for me
then why does this distance maim my life?
If you're not for me
then why do I dream of you as my wife?
I don't know why you're so far away
But I know that this much is true
We'll make it through
And I hope you are
the one I share my life with
And I wish that you could be
the one I die with
And I'm praying you're
the one I build my home with
I hope I love you all my life
I don't wanna run away
but I can't take it,
I don't understand
If I'm not made for you
then why does my heart
tell me that I am?
Is there any way that
I can stay in your arms?
'Cause I miss you,
body and soul so strong
that it takes my breath away
And I breathe you
into my heart and pray
for the strength to stand today
'Cause I love you,
whether it's wrong or right
And though I can't be with you tonight
You know my heart is by your side
I don't wanna run away
but I can't take it,
I don't understand
If I'm not made for you
then why does my heart
tell me that I am?
Is there any way that
I can stay in your arms?
As the last words from the song faded away, the Homecoming King looked at his fair
Queen. "I love you, Hermione. With all my heart," and he pulled her close to him, before
drawing back to look in her eyes once more.
"I love you, too, Draco."
Their lips met, the evening had been beautiful, culminating in the best possible way,
sealed with a soft kiss...
Author's Note:
Yippee!! Another chapter! Thanks to all my lovely reviewers, once again. Wow,
this story is drawing to a close, almost finished, and mark my words, the end will be... Well, I
shouldn't say that, now should I? Never mind, forget I mentioned it... The end will be...
erm, soon, as soon as I get everything out there...
I know this chapter was short, but I needed to get the point across, and not add
anything unrelated to the last dance in it, because I thought that should be something
special. Sorry, I know, I can be a bit of a sentimental fool at times, but hey, we all have
our moments...
Anyways, let me know if you liked it, hated it, thought I could do some things to
make my writing better, offer suggestions, comments, questions, concerns, etc, etc... In
other words, please review. Just press the button at the bottom of the page. It won't take
but two minutes, and it'll make my day, so please?
Thanks for your time,
E. Caddy Compson (persephoneia)