Chapter 5

Aftershock





After the "Practise Yule Ball" was over, each couple walked back to their dormitory together.





Harry walked alongside Pansy to the entrance of the Slytherin dungeon, then they stood in awkward silence.

"Uh, well, I guess I'll see you on Monday..." Harry trailed, and turned to walk away, when Pansy grabbed the arm of his robes and pulled him back.

Her face was inches from his, her eyes bright with unusual emotion.

They stood there like that for a moment, and then she softly brushed her lips against his.

"I like the way you danced." she whispered, then let go and turned around, and climbed through the portrait hole after quietly whispering a password.

Harry stood, frozen and dumbfounded.

Pansy Parkinson....had just been matched with him....had been nice to him....had danced with him....and kissed him!

Harry blinked, then made his way back to the Gryffindor tower, wondering if this day could get any stranger.





Draco and Ginny, at that moment, were walking towards the Gryffindor tower entrance (which made Ginny very surprised seeing as though she never would have dreamed that Draco Malfoy would ever walk her "home".)

As they approached the portrait hole, Ginny stared up at his piercing gray eyes, which, not for the first time that night, held some warmth.

"Goodnight, little Ginny..." he said huskily.

She stared up at him, and ran her fingers though her hair.

He smiled at this, and ran his own fingers through her mane of red curls.

Then....he leaned his head down...and kissed her.

It was a feeling like Ginny had never felt before...a feeling of utter ecstasy......only felt for a moment.

He pulled away, a bright twinkle in his eyes.

"Sweet dreams."





At that moment, Ron and Hermione were inside the common room by the fire.

"I'll see you in the morning..." Hermione said uncomfortably.

"Yeah..."

"So, um, goodnight..."

"Yeah....night.....sweet dreams, Herm."

Hermione looked at his green eyes in wonderment.

Why hadn't she seen it before?

Why hadn't she seen that look that he gave her every time they said goodbye....even for an hour?

But Hermione hadn't noticed it...not until now...and she had a feeling...had this feeling all night, that she was returning that look...

For the first time in her life, Hermione decided to act on impulse.

She leaned over...





*Hope you enjoyed this! More to come! And more (and different) POV's I promise!)