Disclaimer:  I won nothing except the plot.

A/N: thank you all my reviewers! Luv ya all!! Now on with the story.

The New Prophecy

Chapter 9- Talent Show and the Christmas Ball

                It had been a while since the incident at the club. Draco had made a promise to himself to be Pansy, or break up with her and risk ruining his reputation. So far he had kept his promise. Hermione and Blaize were happy with their relationship, though Hermione had felt the fire begin to go out. He just wasn't what she wanted.

                But despite personal problems, everyone was excited. Tonight was the talent show. A showcase of the best and worst that Hogwarts had to offer. The talk of the school was that Hermione was in it. All around school people were making rude comments such as: "What's she gonna do? Read to us?" and "We don't want to see her and Blaize make out on stage."

                Draco was waiting in the common room later that afternoon. The talent show was at 4:30, and the Christmas Ball was at 8:00. These two events signaled the start of Christmas break. It was currently 3:30. Participants in the show were to arrive a half hour early.

                "Hermione!!" he called up the stairs. "Hurry up! We have to be there in half an hour!!"

                "Calm down!" she called back. "It won't take us that long to walk down there!"

                Draco sat on the couch. He started to think about his current situation. He was still deep in thought when Hermione came downstairs and told him that she was ready to go.

                While walking to The Great Hall he nodded absently to everything she was saying. He almost bumped into Professor Snape.  Snape looked at the pride of Syltherin house.

                "I certainly hope that you two don't embarrass yourselves…or me," he stated. "How you do reflects what you think of me and my house."

                "Oh, we won't, sir," said Draco as he was taken out of his stupor. Hermione stayed silent. Her head of house had been acting strange toward her in the recent month. He always had a strange look on his face whenever he saw her.

                "Good bye, Professor," Hermione said stiffly. She walked into the hall. Draco saw Snape's face, it looked angry, but there was a hint of desire showing through. Draco said good bye, and followed Hermione into the Great Hall. He made a mental note to talk to her later.

                A half hour later, the Great Hall was filled with students and professors waiting to see the show. Ron had gotten there fifteen minuets early to make sure he got a good seat in order to see Hermione. His date with Lavender was tonight and he needed to get his daily dose of Hermione to keep him going. Soon, Professor Dumbledore came onto the stage that had been set up. The hall went silent.

                "Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to our first annual talent show,' he announced. Everyone started to cheer. "Well, let's get things in progress," Dumbledore continued. "Our first act is Miss Pravati Patil."

                After Pravati, many more students went on. Some danced; some played instruments. But very few sang. Those that sang did okay, but they weren't fantastic. So far, the only one who had potential was Goyle for his ventriloquism.

                Dumbledore came out and announced, "We are down to our last two contestants. Up now, Mr. Draco Malfoy." The female population burst into applause. Draco came out, smirking confidently. He was wearing baggy blue jeans, a tight black shirt with a picture of a monkey on it that said "who flung poo?", a silver ball necklace, some wrist bands, and his hair was spiked.

                The music began. He was singing "Burn", by Three Days Grace. It was frenzy. Girls rushed the stage. Guys were thrown aside like rag dolls; trampled by the wall of girls. The room  was now separated: guys in the back, girls in the front. Even some of the female professors were up front. Draco had a way with the ladies.

                When he finished, the chaos took twenty minuets to die down. Dumbledore came out once again and put a charm on the screaming crowd. The guys gave a grateful sigh.

                "Now," Dumbledore spoke, "last but not least, Miss Hermione Riddle."

                When Hermione came out, the male population seemed more interested in the show suddenly. She was wearing form fitting, hip-hugger jeans with laces up the side, black Vans, a leather-like spaghetti strap top with the lost symbol on it, her hair was up with chopsticks and some strands framing her face, she had two silver bands on her upper arms, and some black eyeliner.

                She was a little nervous, but when spotted Draco and he gave her two thumbs up, she calmed down instantly. She gave him a small smile as her music began to play. She was singing "Hey Pretty", by Poe. Her voice filled the hall and seemed to mesmerize. Some guys were trying to climb the stage, but she pushed them off with her shoe. The girls hated to admit it, but Hermione had it and she knew how to use it.

                When she was finished, the crowd started chanting for an encore. She shook her head, and walked off the stage. There was a resounding 'Aw' from everyone as she left.

                As she left, Dumbledore came out one last time.

                "Now I shall announce the winner," he said. "This year's talent show winner is…Mr. Goyle!!!"

                Everyone clapped politely, silently cursing whoever did the judging.

                "It is now 6:00. The Christmas Ball is at 8:00. Remember, fourth years and up, only. Now, everyone go get ready," Dumbledore said jovially.

                The students exited, talking spiritedly about the dance.

                While Ron was walking back to Gryffindor tower with Harry, he got to thinking.

                'Wow. I never knew Hermione could sing like that,' he thought. 'I will have her. Even if I have to go to great extremes.' An evil smile found its way onto his face. 'Hermione will be mine.'

                Two hours later, Draco was waiting for Hermione in their common room. As heads, they had to go to this dance together.

                Draco was very nervous. They had to open and close the dance by…well…dancing. He couldn't deny it any longer though. He was in love with Hermione. What would he say?

                Just as he started to sit down, he heard her footsteps on the stairs. He looked up and his breath caught in his throat.

                Hermione was wearing a pink dress with spaghetti straps and a black layer over it (A/N: you know what I'm talking about, right? Where you can still see the pink under the black). The top had little stars on it; some were black and others were pink because the material had been cut like that. Her hair was (once again) half up, half down. The top half was up in a bun with some strands falling out, and some braids leading from the front to the back. For tonight, she charmed her red streaks to be pink. She had on some light pink eye shadow, black eyeliner, and lip gloss. She had on a silver necklace with a fairy with pink wings on it. She looked stunning.

                All Draco could say was, "You look absolutely beautiful, Hermione." She blushed a little at his comment.

                "You don't look half bad yourself," she noted. It was true.

                Draco was wearing black dress pants, a black shirt, pink tie, a pink vest (looking like Hermione's dress), black dress shoes, and a black jacket with a pink, silk handkerchief . His hair was down, hanging loosely in his face. He looked like a god!

                "Shall we?" he asked ceremoniously.

                "We shall," she giggled as she took his arm. Draco yearned to hear that angelic laugh again.

                At the Great Hall, everyone was anxiously waiting for their Head Boy and Girl. People were starting to get angry.

                "Where are they!" yelled one Hufflepuff. As if to answer their questions, the doors opened to reveal the two heads. Dumbledore stood from his chair.

                "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your Head Boy and Girl. Draco, Hermione. If you could be so kind."

                Getting the hint, they went to the center of the dance floor. The song "Bed of Roses", by Guns and Roses came on. They started to dance. There was an awkward silence for a while before Draco spoke up.

                "So…you like the dance so far?" he asked apprehensively. For the first time, he was uneasy around a girl. 'Well duh. You're about to tell her that you love her,' he contemplated.

                "Yeah. So far," she said, looking into his eyes. Draco was just about to kiss her when he heard a voice.

                "May I cut in?" Blaize questioned.

                "Uh…sure. I was going to get something to drink anyways. Later," Draco answered.

                "Pansy's over there just so you know," Blaize responded, pointing towards a table full of Syltherin students.

                "Thanks," Draco said sardonically.

                All through the evening, Ron watched Hermione. Each time she danced with some guy from Syltherin he would feel his jealousy spike. But nothing unnerved him like seeing Draco and Hermione start the dance. The way they looked into each other's eyes…

                'Ugh,' he reflected. 'I don't want to even think about it.'

                When he saw them dancing, he remembered a song by a muggle band that Harry played for him. The chorus was the most memorable part to him.

                "I hate, everything about you.

                Why do I love you?" –Three Days Grace

                Yup. That fit his Hermione situation perfectly. He left the dance early to finish his plans for getting Hermione.

                It was almost midnight. Time to end the dance. Draco and Hermione walked onto the dance floor. "More Than Words", by Extreme, came on. Draco pulled Hermione close and whispered in her ear.

                "I broke up with Pansy," he whispered, but with no sign of remorse.

                "What? Why?
 Hermione whispered back.

                "Because there was someone else. Someone who has been there for a while, but I never noticed."

                "Who?"

                "You, Hermione. It's you."

                "Me?"

                "Yes." You mean so much to me, Hermione. I would do anything for you. I love you."

                Hermione began to tear up. Not trusting her voice, she reached up and pulled him into a kiss. The hall gasped. Blaize, who had his back turned while getting some punch, turned to look at the dance floor. He was furious with what he saw. Sure, this had been his intention when he started, but he had fallen to Hermione's spell, and fell in love with her as well.

                Blaize walked onto the dance floor. When he reached the kissing couple, he cleared his throat. Draco and Hermione broke apart instantly. Hermione saw Blaize's face. He was livid. She ran out of the hall. Blaize watched her go, then he looked at Draco. He punched him.

                As he was helping Draco up, he whispered, "Go to her."

                Draco smiled and ran after Hermione.

                Draco found Hermione in the garden, sitting on the edge of the fountain, playing with the water. He walked up to her and sat down.

                "Hey," he said tenderly.

                "Hey," she answered.

                "Look. I'm sorry about that back there. I-"

                "Don't be. I'm not. I'm the one that started it. Remember?"

                "oh yeah," he said, laughing.

                "Yeah," she smiled. "Did you mean it?"

                "Every syllable."

                "You'd better have. 'Cause I love you too, Draco."

                Draco smiled his first honest smile in a long time. For a while, they just sat there.

                "Woah," said Draco while looking at his watch. "Time to go, love."

                "Okay."

                The got up and walked back to their room, hand in hand.

                Together.

A/N: Done and done! Another chapter of my fic. up and posted. And it's a long one! Whew! Hope you liked it. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!! Sorry this took so long, but I have that damned state testing going on and I couldn't find time to write. Chapter 10 is started, so it should be up soon (maybe). As a tribute to my dear friend Dannee: "I like drums, so should you." Luv ya girl!!! : ) Until next time kids!!