A/N: I am so sorry for taking so long on the last chapter. Seriously, I have been running, and my mind cannot seem to catch up. Killer headaches do not work well with my imagination. However, you reviewers have every right to be mad. ::dodges veggies, fruits, and the occasional plunger:: but if you keep reviewing, I'll keep writing!!

Chapter XIV: Wonders Never Cease

After they got Angelina to the hospital wing, everyone (excluding Fred, who insisted upon staying next to her bedside.) went back to the Gryffindor common room.

Hermione, Ginny, Katie, and Alicia plopped themselves onto a coach by the fire. Harry took an armchair not too far away, and Lee and George decided on a game of Exploding Snap.

No one spoke for a long time. Hermione picked up her script book and started to mumble her lines to herself. Ginny kept glancing from Harry to the fire. Alicia finally got up and went into the dorm rooms. Katie began to pace, then decided to go check up on Angelina. Lee decided to go with her, and that left George, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione, all alone in the common room.

Suddenly, Harry got up and sat down in the seat next to Ginny. Hermione and George took the hint, and George went off to the kitchens while Hermione plodded her way up the steps to the dorm rooms.

Alicia was sitting on her bed, flipping through a Witch Hairstyles magazine. Hermione sat down on to her bed, and flopped back onto her pillow with a sigh.

Alicia looked up. "I heard that sigh. Now, who is it?"

Hermione looked up. "What do you mean?" she asked, innocently.

Alicia rolled her eyes. Seriously, Mio. I've known you for years now, ever since you started being friends with Ron. Now, tell me who this boy is you've been swooning over, or else I'll have to whip out some of my judo."

Hermione smiled. "I don't like him… well, I sort of do. He's really hot, and we've gotten to know each other really well, but I don't want to like him because…" she trailed off.

"Because you know you might be doing something you both may regret?" Alicia finished.

"Yeah…" Hermione thought. "How did you…?"

Alicia smiled sadly. "Because I know what it's like to like a guy so much, and be close friends with him, but wonder what is better: the friendship, or the relationship. So far I've chosen friendship, but it's coming to a point now where I just can't help feeling what I feel for him." Alicia stopped suddenly. "It's Draco, isn't it?"

Hermione flopped back onto her pillow. "Yes." she moaned. "And I can't for the life of me get him out of my head!"

Alicia smiled. "Does that explain the whole guitar thing?"

Hermione grinned to herself. Her roommates were so bright sometimes. "Yes, Cia." she answered. "That would explain that… What in the bloody name of…?"

Waltz music was coming from the common room. Loud waltz and somewhat tango-y music. Alicia shrugged, and she and Hermione went downstairs to investigate. The sight they saw when they got down there, though, was a sight Hermione would never forget.

George was dressed in a full tuxedo, bowtie and all, and had a rose in his mouth. He was doing some odd rhythmic looking remix of the cha-cha, but no one really could tell. As soon as Alicia reached the floor, George swept her off her feet, dipping her low. He was singing as the music continued.

"Oh my beautiful Alicia, it would very please me-a, if you would come to the ball-ia, with me for winter-a, because I like you-a, but never could tell you-a…"

At first, it seemed that Alicia was going to slap him, but then she burst into giggles. George continued to play the music, and plucked a rose from a vase nearby, placing it in Alicia's mouth.

They were just about to start the tango again, when Fred and Angelina walked into the common room, hands interlocked. Fred just stared.

"What in the bloody name of…" he started.

"Looks like fun! Come on Fred!" squealed Angelina. She yanked Fred be his hand, and they began to do the twist.

"C'mon Harry, ol' chap!" called Fred from across the room, dipping Angelina low.

Harry was sitting with Ginny over in a corner. Harry looked at Ginny, and she shrugged. Harry then quickly joined the others, Ginny close by his side.

Hermione just laughed and shook her head. Then she sighed silently. She couldn't help feeling left out. She was the only one without a dancing partner. Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She opened it, and there stood Draco.

"Hey. Want to take a little walk? Unless…" he peeked his head inside the common room "You'll be missed."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "They won't even notice I'm gone." Quickly, she slipped out the door.

"So, Mio, are you ready for the ball?" Draco asked, as they walked.

Hermione grinned. "I think I'm more ready for tomorrow."

Draco laughed. "It's a pity, you know, that we only got to practice the last scene one time."

Hermione felt her stomach drop. She shut her eyes tightly, and took a deep breath. "Draco… I'm sorry…"

Draco looked scared. "What is it?"

"I want to be with you, I just don't want to hurt anyone, and I don't think that it would work. We are from opposite houses, opposite families even. What would your parents say?"

Draco looked at his feet. "My father is in Azkaban. My mother kicked me out of the house, and she didn't even know about this. Please Hermione, I think that it could work. We just both need to have our hearts in it."

"Oh…" Hermione said, pondering. "Let's just give it time. Let's just get past the play tomorrow, and then we'll have to talk at the ball."

Suddenly, an announcement flooded though the corridor where they were standing.

"Attention all cast members. Please report to your dorms now. Report to dress rehearsal at nine-o'clock tomorrow morning. Have a good rest!"

Hermione sighed.

"Big day tomorrow, huh?" Draco asked. "Are you ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be… or maybe I should go practice my lines again…"

But before she could finish her sentence, Draco swept her up into a big hug.

"Mio, I love you. I don't know about you, but I want to be with you." he kissed her cheek lightly, and then walked away, leaving a somewhat stunned, yet pleased Hermione Granger.

A/N: Like what you read? Review for me please!!!