A/N: Hi, thanks to my reviewers, you light up my life! Here's the next chapter.
Chapter 8
After dinner everyone made their way back to their common rooms. As the prefects reached theirs they found the Jordan and Jenna waiting for them to discuss final plans for the ball, which were quickly decided.
Later that evening Hermione decided that she had to see Draco about their costumes. She found him in the prefect library, although he looked relaxed she felt somewhat intimidated by him.
"Uh, Malfoy" she said tentatively
"Yeah" he answered softly not realising who it was
He looked up and his familiar scowl returned as he noticed Hermione looking at him strangely.
"What?" he repeated impatiently
"Well there goes civil Malfoy" she thought
"I wanted to ask about costumes, what are you wearing?"
"Haven't decided" he replied nonchalantly
Hermione took a deep breath
"OK, I was thinking of going as a fairy, so if you went as a prince, that pretty much goes with everything"
"Whatever" he shot
Hermione walked out of the library wondering why Draco couldn't be civil for two minutes around her, he managed around the others. While Draco was wondering why she annoyed him so much, even though she did nothing to him.
The Hogsmead trip went smoothly and the next week passed quickly, especially for those eagerly awaiting the ball, too quickly for Hermione and Draco.
The night of the ball finally arrived, everything was set and all that was needed were the students. Hermione was asked to get ready with the Gryffindor girls but declined and opted to get ready with Padma as the prefects had to go together. After about an hour Padma looked at Hermione and was stunned, she looked amazing. Her hair was wavy with delicate flowers weaved at intervals, her costume consisted of a short jagged- cut floaty skirt that was various shades of purple with a tight- fit, spaghetti strap lilac top. To finish it Hermione had shimmering silver wings and silver heeled shoes. Padma was dressed as Princess Jasmin from the movie Aladdin and also looked beautiful.
Ernie and Draco, who were waiting downstairs, were dumbstruck when they saw them. Draco had to do a double take; Hermione looked like an angel. Draco looked incredibly sexy as a prince (A/N: I'll leave that to your imagination!) which made Hermione force herself to breathe. Whilst the two supposed enemies continued to stare at each other Jordan and Jenna entered the common room. The four bystanders watched in amusement as Draco offered his arm to Hermione.
"Let's go then" said Jordan, breaking the mood
As they got to the hall Draco regained himself, sort of.
"We only have to enter with each other, right?"
"And one or two dances" Jenna said with a smile
The two looked uneasy at this. Their entrance was noted by a lot of students who were surprised and Hermione and Draco there together and not arguing, but also at how good they looked together.
Ginny and Lavender rushed up to Hermione telling her how great she looked whilst Harry and Ron stared in awe
"Uh...um...er...Hermione?" Ron stuttered
"You look great" Harry said compensating for Ron's apparent lack of brain function.
Hermione thanked them as they shot evil glares at Draco, who was receiving many glances himself. Ron regained himself and warned Draco about doing anything to Hermione, he just smirked in response.
Pansy made her dislike of the pairing known by moaning about how it was so wrong that Draco had to be there with a mudblood. Luckily Blaise intercepted before Pansy could start on a rant about Hermione, for which Draco was grateful.
The next hour progressed smoothly with Draco and Hermione dancing and talking with their own friends and avoiding each other. Lavender just had to mention how gorgeous Draco looked Parvarti and Ginny agreed.
"Don't you have to dance with him" Parvarti asked "I'm sure Padma said something about it.
"Don't remind me" Hermione sighed
"I wouldn't mind" Ginny said with amusement "don't get me wrong, Harry's the one I want, but Malfoy has that whole dark, bad- boy thing"
"Oh yeah" Lavender agreed dreamily
Meanwhile on the other side of the hall, Blaise was commenting on how good Hermione looked, to which Draco had to agree. The two boys walked on to the dance floor because Blaise wanted to dance with parvarti, Draco was jumped by Pansy who insisted that he had to dance with her. The two groups ended up dancing quite close which made it hard for Hermione and Draco to ignore each other. Trying to convince themselves they hated each other was not working too well.
A slower song came on and Pansy practically glued herself to Draco who wasn't impressed. He looked over to see Hermione dancing with Harry, Draco felt a surge of jealousy
"Where the hell did that come from" he thought
Just as Draco looked away Hermione glanced over at him and part of her wished she was Pansy at that moment.
She mentally scolded herself for thinking such thoughts, this was Malfoy! The song finished and they went to leave the dancefloor, as they walked Hermione and Draco found themselves next to each other, neither dared look.
The next moment as Harry went to find Ginny a loud rumbling noise was heard, everyone looked around as a bolt of lightening flashed across the window. A few girls screamed, but they were comforted by their partners. Hermione however, was on her own, she took a deep breath and tried to tell herself it was nothing but a freak clap, Draco noticed the look on Hermiones face as he had seen it before.
The next thing they knew a strong gust of wind accompanied by more thunder and lightening blew through the castle knocking out the lights. More screams were heard and Hermione whimpered quietly, why now? As she thought this she felt herself pulled into a strong embrace. The person put one arm around her waist, pulling her into a strong chest whilst the other hand stroked her hair and gently brushed her face as he whispered softly
"Its OK, you're safe"
Hermione felt a rush of excitement flow through her, she also felt safe with this person. It suddenly dawned on her that, she knew the scent accompanying the embrace, it was the same as that night in the library.
"It can't be, no way would Malfoy do this willingly" she thought
Draco had seen the look on Hermiones face and remembered that she didn't like thunderstorms and felt strangely pulled to comfort her. He managed to restrain himself until the lights went out and he heard her small whimper.
"What am I doing? This is not good, get a grip!" he thought
But a voice in the back of his mind, which sounded remarkably like Blaise, was telling him this was what he wanted, he didn't hate her. So he moved over slightly and pulled her into him, he was surprised at how good it felt to hold her.
In the blink of an eye it was over, soft amber lighting dimly illuminated the room and everybody ooh'd and ahh'd thinking it was a Halloween joke. Draco released Hermione and moved away quickly as the light travelled across the room leaving her wondering if it really happened. She shook her head and went to get a drink, but Jenna stopped her
"You're gonna have to dance with him" she said softly
"I know" Hermione replied
"Come on next song is about to start" Jenna told her
"What, now?"
"Yes!"
Jordan had cornered Draco in much the same way, so the two were brought together as many couples filled the floor to dance to the slower song starting.
You look into my eyes I go out of my mind
I can't see anything
Coz this love's got me blind
I can't help myself
I can't break this spell
I can't even try
As the song started the both thought 'bloody marvellous', this was way too inappropriate for them to be dancing to.
"I can't dance with her to this" Draco thought
"OK breathe Hermione, it's Malfoy" she thought "that being the problem" she groaned inwardly
The problem was neither could control the feelings that seemed to ignite when they were near each other; confusion, excitement, anxiety, attraction. That last word being the most annoying issue. They were attracted to the person they shouldn't be anywhere near!
The two looked at each other for a moment before noticing Jordan and Jenna glaring at them. As the music continued Draco stepped infront of Hermione and offered his hand.
"Here we go" she thought as she accepted
"Merlin help me" Draco sighed
I'm in over my head
You got under my skin
I got no strength at all
In the state that I'm in
And my knees are weak
And my mouth can't speak
Fell too far this time
Draco put his arm around Hermiones waist and his other hand in hers, whilst her free arm was on his shoulder. Both were too scared to look into the others eyes. They swayed to the music but were a distance apart, getting cosy was out of the question if they wanted to retain some self-control...
Coz I'm slipping away
Like the sand to the tide
Flowing into your arms
Falling into your eyes
If you get too near
I might disappear
I might lose my mind
Or was until a passing couple knocked into Hermione causing her to almost fall into Draco making her arms go gently around his neck, he instinctively put both arms around her waist to steady her. Hermione felt her heart beat faster at their change of situation, again he had to force herself to concentrate. The hold felt somewhat familiar, and that designer cologne, it struck her hard that it was Draco earlier which sent her head into even more of a spin.
Meanwhile Draco was also having trouble keeping a clear head, it was the second time that night he had been in this position, it was one he could easily have stayed in, he felt the familiar rush of excitement, and skipping heart beats. Hermione then made the fatal mistake of looking up into Dracos mesmerising silver eyes forcing him to stare down into her deep chocolate- brown ones. The rest of the world seemed to vanish in a haze.
Baby I'm too lost in you
Caught in you
Lost in everything about you
So deep I can't sleep
I can't think
I just think about the things that you do
I'm too lost in you
Various students secretly watched while whispering about the two enemies who seemed in a trance. The song ended leaving both Hermione and Draco breathless, they immediately they go of each other and felt a sudden loss.
"That was intense" said Ginny as Hermione walked over to her
"Know what, I'm gonna go. It's almost over, I'll see you tomorrow" Hermione said, confusion written all over her face
"Why is she going?" Lavender asked Ginny as Hermione was leaving "we've still got another hour"
Ginny just shrugged
"That dance" Lavender continued "with her and Malfoy, wow"
"I know" Ginny agreed.
When Hermione reached the common room she went over to the fire and sank in to a soft chair and put her head in her hands, what was she going to do?
A few minutes later she heard the portrait door swing open, she looked over and saw Draco looking just as confused as her. Their eyes locked for a second, and for once Draco's face didn't hold the venomous look he usually gives her, they both looked away and he continued to his room, Hermione followed suit and also went to bed. Both laid there thinking for a while with many questions buzzing in their heads, they finally fell asleep with a final exhausted question 'why me, why now?"
A/N: WOW. That was long. Well there you have it, what do you think? The song (in Italics) is 'Too lost in you' by Sugarbabes.
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