Disclaimer: D'you really believe that I own Harry Potter?

Authors Note: impressive …56 reviews last I saw. As I've said before thank you all who review! You're all so supportive its great! Thanks a Million Galleons! You all rock! Well here it is chapter 10.

Warning: I think this chapter is going to be really long… I didn't want to split the dance into two whole different chapters…well anyway… sit back relax, make yourself a sandwich now then come back and read on…

Chapter 10…

            Padma and Hannah stood there nervously. Anthony and Ernie stood waiting for them to take their arms.

            'Oh please come down Mione? C'mon…' Hannah thought.

            Ron stood at the bottom of the steps unknowing what changes Padma and Hannah had done to his best friend. Draco made his way to the fireplace. (a/n: the fireplace dedicated to jinni) He had to get away from the weasel and his drooling party.

Draco leaned against the wall in support. Draco's mouth hung a bit open as if some form of speech were to exit, but it was no use. The sight standing at the tops of the steps, took his breath away.

Ron clutched the banister in support. He opened his mouth to complement Hermione, but all he could manage was a "uh…"

            Hermione wore her shimmering midnight black to blood red designer Viscotti robes. The neckline was a plunging V-neck. She wore a matching blood red dress that had a corset and faeire skirt. She had on blood red stilettos that were crested with black diamonds. Her hair was as they decided before glossy straight with the ends in a double curl. A black rose was placed behind her left ear. She was breathtaking.

            "You know, staring is very Impolite." Hermione said looking over at the boys.

            The three boys mumbled a 'sorry' under their breath.

            Draco was the first to actually speak, "So… to, the b-ball?"  Hermione looked over to Draco who was leaning against the wall, looking calm and cool as always…but his head was down.

            Draco didn't dare look at her, for if he did he knew that he wouldn't dare tare his eyes away from her.

"You're forgetting dear Pansy." Ron said almost rubbing it in Draco's face that he was to escort 'dear Pansy' while Ron was escorting the most beautiful thing that they've ever seen.

Draco scowled, 'How could I forget that cow? Easily. Like this.' Draco made his way to the portrait entrance.

            At that, Pansy Parkinson walked down the stairs in a big huff. Glaring at Hermione the whole time. She ran to Draco who was practically out of the door. Hermione wasn't easily phased she stood at the last step with Padma and Hannah with an angelic glow to her face.

            "To the ball" Hannah said as she took Ernie's arm. As example the couple started their way to the portrait hole. The rest followed in suite.

            "You look absolutely lovely Hermione." Ron said reassuringly.

            "Thank you Ronald. You look quite handsome tonight, I'm sure Lavender will be pleased." Hermione said and smiled. Ron blushed at the mention of Lavender. They've been an off and on again thing since 5th year.

            "Going alone Herms?" Ron asked curiously.

            "As always."

            "That's a shame Mione, I'm sure there were lots of people who asked you to the dance. Why don't you go with one of them?" Ron said knowingly because of the mess of Neville after Hermione gently turned him down.

            "I don't really know Ron, it just happened." Hermione said thinking back at all the boys who asked her. Many from Ravenclaw and Griffindor and a few from Hufflepuff, "Well we're here."

            ^^^^^^^

            Behind the closed doors was the Head Boy and Head Girl making sure that the ball was good to go, chatting with Professor McGonagall. Behind the Head Boy and Girl were the Prefects standing in line partnered. First it was Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein (Ravenclaw), Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley (Griffindor), Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy (Slytherin), and lastly Hannah Abbott and Ernie Macmillan (Hufflepuff).

            "Draco don't I look lovely tonight?" A prudent Pansy said to Draco battering her eyelashes in his face.

            "Could you please shut up Parkinson." Draco said half knowing whatever Pansy really said, and he could care less. He had his eyes ahead of him, looking at Her. He couldn't believe it; she certainly didn't look like some Mudblood. She looked purer than anything else he's ever seen in his life.

            The doors opened and Professor McGonagall signaled that they make their entrance. As Draco and Pansy went in he felt someone's head near his shoulders. He heard a whisper, "Admit it already Malfoy."

They made their way to the dance floor they were to open the dance by taking the first dance with their partners.

            Draco eyed Abbott and she discreetly winked at him as Dumbledore announced the Prefects. A small gasp from everyone as Dumbledore confirmed that it was Ms. Granger with Mr. Weasley.

Draco managed to make Pansy stay standing at least when he led. He couldn't help his eyes wander with everyone else's with the most stunning thing at Hogwarts. Her face held an angelic glow as she was swayed across the ball room floor. She had no idea that in fact the whole of the student body that was in the Great Hall at the moment had their eyes on her.

At last the opening dance had ended and Draco sat him self as far from Pansy as he could. He has forced a dim 5th year to keep Parkinson busy enough the whole night as so she did not take the night into pursuing him. He sat at the table in the far corner of the 'Slytherin section' surrounded by a mound of food and two large oafs behind the pile known as Crabbe and Goyle.

Draco couldn't help stealing glances at the beautiful filth that was sitting at a table with Scar Head and Weasel and their dates, the Weaselette and Brown, along with a long line of Griffindorks, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws that were obviously trying to get a dance with Her. How he envied every single one of them at that moment.

^^^^^^^

"Go on and dance with them Hermione." Lavender said pushing Hermione to dance with a handsome 7th year Ravenclaw. Ron nodded his head in agreement.

"Your suitors are waiting Mione." Ginny teased as she pulled Harry onto the dance floor, to a mild waltz.

Hermione gave in and agreed to dance with the 7th year Ravenclaw. She walked arm in arm with him to the dance floor; she didn't catch his name for she too was stealing glances across the room.

'Midnight black robes with silver lining, how very Draco.' Hermione thought before she was spun into a twirl.

^^^^^^^

Across the room sat Draco with a dozen or so girls crowding the table. To his dismay he lost sight of Her among the fawning females. He finally caught site of Her again only this time locked arms with some lout from Ravenclaw. For some odd reason he felt like hexing the daylights out of the Ravenclaw, but managed to find something else to do.

"You there, er…Duerre." Draco called out to a bewildered 5th year. She was surprised that Draco had even remembered her name. "Dance with me."

Mass hysteria broke out at the table; all the other girls gave the young 5th year smug glances as she nodded her head unable to speak. They made their way to the dance floor.

Draco bowed, and the 5th year curtsied. He took her in his arms and they began to sway their way near another couple dancing. He twirled the 5th year just so that he had an excuse to look at Her.  Then their eyes met.

           

^^^^^^^

            Hermione saw him ask another Slytherin to dance. She felt a spark of anger, but it was quickly lost when He began to dance, their eyes met. Though they weren't dancing together, that would be a scene…a Griffindor dancing with a Slytherin. So they just kept their gazes together…their eyes doing a forbidden dance. A dance that no one could ruin.  Then the song ended and everyone who had been dancing bowed to their partner.

^^^^^^^

            Hermione and Draco both were asked to dance and accepted. Though far across the dance floor was the other…they both did a forbidden dance together. And this is how the rest of the night went on. They both danced with different partners, but were really dancing with each other.

            The music ceased and all cleared the dance floor. Dumbledore parted from dancing with Madame Pomphrey, and stood in the middle of the dance floor, "It is nearly midnight and so we'll have to make this the last dance of the night." A burst of 'awws' and sighs were coming from the student body, "Yes I am very sorry. If the Prefects could come out and start the last dance."

            The prefects came out of the crowd, but before the music started Dumbledore added another word, "And I will ask that Miss Abbott dance with Mister Weasley, Miss Parkinson with Mister Goldstein, Miss Patil with Mister Macmillan, and Miss Granger with Mister Malfoy."

            With Dumbledore's unorthodox request a wave of whispers came about the student body. The topic mainly focused on Hermione and Draco. The Prefects however did not protest, because well, he is the Headmaster.

            The boys shuffled to their partner, bowed, the girls curtsied. With a wave from Dumbledore the music started…it wasn't a mild song like the rest had been, but it was a slow romantic tune.

^^^^^^^

            Draco didn't dare protest at Dumbledore, he simply nodded. Somewhere in his soul he was just a little bit happy that he got to dance with his forbidden partner.
           

He bowed, she curtsied. He held her in his arms. An instant rush of heat flowed throughout his body. She smelled of strawberry. He could feel her shallow breaths on his chest. They breathed together. She fit perfectly in his arms. Their robes moved as if one. Her hair was soft and tickled the bottom of his chin. Heaven was in his arms. He closed his eyes. The sides of his mouth curled slightly upward.

The rest of the Students made their way to the dance floor. Draco didn't notice. All he knew was that he was with Her. Finally dancing their forbidden dance. They swayed in perfect harmony.

^^^^^^

            Hermione took in small gasps of air. Her heart was racing. She couldn't believe she was dancing with Him. He was so close. As her heart beat increased so did his. His head was barely rested on hers. His hands fit perfectly at the small of her back. Everyone was watching them. She didn't care. She knew it was wrong.  But it felt too right. It was like a dream, and she never wanted to wake up.

            She swallowed and wrapped her hands around his neck. He held her tighter.

            'This isn't right. This isn't right.' She thought. But despite her own warnings she rested her head on his chest. With that he rested his head upon hers. She was intoxicated by him. He smelled of Mint. She smiled, inhaled him and breathed out slowly, keeping a piece of him.

^^^^^^^

            As if they were far away the music began to fade. This didn't bother them, for they had not heard any music. Their forbidden dance nearing its end. Hermione looked up at him and he looked down to heaven. Their eyes met once more. They stood there for what seemed an eternity.

            'Look at them.' Padma almost said aloud for it was obvious that the entire Great Hall already was…

            'BLOODY MUDBLOOD' – Pansy

            'THAT BLOODY GIT! HES DONE SOMETHING TO HER SODDING PRICK BLODDY BAS…' – Ron

            'I hope she knows what she's getting into.' – Harry

            'They are so cute.' – Lavender

            'Unexpected, unexpected indeed.' – Dumbledore         

'He's admitted it finally."  -  Hannah

           

'Go Mione!' – Ginny

            'This is, a change.' – McGonagall

            'Impossible.' - Snape

            Hermione turned around and saw everyone.  Suddenly she and Draco were back in the Great Hall in Hogwarts, with all eyes on them. She looked back to him, his sweet angelic face…then… she ran, towards the great hall doors, away from the staring crowd, but regretfully away from Him.

"HERMIONE!" Draco yelled to her.  She stood at the Great Hall entrance and glanced back at him. She shook her head then she was gone.

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So…waddya think? See that little button in the bottom left corner? Go and click it! You'll get cookies! READ AND REVIEW! PLEASE? THANKS A MILLION GALLEONS! Chapter 11… I wonder what's going to happen.

I don't want to have to pause this fic because my classes are starting again [eww…new term] so I really need these reviews to keep me going.

If you want to chat any time…the s/n on AOL is [xMistressMalfoyx] and the e-mail is so welcome, it's [overXposed@hotmail.com]