A/N: Okay, I apologize now…I'm sorry I haven't updated in…checks dates…two-and-a-half months…please don't hurt me…
I actually had started the new chappie, but then my f-ing computer, which hates me, decided to be an even bigger bitch and delete every single one of my documents…so it got deleted…along with all my other chappies and stories, and all my school work…lucky me, right? But anyway, on with the story!
"Hermione, that was brilliant!" Harry said a tad breathlessly, nearly jogging to keep pace with Hermione. "Please, remind me never to try and buy anything for you, or take you anywhere other than Hogsmeade."
"That's not the point Harry!" she said, spinning so suddenly Harry almost crashed into her. Catching his footing, he stopped and looked at her as she continued.
"It's not that he tried to buy me things, or took me to these fancy, expensive restaurants. That was fine. It was a nice gesture, but there was nothing else to go along with it. He never tried to talk to me, or ask me what I wanted to do. He never made any other effort to even get to know me…not one. He thought that those things were enough to keep me with him. That's the point."
"Okay," he said softly. "That's the point." He took her hand in his and squeezed it softly as they made their way back to the common room, thoughts of raiding the kitchen forgotten. As they approached the Fat Lady, Harry stopped for a moment.
"Hey, Hermione?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"Well…you know the end of the year dance is coming up…and…well…I was uh…"
"Spit it out Harry," Hermione said with a smile. She knew what he wanted to ask, but she still wanted to hear him say it.
"Well…uhh…would you like to go with me?" She kissed him softly on the lips and replied,
"Of course I would."
"Okay then," he said. "Consider it a date." And he kissed her again.
"Ugh…Gin, could you hand me the next one please?" Hermione sighed from inside the changing room. She was exhausted already, and this was only the first store they'd gone to.
"Which one?" Ginny's voice filtered into the room among the other voices in the area.
"Hmm…the purple one? Or did I already try that one on?"
"You tried that one on, I think two or three before this one."
"Okay…which ones do I have left then?"
"The red one, and the green one…oh, and this light blue one. Oh wait, the green one is mine. Never mind."
"Okay. Let's go with the blue one." Hermione grabbed the colorful fabric Ginny handed over the top of the door and slid into it…or tried to, anyway.
"Oof…" she said as she tugged the fabric, trying to pull it up, but it refused to budge. "Bugger," she swore softly. "Am I really that fat?"
"Hermione! You are not fat!" Ginny shrieked from outside.
"Then why can't I fit in this stupid dress?" she muttered, but once again, Ginny heard her.
"Because it's probably from the little girl's section!" Ginny said exasperatedly. Hermione struggled out of it and checked the tags, and sure enough, it was from the girl's department.
"Thank god," she said. "Okay Gin, hand me that last one and let's pray it actually fits." Ginny handed her the dress, and just as a precaution, she checked the tags before she tried it.
She zipped it up and glanced at herself in front of the mirror, and she froze. The dress seemed to have taken on a new form. It clung to her perfectly, accentuating her good curves and hiding any she didn't like. Hitting about mid-calf in the front (it had an a-symmetrical hemline), it hung a few inches on the floor in the back, but that was perfect, because with her shoes, it would just barely, if at all, skim the floor. And if you got it in the light just so, it sparkled intensely, although upon examining the fabric, she couldn't find anything that would make it sparkle.
"Hermione! Are you coming out or what?" Ginny banged on the door impatiently. Hermione opened the door, and Ginny gasped.
"What do you think?" Hermione asked.
"It's…beautiful," Ginny said sincerely. Hermione smiled victoriously.
"I do believe we have a winner."
Her strength renewed, they continued shopping, two girls on a mission. To go along with their dresses, they bought coordinating shoes (Hermione's were a deep red and Ginny's a forest green), little handbags, and just for fun, some cute hair accessories. Ginny bought a green flower to pin in the front of her hair, and Hermione some little sparkly clips to match the shimmering of her dress.
Finally, they collapsed into two chairs at a little street café for some lunch. Over sandwiches and some lemonade, they discussed all sorts of things. Finally, the topic of the dance came up.
"So Ginny…who are you going with anyway?" Hermione asked casually, although she really wanted to know. Ginny glanced down at her half-eaten sandwich and mumbled something. Unfortunately, Hermione's hearing wasn't as keen as Ginny's, and she couldn't hear what she said.
"What? Speak up Gin, can't hear you." Ginny mumbled something as unintelligible as before, although it was slightly louder.
"Ginny? Seriously, speak up." Finally, she looked up and said,
"Draco Malfoy." Hermione stared at her in shock for several seconds, her words being heard, but their meaning not clearly registering.
"What…but…the Draco Malfoy?" Hermione asked, simply not able to comprehend what Ginny was saying. She nodded slowly, and Hermione continued to gape at her.
"But…how?" Ginny sighed softly, before answering.
"I…I don't know," she began. "It was weird. I've grown up my entire life being warned that the Malfoy's were such evil people, and to never, ever have any sort of contact with them. And up until last year, I didn't." At this point, Hermione broke in.
"You've been with him for an entire year?! And you didn't tell me?!"
"What was I supposed to do?" Ginny shot back. "I knew you'd act like this."
"What do you expect Ginny? Malfoy has hated us since first year. He's never even spoken a kind word to any of us."
"But don't you see?!" Ginny cried. "Can you name the last time he's insulted you? Go on, think. Name one time in the past year he's done so." Hermione thought about it, and much to her surprise, Ginny was right. She couldn't think of a time recently Malfoy had insulted them.
"And why do you think that is?" Ginny asked quietly. She sighed again, and added. "I know it sounds crazy, but when I'm with him…he's not a Malfoy, and I'm not a Weasley. We're just Draco and Ginny, two people who just enjoy spending time with one another. He's like a different person when I'm around. Kind of like he has a completely different personality, that he only let's me see." Hermione listened, and she could tell that Ginny was serious. As hard as it was, she understood where Ginny was coming from. Besides, who was she to tell her friend whom to date? Just look at her track record.
"And you guys have really been together for a year?" Hermione asked. Ginny nodded, and said,
"Well, almost. It'll be a year as of tomorrow."
"But tomorrow is the dance!" Hermione said in surprise.
"I know. That's when we got together last year." Hermione couldn't believe it. How could she not have seen this?
"Ginny, I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sure this hasn't been easy for you."
"Sometimes I wonder…but in all honesty, I don't think I'd trade this past year for anything. I…I love him," she admitted.
"How do you know?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not sure…just little things. Like whenever I hear his voice, my stomach flutters and my knees get all weak and start to tremble. And when I see him, I start to smile and I just can't stop. He's…the last person I ever expected to fall in love with, but I did. And there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. He's got me, whether he likes it or not."
"Just be careful," Hermione warned, making a mental note to have a little conversation with Malfoy later. "I don't want you to get hurt." Ginny nodded and hugged her friend tightly, whispering a small 'thank you' in her ear.
"Hey! Malfoy!" He glanced up, scanning the room for who was calling him. He was stunned when his eyes landed on none other than Hermione Granger. He opened his mouth to say something snide, but then he remembered his promise to Ginny and the retort died on his tongue.
"Yes?" he said coolly.
"A word, if you don't mind?" She glanced at Crabbe and Goyle, seated on either side of him. "Privately." They glanced at him, and he nodded for them to leave. Once they were gone, he looked back at her.
"Okay, listen. You're the last person I'd like to be talking to right now, but I felt as though I had to. Ginny told me everything, so I just wanted to come to tell you if you hurt her in anyway, I will personally come after you with every curse I've ever learned. Which is many more than those we've learned here," she added. He nodded at her soberly. She turned to go, and he said softly,
"I have no intention of hurting her. Ever." She turned back around and smiled.
"Good. Then I guess I won't have to kick your arse after all."
"If I ever hurt her, I think I'd kick my own arse before you," he said, and he smirked, trying to lighten his words, but she saw that the smirk didn't quite reach his eyes. Hermione was startled at the intense gaze in his eyes.
'He loves her,' she thought to herself. 'I'll be damned.' She left him alone with his thoughts after that, as she made her way back to her room.
Thankfully, Dumbledore had had the good sense to end classes early the nest day, so they would have enough time to get ready.
They had decided to do each other's hair and make-up. Hermione pulled Ginny's hair back in a simple yet elegant chignon, and then curled several tendrils to frame her face. She then pinned the flower in the front of her head, off to one side.
"I love the flower Gin," she said earnestly. "It sets off your hair so well."
"Thanks," Ginny said. "Okay, it's your turn."
For Hermione, Ginny did a half ponytail, and curled the rest of her hair that was loose. For the finishing touches, she strategically placed her sparkly clips so they covered her entire head without looking cheesy.
The make-up they kept to a minimum. On Ginny, Hermione used a warm honey shadow to enhance her eyes. She added a sweep of blush and used a deep red lipstick. For Hermione, Ginny used a pale pink shimmery eye shadow with a darker pink gloss.
After pronouncing each other done, they examined themselves in the mirror.
"Ohh! Gin, I love this shadow! Can I borrow it sometime?" Hermione squealed.
"Only if I can borrow this lipstick."
"Keep it. It really doesn't work for me."
"Really? Thanks!"
At last, Hermione had the sense to glance at the clock.
"Bloody hell! Ginny, look at the time!" They immediately began to get dressed, as they only had a half-hour to finish getting ready.
Twenty minutes later, they were ready to go. With a final check in the mirror, they grabbed their bags and headed downstairs.
Harry was mid-sentence in a conversation with Ron and Neville when he saw several girls making their way down the stairs. His breath caught in his throat when he realized one of them was Hermione.
"Harry? Are you okay? Harry?" He heard Ron talking to him, but he couldn't find a single thing to say.
"What are you looking at mate?" Ron followed his line of sight, and he too gasped.
"Ginny! What the hell…?" he asked, clearly unaware that Ginny would also be attending the dance. "Wait a minute. Who are you going with?" Ginny ignored him.
"Virginia Weasley…I demand to know this instant who you are going to the bloody dance with!" She finally looked at him, her eyes ablaze with fury. She marched up to him, backing him into a wall.
"You demand?" she screeched. "You demand? And just who the hell do you think you are? You're my brother Ron. And I love you dearly, but so help me god, if you don't stop trying to play mum, I'm going to hex you into next week." She glared at him once more before spinning around and stalking out of the room.
In her head (she'd never admit it out loud), Hermione was applauding the poor girl for finally standing up to Ron.
'It's about time someone showed him,' she thought. Turning to Harry, she saw he too had a small smile on his lips, and she knew he had been thinking the same thing as her. He smiled fully at her (she almost melted on the spot), and said,
"Care to get going?"
"I'd love to," she replied. She took his extended his hand, and they headed downstairs to the main hall. Upon entering, she gasped as she looked around. In all her years at Hogwarts, she'd never seen look quite as lovely as it was then.
The tables were gone, and the floor was gleaming, as though it had been freshly polished. All around the edges, wreathes of flowers and potted plants met her gaze. From the ceiling hung elegant looking streamers (if that was even possible), and on each wall was a gigantic banner of the house mascot. The lights had been dimmed, and there was soft glow about everything. Looking up, she realized it was from the full moon, shining brightly from the charmed ceiling.
"I must say Hermione," Harry whispered in her ear, "you look lovely in moonlight." She blushed and followed his lead to the groups of tables off to one side of the enormous hall. She sat at one, along with Ron (still fuming over his argument with Ginny) and his girlfriend, Luna, Neville and his date, and one other couple neither of them recognized. She craned her head and caught sight of Ginny seated with Malfoy, off in the corner where they weren't as visible. It appeared they were talking, and from the look on Ginny's face, she was having a wonderful time.
They were having a good time, just talking off in their private little corner. Suddenly, to her complete surprise, he stood and offered her his hand. She glanced up at him, shocked.
"What are you doing?" she asked. "I thought we agreed we weren't doing any of this."
"I'm tired of hiding, Ginny," he said simply. "I'm done. I have nothing to hide, so why are we continuing to sit in the corner? I came here to have a good time, so that's what I'm going to do."
"So did I," she countered. "But what if someone sees us?"
"So what? Let them watch. All they'll see his a happy couple sharing a dance on the dance floor."
"But…but…," she trailed off, clearly hesitant.
"Ginny, please," he whispered, sitting back down next to her. "I…I…I…" He struggled against the block that was building in his throat. "I love you," he said quietly. "And I want the entire world to see it."
She stared at him, feeling her heart begin to beat faster in her chest. He loved her! She wanted to shout it aloud, but she couldn't speak.
"I love you too," she said, finally finding words, and kissed him with everything she had.
"So about that dance?" he asked, finally pulling away. She smiled, eyes shining brightly.
"I'd love to dance with you, Draco," she replied. He pulled her up, and walked, rather boldly, right into the middle of the dance floor. Gathering her in his arms as, conveniently, a slow song began to play. Out of the corner of his eye, he chuckled as he saw Harry, along with several other Gryffindors, struggling to hold Ron back, and he had no doubt why.
He felt Ginny's head shift on his shoulder, and when he glanced down at her, she was looking right up at him, still smiling.
"I love you," she said again. "I love saying that I love you. I could say it forever."
"I love you, too," he replied, feeling his heart swell a little with that last remark. "I suppose I could as well." She smiled broadly and brought her head up several inches to kiss him softly on the lips before returning her head to his shoulder as they continued to sway to the slow beat of the music.
Hermione smiled at the sight of Ginny and Draco dancing in the middle of the hall, and her smile broadened at the sight of Ron being physically restrained in his seat. He'd always had an overprotective streak in him…
Harry returned, wiping the sweat off his brow.
"Didn't think you'd be getting a workout?" she teased. He smirked, and then looked at her more closely.
"You don't seem at all surprised at the sight of those two. Did you know something we didn't?"
"Guilty," she said. "Ginny told me about her and Draco, but she swore me to secrecy. When I make a promise, I keep it."
"I'm glad. I love that you're loyal to your friends," Harry said. She grinned, and accepted the hand he offered. They wandered onto the dance floor, and ended up next to-who else? - Ginny and Draco. Hermione smiled at Ginny, and she returned the smile. Then Ginny mouthed something to her. She didn't catch it the first time around and mouthed back
"What?"
"He said he loves me," she replied, and that time Hermione caught it. She smiled broadly, so happy for Ginny. And for herself. It looked as though things were finally working out- for both of them.
A/N: There, a nice, long chappie to make up for my not writing in…let's just call it a while.
A/N: Don't worry…Krum isn't done yet. I just decided we needed a nice, Krum-free chappie. See you soon y'all (I hope!)