Not That Different Chapter 7

Rivalry Forgotten

About an hour and a half-later Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Elizabeth came descending down the stairs. The boys, who were downstairs in the common room dressed and playing wizard chess again stood up so abruptly it sent the chessboard and all the pieces flying off of the table. This added to the four dropped jaws made each of the girls giggle and blush as the reached their partner and looped their arm through their date's they made their way out of the common room toward the party. "Hermione," Draco started still gaping at her, "you look absolutely beautiful." Hermione blushed an even deeper shade of crimson before smiling and saying, "thank you, Mr. Malfoy and you are looking handsome as ever also." This time it was Draco's turn to blush, "thanks" he said as they continued walking. As they walked into the great hall they all gasped, the long house tables were now replaced with numerous round tables all candle lit and as if the tables knew who came with who, name tags were set around the tables where each person was to sit. They looked around and finally found their table and they settled down for a night they would never forget.

"OH MY GOD!" some one squealed and everyone looked at the source of the outburst when they say none other than Lavender Brown, "Is it really you? Hermione? You look so absolutely gorgeous!" Hermione smiled and got up to hug her. "Yes Lav, its me and I must say you look absolutely great as well, the years have been good to you." Lavender smiled, "and you must be Hermione's date she said gesturing to Draco, very nice one you've got yourself Hermione, is this the boyfriend of the moment?" Hermione nodded, and Lavender held out her hand to him, "Well I must say, It was a pleasure meeting you Mr…" "Malfoy" he said taking her hand and smirking "Draco Malfoy, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well Ms. Brown, even though we already knew each other." Both Ron and Harry snorted into their glasses of wine only to earn a glare from Hermione and a slap on the arm from Ginny and Elizabeth. "Draco Malfoy," Lavender said blushing and smiling, "I'm so sorry Draco, I mean, well, no offense or anything but you are the last person I expected to be here with Hermione, let alone be her boyfriend." Lavender continued, "I really am sorry, oh bloody hell you must think me an idiot." Draco simply waved his hand, "no offense taken and don't worry about it." He flashed her his perfect smile and Lavender had a look of pure gratitude on her face. "Thank you so much Draco, and I'm sorry to you as well Hermione, I hope I didn't offend you in anyway." Hermione just smiled as she felt Draco's arm snake its way around her lower back. "Not a problem Lav, oh and don't worry about them," she nodded her head in Harry and Ron's direction who were still trying to hold back laughs. "They weren't so believing either when Draco first told them, they're just being immature as usual, you know how Harry and Ron get, especially when they're with each other." Lavender laughed, "Yes that I do know, by the way how are you two doing?" Harry was the first to answer, "We're doing great, Ron is presently working for the Chudley Cannons as their Keeping coach and I've just accepted a position teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts here at Hogwarts." Lavender grinned, "and your lovely dates would be…?" "OH!" Harry said suddenly as he stood up, "this is Elizabeth Hunter. She used to work with Hermione at St. Mungo's as co-head of the spells and jinxes section. However as of yesterday she accepted a position as Madame Pomfrey's assistant here at Hogwarts and is going to be made the school nurse when Madame Pomfrey retires as of next year." Harry finished his introduction gesturing to each of them "Elizabeth this is Lavender Brown, she was in our house here at school." Elizabeth smiled "It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Brown." Next was Ron's turn, as he stood up and spoke for the first time, "Lavender, I have a feeling you know who my date is and all you'll need is her name, I'd like to introduce you to Luna Lovegood." Lavender smiled, "I thought I recognized you Luna," Luna then proceeded to stand up and gave Lavender a hug before saying, "yes, I remember you too very well, and I'm sure you remember Ginny Weasley and Blaise Zabini as well." Lavender turned to Ginny and Blaise, shook hands with Blaise and hugged Ginny. They exchanged memories and future plans for a while before Lavender went to find her table as Dumbledore stood up to speak. "Welcome Back to Hogwarts, especially because of this joyous occasion, and with out further ado, please, tuck in." with these words a magnificent feast appeared on the table and wouldn't you guess, the first person to attack it all was none other than Ronald Weasley.

After a great meal the dancing began. Hermione looked down at her watch and realized it was only eight o'clock and they would have a long but fantastic night ahead of them. Suddenly the DJ announced it was time for a swing number and the song Jump Jive an' Wail came on over the speaker, Draco dragged Hermione to the dance floor. "Draco," she hissed, "I don't know how to swing dance." Draco smirked, "well hun, I guess growing up with many Malfoy parties did teach me something, don't worry about it, I'll lead and do all the work, you are a great dancer and I know you'll catch on, just follow me." She sighed knowing defeat and nodded knowing this wasn't a good idea, however, once they really got into it she was having the time of her life and they both failed to notice that the entire room was focused on them. Draco swung her around doing various lifts and spins until the final note sounded and they came to their final pose. Finally reality came back and blushing the duo went back to their table breathless amongst a room full of whistles and catcalls.

The DJ then decided it was time to slow it down a little and made the songs a more of a slower tempo and Hermione and Draco broke apart to mingle through the crowd. Hermione danced with many of her old friends including, Dean, Seamus, Justin Finch-Fletchy, Neville, Ron (duh), Harry (double duh), Blaise, and reluctantly even Crabbe, and Goyle uncoordinated as they were. She talked with them all and was able to catch up with many people. Draco did the same only he danced with the girls, Lavender (still blushing from the previous incident), Parvati, Hannah, Pansy, Ginny, Elizabeth, and Luna. Finally the beginning notes of the song When You Kiss Me by Shania Twain came on Hermione sought out Draco and the two danced, Draco with her left hand entwined in his right and the other arm around her waist holding her close. Hermione sighed and laid her head on his shoulder smiling slightly and loving how safe she felt in his arms. Not far away Elizabeth was dancing with Harry in the exact same fashion. 'I wonder if he likes me?' Elizabeth thought to herself, 'I love how safe I feel in his arms.' 'I wonder if she knows how beautiful she is' Harry thought moving his gaze downward to the girl he was holding, 'if only I could tell her how I feel, but I'm so afraid she doesn't feel the same.' Elizabeth glanced over at Hermione and Draco, "Harry," she whispered as she pulled back a little, "look at them, Mya and Draco, they look so in love." Harry nodded, "they are," he smiled slightly and leaned forward to whisper to her his breath tickling her ear, "if you promise not to tell, I think Draco is going to propose tonight." Elizabeth snapped her head to look at Harry with surprise in her eyes and smiled, "she'll say yes, I know her too well, he's all she ever talks about." Harry smiled as she continued, "Hermione is just so gorgeous, all the guys at work stare at her as she walks down the halls, I just wish they would do that to me." "They do," Harry said, "you just don't see it, any guy will kill to go out with you." Harry mentally slapped himself, 'great Potter just go on and tell her why don't you.' Elizabeth looked at Harry and whispered, "name one." Harry breathed a deep breath while thinking 'here goes nothing,' "Me," he whispered back. Elizabeth looked into his eyes unbelievingly, "do you mean that Harry?" she whispered her gaze locked with his, he raised his hand to her cheek. "With all my heart. You are so beautiful Elizabeth," he answered still looking her in the eye, she smiled and said, "well that's good, cause I'd kill to go out with you too." He smiled and pulled her closer his other arm around her waist, "Elizabeth," he started nervously, "can I kiss you now?" She smiled and whispered, "you didn't have to even ask." He smiled and slowly brought his lips to hers as they met in a chaste but memorable kiss, he pulled back and asked her "Elizabeth will you be mine? Will you be my girlfriend?" "Yes!" she exclaimed wrapping her arms around his neck as they kissed again with more passion as she jumped into his embrace.

Hermione smiled looking at the two from across the room, "look at them Draco." Draco looked up, "they belong together," he smiled, "did you set them up?" "Nope, actually, Harry did that all on his own." Draco chuckled, "looks like Potter's finally growing up," he said in mock sobs as he wiped away a fake tear. This act earned a playful slap from Hermione on his arm as she leaned up and met his lips with hers. Draco pulled away and asked, "fancy a walk?" Hermione nodded and took his hand as he led her out onto the grounds of Hogwarts. They decided to take a walk around the lake and look at the stars. Hermione shivered and Draco took of his tuxedo coat and draped it around her shoulders along with his arm, around her waist pulling her close to him. "Hermione," he started stopping abruptly, she looked up at him as he continued, "I never want to lose you, Hermione, I had to leave all these years with you in my life and it was hell. Now you are back in my life and I'm never going to let you go. From the moment that you said, I love you; I was the happiest I've been in years. You are so beautiful and I can't imagine going back to my previous life without seeing your face. I love the feeling of you next to me as I sleep and I love waking up to see your beautiful face. That face is the one that I want to wake up next to for the rest of my life, Hermione." At this moment he took a big breath pulled a little black box out of his pocket and got down on one knee, "and so I ask you here in this place where I first met you and where I fell in love with you, Hermione Granger…" he paused as he opened the box to earn a gasp from Hermione, "will you make me the happiest man alive and become my wife? Will you marry me?" "YES!" Hermione exclaimed and he stood up and slid the band on her finger as she jumped into his arms and kissed him like there would be no tomorrow. "I love you so much Draco Malfoy!" he smiled and kissed her again, "I love you too Hermione Granger." They kissed one last time and he led her back inside where Hermione immediately ran to Harry where he was standing with Liz. Harry looked over and saw Hermione crying, "Hermione, what…?" it was then that she smiled and held up her left hand which the ring was on. Harry then realized that they were tears of joy and immediately wrapped his arms around Hermione in a huge hug, "Congratulations, Hermione." "Thanks Harry," she smiled and hugged Liz, "will you be the maid of honor Liz?" Hermione asked, "YES! OH MY GOD! This will be so much fun!" she shrieked. Hermione laughed and hugged her as Harry turned and shook Draco's hand. "Can't say that I ever expected this to happen, especially when I was in school, but I know you love each other and I also know that you've changed. Draco Malfoy congratulations, man." Draco smiled, "Thanks," he said and then gesturing to Elizabeth who blushed he added, "you too." Harry smiled and pulled Draco into a manly hug, "Now, how about we go sit for a drink or two?" he suggested before wrapping his arm around Elizabeth's waist as Draco did the same to Hermione and they all walked over to the table together.

They were joined not too long later by Ginny, Blaise, Luna, and Ron who all took turns congratulating both Hermione and Draco, and Harry and Liz. They spent a considerable amount of time dancing before they all decided to head on up to their rooms. As they were walking out Draco pulled Harry aside. "Harry, I know that everyone's expecting me to ask someone else this but, you've been so accepting of Hermione's and my relationship from the start. You've been nothing but supportive and were the first to give me another chance even though I probably didn't disserve one. I know this would mean a lot to Hermione and it would mean a lot to me too." He paused, "Harry Potter, would you be my best man?" Harry had a look of shock on his face for a spit second before replacing it with a sincerely happy smile, "of course I will Draco," Draco smiled, "it would be my pleasure, thanks for asking." Harry pulled Draco into yet another manly hug before the two men walked up to Gryffindor tower, their previous rivalry and hatred from their school years completely forgotten.

A/N: THERE! Finally got the next chapter up!! YAY! I'm sorry it has taken so long, school started and I've been really busy with homework and everything but I did find enough time to write this. I found that its fun to write in class when I'm bored, lol. Anyway, I hope you are happy with this chapter and I really hope you review!!

OH! I noticed that I've forgotten to do this since I've started the story and I notice a lot of other stories have this so…

Disclaimer: I Do NOT own anything associated with Harry Potter (I wish) everything belongs to J.K. Rowling (genius) and please don't sue!Sorry J.K. for not doing this sooner!

Please Review!! Thanks