A/N: Well, I received tons of uplifting reviews from you all! (I got like 53 reviews for this chapter alone!) Thank you so much for supporting me. I would like to put out an apology to 'paris' for showing her review to everyone, but what you did was harsh and uncalled for. I'm glad the majority of you are behind me, thanks!
Well, since I left you at sort of a cliffhanger and haven't updated in awhile, I am going to skip shout-outs this time. I'm sorry but I really want to get on with the story, shout-outs will come next chapter I anticipate.
I had a fabulous Christmas and I hope you all did too! Best wishes to all of you!
P.S. I went and read through my last chapter and I realized I messed up REALLY bad and I am pleasantly surprised that not one of you caught my HUGE mistake. In my last chapter, near the end, I had Draco and Blaise talking about Lavender and Hermione. I had Draco tell Blaise that Hermione was "his girlfriend". I was shocked. I completely forgot that Draco and Hermione were keeping it secret and weren't going out according to the rest of the school, excluding Harry. Wow. I went back and changed it a bit, but…yeah. Sorry. ON WITH CHAPTER 33!!
Chap. 33 The Yule Ball Part II
Draco left his room, not quite sure how to feel. He loved Hermione and didn't know if he would be able to control himself as he had promised her. After Blaise going on and on about how good Hermione looked, he anticipated seeing her and felt his excitement growing…
--
Hermione entered the Great Hall alone. There were not too many people in there yet, she went down a bit early to make sure every thing was set up smoothly, made sure the prefects did a good job.
Hermione laughed to herself when she saw Olibover berries adorning the tables.
She felt someone tap her on the shoulder. She turned around, with a few butterflies in her stomach.
'Oh, hi Harry.' She said with a smile of relief.
'Umm…hi?' He replied, head cocked in confusion.
'Oh, sorry, I thought you were Draco and I was nervous.'
'Why?'
'I wasn't sure if I could restrain from jumping on him, considering the ambiance.' She giggled.
'Oh, please keep those comments to yourself!' He joked.
'Sorry.' She smiled.
'You look very pretty, by the way. I'm glad I found that dress.' He said, grinning proudly.
'Thank you, Harry. Where's Gin?'
'Oh, Ginny said she needed a few more minutes, I just saw her in her room a few minutes ago.'
'Doesn't she look great?' Hermione asked.
'Oh yeah, loads of beauty. I am glad she agreed to come with me.'
'Why wouldn't she?'
'I don't know. I always prepare myself for a 'no' before I ask girls anything. That why I'm not disappointed, but it they say 'yes' I am ecstatic.'
Hermione laughed at her best friend's strategy.
'Where is Malfoy any how?' Harry asked.
'Oh, Blaise said he'd meet me down here. We are supposed to act 'forced' to be here, remember?'
'Ahh…right, right.' He said. 'Well, with your "jumping on him" comment I forgot.'
'I wish I could forget too.'
Students starting filing into the decorated room. People conversed and chatted while drinking punch as they waiting for the dance to officially start.
Hermione was in a group with Parvati, Harry, Ginny, and Dean. They all kept talking about how great she looked. Hermione blushed and told them to stop repeatedly but they were all a little amazed. It was book- reading, library-loving, house elf-hugging Hermione, and she had never looked better.
'So who are you here with?' Dean asked her.
'Oh, Dumbledore insisted Dr-Malfoy and I go together since we are the head students.' She sighed. 'You know, "unity".
'Ahhh. Well, sorry about that.' He replied.
'Yeah thanks. It's going to be nearly unbearable.' Hermione drawled.
Harry rose his eyebrow but said something cruel about Draco to cover his secret knowledge.
-
Draco glided down the stairs, he could see Potter from the end of the steps. His stomach suddenly flip-flopped. He knew Hermione had to be right there with him.
He started to pick up his pace when fate stopped him.
'Mr. Malfoy, took you long enough to get down here.' A low voice spoke.
Draco smirked and turned to see his favorite professor.
'Most humble apologies, Professor.' Draco replied.
'I am assuming you took your time because of your unfortunate responsibility of having Miss Granger as a dance partner?'
'Of course, Professor.' Draco stated, 'But Dumbledore insisted…you know, "unity".
'Well then, you best be running off so we can start this pathetic attempt of a school function.' Snape groaned.
'Yes, excuse me, Professor.'
Draco turned on his heal and walked slowly to the entrance of the Hall.
Snape knew Hermione and I are saying Dumbledore forced us to go together? But how? He didn't really tell us to go together. Draco thought.
Draco walked into the Great Hall a bit nervously.
He didn't want to look at Potter's group. He knew he would gawk at Hermione's beauty if he saw her at that moment so he pretended not to see them and kept walking, until he hit the punch table. Blaise and Lavender were serving punch.
'Hi Malfoy!' Lavender cried.
She looked pretty in a dress to match her name that was fitted to her knees, then flared out in a ray of pink colors.
'Hey.' He replied, a bit thrown off that Brown would talk to him.
'Hey Drake. See your "date" yet?' Blaise asked.
'Yeah, I heard you and Hermione have to go together because of school unity.' Lavender said.
'Yeah we do unfortunately.'
Blaise looked at Draco suspiciously as he downed his punch.
'Well, Hermione looks great and you better not do anything stupid to her Malfoy.' Lavender said a bit hotly.
'Why don't you go tell Granger her date is here, Lavi.' Blaise instructed.
'Okay.'
-
'Wasn't that Malfoy who just walked by?' Parvati asked.
Hermione looked quickly, but then looked back at Parvati pretending not to care.
'Maybe. I didn't notice.' Hermione replied, stealing a glance at Harry.
Harry smiled and shook his head.
Lavender then walked up to them.
'Hey guys.' Lavender greeted, 'Hermione, Malfoy is over with Blaise by the punch. And he looks hot.'
'Well he did take his time to get down here. I'm surprised there's not a riot to start the music yet.' Hermione moaned. 'I'll see you guys later. I better go help unify our school.'
They rolled their eyes and nodded as she left.
-
'What's going on, Drake?' Blaise asked him, putting down the punch ladle.
'Huh?'
'In the room, before I left to get Lavi, you didn't say one bad thing about Granger. And you didn't seem to upset when Lavender brought up how you were here with her. Is there something still going on between you and her?'
'What? No! Of course not.' He said firmly.
'Ok. Cause if there is, and you aren't telling me, I am going to be very pissed, fucker.' Blaise said, crossing his arms waiting for an answer.
'Uhh, well-' Just as Draco was about to say something a voice interrupted him.
'About time you get down here, Malfoy.'
Draco heard the voice and recognized it quickly to be Hermione's soft voice.
'Didn't want to see you longer than I had to.' He replied before turning around. Then he began to turn. 'I did it to—'
Draco faced Hermione. He couldn't speak. She was radiant.
His girlfriend stood there in a silk emerald dress. He loved green. It had off-the-shoulder capped sleeves that had silver beads adorning them (he loved silver too), and a empire waist band that pushed Hermione's bust upwards, a little too far up for Hermione's comfort. The dress was slimming, lining her curvy body ending just before the floor. Her neck was embellished by a silver chain and long diamond earrings on her ears. Her long silky brown hair was curled softly, diamond pins pulled hair behind her ears.
-A few seconds before-
Hermione walked toward the punch table, taking a few breaths before going to see Draco. Then she saw his back, he was talking to Blaise Zabini.
He's so handsome. She thought.
He was wearing a sharp black suit, with very thin, barely noticeable silver stripes, making him look taller. His shined black Italian shoes added the perfect touch to his sexy look. He wore his lengthy hair down, clean…yet messy, Hermione's favorite.
His butt looks really good.
--
Hermione stared at Draco as he gazed at her. Blood rose quickly to both their faces. Only Blaise could see their faces. He cleared his throat, so they would snap out of it before anyone else noticed.
Hermione smiled when she saw Draco's tie. It was scarlet and silver. Scarlet. Gryffindor.
'Drake…you fucker.' Was all Blaise said to him. He then walked around the punch bowl and over to Hermione's side. He leaned down to whisper in her ear.
'You and my friend, Drake, over here aren't enemies again…are you?' He asked smartly.
Hermione looked up at Draco hesitantly.
Blaise pulled away and looked at Draco.
'Hey man,' He said quietly, 'I told you from the beginning that I didn't care if you two liked each other. I am going out with a Gryffindor, too. All I wanted is that you tell me if something was going on.'
He then walked away, a bit hurt.
Draco sighed heavily, but then looked back up at Hermione.
'You are captivating.' He said in whisper.
'As are you.' She smiled back. 'I like the tie.'
He chuckled low and said, 'Unity.'
'You should go talk to Blaise.' Hermione offered.
'I rather stay here with you.' He said softly.
'I'd like that, but others wouldn't. Go get your best friend back.'
He nodded and gave her body the once-over again.
'I like your colors.'
She smiled.
'And,' he added, 'I like the way that dress fits you, especially the bust area.' He chuckled a walked away quickly before she could protest.
Draco caught up to Blaise, who was walking over to get Lavender.
'Hey, Blaise wait up a sec.' Draco requested.
Blaise turned around.
'Drake, all I asked is that you tell me if something was going on. You said no.' He said, 'Best friends don't blatantly lie to their best friend's face, or so I've heard. But your Draco Malfoy, I guess your above that rule.'
Blaise then began to walk away again.
'Blaise.' Draco stressed.
The music finally started and students cried excitedly.
'Blaise!' Draco yelled.
Blaise kept walking.
'Blaise!'
Blaise heard him and turned around.
'You are my best friend, my only friend pretty much. How can I fix this?!' Draco yelled over the music and screaming.
Blaise shrugged.
'Come out of the Hall for a second so I can talk!' Draco cried.
Blaise rolled his eyes and proceeded to follow Draco out.
'Hurry,' Blaise said once they left, 'Lavender is waiting.'
'Look, Blaise, Hermione and I didn't want to let it out again because of my father. You know why we wouldn't want him to know.'
'I wouldn't have told your father, Drake.'
'I know, but I couldn't risk it again.'
'No one else knows?' Blaise asked.
Draco didn't answer.
'Who else knows, Drake? And don't lie.'
'Potter.'
'Potter?? How does he know?'
'Hermione told him.'
'Why the fuck did precious Potter get to know?'
'I don't know. I don't remember why. He walked in on us or something, Hermione wanted to, I don't know.' Draco said apprehensively.
'So Granger can tell her best friend and you won't?'
'I couldn't.'
'Is Potter more trustworthy or something?' Blaise asked angrily.
'Blaise, stop making me sound like the bad guy here. All I wanted was to protect Hermione and my relationship. You are blowing this out of proportion. Stop acting like a stupid little girl about this.'
After Draco said this, he realized it wasn't the best thing to say at that moment.
'I'm sorry, Blaise.' He spit out quickly, 'I didn't mean that.'
'Yes you did. If you didn't you wouldn't have said it.' Blaise snapped. 'I got to get back to Lavender.'
Blaise turned around.
'Oh, Drake? And just for the record, I'm happy for you and Granger.'
He then walked into the Great Hall, disappearing quickly into the crowd.
Draco groaned and sulked his way back into the room.
He found Hermione talking with Potter by the punch bowl where he had left her.
'Pothead.'
'Ferret.'
'Stop you guys.' Hermione pleaded.
'Can I talk to you alone, Hermione?' Draco asked.
Hermione grabbed Harry's hand.
'Go find Gin, I'll talk to you later on.' She smiled.
'Later then.' Harry grinned back.
Draco walked off, a few feet in front of Hermione.
'Meet me out side the Hall.' He said to her without turning around.
Draco stepped out, into an empty corridor. A few moments later Hermione arrived.
He smiled when she walked to him, down the dark corridor.
'What's up?' She asked once she reached him.
He grabbed her hand and swung her around against a door and pressed his lips against hers. She kissed back hungrily, her hands rising up his body until she found his hair. She ran her fingers threw it as they kissed. Many precious moments later he pulled away.
'You look so exquisite, Hermione.' He said heavily.
'Oh, Draco, you don't know how hard it's been for me not to tell you how admirable you look every five minutes in there.' She smiled.
He kissed her cheek.
'Green is definitely a great color on you, love.' He said, sliding his fingers up and down her silk sleeves.
'How'd it go with Blaise?' She asked.
Draco dropped his hands from her shoulders.
'Not good?' She asked.
'He is royally pissed. He's acting like a girl about the whole thing.'
'Excuse me?'
'You know, too melodramatic.' He groaned.
'How so?'
'He's freaking out that I didn't tell him about my girl, even though it would have been a big risk. He also is mad that Potter knew and not him.'
'Well, Draco, I'd be upset if Harry had a secret girlfriend and didn't tell me either.'
'Yeah, but you'd forgive him.'
'In time, but I'm also a Gryffindor, not a Slytherin.' She said smartly.
Draco nodded in forced agreement.
'Blaise really stuck his neck out there for us back when everyone found out we were together in DADA class.' Hermione said, 'He probably thought you'd tell him anything that could have happened between us since he did that.'
'Yeah I know I should have, but I apologized, and that's rare, and he's still being a git about it.'
'Draco…he was your best friend. I told mine.'
'Girls tell their best friends everything.'
'Blaise told you he was going out with Lavender.'
'That wasn't a big risk or anything. His father isn't Lucius Malfoy.'
'Stop blaming your father for everything, Draco.' Hermione snapped. 'Is Blaise trustworthy or not?'
'He's never told any of my secrets before.' He shrugged.
'Then it probably would have been okay to tell him about us.'
'Doesn't matter anymore. I have no friends, it's okay I've had to live like this before.' He said angrily.
'Draco. You are pathetic. You are giving up on him already?'
'He gave up first. He walked away.'
'I'll talk to him then since you are too arrogant to.'
'Fine. But you won't help.'
'We'll see.'
Hermione kissed his cheek and walked away.
-
Hermione saw Blaise and Lavender dancing, then the song ended and Blaise went to get punch for the two. She seized the opportunity.
'Hey.' She said as she walked up to him.
He looked up and smiled weakly.
'Hey Granger.'
'I'm sorry about Draco.' She said, 'You helped us out before and we should have told you.'
'You have nothing to apologize about, Granger. You didn't have to tell me anything, but it would have been nice if my former best friend trusted me.'
'He does, Blaise. He was just scared, for my sake that his father would find out again.'
'Again?'
'Oh…um…'
'Did Mr. Malfoy find out about before?' Blaise asked concerned.
'Yes.'
'Is that why you two broke if off?'
'Yes.'
'Is that the real reason Drake broke bones?' Blaise asked in seriously.
Hermione paused for a bit.
'Yes.'
Blaise nodded.
'Draco and I weren't going to tell anyone, we really weren't. Harry knows because he walked in on us kissing, we can't really cover that with a lie.'
'I understand.'
'You do?'
'Yeah, I know why Drake would be hesitant about telling if his father had already punished him for it once.'
'It was awful when he came back to the dorm after that.'
'I'm sure it was. I've seen Drake's bruises after he's gotten punishments before.'
Hermione tensed up, thinking about how many times Draco must have been in trouble by his father, all those beatings.
'He's gone through a lot, Blaise. He's really messed up by your loss. Could you please reconsider your friendship?'
'I'll talk to him, Granger.'
'Thank you.' She said, 'Even if Draco doesn't show it all the time, he appreciates you a lot. And I'm so grateful he has a friend like you. He needs you.'
Blaise nodded and replied, 'He needs you to. I can tell.'
