Chapter 13
One day away
Disclaimer: Although I wish that I owned Harry or Ron or Draco, I do not own a thing.
"Good morning, students of Hogwarts." Dumbledore said, his voice echoing through out the room. "As you might know, tomorrow is the annual ball. I expect that many of you have found a date, or have decided to go along with friends. I hope that each and every one of you have a spectacular evening. Like every year, the ball is always great fun. Since that is all I have to say until tomorrow, you may continue eating your breakfast."
The room was filled with cheers as Dumbledore stepped down from his spot and sat down at his table.
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Over at the Gryffindor table, the Golden Trio was enjoying their breakfast. Like almost every morning, Hermione had books spread across the table while she ate her french toast and eggs.
Hermione gagged as she watched Ron and Harry squirt piles of ketchup on their eggs.
"That it so disgusting. How can you guys eat so much of that?" She said, her hand covering her mouth.
"You want some?" Harry asked, handing Hermione a fork covered in eggs and ketchup.
Hermione shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. "No, no I'll pass."
Harry shrugged his shoulders and continued eating.
"Mione, do you think you could help us with our essays?" Ron said, pieces of egg flying from his mouth.
Hermione put her book in front of her face to avoid being hit with egg.
"You know," Hermione picked a piece of egg from her hair. "You really should be more responsible. If you were smart, you would have gotten your homework done earlier."
Ron stopped eating and looked at Hermione.
"I don't know about you, Mione, but Harry and I have been very busy lately."
"What have you done this week, Ronald?"
Ron scratched his head. "Well, we had Quidditch practice, and we had that one essay for Potions, which I never did, and that one assignment for Trelaweny, which I don't know where that went, and.."
Ron looked to Harry for help. "Oh, and we looked for dates for the ball."
"How did that go?" Hermione asked.
Harry shook his head. "Not very well for Ron. I'm going with Cho."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Do you have to rub it in?"
"Sorry, mate. So, what about you, Mione? Have you found a date?"
Hermione looked over at the Slytherin table and smiled.
"Yeah, I found someone."
Just then Ginny burst into the Great Hall with a smile spread across her face.
"Mya, it's here." She said as she plopped down next to Hermione
"What's here?" Ron asked, picking up his books.
Ginny took a few seconds to catch her breath. "Mya's dress."
Hermione smiled and got to her feet. "I have to see it."
Ron, Harry, and Ginny followed as Hermione hurried off to the Gryffindor common room.
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When Hermione reached the common room and said the password, she quickly went to her room and noticed the package that sat on her bed.
"Is it all right if we come up?" Harry and Ron yelled up the stairs.
"Go ahead." Ginny said, helping Hermione with the package.
After getting all of the tape and package materials out of the way, Hermione slowly pulled out the beautiful dress and smiled.
"Mione, it's gorgeous." Ginny said with excitement.
Hermione walked over to the mirror and held the dress against her front.
"You will look absolutely amazing in that dress." Harry said as he walked over to Hermione and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Ron also walked over to Hermione and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"My mum really did a good job."
Hermione nodded her head in agreement. She was in complete awe over the dress.
As Hermione looked into the mirror, she saw herself in an amazingly beautiful dress, and her two best friends at her side. Watching Harry and Ron smile back at her through the mirror, something deep inside of her reminded her of the dream. It hurt her more than ever to see their smiling faces. They had absolutely no idea of what was going on between Hermione and Draco, and the guilt of keeping that secret was building up inside of her. There were moments that she felt that she should back down, to tell Draco that she wanted nothing more to do with him. Hermione knew better than to do that to Draco. Draco had been through too much, and he needed Hermione there to help him. Hermione had promised herself that she would be a good friend to Draco, and she intended on keeping it.
A/N: Sorry that this chapter is so short. I promise that the next chapter will be much longer. So far, I am up to 5 pages for the 14th chapter! Thanks to everyone that has or is planning on reviewing!
Before I go, here is a little preview of the next chapter: Finding their way through the crowded floor, Draco sought an open spot at the middle of the crowd and hurried to claim his place. With the music softly playing through the speakers, Draco laced Hermione's hand in his and wrapped his other arm around her waist.
Love,
Jess
