Chapter 6

A/N: Thanks so much to all who reviewed!! It gives so much encouragement. I will answer the reviews, as always.

My Comforting Lie33- Thanks so much. Here's your update!

anonymous- Alyssa, you seem to be the only one who thinks so. :) To all who may be confused, this was my little sister.

kole17- I'm glad I could help a bit with your story. Yes, Draco was a jerk, but isn't he always? LOL And you know me; he won't stay that way. I have to see about getting him nice again. Yay for us, we've been having fun conversations about him again!!! Love ya!

snowyangel83- I know the twist isn't going to be as good as people expect, but I had to stall the relationship a bit. They would never get together that quickly after all those years of hate. Thanks for reviewing!!

Lila- Unfortunately, I do not watch Saturday Night Live, but it sounds funny, what you said. Thanks for being a faithful reviewer. I hope you like this!!

Draco's-Tootsie23- Thanks for all the compliments. I hope you like this.

amsev- Thanks for reviewing!!

Jennibear88- Thanks so much for reviewing. I tried to twist it up a bit, but it's difficult. Hope you like this!!

Erica- Thanks for being so encouraging!!

And now, to the story.

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The morning of the Autumn Ball was very busy. Classes were cancelled for the day so that last-minute preparations could be made. Hermione was excited about her dress, but she was oh so depressed about having to go with Malfoy. How she wished she could go with Harry or Ron! Nevertheless, she was determined to have fun.

After lunch, Hermione went to Gryffindor Tower to begin getting ready for the ball. She took a long, hot bath, soaking in perfumed bath oils. She washed her hair with lavender-scented shampoo, and matching conditioner. Then she headed to her dormitory to get dressed.

First, she put on her dress, so that when she did her hair, it wouldn't get messed up. She brushed her teeth, and then got started on make- up. On her eyes, she used a little bit of black eyeliner, for definition, and then mascara. She rubbed gold shimmery eyeshadow onto her eyelids, almost up to her eyebrows, to give the sparkling effect. On her lips, she applied a gold lipstick color, so her make-up matched her dress. After applying foundation to give her face a rich complexion, she rubbed in lotion all over her body. It have her skin a soft shimmer. Finally satisfied with her face and body, she set to work on her hair.

To get rid of that natural curly, frizzy look, she put a charm on it to make it smooth and straight. Then, she curled it so that it was wavy and flowing. The sun over the summer had naturally put highlights in her light brown hair. Freshly cleaned, it now was the perfect sunkissed color. She gazed at herself in the mirror. Wow, she thought. It doesn't even look like me. But I actually look beautiful! She set off to see Harry and Ron before the ball.

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Shockingly, Draco felt bad about what he had done to Hermione. They were getting along so well. But he had become scared. Scared of the feelings he started to get when she was around. Scared of what he might do if he hadn't gotten control. His coldness towards her was the only way or him to stop liking her. It had to be done. When he had shown outrage in Dumbledore's office, it wasn't because he had to go to the ball with her, or even because he had to spend a week with her. It was because he was afraid that having to be with her all the time would loosen the control he had on his feelings.

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After Harry and Ron oohed and awed over how Hermione looked, and vice versa, they set off to the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were meeting Cho and Padma at the entrance; needless to say, Hermione had no intention of meeting Malfoy before the ball.

When they had gotten to the entrance, Hermione began to feel like a fifth wheel. They entered the Hall, and took in the decor and excitement.

The ceiling was enchanted, so many leaves looked as though they were falling from the sky, but they never hit the floor. The only colors, on the tables and the walls, were the colors of autumn. It was beautiful. The five of them sat down at one of the tables together. Hermione scanned the Hall; maybe Malfoy wouldn't show up. Unfortunately, her eyes fell on the back of a light blonde head. For once, his hair wasn't slicked back. It hung loosely: hot. No, she thought firmly. These thoughts will stop right now; I hate him. He's foul! She quickly turned around as his head turned in her direction.

He planned on staying with his friends all night. Trying to stay unseen, he pushed his way through the crowd, as far away from Hermione as he could get. Unfortunately, he looked up and Dumbledore caught his eye. Malfoy didn't have to be telepathic to know what Dumbledore meant. He had to talk to Granger.

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He put on his confident face and strolled over to where Hermione was talking with her friends.

"Let's go," he said. She looked at him with her eyebrows raised.

"Didn't I say before that you don't tell me what to do?" she asked defiantly.

"Just come on. We've got to dance at least once."

"I'll be there in a minute," she told him. He rolled his eyes and went back to where he was before.

"Geez, he has more mood swings than you, Hermione," Ron said, widening his eyes. Hermione hit him, but playfully.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "First he's horrible to you, then he is nice, then he turns around and is completely awful to you, and now he's being nice again!" Hermione shrugged.

"I'll see you guys later."

"Have fun," Harry said, and Hermione caught his sarcasm. Ron, however, didn't pick up on it and asked Harry how she was supposed to have fun with Malfoy. Hermione left Harry to explain this simple comment to Ron. She made her way over to Malfoy, mustering all the courage and defiance she could. She wasn't going to back down.

"Well?" she asked, crossing her arms. He smirked at her. A slow song began to play.

"Ok, this song's good enough," he decided, and he walked onto the dance floor, expecting her to follow. "Aren't you coming?" he asked, turning around. She imitated his smirk, quite well, and then followed. When they got to an empty space, he turned to her. Reluctantly, he put his hands on her waist, stiffly, I might add. She put her hands on his shoulders mechanically. (A/N: At our school dances in 4th - 7th grade, there was a certain amount of space required between a girl and a guy if you're slow- dancing. That description of Draco and Hermione was inspired from my school dances. Just thought I'd explain that.)

They began to "dance", each avoiding the other's eyes. Hermione was feeling helpless. She was furious at him for what he did to her in the library. But the feeling she got when they were dancing, only a foot apart, was not anger. She knew what it was, and she didn't want to admit it. It was attraction. She fought herself in her thoughts.

He's so horrible.

Yes, but he's cute.

But he's mean!

But remember when he was nice to you?

No, he's pure evil; it was an act.

He can change.

Yes...he can...

So then change him.

I don't know...

(A/N: I hope you don't think I'm portraying her as mentally unstable. I'm just trying to show how her thoughts went back and forth.)

She smells good, thought Draco. What the heck is your problem? he chastised himself. What happened to driving her away? It's really not what I want, he reasoned. Maybe I should just "throw all caution to the wind"?

"Granger," he said. He hadn't realized he'd spoken out loud till she looked at him, puzzled.

"What?" she asked, not unkindly. How can she still be nice to me after how I've treated her? he thought.

"I'm sorry about what I did," he muttered. She was so surprised about what he said that she stepped on his foot. He winced.

"Oh, sorry," she said. "Why are you being nice all of a sudden? Why do you keep changing?" she asked.

"It's complicated. You'd never understand. I'm just sorry, ok?" he said. She bit her lip and nodded. She still looked suspicious.

"Look, I know you have no reason to trust me. I'm not the cruel, heartless person I seem to be. My father played a big part in that. It's no excuse for how I've been, but he does have faults. But I'm trying," he said, getting angry.

Oh no, he's doing it again, she thought. He's being sensitive, and making me like him. The song had ended and another had started. It was another slow song. They continued dancing. Across the Great Hall, Dumbledore smiled.

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A/N: I decided to make the ball into two chapters. There is alot more I want to put into the ball, and the last sentence of this chapter seemed like such a great closing! LOL. R/R!!