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Chapter Nine: The Yule Ball

"Draco," Hermione called, "I'm heading over to the Gryffindor dormitories now.

"Okay." He replied, "I'll come by and get you in an hour."

Hermione had decided to get ready for the Yule Ball with Ginny in the Gryffindor dormitories so that Draco wouldn't see her dress before the dance. When she got there, Ginny dragged her in and immediately started fussing over her hair and makeup. When she pulled away Hermione's hair had been piled elegantly on top of her head and a small red rose could be seen tucked in her curls. She had dark black around her eyes and a reddish lip gloss.

"A work of art, if I do say so myself." Ginny said proudly.

"Wow Gin. I look great." Hermione said in a hushed voice.

"Okay girl. Lets see ya dress robes now." She demanded.

Hermione opened a bag she had brought with her and pulled out her beautiful red dress robes. They were low cut and off the shoulder with a long trailing hem. Ginny stared in awe.

"That's beautiful." She said, "Where'd ya get em."

"My parents sent it to me after I told them about the Yule Ball." She explained.

"I wish I could get new dress robes." Ginny sighed.

The red-headed girl was wearing the same robes she had worn to the Hogwarts 500th Founding Day celebration the previous year. They were a pale purple colour and made of a light, floaty material.

"You look nice too Gin." Hermione assured her as she slipped her dress robes on.

"Thanks 'Mione. Now lets go wait out in the corridor for your date shall we?"

"Lets."

'Why do girls always take so long to get ready?' Draco asked himself as he paced outside the Gryffindor dormitories.

"Calm down Draco." Harry told him, "She's not going to bail on you."

"Hey!" Draco suddenly realised something, "Why are you here Harry? Shouldn't you be keeping Weasley company or something?"

Harry shook his head, "Nah. Ron didn't want to come. He's not feeling too good."

"Draco. You're here already." They heard Hermione say.

Draco turned around, "Yes… 'Mione?" Surely this beautiful girl couldn't be his 'Mione.

She giggled, "Yeah, it's me."

Ginny poked her head out the portrait hole and smiled, "Well Hermione, now that your date is here to look after you I'm going to go and find Neville."

"Cya Gin." Hermione waved.

"I'm gonna take off too." Harry told them, "I've gotta pick Luna up from her dorm in five minutes."

"Well 'Mione," Draco said once everyone had left, "Care to join me at the Yule Ball."

"Why yes I would Draco." She said, linking her arm through his.

"Don't Harry and Luna make a cute couple?" Hermione giggled as she and Draco danced slowly.

"Adorable, "He replied sarcastically, "Almost as cute as Ginny and Longbottom."

Hermione playfully slapped his arm, "Be nice." She told him.

He pretended to look ashamed, "Sorry 'Mione. Can you ever forgive me?"

She giggled uncontrollably, "Silly Draco."

Jaide watched as Draco and Hermione danced together, her eyes full of sadness.

'It's so obvious they love each other.' She thought, 'I can't believe Lucius is doing this to them.'

The young couple stopped dancing and headed outside to stroll through the rose bushes Dumbledore had conjured up. Jaide trailed behind them, unaware that she was also being followed.

Severus Snape followed Jaide as she left the Yule Ball. He walked up behind her quietly until he was close enough to tap her on the shoulder.

She jumped, "Severus! Why do you always have to sneak up on me?"

He smirked, "I didn't want you to run away on me again."

"Yeah well don't do that. You used to do it all the time when we were kids and it annoyed to hell out of me."

"We need to talk Jaide." He said urgently.

"There's nothing to talk about Severus."

"I think there is. Why did you leave me?" he asked with his eyes blazing.

"I didn't leave you, you left me when you became a deatheater." She snapped, "You knew how I felt about it and you did it anyway."

"It was expected of me." He told her sadly.

"Don't give me that crap Severus. You know perfectly well you could've come with me." She glared at him, "It was expected of me too but do you see the Dark Mark on my arm. I think not."

"I'm sorry Jaide. I was confused. I didn't realise how much you meant to me until you left. I'm not a deatheater anymore. I've changed."

"I know." She said quietly.

"Please come back to me Jaide." He begged.

"Severus…" she said sadly.

"Please… just say you still love me."

She sighed, "Severus. I still love you but you betrayed me and I don't know if I can forgive you for that."

He looked so hurt she immediately regretted saying it, until she realised Draco and Hermione were nowhere to be seen.

"Damnit!" she exclaimed, "I've lost them."

"Lost who? What's wrong?"

"Draco's going to do something terrible Sev." She told him.

"Huh. But I thought he'd changed over to our side?"

"It's a long story…"

"So shorten it." He said.

She nodded, "Basically Lucius has said that if Draco doesn't switch back he'll kill me and 'Mione. So Draco's decided to have a fight with 'Mione tonight and break up with her."

"Lucius threatened to kill you?" Severus asked.

"That's not the point Sev!" she said exasperatedly, "The point is that Draco's making a huge mistake."

"I guess… but if he doesn't do this then Lucius will kill you."

"He can try." She replied stubbornly.

"My dear Jaide. You always were foolishly brave but you and I both know you are no match for Lucius Malfoy."

"But Draco…"

Severus cut her off, "Draco is perfectly capable of making his own choices. If this is what he truly wants then you can't stop him."

She gave up , "I guess you're right."

"As always, now how about you come back to the Ball with me." He said, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Hey! I never said I forgave you."

"Of course you do Jaide." He said before kissing her gently.

She closed her eyes, "Of course I do Sev."