A Second Chance – fire-and-ice89

A/N: Yay, people reviewed my story!

Something that completely slipped my mind when I was writing my author note for the first chapter: this story was actually done through an exchange. If you read my bio then I've got the whole story there. Here's the things that were requested:

1. a girl tripping over in stilettos
2. a girl punching a boy
3. an irresistible bad boy :)
4. rain
5. no slash or immediate romance

You've already seen the girl tripping over in stilettos in chapter one, and I think we all know who the irresistible bad boy is! The rest of the requests are included throughout the rest of the fic.

Well, I decided I love you all so much I'm going to reply to everyone's review:

TaurusGirl: I hate immediate romance too, and since my friend also does (you can tell by the request), I tried hard not to reduce Malfoy to a pile of mush immediately. But since this story was done very quickly (in about two weeks), it tends to be a bit fast paced at times. The other story I'm writing, School Camp, should develop more slowly.

Twista123: Thank you for the compliment!

Caitiethelioness: What about Krum? He basically disappeared back at the end of the fourth book. His romance with Hermione was very short-lived. I don't think she was ever really attracted to him in that way. She was just flattered that someone was paying attention to her. I'm glad you like the characterisation: I hate it when authors turn the characters into completely different people, and I try hard not to do that.

NeVeRmInD2: It might be a tangled web at the moment, but everything will work out, I promise!

TotoroSpirit: Here it is, the next chapter!

Last Time:

Suddenly, she noticed Harry out of the corner of her eye. He was preoccupied though, dancing with Parvati. Dancing very close. Very suggestively. Hermione's eyes widened as they leaned in closer. No! This was not meant to happen. She turned away before their lips touched, too upset to watch.

"…out with me?" She looked up to see Ron looking down at her very hopefully. She had no idea what he'd just said.

"Um…I need some fresh air. I'm going outside" She broke away and walked quickly out the double doors.

Thank God she hadn't worn stilettos.

Chapter Two – Revelations

She slowed once she was in the front hall. She would have to apologize to Ron for being so abrupt later, but for now she just wanted some time to herself.

How could Parvati do that? She and Lavender knew perfectly well how much she loved Harry. Beyond being friends, of course.

She pulled open the front door and stepped outside. She needed some fresh air to clear her head.

Dammit. She'd forgotten that it was raining. Immediately the drizzle of water seeped into her hair, and when she raised her hands to her head she could already feel the bun coming undone. She sighed. Her hair always went frizzy in the rain.

Suddenly, she heard a sobbing sound that she had been too distracted to notice before. Looking to her right, she noticed a miserable looking girl huddled in the corner crying her eyes out.

Her heart swelled and went out to the girl. She stepped closer and held out her hand.

"Are you okay?"

The girl looked up with a tear stained face, and with a shock Hermione realised that it was Pansy.

"Pansy!" She exclaimed. The Slytherin buried her head in her arms again, to miserable to care about a Gryffindor seeing her in this state. Slowly, Hermione sat down beside her.

She had hated this girl up until last year, but then a change had come over Pansy. She had become nicer, and stopped throwing herself all over Malfoy. But some barriers were difficult to overcome, and Pansy's pride kept her from associating with Gryffindors beyond the occasional polite conversation.

But in her present state, she didn't care.

"I thought I could deny my feelings." She wailed, as Hermione put a tentative arm around her.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, concerned.

"For Draco. I told myself I didn't care for him, because he so obviously didn't care for me. He was using me, all the time, and I knew it."

Hermione's face hardened at the mention of his name. Something had happened to upset Pansy, and she thought she knew what it was.

"Was it Lavender?" she asked. Pansy gave a small sob.

"People say that you can't trust a Slytherin, but what about Gryffindors? They're just as untrustworthy." Hermione nodded grimly, thinking back to Parvati and Harry.

"You know, Pansy, I think that I might just agree with you on that point."

Pansy looked up at her with a tear stained face.

"As soon as I saw Draco with Lavender, I knew that I still loved him. I have to see him, just to tell him. Then maybe I can move on."

Hermione stood up suddenly.

"Where are you going?" Pansy asked.

"Well, you want to find Mal…Draco, don't you?" Hermione said, struggling with the name.

Pansy wiped her arm across her face. "Would you really do that for me?" She asked.

Hermione nodded kindly.

"Trust me, I know how unrequited love feels."

00000000000000000000

The ball was well underway by the time they entered the Great Hall. There was a noticeable drop in numbers, and, Hermione thought to herself, those missing people weren't just taking a walk outside. The absence of the platinum blond haired boy was easy to pick.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted Harry. He was still with Parvati, but at least they hadn't retreated to the dorms like so many others.

Pansy marched up to Blaise, who was making out with another Slytherin girl. He looked up in annoyance when Pansy shook his arm.

"Where's Draco?" She shouted above the music.

"He's gone up to the dorms, I think," said Blaise, and turned back to the impatient girl in his arms. Pansy grabbed his arm again.

"Was anyone with him?" She asked with dread. Blaise shrugged.

"Some Gryffindor girl…what does it matter to you?"

Pansy spun around to face Hermione.

"We have to go after them."

A/N: I can sense an argument!

Okay, what's everyone's predictions? Who will end up with who (apart from the obvious one, of course!)? I promise, by the end of the story, no one will be left partnerless.

Another question: is anyone here an aussie? If you are...I AM TOO! If no one is...oh well.

Please review!