Chapter 5: The Dance

"So who are you going with?" Lavender squealed. It was the umpteenth time she had brought it up, and I still had the same answer.

"No one, yet."

"Oh, well you'll find someone!" She patted my shoulder, "Did I tell you? I'm going with Nero –"

"...Nero Bultuivitz, seventh year Ravenclaw; handsome and diviner. Yes I do believe you've mentioned it at least once before."

She stormed off. I didn't care; she wasn't too much fun to talk to. I sat alone in one of the comfy red chintz chairs in the common room, the warm fire blazing in front of me. No one seemed eager to talk, unless it was about the dance.

I still couldn't believe it. Harry and Ron were pulling the same stunt they did in our 4th year. I hoped that their dates, if they got one, had moles and pimples all over their faces.

I smiled. It was early; I could sit here and melt in front of the fire or go and get some breakfast. My stomach solved that problem for me.

"Hello 'Mione." Ginny said as I plopped down next to her.

"'Ello." I said pathetically.

"Err…this probably isn't the best time, but I got asked to the dance!"

"That's great Ginn." I said trying to sound delighted, "By whom?"

"Igotskedbynevle." She mumbled under her breath.

"Huh…?"

"Neville." She sighed sadly. "He asked me this morning as I came down the stairs."

"Very clever." I laughed.

She scowled at me and I went on to making some breakfast. I was in the middle of an interesting conversation with Dean when all of the sudden Harry came running up to me.

"Hermione, you've got to see this." He was trying very hard to stifle a laugh.

"Err…Okay." I got up and followed him to an empty corridor. He led me to a door and I looked in. I can see why he was laughing. There in the middle of the room was Ron and some girl kissing. Very pathetically at that.

"Luna!" I whispered to Harry.

"Uh huh." He cracked a smile. "Sort of sad isn't it?"

"Well, you can't say it wasn't going to happen some day. I just wished it would have been someone…um…normal."

Harry knocked on the door. Ron turned around and blushed a red so dark his face matched his hair.

"Hey guys!" Luna waved.

"Err…yeah. What are you doing?" Ron asked.

I smiled, "I'd love to ask you the same thing, but it's quite obvious isn't it?"

Harry and I left the two, and walked back to the Great Hall. Ginny eyed us suspiciously.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

"We know who Ron's taking to the dance." Harry said.

Ginny went back to her food, "Luna, yeah…I know. They've been going out for sometime now. Actually Ron was writing to her over the summer."

I sat back down, "How is it that you know everything?"

"I learn from you." She said simply.

I sat in silence, not really wanting to talk to Harry or Ginny. Finally after choking down my food I left for Arithmacy. The class was exceptionally noisy, so Professor let us have a free day. I had nothing to do, so I just sat silence again.

"Hermione..." asked a voice behind me as I was leaving the classroom.

"Yes?" I turned around, "Oh hello!"

It was Draco. I noticed he was carrying a rose in his hands. I smiled, it was weird but I really liked talking to him. He listens and comprehends the conversation, instead of just nodding or saying blunt words.

He returned the smile, "Hey, how are you?"

"I could be better."

"Couldn't we all." He started walking, urging me to come with him. He stopped a little ways away from were we were last. "Hermione…" he took a breath, "Do you want to come to the Dance with me?"

I could feel my heart skip, "Me?"

"You don't have too…If you already have a date…Oh of course you do..." He started walking. "I'll see you later Hermione."

I had never seen him act this way the kindness, the short happy un-hurtful conversations. I caught my breath and ran up to him. I grabbed his wrist and turned him around, then brought my face closer to his and caught his lips. He relaxed and hugged me close.

"So that's a yes?" he asked breathlessly.

"Yeah, that's a yes." I said breaking off from him. "But err…please don't tell anyone?"

"Okay. I promise." He kissed me one last time, "Oh! This is yours."

He handed me the rose I had seen before. It smelled wonderful, the petals slowly blooming, and the color bright crimson red.

My cheeks flushed, "Thank you."

"See you then." He said as he walked off.

"Wow, Hermione! You look happy…" Ginny said as I entered the common room. I sat down on the couch, a smile spreading across my face. "….wait a minute. You got asked, didn't you!"

I nodded. "By WHO!" she pleaded.

"Oh…no one." It was the first time I had been happy in a while. Though that feeling had came back. Feeling as though I was going against everyone else's judgment, but I didn't care. If it made me happy then I didn't care.

"Come on…You've got to tell me!"

"Why should I?"

"Because I'm your little Buddha and I would give you advice."

"That's really lame. You know that? And the answer is still NO. We want to keep it quiet."

"Okay! Okay!" she looked at me with beady puppy dog eyes. "Come on."

"No, I will not. You will just have to find out the night of the dance!" I left her sitting on the couch. A dumbstruck look on her face.

"I'll find out somehow!" she yelled after me.

I entered my dormitory. Everything looked brighter and much cozier than before. Throwing on some comfy clothes, I went back down stairs. Ginny was talking with Ron and Harry, both of which were looking at me with stupid grins on their faces.

"Oh come off it. You should've known I would have been asked sooner or later."

"By who though? Harry's already got a date and Ron…well Ron does too." Ginny pointed out.

"Well there are other students in the school you know, and who are you going with!" I asked Harry.

"Padama." He sighed sadly, "Everyone else was taken."

Ron laughed, "Yeah her reaction wasn't quite as planned."

"She nearly laughed herself to death! 'Reaction was quite as planned.'" Harry grimaced.

"So anyways…Who is it 'Mione?" Ron asked humorously.

"I'm not going to tell you! You're just going to have to wait till the dance." I said sternly. I left the room and headed out onto the grounds. It was a peaceful night; the clouds barely there and the wind blowing softly through my hair. It felt great.

I went down to Hagrid's hut. There were small pelts of animal fur covering a small patch of ground, and snow fell softly to the ground. I knocked on the door.

Fang's booming barks answered, followed by Hagrid. "'Ello 'Mione! Come on in…Just makin' some tea."

I walked in the door. The hut was exactly the same as it always had been. A large bed sat over near the side of the hut, a fire was blazing the fire place, large rickety pots and pans were placed unevenly across a shelf.

Hagrid poured two cups of tea, "So, How are ya'?"

"Good…I can't wait till the dance." I said.

"Well, that's good, its serposed to great! Dumbledore hired a band and everything!"

I nodded, "Yeah, that's what I've heard. Harry and Ron both have dates." I said.

"I know. They come ter visit me not too long ago. I don't understand that Luna girl too much though."

"Don't worry. No one really does." I looked at my watch, "Hey Hagrid, I've got to get going. Thank you for the tea!"

"No problem. Make sure you have fun!" he yelled out the door as I was leaving.

"Let's hope so." I thought.

The week before the dance seemed to arrive unusually fast. The day of the dance not a single person paid attention in class. The teachers finally gave up and let us have a day off. Professor McGonagall spent the hour talking about her dancing years as a young girl, which were actually pretty interesting.

Finally the time came to get ready. My hair was less of a problem this time around so I just let it fall on my shoulders. I put on my dark crimson red dress and some of Lavender's perfume (when she wasn't looking). I was finally ready. No one was in the common room so I walked out of the door and out towards the Great Hall.

"What if he doesn't show up?" "What if he lied and takes another girl!"

No. He wouldn't do that. I thought.

He is Draco Malfoy…

So? Just get on with it. You can worry later.

Walking down the stairs I could see Ron and Harry already with their dates waiting outside the doors, they all looked very ravishing. I didn't stop to chat; I'd rather them not know what I looked like yet. Finally I found Draco. He was stunning! His black tuxedo and red tie matched my outfit surprisingly, and his blonde hair was sexy and messy.

"Hey!" I said walking up to him.

His mouth was gaped open, "Oh my god! What did you do with Hermione?"

"I stuffed her in the closet."

"Well that's good, I couldn't stand her!"

"Yeah, she is an annoying little git isn't she?"

"Well…Now that you mention it."

I gave him a punch in the arm. We laughed and the doors opened. Draco gave me his arm, I took it. My mind was clear; I was in a complete and totally different world. Noting else seemed to matter at that moment.

"This was it." I thought. Both my life and friendships would end here after Ron and Harry saw me or they wouldn't even notice me at all. For once, I was glad they were more interested in their dates than the things around them, but that was understandable as Luna looked very beautiful and Padama was evenly as stunning. I hoped Ron and Harry wouldn't flake out on them this time.

"Hermione?" Draco looked at me. His grey eyes soft and kind; I was getting used to this look now, it was very enjoyable. We walked out into the Great Hall, tables filled with green and red candles shown brightly and glowing doves flew softy through the hall.

"Yeah?" I asked looking back. He grabbed my hand, and squeezed it tight.

"I…" He started. I smiled at him; he smiled back, "I love you."

I'llleave it at this for a while…I have to pack my bags because I'm moving. I will return to this defiantly this weekend ormaybe sooner! Please Read and Review! –ForgottenInk.