Harry Potter and Company are owned by J. K. Rowling. However, characterizations of how they act when they are 22 are purely speculation on my part.
Hermione really wasn't late. But she WAS going to be one of the last ones announced. So now everyone can notice how I'm unescorted. Just what I need. She headed towards Pierre, the announcer, who appeared to arguing with a blonde gentleman. As she drew closer, she realized the 'blonde gentleman' was Draco Malfoy. This evening is getting better as I go along. She thought nastily. What next? An assassination attempt? She walked up to them, but before she could speak, Pierre said, "Mademoiselle Hermione is alone again this year, no?"
She sighed. It was just like Pierre to always be annoyed that she was unescorted. I shouldn't have lied that first year and said that my "boyfriend"'s job kept him away at this time of year. But I'm not just going to open up to the announcer and tell him that no one wants to be my escort. Hermione pushed her irritation to the side and said, "Yes, Pierre, he couldn't make it again this year. Jon sends his regards, as always. He said to tell you he's going to try to be here next year." She smiled politely. Thank goodness I remembered the name! "Can you announce me now?"
"But I have the perfect solution! Monsieur here has no date, and you have no escort!" Pierre said enthusiastically. "Can you not enter together? I'm sure Monsieur Jon would not mind under the circumstances…" he trailed off.
Hermione looked at Malfoy. He's changed since the Dark Lord's death. Maybe because his own father had died in the battle. Yet I still don't trust him completely… Malfoy was looking right back at her. "What do you say, Granger? Shall we scare everyone to death?" His lips twitched in what appeared to be amusement.
Pierre took her silence as consent. "Monsieur Draco Malfoy and Mademoiselle Hermione Granger." He announced. Malfoy led Hermione down the stairs slowly, regally. He had obviously been born to this life, unlike Hermione.
Since they were going so slow, Hermione had plenty of time to scan the crowd for Ron, Ginny and Fred & George. Usually, she rushed down the stairs, to keep people from seeing she didn't have an escort. She found Ginny first, surrounded as usual by a group of admirers. Fred and George were dancing on the floor with their wives, Angelina Johnson-Weasley and Katie Bell-Weasley. But Ron… Ron was standing there, ignoring Hannah, and glaring at Hermione. Lord, what did I do to deserve THAT glare? I haven't seen it since I stopped going out with Vicktor Krum. If he's going to do that all night, it's not going to be a fun night.
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Several hours later, Hermione knew she had thought right. It hadn't been a very good night so far. Ron had been avoiding her all night. Ginny had only been by her once, and complimented her choice of necklace. Malfoy had, for some reason, stuck to her like glue. This bothered her, as it kept the twins away – they would never approach a Malfoy. Ron kept glaring at her, and she was lost as to the reason why. Fine, if that's how he's going to be, why don't I give him something to glare at? She had been refusing to dance with Malfoy all night, but now she turned to him and said, "Do you still want to dance?"
He looked surprised. He just nodded in response. Hermione grabbed his hand, weaved through the crowd to the middle of the dance floor, and they began to dance. Malfoy was a surprisingly good dancer. Hermione shook her head. Think, Hermione. That shouldn't be a shock. He probably had dance lessons when he was younger.
"What are you thinking about?" Draco asked. Hermione looked up, surprised. He smiled wistfully. Wistfully?!? "Can't we even hold a civilized conversation, Hermione? I mean, just dancing does get a little boring, don't you think?" This time his smile wasn't wistful. Instead it was brilliant.
Hermione wasn't used to Malfoy smiling at her. All through school he had only sneered at her and called me Mudblood. Now he was smiling and calling her by her first name. This is confusing… She shook her head and replied, "I was thinking about dancing and how good you are at it."
Malfoy nodded. "I had a dance tutor when I was younger." Then he leaned closer, and whispered, "But my favorite style of dancing is swing dance." He pulled away, eyes sparkling.
"But I love to swing dance! Harry and I spent the summer between 6th and 7th year learning how to do it! We were going to enter the big dance contest the fall after graduation. Instead…" she swallowed, then continued, "Well, you know what happened…"
Malfoy nodded. "You know, I don't think I ever offered you my regrets for his death."
Hermione looked down. "I never expected you to give them. After all, I know you and Harry never got along during school…" At his snort she looked up. "Don't you try to tell me that's not true!" she declared. "After all, how many times did I keep you two from killing each other?"
"Not true! We despised each other. However, no one should have had to die such a painful death. And I regret that your friend had to die. It's tough on those of us left behind, those of us who have to survive without those who died." His icy gray eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"Draco," Hermione said, "Why have you been hanging around me tonight?" I have to know. If it's a joke, I need to know now. Please oh please don't be a joke.
"At first it was joke, yes. That's what you want to know, isn't it?" Hermione was hurt. Well, that was blunt enough. She tried to pull away, but Draco was too strong. "Let me finish before you abandon me, won't you!" Draco demanded. Hermione stopped struggling. Might as well hear the rest of it, since I can't get away. He dragged her off the dance floor, and they ended up in one of the numerous secluded balconies that lined the dance hall.
However, when they were alone, Draco was strangely quiet. "Well?" Hermione demanded. "What more could you have to add?"
Draco said slowly, "I've only seen that look directed on one person – or rather, because of one person. I was curious as to whether it was because the person was famous, or for another reason… And then when I found it directed at me, or rather, at us, I was intrigued. Finally, I could get back at him. All those times over the years…" he shook his head.
"What are you talking about?!?" asked Hermione. I should have known he'd speak in riddles.
"I had hated Harry because he was everything that everyone thought of him as – noble, loyal, brave… his assets had been sung about since he was a year old. And then to have snubbed me to be friends with a Weasley… it was too much. Then I realized it was because Harry was too noble that he was friends with Weasley. And I came to realize that they needed each other." Draco paused and looked her in the eyes. "I could understand your friendship with Harry. Who wouldn't want to be friends with the Boy Who Lived?"
She must have shown her shock and outrage, because he quickly added, "Not that it was the only reason you were friends. Any fool could see that, just as any fool can see you are still mourning him, yes even to this very second. Unlike Weasley…"
She protested briefly, "But that's not…"
"True. Okay, Weasley may…"
"Ron. His name is Ron." If he's going to be a bastard, at least say the right name. I will NEVER understand why boys have to call each other by their last names.
"…Ron may mourn in his own way. I'll give you that. However, what I was going to say is that he's still living life. You aren't. Why aren't you experiencing life, Hermione?"
Lord, he WASN'T being a bastard, at least not to Ron… Why can't I think of an answer for him? Why AREN'T I living life? Hermione stared at Draco for what felt like forever, but was dragged back into reality by the sound of trumpets. I never thought I'd be saying this, but thank god for tradition. "Draco, I have to go. That's the cue for Ron's and my dance. However, we will finish this conversation later. You danced around the issue this time, but we WILL settle this after this dance." She turned and headed back inside.
She arrived in time for the usual announcement. Since they used it every year, she could practically recite it word for word. "Ladies and gentlemen, could you please clear the floor? The Minister of Magic has requested that the Two Who Won have a private dance of celebration. Mademoiselle Hermione Granger and Monsieur Ronald Weasley, would you please come to the center of the dance floor?"
As always, the crowds parted for her. Soon she was in the center of the floor with Ron. His eyes were hard, almost icy. He held himself stiff, not relaxed as he usually was with her during this dance. As the familiar music washed over them, he bowed. Even as they danced, the dance seemed stiff and cold – almost as if she was dancing with a complete stranger instead of her best friend, and the person who had suffered so much with her. Ron didn't even smile at her once, or lie and tell her she looked pretty.
Finally Hermione whispered, "Why are you so upset with me?"
Ron whispered back, "Why would I be upset? You just came tonight with Draco Malfoy and didn't even bother to tell me. I mean, Malfoy for Pete's sake. Would you think about what Harry would think of the situation! And then you vanish for at least an hour with him. Why would I be upset?"
Hermione was shocked. I knew Ron hated Draco, but I thought he had more trust in me than that. And then everything made sense. "You really believe it, don't you?" She asked sadly. At Ron's puzzled look she continued, " That I 'fraternize with the enemy.' That the only reason someone would go out with me is to 'get inside information' on someone. I never realized how cheap you really think I am."
"What? Where did you come up with this notion?" Ron demanded.
"You told me so yourself, Ron. You declared it loudly at the Yule Ball our 4th year at Hogwarts. You told me Vicktor was only interested in me because I was friends with Harry. Now you believe that Draco's only interested in me because of you. Isn't that right, Ron?" She pulled away from Ron a little, and raised her voice. "Well, Mr. Ronald I-Must-Be-God Weasley, maybe, just maybe, someone is interested in me for me. Is that so impossible?" Then she leaned in closer as another thought struck her, and whispered venomously, "And if no one could be interested in me as a person, then whom are you trying to get the scoop on Ron? What information can I give you? What keeps you here now that Harry's gone? Why is the great and powerful Ron Weasley friends with poor bookworm Hermione?" Her voice had taken on a mocking tone during the last question. She then stormed off the dance floor, aware that everyone's eyes were on her, aware that the song wasn't over yet, but mostly aware that she needed to escape from the world.
A/N: Okay, I need some more reviews before continuing. Where do you guys think I should go from here? Please R/R!