Disclaimer: THEY'RE NOT MINE.
He looked up. "Dumbledore said that to me once. 'Some people make the sky more beautiful to look upon, Draco.' I had always thought Dumbledore was just being an old fool when he told me that. However, anyone with eyes at Hogwarts could see that you brought life and love into any room you stepped into. You bewitched everyone in three of the four Houses completely – and I'd wager that you charmed more Slytherins than would ever admit to it. You could even make Snape smile occasionally, when he thought no one was looking. But I still couldn't see what that had to do with me." He paused for a second, obviously trying to group his thoughts. Hermione glanced at Seth for a second. I wonder what he's thinking of all this… I hope he understands more than I do.
Draco started talking again. "When Harry died, it was like a part of me died too – the part that hated everyone and wanted to be just like my father. I mean, look at what he got in the end – an obsession with evil and an early grave. When I looked at myself, I realized that all I ever wanted was to be liked, respected, admired. All my life I had thought that came with the Malfoy name. Instead, people had much more respect for a mu – ggleborn girl than for myself. So I began to question why and examined my memories of you. Only once could I recall you resorting to violence – and even then it was physical, not magical. I doubt it even crossed your mind to retaliate with magic."
Hermione looked shocked. What type of person does he take me for? "I fight fair, Draco. To use magic when provoked verbally would have been unfair to you." She could see Seth shaking his head – probably out of amazement – out of the corner of her eye. She smiled, and played her trump card. "Besides, you would have lost in a magical fight." Draco rolled his eyes. Clearly he thinks otherwise. But instead of arguing the point, she cleared her throat and said, "Well, Draco, continue with your story."
"I realized that it was your ethics that people admired, so I strove to be more like you. Then, at the Ball, I wanted to prove to you that I wasn't a completely horrible guy. But I wasn't prepared for what I found at the Ball." His eyes took on a far away look. "When we danced… it was simply incredible. The way I felt dancing with you I had never felt dancing with anyone before. It was like someone took away all of my problems and I could laugh and be free for a while. If I hadn't been with you all night, I would have sworn you cast a spell over me." He paused for a second, and then said softly, "Perhaps you did, even without realizing it." What is that supposed to mean? How could someone cast a spell without even realizing that they cast a spell?
He shook his head, then continued. "After you stormed out of the Ball, I felt an insane urge to go over and hit Ron." Here he smiled wryly. "Even then I was trying to own up to your standards. I've called him 'Ron' – even in my head – from the moment you corrected me that night." Had he really? He'd do something like that – for me? He looked Hermione straight in her eyes. There was no way she could tear her eyes away from his. This was costing his just as much as telling her about Harry's death, and she would not disgrace him by looking away. He deserves at least that much consideration.
"That moment is when I realized. That's when I realized what I had been missing for so many years – blinded by prejudice and hatred. Because of my insane ideas, I had lost out on knowing you. I had never been soothed by you after a fight with someone, or known relief after apologizing for fighting with you or any of the other million things you do to make life easier for your friends. And I regretted every moment I had lost."
There was silence for a second. But what does all that have to do with Dumbledore's comment. It floated through her head again. "Um, Draco, I'm still confused about what exactly the quote has to do with this."
Seth shook his head. "For the smartest person in your graduating class at Hogwarts, Bella, you can be completely dim sometimes, can't you? Is all your smartness book-learning?"
She turned to look at him in astonishment. "Excuse me?" Who the hell does he think he is?
Seth held up his hands in an appeasing manner. "As your friend, I'm telling you this because you need to hear it. You can be incredibly dense. That quote was all about you. Everything I tried to explain to you the other night – about protecting you and cherishing you – that quote covers it. No one wants to lose someone who makes their entire world better. So you try to protect them, shield them, love them, try to keep them safe." Here he looked down at his hands, then glanced shyly up at her. "And you do, you know. Make the sky more beautiful, I mean."
Hermione felt a blush rise up in her cheeks as Seth spoke so passionately. Do I really? Is this what everyone thinks? "But I don't try to do things…" She lowered her own eyes to the floor.
"That's what makes it all the more amazing, Hermione." Seth told her.
If it was possible, she blushed an even deeper red. When she raised her eyes, both Draco and Seth were looking fondly at her. "Okay, okay, okay. Can we change the subject please?"
~~~I was going to leave it there, but I added this part in too. Just for you guys, cause this is so hard to send from Italy. wink~~~
Draco became serious again. "Hermione, you need to go to the Ball again this year."
What? "What?" Good job, Hermione. I was supposed to sound more sophisticated than that. Oh well, at least I didn't say, "Excuse me?" again.
"So people know you're alive. Please, 'Mione." Draco looked appealingly into her eyes.
She turned away from those eyes, and glanced at Seth instead. However, he seemed to be in agreement with Draco. "Sorry, Bella, but he's right on this one" Traitor.
She shook her head. "I can't. I can't face Ron again." She looked beseechingly into Draco's eyes. "Don't ask me to go, please Draco."
Seth rubbed her back comfortingly. "Hey, it's okay, Bella. We'll be there too, remember? My girlfriend would kill me if we didn't attend, and Draco will be there also." That's true. But…I'm scared.
Draco captured Hermione's hands with his own. Looking deep into her eyes, he said, "Hermione Granger, sometimes known as René Mighero, last year we accidentally ended up entering the Ball together. Would you make it official this year, and allow me the honor of escorting you to the Ball?
Oh dear, what do I say now?
A/N: Yes, I have another chapter up! grin
Much pardons begged for from my betas, as I posted without approval from them first. Please don't kill me! It's because Italy's stupid. I'm working on it, I swear! I'm ready to kill the internet provider though… grr…
So, kind readers, be gentle with reviews.