Yes, here it is... the next chapter! Lol, sorry.

Disclaimer: All characters of this story belong to J.K Rowling. :-)

Finally the day of the dance came. Everybody was excited, and since lessons only went until lunch that day, everyone was happily talking to people about what they were wearing, as it was an optional dress up.

At six o'clock, Hermione went down to the Great Hall to open the hall for the first to fourth years. There was a large crowd around the door already, and Hermione had to push through for ages before she could actually get there. She caught a glimpse of the Hall as she opened the doors. It looked great, with the usual decorations but instead of the four long tables there were about one hundred small round tables like at the Yule Ball.

She made her way back to the dormitory to get ready. Dumbledore had requested that the Head Boy and Girl wear matching costumes for some unknown reason. Hermione and Malfoy had had a long argument over this: Hermione had wanted to go as angels or something alike, but Malfoy had downright refused to, he wanted to go as something darker. Eventually they compromised. Hermione was going as a 'dark angel' and Malfoy as 'the devil.' Hermione didn't really think it matched that well, but she was sick of arguing with him. She was just going to avoid him for the entire night, and have fun.

So she slipped into her costume, applied her make-up, and looked in the mirror. She almost blushed as she looked at herself. The costume was quite revealing. He was wearing a black lace dress which came to half way down her thighs. It was very low cut and off the shoulder, revealing a little too much of her cleavage in Hermione's opinion. On her feet she was wearing black stilettos, and of course, her legs were covered in fishnet stockings.

Her eyes were bordered with black eyeliner, black eye shadow and mascara. She was wearing cherry red lipstick. Her hair was out, with temporary black tips. She smiled at her reflection.

When the ball was about to start Hermione made her way down to the Great Hall. The crowd was even bigger then the last one. She found her friends and entered the hall with them.

Ron, Hermione, Harry and his partner, Ginny, sat down at one of the small tables as they entered. Everyone was chatting about what others were wearing, the decoration and what bands would be playing. Ginny was dressed as a fairy, a muggle fairy, she explained to Hermione. Harry and Ron hadn't bothered to dress up, but were wearing dress robes, Harry's were the same emerald green ones from the Yule Ball, and Ron was wearing the ones that Fred and George had gotten him a couple of years ago, they were a royal blue colour, and made him, in Hermione's opinion, look really handsome. Hermione was wearing her dark-angel clothes of course.

She squinted around, trying to see her fellow Gryffindor's costumes through the gloom of the dark room. She spotted Seamus and Dean chatting up Lavender and Parvati at the other end of the room. It looked like Seamus had gone as an Irish quidditch player, and Dean as a… muggle? Parvati and Lavender appeared to have dressed up as muggle fairies, fairies who didn't really wear much clothing, Hermione noticed. Very unlike Ginny, who had taken to the task magnificently in Hermione's opinion.

Neville blundered over to their table. The reason he was blundering was because he had dressed up as a ghost, with a white sheet over his head. The problem was he had forgotten to cut holes for eyes.

"Hello," he said a little gloomily. Do you mind if we join you?"

Hermione peeked behind him, and saw Luna Lovegood, floating beside Neville looking dreamy. It looked like she had dressed up as an Egyptian pharaoh.

"Of course," said Harry and Ron pulled up two chairs from the edge of the hall.

"Thankyou Ronald," Luna nodded and sat down in one of the chairs with the air of a royal.

Everyone was sitting down and Hermione saw with a flinch that Malfoy was sitting with his crew exactly opposite them, so she couldn't look straight ahead without seeing him. He had dressed up as a devil alright, and he looked even more evil then usual.

His normally gelled back hair was loose and hanging over his eyes. He hadn't actually worn devil horns, or taken a trident, but was wearing long red dress robes. He turned to look at her and gave her an evil grin, his cold eyes staring straight at her. Hermione winced and looked down at the table.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked, glancing over at her.

Hermione nodded and gave him a small smile.

Finally everyone was seated, and Dumbledore stood up from the staff table, which was still placed up at the end of the hall. Everyone was silent and he beamed down at the as usual.

"Welcome! Now I hope you all know that this ball wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for our excellent Head Boy and Girl. Thankyou," he projected as everyone cheered and applauded loudly. "So with no further speeches, I shall quickly introduce you to the band for this evening." He motioned towards a small stage around where the Slytherin table usually was, just to the left of Malfoy's table. The black curtains around it magically drew back, and girls started screaming as the saw the band, while the guys applauded heavily. It was Merlin's beard, a very well liked wizarding band. The lead singer, Jake, waved at them all and a couple of girls looked like they were going to swoon.

Harry rolled his eyes as Hermione's cheeks went pink as Jake winked at her. Ron just snorted.

"And now, to open our dance," Dumbledore boomed, "The Head Girl and Head Boy!"

"What!" Hermione gave a small outburst as the hall broke into applause again, and the band started playing a beat. Harry and Ginny looked shocked, Ron looked furious, Neville looked confused and Luna was clapping happily. Hermione looked over at Dumbledore in need of an explanation, but he was already chatting to Professor Flitwick. She glanced over at Malfoy and saw him grinning evilly as he stood up from the table and started to walk to the centre of the floor.

"You'd better go," Ginny whispered, giving Hermione a small push.

Hermione walked slowly to the centre of the dance floor, not looking back at the table. Malfoy held out his hand as she reached him.

"Shall we dance?"

"Shut up," Hermione said annoyed, and tentatively took his hand. He pulled her closer as the music began to play, placing his hand around her waist, under her cloak. Everyone was clapping along with the beat as Hermione reluctantly placed her arm around his neck. They started moving to the music.

"Oh, relax Granger," Malfoy said snidely. "You're so tense."

Needless to say, this didn't make Hermione relax.

Everyone was still clapping, and Hermione felt perspiration on her forehead. She just wanted this dance to end…

Suddenly she felt Malfoy's hand slide further down her back, under her cloak so none could see.

"Stop it!" She hissed in his ear.

"Now, now Granger, you wouldn't want to cause a fuss, would you?" He murmured in her ear. "I was quite upset when you left me the other night, you know." He pulled her closer. "If you do that again, I might have to do something to Weasley."

Hermione tensed for a moment, but not wanting him to see her anxiety, she forced herself to relax.

"Ron could take you on any day," she said coolly.

Malfoy laughed softly. "Maybe we'll find out."

Hermione really wanted the dance to end now. Malfoy moved his face to hers, so that their cheeks were touching. His cheek was cool, and Hermione could practically feel her own burning with the shame of it all. She couldn't move her head, he was holding her so tight, please let this dance end! His hand went even lower down her back, so that it was resting on her tailbone. He pushed her so close that there was no distance in between them at all. Hermione whimpered something, telling him to stop, but he was right, she didn't want other people to notice. They turned slightly, and Hermione saw Ron's face over Malfoy's shoulder. His expression was awful. He looked livid, angry, and shocked. She tried to mouth something, but Malfoy steered her so that she was facing the other direction.

"I don't think so," he teased. "Let's see how long he can stand it."

But at that moment, to Hermione's great relief, the song ended and another started. Hermione pulled herself away from Malfoy's grip and rushed over to Ron. She was sure that he was angry at Malfoy, not her, and she didn't want Ron and Malfoy getting into a fight, the night had been damaged enough, she'd just ignore Malfoy and have a good time with Ron and it would be fine. She reached him and he stood up, still looking at her furiously.

"Ron, don't worry about it-" she started but was cut off.

"I can't believe you!" He hissed. "I can't believe you did that!"

"What?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Oh I wonder," Ron said sarcastically. "For once 'Miss- know- it- all' is stuck without an answer."

"Ron, why-"

"Don't play stupid, Hermione," Ron said loudly, Ginny and Harry stared at them as they danced pass. "How could you do that with that- with Malfoy!" His voice didn't sound so angry now, but there was a hurt tone to it.

"Ron, no, you don't understand!" Hermione cried, close to tears. "Why do we always have to fight at these stupid dances?"

"Whatever Hermione!" Ron shouted at her again. Why didn't you just tell me if you wanted to come with him?"

"I don't want to go with him!" Hermione sobbed. "Anyway he's here with Pansy!" She motioned with a hand to an unhealthily thin girl, with long blonde hair and a very short dress who was presently staring love struck at Malfoy while he talked to Crabbe and Goyle.

"Like that matters to you!" Ron spluttered, not really noticing what he was saying. "Why don't you just go and kiss him then!" He bellowed the last part.

The hall fell silent. Even the band stopped playing. Hermione stared at him, shocked. He looked angry still, but a little guilty.

"You are so stupid sometimes Ronald," she said softly, tears falling down her cheeks. She turned around and ran out of the hall as fast as she could. Ron watched her, looking upset. Eventually the band started playing again and people once more began to talk. Draco Malfoy excused himself from his table and no one noticed him sneak out of the hall. Harry and Ginny walked over to Ron.

"You are so stupid!" Ginny hissed, looking at him furiously. "Do you really think she'd do something like that with Malfoy? You ruined the evening for her, and she was so looking forward to it."

Ron bit his lip nervously. "Yeah well…" he couldn't think of anything to say. Harry was staring at him shaking his head. "Okay, I know I stuffed up!" Ron shouted at them. "Just, well, I was just jealous. So, what am I supposed to do?"

"Go apologise of course," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "She's crazy about you, Ron, you just have to apologise and I reckon she'll forgive you before to long."

"Yeah," Ron sighed. "You're right. See you guys later." He stood up and slowly made his way out of the hall, dragging his feet behind him.

Hermione ran as fast as she could up the steps of the Grand Staircase, tears pouring down her cheeks as she did. She heard footsteps behind her, running fast up the staircase after her. Guessing it was Ron, she ran even faster, not wanting to talk to him at the moment. She ran up the corridor and all the way to the Head Dormitories, stumbling every now and then, still hearing the footsteps, still crying. Finally she got there.

"D- Daisies and butterflies," She spluttered, and ignoring Penelope's sympathetic murmurs, ran into the room. She had intended to go to her room, but found she was just too tired and upset. She stopped next to the wall near the corridor and leant on it, sinking down to the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest and put her head on top of them, trying to breathe deeply and to think more rationally. She was overreacting just a little bit; it wasn't that bad of a comment. It was just that she'd been looking forward to this night so much, and now it was ruined. She was interrupted from her musings, by the sound of the common room door swinging open. She looked up in surprise. What? Ron didn't know the password.

But it wasn't Ron standing by the entrance.

It was Draco Malfoy.

Oh the suspense... The next chapter should be up reasonably quickly. Should. Notice the should.