AN: Yea... sorry for the wicked short chapter... this chapter isn't very long either. AHHHHHHHHHHH! I can't believe the O's lost! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! sorry I haven't update in forever. I've already finished the 6th HP book (in 14 hours). Try to ignore the stuff that interferes w/ the 6th book, it's not my fault. My life is really crazy right now... I've had the shittiest summer in general... Oh! FYI, a "milf" is a Mother I'd Like to Fuck... y'all need to watch American Pie!

On w/ the story...

Chapter 9: The Ball

"Wow, Hermione!" Draco stuttered.

"Wow yourself," Hermione muttered looking Draco up and down. He had khaki pants on with a silk silver shirt that brought out the color in his eyes. After a moment of awkward silence, Draco cleared his throat.

"Shall we?" he said extending his arm to hers.

Hermione graciously took it and they apparated to the Ministry. Hermione immediately recognized many of her co-workers, Lavender, Parvarti, and Ron were all talking quickly and kept looking around. Hermione realized what they were looking for. Her.

"Oh! Hermione!" Lavender squealed shuffling up to her in her extraordinary high heels. Her light purple dress reached just below her knee and it had stunning beading that circled the tube top. Lavender hugged Hermione and looked at her outfit very carefully. "Wow, you look fantastic! That dress is beautiful!" she complimented.

"Oh, thank you. You look beautiful as well."

Lavender shrugged as if to say I know. "Oh, hello Draco,"she said. "Would you mind if I stole your hot date for a moment?"

Hermione blushed a little bit and looked at Draco pleadingly.

"Sure," he said in the friendliest voice he could muster.

"Fabulous..." Lavender proceeded to drag Hermione to Ron and Parvarti. "So..." Lavender said to Hermione. "What is up with you and Draco? Are you a couple again?" she said with an alarming amount of hope in her voice.

"No, we're not a couple, he just tricked me into coming with him tonight," Hermione responded a little coldly.

Lavender's face fell. "Hermione, I know you probably don't want to hear this,"

Obviously, Hermione thought.

"but you and Draco were the absolute perfect couple. I know what he did was wrong, but his didn't dump you after he had won, he stayed with you. You really loved each other, and I think you still love him."

Hermione scowled.

"No, really Hermione. I think you don't want to admit it, but you never fell out of love with him. Just stop using Peter as an excuse. The poor kid. My god Hermione, you told him Draco died!"

Hermione was about to respond, but she was tightly embraced by Ron.

"Hey Hermione. How have you been?" Ron said still hugging her.

"I'm fine. Ummm, Ron? Could you let go?"

"Oh yeah, sorry."

Hermione remembered that Ron was also encouraging her to get back together with Draco; the whole world was against her!

"So, where's your date?" Ron said winking.

Hermione rolled her eyes unnoticeably. Here we go again!

As if on cue, Draco came up to Hermione and put an arm protectively on her shoulder. "Hello Weasel."

"Deatheater," Ron greeted smiling an extremely fake smile.

Draco looked deeply offended. "Shut your face about shit you don't know about. In that case, you'll never be able to speak."

Hermione almost smiled. If everyone hates him again... they won't want me with him.

Draco turned to Hermione, "Would you like to dance?" he said hopefully.

Hermione listened to the song that was playing. It was one of her favorite songs... "Sure."

Draco smiled and guided Hermione to the dance floor.

(If you don't like lyrics... skip a bit)

Staring out at the rain with a heavy heart
its the end of the world in my mind
then your voice pulls me back
like a wake-up call
ive been looking for the answer
somewhere
i couldnt see that it was right there
But now i know, what i didnt know

(chorus)
Because you live and breathe
Because you make me believe in myself
when nobody else can help
because you live girl
my world...
has twice as many stars in the sky

it's all right. i survived. i'm alive again
' cause of you, made it through every storm
what is life? whats the use?
if you're killing time

i'm so glad i found an angel
someone who ...
was there when all my hopes fell
i wanna fly looking your eyes

(repeat chorus)

because you live... i live

because you live, there's a reason why
i carry on wheni lose the fight
i want to give what you've given me
always...

(repeat chorus)

Then Hermione noticed that Draco was signing.

"Because you live and breathe, because you make me believe in myself, when nobody else can help because you live girl my world... has everything i need to survive, because you live... I live."

Hermione couldn't fight back a grin, he was always a good singer.

Draco seized her good mood as a wonderful opportunity, "I want to show you something, come on..."

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

"You'll see."

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A/N: Review! BTW, the song was "Because You Live" by Jesse McCartney, and I just got 2 kittens... and I named them Lily and James. Hehehe.