Everyone Has A Dark Side

By: Alianne

A/N: It is the fic's 1st birthday! Exactly a year since I started it! Sorry for taking so long to update! I'm not exactly sure what I want to do with this story, so it's taking a while to materialize. I hope you enjoy this chapter, though.

Chapter 13: The Halloween Ball - The Dance

Hermione was smart enough to know not to gasp or cry out "Oh my God!" at the sight of the grand Malfoy Manor. Ginny did not, however."Wow!" She hissed loudly. Everyone around her glared at her as if to say, "Well, what did you expect?" or "No, duh!" The little Weasley girl ducked her head immediately, blushing profusely. Hermione shrugged to herself. The Manor was huge and very impressive, but this was Draco's house. His family was one of the oldest and richest wizarding families in England, so the grandeur was somewhat expected.

She followed her friends as they led the way up a set of marble stairs to the huge, carved mahogany front doors. They entered a high and decorated front hall, which had family portraits and expensive tapestries hanging on the tall walls, as well as antiques placed on small, velvet-draped tables.

They turned down a few more impressive halls and entered into a massive ball room at the back of the manor. There was a big, open dance floor. Along one side were located small, two, or four person tables, where guests could sit down with their friends. Along another wall was a refreshment table, where a few house elves were presumably serving pumpkin juice.

A third side of this room contained large French windows, which opened on to a brick patio area. Down a short flight of stairs, the gardens began. Hermione could see lots of trees and a path lit by candles, winding though it. How exquisite!

The band playing was the Weird Sisters, and at that moment, they started playing one of their hits, a fast song. Hermione listened to the beat. She saw Pansy and Blaise dancing to it. She tried to move to the music a little. Soon, everyone had found his or her way to the ballroom, and the dance floor was crowded.

Ginny had dropped back into the crowd after she had embarrassed herself with her outburst, and now she felt rather lost. She didn't really want to dance, at least not until later. She wandered out onto the patio and stared into the woods for a while. She though they were quite extensive, sloping down a hill, with the gently lit path running through sections for at least half a mile. In the distance, Ginny could see the moonlight glinting off a large body of water, probably a lake or a river.

Closer to the house were paths, neat patches of plants or grass, and a small pond surrounded by draping willows. Enchanted candles floated among all of this, so those people walking, alone or as couples, could see their way. Here and there were shadowed benches. Ginny blushed when she noticed that quite a few happy couples had already discovered these and were kissing in the semi darkness.

She wandered back through the French windows to the refreshment tables, where she got a cup of pumpkin juice. Then she watched the dancers. Pansy, Blaise, and Sarah were energetically dancing to the Weird Sisters' music. Hermione was too, although not as well as the other Slytherin girls. Ginny was not surprised - Hermione was not the kind of girl to do much dressing up and dancing.

The song finished and some of the dancers headed out onto the patio or over to the drinks table. The next song was a slow one. Miles Bletchly, Pansy's boyfriend, came over to her and put his arms around her waist, while she put her arms on his neck. They moved back and forth slowly, in time to the music. Blaise was dancing nearby with her boyfriend, as well. Sarah and Hermione, however, walked over to get drinks.

Hermione had so far enjoyed the dance. She hadn't ever had very much experience dancing, and at first felt a bit out of her element, but she watched what her friends were doing and tried to do the same.

When the first slow song came on, Hermione tried to look around surreptitiously for Draco, but didn't see him. She was rather jealous when she watched Blaise and Pansy drape themselves over their respective boys and start slow dancing. She and Sarah, who was also currently single, made their way towards the table of drinks, where they each got a glass of pumpkin juice.

Hermione was watching the dancers when someone behind her asked, "Herm-own-ninny?" (AN: Ha ha ha! Surprise!) She spun around to see Viktor Krum staring at her.

"What are you doing here?" She blurted out, completely astonished.

"I am getting hurt in Quidditch, so I am vorking vith the British Ministry of Magic Department of Magical Games and Sports to organize Quidditch event. Very interesting," he said. She noticed that his English had improved only marginally. "Vat are you doing 'ere?"

Hermione told him that she was one of Draco's friends and a little bit of what had happened to her since she had last seen him. They had been talking about various subjects, although mainly Quidditch, when Vicktor asked her, "Herm-own-ninny? Uh, I know dat vhen ve last vere seeing each other, ve, uh, vere having feelings vor each other. But, uh, I feel dat maybe dis can't really vork out, since ve live so far avay from each other. I think it might be a güt idea vor us to just be friends. Vat about you?"

Hermione tried to hold back tears - of course - she had read enough books and seen enough muggle movies to know exactly what he was doing - he was breaking up with her. Trying to keep her voice steady, she said, "Um,

perhaps you are right, V-viktor. But we can still be f-friends, can't we?" She looked up at him nervously.

"Of course ve can," said Krum sounding almost too friendly. He glanced around and then said, "Oh, there is sumbody I vant you to meet." A girl a few years older than Hermione, wearing a short red dress came up to Krum and slipped her hand into his, saying, "Oh Viktor, don't you want to go dance?"

"Emma, dis is Herm-own-ninny, Herm-own-ninny, dis is Emma. Emma is my girlfriend. She vorks at the Ministry, too."

Hermione's face when very pale and she gaped at Krum, her lip trembling and tears pooling in her brown eyes. "She's, she's your girlfriend? Up until a minute ago, I thought I was your girlfriend! How could you do this to me!" She yelled, her voice high and shaky.

Next second, Hermione was dashing out of the ballroom, though the French door, down the steps, and into the woods, tears pouring down here cheeks. She rushed down the path, oblivious to the couples who disengaged their lips long enough to glance up as she passed. She found a dark, empty bench and collapsed, sobbing and murmuring under her breath, "How could he? How? How! I thought, thought he cared about me. If only I had known…."

A minute or two passed, and Hermione calmed down enough to notice the quiet chirping of crickets and the splashing of a stream that she could only just make out by the reflection of the stars in it.

Suddenly Draco appeared from the dark path and sat down next to her. "Hermione, what's wrong? I saw you rushing out of the house and down here crying. Are you okay?" He put an arm around her in a gesture of comfort.

Hermione hiccuped and said " I just saw Viktor Krum. He broke up with me then immediately introduced me to his slutty girlfriend. He'd been cheating on me! For who knows how long!" She started weeping again.

Draco awkwardly tried to comfort her. "How could he do that to you! The horrible guy. He doesn't deserve you. You are so clever and so beautiful, Hermione, you deserve much better than him. Don't cry. It's all his fault, remember, he's just a stupid guy. It'll be okay." He hugged her.

Hermione looked up at him with tear filled eyes, "Really?" she asked, her voice still shaky.

They were quite close together now. Impulsively, Draco leaned forward and kissed her, just lightly touching her quivering lips with this won, then pulling back. "Really," he told her.

Hermione smiled shy at him. Her heart was beating very quickly now. Viktor had kissed her on the cheek a few times, but this was her first 'real' kiss. She was suddenly conscious of her wrinkled dress, mussed up hair, and puffy eyes. However, before she could worry about that, Draco's soft lips had closed on her own, as he kissed her again. This time, he did not pull back and instead deepened the kiss. Hermione was very startled, but eventually she began to kiss back. Soon, she had her arms wrapped around Draco, her previous distress completely forgotten.

Ginny had been very surprised to see Viktor Krum turn up at the party. She'd seen him talk with Hermione and then a blonde girl had come up to him. The little Weasley had watched Hermione blanch and begin crying, then yell at Krum and run off outside. Draco had followed her immediately. She could easily understand that Krum must have acquired a new girlfriend, and this had upset Hermione.

When Ginny wandered outside again, with her cup of pumpkin juice, she heard Hermione's friends talking about Krum. They said he hadn't been invited to the Ball, but that the blonde girl was a Hogwarts alumni, who had been a Slytherin before she graduated. She must have brought Krum with her.

Glad that her life was not as complicated as Hermione's seemed to be, Ginny waked back inside to watch the dancers. The current song ended and the Weird Sisters began a slower one.

Suddenly, off to a side of her, a voice asked, "Um, hi! Do you want to dance?" She looked around to see a boy about her age with short brown hair and blue eyes watching her a little nervously. "My name's Damien Pritchard. I'm a fifth year."

"Okay," Ginny said. She thought he looked kind of cute, with his hair slightly ruffled up in the front and a friendly grin. She put her arms around his neck, while he held her waist. They swayed back and forth slowly.

"So, you're Ginny Weasley, fifth year too, right?" He asked.

"Uh hu," she replied. "I'm in Gryffindor."

"I know." Damien said. "So, are you having a good time tonight?"

" Yeah, I guess so." She didn't feel it would be nice to complain that she felt lonely because she didn't know anyone, when he had just gone out of his way to ask her to dance. She smiled, "I've seen so many new people. I had no idea Slytherin house was so big."

"Yes, there are a lot of us. You can't tell as will in the Great Hall at meals and stuff, since you can't really see down to the far end of the table."

Ginny grinned, "I know. Say, what's your Quidditch team?" Sometimes having six brothers was quite an asset. For example, she knew most of the popular Quidditch teams, their best players, where they were from, and such, due to endless Quidditch talk between the boys.

"Oh, I like the Manchester Eagles best, though the Southampton Lords are really good, too. " The two fifteen year olds talked about Quidditch for the whole dance. When the song ended, Damien suggested they get drinks and maybe go for a walk.

Draco and Hermione broke apart to catch their breath. "Are you feeling better? " he asked her slyly.

"Yes," Hermione said happily. She straightened her dress and tried to smooth her hair. Draco helped her. "Um, do you want to go back inside and maybe dance?" She asked shyly.

"That's a great idea," Draco replied, helping her up. They began to make their way back through the woods to the Manor. "Uh, do I look okay? My makeup isn't too smeared, is it?" Hermione asked.

Draco looked at her seriously. "Hermione, you look beautiful. Really, you do." He said as Hermione blushed. Grinning he added, "Pansy believes firmly in waterproof makeup, I think, so don't worry. Anyway, you're so pretty, you'd look lovely with out any makeup on."

The couple made their way up the stairs, through the French doors, and onto the dance floor. The band was playing a slow song. Perfect. Draco looked at Hermione; "May I have this dance?" He asked gallantly.

She giggled, "Of course." He put his arms around her waist and they began to sway gently to the music, turning slowly around.

The next song was another slow one, so the two teens just carried on dancing. Like most of the couple on the floor, Draco had pulled Hermione close, so they were pretty much touching, but Hermione didn't mind. She rested her head happily on his chest, thinking about how wonderful her life seemed at that instant.

Ginny and Damien were also back on the dance floor. Ginny found Damien to be really nice and good mannered, with sense of humor to match his cute grin. She was surprised how easy it was just to talk to him.

After a good hour of dancing and talking with Damien, he suggested they go for a walk in the woods. Ginny liked this idea, too. Soon they were wandering along the path holding hands. The woods were lit by little floating candles, but here and there they saw fairies. These little glowing things were one of Ginny's favorite magical creatures.

When they got back up to the manor, Ginny heard her favorite song playing, so she and Damien went out to dance yet again. As they moved in time to the music, Damien asked, "You don't have a boyfriend, do you?"

"Hu?" Said Ginny, who had been staring into Damien's blue eyes with her green ones. "Oh, no I don't. I was going out with Dean Thomas at the beginning of the year, but he was no fun, since he was obsessed with Gobstones Club -" She broke off. They were quite close together now, and about the same height. All he would have to do was lean forward slightly -. Damien pulled Ginny close as he gently kissed her. She closed her eyes happily and returned the kiss.

The dance was over all too quickly for Draco and Hermione, who had spent the rest of it dancing. As the last song ended, Draco hugged her and gave her a final sweet kiss on the forehead, before they followed the tide of students back out to the front of the manor, to portkey back to Hogwarts.

Draco noticed a younger Slytherin, Damien Pritchard, holding hands with Hermione's 'friend', Ginny. He pointed this out to her. "Look who Weasley's little sister hooked up with. That guy is a fifth year prefect. He asked me to give her an invitation, so that's why she is here."

Hermione observed the couple. "Well, she has that long, beautiful red hair, so that's probably why he likes her-"

"She is not nearly as pretty as you are," Draco interrupted her.

She grinned, "Thanks. I hope Ginny is careful, though. I somehow doubt that the two perfect Gryffindor guys will be happy with Ginny going out with a Slytherin."

The students all lined up along the banister again, and again, Hermione felt the jerk in her stomach as she rushed back to school, after a wonderful Halloween evening.

When they landed in the Entrance Hall, Dumbledore, who was waiting for them, sent everyone straight up to their respective dormitories. It was after curfew, since the dance had finished at 11:30, and he warned them that they could get into trouble if they didn't go straight to bed.

Hermione and Draco, still holding hands wandered slowly back to their common room in the dungeons, along with most of the students. Ginny made her way up the marble staircase, as did the Gryffindor girl that she had met as she left the common room hours ago, and a few Ravenclaws.

When Ginny peered though the portrait hole, she feared she would see her brother and Harry sitting in the common room, like they usually were. Luckily, either they had finished their work or gone to bed early, since they were nowhere to be seen.

Ginny rushed up to her dormitory, where, thankfully, her roommates were asleep, and were not able to ask any questions about where she had been or why she was wearing dress robes. She sank into bed after hiding her finery in her trunk, and thought dreamily of Damien as she fell asleep.

A/N: Thank you: Ravenclaw-Chick (sorry my review posted twice, I didn't realize it had. I'm glad you reviewed); Helkardowen; SaintEmO, EMMA holmes (thanks, b/c she was talking about the Gryffindor girl she met in the common room before the ball) Sly Slytherin Princess (one of my loyal reviewers!); runaway mental patient (lol! You got what u wanted);Tara Yo (part of your question above, the rest will come soon); jtangel (thanks, same as for Tara Yo); sappjody; Slytherin in Mind; me; Mese (sorry I was so slow, I hope your guy problems improve!); Slytherin ice princess (yup, they kissed! I liked your fic, now fics, but don't do too many, or you won't be able to keep them all going); malfoy-rox; phoenix0710; mizzyfreak7 (thanks, um, she got so mean to the Gryffies b/c she was so upset how they turned on her when she found out who her parents were), valentines-hater (u mean she forgave Ginny? Wait and see, that's not over yet!); Lady Ghost Buster (sorry, I suck at grammar stuff, as my English teacher would happily tell you); Slyswn28; bIsHiE-hUnTa (that is a cool idea, I think Ginny would be better, since Catherine is outspoken and brave, quiet studious Hermione would have to be more OOC than headstrong Ginny.)

Hope I didn't miss anyone! Please R/R, Thanx!

Alianne