A/N:

Hi!Gosh its been a YEAR since i last updated!shocks!To my fellow and loyal readers...I'M SORRY!It's been a busy year for me..and frankly speaking...I'm afraid to go back for I think that you (the readers) wont be here anymore...But now, I'm taking a chance to see if you're still there...hanging...waiting for my story...I hope you could understand and still support my story...Anyway...to the readers who waited and also who didn't...i want to thank you all...and now, I'm finishing this story...it will soon be completed...i promise it will be more exciting and i'm going to change some of it...for the better!thnx!and SORRY again!

Disclaimer: again...again...I dont own the characters in its J.K.'s...except the characters I'm going to create...

Shout-outs!

NeoAddctee - i'm sorry if i get you confused about the family ties!thnx for the review!also...i'm sorry for the update

slytherinprincess4life - thnx...and i'm sorry for not updting SOON

MisZHPLoVeR - one of my faves!great!you're a natural born FILIPINA!yipey for that one! yeah i know she has a lot of siblings!sorry also for the update!thnx!

stbqt - hey ...you're new here!great!thnx for the review!and even though you're new here...i'm sorry for not updating!

simpleness - one of my faves!lol...yup..it was odd...but did you understand?thank you for not seeing any flaws...phew!thnx for the review!sorry for the update!

The Gryffindor Drummer - you're also one of my faves! thnx for the review and sorry!

On with the story...

Chapter 28:

Harry was now running towards the library to find Draco. It was now one in the afternoon and he was panicking. He entered the library and runs to the Potions section. For he knew the Potions section is the section Draco always goes to when he's in the library. He turned a corner of a book shelf and smiled as he was satisfied when he found Draco, reading a book on one of the tables.

Harry goes over to Draco and stands in front of him, catching his attention. Draco closed his book, sensing there was a person standing beside him. He looks up and groans. "What?" Harry said. He sat down beside him and waits for his answer. "Don't tell me we need to go to Hogsmeade today? Please, don't."

Harry beams at him wildly and nods. Draco gave him a 'this-is-creepy' look. "Are you gay?" Harry was about to protest when Draco cut him off. "I mean, you always love to shop. Come on, Harry. I have to do something. There are so many paper works on my desk and I have to finish them by tonight. So, I really don't have the time to mingle and shop now."

Harry's jaw dropped. "Ok, I'm going to explain. But first of all, I'm not gay. Ok? Do you understand?" Draco slowly nods, not sure of his answer. "Ok, but can you explain why you're not gay?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "Ok, ok. You can now explain. Sorry." Draco said, sensing Harry getting irritated about the 'gay' thing.

Harry took deep breaths and said, "Ok, my plan is barely finish for we need suits again for the Ball tomorrow. The place is totally sweet, man. You won't believe what I did to that classroom. If this won't get you Mia, I don't know what will. And, Draco would you set aside your projects for awhile? We have lots of time for that on Holiday break. So if I were you, come with me. Plus we're going to have dinner also there with the girls."

"Girls?" Draco confusingly said. Harry nods. "Mia and Gin. Why?" Hearing Mia's name, Draco felt some unease tension between him and Harry. Harry placed his hands on Draco's shoulders. "Why? What's the problem?"

"It's just that I don't want to see Mia right now. I want to give her some time to decide if…if… she's…going… to…to… be…with… with…me…" Harry's eyes gone wild. "No way did you say that to her. But, how about our plan?" Draco raises his hands to protest. "There's nothing to worry about. We're still going with the plan. I really hope she answers my question." Harry pats Draco's shoulders to assure his friend. "Don't worry she'll answer you." Draco smiles. "Thanks. So, can we go now?"

"Oh yeah, sure." Draco stands up followed by Harry. "But, Harry, I'm not going to be with you and the girls tonight. Is that ok?" Harry became sad. "Draco, please? For me, just please come tonight." Draco looks at his ex-archenemy and sees a need of companion for tonight. "I know tonight will be hard for the both of us but I guess you need me. And you've been there for me so many times I can't say no." Harry hearing this, smile at him.

"Ok, let's go."

"All I can say is that dress isn't for you…" Ginny, who was leaning in a satin lavender Chinese-style comfy chair, said. "But, why? I've tried so many dress already…" Hermione said. Her patience was now wearing off her sleeves. They were in a boutique called Sui. It was a boutique at the far end of Hogsmeade's main street. Outside, it looked like a small shop but when once entered the inside, customers would be entrance with its atrium. The atrium was a square room. It has a five foot chandelier made of 20-karat diamonds from Borneo, a circular maple dark red table at the center with a glass containing a goblet that spits red fire forming a dragon (the animal Chinese believed and honored the most), several plush chairs at the sides, cherry red coated walls and black marble polished floor. At the end of the atrium were two black metal doors, a table with some bouquet of red roses on it, which became a divider to the two doors. The door on the left is the entrance to the office of the owner, Ms. Chai Yang Sui. While the door on the right is the entrance to the array of clothes Ms. Sui designed herself.

Ginny and Hermione was in one of the VIP fitting rooms of the boutique. The lavender room was designed for them both for they were devoted customers at Sui. There was a table next to the chair Ginny was sitting on. It has lavender flowers on a clear glass vase on it. After it, there was a chair identical to that of Ginny's. Facing the chairs was the fitting room; its lavender with some shades of pink velvet curtain hangs from the ceiling and flows down to the floor.

Inside the fitting room was a plain rectangle mirror that hung from the wall.

The half of a hundred of dress Hermione has to try on and had tried on was in a rack beside the mirror. "The Yule ball is the most important ball there was in Hogwarts. You have to look good. And where did you pick that attitude? I mean, you're getting irritated just trying some clothes on. You're not like that. Do you have?"

Hermione sighed, walks to the chair beside Ginny and sat down. "Please, don't get mad at me…" Ginny placed her hands to Hermione, sensing there's something bothering her best friend. "What is it, Mia?" Hermione looked at Ginny then to Ms. Sui. "Your clothes are wonderful, Ms.Sui. It would be a hit this season but," she looked at Ginny ", don't get mad…I'm not going to the Ball…"

"WHAT!" Ginny said as she stands up. "WHAT!" Ginny repeatedly said, not believing what Hermione was saying to her. She was furious at her best friend. "WHY! TELL ME, MIA! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS?" Hermione lowers her head. She was ashamed for having this decision but it has to be done. She has no choice. "I have no choice, Gin." Hermione said in a whispered manner.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE! WHY DO YOU KEEP ON SAYING, YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!" Hermione brings her hands to her face and begins to sob. She can't take it anymore. All of these things. Seeing her best friend crying, Ginny toned down. "Ms. Sui and Fanny, can you leave us for a moment. We need to talk privately." Ginny said, addressing the owner and their personal assistant in the boutique. They nod and exits to the door.

With the click of the door, Ginny kneels in front of Hermione and hugs her. "I'm sorry, Mia. It's just that, this is your last year and we always go together if there was a ball. I'm sorry. Why are you crying? Is it because I won't permit you to not go to the ball? Is that it? Ok, I'll respect your decision. Don't go." Hermione pulls away from Ginny and shakes her head. "I don't know what I'm going to do, Gin. I'm so confused, tired and afraid. I love him but I can't be with him." She stood up and walks over to the mirror. And as she looks at herself in the mirror, she said, "I wanted so bad to love him. There's no second I'm not thinking about him. My world is now revolving around him. I wanted to give everything to him. Love him as I have loved Ron and Seamus. But, I'm afraid to risk. I'm afraid that if I have risk it all he might die, like Ron and Seamus. I don't want him to die."

Hermione looked at Ginny through the mirror. "What am I going to do? The Yule Ball is tomorrow. I'm running out of time to decide whether I'm going to be with him or not." Ginny smiled at Hermione and walks over to her. Ginny placed her right arms around Hermione's neck. "Sis, all I can say is…walk to the rhythm of your heart.On the part of Ron and Seamus...its death. Death is destined in every person's life. We can't control it." Hermione touched the arm that was surrounding her neck and beams at her best friend. "Thanks, Gin. Now, I see the picture and I have decided."

"I'm glad. So, are you coming to the ball?" Hermione smiles. "Of course, as you said it's the most important ball this year!" Ginny detached her arm to Hermione's hold. "Now, let's finish this and get you a dress because Mr. Potter will be angry at us if we don't show up in time." Hermione giggles and nods in agreement with Ginny.

"Oh my gosh!" Ginny who was just digesting the ambiance of the restaurant, immediately looks at Hermione. "What?" Hermione who was sitting beside Ginny grabs Ginny's hands and was still staring straight at her left. "Mia, could you not hold me? Coz you got ice pack hands." Hermione looks at her. "Sorry." And then she pulls away her hands from Ginny's and lowers her head. Ginny was about to ask what's wrong with her when Harry cuts her off.

"Hi, Ginny." Ginny looks up at Harry and smiles. "Hi, Harry. Hi, Draco." Harry who was wearing blue cotton rolled up shirt, faded blue jeans and some Converse black sneakers, sat down in front of Ginny. Draco who was wearing a black leather jacket with some white crisp shirt underneath it, dark blue jeans and black leather shoes, has no choice but sat down in front of Hermione.

Harry mumbles to Ginny. "Is she ok?" Ginny looks at Hermione whose head was still lowered. "Mia, are you ok?" Ginny whispers at her best friend. Hermione who was wearing spaghetti strap black dress with white polka dots, black strapped high heels and pearls around her neck, looks up and nods. "She's alright." Ginny said as she looks at Harry and Draco, smiling.

"So, where have---" "Can we go to the ladies room?" Hermione immediately interrupts Ginny. Ginny looks at her with this 'what's-wrong-with-you' look. "Can we?" Hermione said again, urging Ginny more. Ginny nods to her and looks at the guys. "Excuse us." she said with a sarcastic smile. "Come on." Ginny who was wearing a blue halter top dress, pink stilettos and some necklace with pink gumamela flowers as pendant, stands up. She was then followed by Hermione and they proceed to the ladies bathroom.

As the girls walked away from them, Draco turned to Harry. "I knew this would be hard for us." Harry backs away. "Hey, don't blame me." Draco bangs his hands to the table. "This is your idea in the first place. So, I'm really blaming this to you." Draco stands up. "Hey, where are you going?"

"I'll go back to Hogwarts. This isn't right for the both of us." Harry stands up to protest. "No way. Please, you have to stay here." Draco moves his chair. "What for? I can't understand your plan. If I'm going to proceed to this evening, what's in it for me? For her?"

"I have to relax. Relax, Mia. Relax." Hermione touched her forehead and then fans herself. "Mia, what's wrong?" Hermione stops fanning herself and opens the faucet, ignored Ginny's question. She then washed her face. Ginny opens her Louis Vuitton white clutch bag and drops all the contents on to the marble countertop. Concealer, blush-on, brush for the blush-on, lip gloss, mascara, eye liner, tissues, coins and credit cards was now scattered unto the countertop.

Hermione then pulls the towel that was hanging to a metal bar to her left. She buried her face to the towel and wipes her face clean. Ginny then picks up her make-up tools and lines it all up in front of Hermione. Hermione puts down the towel. She then picks up the concealer and starts doing her make-up again. Ginny watched her best friend who she thinks gone insane. "So, can you tell me now why you're acting like this?"

Hermione, who was now putting blush-on on her cheeks, shakes her head no. "Oh come on, Mia. Don't pretend. And please, don't lie to me." Hermione had enough and puts down the brush. "I can't eat dinner tonight if he's there in front of me." Ginny rolls her eyes. "Then, we'll switch seats. Ok?"

Hermione picks up the mascara with trembling hands, ignoring Ginny's assurance. Ginny grabs her best friend's hand causing the mascara to fall on the floor and to bring Hermione up to her senses. "Stop it." Ginny said in a whisper. "What?" Hermione replied, denying her actions to the one who have known her for years. "Mia, you've got to face this situation sooner or later. You need to be used to it. I know you love him but at what I'm seeing right now; it seems that you're controlling that feeling. Stop controlling it coz I know you cant."

Hermione nods and picks up the mascara. "Yeah, you're right. This is silly. All of these…" Ginny walks towards her, pulls away the mascara on Hermione's hands and hugs her. "Tell him the truth and everything will fall in to place." Hermione agrees on her and tightens her hug. "Mia, I want you to be happy. You've got to take a risk on this or else you would fail," Ginny said and then she breaks their hug, "I know you're not a failure. You deserve this."

Hermione smiles at her long-time friend. "Yeah, I'm ready…"

"What's in it for the both of you?" Harry asked back the question Draco asked. "Yes, what's in it for us? What's the purpose of this night? This dinner…" Harry shakes his head. "Draco, it's for the both of you to stop complaining and be happy. We know the truth, you both love each other. But it seems that Mia's control on her feelings has been transmitted to you. Its like you don't want to risk at all."

Draco shakes his head to disagree. "No, I just want to respect her decision to not risk at all. I love her and I want to respect every decision she makes in her life." Harry disbelieves it. "You're showing a wrong respect here. We knew that her decision on this situation is wrong. She's controlling not only her feelings but as well as her happiness. Don't you understand that if you let her decide to turn you down it will also be hard for the both of you? That if you let her do that, she won't be happy and instead suffer. And that's what I'm not going to digest on. So you better wake up Mr. Malfoy and start fighting for what you believe in."

Is he threatening me? Draco backs off and looks concern on what Harry was saying to him. "You're going crazy, man." Harry opens his mouth to defend himself when Ginny interrupt him. "Is everything ok here?" Both guys look up to them. "Yeah, everything is dandy." Harry said, patting Draco's shoulder who in return smiles to the girls.

Hermione and Ginny then sat down in their respective seats. Hermione in front of Harry and Ginny in front of Draco, as what the two girls had agreed upon on. Harry motions to the waiter that was standing at the bar. The waiter noticed it and walks towards their table. The waiter who's about 5'10 and was a very skinny middle-age man gave them the menus. Each person accepts it and looks at the menu's hors d'oeuvres. The waiter flips out his pocket notebook and pen, ready to take their orders. "What can I get you lovely people this evening?"

Looking up to the waiter, Harry went first, "I'll have pork roasted on sage and butter sauce and blueberry delight. How about you Ginny, what do you want?" Behind the menu, Ginny looks up at him. "Why? You want to treat me?" Harry slowly nods unsure of what will Ginny react. "Yeah." Ginny snaps the menu close and looks at the waiter. "I want Philadelphia salad with some Caesar sauce in it and banana split blast, please." Harry smiles at her and then turns his attention to Draco. "What would you like?"

"I'll have what he's going to have." Draco said to the waiter. "Mia?" Harry asked. Hermione still can't figure out what she's going to eat. It feels like she's not in the mood to eat right now. If I'm not going to eat, Harry and Gin plus Draco would think that I'm starving myself. But if I said that I'm not in the mood, they'll ask why. And I'll end up explaining again. And I don't want that. "Mia?" Hermione turns her head to Harry and then to the waiter. "I'll have the chocolate kiss cake."

The waiter writes it down. Harry was about to question the order of Hermione when the waiter butts in. "Anything else, sir?" Harry thinks for awhile. "We'll have your best wine in the house, please." The waiter was delighted and nods while jotting down the last order. Then the waiter collects the menus and left them. "So, how's your day today, ladies?"

"Oh, great. We shop around town." Ginny said all smiling while resting her napkin on her lap. "That's it?" Harry asked searching for another answer. "Well," Ginny thinks again ", after that…we shop again." Harry rolls his eyes. "Why? There's nothing wrong with shopping!" Ginny said defending her femininity actions. Harry shakes his head. "I didn't say that it's wrong. It's just that, why do girls always love to shop?"

"Obviously, it's in our nature." Hermione interrupts their growing argument plus backing up Ginny as well. "Yeah and even if the world turns upside down, we'll always love to shop. If you have video games and sports to dwell into, we have clothes." Harry looks up and puts his hands on his chin. "I still don't get it."

Hermione and Ginny both sighed. "Anyway, enough about that. Ginny, how's your relationship with James?" Harry said. "Oh, that…well we get along just fine." Ginny said with a sweet smile on her face. "Who's he bringing to the ball? Any guess?" Ginny sips her water. "I think he's going out with that Ravenclaw girl, of course. Who did you think he would go to the ball with?"

"Ravenclaw girl?" Harry frowned. "Carissa. Didn't I tell you that?" Harry slowly moves his head left to right. "Have I told you we broken up?" Harry's jaw dropped. "WHAT?" Ginny smiled. "Yes, he cheated on me. Oh and he got Clarissa pregnant." Harry leans in trying to assure himself that what he heard was right. "Did I hear you right?" Ginny rolls her eyes and leans too on the table. "Yes. He. Got. Her. Pregnant."

"So…how does…it…a-affect you?" Harry asks her trying to be safe for he didn't want to stir any uneasiness to the growing awkward aura of the gathering. Ginny flips her hair and rest her back to her chair. "Well, honestly it did shake me. Then again, I can't change it and I have to break up with him." Harry nods. Then Ginny added, "But, don't get me wrong I'm happy for him."

Hermione rubs her temples. It seems that her world is whirling around. I think I'm having a headache. She closed her eyes and let out a moan of pain. Draco looks at her and nudges Harry on his arm. Harry looks at Draco and trails Draco's eyes to Hermione. Ginny looks at the guys and to Hermione. "Mia, are you ok?" Hermione opens her eyes and looks back to the three people now looking at her. She sits up straighter and smiles weakly at them. "Oh, I just felt a sting on my head. That's all. Don't worry, I'm ok." Ginny place her hands to Hermione's arms. "Are you sure?" Hermione smiles at her. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"How about you guys? What did you do today?" Ginny said coming up with a question to brighten things up. "Nothing." Draco said flatly. "That's not true!" Harry said protesting. "We went shopping also. You know, just for…tomorrow." Hearing that the guys shop for the Yule Ball, Hermione became alert. "Really?" she said, again breaking her silence. Ginny was taken aback. "Oh, Mia…I'm glad you're here!"

Harry smiles. "Yup, we did." Hermione shakes her head in disbelief. "I never knew you can drag him," pointing at Draco ", all the way to Hogsmeade." Harry looks at Draco and back to her. "Well, lets juts say…I'm much favorable than what you think I am, Mia." Hermione snorted. "You sound gay, Harry." Hearing her frankness, Ginny, Harry and Draco burst out laughing.

Hermione joined in leaving her worries aside and laughed too. I think maybe these will turn out a great night after all…

A/N With the Yule Prom Ball fast approaching...what will happen to Hermione and Draco? How will the suprise affect Hermione's decision? Who will be Harry's date? Will it be Ginny? You will find out...on the next chapter!REVIEW PLEASE!