Draco stood in the back of the Great Hall, obscured by the flamboyant dresses and costumes worn by the rest of his housemates. Apparently, everyone had fancied the idea of having a masquerade themed ball. He was almost unrecognizable as he had dyed his hair black, just for the occasion.
Pansy was easily identifiable in her pink dress robes, with a matching pink mask that covered her eyes alone.
Blaise was sitting in a corner, drinking butterbeer. Talking and laughing with the others.
His eyes were constantly darting back and forth at the entrance of the hall. He had arrived about fifteen minutes ago, and still there was no sign of her. He wondered if she backed out. Potter was after all, her partner. He smirked, wondering if she would indeed blow him away.
He saw Harry sitting on a chair, talking to Ron, constantly glancing at the door too, waiting for Hermione. And then it hit him. The loser liked Hermione Granger! Oh this was rich!
" How could I not have seen this earlier! " he muttered with a smile.
And then, as if by magic (or rather a very dramatic entrance), Hermione arrived.
He held his breath in.
She was breathtaking.
He knew it was her, despite having a mask that covered her eyes alone. Her dress was something he'd never seen money-able witches wore. Perhaps it was the dress…or her whole presence. But by now, half of the men in the room noticed Hermione and a strange silence began to sweep the room. And she was holding the rose he had given her!
Harry's eyes looked as if they were ready to pop out. He knew Hermione even if she wore the mask. Knew it was Hermione, that pretty figure entering the Hall. She was late, but what the hell! Harry knew Hermione was always an attractive girl, but this was literally the best he'd seen her in! He wanted to run up to her and kiss her and do all sorts of things he only imagined in his head! His face broke into a huge grin. Even Ron was in awe.
" I can't believe I'm saying this, but is that- Hermione? " Ron asked dropping a strawberry tart on the floor without noticing.
Harry nodded slowly. " I believe it is…I mean I recognize her smile…despite the mask- "
Ron looked at him in a weird way and Harry reciprocated.
" What? " Harry asked.
Ron shook his head and nudged Harry. " She's your partner right? "
Harry nodded and walked for her with suddenly cold hands. " What's wrong with me, " Harry thought. " I'm acting like an idiot! "
He approached Hermione and held out his hand, slightly bowing his head.
" Harry, " Hermione said breathlessly. " Thank god! "
She took Harry's hand.
" I can't stand this! I feel so nervous! I feel so- odd! " she whispered under her breath as she smiled.
" You look great, " he whispered back as they headed for the dance floor. " In for a dance? "
" As long as I don't fall on my knees…they're almost shaking terribly- "
He grinned. " I'll catch you before you fall, just in case you're worried. "
She smiled. " Can you dance? I remember you sucked eggs last time you danced- "
" That was years ago! " he said, his ears burning. I'll try like shit for you, he thought.
Hermione smiled. " Okay, Harry. Let's see what you've got. "
Draco eyed them as they danced, laughing with the music.
" Stupid git, " Draco thought looking at Harry's overjoyed face.
Pansy was glaring at Hermione. " Who does she think she is? " she suddenly said hotly as the rest of the male Slytherins looked on.
" Who's that? " someone muttered. " She looks as good as that Weasley girl- "
" Very nice, " another said rubbing his chin.
" Idiots, " Pansy muttered under her breath. " Has anyone seen Draco? " she asked loudly. Some boys shook their heads, some girls shrugged. Draco had by then inched away from the Slytherin area considerably.
Some of the girls had removed their masks, but Hermione didn't take hers off. She drew a lot of attention despite wearing it still.
His heart fluttered as he saw Harry bow to Hermione after a dance. Now was his chance. He made his way to the crowd and stood beside Harry, who was now looking at him quizzically.
He bowed to Hermione, and said in a low voice, mostly unlike his own, " May I have the next dance? "
Harry looked at Hermione as she curtsied. Hermione gave a nervous smile at Harry, and to Draco's relief, he stepped back.
A slow song was starting up, and Draco immediately swept her into a waltz.
" Malfoy? Is that you? " she whispered.
He grinned. " I believe so. "
" Your hair! " she laughed.
" Well, I just had to dance with you, I most certainly couldn't let them know I was that desperate to dance with you- "
Hermione felt her ears burn. " Desperate? "
Draco looked into her eyes. " You came- "
" Had to- I wasn't about to lose a bet. "
He laughed.
Harry looked at Hermione's partner. With the masks and all, it was hard to distinguish who has who. Now who was Hermione's partner? It seemed like the guy was flirting shamelessly, making Hermione smile and laugh as they danced. Ron sat beside him and offered him another bottle of butterbeer.
" Thanks, mate, " Harry said distractedly.
Ron held up his hand, with the bottle. " Who's the chap? "
Harry shrugged. " I don't know, but he seems to be enjoying the fact that he's dancing with her, isn't he? "
Ron laughed. " Sure seems like it. "
" Your dress- you look very nice- where did you-? "
" Oh somewhere, " Hermione replied calmly. " Well, this was an old dress, I added a few things up-" She smiled.
" Despite you saying it's old, you definitely look a thousand times better than Pansy- "
" Ah- you're comparing me to Pansy now? "
He smirked. " Really, Granger, don't push it. I'm not a man of many compliments. "
She laughed. " Thanks, Malfoy. "
" No problem- only- did Harry look angry back there? When I asked you to dance with me-? "
" Harry? Angry? Whatever for? "
He shook his head. " Nothing. I'm just blabbering nonsense- "
She laughed again, and it sounded so pleasing to his ears, although he didn't want to admit it of course. Who in his right Slytherin mind would!
As he held her hand, as his hand held her waist, Draco had finally thought that it was probably the most magical moment of his life, a defining time in his youth. He had fallen for her…bad. Was it bad? He shook his thoughts away and concentrated on her instead.
No one was perfect, but Hermione, tonight, was the closest to it.
" You dance wonderfully, Malfoy, " she said with a smile.
He cocked his head. " Why thank you, mother was pleasant enough to force me to take lessons in my younger years. " He laughed sincerely.
" Really, you don't have to be such an airhead- "
" Hermione, I think I love you, " he blurted out. His cheeks immediately blushed, and he knew it was the truth.
Hermione blinked. Her heart stopped as soon as he had said it.
" I- "
" You've won the bet, I'll meet you at the west tower, where we have our Astronomy lessons, twelve midnight, you'll get your accolade there- " he rushed just as the music ended. He took a quick bow and kissed Hermione's hand and left.
Harry was talking to Ron and looked at Hermione once more when the music had ended. Hermione was now alone, walking towards him. He smiled. " Who was the guy? " he asked calmly.
" Some Hufflepuff lower year- " Hermione replied.
" Oh, " Harry said. Then he frowned. " Has anyone seen Malfoy? "
" Honestly, Harry, " Ron said. " Don't ruin your night by looking for a snake! "
Harry laughed and gazed back at the Slytherin group at their corner. Draco was there.
Draco had stood behind a thick curtain and quickly muttered a spell before returning to the Slytherin table.
" Where have you been? " Blaise asked raising an eyebrow. " Pansy's been whining. Stop her. "
He shrugged. " Lavatory. "
" Draco! " a high pitched voice came.
He sighed and frowned. " Ah, Pansy, enjoying the night? "
" I've been looking for you since forever! "
" Keep looking, " he muttered.
" What was that? "
" You're nice looking, " he said loudly.
She smiled. " Thank you, I was wondering when you'd notice! It took me ages to choose the right color for my lips, but I thought I'd look best in pale pink, since- "
But Draco was no longer listening. He was looking at Hermione, and how Harry's hand was protectively placed on her shoulder. He suddenly felt the claws of jealousy approach him. He hated the feeling. But he wondered if Hermione would actually come to the tower. It was an hour before twelve; she had a lot of time to change her mind.
And he hoped she wouldn't.
TBC? Please give me some warm lovin'! lot's and lots of it! if you don't want that...i hope you face eternal damnation in Harry Potter hell! muahahahahahahaha! (okay, was that evil enough? i'm making up my own hell too!)lol !