" You drive me manic, you know… you're my star, " he said. " You're my manic star. "
Hermione looked at his face. There were so many questions in her mind.
" Don't ask. " He smiled and flipped his wand from one hand to another.
" Well- " she stopped and smiled, content at his answer. She shrugged and continued to stare at the dancing stars in silence. " They're beautiful. "
" Like you are, " he immediately quipped and then he laughed. " I think I'm losing control of myself- "
" You're not on Veritaserum are you? " she asked.
He shook his head. " Miraculously, no. "
" But you're honest- "
" To you? Of course. I've lost the lying magic only to you. My charms don't work on you- "
" That one does, " she replied, motioning to the skies.
He grinned. " Well, I mean just me-! "
They laughed.
He looked at her for awhile. " Can I have the rose for awhile? "
She gave it to him. " What are you going to do with it? "
He smiled and lightly touched a petal with his wand. He whispered a spell. He gave it back to her. " Well…as long as that doesn't melt, what I feel for you won't either. "
She blinked. " But- I don't know the spell-! What if it-! " she grew quiet.
He laughed. " What if it'll melt? Maybe it won't. "
She grew quiet. " I like this side of you. "
" There are many sides to me. "
" I like this side, then. "
He smiled and kissed her cheek softly. " So do I. "
Hermione stepped into the common room with a strange smile on her face. It had been only minutes before that Draco had shown her the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen in her life. The stars were dancing for her! A wizard craft she had never known existed was performed for her.
She knew it seemed too silly, but she felt giddy, like she had just fallen for someone for the first time, like she had gotten her first A in a subject.
And the rose! It was an overwhelming feeling! She had never felt like this, never felt that special, even with Viktor Krum! She held it in her hands, gently yet fiercely. Suddenly it meant everything to her. But perhaps it was just because she had been too flattered- or too impressed that she was feeling this way-
" Hermione, " a voice said.
Harry was standing on last step of the tower, wearing only his slacks and his unbuttoned tuxedo, near the collar.
" Harry, " Hermione began.
" Where've you been? I was looking for you- I thought you had gone to the girl's lavatory or something…"
She nodded. " I did. "
" Until the end of the ball? It's nearly one in the morning. "
" Yeah, I didn't notice the time, " she said, trying to put much conviction in her voice.
An eyebrow of Harry's raised up. " Really? "
She nodded.
Harry shrugged his shoulders. " Nice rose, by the way. " He turned his back to walk up to his dormitory. Harry could feel heat on his face. Suddenly he felt something strange. Like Hermione knew something, and he didn't. Or was it the other way around? When he had danced with Hermione earlier that night, he had wanted it to last forever.
It wasn't easy at all. How would Ron react? How would she react? And he knew it, by the time he had seen her enter the common room, with that strange look on her face. Something was going on.
Hermione froze. What did he say? Why-!
" Harry-" she began.
He spun around. " What? "
" Nothing. "
He shrugged his shoulders back again. " If I didn't know any better, I'd say you've been hiding things from me. " He had let it slip by so easily. Like it meant nothing at all.
" Why would I? " she said in a low voice.
He smiled a smile she couldn't place. Was he mocking her? Did he know? What if he did? Would he be mad at her? Suddenly she felt afraid.
" I do that too, I guess, " he finally said. He didn't say another word. All Hermione could hear were his footsteps fading away.
Hermione couldn't understand what it meant. But somehow, she was hurt.
TBC? i hope to reach a hundred something reviews! crosses fingers and tongue make me happy and i'll make you happy! teehee. oh yeah, thanks to everyone who reviewed, again! you never cease to make me smile!