Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter™.

A/n: Making Ron a dork in this chappie is fun, I must say… This is one of my longer chapters, sorry I haven't been writing, I've just been trying to write the perfect chapter, and this is close enough. Fun to write, but very long :D Enjoy R&R

Ostendo Subsisto: Show stopper (Or so the translator says)

The ball was at 8:00. It was already 7:45 and everyone was already heading down to the Great Hall. Everyone was heading down except for Hermione.

"See you in the Great Hall, Ginny!" Hermione said racing down the Gryffindor girl dormitory stairs. "Thanks!" she shouted before exiting. Ginny had helped her do her make-up, and her hair. And she was looking quite exquisite. Just imagine how she'll be when she put on her dress. She hastily said the password to the portrait that guarded the Head dorm. The only problem, the portrait was completely ignoring her. Who was the idiot who painted this fool?

"Lovely night isn't it?" the portrait said brushing her hair.

"Ostendo subsisto"

"Yes," the portrait said dreamily "I heard you're having some sort of ball, I wasn't invited," she said bitterly.

"OSTENDO SUBSISTO" she said louder.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? Are you in a younger year?" she asked. Hermione snapped.

"NO, OSTENDO SUBSISTO, NOW OPEN UP NOW!" Hermione shouted.

The portrait looked offended.

"No need to be so rude, password?"

"Ostendo subsisto" Hermione said frustratingly rubbing her temples.

"Go on" the portrait finally said swinging open.

When she got in, Draco stepped out of his room. She never went in there before; she wondered how it was like.

"Granger!" he said hurriedly. "I've been waiting for you for forever!" Immediately Hermione turned her face from him. She didn't want him to see her until the ball.

"Hermione? Why are you - never mind, would you like to go with me, to the ball?" he asked, "And don't say no because of Potter and Weasly because if you do..."

"Close your eyes," she replied.

"What are you going on about?" he protested.

"Just do it?" she asked simply. So he did.

"Don't do anything funny, or else you won't be going to the ball, not without any injuries anyways," he warned "I may be you're boyfriend, but that doesn't mean I'm going to be your bitch"

"Threatening you're girlfriend, I'm very disappointed in you," she said teasingly. "Oh and yes" she said and she kissed him.

"Wait, before you go, I want to tell you something important," he said.

"What?"

"You need to tell Weasly and Potter… about us" Hermione swallowed.

"W-what?" she stuttered.

"You heard me, Gr-Hermione, oh and don't stammer, it's not fitting" he said firmly. He still had the habit of calling her Granger instead of Hermione.

"See you at the ball" he finished as he walked out of the Portrait Hall. She needed to work this out, and the same time, get dressed.

I CANNOT TELL THEM!

Why the bloody hell not?

They would freak out, I can't do that to them

No shit Sherlock…Look, they're going to be mad whether you tell them or not... I mean who would they like to hear it from, you or gossip freaks like Lavender and Parvati?

I know you're right,

Then listen to me!

…I just can't

You can either tell Harry and Ron or lose Draco

I hate you…

Don't flatter yourself.

8:15 – "Pansy, leave me alone," he said blankly as he drank his wine. Why she couldn't just fall in a ditch and die? With her complaining and whining she was beginning to sound like a pregnant woman with some serious hormonal issues. He was happy he didn't sleep with her and if she got pregnant, with her genes, that baby would be a monstrosity.

"Fine, Draco, I've been thinking of doing this for along time," Pansy began "I'm dumping you" she said with her nose in the air "Good bye, Malfoy" As she walked away in her red dress that was WAY to short for a ball, he shouted. "We were never together!" he yelled. Everyone looked at him with faces saying "What the hell?" He just ignored him. "Delusional…" he mumbled.

Just then a stunning young lady appeared through the door. It was Hermione. She wore a silver strapless dress, and her hair in an elegant up-do that had graceful curls hugging her face. Hermione was dressed in black diamonds, from her chandelier earrings, to her turtleneck necklace. She was the showstopper.

"Please don't trip…

Please don't trip…

Please don't trip…

Please don't trip…"

She sighed a sigh of relief, as she stepped into the Great Hall, she gave a chaste wink to Draco. Draco smiled and walked over to her. She looked very shaggable.

"You look – "

"Hermione!" yelled someone across the hall.

Dammit, why couldn't they join Pansy! They could have an annoying little twit party.

"Wow, Hermione you look great," said the irritating prick with dorko glasses.

"Thanks," Hermione said cheerfully

"Ah…" drooled Ron the red haired donkey.

"Uhh, Ron?" Hermione began "You're beginning to drool…"

Ron looked like those messed up kids, at that muggle sport. What was it? Was it chasehall? No… lasecall? BASEBALL! Messed up or not, he better keep his deprived, and needy hands away from Hermione. OR ELSE he would beat the bloody ugly off of him. Yes, he was the jealous type, what gave you THAT idea?

Just then, Lavender Brown came over and slapped the back of his head. "Huh?" Ron said as he snapped out of it. "OH! You look excellent Hermione" wiping the saliva from his mouth with the back of his hand and rubbing the place he had been hit. Hermione looked at him with a hint of disgust.

Haha…You porch monkey…

Just then Dumbledore rose from his seat. He was wearing red robes; he sort of looked like a skinny, crack head version of that Santa guy. Draco smirked at this thought.

"Welcome everyone to this year's Annual Christmas ball!

I would first thank the people who made this place look this spectacular. Miss Hermione Granger, Mr. Draco Malfoy, Head Boy and Girl, and the rest of the student body, and volunteers. This year, the staff and I want to do something new" He said looking over his half-moon spectacles, "Ballroom dancing," I know, it's a ball, and when you danced, it's considered, ballroom dancing, but this style is different. It's called the "waltz".

Draco choked on his wine. Hermione looked delighted. Harry looked befuddled. Ron looked like he was hungry.

Malfoys did not dance. He was always taught it was a sign of weakness. That, and he couldn't dance for a can of tuna. He looked over to Hermione. She was smiling big as ever. This was not good. He was right; Dumbledore is trying to crap on his already crappy life.

"Everyone should take part, it's a way of showing unity," he said with a smile. "And for those can't dance, Good luck" he finished.

At that moment, Draco wanted to take spear and drive it through the crazy man's head. Maybe this guy was on something…

"Harry, I'm going to dance with Malfoy," she said seriously. Harry laughed.

"Funny one, Hermione" he chuckled "About every guy wants to dance with you, and you choose Malfoy?

"We've become close," she explained, trying to find the right words. Harry's bright expressions turned serious.

"How close?"

"Close enough to dance with" she said.

"Oh, so just friends?" asked Harry.

Hermione swallowed. "Yes," she lied "friends" She kept thinking to herself.

Friends? Oh, so I guess you call snogging each time your alone, friends? I'm taking baby steps!
Baby steps? You call this baby steps? I call it tripping falling on your face and breaking all your teeth. Bad move Hermione, you'll live to regret it…

"We're just friends," assured Hermione

"Did he slip anything into your food?" Harry asked distrustfully.

"No" she started "I'm not expecting you to approve, and he did torture us for six years, but he's ok when you get to know him," she promised.

"I don't approve, but, if you're just friends, I guess I can live with it. Thanks for telling me," he said. "I hope you don't except me to be nice to him," he said with a face of disgust.

"No, not at all…" replied Hermione.

"Good," he responded, "You owe me a dance later on" he said with a small smile. She could tell he was a little uncomfortable with the situation.

"Malfoy!" she said as she waved and walked towards him. "Hey, you look very handsome" she said with a smile. Yes indeed, so good she would have to beat other girls off of him with a bat.

"May I have this dance?" she asked with a mock curtsy.

"Yes, when Snape washes his hair" he answered.

"Why must you always be party pooper?" she asked

"A party what?" he asked confused.

"Just dance with me!" ordered Hermione getting aggravated.

"Not snowball's chance in hell," he simply stated. Hermione's pout turned into a grin.

"You can't dance, can you?" she asked. Draco did not make a reply, just sipped his wine looking anywhere but at her.

"Well I can teach you if you want," she asked. No reply.

"You scared?" she ridiculed.

"I am not scared"

"Then dance"

"On one condition"

Hermione thought. She prayed that it wouldn't be about her telling Harry and Ron.

"Fine"

"Only if that conversation, between you and Potter was about our relationship"

"It was… but I twisted the truth a bit so the sting wont hurt as much," she said. He eyed her suspiciously.

"How much twist?"

"I told him you and I were just friends" she said hurriedly. Draco eyes turned stone cold gray. Just like that, he stormed out of the Great Hall.

A/n: Ooooooooh...Why did Draco storm out like that? will Hermione go after him? Will her friends ever find out? Find out next chapter.