There was to be a ball at the end of the year for the seventh years- and I wasn't going with anyone. Harry had his eye on Ginny (we could invite lower years), and it was a given that Ron would go with Lavender. I honestly didn't want to go because although this is the last year, the thought that I saw these people dancing and being all happy before the war began scared me. But then again, this probably was the last time we'd be happy, so..

Oh well, who cares if I'm not going with anyone?

"Hey love!"

Oh for the love of.. here he is again.

"Love! Wait!" he said, jogging to keep up with me, walking to Hagrid's hut.

I stopped and waited for him, simply to get this over with.

"Well?" I asked, eyebrow raised.

"We're going to the ball together right?" he asked me arrogantly, in a way that felt like he assumed it.

"Who said we are? Cause I didn't!" I said annoyed, shaking my head then walking up to Hagrid's door.

He sighed and left me there, asking "What time should I meet you?"

I could hear the smirk as he said it.

"I'm not going with you," I said stubbornly.

"Suit yourself," he said lightly, leaving.

What would it be like to go with him?

Aha! Waking up!

You're weird.

But not in love..

Excuse me?

You're starting to like him.

No, I'm-

"Hermione!" Hagrid said as he opened the door, Fang at his heels.

--

The following week we had another inter-House unity activity, suggested this time by Ernie Macmillan. They are doing such a wonderful job on this, why don't they just replace me? Bloody Hufflepuffs for thinking of such ridiculous concepts.

Anyway, this time we have to play a game called 'Open the Basket'. We have to partner up again as boy and girl, and then do what the It says until he/she says 'Open the basket!' Basically whoever doesn't have a partner is the It, so I planned to be It every single time.

We assembled in the Great Hall once again, waiting for Professor Flitwick.

"Good afternoon students! Today we're going to play a game by the name of Open the Basket; Mr. Macmillan will explain the mechanics of the game to you."

After fifteen minutes, we were already sorted- boys on one side of the room and girls on the other. When the It (for the first round Flitwick) says Go! or Open the Basket! you have to look for someone else as a partner, and you can't be partners with the same person for the rest of the game.

"Go!"

I ran to find Ron, and managed to get a hold of him before Millicent Bulstrode did.

"Thanks," he said, gasping.

"No problem," I replied, laughing.

"Right foot to left foot!"

"Okay, let's do your right foot and my left foot," I said.

"Hands to hands." We complied, doing both the commands. It's like Funny Bone, you have to do all the commands at the same time.

"Some game- is this a sneaky Hufflepuff plot to get all touchy-feely with people?" Ron asked, bemused.

I laughed out loud.

"Open the basket!"

"Bye Hermione!" Ron said, running and getting Lavender. I just stood there, waiting for when I'd be It. Unfortunately, someone grabbed me and dragged me to the left of the new It, Parvati Patil.

"You!" I gasped. Draco Malfoy was smirking back at me.

"Me," he said, grinning.

"Right palm to left palm!"

"My left and your right," he instructed. "Look over there," he said, smirking.

"Where and why?" I asked, frowning.

"There," he said, pointing to him. "Oi Blaise!"

He looked around and his gaze settled on us before his eyes widened a bit.

My partner smirked, and he smirked back.

That's it, proof positive I'm just a game to them.

Don't be silly- and even if it is a game, you're enjoying it.

Who said I was?

Don't forget, we're one and the same..

"Cheek to cheek!"

"Bloody Parvati," I grumble, before pressing my left cheek against his left cheek.

"Well, this is a nice game," he commented lightly.

"Shut your trap Malfoy before I make you," I growled.

"I can think of a few pleasurable ways to do that," he teased.

"Please stop, I know you're doing this just so you can piss me off."

"Left hip to right hip!"

"Mine to yours," I said. "This is very awkward."

"Yes, but I don't mind at all."

"Funny, just last year I was Mudblood Granger to you."

"Well, I-"

"Open the basket!"

'Finally!' I thought as I ran from him without a parting word. I ran past Harry, and he took my hand.

"Hi," I said.

"So who've you been partners with?" he asked as Pansy said, "Thumb to thumb!"

"Well that was lame," I muttered as we did as she said. "Ron and Malfoy. You?"

"Hannah and Padma," he replied, adjusting his glasses.

"Index finger to index finger!"

"This is pretty weird," Harry said as we did that.

"Middle finger to middle finger!"

"Cut it out already, Parkinson!" People started yelling, annoyed with her instructions.

She just smirked before mock-sighing. "Open the basket."

People said, "Get a life pug!" as they ran to other people.

"See you later Harry!" I called as he jogged away from me.

I ran around so I wouldn't get caught by anyone, but someone grabbed me around the waist.

"Eep!" I squealed as that someone put me down.

"Hi love," he said. "Getting comfortable with someone else, eh?"

"It's not like you care," I retorted.

"That's where you're wrong," he said sharply. "I do care. A lot."

"Right foot to left foot," Goyle said.

"Oh great, now he can't think of anything else to say so he recycles. How clever," I said sarcastically as he matched his left foot with my right.

"Now, now love, don't be so harsh. He might have a few tricks up his sleeve," he said, eyes glinting.

For some reason, I didn't like that glint in his eyes.

"Nose to nose!" Goyle yelled.

"Come on love, we have to play by the rules," he teased.

"There's no way I'm doing that," I snarled.

"Now, don't get all Gryffindory on me, I'll make you go by the rules anyway," he simply said before pulling me to him and leaning in so the tip of his nose was touching mine.

I didn't dare look up at him, because then we'd be kissing.

My breath caught in my throat.

"Nervous?" he asked quietly as Goyle said, "Hands in hands!"

"No.. yes," I said timidly as he took my hands in his.

"Don't worry," he said. "This will be over soon."

"I guess so," I shrugged, trying to ignore what felt like butterflies in my stomach.

"Left knee to right knee!"

We complied.

"I know I'm being redundant, but this is getting awkward," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Well if you had just gone out with me, then this wouldn't be so awkward," he smirked.

"Forehead to forehead!"

We were soon looking in each other's eyes. I couldn't understand why my heart was beating so fast.

He was whispering something that sounded suspiciously like 'Lips to lips, lips to lips..'

"Open the basket!"

I heaved a sigh of relief as I pushed him away. He looked at me uncertainly before walking away.

The game ended after a few more rounds, with girls giggling about how they snagged their crushes in the game.

I knew this game was made up to flirt. I rolled my eyes and looked for my best friends.

--

Thirteen.. the wretched number of chapters that my first fic has..:P As much as I love Blast to the Past, I just don't know how to go on with it.. !sigh!

Funny how I intended for this to be a one-shot- but then it would be hard to just write it like that without any details- so now it's getting longer and longer. HahahaXD

Anyways, on to the reviewers:P

Queen of Serpents: Don't worry, I don't mind..:P Yeah well you know- he just has to be in the story- wahaha!

Padfoot's Sidekick: It was pretty funny, and Malfoy? Pretty creepy- but that's how I wanted people to see how Hermione sees him as. Haha..:P

Prof. M: Yeah, and it'll get a bit better.. soon..XD

Un Petit Diable: Haha, you'll see a little later on- I'm two-thirds done with the story!suddenly faints in shock!

Don't forget to review people:D Just click the purple button that says 'Go' on the lower left-hand corner! Wahaha..:P Reviews make me smile:)