A/N: Really, really sorry for the delay, but I couldn't finish this chapter in time last week, so I strived to finish it this week...and I've at last finished. I hope the length of this makes up for last week's absence. Please forgive me!

'Herm!' Pansy cried ,hugging her friend enthusiastically and almost knocking her to the ground. 'I missed you!'

'It was hardly two weeks ,Pans' Hermione smiled ,pulling away from the hug.

'TWO weeks!' Pansy shrieked ,causing many people to stare 'Do you know what I had to go through in those two weeks?'

'The ball ,I suppose' Draco interjected ,rolling her eyes 'It can't have been that bad'

'Pansy!' Blaise called ,jogging up to them from between a gaggle of Ravenclaw's and Slytherin's with Theo right behind. 'We were looking for you' He looked genuinely concerned.

'Awwww, you cared,' Pansy mocked ,her tone slightly uncertain, compared her usual confidence.

'Of course I did' Blaise muttered under his breath, taking a step back and allowing Theo to greet Draco and Hermione before doing so himself.

'I heard the ball wasn't the best?' Hermione asked the two boys.

'Understatement of the century' Theo said 'Me and Blaise actually left early'

'Leaving me to deal with the rest on my own' Pansy fumed.

'You looked animated' Theo argued, trying to hold back a chuckle.

'Animated, my foot!' Pansy cried ,glaring comically at Theo.

'Anyway,' Blaise rolled his eyes exaggeratedly 'What did you two get up to while we were gone?'

Hermione shifted her weight nervously. Even though she and Draco had cooperated for their friends, they still weren't on speaking terms. Nothing had been said about the matter and even though Draco had seemed like he wanted to say something at occasions, Hermione deftly avoided all conversations. She didn't know what to think yet and until she did, she was going to continue to play this game. She didn't know how long either would last, but it was all she had…so far.

She was saved the answer though by a voice that called from near by.

'Are you all deaf!' It demanded.

Hermione swung around.

'Ginny!' She beamed, hugging her friend. 'How've you been?'

'After two weeks with mum, dad and five brothers?' Ginny said, amusedly 'Just hanging on, to be honest.' She surveyed the platform 'It's great to be back!'

'You can say that again' Pansy agreed. 'There's no place like Hogwarts'

The others nodded profusely.

'Are you girls set for the ball?' Theo asked. 'It's tomorrow you know?'

'Of course we know!' Ginny rolled her eyes 'Do you think we're stupid?'

'I am so excited!' Pansy squealed, then turning to Hermione 'You're going as…?'

'Yes, obviously!' Hermione replied, though she was having second guesses. Going as a girl would mean going with Draco and she wasn't sure she was ready for that yet.

'Amazing! Just checking' Pansy nodded before starting to list all the accessories they might need enthusiastically.

—

'What's up with Draco and Herm?' Blaise asked Harry later that day, cornering him in the library, accompanied by Theo, Pansy and Ginny.

'Why are you asking me?'

'You're the only one of us who stayed back' Ginny said, as if stating the obvious.

'So you consider me part of your little group?' Harry smirked, not wanting to let go of this moment all too soon.

'Just get on with it, Potter!' Pansy cried, by far the most impatient of the four.

'I don't know'

'Excuse me?' Ginny asked.

Harry sighed. 'I know that something is up. I mean, half the school has figured that out, but I don't know exactly what happened'

The four of them looked disappointed.

'You mean you don't know anything?' Theo verified.

'We just want to help her…them' Pansy corrected.

'I have a feeling that it has something to do with them having a relationship of some sort' Harry said slowly before quickly correcting himself 'I'm not sure okay? I just believe that Draco isn't sure about his feeling or whatever and something happened. I have no idea what'

There was silence.

'That's a start, at least' Blaise shrugged, disappointed.

'Maybe I can talk to Hermione. She might-'

'Don't' Harry said. They all looked at him. He looked sheepish.'Don't bombard them with questions and empt reassurances or whatever. It won't help. I talked to Herm soon after it happened. It didn't work. Maybe let them sort it out for themselves.'

Another beat of silence.

'That was some wisdom, Potter' Theo joked.

'We'll consider it' Ginny promised, which was more than Harry could've hoped for.

He nodded solemnly.

—

'Are you done ,yet?' Pansy called. 'I still need to do your hair and the finishing touches to your make up'

'Almost' Hermione replied.

Pansy had sent her inside to wear her dress. It was a pretty, fairy-like dress that accentuated Hermione's petite frame. It was deep blue. It had off-shoulder straps, and a tight torso before loosening up at the bottom. The back of her dress almost reached the floor ,while the front stopped an inch above her knees. To say the least, Hermione loved it and had spent the last two minutes in the bathroom, admiring it in the full length mirror before eventually leaving the bathroom.

'You look gorgeous' Ginny gushed, as she passed Hermione on the way to the bathroom herself.

'Gin's right Hermione. Draco's a lucky guy tonight' Pansy agreed, ushering Hermione into the make-up chair as she did so to work on her hair.

A whole hour later, the three girls were checking their appearances in the three mirrors around the room.

'I think we're done' Ginny announced, turning to the other two. She was wearing a sapphire green dress ,which loosely wrapped around her torso before forming a circular shape around her legs. Her naturally red hair was straightened and worn down with one lone plait down the side.

'At last, that took ages' Hermione agreed. Her hair had been pulled into an elegant bun with two strands reming her face.

'It was totally worth it though' Pansy said, smiling satisfactorily. She was wearing a deep purple cocktail dress which reached two inches above her knees and accentuated her bodily features well. Her hair was sprinkled with glitter and was worn half up, half down.

The three tip toed across from the adapted classroom they were using and down to the Great Hall. Hermione lingered on the stairs behind the other two.

The boys would be waiting for them right outside the hall and she was nervous about Draco.

'Come on, Hermione' Ginny urged.

Hermione could do nothing but oblige.

When she saw Draco, she felt her breath escape her. He looked…picturesque…in robes or dark grey and a tie that matched her dress. What was this?

'Hi' she mumbled, trying to gain her bearings again. This shouldn't be happening to her.

'Herm' Draco tried to smile, but it seemed to fail him and he grimaced instead. Hermione looked away.

'Hermione, you look gorgeous!' Blaise praised, obviously having just finished saying the same to Pansy, who was pink in the face. Hermione smiled back.

'Thanks'

'Yeah, amazing dress' Theo agreed, scanning it briefly and smiling.

Hermione smiled back, then, without glancing at Draco, made her way into the Great Hall.

Ginny and Pansy exchanged exasperated looks ,while Blaise and Theo simply looked gloomily at their friend.

The teachers had outdone themselves on decorations. They were far better than the Halloween ball's ,which lacked a certain elegance. The hall was already teeming with students all dressed their best. Heads turned as Hermione entered the hall and some stared unashamedly. Oblivious to the jealous looks and appreciating stares, Hermione examined the decorations with awe. Glittering snowflakes hung suspended from the ceiling and in three of the four corners of the hall were large, intimidatingly ethereal ice sculptures. Hermione gasped out loud at the sight of what lay in the fourth corner and squealed like a young schoolgirl.

'The Weird Sisters!' She breathed, trying to contain her smile so as not to look comical.

'You like them?' Draco asked, having found his way next to Hermione. Hermione stiffed but nodded anyway.

'Yeah, their music is awe-inspiring. I can't wait for the dance!'

'Do you have a favourite song?' Draco asked, trying not to sound surprised that Hermione actually replied to him.

Hermione shout for a moment. 'I've always had a certain partiality to 'Listen to your Heart'' she admitted eventually still not looking at Draco.

'They're talking now' Ginny pointed, averting the other's attention from the decorations to the couple standing a few feet in front of them.

'Herm's still not looking at him though' Pansy pointed out.

'I don't get it. Does that make a difference?' Blaise asked, scrunching his forehead.

'Well, yes' Ginny said rolling her eyes.

Pansy tried to explain. 'She's not exactly acknowledging his presence if she isn't looking at him ,is she? Instead, she's just saying what she has to say. Her mind is probably elsewhere.'

'I feel sorry for Draco. Look at how he's looking at her' Theo said sorrowfully.

'He likes her a lot, doesn't he?' Ginny nodded, leaning unconsciously against her date. Theo smiled at her.

'Come on, let's go get drinks' Pansy said, dragging Blaise along with her so as to give the other couple some space.

What Pansy didn't realise was that, as she dragged Blaise to the drinks table, they were holding hands.

'Do you want to go get a drink?' Draco asked, part way through their conversation, hovering his hand over her waist protectively as another sixth year Slytherin approached Hermione.

'Okay' Hermione nodded, scanning the ground for her friends, as she stepped inconspicuously away from Draco. She needed some space. She needed to breath. Maybe she shouldn't have come after all.

Lost in her musings, Hermione didn't notice when a familiar black-haired Gryffindor approached them.

'Potter' Draco smiled. 'Not got a date?'

'Couldn't be bothered' Harry shrugged before looking at Hermione 'I wasn't sure that you'd be coming?'

'Of course I would be coming. Why wouldn't I?' Hermione asked indignantly, looking offended, even though she knew exactly why she might've not attended the ball.

'Alright, alright' Harry joked, holding his hands up in surrender. 'I was only asking'

Hermione harrumphed comically and the other two burst out in not-so-hidden chortles of laughter.

It just happened to be that moment that Ronald Weasley approached the trio, accompanied by Lavender Brown hanging off his arm.

'Not traumatising the lady are you?' He asked with as much suave as he could muster, reaching out to take hold of Hermione's hand. 'Here' he smiled in what was supposed to be a seductive manner at Hermione. Lavender looked scandalised and pulled softly on Ron's arm to return his attention to her

'I'm quite alright here thanks' Hermione replied, looking distasteful and edging unconsciously towards Draco, who gave himself a small smile at this reaction.

Ron sneered at Draco. 'I've never seen her around. Which house is she in?'

'I can speak for myself!' Hermione stepped forward indignantly 'I'm a Slytherin if you must know!'

Ron sneered almost instantly and took an exaggerated step back. 'Should've known' he spat 'No one else would lower themselves as to be seen with him. Is he going to pay you or are you going to subject to him willingly?'

Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

Draco's eyes flashed and the next this she knew, Hermione and Harry were dragging him back into a secluded corner of the hall, away from a bloody Ron Weasley.

'Let me get at him!' Draco growled, fighting the restraints. 'He insulted Hermione'

'Get a grip on yourself, Malfoy' Harry shook him roughly. 'You're going to get yourself in trouble'

'He insulted Hermione' Draco repeated, a look of pain flashed across his face.

'Draco,' Hermione pleaded, looking Draco in the eyes for the first time that evening. 'It's alright. Just calm down. Weasley is only being a jealous idiot'

Draco calmed down a fraction and managed a smirk at Hermione. 'A jealous idiot?' He asked. Hermione blushed. 'Shut up!' She hit him playfully and smiled fondly at him.

Harry released Draco. 'You owe me now.' He pointed out. 'I saved you from big trouble'

'I still punched him. You didn't stop me from that' Draco smirked triumphantly. 'Dd you see his face?'

'I did' Harry nodded, grinning back.

Hermione wasn't listening. She was still trying to figure out Draco Malfoy. Why would he defend her so blatantly but couldn't manage to kiss her?

'Oh my God' Ginny squealed ,hurrying over to the trio as they emerged from the secluded corner and began to head to the drinks table. 'Did you hear? Someone punched Ron!' She looked overly excited about it and Theo gave a deep chuckle from next to her.

'Yes, we heard' Harry nodded, a smile creeping onto his face.

'In fact,, we were there' Draco agreed, nodding as well, a smile appearing on his as well.

Ginny looked like she was missing something and looked towards Hermione for explanation. Hermione shook her head and then said with a sigh. 'Draco did it'

Blaise laughed. 'No way!'

'I did' Draco confirmed 'and then these two' he pointed to Harry and Hermione 'dragged me away before I could do any more damage'

'And good thing too' Pansy said sternly. 'You could've been in big trouble. Dumbledore isn't light with his punishments ,especially not to Slytherins'

'What did he do, anyway?' Theo asked.

Harry looked at Hermione.

'Weasley insulted me' she whispered just loud enough to hear.

Ginny's eyes widened and Pansy looked ready to host a wedding.

'Well' Blaise said shortly 'That should've been expected'

Nobody said anything.

'Ummm' Hermione asked. 'Anyone know when the dance will begin?'

'Any minute now actually' Pansy squealed, indicating the Weird Sisters who were looking at the crowd expectantly and brandishing their wand.

Pansy dragged Hermione and Ginny closer towards the dance floor, which had been set up before the stage, just as the lead singer of the Weird Sisters began to speak.

'Welcome Hogwarts students' she called and there were large amounts of cheering from the crowd. Hermione joined in. 'To the annual Winter Ball dance. Me and my colleagues shall play a variety of songs from our album for the rest of the evening and we welcome you to let loose and have fun while dancing to our latest hits. Any song requests are noted down by Fritz' he pointed to a far younger member of the band, who was sitting on the edge of the stage with a quick notes quill in his leather-gloved hand. 'And played as soon as possible. So without further ado, let the party BEGIN!'

Without even a moment's notice, the music blared into existence and soon Hermione felt herself dancing like crazy to the familiar tunes, Pansy and Ginny doing the same near her, the three of them laughing and sharing smiles as more and more students joined the fray.

It was at least an hour later, when Hermione found herself stumbling to the drink's table to gain a moment's reprieve, still smiling madly.

'Having fun?' a voice asked from behind her. It was Draco.

'Yeah' Hermione panted.

They stood there in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the others dance crazily.

After about another fifteen minutes, the music calmed down and breathless dancers began to retreat from the dance floor. Hermione waved at Pansy who stumbled off in a daze, clinging onto Blaise's arm for support.

'Looks like they had fun' Draco noted aloud.

Hermione hummed noncommittally.

Soon a different crowd was taking up the stage -couples. Every single one waltzing smoothly, sometimes exchanging partners in perfect sync.

Hermione smiled, as she noticed Theo ask Ginny to dance at the other end of the hall and hummed in time to the music as she watched them twirl gracefully.

Then the song changed to her favourite: 'Listen to your heart'

Hermione smiled and almost longed to join the dancing, but no one had-

'Care to dance?' A small voice asked from next to her.

Hermione jumped momentarily before peering at Draco. He was looking at her with a questioning glance, his hand held out cordially.

Hermione wasn't sure what to think. They'd been avoiding each other a few hours ago. She glanced at the dance floor.

'I don't think we'd fit on' she said truthfully, smiling apologetically at Draco.

The boy didn't look disappointed, though. Instead, he smiled wider.

'Do you want to dance, or not?' He repeated.

Hermione hesitated for a second before, without much thought, she placed her hand in his own and let him lead her through the crowds of students.

'Where-?' Hermione began, ducking around a crowd of Hufflepuffs.

'You'll see' Draco interrupted.

And she did.

He took her to a small corner of the hall, right beside one of the large statues where nobody seemed to want to stay. No one was looking their way either.

'Here?' Hermione asked.

Draco nodded, smiling anxiously.

'So?' He held his hands out for Hermione to step into. She did so and placed her hand on his shoulder.

'I must warn you. I'm not very good.' Hermione laughed shortly, trying to ease the silence, gripping his hand like her life depended on it. A shiver ran up her spine, but she determinedly ignored, smiling up at Draco and letting him lead.

Hermione didn't lookup at him at first, staring behind him or at his shoulders but soon his gaze upon her became too hard to resist and she gave in.

His stare was like fire and it chilled her to the bone marrow. He gave her a small smile. She tried to return it, but probably grimaced. He laughed. She relaxed. This was better.

She soon found herself loosing herself to the mind and his startling gaze and letting it engulf her within. This was life.

Breathing deeply, Hermione felt Draco twirl her around. She knew what to do -she had to land on two feet afterwards. It hadn't been so difficult when she'd had dance class. What Hermione didn't know was that the weight of her clothing would be a significant factor in the twirl. She tried to land ,but as she did so, her dress flung her to the side, making her fall sideways into the sculpture they'd been dancing near. In an attempt to break the fall, Draco reached out for her but ended up with his hands on either side of her waist, his face inches away from hers.

Hermione gasped, her eyes going wide as a flashback of the last time this had happened and waited with bated breath for Draco to retreat. Draco made to move away, but at the last minute, as if something was controlling him, he dipped his lips down to meet hers.

Hermione melted into him and sighed contentedly.

Draco smiled into it and gave himself a mental thumbs up.

He pulled away, gasping for breath.

Hermione smiled shyly at him. 'Hot in here, isn't it?' She asked, breathlessly.

Draco beamed back at her. 'Let's go take a walk'

Leaving the great hall, the pair sauntered out into the breezy air of the evening sky.

'Much better' Hermione breathed, arching herself on the edge of a bench overlooking the Quidditch Stadium and Lake from afar.

'I saw you here for the first time, you remember?' Draco asked, smiling at the grounds.

Hermione nodded. 'You made me sprain my ankle' she accused good-naturedly.

'And I apologised' he pointed out, laughing.

'But that didn't stop me from ending up in hospital' Hermione said matter-of-factly.

'I was really worried when I couldn't find you in the halls or anything, you know?'

'Awwww…worried for me?' Hermione joked, leaning in to him.

'Always' he agreed and Hermione looked startled, before snuggling in deeper into his shoulder.

He laughed. 'You'll spoil your hair'

'I'll fix it with magic' she grinned. He grinned back.

It was at that moment that Hermione felt a sudden draft of cold wash over her. Someone was watching them. War instincts embedded in her, she swung around and pointed her wand into the darkness. Draco stood next to her, drawing his wand as well, but looking uncertain.

'Who's there?" He called fiercely.

'I need to introduce myself to my own son?' A cold voice drawled from behind them.

A/N: Please read and reveiw!

Oh and btw, I think that I've missed out a chapter update. I don't think that I have time to read the whole story again, but if you see any discontinuity, tell me will you, because it's probably only as I have forgotten that chapter. Thank you!