A/N: ALL SHALL KNOW WHAT PSYCO THING RON DOES IN THIS CHAPTER!

It was the afternoon on New Year's Eve. For the past few days, things have been tense between Draco and Hermione. It pained Draco to think it but maybe the feelings Hermione had once felt for Draco had vanished. Her greetings were small and barely noticeable. When Draco spoke to her, she acted as if she does not hear him or her response was, "Not now."

In his room, Draco had written a letter to Blaise, asking him to come that night for New Year's.

Unknowingly, Hermione did the same. Out of spite, she sent a letter to Harry and Ron inviting them as well. She sent them directions to the manor and told them they were directions to her home. She kept it short and simple. Besides, she missed them. She needed some familiar faces.

After she sent her letter, she went off to Narcissa to ask her if everything was ready for that night.

"I highly appreciate your help. I hope everything goes well," Narcissa said while looking around the ballroom.

"Do you think everything is ready?" asked Hermione.

"Oh, I hope so."

That's not a good answer, thought Hermione.

After meeting with Narcissa, Hermione had went back to her room and read her book. She had already gotten half way through it.

Draco returned to his father's study and sat at the desk within it. He tapped his fingers on the desk. He suddenly remembered how boring the house was during the winter. Homework perhaps? He didn't have much of a choice. He left to his room and started his holiday homework.

He was halfway through his potions work when a knock came to his door. His heart skipped a beat.

"Draco?" Narcissa's voice.

Draco stood and opened the door. His mother stood at the door looking confused. "Yes mother?" said Draco.

"I wish to know something," Narcissa said, "I wish to know why yourself and Granger are lacking in communication."

Draco groaned and turned away. "Mother, Hermione and I just are...we're just not talking right now."

"Why not?"

Emotionally, Draco said, "Because I fucked up okay?!"

Narcissa twitched. "Watch your tongue."

Draco sat on his book filled bed and held his head in his hands. "I should've told her. She knew something was going on but I just blew up in her face." He explained everything to his mother.

Narcissa sat next to him on his bed. "It's not your fault. You had your privacy and you wanted to protect it. You did no wrong."

Draco shook his head. "I don't even know how to make her talk to me again."

"Don't worry. She'll come around soon." Wish still a frown on Draco's face, Narcissa went to leave the room. Before she closed the door, she looked over her shoulder and said, "Don't sulk all day. I expect you in the ballroom by sundown."

Draco sniffed dramatically and fell back onto his bed. Damn potions homework.

Since neither Narcissa nor Hermione found time to shop for new gowns during the week, Narcissa wore whatever she had and allowed Hermione to choose whatever she wanted.

Hermione looked at herself in her mirror at the gown she had borrowed. It was a slinky black dress with a corset ribbon lace-up back. It had a bodice with a v-neck spaghetti straps, pull over styling. It fit her perfectly, which was strange since Narcissa was 3 inches taller than Hermione and the span of their hips had a visible difference.

Hermione wore a pair of silver, dangling earrings and the shoes she wore at Christmas. She wore her hair down in calm curls, her lips shining with glitter and her eyes sparkling with shadow. She spun around and smiled. She looked out from the glass door, staring into an orange and pink sky. The sun was going down. Perfect timing.

Hermione left the room and walked over to the staircase. Yet again, she heard voices at the bottom.

"You look fine," said the voice of Narcissa.

"I guess so," said Draco.

"Now wait for Hermione. Everyone is expecting you and her to be together."

"We are together. Mother, I love her, whether she's mad at me or not. You're going to see her with me tonight."

Up the stairs, Hermione cleared her throat, stepping aside from the pillar.

Both Draco and Narcissa looked up.

Hermione looked down at them with a "I-heard-everything" look.

Draco bit his lip and looked at Narcissa.

Narcissa looked at Hermione and smiled. "You look lovely," she said.

"Why thank you," Hermione replied, keeping her eyes on Draco.

Narcissa looked from Hermione to Draco and said, "Well, I shall get going."

Left alone, Draco and Hermione stood in silence. A few minutes later, Draco said, "You...you really do look beautiful."

A small smile crept on Hermione's face. "Thank you." She made her way down the stairs and came to his level.

"Hermione I'm sorry I lost my-" he tried to say but Hermione placed her finger on his lips.

"Shh. Just shut up and kiss me." She brought her arms around his neck and smacked her lips against his.

At first, Draco was surprised by the kiss but decided to go along with it. She snaked his arms around her waist and dove into a deeper kiss. Moments later, they separated. "I love you," Draco said.

"I love you too," said Hermione.

Draco took her hand and walked her to the ballroom. Already, guests began to walk around the large room and gaze at the scenery.

The walls looked as if they were frosted and in the center in the ceiling was a very large, divine chandelier. It was snow white and had levitating candles lit around it. Around the room were round tables with crisp linen tablecloths and napkins. The head table, where Draco, Hermione and Narcissa were to be seated, was skirted with silver and crystal candelabra centerpiece. Each table had very expensive looking china and silverware.

Gazing around the ballroom, Draco turned to Hermione and said, "You surely outdid yourself on this one." Across the room was Blaise. He was socializing with someone who looked like Pansy. Wait, that was Pansy!

"Is that Parkinson?" Hermione asked.

Blaise took a double take and waved over to Draco. He started walking toward him with a grin. "Hey Dray. Everything looks good," he said.

"Thanks. Uhh..Is that Pansy over there," Draco asked.

Looking over his shoulder, Blaise said, "Yeah. I brought her."

"I can tell. Why," Hermione asked in a monotone.

Blaise stared at Hermione. "Because," he said. "I know she would want to spend her New Years here."

She stared back. "I have to get something from my room." She turned away and left to her room. Draco followed her.

Up in Hermione's room, she shuffled through her things to give off the impression she was looking for something. The more she shuffled, the more she heard a voice say her name. She found her mirror and saw Harry. "Harry," Hermione asked, confused.

Into the mirror she saw Harry's face. "Yeah. Hey Hermione. Sorry if I'm bothering you but I just wanted to let you know before Ron and I get there that he's--" Harry didn't finished his sentence. His face scrunched up and squinted his eyes.

Hermione cocked her head to the side. "What's wrong Harry?"

"Is...is that Malfoy in the background!?"

Hermione turned around and saw Draco behind her. "Not a good time is it," he said. Hermione shook her head slowly.

She went back to the mirror and Harry wasn't happy. "Hermione, I tried to stay sane through all this Malfoy business. You know how Ron is when he hears his name. When he finds out about this-"

"He's not," Hermione interrupted.

Harry blinked. "He is. At one point. Hermione, I can't keep finding excuses to defend you when it comes to Malfoy. Ron won't listen to anything. You know he won't. When we get there I don't know what will happen."

Hermione bit her lip. "Ok. I'm going to try and find a way to break it to him."

Draco still stood in the background of everything. He paced back and forth, as if nervous of what will happen next. Weasley is fucking nuts. He'll kill to get Hermione when he knows he can't no matter what he does.

Hermione wrapped up her conversation. "I'll see you soon," said Harry.

"Ok and do not tell Ron that Draco is here."

Almost hesitant, Harry replied. "I hear you." He disappeared.

Hermione sighed and sat on her bed. "Ron. Will. Freak," she said.

"I know," said Draco. Then he furrowed his eyebrows. "I have a question. Why did you even invite them in the first place?"

Hermione looked at him with an "oops" look on her face. "Well...mainly out of spite. I knew it would drive you crazy so I told them to come here. That's only part of it. I wanted them to come because I missed them. I wanted to see them."

Draco huffed. "Ok. What else did you tell them?"

"Well," Hermione started. "I sorta told them this was my house. So they would come. I mean they wouldn't come if they knew this was the Malfoy Manor."

He stared at Hermione. "You're killing me here," he said.

She looked back at her bed. "I'm sorry," she said.

Draco shook his head. "Never mind it. Let's just get back downstairs." He extended his arm for Hermione's hand. She grabbed it and followed him out the room. The made themselves down the stairs, back to the ballroom.

Narcissa was seated at the head table that all three of them would sit. She was speaking with a butler when she spotted Draco and Hermione. She dismissed her butler and motioned to the two teenagers to sit with her. Draco took Hermione to the table and met Narcissa. She gave them a look with a smirk on her face. "Have you two come to your senses and decided to be the love-birds you were from the start?"

Hermione smiled and looked at Draco. "Yes," she said.

"Fabulous," said Narcissa. "Now I need you two to sit down while the rest of the guests arrive."

"Does mother know you invited your friends over," Draco whispered as he and Hermione sat.

"I told her that I was inviting a couple of friends. Nothing specific."

Draco laced his fingers on the table. "I hope nothing bad happens," he said.

"If Ron isn't a firework today, nothing at all with go wrong."

Draco looked unsure. "Ok."

A short while later, the ballroom was filled with guests. Everyone in very elegant gowns and suits. Although, Hermione noticed not one, but two not-so-elegant suits. One with fiery red hair. She took a deep breath and said, "They're here."

Draco looked out into the crowd. "Oh really. Go to them and tell Weasley that this is my home."

Hermione pursed her lips. She glanced at Draco and stood from the table. She went into the crowd and was greeted by random guests. She then found out she was known as "Draco Malfoy's Girlfriend." Only that. No one even bothered to know her name! Never mind that. Go for Harry and Ron. She came to the back of the ballroom and saw two very lost looking boys. One with jet black hair and the other with red. Hermione couldn't help but smile when she saw them.

"Harry! Ron!" She rushed to them and hugged them tight.

Ron smiled wide. "Wow Hermione. That sure is a beautiful dress," he said.

Hermione looked down at the dress she was wearing. "Oh, well this isn't mine. It belongs to a friend of mine." She glanced at Harry and saw he was looking at her. She smiled. "I missed you guys. I'm glad you were able to come."

The boys looked around the room. "Umm, did a rich relative die or something? Because this is more of a castle than a house," Harry said.

Hermione bit her lip again. She looked nervous. "Guys I have to tell you something. I don't live here."

Ron looked like he was bracing himself for something really bad. "Then who does," he asked.

"Umm," she murmured. She looked behind her, at Draco. "M-Malfoy lives here."

Ron looked at her with hurt and disgust, if possible. "Malfoy lives here," he asked.

With sad eyes, Hermione nodded.

He scanned the room and stopped at a table in the front of the room. Ron had spotted Draco's blond head. "I'm going to give that fucker a piece of my mind."

Hermione's eyes widened. "I don't think that's a good idea Ron."

Not listening, Ron began to walk through the crowd.

"Ron? Ron? RON," Hermione called after him.

He ignored her. He pushed passed guests in mid-conversation. After a few minutes, Hermione caught up with him. "Ron don't do this."

Before she knew it, both herself and Ron made it to Draco. Narcissa looked at Ron, stunned. She didn't say anything; she took her Champaign glass and walked away from her table. Draco glared at Ron. "What do you want Weasley," he snapped.

"Please Ron, be rational," Hermione begged.

Draco looked from Ron to Hermione. "What are talking about?"

Then Ron grabbed Draco by his shirt and pulled him out of his chair. "I'm sick of you Malfoy," Ron whispered, his words filled with venom. "You took Hermione right from my fingertips. I hate you with a burning passion Malfoy." Ron then pulled up a fist.

"Ron no," Hermione screamed.WHAM!

Ron punched Draco in the face and blood trickled down Draco's nose. Ron let him go and let him fall. Hermione ran over to him. "Again Ron!?" she scolded. She looked at Draco. "Are you okay," she asked him.

Draco groaned. "No," he said.

Hermione helped him up to his feet. "Let's clean you up. And Ron, you can leave." She looked over at Harry through the staring guests. "I'm sorry Harry. You can stay if you want."

Harry shook his head. "I'll take Ron home."

Hermione continued to help Draco through the sea of people up to the bathroom.

Up in the bathroom, Hermione used a wet tissue and lightly wiped the blood from Draco's face. "I am so sorry Draco," she said.

"You can't expect much from Weasley," he mumbled.

"I know, I know." She wiped off the last bit of blood. She smiled at him and kissed him softly. "I promise I won't let him touch you again," she said.

He looked into her eyes and saw sincerity. "I believe you."

All of a sudden, the ground gave a violent shake.

No, they both thought.

The light flashed in the bathroom. They looked around and at each other. "What's going on," Hermione said, panicked. She looked at the floor and screamed. At the bottom of the doorframe, the floor was gone. Darkness was starting to cover the floor.

There was a loud, piercing scream coming from the ballroom; Draco opened the door and ran full speed as soon as he heard it. Hermione followed him as fast as she could. The entire floor from the bathroom to the ballroom was entirely death black. It seemed Draco paid it no mind. He reached the ballroom and stopped abruptly. Hermione soon came to his side. All the guests were pressed up against the walls. The floor was clear and in the middle stood Virginia with the ring around her neck.

Memories from their last meeting flooded Draco and Hermione's heads. "What does she want now," Draco sighed. Hermione gripped his arm.

"Look at who she's pointing her wand at," she whispered, shaking.

Draco looked followed where Virginia's wand pointed and found Narcissa, sitting calmly in her seat. Narcissa raised her glass. "Glad to see you too Virginia," she said.

Hermione held back Draco from running inside the room and blasting Virginia into oblivion.

Still as calm and eased as can be, Narcissa said, "You sure like to make public appearances."

Virginia stomped her foot. "Why do you have to be so cruel," she half yelled, half sobbed.

"How, exactly, am I being cruel," Narcissa asked.

"You..you left me. I did nothing and you got rid of me. And when I come back to start a relationship with you, you shun me for my twin and a mudblood!"

"You can't say that!" Hermione had lost her own self control. "You lived with muggles until were 7 years old. And you were happy until you became curious about ur bloody necklace!"

Virginia wipped her head around to face Hermione. Narcissa didn't look elegant and so beautiful anymore. She wore heavy black eyeliner and grey eyeshadow. Her dress was black velvet and net with purple satin. Her hair was mussed and uneven at the tips. She had dark circles under her eyes, looking as if she hadn't slept since their last meeting.

Hermione's face fell. "What happened to you," she asked.

Virginia's eyes watered and wiped away a tear as soon as she felt it coming from her left eye. "Do you know how it feels to have your own mother reject you when she hasn't even seen you since you were a baby? It's like I'm crying to a stranger. My heart was in the right place. I wanted my mother. Now I can't have her."

Hermione stared at the blond. Thinking about her next move. She glanced at Draco. He was restraining himself; Hermione could tell. She looked as Virginia looked back at Narcissa. "I'm sorry but...if I can't have you, no one can." Tears ran down her face. She shut her eyes closed and whispered two unforgivable words. "Avada...Kedavra."

"No!" screamed Draco. He ran out into the ballroom as the emerald jet of light escaped from Virginia's wand's tip.

Narcissa looked down and whispered before the light hit her, "I love you Draco."

She was hit.

She was knocked back in her chair and fell lifeless to the floor.

Crying, Draco pushed passed the sobbing Virginia to his mother. Hermione ran behind him. When Draco reached the head table, he fell to his knees. Sobbing hysterically, he held up his mother's body. "No, no, no, no," he cried. Hermione hung over his shoulder, crying as well. Draco clung to his mother. "She killed her! That monster took my mum's life!"

With a tear streaked face, Hermione looked over her shoulder to the room. Many of the guests had left, thought some lingered and watched the insident. Virginia was on the floor, crying. Draco continued to call her vile names. Hermione saw Virginia tap her wand's tip on the floor three times and disappeared through darkness.

Once she disappeared, everything changed back. The floors were no longer black and the walls were back to their festive decorations.

Hermione touched Draco's shoulder. "She's gone," she said.

"So what," Draco sobbed, "That won't bring my mother back."

All those who remained in the room stood silent for Narcissa.

May Narcissa Black Malfoy rest in peace and reach a brighter place. May she be remembered.

A/N: OMG THAT WAS LONG! i really hope u like this one. leave a comment and tell me ur thoughts!