Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it

Author's Note: The plot has thickened and I really have no idea how I'm going to end it. I don't know if I'm going to write a few more chapters, or end it at the next chapter, I'm totally lost. However, everyone seems to enjoy the story, so I will definitely have to end it well and maybe with a bang. Who knows where this story will go!

Chapter Nineteen

Hermione and Draco got to the Great Hall with time to spare. The hall was done up beautifully. All the tables had disappeared, and a few smaller tables lined the perimeter of the room. Orange and black and yellow ribbons hung from the ceiling, and glitter floated down magically. The room was darkened quite a bit, and a magical DJ had set up his station where the teachers normally ate. The tables were filled with all sorts of food, practically every type of food. Hermione felt herself salivating by just looking at the tables. A single, large disco ball hung from the ceiling, and Hermione thought at first that it was a bit tacky and retro, but, after standing in the room for only a few short seconds, she realized how it made the atmosphere even better.

"We are amazing at this job," Draco said, breaking the silence. He didn't look at Hermione.

Hermione smiled. "We should do this for a living."

"We probably could have made a shitload of money, had we gotten paid for this."

"We're so good at this, we should just leave the school, move to some remote island, and remake it into the hottest and coolest place ever."

Draco smiled, and finally looked at her. "You really do look amazing," he said, causing Hermione to blush.

"Thanks," she said. He held her gaze for a few moments, then Hermione cleared her throat and looked down. She grabbed his arm and looked at his watch. "The dance starts in ten minutes, what are we suppose to do until then?"

"Stand around, looking gorgeous?"

"You're so funny," Hermione said sarcastically.

They continued their playful bantering, until, finally, Dumbledore walked over to them from the back of the Great Hall.

"Ah, glad to see both of you," the Headmaster said, clasping his hands behind him. He had changed into nicer robes, and was wearing a top hat and a black cloak with red lining. Hermione deduced that he was a magician, which was actually very funny. "It's amazing what you two have done to this place. I have to say, I am quite proud. When I first learned that you two were up for the positions of Heads, I thought for sure the only thing you would do was bicker, but you have obviously proved that you can handle yourselves in uncomfortable positions. Congratulations." Hermione and Draco smiled in response, and glanced over at each other briefly.

"Students have already begun gathering outside," Dumbledore continued, "and, since this is your dance, I will allow the two of you to officially begin the dance. Good luck, and I will see you tomorrow." Dumbledore walked in the same direction he had came in, and Hermione and Draco heard the door shut lightly. They turned to each other, and smiled meekly yet bravely.

"Let's do this," Hermione said, smiling. Draco returned the smile, and they walked to the front door.

"Hermione!" The witch turned around, and fell into the arms of Ginny. "This is amazing!" Ginny said, pulling away. "How you guys managed this, I have no idea!"

"Neither do we!" Hermione said, laughing.

"There's my favorite girl!" Blaise wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist, and kissed her cheek. "Hey, Ginny," he said, smiling at her.

"Hey, Blaise," Ginny said, returning the smile. She turned to Hermione. "I'm gonna go get some more food. I'll see you in a little bit, kay?" Hermione nodded, and watched the girl dance away.

The dance was a hit. The Great Hall was packed, and everyone was dancing. The DJ was playing the latest music, and loudly. This forced everyone to talk louder than usual, but Hermione felt that it just added to the atmosphere. Lots of people had dressed up for the Halloween part of the dance, but everyone still looked amazing. It felt more like a party some kid would have at his house, than a school dance. Hermione was quite proud.

The entire school had pretty much been waiting outside the doors, and Hermione and Draco got separated when everyone came rushing in. The last she saw of him, he was chatting with some sixth-year, whom she didn't recognize. She spotted Harry with Ron, over by one of the food tables, and avoided his gaze. She knew she was suppose to act normal around him, but if she didn't talk to him, then she wouldn't have to lie, right?

"Hi, Blaise," Hermione said, turning around in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and they began to slow dance, even though the song was an obviously meant to make people dance fast. They didn't care, though.

"This is amazing," Blaise said, his head buried in Hermione's hair. Her head was against his chest, and she could feel his heartbeat.

"Thanks," Hermione said, tightening her hold on him. "We really worked hard."

"And it shows." They continued gyrating against each other, not noticing the two men looking at them.

On one side of the room, Draco was leaning against a wall, watching them. He knew that he should have been out there with Hermione. He knew that he was better off for her. He knew her better than anyone, and she knew him better than anyone. He knew she would probably never want to date him, because they had so many issues, but that didn't mean he couldn't think about it. And he thought about it all the time.

On the other side of the room, Harry was slouched in a chair, watching them also. He had no idea that Ron had told Ginny, who then told Hermione. He had been staring at her for the past few days, watching her with Blaise. He hated Blaise more than anything, mostly because Blaise had what he wanted. He thought that he was better for Hermione than Blaise, because they had been through so much together. He didn't care anymore that she had kissed Draco; it was old news. He didn't think, though, that she would be so ready to start dating him again, because she probably didn't trust herself. He wasn't sure how he was going to convince her that he still loved her, but he wanted to try.

Harry felt someone approach him, and looked up to see Ron standing next to him, looking extremely uncomfortable. He was fidgeting, and Harry thought that something was wrong.

"What's up?" Harry asked, concerned. Ron sighed, and squatted down to Harry's level.

"I have to tell you something," he said.

"What?"

Ron took a deep breath. "I told Ginny that you still had feelings for Hermione, and then Ginny told Hermione." Ron braced himself for the backlash.

"What?" Harry said again, surprisingly calm. "Are you telling me that Hermione now knows that I still like her?" Ron nodded. "How could you do this?!" Harry kept his voice down. "Do you have any idea how weird this is going to be? And besides, I told you this in confidence! I know we are not two teenage girls, but I would appreciate if you keep my secrets just that! And why are you telling me this now? Why couldn't you wait until after the dance, so I don't have to see her dancing with him? Do you have any idea how this makes me feel? She knows that I like her, yet she's practically having sex with him!"

"I know, I'm sorry, really," Ron said, pleading. "I just thought you should know. If you hate me, that's fine, and perfectly understandable. I'll just go, and crawl under a rock, or something."

Harry sighed. "You don't have to do that," he said. "I probably would have done the same thing. If I had a sister, at least. I get why you would confide in your sister. You had this major news, and you needed to tell someone. And Ginny thought that Hermione deserved to know. I understand."

"Thank God," Ron said, smiling. "I really thought you'd be pissed, and we would never talk again."

"I could never get that mad at you," Harry said, returning his smile. "I'll just have to avoid Hermione for a while."

Hermione had watched this entire exchange, dread creeping up on her as they continued talking. After both boys smiled, she said quietly, "Oh, my God."

"What?" Blaise said, looking down at her.

"I-I have to go find Ginny," she said, pulling away. "I'll be right back." She pushed through the crowd, keeping her head down. Finally, she spotted the red hair, and hurried over to her friend.

Ginny was flirting with some seventh-year, but when she saw Hermione's face, instantly forgot about the attractive guy.

"What's wrong?" she said, hurrying over to her friend.

"Ron told Harry that I know," Hermione said.

"What?!"

"At least, I think. I saw the two of them talking, and Harry's face kept changing emotions. But one emotion was definitely worry, and some embarrassment. I'm not sure, but I think that's what they were talking about."

Ginny sighed. "I'll go talk to Ron. You, get back to your boyfriend, before he gets worried."

Just then, Draco appeared at Ginny's side. "Hermione, are you okay? Did Blaise do something?"

"Or, just have your knight in shining armor save you," Ginny said to Hermione, her eyes twinkling. "Later, Hermione."

Hermione playfully glared at the girl as she walked away, then turned to Draco. His face looked worried, but when he saw Hermione's face, it softened. "No, Blaise didn't do anything," Hermione said. "I, um, remembered that I might have left, um, the curling iron on, and so I had to ask Ginny if she knew if it was off."

"And?"

"Oh, yeah, it was off," Hermione said, smiling nonchalant. "Sorry for worrying you. I should, um, probably get back to Blaise." She slid past Draco, her head down, and hurried back to her boyfriend.

Draco watched her walk off, then looked around for long, red hair. Spotting Ginny not very far from him, he rushed over to her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her over to a corner.

"What's going on with Hermione?" he asked, his voice low but menacing. "I know it has nothing to do with some curling iron. I saw her face out there, and there is something that she's not telling me. What is it?"

Ginny sighed. "Ron is so going to kill me. I'm not suppose to talk about this."

"Please, just tell me," Draco pleaded.

Ginny closed her eyes momentarily. "Harry still likes Hermione. I told Hermione earlier today, and Ron just told Harry that Hermione knows how he feels about her. That's probably what she saw. She freaked out, and now, I am suppose to go find out if that is indeed what Ron just told Harry."

Draco didn't say anything for a few moments. "So...Potter still likes Hermione?" When Ginny nodded, Draco muttered an expletive, and said under his breath, "Now I have two to deal with."

"What?" Ginny asked.

"Nothing," Draco said. "Just...I don't know. How does Hermione feel about all this?"

"Well, she's a little upset, because she doesn't like Harry, and is worried that she's, like, leading him on. And then, there's you."

"What?"

"Blaise knows that you like Hermione. How do you think he'll feel if he finds out that Harry also likes her? He's pretty sure that Hermione doesn't like you, no offense, but he has no idea if she still has feelings for Harry. It's hard enough competing with one guy, try two."

"Wait, how does he know that I like Hermione?"

"He overheard you and Hermione talking after Hogsmeade, in your room. He went back to get his jacket, or something, and heard you tell her that you like her, and then, to add insult to injury, he heard her tell you that she likes you."

Draco was quiet for even longer. "I think I should talk to Blaise. Before all this, we were best friends. I know the whole Hermione thing is uncomfortable, but he deserves to hear my side of the story, and he deserves to know that I probably hate Potter as much as he does." Ginny had to smile at that.

"Do you at least want me to tell Blaise that you want to talk?"

Draco shook his head. "Just get Hermione away from him. Her being there wouldn't exactly make it comfortable."

"Right away," Ginny said, mock saluting him. She hurried off to find her friend.

Draco waited about ten minutes, then went in search of Blaise. He wasn't too excited about this conversation, but he knew it had to be done.

Draco saw leaning against a wall, surveying the dance. Draco had to smile at this. Blaise was always for the theatrics.

"Try as you might," Draco said, leaning against the wall next to Blaise, "you were never as good as me at the bad ass look."

Blaise smirked. "Hey, I think I've got it down. You just cross your arms, pout a little, and narrow your eyes." While he talked, he performed each of these movements.

"You forgot about the slouch. Your nothing without the slouch." They stood like this for a few moments, in comfortable silence.

"What happened to us?" Draco asked finally. "A year ago, we never would have been at a dance like this."

Blaise chuckled dryly. "You know exactly what happened to us." Both locked on Hermione, who was talking to Ginny.

"I'm sorry," Draco said, looking at Blaise. "For everything. And not just this year. For as long as you have known me. I know I'm probably not the best friend in the world."

Blaise returned his look, smirking. "Don't apologize for when we were younger. We were both bastards." He sighed. "I have no idea what I'm going to do about her, though."

"What do you mean?"

"I know that Potter still likes her. Anyone can tell whenever they see the two of them together. And when she saw Potter and Weasely talking, a little bit ago, well, let's just say it wasn't hard to figure out. Her expression kind of gave her away." He looked at Draco. "You knew, right?"

Draco nodded. "Ginny just told me. I figured you could use a friend. It's just...you know she doesn't like him, right?"

"I was hoping. It's weird, I should be thanking you."

"Why?"

"If it wasn't for you, Hermione and Potter wouldn't have broken up."

Draco smiled. "I, uh, wasn't really thinking about you, when I...did what I did."

"Understandable. You're not, um, mad...at me, right?"

"Jealous, definitely. Mad, nah. My style of...expressing my feelings for Hermione hasn't really worked out. You, obviously, know the right direction to go in."

"Please. You guys have made out at least three times, probably more. If she didn't know that you liked her, before you told her, of course, then she's not as intelligent as we all thought."

"You're...not mad at me, either, right?"

Blaise was quiet for a moment. "No. You can't control who you like, or how much you like them, and I totally get why you would like Hermione. And, if for some reason, she suddenly decides that she likes you, I'll be fine."

"I would seriously kiss you right now, but I don't know how open Hogwarts is to homosexuality."

Blaise and Draco both grinned, and it was obvious that, no matter what happened, they would remain friends for a really long time.