A/N: Heloo! Ahh! 34 reviews! Just 1 review short of my quota! But I am still delighted. Thank you all! –bows down to all the reviewers-

Here are my special thanks!

mindy1556: Thanks for your suggestion, mindy! I've enabled the anonymous reviewing thingy. And, also, Hermione's excited, but she is still determined to keep the relationship under wraps, and thus she's a bit worried. Ok :) Enjoy this chapter!

jjp91: You're right! The bras! I forgot about them…Hehe. Anyway, glad you liked the humour. You'll also find out what Ginny will do in this chapter. Enjoy :)

sakura1221: hi! Well, I meant a room other than the common room. You see, Hermione was in the common room, so the conversation couldn't have possibly taken place there. Thanks for your comments. Enjoy this chapter :)

justamuggle: hi! Well, the fight did occur in chapter 9, so I guess your comment did go through! And, your waits over! Enjoy this chapter :)

ShortandTuff: Haha! I guess Ron does deserve it! Glad you liked the previous chapter! The answers to your questions are in this chapter, so Enjoy :)

Jacc: Glad you like the story. Enjoy the chapter :)

swimchik09: Hey! Glad you like the story. Enjoy the chapter :)

Wowee! So many reviews! Anyway, enjoy this chapter, and PLS REVIEW! Thanks.

DISCLAIMER: Reality sucks. That's why I don't own Harry Potter.

Chapter 10: Beauty, and its inner beast

Hermione smiled, relieved. Her dress was FINALLY done, and it looked beautiful. She had spent 3 hours doing it, and she was purely exhausted. She glanced at the clock. It was 10.23 pm, and she had to go to sleep. Humming to herself, she carefully hung her dress in the closet, and was about to get ready for sleep, when somebody tapped her shoulder. She immediately spun around, and faced….Ginny. Hermione stopped humming and her smile faded. "Yeah?" she asked Ginny coldly.

Ginny smiled nervously at her." Hermione? Can we talk?' She asked. Hermione ignored her, and continued to get into bed and pretended to sleep. Ginny tried again. "Hermione? Come on. I need to talk to you," she pleaded. "There's nothing to talk about, "Hermione retorted back, rolling her eyes, and mocking Ginny.

Ginny got angry, and pulled the blanket off Hermione's bed. "Hermione! What's your problem? I was supporting you during the fight, and all you can do is just talk back to me? I don't know what's wrong with you Hermione! Why are you angry at me? You've got no reason to be angry with me! Talk to me! "She yelled. Hermione flinched and sighed. She knew that Ginny was right. Hermione got up, and slowly faced Ginny. "Sorry, Ginny. I was angry at Ron, so I was angry at you too. I'm just a bit frustrated. Now, what was it that you wanted to talk about?" Hermione asked Ginny quietly, rubbing her eyes. Ginny smiled, and sat down beside Hermione. "Hermione, I'm sorry too. Anyway, are you feeling alright? Do you need to talk about anything?" she asked curiously. Hermione knitted her eyebrows in confusion.

"Why Ginny? Why do you ask that?"

Ginny fidgeted nervously. "Well, um, just now, when Ron was injured, everybody seemed to be worried and was fussing over him. But, well, you, you didn't seem to be worried, and you seemed to know who had done it.

Hermione glared at Ginny. "Look, Ginny. I have got every right not to be worried for Ron. After what he had said about me, you still expect me to care for him as a friend? Please, Ginny. You don't understand what I am feeling," Hermione said angrily.

"I know Hermione; I'm not saying that it's wrong of you to act like that. It's just that…well, you were smiling and giggling the whole time, and like I said before, you looked like you knew who had done it. That's all."

"So, what do you want me to do now?" Hermione asked quietly, her eyes transfixed on her palms.

"Well, Herm, I was just wondering whether you could tell me who-"

Hermione stood up suddenly and grabbed her blanket. "Ginny. I can't tell you who, and I'm not going to do it for Ron after what he had done-"

"Oh, for Pete's sake, Hermione! Would you just stop saying that? You don't even know why Ron had done that, do you?" Ginny shrieked, gesticulating wildly.

"I bloody well know! He hates me, he's angry at me-"

"He loves you, Hermione! He loves you! He's had a crush on you since the beginning of the year, and he' always tried to get your attention! But, you just treat him as if he's invisible. You just treat him like a friend, but he wants more than that, Hermione! He wants to go out with you! Every time he tries to ask you out, you reject him, and then out of sympathy, you go out with him. He always feels you're annoyed at him, like he's committed a huge crime. That's why, Hermione. That's why he spoke like that. My brother knows he's not really an excellent boyfriend, but he's willing to try. You just wouldn't let him; that's why he spoke about you like that. He was angry, and he was very harsh, but it was because he was very hurt. You don't get that, do you?" Ginny screamed, and stormed to her bed.

Hermione stood stunned. Then, she slowly got into her bed. And cried.

It was the day of the masquerade ball, and there was a buzz of excitement everywhere. The girls were all excited, and were giggling, whilst many of the boys were blushing as they saw their dates.

Draco smiled at the sight. He was going to see Hermione today, and he was finally going to be able to dance with her in front of everyone, without anyone knowing. He shivered. He couldn't wait for this evening.

Hermione stared listlessly at her books. What Ginny had told her last night rand vividly in her mind, as she surreptitiously glanced at Ron. She felt guilty, as her eyes welled up again. But she wiped them away quickly. She was determined to forget all about this, and was going to have a good time with Draco at the ball.

Draco.

She smiled. Today was going to be perfect.

As the evening drew nearer, classes were cancelled, and the students were preparing for the ball. Draco looked around at his clothes exasperatedly. What was he going to wear to the ball? He wanted to look good for Hermione, and he started rummaging through his trunk. All of a sudden, he found a package buried right below in the trunk. He dug it out, and opened the package. In it was a black silk robe, with green and silver lining. There was also a tuxedo in it and it was just his size. It looked magnificent, and grand. Draco was delighted. This was perfect. In it was a letter, and he took it out and read it.

My Dear Son,

This was my robe and my tuxedo. I am now giving it to you. This year will be eventful for you, and there will be romance in the air. I experienced romance at this age too, and I wore these exact clothes to a dance with my loved one. It is now your turn, Draco. Wear these, and you will look like, and be a magnificent Malfoy.

Your Father,

Lucius Malfoy.

Draco blinked away the tears forming in his eyes. His father was in Azkaban, and he was never to see his father again. His father would never approve of him going out with a muggle, but he didn't care. As he wore the robe and the tuxedo, he took a long look at himself. He did look magnificent. After wearing his cologne, and neatly slicking his hair back, he conjured up a mask. It was shiny black, with green feathers all around, and sliver sequins. With that, he exited the dorm, and walked quickly to the Hall, waiting along with the other boys for the girls to arrive.

The Hall was elegantly decorated. There were golden streamers everywhere, and the hall was strewn with petals. Candles floated everywhere. Silver roses surrounded the Hall, and the ceiling looked like the night sky. It was indeed beautiful, ad it took Draco's breath away. Suddenly, melodious music filled the air, as the girls began to arrive.

The girls walked down the stairs leading to the Hallway, and there they were greeted by their dates. As girls began walking down the stairs that led them from their houses to the hall, Draco quickly scurried to the Gryffindor staircase. The first few girls walked down, and Draco realised that Hermione had not arrived yet.

I wonder what she's wearing. Maybe it's green. Maybe it's blue. Maybe it's red-

Draco gasped. There stood Hermione. Draco recognised her instantly by her hair, and the way she walked. She was graceful as she walked down the stairs, and Draco was mesmerised by her amazing beauty.

Hermione wore a blue strapless satin dress. It was sparkling with glitter, and so was she. She wrapped a translucent velvet blue shawl around her arms, and she wore a silver butterfly mask. Her loose curls hung around her shoulders, as some strands of hair were pinned behind with a tiny clip. She wore long Silver Star earrings that shone, and she wore a blue pendant necklace around her neck. She wore a small tiara on her hair, and her cheeks were as rosy as ever. Her eyes had a blue tinge (due to the eye shadow that she was wearing), and her lips were soft pink. She looked…..beautiful, and Draco's mouth hung open. As she stood at the bottom of the staircase looking for Draco, he scurried to her, and smiling, he held out his hand. As he gazed into her hazel-brown eyes, he whispered, "You look beautiful. Shall we?" Hermione smiled at him.

"We shall," she whispered back, and holding his hand, they slowly walked to the hall.

That's it guys! Okay, I know the ball thingy is sooo short, but mainly I want to dedicate a whole chapter to it. There will be something happening, so look out for it!

Please review, guys! I need 40 reviews to continue, so please don't disappoint me! Thks so much for reading, and click my little favourite purple button that says review! Also, anonymous pple can also review, I have enabled it! Thks, and adios!

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