A/N: Chapter 2. =] I dunno what it is with this story. It's consumed me. So here ya go.

Draco paced in his room, ready too early. He glanced at his watch. 5:47. What had he been thinking? He still had over an hour before he was to meet Hermione for the ball. He glanced at his schoolbooks, but quickly rejected the idea. He wouldn't be able to concentrate enough for that.

He knew what would really make him feel better, but riding his broom in his attire was out of the question. He sighed, and decided to go oversee the last-minute preparations. He grabbed his jacket hanging over the bedpost and slowly made his way to the Great Hall.

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Hermione had decided to get ready with Ginny. Her nerves were stretched too thin to do it by herself.

Ginny had decided on a light blue dress. It matched her eyes perfectly. Half of her hair was pulled back, held in place with a sparkling pin. She stepped into the princess dress, and Hermione zipped it up for her.

Ginny turned to the mirror and started applying her make-up. "So what made you decide to attend the ball?" Her tone attempted nonchalance.

Hermione finished pinning her hair up before she replied. "Well, it was the dress."

Ginny's eyes lit up. "So you're going to let me see it now?"

Hermione gave her a small smile and walked over to Ginny's bed, where the dress had been laying, still in its bag. She unzipped it, preparing for the big reveal, but Ginny took hold of the hanger and pulled the dress out of the bag before Hermione could say anything. Ginny hung it on the back of the door in order to see it clearly. She stood back, examining it as if it were an art piece hanging in a museum. After a few moments, she spoke.

"Hermione, this dress is absolutely beautiful. Where did you get it?"

Hermione chewed her bottom lip. "Well, that's the thing. It was a Christmas gift… From Draco."

Ginny shifted her gaze to Hermione. "What did you say?"

Hermione slipped a small smile, amused by her friend's reaction. "He asked me if I would go with him."

Ginny moved to her bed, skirt rustling, impatiently said, "Well, get on with it. What did you say?"

Hermione looked back at the dress. "He didn't let me answer. He told me if I accepted, to meet him in front of the portrait at seven."

Ginny looked annoyed. "That git didn't even properly ask you? I wouldn't blame you if you didn't meet him." She paused. "Are you?"

Hermione looked back at Ginny, uncertainty written on her face. "I don't know. I might have to. He spent so much on this dress. But then again… Do you think I should?"

Ginny thought for a moment. "Think for a bit about you. Not Ron or Harry or me, or even Malf- sorry, Draco- for that matter. What do you want?"

Hermione sat down on the bed beside Ginny. "I think it might be fun to get to go to the ball with someone, not have to stand alone. But then this voice in my head reminds me that it's Draco Malfoy we're talking about here. What if he's just doing this to make a fool of me? How do I know he actually asked me to the ball because he wants to go with me?"

Ginny looked at Hermione. "He's on our side now, remember?"

Hermione thought back to the Great War and how Draco had come to the Light Side not long after it had truly begun.

He spent most of his time at Grimmauld Place, out of the public eye, keeping Mrs. Weasley, Kreature, and Buckbeak company. After the war, Draco had returned home with an award from the Minister for "Loyalty if the Face of Death." He made many return trips to Grimmauld Place, often spending hours with Hermione, discussing various topics, even teaching her how to play wizard's chess at one point. During these time spans, Harry and Ron were conveniently missing, preferring to spend their time elsewhere. A few weeks before the end of summer, Hermione suggested they all complete their schooling. Draco agreed at once. Harry and Ron were less enthusiastic, but agreed nonetheless. Ginny was excited to have the three of them taking classes with her, as they were all in the same year.

Upon returning to Hogwarts, Headmistress McGonagall named Hermione Head Girl. Hermione was pleased to find out that Draco had been awarded the equivalent. When asked about Harry, the Headmistress gave Draco a knowing smile and said, "Mr. Potter has had quite a year. I thought he deserved a bit of time to himself. And I thought you would enjoy spending some time with Miss Granger."

Draco turned pink and muttered, "Just like Dumbledore…"

Hermione sighed and looked at Ginny. "You're right, of course. I just wish I understood what was going on with him."

Ginny laughed. "You cast a spell on him, Hermione. I'm sure he understands just as much about what's going on as you do. He's a teenage boy. He's probably more scared than you are."

Hermione smiled at Ginny. "Okay, so let's do this."

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Draco propped himself on the wall opposite the portrait in front of their dormitories. He'd never really looked at it before. He glanced at his watch. 6:55. Nothing to now but wait. Watching the characters in front of him, he realized that this painting had been designed for him and Hermione. He wondered if they had a new painting brought in every year for the current Head Boy and Girl.

In this painting, a small boy shuffled worn out cards, attempting indifference. The girl sat against the tree, reading a book in its shade. She didn't realize it, but the boy was watching her. As Draco watched on, the boy sighed and continued to shuffle his cards. The girl turned a page in her book, oblivious to the boy five feet away from her. Once again, the boy sighed and began laying the cards on the ground in front of him, playing a game by himself. The girl looked at him under her eyelashes and smiled, and then returned to her book.

Draco took the girl's action as a good sign. He looked at his watch again. 6:59. He took a calming breath, sweat breaking out across his palms and forehead. He began pacing the hallway, trying to release some energy. The moment had come. He wasn't ready for her rejection. What kind of stunt had he pulled? Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Why did she have to permeate his dreams? Why was she so irresistible?

He heard the faint click, click, click of approaching high heels and took a deep breath, anticipation tying up his stomach and making him anxious. The sound got louder. He planted his feet, looked towards the sound that grated his nerves, and attempted to prepare himself for the night that would change his life forever. Little did he know that nothing could ever prepare him for what would come next.