Lessons in Forgiveness
"Students, I ask for you attention before we start our wonderful meals!" Dumbledore said eyes placed firmly on Hermione. "As you know Professor Remus Lupin will be away for some time due the arrival of his fist child. (He and Tonks were having their fist baby out of wedlock.) Therefore we have found some one who has agreed to take his place, please welcome Ms Penny Halliwell!"
"Wow did he just say you're grandmother was the new DADA teacher! Draco said looking shocked. Hermione nodded and looked for Snape.
Wow Snape looks like hell! He must be as shocked as I am. Hermione thought to herself.
Penny smiled her all-knowing smile at her, then turned to speak with Snape.
All of a sudden, Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat.
"Would the prefects and Heads please meet me in the Entrance Hall when you are finished eating?" he said, "Thank you."
Hermione and Draco quickly finished eating and walked out into the Entrance Hall. The prefects soon joined them, Draco noticed Ron was sending him death glares and apparently Hermione noticed too.
When everyone had arrived, Dumbledore began.
"This year" he said, "I shall like to have a Christmas ball. The Yule ball went very well last year, so I am hoping to have a Christmas and Valentine ball this year. I will need two prefects in charge of both of these balls. They will decide the decorations and music for the ball. Who would like to do it?"
"We'll do it" Draco volunteered, holding up his and Hermione's hand.
"Is that alright with you Miss Halliwell?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yeah, sure" Hermione said.
"Alright" he continued, "the ball will be Christmas day from eight o'clock until midnight. Only third years and above, unless first and second years are invited by older students. I will need your plans for the ball no later than December the fifteenth. You will also need to decide witch prefects chaperone. You may go."
They all nodded and began to walk away.
"So" Hermione said, as they were walking up to the dormitory, "any ideas for the ball?"
"Well I have one idea" Draco replied.
"And it is?"
"That we go together."
Hermione blushed.
"How about it, Hermione?" he asked, "Will you go to the ball with me?"
Hermione smiled.
"I'd love to, Draco" she said.
Draco beamed, and they walked off to the dormitory hand in hand. When they reached the dormitory and said the password, Hermione went towards her room to get a book.
"I'll be right back" she called, as she noticed Draco sitting down on the sofa by the fire.
She grabbed a romance novel that her mother had given her for her birthday and walked out to the common room. She sat down on the sofa next to Draco.
"Come here" he said, pulling her closer.
He pulled her almost onto his lap, putting his arms around her waist. Hermione rested her head in his chest and opened her book to read. They sat like this for awhile until they both fell asleep.
The next morning, Draco awoke first. He saw Hermione laying on him, her book lying at her waist. Draco smiled and opened the book. It was a romance novel. So, he thought, Hermione's into romance figures. Well maybe that would help him in the future. He felt Hermione move, and then her eyes fluttered open.
"Hey" she said, sleepily, "what time is it?"
"Late" he said, "but don't worry, its Saturday."
"Mmm, good" she mumbled and got up.
"Wait" Draco said, pulling her back down to sit next to him.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I was wondering," he said, "if you would go out with me? And, you know, be my girlfriend?"
"Oh, Draco, I'd love to!" she said, and put her arms around him in a hug.
When they pulled apart, Draco tilted her chin up to him and kissed her gently on the lips. When they parted, Hermione had a smile on her face. I guess I do like him, she thought happily, little did she know he was thinking the same thing.
"Okay, let's both go get dressed, and then we'll go down to the lake we've missed breakfast together" Draco said.
"Okay" Hermione said happily, and skipped off to her room to get dressed.
When they had both gotten dressed, they walked down to the stairs and out the doors holding hands. As they walked passed a group of Gryffindor's, Ron noticed the two of them holding hands and smiling.
"What the hell?" Ron shouted, and stormed back to school.
The students who were nearby turned to see what was happening. As they saw Hermione and Draco holding hands with confused looks on their faces, and saw Ron running through the crowd and pushing open the heavy doors, the whispers started spreading. Hermione and Draco sat down.
"What do you think that was that about?" Hermione asked Pansy, who was sitting on the grass, staring after Ron and giggling slightly.
"I think I know why Ron's so upset." Pansy said
"Do tell." Draco said from behind Hermione (once again she's on his lap.)
"Hermione, Ron's liked you for the longest time" Blaise said, "and, well, now that he sees you with Draco, his worst enemy, there's only one thought running through his mind."
"And what's that?" Hermione asked.
"Will she date anyone else before she'll date me?" Pansy said.
"Oh" Hermione said quietly, "Okay. Well I would normally talk to him but...
"What do you mean anyone Parkinson? Are you insinuating I'm common?" Draco cut in...
Just then Harry and Ginny walked over to them, trying to ignore the curious looks they were getting from the school
"Hey." They said
"Umm, hi." Hermione said holding on to Draco's hand very tightly, though he didn't move an inch.
"Umm, well, are you two going out?" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded trying to hide a blush.
"Yeah we are," she said.
"Well, congratulations" Harry said, smiling,
"Thanks, is that it?"
"Umm, I- we just wanted to...apologise for well-everything that happened and we wanted to know if we could still be friends because your friendship means a lot to us 'Mione and we want you back and if Malfoy's part of the package then so be it." Harry finished panting.
"Wow did he take in any air?" Blaise asked Draco, who shrugged.
"Thanks guys, really it means allot and I'm sorry too."
"Thanks Harry that means a lot to me, it really does but Draco's not the only one in this package, Pansy and Blaise are in it too." Mia said smiling at the Slytherin's who looked a bit shocked.
"If you want me then you want them to."
"Deal!" Ginny and Harry said together.
They both sat back down. Draco looked at them curiously.
After dinner the Hermione, Draco, Pansy and Blaise, went to look for Ron. They walked up to the Gryffindor common room and walked in.
"So this is the Gryffindor common room" Blaise said.
"Yeah" Hermione said, "just don't go giving the other Slytherin's the password."
"We won't" he replied, "promise."
They found Ron sulking in an armchair by the fire, Harry and Ginny next to him.
"Let me talk to him" Hermione said, "You guys wait there."
The trio nodded and walked off into a corner. Hermione walked over to Ron.
"Hey" she said, "can I talk to you?"
"Well you are already" Ron replied with an attitude.
"Listen Ron, I'm sorry!" she said, "I know you're angry about me and Draco going out but he cares about me and I trust him."
"So you are going out then?" Ron asked.
"Yes we are" Hermione replied, "I'm sorry that upsets you, Ron, but that's what's happening. Now will you please stop sulking and give me the apology you keep forgetting to give me."
Ron looked up and saw Hermione's smirking face above him. God, she's so beautiful, even if she's been corrupted by the "Snake club" he thought, I'd do anything to make her happy.
"Alright, I'm really, really sorry for everything Hermione. Not to mention the hitting you part." Ron said, and smiled at her.
Hermione beamed at him, and Ron felt his heart melt. He walked over to Harry and Ginny. And Hermione went to Draco and the Slytherin's.