AN- im sorry! i promised this would be up an hour ago, but it was Internet Warz at my house! so i was behind. things to address- i think i only used it once, but when people say 'pop' they mean apparate. its like...wizard slang o.O

also, has anyone noticed that this story is TOTALLY "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick? "Didnt I didnt I didnt I see you crying?" and then the "want you to want me, need you to need me," etc etc etc. sorry, i thought it was amazing.

but yes, this is THE CHAPTER. i hope it comes off okay!

Hermione was pleased to note that over the next few weeks, Lucius' playful (dare she say flirty…) behavior continued. However, something else she noticed caught more of her attention. After about a week and a half, his teasing seemed to slow, become more thoughtful. Sometimes she would swear she felt him looking at her, and then whenever she turned around to look, he would arch an eyebrow and the games would begin. Curious…

But, by the end of the second week, something a tad more important came up (not that she didn't enjoy Lucius' attention).

Every year, the Order held a dance in commemoration of the day it was founded. During the war, it was difficult, sometimes only a few people could show, one year they had to change location right in the middle. And immediately after the war, they couldn't be sure if the threat was really gone, most Death Eaters were killed or captured, but who knew if there were any unofficial followers? The dance had been exclusive, very hush hush.

It had always been important. A dance specifically, to remember that there were still good things. Sometimes there was even a theme. Usually it was held at Grimmauld Place, or, if it was deemed unsafe, they would move to another Order member's house.

But this year…this year was the no-miss event. They were positive there was no threat. The guest list was huge. And the theme was a gala ball.

Since Grimmauld Place was far too small to accommodate everyone, they needed to find a new location. Kingsley Shacklebolt generously offered his home, which was fantastic for their plans considering he was the Minister of Magic. His official mansion would do perfectly.

So, Hermione was now fully preoccupied with…her dress.

And, of course, solving other people's dance issues. Namely Draco's.

Throughout these two weeks, he could regularly be found taking his break in Hermione's office, talking about one thing or another. Today, the topic was, inevitably, the dance.

"So, are you and Gabrielle going to be arm in arm and lip to lip at this dance?" Hermione said, arching her eyebrow playfully.

"Shut up. No, she has to work. This dance WOULD fall on a Thursday."

"Oh, I'm sorry. This could have been the official 'Draco and Gabrielle are together' event."

"I know!" Draco moaned. "I'm a pretty private person, but still. We've been dating in a box here for months."

"Here?"

"All her friends in France know."

"Aha. Well, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I'm popping over there after the dance anyway."

"Okay then. So it will just be you your father and I going together then."

"Really? No takers for you?" Draco said, surprised.

"No."

"Hm. I thought you would have men falling at your feet and over theirs to take you to the dance."

"Ha-ha, you are such a flatterer. No, it's just us three. I don't mind really, saves me from having to explain that I don't dance."

"You don't dance?" Draco said, surprised.

"No. I mean, I can, but I don't like to. It's the whole dancing-while-people-watch part."

"You did in fourth year."

"That was different. I only danced the first dance, the rest of the time I just bounced around."

"Well, its fine by me. Now I don't have to mingle, I can just sit with you and father."

"What? Your father is a social butterfly."

"Hm. Something tells me that this will be one of those occasions where if the other

butterflies want to talk, they'll have to come to him."

"Whatever you say, Draco." Hermione said, smiling as they both stood up.

Draco smiled. "I'll see you at home, I'm already five minutes over my break."

"See you."

Draco left, and Hermione sat down again, sighing. Sandy leaned in through her doorway.

"Safe to come in?"

"It doesn't matter, it only gets really explosive when his father is here."

"Good, good."

"So, Alexander, who are you bringing to the dance?"

Sandy grinned. "I'm relying on the Clark charm. I'm going alone, but who knows, maybe my angsty aloneness will attract a few girls."

"I think I may vomit."

"Hey!" Sandy said, mock-defensive.

Hermione grinned. "Fine."

"How are you coming on the dress front?"

"Well, I have the dress, and I am basically transfiguring bits and pieces of it until it looks the way I want it."

"Like that's going to happen."

"Shut up!"

"No!" Sandy said, smirking cheekily. "It's not like you'll fire me, you need me too much."

"Oh…go away."

"Just one thing…"

"I don't want to hear it!" Hermione said, pretending like she wasn't paying attention.

"What color is you dress going to be?"

"OUT! You will only pick my dress apart!"

"Later, boss!"

PAGE BREAK

The days seemed to fly, and Hermione was extremely worried about her dress. As usual, her work consumed most of her time, and before she knew it, it was the evening of the dance.

Hermione would have left early, but suddenly something misfired in the Magical Passport and Visa office, and she needed to investigate. After closing the office and saying that they would have to get a better investigation, (which she would need to oversee) done on Friday, she apparated home.

"Hermione, where have you BEEN?" Lucius called from the dining room, where he was talking with Draco. Hermione stopped her fast walk to lean back and look into the room. She was greeted with the sight of Lucius adorned with black pants, white shirt, and unbuttoned waistcoat. (He was not fully dressed, of course.) Hermione hadn't even thought to think about what he would look like fantastically dressed up.

Fighting a blush, she did her best to smile and said "Oh, we had a huge malfunction at work, I had to stay behind and pretend to clean it up."

Draco grinned at her (he also had not yet changed from his work clothes to his dance attire). Lucius made an impatient noise and resumed tying his tie. "Well do hurry- Draco, you set the WORST example."

Hiding a smirk behind his hand, Draco walked over to join Hermione. "Alright, alright, Father, don't have an aneurism."

"Yes, Lucius, if you get too fussy we won't take you to the grown up party, you'll have to stay all night in your room." Hermione said in a playfully condescending scold, then breaking into giggles. Draco was laughing outright, and Lucius narrowed his eyes at her.

"Get upstairs."

PAGE BREAK

Hermione quickly transfigured a chair into a dress dummy and put her lavender dress on it. Standing back, she tilted her head, trying to make the appropriate alterations in her mind. Finally, she flicked her wand at the fabric. The neckline fell so the gown was now off-the-shoulder, it was sleeveless, just an overhang of fabric that went from her back to a 'v' point on her chest. The rest of the dress was flowy, a gauzy lavender with a bit of a sheen. Plain, but pretty. Smiling, she ran into the bathroom for a quick shower.

Once she finished, Hermione wrapped her hair in a towel and walked back out, smiling at her dress. Walking over to her dresser, she opened her jewelry box and tried to look through her options. Finally, she selected a silver choker with small pale lavender flowers every inch or so. There was a matching bracelet, and silver dangly earrings completed her selection. She already had her shoes (white strappy heels, not too high, but heels all the same.)

Sliding the towel off her hair, Hermione cast a drying charm and put on a slip and her bracelet and necklace. Next, she ran into the bathroom and pulled most of her hair into a bun on the back of her head, leaving two strands to hang over her temples. She wouldn't curl them, they looked fine when they were wavy, they complemented her swishy dress. However, she did put on some of her emergency anti-frizz hair cream, just in case. Finally, she slid in her earrings and rushed out to her dress.

Grinning at the sound of the fabric sliding cleanly off its stand like a little girl, Hermione spun around with the dress for a while, admiring herself in the mirror before putting it on.

For what felt like the millionth time, she ran back into the bathroom to apply her makeup- natural looking pink gloss to her lips and mascara were the only particularly noticeable things.

Last step, shoes. Sliding them on, Hermione looked at herself in the floor length mirror. She looked quite pretty, if she did say so herself. Hearing a small pop, she turned. Flopsy was standing there, looking up at Hermione, wide eyes sparkling.

"Hello, Flopsy! Are they ready for me?"

"Yes, Miss Hermione. Master Lucius says for you to be meeting the masters in the front hallway."

"Thank you Flopsy!" Hermione said, beaming at the elf.

The little elf fidgeted for a second before squealing "You is looking beauty-full tonight, Miss Hermione!" and popping away.

Hermione grinned, and now that she was alone, decided to make an entrance.

Before she could possibly be seen from the landing, she stopped, taking a breath. Was she dressy enough? Would she look appealing to Lucius? Did she want to? She hadn't thought about any of this before…she just wanted to look nice.

And that's all I should want. Hermione declared to herself determinedly. She wanted to have fun, not aim to ensnare. She walked forwards, beginning to descend the stairs. Both Malfoys looked up at her. She smiled at the abrupt attention. Draco was grinning appreciatively, Lucius merely raised an eyebrow, but not in his usual cynical manner. No, this was the surprised eyebrow. How she had learned which degree of eyebrow raising meant which emotion, Hermione would never know.

Finally reaching them, her smile grew. "Ready?"

"As we'll ever be." Draco said cheerfully.

PAGE BREAK

Hermione sighed contentedly. This was by far the best of the Order Dances. They were in the Mister's manse, in the ballroom. The room itself was fantastic, tall windows were on one wall, the others holding mirrors and decorative objects. A few feet in front of the windows were long tables covered with food and drinks. Circular tables encircled the dance floor, and the room was put in the proper mood due to the slightly dimmed chandeliers.

She was currently sitting at a table with Lucius; Draco had gotten up to get something to drink and got sidetracked by Harry who had gotten him engaged in a conversation about departmental affairs. The dance had been in full swing for a few hours, and she was enjoying herself, despite many efforts to get her to dance. It was wonderful seeing everyone again, and she was having a lovely ongoing conversation with Lucius.

The current dance was going to end in a minute or two, and Lucius was looking at her through narrowed eyes.

"What?" Hermione said, a little warily.

"So why haven't you been dancing?" he asked carefully.

Oh no.

"I just don't like getting up in front of people and dancing." Hermione said discreetly, praying that her worst nightmare (or was it favorite dream?) wasn't about to become a reality.

"Why is that?"

"Because. I don't know. I know how to dance-" bad thing to admit! "I just don't like to."

"Come now, Hermione."

Noooooo!

"Come now what?" The final notes were heard, and people applauded like they had been at the end of every dance.

"Why don't you dance with me?"

Hermione felt as if she had gone stone cold, yet at the same time flushed. "Well I-"

"Dance with me! It is a waltz, you aren't going to be judged on your dancing."

"Lucius I-" Hermione looked up at him pitifully. He was already standing, hand held out to her. Hermione knew she would lose, but that didn't mean she couldn't put up a fight.

"Hurry, they are starting in a minute."

"Please don't make me-" Okay, a weak fight.

"Come on!" Lucius said, smile a borderline smirk.

Whimpering slightly, Hermione took his hand and stood. They joined the other couples on the dance floor.

Hermione tried valiantly to ignore the burning sensation his hand on her waist caused. She made the best effort to ignore their proximity. She dutifully tried to quell the stage fright rising in her throat. She restricted her mind to thoughts other than her hand in his and her other hand on his shoulder.

And the song began.

Hermione couldn't very well stand stiffly in his arms as they danced, so she tried to relax. She focused on her hand resting on his shoulder. This wasn't so bad. It was actually quite nice. He still smelled lovely. They swirled around the floor, her skirt swishing out behind her deliciously. After a few moments, Hermione oh so gingerly laid her head next to her hand on his shoulder. She felt his breath catch a little, but otherwise he didn't falter.

Hermione had never realized how solid he was. How real. It felt like they fitted together. Like he was meant to protect her. She felt fragile almost. She felt perfect.

And so they danced. Relaxed yet aware. Not of their surroundings, but of each other.

PAGE BREAK

Hermione and Lucius walked through the front door of the Malfoy manor, tired and just a little apprehensive. They had waved at Draco, who apparated to Gabrielle's as soon as they got home. Lucius smiled slightly at her. "Would you care for a brandy?"

Hermione laughed. "Why not?"

They walked in silence to the library. Once inside, Hermione paced the shelves, looking at titles vaguely lit by the fire in the fireplace, while Lucius poured the glasses. She walked back to him to retrieve her glass. He sat at his desk, but Hermione remained standing, sipping from the glass. "That was definitely the best Order function I have ever been to."

"It was rather nice." he conceded. Silence resumed.

After a few moments, Lucius spoke. "It was lovely, dancing with you. I'm glad you did. You are very good."

"Oh, no. Not nearly as good as you." Hermione smiled a bit at him. "You made it enjoyable anyway. If it was someone else I would have spontaneously combusted from fright."

Lucius chuckled. "You are most welcome. I can now tell everyone that I saved Hermione Granger from spontaneous combustion." Hermione laughed. "Hermione...I don't know...how forward this is." Hermione instantly felt very cold and wary. "But I must tell you...that after all this time...from my absence at Azkaban to now...I have grown to care for you greatly. I have no idea if you feel the same way, let us just say it was an educated guess based on our banter from the past few weeks." Hermione was silent as she set her glass down. Lucius stood. "I have no idea what your reaction will be." He walked around the desk. "Am I correct in my assumption?" By now he was a mere few feet away from her. Hermione was still trying to decide if this was a dream or reality.

"No words from you? Perhaps I can get a response this way..." before she knew it, his lips were on hers, her hands were in his hair, and she was caught up in a kiss.

AN- okay, i really hope you like it! and i am so sorry to leave it there, but i already have the beginning of the next chapter, so never fear! maybe it was cliche, maybe i spent too much time making her get ready, maybe my description of her dress was confusing (?) but i like it so bugger off. this has been how they get together for as long as i can remember. (well, since i have been writing this story, anyway, hehe) so review and tell me you love me!