HEEEY GUYS! I haven't updated this story in a looong time, so yeah, I started to miss it :)
It was the day before the ball. Camilla Zabini and Narcissa Malfoy we're head deep in last-minute changes. Draco, Blaise and Hermione were gone for her first photo shoot. She was excited and nervous at the same time.
"Draco, I'm freaked!" Hermione laughed as she was getting ready for the shoot.
"Don't be, Mia… You're beautiful!" Draco smiled
"Ok, guys I already know you both aren't dating in real life so just cut the act, when you both are with m, alright?" Blaise said irritably
Draco and Hermione didn't look at each other, as they realized the truth.
I knew we weren't dating for real. Great, just what I needed, feelings for Malfoy, I shouldn't have listened to his twisted plan. He probably doesn't even like me, Hermione thought to herself
Draco walked away from Hermione, as she got up to go get her shots done. She turned to look at him, but he didn't even bother looking at her.
Fine, be that way, spoiled rich brat! Hermione was irritated, but didn't say anything out loud.
After all the shots had been taken, she had the chance to take a look at them. They we're perfect.
"Wow! Those are great!" Draco said, smiling at Blaise but didn't bother looking at Hermione.
"Yeah, I know! Thanks Hermione!" Blaise said
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It was the day of the ball and Hermione was jumpy. She never had a ball that was just for her. She knew Ron and Angelique were going to be invited; she figured this is what was bothering her. I'm just going to have to be mature about it. Ron left me and I should be the bigger person and just let it go… Hermione sighed, falling flat on her bed. She closed her eyes and though about everything she'd been through so far. She realized she wanted to be friends with Ronald. She was over the fact that they dated, but she missed her best friend and she wanted him to know she still cared for him. I guess I can talk to him today, maybe when he's not with Angelique. Hermione figured Draco didn't like her and everything he was doing was probably for the press, since the press found them everywhere.
Two hours remained, before the guests of the party began to arrive. Hermione decided it was time to get dressed. The shower that was in her room stopped working, for some strange reason. She went to the washroom, which was coincidently near Blaise's room and Draco's room (he came to Zabini Manor so often he had a room ) She quickly got herself cleaned and ran out of the washroom so no one would catch her clothed in nothing but a towel, that hardly reached below her knees. Her body and hair were all wet. She was so concerned with getting to her room before anyone saw her; she bumped into the one person she wanted to avoid the most. Malfoy.
"Whoa! Hermione watch where you're going!" Draco laughed
"Yeah, whatever!" Hermione said before running off into her room
Draco watched her rush by him. She seemed like she was avoiding him. What's her problem? Draco had started to like her but ever since Blaise made that comment she had been acting different. I guess she doesn't like me in that way, and she's still using me for revenge… I mean Weasel is going to be here today… Let's see what happens. Draco walked to his room and started to get ready. He put on his new dapper Armani suit and shoes, and joined his mother and father downstairs in the ballroom.
That was the most awkward thing ever! Hermione said, mentally slapping herself. She quickly forgot the situation and got dressed in her new dress. Hermione looked gorgeous in her red, well-fitted gown which was covered all over in sequins. There was an asymmetrical strap with crystals, bringing a chiffon drape over her shoulder, and down her back. She looked at herself in the mirror and felt beautiful. Her hair was curled in loose curls and moved to one side. She put on silver chandelier earrings with clear stones adorned on them. Her heels were silver and her makeup had a classic touch to it. She stood in the corner of her room staring at herself in the mirror, until someone knocked on the door.
"Hermione dear, it's time for you to come down stairs!" Camilla Zabini spoke
"Coming mum!" Hermione said. She dusted herself off, waited for her mum to go downstairs, and then decided it was time to go.
She walked out of her room and down the stairs, gracefully. She noticed everyone turning to look at her. She saw Draco talking to Pansy Parkinson, and felt a tinge of envy in her chest, but seconds later he turned around and was bit by shock. He stared at Hermione, and she stared back.
She walked to the last step fortunately without falling. She was joined by Blaise and her parents.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this ball is in honour of Hermione Camilla Elizabeth Zabini, we welcome her back home," Blaise begun to speak to the crowd
The crowd applauded after being asked to dance by several people, and watching Draco dance with Pansy and Astoria constantly it was time for the last dance of the evening, but before that it was the cake cutting. After the cake was cut, the guests were able to mingle with each other, that's when Hermione decided to go speak to Harry and Ginny properly.
"Hi Guys!" Hermione said hugging her friends
"Hey, Hermione! How are you?" Harry asked
"Hermione, you look beautiful!" Ginny cooed
"I'm well, how are you, both having fun? Oh and you both look stunning, I can't wait to see you both on your wedding day!" Hermione smiled
Seamus Finnegan came up to Harry, Ginny and Hermione. After they caught up on the basic news about each other, Seamus begun to talk about the ministry with Harry, and that was when Ginny decided to speak to Hermione.
"Hermione, how are you and Malfoy?" Ginny whispered so nobody could hear
"We're fake-dating…" Hermione started slowly, waiting for Ginny's reaction
"What? Don't tell me it's for Ron!" Ginny said, trying to control her tone
"No, well it started out as revenge, but then… I begun to like him and I thought he liked me back but things got really weird… I mean he hasn't even spoken to me this entire evening, though maybe it has something to do with how I was avoiding him this afternoon… but forget about that and look at the way he's glued to Parkinson and Greengrass!" Hermione whispered
"Mione… I'm sorry!" Ginny said hugging her best friend, "Should I talk to him…?"
"No… but listen I was thinking of talking to Ron… Do you think I should…? I want things to be like they were before we were dating" Hermione started
"Are you going to do this to get a fuel out of Malfoy, now?" Ginny arched her eyebrow
"No, I miss being his friend… Harry, Ron and I were the golden trio… we aren't anymore! I want to go back to being friends!" Hermione smiled awkwardly
"Awweh, do you want me to call him here, I wouldn't mind?" Ginny asked,
"That would be nice…" Hermione smiled shyly
Later on, Ron walked over to Hermione as she spoke to Harry and George.
"Hermione, can I talk to you?" he said tapping her on the shoulder
"Yeah…" They walked away to the far end of the room, where they would be covered by the crowd, but even then some people could see them. "Did Gin, tell you I wanted to talk to you?" Hermione asked quietly
"Yes, look I'm really sorry…" He begun
"No, Ron… I'm sorry, for what I did the other day… and I was just jealous… but I've gotten over it and I want to go back to being friends… Can you do that?" Hermione said
"I would love that!" Ron smiled happily, "Honestly, I thought you'd never ask!"
Ron embraced Hermione. She had to admit she missed it, his sweet cologne and his bear hugs, but she missed them in a different way, a friendly way. Ron and Hermione talked for a bit longer until the last dance was announced and Angelique came to claim Ron back.
Everyone grabbed their partners. Hermione could see Harry holding on to a beautiful Ginny, Ron dancing with Angelique. Astoria and Pansy were both rushing towards Draco, but before he saw them he caught Hermione's eye. He walked forward to her and extended his hand out to her. She smiled and took his hand but didn't look at him.
"You look beautiful, Mia," Draco whispered into her ear
"Thanks…" Hermione said quietly
"What's wrong…?" Draco asked in a soft voice
"I don't know! Why aren't you dancing with Greengrass or Parkinson?" Hermione said sarcastically
"What is your problem? They're just my friends,"
"Yeah, right… like I don't know what Astoria is thinking –" Hermione begun
"What's it to you? I saw you talking to Weasley," Draco retorted
"Whatever!" Hermione rolled her eyes and tried to walk away, but Draco had a firm grip on her shoulder and hips, not enough to hurt but enough to irritate her.
"Don't walk away, I'm talking to you! What is your problem, you've been like this since yesterday?"
"Why are you asking me? You started it!" Hermione spoke quietly, yet angrily
"I don't even know what the hell you're talking about! You're the one who was avoiding me!"
"No, you started it… The day Blaise said that stuff about us not dating in real life," Hermione finished before she even realized what she said,
"But –"
"When you kissed me and hugged me or held my hand, I just thought something was happening and I was an idiot…" Hermione started before she was interrupted
"But I was doing it for the press…" as soon as Draco said that he remembered his first kiss with Hermione, the one when they were inside, where no one from the media could see them. "Hermione, I can explain –"
Draco loosened his grip on Hermione. She looked him in the eyes, and walked away. He couldn't believe what just happened. The girl he had fallen for had just admitted she had feelings for him too, and he couldn't say anything. He wasn't able to. Draco turned around his eyes followed Hermione leaving the ballroom. He was left standing by himself. Blaise and Ginny both looked in his direction, wondering what just happened.
MY BRACES ARE COMING OFF, I AM STOKED! and well enjoy the chapter guys :)