The next day, Hermione woke up with a glitch. Draco was just there, enjoying his sleep, with a smile on his face. She carefully got her hand out of his grip and quickly took a glimpse of her watch.
"Half past eight, thank God, I could still get my things." She told herself, thinking how to get her things from the Gryffindor Tower.
She ran out of the Hospital Wing in lighting speed, passing numerous students going to their classes, she dodged all of them, except for their bags. She summoned her things from the top of the first staircase; her book bag came zooming out of the tower, almost hitting poor Neville's head by inches and into her arms. She fixed her hair a bit, which was a success, it was a wonder that her hair wasn't as messed up as usual. She hurriedly went to the Transfiguration room. Someone was expecting her, the whole class was expecting her.
"Nice of you to join us Miss Granger." The interrupted professor said.
"I apologize professor, I-"
"-no time for apologies Miss Granger, now sit." McGonagall said.
Hermione sat down, feeling completely humiliated. It was obvious that she had interrupted an important discussion. She went silent with her head down, she couldn't afford to miss a second of an important discussion.
"As I've said, we will be hosting yet another Yule Ball in Hogwarts." McGonagall said.
The Gryffindor boys yawned, all except for Harry who gave a smile while looking at Ginny. Hermione was confused, another Yule Ball? It was pure coincidence, she was just thinking of another Yule Ball the other day. She looked at Professor McGonagall, who was still upset for her tardiness.
"Another Yule Ball? Professor, but there isn't going to be a Triwizard Tournament for a hundred years!" Hermione complained.
"Miss Granger, is there a problem for having a Ball for, as you say, for fun?" replied McGonagall, which made Hermione sit down again with humiliation.
The whole period was devoted for preparing for the Ball. The sixth and seventh years watched as the lower levels danced around. The professor was getting used to stubborn boys who won't dance, she's been seeing it all her life. Hermione was sitting there, continuing her silence when she suddenly overheard Pavarti and Lavender talk.
"Can you believe it? Another Yule Ball?" Pavarti asked Lavender, checking for any one who was eavesdropping. Surprisingly (well, not really) they didn't notice Hermione carefully listening to their conversation.
"We're so lucky!" Lavender replied.
Hermione sighed with disgust, she couldn't resist hearing their tacky conversations, their voices were quite loud. She watched the fourth years spin and spin, professor McGonagall's voice booming through the room. Just then, Hermione heard Pavarti and Lavender talk once more.
"I wonder who's going to take me to the Ball…" Pavarti wondered as she dozed off, day dreaming about the Ball.
Hermione wasn't interested about their conversation anymore, dates and boys were out of her agenda, she didn't dare listen. Hermione was always seen with her best friends Ron and Harry, yet, her feelings for them never changed. Dates and drooling over boys were completely pointless to her; she stuck to that statement ever since Viktor and her lost contact. She sighed and began to read the rest of her Transfiguration text book.
The period ended with a lot of Gryffindors asking each other out. Hermione silently got her things and went out of the room as quickly as possible. Harry went with Ginny, Lavender with Ron (which wasn't really in favor of Ron since Lavender forced him to go with him). Hermione was once again, alone.
The next day the Hogwarts students went on their visit to Hogsmeade. Many people went to Gladrags Wizard wear to order their dresses and dress robes, there was a very, very long line. The others went to the Owl Post office to get theirs from their parents. Hermione isolated herself from them and went straight down the High Road. The air was chilly causing her to tighten the scarf around her neck. The snow fell slowly down to the earth, until she bumped someone.
She looked up and there stood a tall young man, his hair was light brown and a bit messed up, he smiled at her. He was absolutely gorgeous.
"Ced-Cedric? Is that you?" she asked
"Hermione!" Cedric exclaimed. "It's been years!"
It has been indeed, years, three to be exact. Cedric didn't change except the fact that he was better looking than ever. They talked about loads of things. Then they finally talked about the upcoming Yule Ball. Hermione suddenly felt odd, she knew what he was going to ask next.
"So, who are you going with Hermione?" he asked while sipping some of his Butterbeer.
"Oh, no one's asked me yet, and there's 100% no chance that anybody would take me to the Ball." She said.
"Well, I umm-" Cedric said, trying to get himself together. "Do you want to go to the Ball with me?" he asked.
Hermione looked into his eyes, it looked innocent and kind, which he most certainly was. She didn't really know what to do, that was a first for her.
"It's alright with me if you don't want to, it's fine." he said, looking down at her.
"I'd be happy to go with you Cedric." She replied, she smiled. "It's the last year, this must be the right decision." She thought to herself.
Just as she said those words a disappointed Draco Malfoy came. He was also going to ask the young Miss granger to the Yule Ball, but time had turned against him once again. Hermione noticed that Draco was behind them. Cedric turned around and looked at the blonde.
"Oh, hey Draco!" Hermione enthusiastically said.
"Oh, ummm, hey there Hermione, didn't notice you there." He lied. "Who's your friend?"
"This is Cedric Diggory, he's a friend of mine, he just asked me to the ball!" she said happily.
Draco said nothing, he just smiled, happy that she finally got a date, but he still felt disappointed. He shook Cedric's hand and told them to have fun during the Ball. He knew he couldn't tell her what he really felt, it would just ruin everything. He soon made his way back to the castle.
"At least she's happy." He told himself, as he passed the Viaduct.
Then the day everyone was looking forward to (except for Ron though) came, everyone was filled with joy. Hermione was happy too, she took another look at her dress. It wasn't too fancy, just a light, periwinkle dress made out of fine cotton. She smiled, feeling proud of herself.
The day ended as nightfall fell upon the English Channel. Students emerged from their House Common rooms fully prepared, they did this before, and they're willing to do it again. When Cedric came to the Entrance Hall, many people looked at him. Not just because he was an old friend whom they haven't seen for years, it was also because he looked more striking then the other boys who were there. All the girls looked at him with glee, he smiled, and they all melted inside. Then all of their eyes went to the other side of the Hall. There came a girl, her silky brown hair was tied up into a loose bun, her dress flowing from one side to anther as she made her way down the stairs. Cedric held out his arm and she took it.
"You look fantastic." He said to her as they made their way into the Great Hall. He remembered his last Yule Ball, but instead he was with Cho. He snapped out of his recalling as Hermione spoke.
"Thank you Cedric, you look rather well yourself." She said. She placed one arm on his broad shoulder and the other on his. They waltz around as they did before with their other dates.
The night went on as the Weird Sisters made their appearance. The students jumped up and down and twirled around, laughing and shouting and singing along to the music, Hermione and Cedric smiled at each other.
They sat down laughing again. Hermione saw Ron staring into space as Lavender went on and on about what she did in the summer holidays. Obviously, no one had interest in listening to her. Ron left her there, she didn't even noticed she was gone.
'Hey there Hermione." Ron said as he passed her.
"Hey." She said back at him.
Cedric came with a bottle of Butterbeer and a glass of Firewhisky. He gave the bottle to Hermione and started drinking his Firewhisky.
'Hey! I'm not a kid anymore, give me that!" Hermione said, getting Cedric's Firewhisky. Cedric chuckled and got her Buterbeer instead. Hermione drank the Firewhisky all in one chug.
"Slow down Hermione! The Wizarding World isn't going to run out of Firewhisky!" Cedric laughed. Hermione laughed with him, her throat was soar, like it was burned (well, it's Firewhisky isn't it?). She shook her head, and placed her hand on her forehead.
"Cedric, could I go out for some air, alone? I hope you won't mind." She asked shyly.
Cedric, knowing that Hermione was having a headache said yes. Cedric was just going to wait for her until she came back. Hermione went down to the Viaduct, her favorite leisure place. She clutched her head, hoping the sight of a beautiful night sky would make her pain go away. Her pain did go away a few minutes later. She sighed with relief. She looked to the right and saw Draco looking up to the stars, he seemed calm yet she felt that he was gloomy.
"Why aren't you in the Ball Draco?" she asked him. He turned to her and smiled.
'I'd like to ask you the same thing Hermione." He said.
"I just got a headache from drinking Firewhisky too quickly." She told him. "How stupid of me!" she thought.
Both of them laughed.
"Wait, Draco, you haven't answered my question yet. Why aren't you in the Ball?" she asked again.
"Well, I don't know really, I just like coming here. The moons bright tonight." He said as he pointed to the moon, it was bright and round and truly magnificent. Hermione looked at it and smiled. Draco didn't want her to know the truth, she didn't really had to know the truth.
"Well, you seem gloomy tonight, I don't know if I could ask why but all I'm going to say is, whatever happened, I hope you'll come over it." She said as she smiled at him.
"Thank you Hermione." Draco said.
"Excuse me, I have to go back to the Ball, Cedric's still waiting for me, goodbye and goodnight Professor." She said as she left the teacher.
"Same to you Miss Granger." He replied.
Hermione and Cedric met up again and went to the dance floor, partying the night away. As for Draco, he stayed in the Viaduct, waiting for something to happen.
A/N: Hey guys. I really do apologize for not updating fast! It's that I'm graduating and stuff, so there's a lot to do and I mean A LOT. Anyways, I got a few ideas for Chapter 7 so please bear with me! Review! And if you're going to put this into you Favorite stories list (if ever that happens!) please review :)