A/N:Okay, I have to say, this chapter was interesting for me to write. Tell me your honest feedback. I needed to do something that would conflict the characters, it was becoming too easy. So let me know.Chapter Six is coming along. It's the longest chapter, and I haven't even finished writing it yet, but it's already nearly twenty written pages, which means its already twice as long as this one, and I've still got alot to write. I think I might have the actual dance appear in the seventh chapter, because six is so long at the moment. But for now, enjoy.

Chapter ive

Drenched

By the following Wednesday, nearly all house votes had been cast. While Hermione's classmates cheered her on, she desperately wished she wouldn't be chosen. Sitting in the common room, she took her eyes away from her book and to the dimming fire. They were sore from reading in the dim light, and almost useless now that the fire was so low. Continuing her tour about the empty room, she landed her eyes on the ballot box on the table and sighed deeply. She still hadn't cast her vote. She knew a few first years were voting for Harry, he was, after all, 'the chosen one' or whatever his new nickname was. She almost considered voting for Lavender, but then her mind came back, Lavender. Lavender Brown. Think about that Hermione…honestly! Honestly she thought. Lavender wouldn't be as good as she would be, even though she didn't think she wanted this huge responsibility to make everything just so. Not in her last, and most important year of schooling. But against her better wishes, she scribbled down her own name on a slip of parchment and dropped it in the box. It locked itself immediately. Indeed, she had been the only one who hadn't voted, until now. What she was worried about was the results. She knew that winning would mean different things, being more known, having the weight and opinions of her whole house on her shoulders, and possibly not even wanting to work with the other house representatives. She groaned loudly and threw her head back onto the couch closing her eyes. Soon, a voice interrupted her dreadful thoughts.

"You okay Hermione?"
She didn't bother looking to see who it was, "No!"

The person sat down next to her and she glanced over quickly when she felt the pressure on the opposite side of the couch; it was only Ron.

"You're sitting in the dark, with a book. Should I leave you two alone?" Ron tried to joke, but Hermione wasn't having it and sat upright once again, "That's not funny Ron," she groaned.

"Okay, okay, fine. What's bothering you?"

"It's just…I really don't want to be picked for this representation thing. It's just that, I don't have the time, I wouldn't be any good at it, and I don't mingle much with other houses. I'm all wrong for it."

"That's it? That's why you're sitting alone in the dark, completely depressed?"

"Ron! This is serious." Hermione said standing and crossing to the other side of the table. "What if I sealed my own fate by putting in that last vote? What if that one vote was the difference between me being picked or not?"

"All right, hold on. Look, you're wrong." Hermione glared at Ron, but let him continue on this rant, "You're probably one of the most qualified for the job. You k now all these advanced charms, and you have the best organization skills I know-"

"But that doesn't mean I want to do this!"

Ron was silenced. Hermione crossed back over and sat next to him again, facing him.

"Ron…" she began cautiously, "Has Harry told you anything…about me, lately?'

Ron eyed her, "Like what?"

"Oh, nothing." She said tucking a piece of hair casually behind her here. "Forget I say anything. 'Night.

She hurried away and up the stairs, leaving a confused Ron on the couch, he was left in the dark.

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Hermione hardly slept on Friday night. She tossed and turned, and couldn't quite put her finger on what made her so nervous about the votes. Other than the fact that she didn't want to do the job. Something else was nagging, and it kept nagging through Saturday morning. After breakfast their professor, and of course, appointed headmistress addressed the school.

"By now, all your house votes have been cast. These four students will conduct meetings at their own discretion, and plan these dances with only our approval. Should you want to suggest something to the committee, you may approach your house representative. Now, can I have the results? Ah, yes, thank you Hagrid."

The hall silenced completely, awaiting the first results, Mcgonnagal held them off again.

"If I call your name, please report to my office after breakfast. From Gryffindor, ahh, hardly a surprise, Miss Hermione Granger!"

A cheer erupted from the table and Hermione hid her face, oh fabulous. She thought grimly. She smiled weakly at her housemates, who cheered her on, all except for Lavender, who was positively gob smacked.

"From Hufflepuff, Miss Janice Milton!"

The Hufflepuff table cheered, and Hermione sough the girl out. She was a blushing girl with a dark blond colour to her hair. Hermione shrugged to herself, having only seen her a few times.

"Ravenclaw, Adele Lock!"

Another name Hermione had never known. But apparently she was close with Janice. Immediately the two girls rushed to hug each other from across the way. Adele was average height, just north of six feet, and had raven coloured hair that seemed perfectly soft and wavy. The two best friends could not look more different.

"And now from Slytherin…"

Hermione winced. She now knew why she was so nervous this morning. She knew what was coming. Who was possibly the most popular in the seventh year Slytherin dorms?

"Draco Malfoy!"

Saw that coming. She glanced over carefully as his housemates praised him.

"Now remember to see me after breakfast. That is all."

Never once since their fourth year had Hermione seen such an enthusiastic group at Hogwarts. Food was forgotten on half-empty places, and movement was in a wave from table to table. Bundles of people grouped around at sections of house tables to talk to their winners. Hermione was able to slip from the grasp of her friends just as three other students exited the great hall. The corridors were significantly quieter than the great hall, but echoing footsteps could be heard not too far away.

As she made her way down the stone hallways, Hermione caught sight of the other three students waiting just outside the office. Daring not to make eye contact, she pretended to be simply fascinated by the tapestry hanging nearby. She thought she could hear someone begin to speak, but they were cut off as Mcgonnagal came clicking down the hall "Good, you're all here. Come along."

She mumbled something under her breath, and the old statue leapt aside and the students stepped into the rotating stairs. The journey to the office took no more than a few seconds, but the burning silence created the atmosphere of it taking hours.

In the spacious office, four different coloured chairs were seated in front of the largest desk. The students took the cue and seated in the appropriate seats. From left to right; Adele, Draco, Janice, and Hermione. Professor Mcgonnagal began to speak.

"Although these positions are a privilege, they are not to be taken without care. Your responsibilities will be in planning, execution, and cleaning. The only say you'll receive from me is when I approve your plans the week before. You'll plan themes, if you so choose to have them, dates, times, food and drinks, decorations, supply music. And you'll also have to be on the job to prevent anything out of hand occurring. These dances are tasteful, that is all that I must insist. Do you understand so far?"

The four students murmured and nodded.

"Good." She stood and crossed in front of the desk, "You are seventh year students, and some of the best," she eyed Hermione, who blushed slightly, "I trust you'll do well. You'll also be cleaning up the night of the dances. Because of recent events, I believe you students deserve some time off. I do hope you don't take advantage of the power and trust I'm giving you. Where and when you meet is up to you entirely. SO you may decide yourselves now. I must go and prepare for the trip. We leave in an hour, so don't waste time."

She exited swiftly. There one minute, gone the next.

Hermione exhaled when she realized she was holding her breath the entire time.

"Bloody woman never shuts up." Draco said after a long period of silence. "So, I thought we could do this meeting Sunday, it's near, and the school schedule's free." He stood and turned to lean on the desk.

"Hold on," Janice interrupted, "Who put you in charge?"

Adele, obviously smitten, gazed up adoringly at Draco, "Oh Jan, let it go will you?"

Everything looked to Hermione, (save for Adele) expecting her to interject. Startled, she stumbled out a few words, "Oh-Sunday is fine, I suppose."

Draco nodded, "Good. How about the library? I know that's your forte, Granger. And on a Sunday, it'll be private."

"Brilliant idea," Adele said dreamily.

Hermione held back a disgusted cough and stood immediately, the rest followed, "So it's settled. Tomorrow after dinner, in the library." She led the way of the office and stood at the bottom of the stairs. Janice tugged on Adele's sleeve as she attempted to say goodbye to Draco. Hermione stifled a laugh as the two girls started down the hall. Draco and Hermione walked on opposite sides of the corridor for a long while, before they separated, by instinct, Hermione to the tower, and Draco to the dungeons.

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It was a sunny day, early November. Hermione was aching to get to Hogsmede for a break. Ginny had abandoned her for some other sixth year students, so Ron was still playing mediator between her and Harry. The wind blew up around the leaves around them, and Hermione could almost taste the snow that would fall within the next few weeks.

"Ron, I'm gonna duck into Honeydukes, you want anything?" Harry said, crossing over to the door.

"Nah, I need to buy Christmas presents, better start saving now."

Harry nodded, "I'll meet you later then."

Hermione and Ron walked in silence. Neither felt up to talking. Just as they were about to turn a corner, something in a nearby alley caught her eye.

"Um, Ron you go on ahead, I think I spotted Ginny. I'm going to see her, I'll be back later." Hermione told him in a distracted rush.

She started to walk away and glanced back to make sure Ron was out of sight. She hadn't send Ginny at all. What she did see was a figure leaning, and a flash of white as they headed down the alley. Her attention was significantly turned and she almost tripped over a crowd of people as she made her way though the street to the opposite side. The alley was quite narrow, but rather clean, for an alley. It didn't take her long to seek who she was looking for.

"Do you sulk around in deserted alleyways often?" she called out three or four feet in front of her. Draco (Hermione could tell for sure now) didn't stop walking, but smirked to himself, "One of my character flaws, I'm afraid."

Hermione jogged to catch up with him.

"What're you doing here anyway?" he asked her, keeping his brisk pace.

"Thought you could use the company."

"Hm."

"Okay, Ron and Harry were getting on my nerves."

"Ah-ha! We get to the root of her reasoning."

Hermione laughed, "It's just that the silence is so stressful. Harry and I haven't made up…"

Draco didn't say anything. He knew she wouldn't he happy. He would say something along the lines of, what an ass. You know, Potty's no good for anyone anyways, might as well have gotten mauled by that bloody hippogriff instead of me…"

Hermione interrupted his thoughts with a small laugh, "you can say it, I know you're thinking something."

"I was just thinking that, well wondering actually, remember a few weeks ago you said we both had issues to work out?"

Hermione nodded, "Sure."

"Well, I know my fathers death was a problem for me, and I'm over it. But I couldn't help wondering what's been bothering you."

"You honestly want to know?"

"Honestly."

Hermione took a silent deep breath, but didn't speak as they kept walking. The only person she told about her parents was Ginny. She couldn't talk to Harry, and didn't particularly want to talk to Ron. She had definitely thought of telling Draco. And almost did one day in the library. They had been getting along fine, and she was over emotional, and he was being particularly charming, if you could consider him that, ever. But for whatever reason, she didn't. At the end of last year, she closed off her heart. She had thought this year would be for her and Ron to get closer, like so many people assumed. But it just wasn't happening. Five minutes passed before somebody finally opened their mouth; it was Draco.

"You're not going to tell me are you?"

Hermione thought fast, "It's you." She lied.

"Bloody hell, what'd I do now?"

Both stopped dead in the alley and faced each other. Hermione cringed, she didn't think through this part of the lie.

"Well-I-I mean, you-"

"Now she has nothing to say! I'm awestruck Granger, really."

Hermione inhaled, "Draco, hold on…" she tried to be clam, but for whatever reason, he was furious.

"Draco is it? Why not resort back to Malfoy, or 'you stupid ferret'?"

"Will you shut up and let me talk!?" she screamed abruptly.

"No!" but his mind said, 'sure' and he silenced.

"Since last year you've been keeping me away from finding someone. I've been too damn busy with you that I haven't stopped to see if anyone was around me! I know I shouldn't point blame, but when you stopped talking to me last year, I was done-"

"So it's my fault that you're too blind and proud to see that red-headed prat and give him a chance?! I must be one big road block if you couldn't notice that!"

"Look at you! Insulting him. You must be awfully jealous to-"

"Me? Jealous? And I thought you were clever."

"Just stop! Stop cutting me off, stop pretending you're so superior, and stop acting like you're smarter than everyone, you're not!"

"And you are?"

"What does it take to get you to shut your mouth and listen?"

He didn't have time to answer, and he didn't realize what he was doing until it was too late, until he was so wrapped up in his emotions that he did something he would have never thought of. He kissed Hermione. He grabbed her and kissed her hard, with malice in him, for as long as he could until she had the chance to push him away roughly.

"Who's blind now?" was what she whispered before walking away and breaking into an angry sprint down the alley.

Draco stood for a moment, feet planted, still in shock from what he had done. And he didn't know why he did. He hadn't even really enjoyed it, he felt guilty now. But not in a pitiful way, just confused. He spoke quietly to know one, "Both of us."

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A/N: So, review. I'm nervous about this chapter. Also, it gets better, I know I keep saying that, but the writing gets better. Writing this story has taught me alot so far, and I'm not even close to being finished.