The days leading up to the Yule Ball were hectic for Hermione. With the final details she and Nott had to worry about, she was also busy watching Malfoy, seeing what he does. The past week he returned to avoiding her, which was fine with her. The day before the ball Hermione was packing up her bag after class when he walked up to her. "Are you still going to the ball tomorrow?" He asked.

"Of course, I'm Head Girl." Hermione replied. Malfoy just nodded before walking away. Hermione looked at him in confusion before walking out of the classroom and heading towards the Common Room. "Malfoy just asked if I was still going to the ball." Hermione told Ginny as she sat down beside the red headed girl.

"Really? Do you know why?" Ginny asked, Hermione just shook her head. "Weird."

"Right? Ugh, I wish he would just make up his mind. He's been avoiding me all week."

"Aren't you happy he's avoiding you?" Ginny asked.

"Yes, but what's the point if he's just going to come and do this?"

"Well, we need to make sure you look absolutely perfect for the ball tomorrow. Let's go find Luna and have a girls night." Hermione rolled her eyes as she followed Ginny out of the Common Room.

"What's it like finding your soulmate?" Luna asked as they all laid on a bed in Hermione's dorm. Sadly because of the war Hermione now had the dorm to herself. While she did not always get along with Parvati and Lavender she did miss having them in the dorm with her. So it was nice when Luna and Ginny came for a 'Girls Night.'

"I think it's amazing." Ginny said. "But I've known Neville for awhile, I'm sure for people who have never met their soulmate till they met it must be weird."

"Do you think that's possible?" Hermione asked. "Do you think the potion puts you with random people or only sticks with people you know?"

"Well, how would it know if you know the person?" Ginny asked. "You read the packet front and back, you tell us." Hermione rolled her eyes and got the packet out of her trunk. "You still have it?" Ginny laughed.

"Of course, I was wondering if there was a way of canceling it once I found out that Malfoy was my soulmate." Hermione explained as she flipped through the pages. "Ok, it says the charm placed on the potions make it where your likes, dislikes, personal beliefs, and personality are matched to another person. The charm is what triggers the connection, and it can be anyone, you could be walking down the street and the tingling sensation will start."
"That's going to be fun." Luna said. "So do I just walk around till I find my soul mate?"

"No, remember there's a ball next year held by the Ministry to help people who haven't found their soulmate to find them." Ginny reminded her. "So if you still haven't found yours by then you will there."

"I guess that's better." Luna sighed. "I just wish I already found mine, it seems so nice." Hermione scoffed as she returned the packet to her trunk.

"If you already get along with yours, see how well mine is going."

"That's true," Luna admitted. "Then there's the question of once you find your soulmate do they like you for you or because the potion is making them like you?"

"Ugh," Ginny groaned. "Don't go making me question my relationship with Neville." She threw a pillow at Luna. "I want to stay happy thank you very much." Hermione laughed.

"Come on you guys, we should probably go to sleep, it is after one in the morning at this point." Luna and Ginny made noises of agreement and got into the beds before all three said their goodnights.

The following day Hermione sighed as a House elf worked on her hair. "I don't like this." She muttered to Ginny who was putting on her dress.

"Tika knows hair." The house elf said. "Tika will make mistress very pretty."
"Please don't call me mistress." Hermione groaned. "How did I agree to this?" She muttered.

"Because you want to look your best tonight and while I can do some hair magic, with mum not here Tika's magic is better." Ginny said. "I mean look." Hermione glanced at the mirror and sighed, sadly Ginny had a point. Her hair had more Sleekeazy's Hair Potion and Tika was curling it into a bun.

"Tika will come after to take down." Tike promised Hermione. "Mistress won't lift finger."

"Thank you Tika." Hermione said. "Are you sure -" But before she could continue the house elf disappeared.

"They know who you are, Hermione." Ginny reminded her. "You're lucky Tika came to help, most still avoid you like the plague."

"How do I look?" Luna entered the room and did a slight twirl. She wore a simple gold off the shoulder a - line dress.

"You remind me of Belle." Hermione said, chuckling.

"Who's Belle?" Luna asked.

"A cartoon princess, never mind." Hermione waved her hand and looked at Ginny who worse a simple dark green a - line dress with a square neckline and spaghetti straps. "You look gorgeous too Ginny."

"So do you, Hermione." Hermione looked down at her own dress. It was a velvet dark purple mermaid with a floral embroidered bodice and floral embroidery on the back.

"Are you sure it's not too much compared to you two?" Hermione asked.

"Of course not." Ginny told her. "The goal is to make Malfoy hurt, remember? That dress will kill him." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Well come on, we have a ball to get to." Hermione said and all three girls left the dorm.

Hermione stood beside Nott greeting the other Hogwarts students. "You look amazing." Nott told her, earning a blush in response.

"Thanks, so do you. Daphne's lucky." Theo laughed, he wore a simple but nice black suit.

"The advantages of your soulmate being your girlfriend, she picked our clothes out to match." He motioned to Daphne who was standing with Parkinson. Daphne wore a burgundy mermaid with a floral illusion neckline and Parkinson wore a royal blue mermaid with a laced sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps.

"They both look amazing." Hermione said. "But how are you matching?" She looked at him, noting the burgundy tie. "Never mind." Nott laughed.

"Are you ready for tonight?" Nott asked.

"No, I would rather be up in my room reading than here." Hermione muttered.

"Well, like I said, save me a dance, that should be everyone." He nodded to Hermione before making his way to Daphne. Hermione sighed as she walked to her friends and sat at the table.

"What was Malfoy's reaction when he saw you?" Ginny asked.

"His eyes widened and he did a double take." Hermione said. "I don't think he remembered how much effort I put in for the Yule Ball in fourth year."

"Oh he remembers." Neville said. "You were the talk among the boys the entire night. I'm sure you will be again tonight."

"Oh joy." Hermione muttered. "Just what I wanted, to be the talk amongst the boys." Luna chuckled.

"Come on Hermione," Ginny sighed. "At least try and have fun. Aren't you at least a little excited to be here?"

"No, because I'm worried Malfoy will ask me to dance." Hermione said.

"Granger," Malfoy said from behind her. "Will you come with me for a moment?" Hermione groaned as she got up and turned.

"Of course Malfoy." She said, only to be shocked when he led her out of the Great Hall instead of onto the dance floor.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked

"I figured we needed to talk and you would prefer to do it out here where we would be somewhat alone instead of in the Great Hall where anyone could listen."

"You're not wrong about that." Hermione said, crossing her arms.

"I owe you an apology," Malfoy started. "My friends said I was a prat by saying you were mine to claim without explaining the…pureblood meaning behind it. Parkinson reminded me you might not understand our customs because you are a muggleborn and the only purebloods you know are…well…the Weasleys."

"I know Neville and Luna." Hermione defended her friends.

"Yes, but they are not part of the same circle my family is. They do not adhere to the same customs. You see, amongst my circle, a 'claimed woman' is a protected woman. Have any of the Slytherins been rude to you since we discovered we were mates?" Hermione thought about it, for she had learned to ignore the slurs that Slytherins threw at her almost everyday, but after a few minutes she determined he was right. The slurs stopped a few weeks ago.

"You are connected, whether you like it or not, to the Malfoy name now. So regardless of how you feel you, at least by Pureblood customs, are a 'claimed woman'."

"That's stupid." Hermione exclaimed. "It should not matter if I was your 'claimed woman' or not .You shouldn't treat people differently just because they aren't pureblood."

"That might be so, but like I explained in Hogsmeade," Malfoy sighed. "We are taught and raised from a young age that muggleborns are beneath us. Not everyone had to watch you get tortured and see the red blood pour out of your arm to see that you have the same blood as me."

"Wait what?" Hermione asked, Malfoy paled.

"Nothing, now do you accept my apology and come dance with me?"
"No, what did you mean?" Hermione growled.
"I meant," Malfoy sighed. "That on that day I realized my parents were wrong. I was always taught you had 'dirty blood' because you were a muggleborn. But on that day, as I watched you fend off my aunt and the red seep out of your arm just like mine did when I would get scratched I knew they were wrong. You did not have 'dirty blood' and you deserved your talents and grades because you deserve the magic, not because you stole or cheated. And that was a relief to find out." Malfoy paused to take a deep breath as Hermione raised an eyebrow. "I knew then that I could like you like I wanted to, like I had since seeing you at the Yule Ball in fourth year." At Hermione's dumbfounded look he continued. "That night at the ball you looked amazing, almost as amazing as you do tonight, and I have never seen you so happy and free as you were while enjoying yourself. I started liking you and wanting you after that night, but because of how I was raised I refused to let myself. I told myself I was being ridiculous and I knew my father would disown me if he had any idea of my feelings so I kept them hidden. But after seeing you were not different from me I decided I would try and embrace my feelings. Then we had to take the potion. And I figured it would not matter anymore, with the potion I would find my soulmate and my feelings would stop."

"Then you found out I was your soulmate." Hermione whispered.
"You seemed annoyed," Malfoy sighed. "I do not blame you, with how I have treated you and the stuff you went through in my house. But I was overjoyed, and so thrilled. That is why I kissed you that day, because I finally had a reason to without seeming creepy." As he talked he reached his hand out and took hers. "I like you Hermione, I have for years. That is why I asked you out on that date, because I finally could." Hermione just closed her eyes as the warm feeling engulfed her, as it does every time they touch. "I like you." Malfoy said as he moved closer to her and leaned his head down, waiting for her move.