CHAPTER 24

"We should hold a ball," said Ginny.

Hermione looked up slowly from the winter roster. It wouldn't be way off mark to say that she had kind of expected this – dreaded it, more like. The thought had crossed her mind many times since she'd won the badge, and now her worst fears were beginning to take form.

"I'm afraid that's not the best idea, Ginny."

Balls and parties were bad news and definitely not something she wanted to try out again. She ended up making a fool out of herself repeatedly in the kinds of social settings that people of her age typically enjoyed. The Yule Ball, Ron's Quidditch victory party and the train wreck that had been Slughorn's Christmas get together last year. Organizing the entire thing wasn't something that she was worried about – it was the prospect of living through the kind of social crisis that went around at such an event which gave her the jitters.

"Why not?" Ginny raised her eyebrows challengingly, having instinctively realized what Hermione was thinking. The girl was way too sharp for her own good.

She glanced around at the twenty-three prefects assembled in front her. People who she could've sworn looked bored out of their minds a few seconds ago, were now sitting straighter in their seats and giving her their full attention. Even Ariana was smiling slightly. She privately wondered what effect it would have if she randomly dropped the word "Voldemort" in that precise moment.

"Well, let's hear what the Head Boy has to say," she said, still addressing the Prefects.

There was a moment of silence wherein she half anticipated he was going to throw a huge tantrum over that look-at-me-when-I'm-talking-to-you thing again. As usual, she was hyper-aware of his presence next to her – whenever he took those long sighs signaling his utter disinterest in the prefects' affairs, she oddly stopped breathing. Thankfully, he spoke without any further prodding.

"We're not the proper authority to have any say in this, actually. I think its best that discuss it with the Headmaster when we do the monthly report."

"And when is that supposed to be?" Ginny said, apparently still not convinced.

"When we bloody well feel like it, Weasley."

For once, she wholeheartedly agreed with him.

"Did he just say that?" Ginny pointed her thumb sideways at Malfoy and looked at her. "Don't allow a tyrant like that to back you up, Hermione. And you know we can still veto you out whenever we want, Malfoy."

"He's not being – " she began in the same second that Malfoy said, "Go ahead and try – "

"Now hold it, lovebirds," came Blaise's voice, "I do agree with Weasley. We're all beginning to feel a little blue around here and some amusement will do the kids a whole lot of good. I mean, come on, throw them a bone."

There were affirmative murmurs in the room.

She finally glanced sideways at her partner to see his reaction, but he was busy staring at Zabini through narrowed eyes.

"We'll let the Headmaster know of your idea. We're to meet him in the evening." She finally informed the lot.

Malfoy gave her an exasperated look, apparently wondering why she'd felt compelled to drop that in. It was the truth, anyway, so she shrugged back. He shook his head and faced forward again.

"So, any questions?"

Almost instantly she wished she could take her words back.

"When are we holding it?"

"Formal or semi-formal?"

"Let's do a Masquerade!"

"The Weird Sisters are on tour – "

" – and the Snidgets are always booked at this time of the year!"

"Are we supposed to bring dates?"

"Is there going to be an age limit?"

"Enough!"

The room instantly quieted at the Head Boy's sharp reprimand. Hermione lowered her head and rubbed her forehead.

"You heard what she said. Let us talk to Professor Snape and we'll get back to you," he stated in a firm voice, "We're done here. You can clear out."

There was a collective noise of seats screeching against the floor as the prefects hurriedly filed out of the Head's office. Hermione stayed put in her seat, trying very hard to ignore Ariana's parting looks by focusing down at her ink-stained fingers. Beside her, Malfoy stretched in his seat and stood up when the last one was out of the room.

She surreptitiously glanced at him out of the corners of her eyes as he made his way around the table to get to his dorm. Just as he was about to disappear down the corridor, he turned to look at her. Her heart stuttered inside her chest and her throat contracted with words waiting to spill out but unable to find a voice. He stood there for a beat, unsure of himself, before giving her an ambivalent nod and disappearing inside his room.

She blew out a long breath. There were days when she wanted to crawl out of her skin and take residence in some rank, forgotten corner of the castle – like a pathetic ghost – and today was one of them. How could something so inane, so utterly intangible, something she couldn't even come to terms with in her mind cause her so much of grief? What would she give to go back home and curl up next to her window with Crookshanks snoozing in her lap? Maybe she was she experiencing some sort of withdrawal.

Or maybe it was just the unanticipated camaraderie that had caught her off guard.

The Gryffindor common room was toasty and inviting when Hermione decided to take a break from her reading. On the flipside though, it was very nearly full.

Harry caught her eye and waved her over in front of the fireplace. She navigated fluidly through the boisterous crowd and made her way over to her friends. Unable to find a chair, she settled for taking a seat on the carpet next to Ginny.

"What's this we hear about a ball, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Why don't you ask your beloved girlfriend here? It was her idea after all." She answered, reaching over to grab a Chocolate Frog.

Ginny rolled her eyes, drawing a hand through her long red hair.

"Oh, bite me. Just because you prefer books and the company of a ferret-faced ringleader over a party doesn't mean we all do."

Hermione folded her arms against her chest. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm just saying that you need to loosen up. You're working yourself to hard and you're always cooped up in your Head dorms. I feel for you when I see you next to that pale haired twat, I really do."

She felt the need to nip this discussion right in the bud.

"Alright, I get it. You can have your precious ball but as I've already told you, there's the tiny detail of getting the faculty to agree to it."

"Please. Like that greasy, old bat could keep us from having some fun. Even if he's trying so hard to be, he's no Dumbledore… or McGonagall for that matter."

"Uh, that's kind of the point, Ginny. He's Snape." Harry said.

"He's not going to refuse if his most favorite pupil makes the request, which is why you'll have to put in a good word with Malfoy."

"I get it, Ginevra Weasley, I get it. I'll try my best in order for you to get a chance to dress up and dance." – in the arms of Harry Potter, she privately added in her mind. She knew that for her fiery tempered friend, this was about finally having a chance to publicly appear on the Chosen One's arm during his last year at Hogwarts. Ginny had never fully forgiven Parvati for the Triwizard ball.

Ginny smilingly shook her head.

"Oh, you have no idea, Hermione Granger. I'm doing it just for you, but there you go belittling my affection."

"Careful there, you don't want Harry to get jealous of me," Hermione said jokingly.

Harry's reply was drowned out by the sound of several dozen cards exploding all at once next to them. Judging by Seamus's uproarious laughter and Ron's soot covered face as he shuffled over to join them, it was clear who had lost.

"I dunno why you girls are always harping about balls, anyway," he said, "But I reckon Lavender won't turn me down if I ask her out this time."

Ron had been trying for a while to get back with Lavender but she had yet to properly agree, what with the hormonal mess that had been their relationship last year. Hermione reached over to pat him encouragingly on the shoulder.

"You might want to do something about that extra pretty face of yours though," Ginny said to her brother. "You're still Keeper, doesn't mean you have to look like a chimney-sweep. Even Lav-Lav's not that desperate."

"Why don't you shut your mouth?" Ron snapped.

"Why don't you make me?" Ginny fired back.

While the siblings had gotten busy bickering, Hermione sidled close to Harry.

"Any word from Dumbledore?," she asked quietly.

"None," he sighed.

"Don't you worry about that. It's just a couple weeks till Christmas break and we'll be in touch with the Order soon."

"I'm not particularly looking forward to it, Hermione. Snape's well connected with the Order, and if he's not willing to keep us up to date, I doubt the rest of them will be too keen to."

"You know that's not true. Do you really think that someone like, say, Professor Lupin – do you think he would hold out on us if he knew something?

"That's just the thing. I wonder if he really does. It's like Dumbledore meant for the rest of us to be kept in the dark."

"I'm sure it won't be like that."

"Yeah, I sure hope so too."

She coated her lips with a quick swipe of lip balm, before fluffing up her hair and making her way out of the dorm. As she stepped out of the office into the corridor, she spotted Malfoy leaning against the opposite wall with his hands stuffed deep inside his pockets, presumably waiting for her.

He pushed off the wall as she came into view and Hermione thought she saw him throw her right hand a fleeting glance. She immediately looked down to see her hand clutched tight around her wand, which she must have unconsciously pulled out at some time. Giving it no thought, she pushed it into the waistband of her jeans.

When she looked up, Malfoy was staring at her with an unfathomable expression on his face. On catching her eye, he snapped out of it and started off in the direction of the dungeons without so much as a word.

She followed him, fully content on letting him lead the way. She tried to keep her gaze off him, she really did, but there was just something about the sway of his shoulders which captured her attention in way that nothing else in her immediate surroundings could. He was so unfettered, unworried, untouchable, and her eyes watched him the entire way.

Guardedly, she looked up at his face once they had reached the entrance to Snape's office and he held the door open for her – but it appeared to have been done more out of habit than anything.

As they entered, Hermione stopped dead at the sight of their new Headmaster busy doing the unthinkable.

Head propped at an uncomfortable looking angle on his shoulder, Severus Snape seemed to be fast asleep. His mouth was pressed into a relaxed line, a few strands of hair having uncharacteristically decided to leave their oily confines had settled onto his forehead, and both his arms were firmly crossed against his chest.

The Head students shared a look with each other.

They stood inside the office for a few moments, unsure what to do. It was the first time either of them had stumbled upon the Headmaster in such a state.

"Uhm..we should probably wake him up," she whispered.

"Probably," he whispered back.

"Well then, go ahead."

"Why me?" he turned to her, seemingly irritated.

"He's the head of your House, that's why," she said, a bit louder.

"He's your teacher too, Granger, and we all know you're such a teachers' pet. Now is no time to feel shy. C'mon now, wake the man up."

"You're being absurd," she put her hands on her hips. "And if I recall correctly, he's your most favorite Professor in the entire school, so I don't see what the big deal is."

"Look. I don't really want to go through with this and neither do you so I suggest we just ditch the whole thing. There's not much to report anyway."

"In that case, Mr. Malfoy," said Snape in his nasal baritone, causing both of them to jump. "You can continue with what I'm sure are quite important pursuits of yours for today and leave me in peace. But I presume you have something to add Miss Granger?"

She hesitated before stepping forward.

"Yes, Sir. There are some things I'd like to discuss anyhow." Out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted Malfoy shaking his head.

"The Hufflepuff first years have been complaining about Peeves pelting them with sodden wads of toilet paper between classes, and in normal circumstances I'd appoint the Baron to deal with this but it appears that he's retreated to his ancestral house for December."

"Fine, I'll look into it. Anything else?"

"Dogweed and Deathcap have also banned any student of Hogwarts from entering their shop because there was a slight altercation with the fourth years during the last visit."

"What happened?"

"Well, apparently they smashed over ten pots of Fanged Geraniums and forty galleons worth of Leaping Toadstools were destroyed."

"Who was the in charge for the last Hogsmeade visit?" he asked.

"I was."

Snape sat back in his chair and regarded her with interest.

"Then it's your responsibility, Miss Granger, to stock up on the fourth year Herbology supplies for the rest of the term. You can ask the caretaker for the funds that you'll need in order to buy the items. I presume the storekeepers won't have any problem with the Head girl arriving to pick up the supplies in bulk. You can put that pointless fame of yours to good use after all."

"What?!"

Next to her Malfoy seemed to be having a sudden fit of coughing.

She cleared her throat, "I mean to say – I beg your pardon, Sir?"

"I was very clear with my instructions," he said, pushing off from his chair. "I'm afraid I need to retire to my own quarters, so in case we're all settled down here, you can both leave."

"But – " she spoke, not the least bit settled down.

Malfoy had let go of all pretense and had now succumbed to full-fledged laughter. But when she threw him a death glare, he calmed down somewhat.

Snape was in the process of magicking the documents that were lying on his desk into some semblance of order, when the Head Boy finally decided to step forward.

"Professor, there's a matter which does require your sanction, as well as that from the rest of the House heads. The students have come up with a proposition regarding a ball to be held shortly in the school. I was wondering what your say is going to be in this."

Hermione stared open-mouthed at him, thinking where had that come from. And 'I' was wondering? Right, the stupid git had been doing all the wondering by himself!

Snape scratched his chin, seemingly deep in thought.

"What a strange idea. But yes, I suppose the student body in in the habit of enjoying such banal affairs. You are quite right, Draco."

She rubbed her forehead tiredly. This man was utterly impossible, and there was no winning him over while one was in possession of a sane mind. This would explain why he was enamored with Malfoy, because the ferret was undoubtedly insane.

" – and Albus would have quite liked the concept, no doubt about that." Her head whipped up at the mention of the wizard's name but still he ignored her.

"I don't see how such a thing could be an impediment to anything. You can go ahead with the event."

"Thank you, Professor," Malfoy gave him a half salute to which Snape replied by a careless wave of his hand. So, the pair appeared to be the best of chums, how fascinating.

Hermione exited first, before the Snape could dish out any more responsibilities solely for her. Malfoy followed her out quietly, but that was not going to be so for long.

"What's got your knickers in a twist, Granger?" he called out, promptly proving her right.

He still lagged a few steps behind her and she couldn't wait to get away from his presence – his gloating, shiny-haired, twinkling-eyed, infuriating presence.

"Absolutely nothing." She increased her pace.

"Doesn't look like nothing."

"I'm in no way responsible for your atrocious eyesight, Malfoy."

"My eyesight has always been impeccable," he said, his voice coming from just behind her. She turned on instinct, and collided solidly with his chest.

He watched her face with amused eyes. "Yours, on the other hand, is full of flaws."

Uncomfortable beyond measure, Hermione turned her back on him and continued on her way.

"You can't see beyond your own nose. Your vision is one-track, one dimensional and riddled with blind spots. The largest of them is Potter and the other one is your own self. Snape knows this which is why you are never able to hold your own against him."

"You're making no sense, Malfoy. What do you even mean?"

He came up to walk side by side.

"Contrary to popular belief, you're not smart. You're erudite. What I'm trying to say is that you look but can't see, period."

She finally stopped and looked at him. Draco Malfoy was beginning to sound awfully familiar to Trelawney.

"Well, I'm sorry that I'm still not living up to your standards despite years of having listened to your gentle remarks. I don't know, maybe you should have worded them better," she continued in a flat voice, "And maybe I'm not that great, I can be the first one to admit that. But you're wrong."

He raised one eyebrow.

"I can see you, Malfoy. I see you like nobody else." There was no trace of humour on his face now.

Slytherins thought they were all that, as if the rest of the world had been dropped onto the face of the earth by mistake. Standing silent and statue-like in the middle of the deserted corridor, she left him to his own devices.

A/N: I warned you about clichés.. :P I don't know if it's too late to give this story some sort of side-plot beside the whole dramione, but I can hazard a guess that it's going to be lame anyway.

Hope you liked it! Please review! :))