Author's Note: Guys, for real... I wish FanFiction had a "like" button on each review like Facebook does on statuses and comments. Some of your reviews just make my whole day! Keep it up. I definitely never imagined this story would be so successful. 133 people on the Story Alert list and over a hundred reviews... and probably way more than 10,000 hits... I wish I had an accurate number but it froze at 4,194 shortly after I uploaded chapter 5! I heart you guys. Thanks so much for the support. Check out the tumblr blog for photos of the outfits from this chapter! (They're just dashing!)

Chapter 10

Don't Leave, I Think I Love You

The days until the Malfoy Manor Ball dragged on slowly, but eventually, the day came. It was a Saturday evening and Malfoy Manor was fuller than it had ever been, Hermione was sure. The party had started precisely at six with an extravagant five-course dinner. (Hermione and Scorpius had had personal platters of everything delivered to the back gardens, where she was watching him.) By the time everyone had finished eating, it was a little past seven and music was starting to flow through the house.

"Is that music?" Scorpius asked Hermione, looking up from the book they were reading together on a bench.

"Yes, it is, dear," Hermione answered. "It sounds like a waltz."

"What's that?" Scorpius asked. Hermione smiled.

"Let's take a peek, shall we?" she said mischievously. Scorpius smiled as she led him by the hand to the back French doors. Through it, they could see past the grand staircase into the foyer, which was being used as a makeshift ballroom. In it, many couples were already dancing together in the smooth and fluid movements of the waltz. Hermione opened the door and the music came spilling out. Scorpius watched in awe.

"How do all they all know how to do the same thing at the same time?" he asked.

"It's a very calculated dance," Hermione answered. "Do you want to learn?"

Scorpius gasped. "Really?"

"Well sure. I used to know how to waltz, I'm sure I can still remember a thing or two…" she said. She picked him up and put his weight on her left hip. She was in a simple, casual black dress right now – she was planning on changing after Scorpius went to bed before she joined the ball.

"The first thing you have to do is get the position right. You have to have this hand around my waist," she started, nodding to Scorpius's right hand which was already close to her waist the way she was holding him, "and then we hold our other hands together and outwards," she finished, taking his left hand in her right and holding it up. "Now, we find the beat of a waltz, which is always one -two-three, one -two-three, one -two-three," she said. She paused and Scorpius listened. She found the beat and softly whispered, "Do you hear it? One -two-three, one -two-three, one -two-three…"

"I think so," Scorpius said.

"Good! Now we have to start the actual dancing. Now look down at my feet," she said, and he did. "First my left foot takes a step back, then my right foot steps backwards and over, and then my left foot comes together with my right foot. Each movement is to the one, two, and three of the beat." She did a few measures to the beat and Scorpius giggled.

"And the best part," Hermione said, "is that while you're remembering all of that, you have to spin around in a circle!" And she proceeded to do so, "waltzing" with Scorpius to the music flowing out of the doors and spinning them both around in a graceful circle. Scorpius giggled and laughed and Hermione began to laugh with him until one of her spins brought her facing the door and she saw Draco casually leaning against the doorframe. He was dressed in a smashing black three-button tuxedo with tails and a white shirt, vest, and tie. She stopped immediately, making her head spin a little, and Scorpius's too, apparently, because he gave a small "Woah…" and shook his head a little, then looked up to see Draco.

"Hello, Father!" he said giddily. "Hermione is teaching me to waltz!"

Draco smiled. "I see that, but it's hard to get the full effect when both of your feet are off the ground."

Scorpius frowned.

"Here, how about I take your place and you can see how it's really done," he offered. Hermione stared at him curiously, but slowly lowered Scorpius to the ground, where he scrambled over to the bench to watch. Draco joined her as a new song – another waltz, of course – began to play from the doors.

"So you see, Scorpius," Draco said, "I put my hand on her waist, and she puts her hand on my shoulder," he did these things as he said them, having to guide Hermione's hand to his shoulder because she was still a little startled.

"Right," Scorpius said.

"And then we take each other's hand in our other hands," he continued, taking Hermione's hand in his, stretching their arms out and raising their hands to the same relative height as their shoulders.

"Right," Scorpius said again.

"And most importantly, we have to make sure we're standing straight," Draco smiled, and pulled his shoulders back a bit. Hermione did the same. She had been avoiding his gaze thus far.

"And then… we dance," Draco said, and Hermione looked into his eyes as he began to guide her around the patio to the steady one -two-three of the music. Her gaze was locked with his as they gracefully spun around, her feet easily following his in the box step. For just a moment, the rest of the world was lost again, just like it had been when he'd first kissed her. It was only the two of them, lost in each other's eyes as they danced together, almost as a single unit, under the darkening summer sky…

"You two dance very well together," came a voice from the doorway. They stopped immediately and separated, both looking over to see Michelle standing in the doorway. She was dressed in an elaborate black ballgown speckled with what Hermione was sure were diamonds. It was strapless, with a sheer torso that showed a hint of a toned abdomen. The skirt of the gown clearly had tulle under it and poofed out from her figure slightly.

"Thank you," they both replied together, Hermione a little awkwardly.

"I had no idea a governess could be so adept at waltzing," Michelle simpered, looking at Hermione. Hermione gave a small smile in reply.

"I learned a little growing up at Hogwarts," she said. "I'm a bit rusty now."

"I see," Michelle said. "It's nearly time for Scorpius to get to bed and for you to join the party, you know," she reminded Hermione. "Draco, why don't you go back and join the festivities? I'll put Scorpius to bed while Hermione gets ready."

"But I—" started Scorpius, but Hermione interrupted him.

"That's a wonderful idea, Michelle," Hermione replied. "Run along with Michelle, Scorpius. I'll see you in the morning."

Scorpius slid down off of the bench and trotted along after Michelle to the grand staircase. Draco and Hermione watched them go, and then he looked back at her.

They were alone.

Again.

"You are an excellent dancer," Draco said. He stepped closer to her again. Hermione's breath quickened.

"Thank you… as are you…"

"Thank you," he answered. They were silent.

"I look forward to many more dances with you when you join the party," he said. And then did the unthinkable.

He leaned forward and planted a soft, tender kiss on her lips.

Hermione was so surprised that he was gone by the time she'd registered it, and stood there alone for a moment staring out into the darkening gardens.

Shaking herself, she followed Michelle's footsteps inside and up the grand staircase to her room, where her dress for the evening (which she had bought – reluctantly – with money from Draco earlier in the week) hung on the curtain rod over the French doors.

It was a crimson red, reminiscent of her days at Hogwarts. It had a simple sweetheart neck trimmed with silver and was strapless. The skirt was full and had a slight bustle and was pinned at the hip with a silver brooch. Besides her wedding dress someday, Hermione was sure it would be the most beautiful dress she'd ever wear in her life. She had just stepped over to it to remove it from the hanger when she heard a knock on her door.

"Come in," she said cautiously, possibly expecting Draco. Instead, she turned around and found Michelle.

"Michelle!" she said, surprised. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"No, dear, I just wanted to talk to you," she said, smiling sweetly. Hermione's hands lowered from the hanger, leaving the dress where it was.

"Concerning?"

Michelle gave a small sigh before smiling again and replying.

"It's very obvious, you know," she said.

"I'm sorry?" Hermione asked, afraid of what Michelle might be referring to.

"He loves you."

"He… who… what?" Hermione asked incredulously.

"Draco. He loves you."

"Michelle… No, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid he simply does not…"

"I saw the way he looked at you when you two were dancing together," she said simply. She didn't even seem upset, really… Hermione found this odd.

"Go on…" she said cautiously.

"Well, really, cherie, it's only a matter of time before you love him, too…"

Hermione was speechless.

"You know it's true. He wasn't the only one with that look in his eyes in the gardens."

Hermione looked at the floor, studying the floorboards as she analyzed her memories of her and Draco – trying very desperately to leave out the sex.

"It's very dangerous for you to be here, knowing those things," Michelle cautioned. Hermione's gaze snapped up to her.

"What—"

"Think about little Scorpius," pressed Michelle. "He doesn't know what to think. His father has a girlfriend but he's in love with his governess…"

This was madness. Draco couldn't possibly love her.

Could he?

"I… I suppose you're right… if that is the case…" Hermione said. She would do anything for Scorpius. The last thing Draco needed was for his son to be more attached to his governess than to his new mother… For his son to be confused as to why Michelle was his mother and Hermione was not…

"Now, I'm not going to pressure you, but really, its…"

"It's better if I leave," Hermione said. Whether that's what Michelle was going to say or not, it was the truth. Scorpius didn't deserve this. He shouldn't have to be brought up with two mother figures, and his father going back and forth between the two.

And Michelle didn't deserve to be living with a man who would go kissing his governess behind her back.

"Yes, dear, I think you're right."

Hermione remembered Draco's request for more dances tonight and her stomach dropped.

"Tonight. Now. I need to leave."

Michelle smiled sadly. "Yes, I think that's best, cherie. Do you need help packing?"

"No, no, Draco will be wondering where you are. Go back down to the party. I can manage with magic just fine."

Michelle walked over to Hermione and put a hand on her shoulder.

"You're such a self-sacrificing woman, Hermione. And a very powerful witch, it appears. Though you are muggle-born."

With that, she turned, and was gone.

Hermione blinked after her, turning the muggle-born comment over in her mind. Shaking herself out of it, she grabbed her wand, opened her trunk, and in one sweeping motion brought all of her belongings into it. It banged shut and locked. The wardrobe stood open. Inside it hung the two suits she'd bought, and the red dress still hung on the French doors.

They had been bought with Draco's money. They were not rightly hers, and under no circumstances would she take them.

She quickly penned a note to Draco – so he would know she'd left of her own volition – and left it on the desk. She enchanted it so that only he could open it (just in case), and then had an afterthought.

The last time he'd paid her, she'd noticed it was more than normal. After counting it she had realized it was fifteen galleons over – he had tried to give her back the fifteen galleons he felt he owed her from Scorpius's birthday. She opened her trunk and pulled her purse out, counting out fifteen galleons and left them next to the letter on the desk before replacing her purse back in the trunk. Taking one last glance around the room, wand in hand, she sighed deeply.

"Dmitry! Davius!" she called. Immediately they appeared before her and surveyed the room curiously.

"Mademoiselle, it appears you are leaving… all your things are packed," said the first.

"Shouldn't you be joining the party?" said the other. Hermione gave them a sad smile.

"Unfortunately I have been given a reason to leave Malfoy Manor."

"Mademoiselle!" they chorused together.

"Surely you shall return?" said the first.

"When can we expect you back?" asked the second.

Hermione sighed, feeling tears welling in her eyes.

"Unfortunately, I think I am leaving for good."

Dmitry and Davius both gasped dramatically – and in unison. She was certainly going to miss them.

"But why?" the both asked.

"I'd rather not talk about it. Please make sure that Draco finds the letter I left him," she said, pointing to the desk.

"Absolutely," they chorused.

"Also, I don't want anyone to see me leaving… is there any way you can help with that?"

"Certainly!" said the first. "I shall take you, and Davius shall take your trunk." He – Dmitry, she now knew – took her hand while Davius lifted her trunk as if it were as light as Styrofoam.

"Where to?" Dmitry asked her.

"Just outside the front gates, I can apparate from there…" she said.

"On our way!" Davius said, and they disappeared from the room.

It was entirely unlike the uncomfortable sensation of apparition. She felt like she was floating. All she could see was a gold and silver mist, and Dmitry floating next to her. She only felt the firm grip of his gloved hand on hers… and then, they were on solid ground again.

"Do you require anything else, mademoiselle?" asked Dmitry. He was still smiling, but it was a sad smile.

"No, Dmitry, I think I'm fine," she said and her voice caught. "Thank you both… so much… for making my time here so wonderful."

"No problem at all!" they chorused.

"If you ever need anything, just call!" said Davius, and with that, they disappeared in their usual golden mist.

Hermione was alone. Dreadfully alone. She bit her lip as a lone tear ran down her cheek. She turned and gave Malfoy Manor – what she had begun to view as her home – one last look before turning her trunk on its end, gripping the handle firmly, and turning on her heel sharply.

Unfortunately, she disappeared not with a golden mist, but only the stark emptiness of the dark.