AN1: SUMMER VACATION!!!! Yay!
Disclaimer: No, no HP ownage rights here.
ERICA: Italicized and bolded is just random fun, the bold is actually something. Confused? You'll see. (As will any other reader who pays attention to the notes I type to you. Heh, but they won't get the bold and underlined part. HAH!)
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Sighing in exasperation, Hermione rolled her eyes and headed to the pool. So far, the party had been a definite bummer. The lines were clearly drawn, and she doubted that they would be erased any time soon. The "Light" side wanted absolutely nothing to do with the "Dark" side people, whether they were in Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Gryffindor when at Hogwarts. Everyone was mingling amongst their own groups and not even one person had ventured towards the pool. It was that, above all else, that angered Hermione.
She went to check the pool temperature and dipped her hand in. She smiled. It was perfect, especially on a hot day as it was. She didn't understand how people could have so much pride as to prefer to stay in their stuffy robes than to be in the pool. She stood up, dropped her outer dress robes to reveal a pink two piece. She reached up to put her hair up in a bun. While doing so, her back was to the other party goers.
In the back corner of the yard, Draco Malfoy watched Hermione with a smirk. She was completely unaware of the vulnerable position that she had just put herself in. He had the perfect opportunity to strike. He was surprised that none of the other Slytherins had made a move to get her, but then again, he wasn't. Stealthily, he crept up and made his way to directly behind her back. He was set to push her into her own pool. It would be priceless.
At this point, the muttered whispers among the crowd had silenced and if a pin were to drop, it would be heard clearly by every single person. Draco reached out to push her in when—
"HERMIONE! Look out!" Ron yelled loudly.
Startled, Hermione looked behind her and her eyes widened. She tried to dodge Draco's outstretched hands, but it was much too late. He had already made contact with her back and she was falling into the deep end. With remarkably quick thinking and quick reflexes, as Hermione Granger was known for having, she grabbed Draco's hand and pulled him in with her.
The crowd gasped and several 'oohed' appreciatively. Nobody, absolutely nobody, had expected that to happen. Not one person had expected Hermione to get Draco in the pool. All craned their necks to see what had become of the two. After a couple of seconds, two splashes were heard and then loud laughter. Collectively, the ex-students let out a breath; no one was going to get hexed today. Taking Draco's example to heart—except with no pool involved—Blaise Zabini approached Harry Potter with a hand out and a small grin.
Meanwhile, in the pool, Draco and Hermione had just broken the surface of the water. Initially, Hermione was planning on being angry with Malfoy, but at the sight of him, hanging onto the wall in expensive, soaking wet, bottle green dress robes—much to Harry's dismay who upon Draco's entrance had vowed to burn his similar pair—with his hair plastered to his head, she couldn't help but to laugh. He soon joined in her laughter.
They laughed together for a minute. Gryffindor and Slytherin. Light and Dark. Dark-haired and Fair-haired. Brown and Blue. Common and Rich. Short and Tall. All of that was forgotten and they just laughed until their sides ached.
Once silent, Hermione flashed a bright, sunny, smile at her former enemy. He smiled back. Hermione reached out for the deck of the pool and pulled herself up. The sight that greeted her brought a grin to her face and warmth in her heart. The lines had finally been crossed. It was finally the party that Hermione had wanted all along: a Grey party. No Light and no Dark. Harry and Ron were talking to Blaise and Pansy along with the Patil twins and Lavender. Neville was looking semi-comfortable in talking with Theodore Nott and Daphne Greengrass.
It was all thanks to Draco, in a way, Hermione thought. Speaking of Draco, she hadn't noticed that he hadn't gotten out of the pool yet, nor had he made an effort to. In fact, it was quite the opposite. He had shed his dress robes too and was treading water complacently in his boxers.
"Need a hand, Malfoy?" She guessed that he didn't want to get out of the pool, but her upbringing brought her to ask anyway. She offered him a hand. He smirked and took her hand. But instead of using it to get himself out, he pulled her back into the water. Even from under the water, Hermione could hear his boisterous laughter. Hermione popped up next to him and splashed water right in his face.
"Jerk," she laughed.
"Your point?"
Again, they laughed together. In a swift motion, Draco took Hermione's face in his hands and placed a soft kiss on her lips. He pulled away and she blushed. She didn't slap him, nor did she swim away. That was a good sign. Instead, she started to close the distance between them and met him halfway. Their lips touched again and the contact was maintained for much longer this time. Her arms latched around his neck and she used him to stay afloat.
The absence of Draco and Hermione was noticed within ten minutes. The two could hear voices rising in a panic, but they couldn't bring themselves to care enough to cut short their kissing. It was finally Ginny who thought to look in the pool. She took one glance at the kissing pair and smiled.
With some large hand motions, the youngest Weasley signaled to everyone else where they were. Each person took a quick look into the pool to see if she was telling the truth. Seeing, after all, is believing. Not one believed Ginny until they witnessed it for themselves.
"Thank you," Hermione murmured between kisses.
"Hm?"
"Everyone is socializing because you pushed me in the pool, so thanks."
Draco nipped her ear slightly, making Hermione shiver in his arms. "It was my pleasure."
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AN2: You may have noticed that it took me awhile to update with this chapter. If you didn't, then now I suppose you know now. I am losing motivation in this story due to the steady decrease in reviews. You do want me to go to 100 chapters, yes? Well then, PLEASE, review!!!
ERICA: So...notice anything odd? 8D