This night is sparkling, don't you let it go

I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home

I'll spend forever wondering if you knew

I was enchanted to meet you

Chapter 3: An Awkward Situation

I found myself feeling as if I was floating on air. I was conversing with Harry Potter. Actually having a good conversation with Harry Potter. I even flirted a bit!

After Ginny came back, the conversation shifted from us to just me and her, but I didn't care. We had actually talked. And he had actually seemed interested in what I had to say.

It was weird having him be totally silent while me and Ginny talked. I could feel his beautiful gems on me, and it made me somewhat nervous. I felt my heart wanting to jump out of my chest.

How could Draco and Harry not get along? They were both quite similar. They were funny, down to earth, and sweet, though Draco would never admit to being a sweetheart. Sure, Draco was an arrogant prat and he was self absorbed sometimes, but deep down, Draco wasn't the tyrant he made himself out to be. He, like me, was made to wear a mask as well.

I stopped dwelling on a Draco/Harry brotherhood. It would never happen anyways so there was no reason to plot it.

We arrived at school and I couldn't help but gaze at it in awe as if I was a bloody first year. Hogwarts never ceased to amaze me, and I truly missed it when I was away from it. It was indeed my true home. If I could tolerate teaching, I would have gladly stayed there forever.

But even if I could, I wouldn't be able to. I. kept forgetting my life wasn't mine.

As we approached the carriages, I watched as Harry caught up with Ron and Granger. There was also another girl who seemed eager to ride with them. So eager in fact, that she grabbed on Harry's arm like that muggle device called a vice grip.

Who the hell was that bitch?!

"Ginny who is that?" I attempted to say calmly as I pointed out the hideous creature that was latched onto my boyfriend in my head.

Ginny looked in the direction I was pointing in and then scowled. "You should know her. She's in your year isn't she? That's Susan Bones. Hufflepuff."

"Are they..." I couldn't even finish the question.

"Are they what? Oh! Oh no, they aren't together or anything. Harry is nice to her, but he doesn't like her like that. And she doesn't seem to get the hint." said Ginny with disdain in her voice.

"Oh okay. Not that I cared or anything. I was just wondering." I said, more than likely showing my actual care and jealousy of the situation.

"Pans, I wouldn't worry about a thing."said Ginny as we walked towards a carriage. "You have the ultimate in with Harry. You're his only roommate. You'll be sharing a common room as well as a loo with him. Imagine a late night trip and he is in the bath without you knowing it and-"

"Are you talking about me Red? Having fantasies about us now are you?" said Draco popping out of nowhere beside Ginny.

"Oh yes Draco. I was just getting to the part where I hex off your privates. Doesn't that sound exciting?" said Ginny, sarcastically.

Draco laughed as we climbed into a carriage. We sat and waited to pull off when suddenly, Ron's head popped into the carriage asking Ginny if there was room here because all the others were full.

As much as Draco disliked both Harry and Ron, he saw this as an opportunity. And Slytherins never wasted an opportunity.. "Fine Weasley, fine. You can join us." he said. "We would probably have to lap up though."

He immediately grabbed Ginny and pulled her onto his lap. Ginny giggled as she tried to struggle to get up, but Draco had her locked. Finally she gave in and made herself comfortable.

Ron looked as if he didn't like it but didn't say anything as he sat down beside me. Granger had entered the carriage after him and sneered when she seen me sitting there, as if I had done something wrong.

"Parkinson." she said with an attitude.

"Granger." I responded with equal attitude.

"Well now Hermione, care for a lap?" asked Blaise who had joined us. Ron grabbed Granger quick as lightening and pulled her onto his lap. She looked at me with a surprised expression on her face and I couldn't help but laugh a little bit with her at Ron's actions.

Then Harry in all his beautiful glory climbed in and looked around awkwardly. "Damn. Should I just wait?" he asked Ron and Granger.

Before one of them could answer, Ginny spoke up much to my horror as well as delight. "If you wouldn't mind it, I'm sure Pansy would lap up with you. Wouldn't you Pans?" she said cheerfully.

I was frozen in nervousness. I couldn't believe she had said that but at the same time, who was I kidding? This was Ginny I was talking about.

Harry looked as if he was contemplating the situation. I decided I would wait for another carriage and was about to say so until..

"I don't mind if you don't." said Harry smiling that ridiculously gorgeous smile of his at me.

"Okay." I nervously said as I got up to let him sit down and then I sat down on him.

My mind was racing. 'I'm sitting on Harry Potter's lap. I'M SITTING ON HIS DAMN LAP! Merlin's beard he is comfortable. I can't believe this is actually happening. This has got to be-wait what?'

All of a sudden, I felt his strong arms rope around my waist, holding me in place, causing me to move closer up on him. "I hope you don't mind," he whispered. "I didn't have anywhere to put my hands you see."

'You can put your hands anywhere on my body that you want.' I thought.

"No, not at all. I wouldn't want you to be any more uncomfortable that you probably already are." I said.

"I'm not uncomfortable at all actually." he said and my face lit up. Thank Merlin he couldn't see it.

Stupid Hufflepuff Susan got on and looked rather disgusted that Harry's lap was occupied by me. She reluctantly sat on Blaise and the carriage took off.

The ride was very bumpy and it felt weird that I was somewhat bouncing on him, but he held me a bit tighter so I wouldn't move as much. Around us, with the exception of Blaise and the Bones girl, small conversations were being had. Ron was telling jokes to Granger and it was weird. seeing her laugh at them. I didn't think she laughed at things she didn't read about in books.

Draco's and Ginny's was far more interesting.

"We are having the Yule Ball again this year. Did you know?" asked Draco.

"How could I not with them stating in the letter that we needed dress robes for it? You're so dense." said Ginny affectionately.

"Cheeky woman, I was trying to strike up a conversation." said Draco lightly tickling Ginny's side.

I had leaned back on Harry unknowingly to try to hear better. When I had realized what I had done, I eased off, but Harry slumped in his seat some causing me to drop back down.

"It's fine, I'm being nosy too. Besides, I'm sure your back was stiff sitting straight up like that." whispered Harry.

I was so happy that it was dark in the carriage, otherwise he would have seen my big obnoxious grin. I laid back, the back of my head resting on his shoulder. I could feel his breath on my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine.

"Fine. You're not a loser." Draco said as I tuned back into the conversation. "But anyways, about the ball. I didn't want to wait until you got to school where all the vultures to try and ask you first."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, well rather asking, would you go with me to the ball?"

I held my gasp in tightly despite the fact that I really wanted to let it out.

"Really?" asked Ginny sounding stunned. "You want to go to the ball with me? But, what about Pansy? What about your friends? Your family?"

"Pansy won't care. You know that. And besides fuck what they think. You're my friend too. One of the best actually."

'Dammit Draco, how could you be so bloody stupid? You just made it seem like you only want to go as friends!' I thought.

"Oh. Friends. Well thank you." said Ginny sounding like she was slightly disappointed. "I'll think about it okay?"

"Think about it?"

"That's not saying no to you Draco. I don't even know what's going on with my family for the holidays, you know? So I'll think about it." said Ginny.

"Okay that's fine." said Draco. Boys. They were so damn clueless.

I tuned out the rest of their conversion. Draco was being way too stupid for my taste. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the fact that I was leaning back on Harry. He was so warm, and he smelled delectable. He felt so strong with his arms around me. I could have fallen asleep right there and I probably would have if it wasn't for the fact that Susan Fucking Bitch Bones wouldn't stop trying to strike up a conversation with him, despite the fact that he seemed tired himself.

Damn her. She was just ruining our peaceful moment with her annoying harping. Why couldn't she just shut the hell up? Any other time I would have told her just that.

But I didn't want him thinking that I was the bitch I'm sure he had heard I was.

We finally made it to the entrance to Hogwarts. He helped me out of the carriage. I didn't know he was such a gentleman. Should have known it thought, with him being a chivalrous Gryffindor and all.

We all walked into the castle and made our way to the great hall. At the door, we separated. Ron, Granger, Ginny, and Harry going over to the Gryffindor table, Miss Bitch going to Hufflepuff, and Draco, Blaise, and I heading to Slytherin.

I sat down and looked over to the Gryffindor table as I had done many times and studied Harry. I missed him already, he was way too far away from me.

I couldn't help thinking like a lovesick schoolgirl. He had shown me that his attitude was just as nice as he was to look at. And I wanted to get to know him even more.

Hang my parents, my so called friends, and this stupid arranged marriage. I was determined to have a great time this year. A great time with someone that I actually liked.