On the day of the party, Hermione allowed herself to be lost in the preparations as it was easier than thinking about the potential drama that lay ahead that evening. Much to her disappointment, Ron and Ginny were still being stubborn and refusing to acknowledge what Harry had told them. Rather stupidly, in Hermione's opinion, they were pushing on with their plan to try and make Harry take notice of Ginny by having her attend the party with Ron.
"Idiots," she muttered to herself as she neatly lined up unbreakable glasses for the drinks.
"That's a bit harsh, Granger, they're only glasses," a voice remarked from behind her with a low chuckle.
"I wasn't talking to the glasses, Malfoy," Hermione said, turning around to face the Head Boy.
"So you were talking to yourself?" Draco asked with an arched eyebrow. "Isn't that supposed to indicate you're mad?"
"Probably," Hermione admitted with a sigh.
"Is everything okay?" Draco questioned, the concern evident in his voice as the humour left it.
"Everything's fine," Hermione replied. "I think we're all ready for the party."
"You sound thrilled about that," Draco drawled sarcastically.
"Let's just say I've got my reservations about tonight," Hermione said as the pair wandered away from the refreshment table and made a quick check of the Great Hall to make sure everything was ready.
"I thought you were on board with the idea," Draco said. "You've never said anything about having your reservations before."
"It's not about the party," Hermione admitted.
"Then what is it about?" Draco asked. "You can tell me, Granger. We are supposed to be friends, aren't we?"
"We are," Hermione confirmed. "Do you want to go to the Prefects Lounge?"
Draco readily agreed to accompany his fellow head to the Prefects Lounge, and with the party only hours away from starting, the room was empty. Even the younger students, who weren't attending the party, seemed to be keeping out of the way.
"So what's going on?" Draco asked as they settled down on the comfortable sofa in the room.
"I'm worried that there's going to be trouble tonight," Hermione admitted.
"I've promised to keep Blaise under control," Draco joked.
"I'm not worried about Blaise," Hermione replied. "I think the trouble is going to come from my friends."
"Why?" Draco asked with a confused frown.
"There's trouble brewing between Harry and Ron," Hermione admitted. "A few days ago it emerged that Ginny had assumed she would be attending the party with Harry."
"By assumed do you mean Potter didn't ask her?" Draco questioned.
"That's right," Hermione confirmed with a nod. "She's fancied him for years, and even though Harry has never encouraged her, it seems she convinced herself that they're meant to be together. A notion that Ron seems to share."
"Talk about deluded," Draco snorted.
"Oh, it gets better," Hermione muttered sarcastically. "When Harry made it clear that he wouldn't be taking Ginny to the party, Ron stepped in and announced that he would take her."
"Instead of you?" Draco queried with a frown as Hermione nodded her head. "Let me get this right. Weasley has blown off his gorgeous girlfriend to go on a date with his sister? Now that is super creepy."
"More like super stupid," Hermione snorted. "Harry was very clear that he didn't see Ginny in a romantic way, but neither her nor Ron listened. It didn't even seem to bother them that Harry actually has a date for the party. They seem convinced that Harry just has to see Ginny all dressed up and he'll fall head over heels for her."
"That is really deluded," Draco said. "And I can see why you fear trouble. They're not going to like it when their plan fails, are they?"
"No, they're not," Hermione confirmed. "But nothing I say can make them see sense. I just have a bad feeling about tonight."
"Have you talked to Potter?"
"I have, and he agrees," Hermione replied. "But we're also in agreement that there's nothing he can do about it. He's never led Ginny on, and he's been completely honest about how he feels. I just hope he's prepared his date for some backlash. Whoever she is, Ron and Ginny won't be happy with her being with Harry."
"Pathetic gits," Draco snarled. "Don't worry Granger, if they kick off, I'll be there to help you. I won't let two Weasels ruin the party for everyone."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Hermione said with a sigh as she rose to her feet. "I guess I better go and get ready. Even though I no longer have a date."
"Dates are over-rated," Draco commented with a shrug as he also got to his feet.
"So you won't have a girl on your arm this evening?" Hermione asked.
"No, I'll be all alone," Draco replied, flashing Hermione a sinful smirk. "Maybe the Head Girl will even allow me a dance since she'll be all alone as well."
"Maybe," Hermione returned. "But I do still have a boyfriend."
"Yeah, who would rather take his sister to the party," Draco remarked. "If I were you, I'd be worried about the sort of person you're dating."
Unaware that she wouldn't have that problem for much longer, Hermione said her goodbyes to Draco and headed off to Gryffindor Tower to prepare for the party. She was just hoping that her fears were going to be unfounded and that Ron and Ginny wouldn't cause any trouble and that the evening would go off without a hitch.
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Since Ron wasn't actually taking her to the dance as his date, Hermione didn't bother to seek him out during the time it took her to get dressed for the party. When she left Gryffindor Tower to head down to The Great Hall, she still hadn't seen her boyfriend. When she arrived in The Great Hall, Hermione made a few final checks and was satisfied to find everything was in order. Now all they needed were the party goers.
Even before the time the party was due to get underway, students started to arrive, and by the time the official start time rolled around the party was already in full swing. However, Hermione had yet to see her boyfriend and his sister, or Harry. Nor had she seen the Head Boy, but no sooner had she thought of Draco than the blond wizard appeared in front of her, looking devastatingly handsome in black.
"Granger," he greeted in a low voice. "You look amazing," he said, his grey eyes raking over Hermione.
Hermione was wearing a deep purple dress, embedded with a twinkling star design. The dress reached the floor, and the delicate bodice hugged her curves. It wasn't as daring as some dresses Hermione had looked at, but she'd gone more for elegant rather than outright sexy.
"Thank you," Hermione replied with a slight blush. "And you look… well you look like you. Black suits you."
"I know," Draco replied smugly.
"So modest," Hermione chuckled.
Although her light-hearted mood was short lived as she suddenly spotted Ron entering The Great Hall with Ginny. Her boyfriend was wearing a deep blue shirt and smart trousers, but her attention was on Ginny who was wearing a very clingy silver dress. The dress looked so tight it appeared to have been sprayed onto her body, and it was so short that Hermione feared that if she bent over she would expose herself to everyone in the vicinity.
"I do admit that Weaselette was right about her dress, Potter will notice her," Draco muttered.
"Why are boys to easily distracted by a bit of flesh," Hermione tutted as she shook her head. Personally, she thought Ginny looked a bit tarty, but obviously her look appealed to the opposite sex.
"Did I say I found her attractive?" Draco countered with a smirk. "Yes, she's grabbing attention, but not for the reasons she thinks. In my opinion, flaunting herself like that is just cheap. I'd rather have a witch who has some elegance about her. And I suspect Potter feels the same way."
"What makes you so sure on that?" Hermione asked.
"Because of who his date is," Draco replied, giving Hermione a smirk that implied he knew something she didn't.
"What do you know about Harry's date?" Hermione questioned, automatically looking around for Harry, even as she noted Ron and Ginny heading over to the refreshment table. "Have you seen him arrive? I haven't seen him yet."
"I don't know if he's arrived yet, but I passed him down in the dungeons as I was coming up to the party," Draco said.
"The dungeons," Hermione repeated in bewilderment. "Are you saying Harry's date is a Slytherin?"
"She is," Draco confirmed with a nod. "And I think this is them here," he added as a silence fell on The Great Hall.
Turning towards the entrance, Hermione gasped at the sight of a handsome looking Harry standing side by side with a beautiful blonde witch, dressed in an elegant emerald green dress with silver detailing. The pair seemed very aware that everyone was watching them, but it didn't seem to bother them as they paused to let everyone see them before heading in Hermione and Draco's direction.
"You look lovely, Hermione," Harry said with a smile as he hugged Hermione.
"Thank you," Hermione replied. "But you wouldn't want to make your date jealous."
"Daph isn't the jealous type, are you?" Draco laughed, addressing his good friend, Daphne Greengrass.
"No, I am not," Daphne returned with a light chuckle. "And Harry is right, you do look lovely, Hermione."
"So do you," Hermione returned. "I love your dress. It's so very Slytherin."
"I didn't want anyone to forget Harry was with a Slytherin," Daphne returned with a devious smirk.
"I don't think they're going to do that," Harry remarked, slipping his arm around Daphne's waist.
"No, I think that will be something everyone is aware of," Hermione muttered, spotting two furious red-heads storming their way.
"Here come the fireworks," Draco announced.
"Shit." Harry grimaced, before turning around to face the duo with a smile on his face. "Ron, Ginny. Nice to see you. You know Daphne, don't you?"
"Greengrass," Ginny spat, her voice loud enough for everyone nearby to clearly hear her over the music which now filled the Great Hall. "You overlooked me for Greengrass?"
"It wasn't a case of overlooking anyone," Harry corrected. "Even if I hadn't been here with Daphne, I still wouldn't have asked you, Ginny. I don't know how many different ways I can tell you that I'm not interested. You and I are never going to happen."
"Not now you've sullied yourself with a Slytherin slapper," Ginny retorted.
"Excuse me," Daphne muttered in a low voice which oozed danger. "If you call me names again, Weasley, you will regret it."
"The truth hurts, does it?" Ginny sneered. "Well I'm not afraid to tell it like I see it."
"Neither am I," Daphne retorted. "And what I see is a desperate little tart who thinks flashing her tits and arse is appealing. I'll give you a word of advice, sweetheart, it's not. That dress isn't sexy, it's cheap. You look as though you're offering yourself on a plate to the boys."
"How dare you," Ginny hissed, balling her hands into fists as she pressed closer to Daphne, who infuriatingly didn't seem at all intimidated by the younger girl.
"Enough," Harry interrupted, gently tugging Daphne back from Ginny and stepping in between the two witches. "Speak to my girlfriend like that again Ginny, and we'll have a problem."
"Girlfriend?" Ron questioned, stepping up to his sister's side. "Since when has Greengrass being your girlfriend?"
"I'm hoping since now," Harry replied, turning his head to smile at Daphne. "I know it's not the best way to ask you Daphne, but will you be my girlfriend?"
"Of course I will," Daphne returned with a large smile.
"Ah, young love," Draco commented with a smirk.
"Shut up Malfoy, this has nothing to do with you," Ron snapped.
"And it actually has nothing to do with you," Hermione informed her boyfriend. "Don't cause a scene, Ron."
"A scene," Ron yelled. "I can cause a scene if I bloody well like. I'm defending my sister's honour."
"It's not like I've cheated on her, Ron," Harry said gently. "I didn't even lead her on. I can't be blamed if the pair of you invested in a romance that was never going to happen."
"But to bring her to the party is just rubbing her nose in it," Ron spat, making a rude gesture in Daphne's direction. "Seriously Harry, you can do better than a Slytherin bitch."
"Careful Ron, or else you and I will be falling out," Harry muttered. "Daphne is my girlfriend, and you will show her some respect. I will not have my friends talking to her like she was dirt."
"But that is exactly what she is," Ron hissed. "She's scum, and if you insist on staying with her, I can't be your friend."
"Seriously?" Harry checked with a surprised burst of laughter. "You would stop being my friend because I happen to be dating a Slytherin?"
"Yes," Ron replied in all seriousness. "It's her or me, Harry. You have to pick."
"In that case, I choose Daphne," Harry said, entwining his fingers with his date's.
"Suit yourself," Ron sniffed haughtily. "Come on Hermione, we're going," he said, holding his hand out for his girlfriend.
"No," Hermione said, shaking her head. "I am not going to stand here and let you ruin your friendship with Harry. It's stupid, Ron, and it's all for nothing."
"Are you saying I'm nothing?" Ginny demanded, glaring at Hermione. "I deserve more than this."
"No-one has done anything to you, Ginny," Hermione cried in exasperation. "Harry has done nothing wrong."
"He's broken my sister's heart," Ron shouted. "And you're either with us or against us, Hermione. It's your choice, me or Harry."
"Why does it have to be a choice?" Hermione asked with a rueful shake of her head.
"Pick," Ron snarled. "Me or Harry."
"I'm sorry, but I pick Harry," Hermione said sadly. "He hasn't done anything wrong, and I won't end our friendship because you and Ginny are deluded."
"In that case the pair of you can go to hell," Ron spat as he took hold of Ginny's arm and steered her in the opposite direction, leaving a bewildered Harry and Hermione staring after him, hardly able to believe what had just happened.