Hermione was very excited about going to the Yule Ball with Harry.

"Guess what?" She said as she sat across the table from Draco and Michael in their next study session after the Hogsmeade trip. Harry made an excuse to miss their study session that day to avoid Michael, which Hermione did not understand.

"What?" Both Draco and Michael asked.

"Harry asked me out to the Yule!"

"That's exciting!" Michael said, actually excited.

"Oh," Draco said, surprised. Not as excited.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked. That was not quite the reaction she expected.

"Nothing." Draco said, "I'm just surprised."

"Why?"

"Harry didn't mention it." He simply shrugged, "are you two going as friends or… more?" He then asked, faking indifference.

"I don't know…" Hermione slightly blushed.

"It's great!" Draco finally said, "if you're excited about it, I'm excited about it!"

She was excited about it!

The day of the Yule, she put on the dress she got from Gladrags, a blue slip dress with crimson red heels, which just happened to match Harry's navy blue muggle suit and red tie, and she did her hair, using a warming charm to imitate the effects of a hair dryer.

When she walked down the stairs outside the Great Hall, Harry was waiting for her there.

"Wow," he said, "you look gorgeous, Hermione."

She blushed. "Thank you!"

"Okay, let's go." He said, as he led her into the Great Hall. "Champions are supposed to start the dance."

And so, they did. The four champions, along with their companions, started the dance. Shortly after, more people started joining: students, staff, and teachers alike.

"Ugh, of course he knows how to waltz!" Harry huffed when he first caught a glimpse of Michael and Draco.

Both Draco and Michael went for wizard suits, black and grey respectively. The two blondes were laughing about something Michael said as they were waltzing around the dance floor. They looked adorable together! Or so Hermione thought.

"Hey!" Draco waved at Harry as he dragged Michael and made his way to him at the bar. Hermione went briefly to the bathroom.

"Great music, huh?" Michael makes small talk.

"It's alright." Harry shrugs, "mediocre at best."

"Are you at least enjoying the food?"

"I've had better…"

Michael was trying really hard. Harry was Draco's best friend, and he wanted to impress him. Draco noticed that.

"Can you give us a second?" He asks Michael, who simply nods and goes to sit at one of the tables. "What's wrong with you?" He turns to Harry.

"What are you talking about?"

"Michael has been nothing but kind to you and you've been treating him like shit."

A pause. Harry weights his next words.

"I don't like him." He didn't weight them well.

"Well, too bad!" Draco says, "because I do."

"I'm just sayin-"

"No!" Draco is very firm, which surprises Harry, because he's not usually like that with him. "You don't get a say in this."

Draco storms off, and joins Michael at his table whilst giving Harry a dirty look.

For the rest of the night, Harry watched as Draco and Michael danced, talked, laughed, and just generally had a good time. Hermione watched Harry obsess over it, which, frankly, was kind of getting in the way of her night.

"Can I ask you a question?" Hermione sits next to Harry, who simply looks up. "Did you ask me to the ball as a friend or…"

"Oh."

"Oh."

A very awkward silence between the two. Hermione feeling slightly embarrassed, and Harry slightly guilty.

"I'm sorry if I've given you the wro-"

"No, no. You didn't." Hermione quickly interrupted him. "I guess it was just wishful thinking."

"I'm sorry."

"You've got nothing to be sorry about."

Awkward silence. Again. Hermione breaks it.

"Is it Draco?"

"What?"

The question catches Harry by surprise.

"You've been watching him all night." Hermione states an observation. "You also really hate Michael."

"I don't hate Michael."

"You should go tell him." Hermione ignore Harry's last statement.

"Tell Michael I don't hate him?"

"No!" Hermione lightly chuckles. "Draco."

Harry shrugs.

"You'll regret it if you don't."

"What about Michael?"

"I like Michael," Hermione says, before adding "but, even though you've been an asshole to him-"

"Thanks!"

"You are my friend." She continues, ignoring him. "I'm, obviously, rooting for you."

He realizes she's right.

Yes, Draco confessed his feelings to him, and he was a total idiot. But he was scared. Terrified. He was not ready.

Over the last month, though, he realized that he made a big mistake, and that, as scary as the possibility of losing Draco after having him was, losing him to someone else was scarier. Not having him at all was scarier.

"Go." Hermione nudges him.

He smiles at her. "Thank you, Hermione."

And so, he leaves to look for Draco. He watched, earlier, as Draco and Michael left the Great Hall, so he left the same way they did. He vaguely heard their voices nearby, so he followed.

"You make me really happy." He overheard Michael say. He peeped from behind the corner to see Draco and Michael standing at the terrace, staring at the night skies.

"No," Draco playfully disagrees, and turns to look at Michael, "you make me really happy…"

Michael chuckles lightly and, he too, turns to look at Draco. Then, silence. Not awkward, but comfortable and serene. They're staring into each other's eyes. Just like Draco and Harry did. Many many weeks ago.

Michael leans in and kisses Draco. Draco kisses him back. Harry realizes he's too late.