A/N: Here it goes, the last chapter of my first fan fiction, I really hope you guys enjoy this, it's taken a while. If you have any thoughts/ideas/suggestions for other Fanfic ideas I would love to hear them! Please leave a review, it makes me a very happy author!
Hermione's Pov
It was finally time for the ball. She had spent hours getting ready, combing her hair, applying makeup, perfecting her mask. And she looked amazing! Her hair was gently cascading down her back, arranged in loose curls with flowers threaded through the strands. Her dress suited her more than any other piece of clothing she owned and it was red as an added bonus! The mask itself was black, gold and red symbolising the colours of Gryffindor, her house. She couldn't wait for Draco to see her. Oh crap, she thought, I'm meant to be meeting Draco outside the Great Hall in 10 minutes at 7:40 in order to make a grand entrance. Hurriedly, she picked up her heels, slid them on and ran out of the room. Little did she know that Draco was otherwise… preoccupied.
She was so sure she'd be late but most of the uninvited years were already in their common rooms and the older years were all at the ball so the corridors were relatively free. "You look simply fabulous Ms Granger," Nearly Headless Nick called out as she dashed past him. Hermione gave a brief nod of appreciation before hurrying down the stairs. She was ready for Draco to give her a berating for so nearly being late but surprisingly he wasn't there. Strange, she thought, Draco isn't one to be late, he's probably just combing his hair, Hermione rolled her eyes, yes that was it. It was fine if he was running a few minutes late, it's not like they were scheduled to enter till 8:00. Encouraged, she sat on the stairs, listening to the beautiful classical music that was playing inside the hall. The minutes ticked by yet still there was no sign of Draco. At 7:53 she became frantic, where is he? He wouldn't stand me up, unless… Hermione realised what had happened with a jolt of shock, this was his plan all along. Make me fall in love with him and then abandon me, she buried her face into her hands. How had she let that bastard Malfoy trick her so easily?
Mcgonagall emerged from the Great Hall looking worried, she had expected the Head Boy and Head Girl to already be inside, but they had to enter by 8:00 or the doors would close and the party would end. Humiliated, Hermione stood up and got ready for the most embarrassing moment of her life. Mcgonagall had obviously realised what had happened and gave Hermione's arm a sympathetic squeeze. Just as Hermione was about to enter alone, she felt a hand take her own and looked up in shock. It was Harry.
"Harry, what are you doing here?"
"As soon as you didn't enter at the dot of 7:40 I knew something was up and came to find you," he said looking sympathetically into her eyes with a tight smile.
Hermione choked with appreciation for her best friend, "Thank you so much Harry, you are an amazing friend." Harry looked away in what she assumed was embarrassment but he knew to be guilt.
"So you ready to make an entrance?" he squeezed her hand.
"Damn right I am, let's give those Slytherin bastards something to look at," she said determinedly. Happy at the sight of the young couple, Mcgonagall cast a quiet incantation and the doors threw open to shocked looks from everyone. Hermione and Harry entered the room, holding hands, chins up oblivious to the gossip.
"I thought she was going with Malfoy!"
"I heard Malfoy stood her up."
"No you're both wrong, I know for a fact that Malfoy tricked her into dating him and Harry saved her," Seamus Finnigan argued loyally, shooting Harry a knowing glance. Harry puffed his chest, he had won. The girl of his dreams was on his arm and everyone knew it. Courteously, Harry led Hermione on to the floor for a waltz, ignoring the many eyes that were on them. Then the music began and nobody cared. All they wanted was to have some fun before exams started and if dancing was the best way to do it then so be it!
Draco's Pov
That bastard, he cursed under his breath as he watched Potter leave the room. It was such a perfect plan, apart from the fact that Potter had to be the worst knot tier in history. Grinning, Draco got to work freeing himself from his bonds and before long he was done. He rushed to open the door and was surprised at Potter's magical ability when he realised that a time-sensitive locking charm had been cast on the door so it would only open at 8:03pm. Frustrated, Draco's eyes roamed the room until it landed on his suit. Well, he thought, I better start getting ready.
Harry's Pov
After a few dances, Harry pulled Hermione gently to the side and asked her if she would like a drink. "Just some punch please, thank you Harry," she said politely and Harry nodded, wandering over to the drinks station.
"Yo, Harry," Dean Thomas called and Harry walked over to the gang of seventh year Gryffindors.
"So mate, how'd you do it?" Seamus Finnigan asked curiously.
"Do what?"
The boys rolled their eyes, "Get Hermione to go with you instead of that git Malfoy?" Dean clarified.
"A gentleman never tells," Harry said knowingly tapping the side of his nose, "And this gentleman has a date with the most beautiful girl in our year." Harry scooped up some punch from the pink bowl and winked at the boys before heading off to where Hermione was sitting. With Blaise Zabini.
Hermione's Pov
Blaise had come over almost as soon as Hermione had left and had glared at Hermione accusingly. "What do you want, Zabini?"
"Oh back to last name terms are we Granger," Blaise mocked.
Hermione gritted her teeth, he was asking for a good hexing, "I said what do you want?"
Blaise sighed and decided to get on with it, "May I ask why you are here with that arrogant jerk Potter instead of my best friend?"
"No you may not," she snapped, "Because your idiot of a best friend stood me up and I would thank you not to insult Harry! He has been very good to me."
Blaise stared at her in shock, "Malfoy stood you up?" Hermione nodded. "He wouldn't do that.." Blaise muttered, "Unless he didn't have a choice." Blaise looked up to find himself being pulled out of his chair by one very angry Harry Potter.
"Harry," Hermione shrieked, "Put him down, we were just talking and he was just leaving." Blaise started to object but Hermione threw him a glare that clearly said, keep your mouth shut.
Surprisingly, Harry let Blaise down without any complaints, "Sorry Hermione, I thought he was bothering you. And sorry Blaise," he added distractedly, as an afterthought. Hermione was pretty sure she heard Blaise mumble, "Jerk," but Harry didn't realise so she decided to leave it. Harry handed her the punch and she accepted it gratefully and was about to drink it before she heard a loud BANG.
Everyone looked up to see a fuming Draco standing at the doors of the Great Hall. He scanned the room quickly before seeing Hermione and running over to her. Protectively, Harry stepped in front of her, "What do you want, Malfoy? he snarled.
"Get out of my way Potter before I hex you for what you did to me!" Draco yelled.
"What are you talking about, Draco, if anybody's in the wrong here it's you," Hermone shouted, stepping in front of Harry.
Draco's eyes softened when he saw her even though she was looking very annoyed, "Hermione I can explain," he began.
"Explain what?" she yelled, "How you stood me up and nearly embarrassed me in front of all my friends? Or how you tricked me into loving you before abandoning me at the last second," tears were streaming from her face, uncontrollably.
"Hermione, Potter tied me up and locked me in my room so I couldn't come see you," Draco said softly, watching her eyes widen, "I love you Hermione Granger and no one could ever fake that."
"Harry," she stared at him, "Please tell me he's lying."
For a moment Harry was tempted to but then Malfoy winked at him and he burst, "No it's true! But how did you expect me to see you when he was acting like your jailer the whole time!"
Hermione stared at him in shock, Harry had gone crazy. It must have been the mental stress the war had left on him, she thought. She was about to reach up and comfort him but Mcgonagall had had enough and shot a stunning spell at the raven haired teen. Silently, she removed him from the Hall and left Draco and Hermione in peace. Well apart from the hundred strong mass staring at them.
Draco got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box from his pocket, to the gasps of everyone in the hall, "Hermione Jean Granger I have always loved you and will always love you. Will you make me the luckiest wizard ever by becoming my wife?" he said softly.
Everyone looked at Hermione, "Yes," she screamed, "Yes you gorgeous, intelligent bastard I will marry you!" She threw her arms around his neck and he picked her up. There was a moment of silence and then everyone started cheering. And that moment wasn't perfect, but it didn't need to be. They were happy.
