Habits of my heart - A Dramione story

The Ball

The ball got closer and closer. There was only one day left and Hermione was still looking for the perfect dress. In fourth year she wore a light blue dress with a hint of purple. It was long. This year she wanted a bit shorter one and around the same color. It fit her skin.

"Hello? Earth to Hermione!" Ginny said.
Hermione snapped out of it.
"Sorry Ginny, I was caught up thinking about what to wear for prom."
"You haven't decided yet?"
"No." Hermione sighed.
"The ball is tomorrow." Ginny said and looked at Hermione.
"I know. I can't find anything appealing to me."
"You need to impress my brother."
"If Hermione wants to impress Fred, she could wear her favorite sweats and he would not care." George said and interrupted the conversation. Hermione blushed.
"Private conversation." Ginny coughed.
"Fine, fine." George said and walked over to some Hufflepuffs.
"I'm sure I'll find something."
"How are you going to get it here on time?"
"Magic."
Ginny giggled and so did Hermione.

Hermione sat on her bed looking at dresses, when she found it. The perfect dress. It was s bit short, a little longer than knee length. It looked a bit tight and was a light shade of purple. The top of the dress was not revealing. She bought it and went to bed. She needed it to arrive tomorrow.

Draco tried to sleep, but there was no way he was going to. His dorm, which was big enough, with black walls, felt so wrong. And even when he tried to think of other things, his mind wandered back to either Hermione or his assignement. He finally fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes the next morning, he felt like shit. He walked down to the Slytherin commonroom.
"Good morning, sunshine." Blaise said sarcastic.
"Shut up."
"Seems like you've slept enough." Pansy said. Draco didn't answer.
"So, Draco--- there's the ball tonight and---"
"Ugh, the stupid ball. I'm not going."
"Oh, why not?" Pansy seemed disappointed.
"I just said why. It's stupid." Draco spat.
"Granger is going with one of the Weasley twins." Blaise said and looked at Draco.
"She is?"
"Mhm." Pansy said. "Which means she is not availible." She continued.
"I don't care. I'm not going." Draco felt a stung in his stomach.
"To bad. You are missing the chance of going with me." Pansy said and giggled.
"As if anyone wanted to go with you." Blaise said and laughed. So did Crabbe and Goyle, but Draco couldn't care less.

"Good morning, guys." Hermione said and smiled at her friends. It's been a while since they've seen her this happy.
"You seem happy." Ron said and smiled back.
"I am."
"That's great." Harry said.
"It's the last day before christmas break. Where are you staying, Harry?" Hermione asked and looked at her bestfriend.
"With the Weasleys, of course. You wouldn't think I would stay with the Dursleys, do you?"
"No, not a chance."
"Where are you staying, Hermione?" Ginny asked and looked at Hermione with puppy eyes.
"I'm going home, but if it's possible I'd love to stay with you guys a few days before school starts again." Hermione said.
"Sounds perfect." Fred said.
"Since it's the last day of school before break, we are free from classes. Ginny, want to start getting ready for the ball?"
"Already? What about breakfeast?" Ginny asked.
"Good point, let's go down and eat." Hermione said and dragged her friends down to the Great Hall.

Draco stood by the mirror in the bathroom. He wore a easy and black suit. His hair was combed, but nothing else was done with it. His colonge smelled a bit like apples.
He started to walk from the dungeons and to the Great Hall. He saw many students, the girls dressed up and the boys walking beside them in their suits. Draco stood outside the Great Hall, considering if he wanted to go in or walk back to his commonroom. After all he did tell Pansy that he wasn't going, but he had changed his mind. That's when he saw her. He turned around and saw her walking down the stairs in her beautiful dress. It looked good on her. It was tight, that's for sure. And it was some kind of the same color as the one she wore last time.
She looked amazing. When she got down, she walked right past Draco and right into another guy's arms. One of the Weasley twins. He didn't know which one of them, because he never cared to learn the diffrence.

"You look stunning." Fred said.
"And you look bloody handsome." Hermione blushed. He took her hand and walked in. Draco stared at them. And decided to stay at the ball. He walked in the Great Hall. It didn't look like it. He didn't recongnize it. It was full of decoration. The walls were covered by some kind of silver paint. There was a huge chandelier hanging from the roof. There was tables at the back, and at the front there was made space for dancing. There was a stage, just like the one in fourth year.
Dumbledore took Mcgonagall's hand and started to dance. Someone needed to get the ball started. And then students came one after one and started to dance. Hermione and Fred was one of them. And beside them were Harry and Ginny. Luna and Neville. Lavender and Ron. Cho and a guy from Hufflepuff.
Pansy approached Draco.
"I thought you said you weren't going?"
"I wasn't supposed to go, but I had nothing better to do." Draco said.
"Want to dance?"
"Better than standing here."
And so Pansy took Dracos hand and went to the dancefloor.
Songs were played, people were dancing, someone left, some people talked and it looked like most of the students had fun. Hermione and Fred had been dancing since the start of the ball and Hermione needed some air.
"I'll follow you." Fred said.
"No, it's okay. I'll be back in five, go and have fun with the rest. I'll see you soon." She said and kissed his cheek.
"Fine."
Hermione walked out of the room and out to the Viaduct Courtyard.
"It's beautiful out here at this time." She whispered to herself.
"Not as beautiful as you."
"Draco.." Hermione said and turned around to see the blond boy admiring her.
"What do you want?"
"We haven't spoken for weeks." Draco said and looked down.
"I know." Hermione said and felt the sadness coming over her.
"Why?" Draco asked.
"Maybe because you called me a mudblood and were about to tell me about your assignment and suddenly changed your mind?"
Draco didn't answer.
"It's not the fact that you called me a mudblood, but because you don't trust me. That's just bullshit." Hermione said.
"I trust you." Draco said and took her hand.
"Show me that you trust me."
"How?"
"You know how." Hermione said. She needed this information for several reasons. Firstly, because Dumbledore wanted her to protect Draco. Secondly, because she was curious and worried.
"I'll tell you after christmas break."
"Why?"
"Because I really can't tell you now."
"Fine. If you don't tell me, I know you don't trust me."
"I trust you."
"Prove it after christmas break." Hermione spat.
"I've missed you." She continued. She took a break from talking. "I really did, but you know that you're being a really douche?"
"Yes. I know. And I promise I'll be good."
"Good, I'm worried for you."
"You've always been." Draco said and smiled at her. She smiled back.
"I need to get back inside, I have a date who waits."
You could hear the music from the Great Hall.
"Before you go back inside, may I ask you for a dance?"
"I have a date---"
"Outside here." Draco said and smirked.
"Of course." Hermione said as she giggled.
And so they danced. Danced to a slow song. Hermione did really feel happy and lucky. That was before reality hit her. Voldemort was out there, hurting both Draco and Harry, other people too. And there was nothing she could do. Nothing but wait. Wait for Draco to open up to her.

Hermione took her shoes off and her dress off. She threw them both on the floor, jumped into her pj's and right to bed. She had no energy left, didn't manage to care about the dress getting curly and her shoes getting even dirtier. She was to tired. Her eyes slowly closing. Her last thought before falling alseep was Voldemort.

Hermione was suddenly in a black room. She looked around and saw Draco. She started running towards him but got hit by the cruciatus curse. The pain was horrifying. She screamed as loud as she could. Draco didn't do anything. She turned her face to see both Voldemort and Bellatrix laughing. And when her face turned to Draco again, she saw Draco fighting with his father, Lucius Malfoy. It all went black.

Hermione woke up with a scream. She was sweating and crying. Lavender woke up.
"What?" She said.
"I'm sorry. Nightmare..." Hermione said.
"Want to talk about it?"
"Rather not. Go back to sleep."
"Okay. Goodnight." Lavender yawned.
"Goodnight." Hermione said and tried to sleep again.