An Unexpected Development

A/N: Hey everyone I know a lot of you probably want me to update Hate Me, but I'd already written this and I wanted to get it out. I know I put Harry/ Hermione, but this chapter at least is more about Draco and Ginny. Before you push the little back button let me assure you that there is quite a bit of Harry/Hermione in there also, at least hints of it. The second and final part of this chapter if all goes well will be all Harry/Hermione. So with that said or written I suppose on with the story!!! Oh… and before I forget I'd like to say (or write/type) thanks so much to all those who reviewed Hate Me. I really appreciated it. Also if you could please leave a review, I absolutely love to know what you guys think!!!

“Ginny, Ginny!” Hermione yelled as she pounded on the 6 year girls' dorm door.

All she could hear was muffled sobs coming from behind the door. Thankfully it was almost Christmas and Ginny's dorm mates had all gone home or else Hermione would have even more to deal with at two o'clock in the morning. Hermione sighed and rubbed her eyes.

“Ginny,” she said once more, “I'll blast this door if I have to.”

Another loud sob and she heard the door click and soon later she was standing face to face with her best girl friend. Ginny was a mess. Her hair and clothes were in disarray and her face was bright red from lots of crying.

Hermione had no idea what was wrong, but she immediately hugged her friend as Ginny cried into her shoulder. When Ginny seemed to calm down a little Hermione led her over to the bed where they both sat down.

“Ginny what's wrong, what happened?”

“I can't tell him Hermione, he'll hate me!”

“Who, Ginny? What happened?” Hermione asked starting to panic. She hadn't thought her friend had a serious problem. She'd merely thought that Ginny was crying over a boy or being overly dramatic as per usual but Ginny was way too upset for it to be about something like that.

“I'm pregnant, Hermione.” Ginny said. Hermione felt her heart break. She had been in love with Harry, Ginny's boyfriend of nine months for three years and she knew that once Ginny told him she was pregnant Harry would feel obligated to ask her to marry him.

Hermione felt tears fill her eyes, but she blinked them away once again looking down at her friend who was too distraught to notice Hermione's distress.

“I'm sure Harry will understand.” Hermione said finally. “It will be okay, Ginny.”

If possible Ginny looked even worse.

Hermione noticed. “What is it?”

Ginny let out another chocked sob. “It's not Harry.” She said finally.

Hermione's mouth formed a large O and she stuttered out, “Wh- what?”

“I never went that far with Harry.” Ginny whispered. “I don't love him.”

Hermione racked her brains for who else could have possibly gotten Ginny pregnant and she came up with a blank. She was about to ask who it was when Ginny continued.

“It's Draco Malfoy.”

Hermione gasped. True it was better since Draco had become a spy for the light, but the Weasleys and the Malfoy were still rivals. Hermione knew Ginny's family would accept it eventually, but if Draco chose to support Ginny then his parents Hermione had no doubt would disown him.

In telling Draco she was pregnant Ginny would be asking him to choose between his family and her.

Hermione rubbed Ginny's back soothingly. “You have to tell them Ginny.

“I haven't even told him I love him.”

“Do you?” Hermione asked looking down at her friend.

“Yes,” Ginny whispered having finally stopped crying.

Hermione stood up pulling Ginny with her. “You have to tell him now.”

Ginny nodded much to Hermione's surprise.

“I'll go get Harry's invisibility cloak. Why don't you go get cleaned up?” Hermione said ushering Ginny towards the bathroom then walking towards the door. She stayed until she heard the shower turn on before walking to the boy's dormitories.

She opened the door quietly tiptoeing towards the bed where she knew Harry slept. His bed curtains were the only ones open she noticed as she crept up to him and kneeled down to stick her hand under his bed where she knew the invisibility cloak would most likely be.

She found it easily and had just about made it to the door when she felt an arm encircle her waist. She was about to scream when she felt a calloused hand cover her mouth and someone's warm breath in her ear.

“It's impolite to take other people's things without asking.”

She relaxed when she recognized Harry's voice she hadn't even heard him come up behind her. Harry released her much to her disappointment and pushed her gently towards the door. She looked down to see he had already picked up his invisibility cloak. She sighed and opened the door walking down the stairs to the common room where they sat down on one of the couches in front of the fire.

Harry didn't bother with small talk. He went straight to the point. “Why do you need the invisibility cloak?” he asked sitting down extremely close to her Hermione noticed.

Hermione bit her lip as she thought up an answer. She was about to answer that she wanted to go to the library or something trivial like that, but instead what came out was much different.

“Do you love Ginny?” She asked then covered her mouth with her hand.

Harry's eyes filled with a strange emotion as he answered, “No Hermione I don't love Ginny.”

Hermione let out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding in.

“You don't?” she asked.

Harry looked embarrassed before answering. “Ginny and I were kind of just together because Ron wanted us to be. We pretty much just snog a lot and talk about quiddich.”

“Good.” Hermione said before she could stop herself.

“Why?” Harry asked his eyes once again filling with an emotion Hermione didn't recognize.

Hermione was contemplating whether or not to answer that question when Ginny came down the stairs fully dressed. Hermione grabbed the cloak from Harry and stood up. If it weren't for Harry's hand on her wrist she would have walked over to Ginny then walked out the door.

“Why does Ginny need the invisibility cloak, Hermione?” Harry asked still holding on to her wrist.

Hermione looked over at Ginny who shook her head looking a lot better now that she had taken a shower and gotten changed then she looked back at Harry.

“I can't tell you,” she said, “but Ginny will eventually,” she said looking up at Ginny who nodded then back down to Harry who seemed to be going through every single reason he could think of why they would need it.

“Just be careful.” He said looking at Hermione.

Hermione nodded and Harry dropped her arm.

Hermione walked over to Ginny then they both hurried outside the common room towards the heads dorm where Hermione and Draco shared a common room.

They got there rather quickly encountering no one in the silent hallways. Hermione said the password quickly then headed inside. The lights immediately came on when they entered. Ginny looked around she and Draco usually met in an old charms classroom on the fifth floor where Ginny had gone to think before she started going out with Draco and Hermione had never let her come in here because it was supposedly against some rule.

The room was almost identical to the Gryffindor common room only on a smaller scale and there were of course different colors. Draco, even if he had changed from the spoiled, selfish, rich prat he'd been in fourth and fifth year, but he still didn't like Gryffindors and he would surely object to having a red and gold room.

The common room was painted mostly in varying shades of blue. A myriad of pictures adorned the walls from famous witches and wizards including the four founders to some of the old prefects and other random people.

All the furniture was in a neutral cream and the floor was light wood making the room seem bigger than it really was. What caught Ginny's attention at the moment were the two sets of stairs that led up to Draco and Hermione's bedrooms.

A single tear made its way out of one of her eyes as she thought about what she would have to do. Hermione didn't notice, she headed towards the right staircase without hesitation. Ginny followed close behind ignoring the curious glances of the portraits around the room. When they got to the door Hermione knocked and waited they heard a loud thump as if someone had fallen out of their bed and a muffled curse. Soon the door was opened by Draco Malfoy looking quite different from his normal almost perfection. His hair was tousled and he was rubbing his eyes.

“What do you want?” he asked looking at Hermione who glared at him stepping aside so he could see Ginny.

“I just brought Ginny up here,” she said.

“I need to talk to you… it's important.” Ginny said looking down at her feet her eyes over flowing with tears.

For a second Draco looked surprised before grabbing her hand gently and pulling her inside. He glanced at Hermione for a second trying to puzzle out what had gotten Ginny so upset and how much the head girl knew about their relationship. Draco looked back at Ginny who had walked into the room then back at Hermione again who was now studying him intently. He looked into his eyes and he saw Draco's love for Ginny reflected there and she smiled knowing that Draco would do the right thing. Hermione looked at Ginny before turning around and walking down the stairs again.

Draco took one last look at Hermione before shutting the door and walking back into the room. Immediately he pulled Ginny into a hug and she sobbed into his shirt as he ran his fingers through her hair. When she finally quieted he pulled her over to his king sized bed where he sat down and pulled her up so she was sitting with her back against his chest.

“What is it Red? What's wrong?” Asked Draco finally when they'd sat there for a while.

Ginny let out another chocked sob, “I'm afraid if I tell you you'll leave me, but I know I have to.”

“Gin, I promise I won't leave you. It can't be that bad.”

Ginny shook her head wiping away the tears that were running down her face. Draco pulled her closer to him.

“You'll hate me,” Ginny whispered finally, “and I can't do this alone.”

“I could never hate you Ginny.”

Ginny shook her head again letting out a noise that could have been either a laugh or a sob.

“You'll hate me for this.” She whispered pulling away from him and sitting opposite him on the bed staring at her hand sitting in her lap.

“We were careful. I know I did the spell and the potion I took should have prevented it,” said Ginny, “I didn't even think about it when I missed my period.”

She looked up at Draco and she saw his eyes widen in shock. A fresh wave of tears washed down on her face as she continued, “I… I couldn't believe it when Madam Pomfrey told me I was pregnant. I was just getting a physical done so I could play Quiddich.”

She looked back down on her lap waiting for him to say something. Now it was time for her eyes to widen when she heard him laugh, rare even around her.

Ginny looked up to see a smile on Draco's face. He pulled her into a quick hug and then he kissed her with the most passion and feeling he'd ever put into a kiss.

“I thought something terrible had happened. Ginny I love you. Sure, this wasn't planned or anything, but I don't think it's bad.”

“You do?” Ginny whispered she wasn't ready for this reaction she had expected him to yell at her or throw her out of his room. She had never expected that he might be happy about this.

“Of course I do,” he said. “I just didn't and still don't know if you feel anything for me.” He suddenly looked nervous and she smiled tears of joy now streaming down her face.

“I've loved you forever Draco. I wouldn't have slept with you if I didn't love you.”

He grinned and kissed her again and again. Suddenly he stopped and she looked up at him in confusion. He looked somewhat thoughtful.

“I'll be right back,” he said getting up from the bed and walking through a door she had never seen before. She took a moment to look around the room she'd only been once before, the first and only time they'd made love and they'd flood here from the fireplace at the Leaky Cauldron.

It was painted in the Slytherin colors, green and silver. In one corner of the rather large room was a desk with quills, parchment and a charms book littering it and on the opposite side was a large mahogany dresser that matched the desk. She saw another door that she assumed was the closet. The most magnificent part of the room though was definitely the bed. It was situated in the middle of the room and had green satin sheets that she now noticed were very soft.

She was just about to go investigate Draco's disappearance when he walked through the door once again looking very nervous. She looked at him inquisitively with one eyebrow raised. He smiled back uneasily walking slowly up to the bed.

When he got there he reached out his hand and she took it. He pulled her up so she was standing looking up at him.

He looked down straight into her eyes and Ginny felt like she was going to melt, how could she not have seen the love that was so clearly in his eyes?

She wondered what this was all about.

“Ginny, I know this is probably really fast and I don't want to pressure you or anything. Its just I've never felt this way about someone before. I think about you all the time and when I'm with you I feel like nothing bad could ever happen. You make feel so alive like I could do anything whenever I'm around you even if we have to pretend we don't like each other around everyone.” Draco said still looking deep into her big chocolate brown eyes.

“I just want you to consider this and know it's not just about the baby. I've wanted to do this for a couple months, but that would have been way too soon.”

He kneeled down and her eyes again filled with tears as she looked down on the man she loved with all her heart.

Draco continued. “I know we are young, really young and I know we've only been going out for a year and a half, but you would make me the happiest man alive if you would some day be my wife. Gin, will you marry me?”

She nodded her head and dropped to her knees in front of him. “Yes.”

Draco grinned and pulled her to him in a fiery kiss. When they broke away Draco looked at her and said, “It can just be a promise ring I you want, but I would kind of like to be married before the baby comes.”

“Me too,” she whispered, “What am I going to tell my parents?”

She looked up at Draco who looked panicked, “What are we going to tell your brother?”

A/N: Thanks for reading… please leave a review… if you do I'll update faster!!!

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A/N: Alright well here's the second chapter more Harry/Hermione in this one. This is the second to last chapter so be on the lookout for the next one. Sorry for the mistakes. Please enjoy and as always please review. Hope you guys like it!

When Hermione got back to the common room Harry was asleep on the couch in front of the fire. She walked behind it and was about to go upstairs to get some of Ginny's things for her, she assumed Ginny would be staying with Draco tonight when a voice called her back.

“You're not getting away that easily,” Hermione jumped and turned around to face Harry her hand held over her chest and rapidly beating heart.

“What are you talking about?” Hermione asked while trying to slowly back up the stairs.

“Don't play dumb Hermione,” said Harry flicking his wrist in her direction.

Hermione looked around trying to figure out what he did when she backed into an invisible wall. She glared at him before walking back down the stairs again.

She walked up in front of the couch her hands braced on her hips still glaring at him. “Let me go!” She ordered finally.

Harry smiled. “I don't think so. Where's Ginny?”

Hermione felt her heart sink, so all he wanted to know about was Ginny.

“She's in my room. I was just going up to get her some clothes.” She replied keeping her facial expressions and voice carefully neutral.

“You're lying,” he informed her.

Hermione sighed and let her hands fall to her sides as she sat down on the couch beside him. Harry scooted closer to her as soon as she got comfortable and took her hand in his, something that Hermione did not fail to notice.

She looked up at him inquisitively, but he wasn't looking at her, but instead looking into the fire.

She sighed, “I can't tell you, Harry.”

Harry stiffened, “You once said you could tell me anything.”

Hermione smiled slightly and nodded. “Everything, but this,” she replied.

She looked back up at Harry who was staring at her. He blushed and looked down at their intertwined fingers and started drawing designs on her open palm. Hermione shivered.

“Are you cold?” Harry asked.

Hermione nodded. “Just a little bit,” she said though she didn't mean it.

Harry turned his body to face her, then scooted back to the end of the couch, stretching out his legs and pulling her to lay between his legs with her head on his chest.

Harry conjured a blanket a blanket and pulled it over both of them then whispered a spell to douse the fire.

He silenced her protests with a few words.

“Hermione please just sleep with me here tonight, I never have nightmares when you're with me.”

Hermione smiled. “Alright, Harry, but only tonight.” She said sounding completely normal, but inside Hermione Granger was a nervous, panicky mess.

When she finally drifted off to sleep it was nearly morning.

**@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@**

Ginny bounced in early the next morning a large grin on her face. She was anxious to tell Hermione how her talk with Draco had gone. When she didn't find Hermione I her room she had naturally gone to check the next most probable place she would be, the Gryffindor Common.

On a normal day this early in the morning Ginny probably would have passed right by the couple sleeping on the couch, but today was not a normal day. Ginny was wide awake and completely aware of her surroundings when she spotted Harry and Hermione lying together on the couch.

She was just about to walk over and wake them up, but decided not to disturb them instead opting to sit on a nearby chair and wait for them to wake up.

**@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@**

Hermione woke later confused at first to find herself not in her room on her big comfortable bed, but instead on her best friend Harry's chest in the common room. Looking around to see if anyone had seen them together she found a certain red haired witch smiling wickedly at her.

Ginny held up her left hand and Hermione saw a very large princess cut diamond ring on her finger. She held back a gasp and quickly disentangled herself from Harry's arms eager to hear all the details of last nights talk.

Harry mumbled something in his sleep and Hermione froze. She let out a sigh of relief when she realized he was still asleep and pulled totally away from him following Ginny out of the Gryffindor Common Room all the way to the head boy and girl's common room. Once there Hermione wasted no time asking questions about the night before and how Draco had taken the news of the pregnancy.

“I don't want to spoil this moment, Ginny,” said Hermione after a while, “but you have to tell Harry.”

Ginny nodded the grin that was once on her face fading.

“Will you come with me?” she asked. When Hermione hesitated she added, “Please, Hermione it would really help to have you there.”

Hermione nodded hesitantly. “Let's get this over with now,” she said standing up Ginny one step behind her. “We'll take him to the room of requirement.”

They walked out of the common room together once again and made their way towards the Gryffindor common room once more.

Upon entering they found many students trying to finish assignments due that day and several others waiting for friends so they could go down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

“Wait down here.” Hermione told Ginny and Ginny nodded sitting down in one of the over sized chairs by the fire immediately drawn into a conversation with Lavender and Parvati.

Hermione walked up the stairs towards the seventh year boys' dorm room.

Since she had already seen Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Ron down in the common room she didn't hesitate to open the door without knocking.

“Harry I….” she started, but gulped and blushed a bright red when Harry turned around and finished zipping up his pants.

He walked over to his trunk as he said, “Hi Hermione.”

“Harry, I'm sorry I didn't realize you were changing. I'll just wait outside…”

Harry pulled on the shirt he'd gotten out from his trunk. “Don't worry about,” he said not the least bit bothered by her walking in on him changing. “What did you need?”

“Oh,” said Hermione her cheeks slowly fading back to their normal color, “Well Ginny and I thought we'd talk to you now. Well actually I'm just kind of going to be there for moral support.”

Harry frowned, “For me or for her?” he asked.

“Both.” Hermione said finally gaining enough control over her body to walk up to Harry and grab his hand pulling her with him out the door and down the stairs. Ginny was waiting for them looking like she was about to walk the plank. She smiled tightly at them and led the way to the room of requirement.

When they walked in they found a nice comfortable room with a couch and a couple chairs.

Ginny settled into one of the chairs and Harry sat down across from her on the couch. Hermione hesitated then looked at Ginny who smiled at her and nodded slightly at Harry signaling that it was okay for her to sit next to him. Hermione knew he was going to need a little bit of support.

Ginny wasted no time, as soon as Hermione sat down she said it, “Harry, I'm pregnant.”

Hermione winced and looked over at Harry hesitantly, not even sure if she wanted to know what he was thinking at the moment.

Harry's face was stone, “Who?” he asked quietly.

“Draco.” Ginny whispered looking him directly in the eye.

Harry swore.

“Jesus, Gin you told me there was another guy, but Draco blood Malfoy?”

Ginny continued, “I love him, Harry. We're going to get married.”

“He has changed, Harry,” said Hermione.

Harry looked over at her and his eyes softened before he turned back to Ginny. “What are you going to tell your family?”

“The truth,” replied Ginny, “but not until Christmas break.”

“You have to tell Dumbledore too.” said Hermione.

Ginny nodded looking like she was about ready to puke. “At least Draco will be with me.”

“Well, I'm glad you found someone who loves you.” Said Harry finally and Hermione looked at him in shock. She couldn't believe he had accepted it that quickly. She looked back to see him and Ginny sharing a knowing look. Now what was that all about? She wondered.

“Thanks Harry.”

Harry smiled slightly and stood up. “Let's go get some breakfast!”

**@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@**

“Hermione, you should tell him!” said Ginny for the third time that morning.

Hermione had told Ginny about her feelings for Harry and now Ginny wouldn't stop bugging her about it.

“You can tell him at the dance.” Ginny was practically jumping up and down in Hermione's bed from excitement.

Hermione looked at Ginny in confusion, “What dance?”

“The Christmas Eve Dance of course, don't tell me you forgot?”

Hermione looked sheepish. She had forgotten and the dance was only a few days away. She panicked, “Ginny, I don't have anything to wear. “What am I going to do? Oh, this is a disaster. Everyone has already gotten there clothes for the dance and I don't have anything!”

“Calm down.” Ordered Ginny and to her surprise Hermione quieted at once. Ginny smiled smugly then continued, “I'm sure Dumbledore will give you special permission to go to Hogsmeade and I really want to get some baby books anyway, I'll go with you.

Hermione smiled gratefully and nodded, “Great idea, but there is no time to waste. Let's go ask him right now. After all I am head girl and it's Christmas Break. I can't imagine him having any problems with it.”

**@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@**

It turned out that Hermione was right and they were on there way to Hogsmeade no more than a half an hour later. They searched through several gown shops with no luck. Finally they came upon a small shop about a mile away from the center of Hogsmeade.

“Come on Hermione. I'm sure you'll be able to find something in this one.”

Hermione sighed and followed Ginny into the small shop. At first it looked as if this shop was going to be the same as all the others. They were about to leave and try another store when Ginny shouted to Hermione from the other side of the room.

“Hermione I've found something,” she yelled.

Hermione hurried over to Ginny who was holding one of the prettiest dresses she had ever seen. It was a strapless white dress with black embroidery across the skirt and bodice.

Hermione squealed and grabbed it from Ginny running to the changing rooms to try it on.

When Hermione came out of the changing room she looked like a goddess. The dress fit perfectly. Hermione grinned at Ginny.

“Oh my God, it's perfect,” whispered Ginny in awe.

Hermione just nodded extremely happy to have found a dress that she absolutely loved. She changed out of it quickly and took it up to the cashier wincing at the price, but getting out her money anyway.

Ginny and Hermione walked back to Hogwarts with large grins on their faces.

A/N: Alright well that's it. Next chapter is the Christmas Eve ball, so be on the lookout! That will hopefully be the last one. Please R/Rand if you want to see the ring you can go to http://www.bluenile.com/product_details.asp?oid=5230&page=1&show_all_pages=1&col=3&row=1&pos=3&set_shape= and click princess-cut diamond. If you want to see the dress you can go to http://www.gownsbysimpleelegance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SE&Product_Code=AG3030&Category_Code=BG .

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A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait, but it wasn't my fault. I was writing the whole time. My computer broke and I just got it fixed today, but still I am very sorry. I hope you guys like this chapter, it's the last one, please review! ! ! !

Chapter 3

When Hermione woke up the next morning it nearly lunch time. She swore and jumped out of bed narrowly missing Crookshanks who had jumped off the bed as soon as she had woken up.

She hurried out of her room and down into the common room where she saw Ginny and Draco making out on the couch. Hermione groaned and stalked over to them, she tapped Ginny on the shoulder and watched as Ginny gently pulled away from Draco who immediately looked up and groaned.

Hermione gasped as she saw the large blue and black bruise on his right eye. “What the hell happened to you?”

She looked at Ginny who was clenching her teeth.

“Hey I had almost gotten her to forget. Now I'll have to start all over again!” Draco complained taking in his fiancée's peeved expression.

Ginny ignored him, “Apparently Harry wasn't quite as okay with our relationship as he appeared. I found them fighting this morning near the staircases. They both just got out of the hospital wing.”

Ginny turned to glare at Draco.

“He started it,” said Draco immediately defending himself.

“I don't care who started it! You shouldn't have hit hum back!”

“What did you expect me to do, let him hit me?”

“No, but you could have just walked away. You should have just walked away.”

“And let him win? There is no way that I was going to let him…”

Hermione cut him off. “Would you two just give it a break!?”

Draco and Ginny stopped bickering immediately and looked up at her.

“How's Harry?” Hermione asked.

Ginny shrugged, “He's out of the hospital wing. You'll probably see him at the dance, he looks okay. Draco managed to break his arm though so I'm sure it was a slightly painful experience. He's fine now though.”

Ginny looked at Draco who looked smug. She glared at him and added, “Harry broke three of Draco's ribs though and his nose. It's just harder to mend a broken arm then it is to mend a couple broken ribs and I don't think Draco's nose looks that bad. What do you think, Hermione?”

Hermione saw the gleam in Ginny's chocolate brown eyes and decided to play along. “Well I thought it looked just a tad bit crooked, but I didn't want to say anything.”

Draco went pale the hand that had been intertwined with Ginny's went up to feel his nose trying to tell if they were kidding or not. He hadn't looked in the mirror since he'd gotten back from the hospital wing.

“Oh, don't worry,” Hermione said quickly, “you can hardly tell.”

Draco stood up fast and hurried into his room slamming the door shut behind him as Ginny and Hermione burst out laughing at Draco's horrified expression.

Hermione was still chuckling when she waved Ginny good-bye and headed to the Great Hall to grab something to eat before she had to get ready.

She was almost there when she heard a voice calling for her to wait up. She turned around to see Neville Longbottom hurrying up to her.

“Hey Hermione.” He greeted her almost shyly, which had become very out of character for him in the last few months. He'd gotten much more confident.

“Hey Neville,” she greeted him in return slowing down so he could fall into step beside her.

Neville cut right to the chase. “I was wondering is you might want to go to the ball with me since neither of us have dates, as friends of course.”

Hermione stopped and Neville almost went on without her. He stopped just in time to turn and see her pondering the idea then her face broke out into a large smile, “I'd love to go to the dance with you, Neville.”

Neville relaxed and gave his own smile in return. “Great, how about I come to your room around 8 o'clock?”

Hermione nodded and started walking again. Neville keeping up pace beside her, “That sounds great.”

They walked into the Great Hall together and settled down at the Gryffindor table.

They talked the whole time and were there nearly and hour and would have kept talking if Hermione hadn't looked down at her watch and gasped in alarm.

“What is it?” asked Neville.

“I have to get ready for the dance. I only have five and a half hours before I have to be ready!'

Neville stared at her. “Five and a half hours isn't enough?”

Hermione shook her head vigorously already standing up.

“Sorry, but I have to go. I'll see you at eight though.”

Neville nodded and she took off practically sprinting to the door then yanking it open and running out towards the head boy's and girl's rooms.

When she got up to her room Ginny was already there sifting through her make-up and pulling out all the different colors she would use. Hermione could here the shower running in the bathroom. Ginny glanced up at her. “Finally,” she exclaimed, “You went down to the Great Hall nearly an hour ago what took you so long?”

“I was talking to Neville,” Hermione replied rummaging under her bed for the box with her dress in it, “He asked me to go to the dance with him, as friends.”

Ginny squealed in delight, “That's great, now you won't look like complete outcast.”

Hermione frowned as she pulled the box out form under her bed and set on top of her mattress. She looked over at Ginny who was grinning sheepishly just about ready to walk into the bathroom and take her shower, “Sorry, I didn't mean it like that.”

Hermione smiled, “How did you mean it then?”

“I don't know, but that didn't sound so bad in my mind.” Ginny replied and shut the door to the bathroom.

Hermione shook her head and opened the box that held her dress. She couldn't help the large grin that formed on her face when she saw it again. She absolutely loved the dress she'd gotten and she wondered if Harry would like it too. Now that he obviously wasn't with Ginny she thought she might have a chance, with the way he'd been acting a couple days ago she thought he might actually like her as a girl. I mean what guy friend would he hold hands with and sleep with. Hermione laughed out loud at that. She had indeed `slept with Harry'.

She pulled out her dress and laid it on her bed spreading out and smoothing out any small wrinkles.

She then walked over to her closet and pulled out a black shoe box.

She opened it and pulled out the shoes she was going to wear with her dress. They were strappy black heels with glittering little lightning bolts on them that she had just had to buy when she had gone out shopping with her mother over the summer. She had never really thought she'd be bold enough to wear them, but tonight it just felt right to wear them and they were a lot nicer then the plain black heels she'd gotten to go with the dress originally.

She laid them out on the bed just as she heard the shower turn off she was gabbing a towel from her closet when Ginny walked out with a towel wrapped around her body like a sarong and another one in her hair.

Ginny immediately scanned the room for Hermione, but her eyes stopped half way around the room and settled onto the shoes Hermione had laid out on the bed. “Where did you get those?” she asked walking towards the bad to get a better look.

Hermione blushed and thought about forgetting about the shoes and going to get her old ones.

She was just about to reply that she'd accidentally gotten the wrong shoes out when Ginny explained, “They're perfect!”

Hermione smiled, but the doubt was still there. “Do you think I should wear those?”

“Of course you should, they go perfectly with your dress and if Harry doesn't get the hint then he is too stupid for you to love him anyhow.”

Hermione smiled, feeling much more confident. She picked up her towel and walked into the bathroom to take her own shower leaving Ginny to get dressed.

When she came out Ginny had already donned her emerald green dress and the beautiful necklace Draco had gotten her for her birthday a couple months ago.

It was a silver dragon with an emerald for its eye. Ginny loved that necklace and until now she wore it tucked under her shirt at all times. Ginny was obviously nervous and Hermione didn't blame her, this was the night she and Draco were going to publicly announce there relationship to everyone.

She gave Ginny a reassuring smile and pulled on her dress while Ginny started on her own hair. She used her wand to dry it and pull it up into an elegant chignon with a few pieces hanging down to frame her face.

Ginny got up and turned toward Hermione again, “What do you think?”

Hermione smiled in return and replied, “It looks great. I don't know how you get it so perfect. I wish I could do that.”

“You can,” replied Ginny, “You just don't want to practice something like that when you can be working on something more useful like a shrinking spell or something.”

Hermione reached back behind her back and tried to zip up her dress. Ginny shook her head and did it for her, zipping the dress all the way up and latching the hook.

“Thanks,” said Hermione as Ginny hurried her over to sit down in front of the mirror. Ginny rubbed some shiny pink stuff into Hermione's hair that tamed the curls that were already starting to dry and tangle up then muttered a drying spell. She then set to work waving her wand in all kinds of complex patterns until the hair fell in loose curls at the bottom.

Hermione smiled her gratitude even as she thanked Ginny for all she had done. Ginny blushed and shrugged it off, but Hermione could tell she was secretly pleased.

The both did their make-up and pulled on there shoes meeting up at Hermione's full scale mirror to check their appearances.

With a nod of approval both girl grabbed their purses and headed down to the common room where Neville and Draco were waiting for them.

Ginny went down first earning awed looks from both boys and more than a little staring. Neville snapped out of it at first complementing Ginny on her appearance.

Draco took much longer before he was finally able to complement her on how beautiful she looked. Ginny blushed with pleasure and took his offered his arm.

She moved to the side so Hermione could make her way down the stairs. She walked down the stairs shyly looking at her shoes. When she finally looked up both boy's were staring at her slack jawed. This time Draco was the first to come out of it with a well earned smack from Ginny.

Neville shook his head and grinned widely, “You look amazing, Hermione,” he said holding out his arm.

Hermione took it with a smile and a quiet thank you. “You guys both look very handsome as well,” said Hermione with a smile.

Neville was a dark blue set of dress robes while Draco was dressed to match Ginny in a slightly darker shade of emerald green. Hermione was glad to see that Madam Pomfrey had healed his eye and that he seemed to be back to normal.

They strode out of the room together and made their way to the Great Hall where many other couples had already gathered.

The Great Hall was decorated beautifully. Snow fell from the ceiling immediately disappearing when it hit the ground or a person. There were ice sculptures everywhere and icicles hanging down from all the windows. The table and the dance floor both looked like ice, but no one seemed to be slipping or sliding about. The Weird Sisters were already playing and there were several couples already on the dance floor.

Ginny immediately pulled Draco towards the dance floor and he had no choice, but to follow her or be dragged.

Hermione spotted Harry, Ron and lavender, Ron's date, sitting at a large table off to the side. A Hufflepuff seventh year Hannah Abbott was there along with a couple of Ravenclaws. She tried to pull Neville towards the table, but he wouldn't budge she looked up at him in confusion to see his eyes were centered on Hannah Abbott who was talking animatedly to one of her friends.

Hermione grinned. “Come on, Neville, everyone's over there.”

Neville looked down at her and hesitated then nodded looking very nervous. He allowed Hermione to pull him through the people over to the table. When they were about ten feet away Harry looked up in the middle of a conversation with Ron almost as if he knew she was there. His eyes immediately landed on her and they visibly widened and his jaw dropped. Hermione kept walking towards them trying to smile confidently while she debated whether or not to run away from here as fast as she could.

When they arrived at the table Hermione made sure to have Neville sit next to Hannah unfortunately this put her right next to Harry who seemed to have regained his senses enough to smile at her and say hello. He was the only guy at the table that didn't give her some kind of complement and the only one that she cared if he thought she looked beautiful or the least bit attractive.

They all talked for a while before Ron and Lavender decided to dance and many of the other couples followed suit, soon only Harry, Neville, Hannah Abbott, a couple Ravenclaws and her were there.

Hermione smiled suddenly and nudged Neville. “Ask Hannah to dance, Neville. I know you want to,” she whispered in his ear.

Neville blushed then nodded. Waiting until the blush died down he cleared his throat and asked Hannah very politely if she wanted to dance.

Hannah immediately agreed and they went out on the dance floor followed closely by Hannah's giggling friends who wanted to watch.

Harry and Hermione were left alone at the table they sat in kind of an awkward silence both pretending to be actively engaged in watching the dancing.

Hermione was the first one to speak, “So… how's your arm?”

Harry shrugged, “Its fine. Malfoy just got a lucky shot.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, “You shouldn't have even been fighting.”

“Yeah well,” Harry shrugged again, “he's an asshole and he did after all get my girlfriend pregnant.”

Hermione almost flinched when he used the word “girlfriend” but regained her composure immediately, “I thought you didn't care about Ginny like that…”

“Well not romantically. She's still like a sister to me though.”

Hermione smiled at that, at least there was still a small chance that Harry might like her as more than a friend.

“Do you want to go talk outside? It's getting kind of hot in here.” Harry asked, “I think Neville's still dancing with Hannah.”

Hermione looked to check and sure enough he was.

She nodded and Harry stood up offering his hand to her to help her up. She allowed him to, and then walked along side him out into the gardens that had been set up for the dance.

They walked for a while in silence the sounds of the party going on in the Great Hall faded as they got further and further away from the castle they called home.

It started snowing and Hermione laughed and swirled around causing her dress to sweep out around her making her look every inch the ice queen as she danced in the snow.

Harry watched her in shock. His best friend, the book worm, Hermione Granger simply didn't just start dancing around in the snow.

She grabbed his hands and pulled him around with her catching him off guard. He lost his balance and fell pulling her down with him. He hurriedly turned his body so he took the brunt of the fall. Harry winced as his body came into contact with the hard ground. Hermione fell on top of him a shocked expression on her flushed face. For a second Harry thought she might get mad or something, but then she started laughing again and he laughed with her suddenly taking in the strangeness of the situation.

When they finally stopped laughing they were both breathless. Harry rolled them over in an attempt to get up, but he found himself straddling her looking down at her suddenly still face.

Time froze between them as their eyes met, his filled with a sudden burning and hers filled with apprehension and hope.

He leaned down slowly and brushed his lips against hers mindless of the consequences of his action. He pulled back then leaned back down to kiss her again a little more deeply she responded this time a little more timidly moving her lips against his. Harry ran his tongue across her lips and Hermione surprised both herself and him when she opened her mouth meeting his tongue with her own.

When they had to come up for air they were both gasping. Harry leaned down again, but Hermione stopped him putting her hand on his chest to hold him back. Harry looked down at her with confusion and a little bit of uneasiness.

“Harry,” Hermione said hesitantly suddenly regretting that she'd made him stop, “What are we doing? What does this mean?” Do you like me? Hermione wanted to ask, but she was too afraid of the answer so she kept quiet and watched his face fearing his answer.

Harry groaned and rolled off of her and onto his back beside her, looking up the sky. Hermione sat up to look at his face trying to read it and finding that for once she couldn't read the emotions playing out on his face.

He sighed once then focused on her sitting up and facing her. “Hermione, I've liked you for a while. Since before I started going out with Ginny. I only did that as a cover up for her and Malfoy's relationship. Though I didn't know it was him at the time. I figured it was just some random Ravenclaw guy or something and you know how Ron is about his sister going out with anyone. I thought she just didn't want him to go all over protective and try to beat the guy up.”

“I guess it started out as just lust, I mean you are beautiful even if you don't seem to think so,” Harry continued. “But then I started to notice the little things you do like biting your lip when you're nervous and how you always play with the edge of the page when you're reading a book. I started to dream about you,” he blushed, “and I started staring at you during class, I still can't believe you never noticed. Ron knew I think, but he didn't say a thing when I started going out with Ginny. I think…” He kept his eyes locked on the ground, “Hermione, I think I love you.”

He kept staring at the ground waiting for her to run away or reject him. He finally looked up when the silence became too much.

Hermione had tears running down her cheeks. Her make-up was a complete mess, but in his eyes she looked as beautiful as ever. She was staring at him. Suddenly she threw her arms around him sobbing into his chest.

Harry held her awkwardly trying to comfort her as cried. “Shhhh, Hermione I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything. We can just forget I said anything. I just don't want to lose you as a friend.”

Hermione pulled away from him and wiped the tears from her eyes. Unable to find anything to say she kissed him. This time Harry was caught off guard, but he responded immediately putting one arm around her waist and drawing her closer to him fisting a hand in her hair while she settled hers around his neck.

Hermione smiled when they broke away from each other. “Harry, I think I love you too. I have since you and Ginny got together.”

Harry stared at her as if in shock then grinned openly laughing out loud and kissing her again and again.

They found themselves stretched out on a pile of snow later staring up at the stars hand in hand.

“It's so beautiful.” She said softly looking up the brightly shining stars.

“You're beautiful,” said Harry turning to look at her. Hermione turned her head to look at him and burst out laughing.

Harry almost looked offended, “I'm sorry,” Hermione said between laughs gasping for breath, “that was just soooooo cheesy though.”

Harry laughed too, “I thought it was romantic,” he said as they started to calm down again.

“It was and so sweet,” Hermione assured him, “I just thought it was kind of funny. I'm sorry. Thank you for the complement, but I'm certainly not beautiful. Especially with my make-up al over the place.”

“Of course you are,” Harry protested standing up slowly and pulling her to her feet, “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.”

Hermione shook her head, she wasn't beautiful, but she didn't say anything.

Harry saw the doubt in her eyes and tipped her chin up so she was looking into his eyes. “You are beautiful, Hermione,” he whispered and then he kissed her again and Hermione thought her knees were going to give out.

They broke apart reluctantly and Harry took her hand again, “Let's go back inside. Oh and by the way I like your shoes” he grinned.

Hermione blushed and looked down at her shoes, “Thank you.” She waved her wand and her make-up was fixed. “Alright, let's go.” She said when she had finished.

They walked back into the dance together to see Ron tackle Draco. Hermione groaned as Harry struggled not to laugh. Hermione smacked him in the shoulder. “It's not funny; go help Ginny pull Ron off of Draco.”

Harry shrugged and waved his hand. Ron flew off of Draco and floated in the air a second before being unceremoniously dropped on the ground.

Hermione glared at him before letting out a small laugh, “Ron doesn't even know she's pregnant yet.”

“I know,” replied Harry, “And there is absolutely no way in hell I'm helping Malfoy out of that one.”

Hermione rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Come on, let's go dance.”

Harry groaned, but followed her on to the dance floor. “I better get to kiss you a lot more because of this. I hate dancing.”

Hermione shrugged as he rested his hands on her small waist and pulled her closer to him on the dance floor, “Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky.”

The End

A/N: It's over, finished. I hope you guys liked it!

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