For the sake of this book, the Yule Ball now takes place two nights before winter break :p

Draco.

Draco tugged on the end of his dress robes nervously, trying to get it exactly right.  He didn't know why it mattered so much to him.  Granger was only a mudblood, of course.  She should be the one trying to impress him.  Not the other way around.

He moved on to his bow tie, carefully tying the white ribbon around his pale neck.  He started choking slightly, so quickly untied the bow, and started over again.  After he was done getting ready, he just stared at the long, rectangular mirror in front of him, only to see his face staring back at him.  

The Slytherin stared into his dull gray eyes, and began observing every feature.  From his shaggy blond hair to his gleaming black shoes.  This is the best it'll get.  Draco sighed, and opened the door leading into the long hallway.  He soon found himself standing face to face with Pansy Parkinson.  

"Well, come on Draco." She said, a her lips sporting a cruel smile.  Draco opened his mouth to protest, but the girl interrupted him before he could start.  "Lets go to the ball!"

"Pansy...." He began nervously, shifting his feet.  "I've already agreed to go to the ball with someone else." He watched as the shock registered in Pansy's face, and her smile quickly shifted to a frown.

"And who would that be?" She asked angrily, crossing her arms while tapping her foot anxiously. 

"Um, Hermione Granger." Pansy began to inspect Draco, looking him up and down as if checking for any signs of him lying.  When she didn't see anything, her frown turned into a white line of fury.  

"Granger!?" She exclaimed.  The rest of the Slytherins lounging around the common room stopped their conversations, and began to listen in on Pansy and Draco's.  "You're taking Hermione Granger to the Yule Ball?" Mutters and whispers were passed throughout the room.  Gossip.  About the famous pureblood Draco Malfoy asking out a muggle born.

"As a joke!" He defended, throwing his hands up.  "What's it to you anyway, Parkinson?  Does someone have a crush?" He smirked knowingly.  Pansy's tapping stopped abruptly.  Leaving an uncomfortable silence encasing the room.  Her face turned red, and she spun around and sprinted back to the girl's dormitory, throwing up her pink dress behind her.  

The pureblood glared at the remaining students in the room,  daring them to comment.   No one did, of course.  On that awkward note,  he turned around and marched out of the dungeons, the portrait screaming in protest behind him.  

"Shut up." He muttered angrily.

~-_-~-_-~-_-~-_-~

The whole walk to the Great hall, Draco argued with himself.  Was he really going to follow through with this?  He could always return to the common room, tell Pansy it was all a joke, then go with her.  Surely Granger would be alright with that arrangement.  

But that would  ruin the whole point.  He thought to himself.  Even though this whole thing with her was just for a laugh, the whole fiasco could possibly ruin his reputation.  

And to a Malfoy, there was nothing more important than your reputation.

At least that's what his father had always said.

Draco was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts only to see that he had reached the Great Hall.  The grand entrance and bright lights from inside seemed to hold joy and laughter, but all he felt was disgust.  

Didn't they all know their school would be in ruins by the end of the year?  The muggle borns would be killed, or slaves to the dark lord.  Dumbledore would be gone, and replaced by Voldemort.  And Harry Potter... well, the boy who lived would live no more.  

He waited at the bottom of the stairs for his "date", and watched the majority of the student body meet their dates.  He saw Potter and Weasley meet the Patil twins at one point.  Then Mcgonagle arrived, and ushered Harry and Pavarti off to a room in the back.  

That's all Potter needs.  Draco thought bitterly.  More attention.

Just then, he heard a gasp from behind him.  

"Wow!"

"She looks beautiful!" He turned towards the many heads around him, and his mouth dropped open.  

There stood Hermione Granger, wearing a long pink dress.  Adorned with ruffles, a bow around her waist, and her brown hair tied up in a messy bun.  She stood there, looking around for Draco and a bored expression on her face.  

Draco shook of his shock and waltzed over to Granger, who automatically rolled her eyes at the sight of him.  

"Nice dress." She commented, staring him up and down.  He shifted uncomfortably, before resuming his role as arrogant Slytherin, and smirked.

"For once the sight of you doesn't revolt me, Granger." He pointed out.  Hermione's neutral expression turned into a look of loathing at his comment.

"And what's that supposed to mean, Malfoy?!" She exclaimed angrily, pulling her wand from what seemed out of mid air.  

"I mean, you don't look half bad." Draco stated honestly.  The gryffindor straightened, and began to pocket her wand.  "For a mudblood." He muttered.  Hermione must've heard him, for she pulled out her wand once again and had it at his throat within seconds.

"If you dare call me- or anyone else for that matter- that word tonight, you will regret it." She threatened.face

"Message recieved." The blonde replied, eyeing the wand nervously.  He knew that Granger wasn't a complete weakling, (her fist had made that message painfully clear last year)  

"Good." Granger returned the wand to her pocket, and just stood there awkwardly, as if waiting for something to happen.

"Expecting me to kiss you?" Draco asked sarcastically.  He laughed when he saw Hermione's red face, and felt the nervousness from earlier disappear.  Why was he nervous in the first place, again?  This was just Granger.  She couldn't hurt him.  Despite her cleverness, bravery, and well, stunning features, she was just an annoying gryffindor, and a dress couldn't change that.

"Look!  The champions are coming out!" Hermione exclaimed, as a desperate attempt to change the subject from her feelings for him.  He rolled his eyes, and tuned to the center of the room, which sure enough, had all four champions and their dates marching out of the back room. Potter was with Pavarti Patil, Diggory with Cho Chang, Delacour's arms were linked with Roger Davies, and Krum was with... well, Draco didn't exactly know who he was with.  Probably some girl from Beauxbatons.  He couldn't help but notice that Krum kept glancing at him and Hermione on his way to the dance floor.  He also noticed that Hermione met his eyes each time, and mouthed 'I'm sorry'.

"What's your deal with him?" He asked her curiously.  Granger looked away, but replied nonetheless.  

"He asked me to go to the ball with him." She started.  "Right after you agreed to go with me."  She spat at him.  Although he would never admit it, Draco was a bit hurt at the comment.  But she had every right to be annoyed.  Because honestly, what girl wouldn't pick the famous quidditch player, Viktor Krum over the pale, arrviogant infamous Draco Malfoy?  Just then, a chorus of instruments and sound filled the room.  Draco turned towards the sound, and saw a few violins and other string instruments playing themselves in the corner of the hall.  A few seconds later, the four competing wizards began to dance with their dates as well, waltzing gracefully across the gleaming floor.  Hermione stared at Draco expectantly, as if waiting for him to ask her something...

"What?" He asked, looking around.  She rolled her brown eyes.  

"Aren't you going to ask me to dance?"

"I guess so." He sighed, and the pair made their way towards the center of the room.  Draco reached out, and placed his hand on the muggle born's shoulder.  She rolled her eyes again.  

"My waist, Malfoy." She whispered through clenched teeth.  So he moved his hand.  And so they danced.  

Several times he slipped up and stepped on Granger's shoe.  She would always retort with an aggravated comment, saying, "Honestly, were you even listening during the dancing lessons?" or, "You're as clumsy as Errol!" But Malfoy could tell he was secretly enjoying himself.  And to be perfectly honest, so was he.