Une Deniére Danse (One Last Dance)
Disclaimer: My name is Brigitta, not J. K. Rowling, so I can't claim any rights to the Harry Potter series.

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Une Deniére Danse is currently at 9 favorites, 20 follows, 5 review, and 0 C2's. Putting that aside, all the songs mentioned or used in this chapter are real songs and do not belong to me.

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Starlight-Mist on October 31, 2015 (updated 6/24/2016)

Chapter II - A Brand New Page (II)
In this world,
It's always amazing to see.
That there is someone out there,
So unlike me.

Monday, September 6th, 1999

"I never thought that I would say this, but bloody hell is it good to be back at Hogwarts!" Ron yawned, stretching his arms high above his head.

"Ten points from Gryffindor for your language, Mister Weasley," Snape barked, sweeping into the room in a flurry of black and scowls, nearly causing Hermione to grin; there were just some things that would never change about Hogwarts. For one, Snape would always be scowling, Ron would always eat mountains of food, Filch and Mrs. Norris would always eye them with suspicion, and the Fat Lady would always be home to her, even if she was in a different dorm.

"I swear, how does he double-cross He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named and still survive?" Ginny wondered, shaking her head as she set up her potions materials.

"Be careful, Ginny," Harry warned, "he has ears everywhere...like a bat."

"Ten points from Gryffindor, Potter."

"Like I said."

The rest of the day flew by so fast that it was hard to believe, and at the end of dinner, Professor McGonagall stood up and cast a Sonorus upon herself, announcing, "As many of you know, we have added a mandatory new class to our curriculum this year, Dance Classes."

There was a mixed response to her announcement, ranging from loud cheers to unhappy groans.

"Students will be learning either salsa or tango, and all students are expected to make an appearance at a performance for your parents. If a student wishes not to dance, they will work with our dance instructor to find another way to help out. First and Second years have Dance classes on Monday and Friday first period. Third and Fourth years have Dance classes on Monday and Friday second period. Fifth and Sixth years have Dance classes on Tuesday and Thursday first period. Seventh and Eighth years have Dance classes on Tuesday and Thursday second period. Dance classes start tomorrow. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of your evening."

The hall instantly burst into chatter.

"I can't wait until tomorrow! I wonder how we are going to be partnered!" Ginny squealed, clapping her hands together in excitement, much like the younger students.

"How about we worry about going back to the dorms before who we are getting partnered with," Hermione suggested, as she slid off of the bench and headed out the doors of the Great Hall, Ginny following close behind, still chattering about who she wanted to be partnered with.

"Oh, stop it, Ginny...we all know that you want to be partnered with Harry," Hermione sighed as climbed the stairs to their dorms.

"Just leave me alone, Hermione!" Ginny whined as they entered the dorms.

"It sure took you guys a long time to get here," Draco commented from where he was sprawled out on the couch, one leg dangling off the edge and both hands folded behind his head. "Although we only start class tomorrow, the Headmistress wants us to pick a date for the dance performance. The only requirements she has is a sneak peek sometime before the end of the year."

"I think that we should have the sneak peek on December 17, which is the date of the Winter Ball, because it would be easier than having two different events," Hermione stated logically.

"It might take a little extra work to coordinate both events for the same day, but it would work," Drew answered, shaking his head in agreement. "I then would like to propose that we have the performance on April 22 next year, which should be a Saturday. That way, we have a month to prepare for the next big event, graduation."

"Makes sense to me," Draco nodded, scribbling the dates down before turning to Ginny. "Anything you want to add, Weaslette?"

"Whatever you guys said works, so I am calling the decision unanimous," Ginny nodded.

"In that case, meeting adjourned," Drew announced; that being said, the four Heads parted and went to their rooms, thankful that they weren't patrolling that night.

"I wonder who my dance partner is going to be. Do you think Ron will ask me?"

Ginny scoffed, "I highly doubt it."

"Well," Hermione said thoughtfully, "I did tell him that next time there was a dance, he should work up the guts to ask me, not as a last resort."

"And you expect him to remember that?" the red-head asked skeptically.

Hermione sighed; it was evidently not worth trying to get support from the red-haired girl, so she contented herself with flopping into her bed. Although she was more than happy to be back in Hogwarts, the brunette couldn't help but wonder what her life would have been like if she wasn't a witch. Would she still be dancing with Derek? Would she still have all the muscle that came with dancing? Would she be more concerned with beauty? What would she be like?

Resting her chin on her crossed arms, she gazed out the window at the sky; against the dark and cloudless night sky, the stars looked like little pinpoints of light shining down from something far away, like little windows from Heaven.

"Look, Ginny, a shooting star," Hermione said, tracing the path of the meteor as it flew across the sky.

"Make a wish, and make it good," Ginny said encouragingly as she brushed her hair out and braided it.

I wish that my dance partner is someone who I can love, and someone who will love me.

Tuesday, September 7th, 1999

"Hello everyone! Welcome to The Class of Ultimate Awesomeness! My name is Jacob Totally-Awesome Crowley and I will be your salsa and tango instructor this year! Now, because it takes two to tango, you all must be concerned about partnering. But no need to fear! I am giving all of you the choice of who you are partnering with! Good deal, yeah-yeah?"

"I like this guy already," Ginny whispered, elbowing Hermione, "He's got character!"

"Alright, since you all are so quiet, we should probably get started. I am giving you two minutes to partner up, minus time to sort out any cat fights, which I am hoping to avoid, of course," Jacob announced, waggling his eyebrows. "Now then, any questions?"

"Monsieur, I'm allergic to dancing, so do you think I could sing instead?" a tall brunette at the back of the room asked, stepping forward to address him.

"Yeah-yeah. Is there anyone else who wishes to sit out of the language of legs and counting beats?" the energetic dance teacher asked, to which Drew raised his hand. "Alright then, you two, please see me after I sort out the dancers. What are your names?"

"Anne Silver," the girl introduced.

"Drew Craft," the young man answered,.

"Now that we know who wants to dance and who doesn't want to dance, why don't we pair up? Also, just a warning, but I'm not very good with names..."

A few chuckles came from around the room as people began moving around and pairing up.

Hermione looked around the room and began making her way over to Ron, but noticing a hopeful Pansy Parkinson approaching him, decided to let her partner with him; after all, Pansy seemed to be one of the only Slytherins that Ron had been able to talk to without getting agitated. However, that left her with a small dilemma...she didn't have a partner.

"Partner with me?" an angelic voice came from behind her.

Hermione turned around, her face shining with hopeful rays of light, but when she realized that it had been Draco who had asked, her face immediately darkened and took on an expression that suggested horrible things...such as the possibility that she would knock him out and then tell Jacob that he fainted out of happiness.

"Whoa, Granger..." Draco remarked, taking a step back and eyeing her warily as if he expected her to pull out her wand and hex him.

"What am I, a horse?" Hermione asked.

"One minute!" Jacob called. "One minute left!"

Taking a quick look around, Hermione noted that almost everyone else had already partnered up.

"Granger, yes or no?" Draco asked, calling her attention back to him. "You are almost out of time, and I am sure that you would like to avoid Neville and his clumsy feet...almost as much as I want to avoid Loony Lovegood..."

Biting her lip, Hermione nodded in agreement.

Just mere seconds later, Jacob went around the room, marking down the partners and partnering up the few remaining students.

"Alright, now that partners are settled, you are going to spend this period learning more about your partner. By the end of this period, you should have at least twenty facts about your partner. Any pair who gets over forty facts receives five points per person. Go!"

"Alright, Granger," Draco said as they followed everyone else, sitting down side-by-side, leaning against the wall.

"My name is Hermione, you know," the female Head announced as Draco pulled out a piece of paper and quill.

"Do you think that Jacob is really going to take that as a fact?" the blonde asked skeptically, poking her on the nose with his quill.

"I didn't mean that as a fact, Malfoy," Hermione explained, twitching her nose. "You called me Granger. My name is Hermione."

"In that case, you should call me Draco," Draco answered, a wry smile on his face. "As for our facts, my favorite color is emerald green, my favorite candy is milk chocolate, and my favorite animal is the snake. I'm Slytherin to the very core."

"In that case, this will be a surprise: I like green, lemon drops, and cats."

"I see that the golden princess is corrupt. Never would have seen it coming. As for me? I have naturally blonde hair, my biggest pet peeve is when someone interrupts me, and I have taken dancing lessons before. You?"

"My hair is naturally frizzy, my biggest pet peeve is when someone interrupts me when I'me studying, as Harry and Ron both know, and I have taken dancing lessons too."

"You dance?" Draco asked as his quill slowly moved across the paper.

"Did," Hermione corrected. "I haven't danced in over seven years; I have been pretty caught up with all my adventures with Harry and Ron."

"What types of dance did you take?"

"I started dancing at age seven, and took tango, mambo, and ballroom," the young witch replied.

"Interesting. Well, I have taken ballroom, mambo, and salsa. Ballroom was my parents' insistence; I liked mambo the best."

"I agree. Mambo is a whole lot of fun."

Draco shot her a smile, then continued with the facts, "I have an owl named Zeke-Bus, can play the piano, dislike Arithmancy, and love Potions."

"I have a cat named Crookshanks, who I believe to be part-Kneazle, am not musical, hate Divination with a fiery passion, and love DADA."

"I have never worn low cut socks before, cleaned the Manor over the summer, like to draw, and hate to cook; the last time I tried, I attempted to make pasta, but forgot to turn on the stove."

"What's with the socks?" Hermione asked, perplexed.

"My dad forbid wearing them, along with eating with my left hand, which is my preferred eating hand, not making my bed, sliding staircase railings," Draco listed, obviously displeased with all the things that he wasn't allowed to do.

"I can't empathize with the socks, the eating, or bed making, but I can with the staircase sliding. I've always wanted to do it."

"You too, huh?" Draco stated, letting out a puff of air and blowing his hair off of his forehead.

"We have patrol together tonight, right?" Hermione asked, her eyes lighting up and taking on an excited gleam. "Wanna do it? Go to the Grand Staircase and slide down the railings? I'll cast a cushion for you if you fall!"

Draco stared at her in disbelief, then snorted, "you are much more Slytherin than I ever gave you credit for...yes. Let's do it."

Hermione grinned, then resumed matching Draco's facts; "I have never worn a bandana before. I restored my parents' memories and ran into my old dance partner over the summer, like to read, and absolutely despise cleaning."

The blonde man held his hand up, "Rewind to the part about restoring your parents' memories."

"I erased their memories and sent them to Australia so that they would be safe during the war," the brainy witch answered, fidgeting with her half-Windsor. Seeing that his dance partner was uncomfortable with further discussion, Draco changed the topic.

"My favorite item as a child was a brown teddy bear named Fickle, my favorite birthday was my eleventh because I was going to Hogwarts, my most embarrassing moment was being turned into a ferret, and my favorite memory was receiving my first broom. Your turn now."

"My favorite item was a little ballerina music box, my favorite birthday was my seventh because I received a pair of dancing shoes, my most embarrassing memory is Polyjuicing into a cat, which has come with some interesting side effects, and my favorite memory is winning my first dance competition."

"Last two facts before we reach the minimum. I could have been named Orion Malfoy, and my favorite meal would be chicken soup, buttered bread, mashed potatoes, and an apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream for desert," Draco finished, scribbling down the last few facts.

"Orion Malfoy would have been a very dashing name. I, on the other hand, could have been named Bethesda, or Helen. My favorite meal would be ribs, white rice, carrots and peas, and flan for dessert, although your meal sounds quite amazing. Should we go for the forty facts?" Hermione queried.

"The overachiever is really asking?"

"Yeah, okay. My favorite..."

Later that night, the two Head students met up for patrol, almost rushing through their rounds as danger tempted them; the staircase railings almost glistened, calling to them to slide down, but they resisted the urge, for they knew that sliding down the Grand Staircase would be so much sweeter.

"I haven't felt this anxious in a long time," Hermione whispered, her heart racing with adrenaline. "I mean, it really isn't that bad...but the thought that my parents forbid it...you know...it just makes the wait agonizing."

Draco chuckled, "I know what you mean. Honestly, I can't wait either."

Finally, they finished their rounds and rushed to the Grand Staircase.

"Do you want to go first?" Draco asked, gesturing to the magnificent staircase; Hermione nodded, her eyes bright as she perched on the handrail.

"Even if I've never done this, I know you're going fall off if you slide down side-saddle," the blonde laughed, taking off his cloak and placing it on the handrail, gesturing for her to sit on it. Hermione eyed his cloak for a moment before telling him to look away as she gripped the railing, threw her leg over it, and then adjusted her school skirt.

"Ready?" Draco asked.

"Totally," Hermione nodded before loosening her grip on the railing.

As Hermione flew past the stairs, Draco followed her, jumping landings to keep up with the laughing Head Girl. However, much to his horror, his cloak provided no support, and Hermione tipped to the right and fell off of the railing.

"Arresto Momentum!" he yelled, slowing her fall until she settled on the cold stone floor; as he rushed down the last few steps to where she lay, Hermione remained prone on the ground, staring up at the ceiling with a weird look on her face.

"Granger, talk to me! Are you okay?" he demanded, dropping to his knees by her side; much to his surprise, Hermione burst out laughing.

"My name...is Hermione...and...I'm...I'm fine!" she wheezed, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutched her stomach, shaking with laughter.

"Bloody hell, Granger! Are you really okay! How many fingers am I holding up?" Draco asked, torn between being freaked out, or laughing with her.

"Three, and really...I'm fine!" she laughed, sitting up and running a hand through her hair.

"Then why are you laughing?" the blonde demanded.

"Because, as I fell off the railing...I realized that I trusted you," she grinned loopily, poking him on the nose, just as he had done with his quill earlier that day.

Draco groaned, placing his head in his hands as he let out a deep breath that he didn't know he had been holding. The sight of Hermione falling off of the railing had really scared him, even more than when she had started laughing.

"So, are you going to take your turn?" Hermione asked when Draco lifted his head.

"I trust you," he answered, shooting her a crooked grin as he sat down on the railing.

"Ready?" she asked, readying her wand.

"Go!" he yelled, releasing his grip on the railing.

The feeling of wind rushing by him was exhilarating, and it reminded him of playing Quidditch. Hermione ran beside him, occasionally falling behind, but eventually catching up with him as he flew past landings and down the stairs. As he neared a banister, Hermione slowed him to a stop, then helped him get off the railing.

"That was a lot of fun," he laughed. "Not as fun as Quidditch, of course, but fun anyways."

Hermione laughed, and the two Head students headed back to their dorms with adrenaline pumping through their veins, smiles on their faces, and a new found trust for the other, Draco's cloak discarded to be picked up some other day.

Thursday, September 9th, 1999

"Alright. who here has never taken a salsa or tango lesson before. No need to be shy...I see quite a few of you are new to the salsa and tango world. Well, don't none of ye worry, for I shall teacheth ye to the best of my bestest abilities!"

Jacob then proceeded to divide the room into three sections: one section was for pairs who knew how to dance, one section was for those who couldn't dance at all, and the last section was for pairs who had one partner who could dance.

"Those who can't dance will be with me; those with one partner who can dance will be learning from the partner who can dance; and those with two dancing partner swill be taking one of the sheets I am currently holding and choose a song to dance to. As the oldest students in this school, you guys are being given the opportunity to dance solo with partners...actually never mind what I just said. That was completely nonsensical...an oxymoron. What I'm trying to say is that first to sixth years are partnered up, but will be dancing at the same time, and to a song that I choreographed. You are not. I am giving you students free reign of your own songs and choreography. Moving on, let's split up into our partners, and go to our areas."

A little while after Jacob's big announcement, Draco and Hermione were pouring over the list of available songs, all of which would be covered by Drew and Anne.

"My Heart Will Go On is definitely out," Hermione declared. "I can't imagine dancing to it, especially when it reminds me of one of the sappiest movies in all of Sappy Movie History. I am also ruling out Tubthumping, which sounds like a song that goes at the end of a movie while the goes at the end of a movie while the main characters are at a party or something."

"Alright. I say that we keep She's Like the Wind," Draco proposed. "I really like that one, but I am eliminating Libertango. No matter how much I love Piazzola, I've already danced to it before and would not like to do it again. Especially since my dance partner didn't understand the concept of this-is-my-personal-space-and-I-would-like-to-keep-it-personal and please-stop-eating-garlic-bread-before-dancing-with-me."

"Fascinating partner there. I almost feel bad for you. As for me, I'm removing Don't You Want Me and Double Life. I love those songs to death, but they just aren't something I want to dance to."

"So then, what do you think about Sympathique by Pink Martini?" the blonde man returned, pointing to the next song on the list.

"The French one that goes like je ne veux pas travailler, right? Yeah, that one could work."

"Then it's settled; we're going with Sympathique and we are not going to change or minds."

"So, what are you two dancing to?" Blaise and Padma asked. "We plan to dance to Libertango."

"Sympathique is ours," Draco replied, circling the said song.

"My Heart Will Go On," Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbot announced; Theo and Millicent had opted to do Piano Man; Anthony Goldstein and Meghan Jones were planning on Hungry Like the Wolf; and Justin Finch-Fletchley and Susan Bones were going to do Don't You go Breaking My Heart."

"Poor Anne and Drew," Susan sympathized. "They must have a lot of songs to record."

"Yes, but we have it covered."

The group of dancers turned around to see the tall brunette and second Head Boy.

"In fact, we just finished a research session in the library," Anne announced. "There's actually a spell that creates a pair of headphones and a soundboard. After recording, the music is collected in a box, which is opened whenever the song needs to be played; Drew and I just tried it out."

"It's actually quite neat," Drew admitted.

"Oh, just looked at the two of you...you do seem keen on following in the steps of our dear, bookish Hermione!" Draco teased, elbowing his dance partner in the ribs; she, of course, retaliated with an equally hard elbow.

"Do you two really have everything covered?" Susan asked. "I mean, aren't some of the songs in French or something?"

"No worries," Anne answered. "I can manage it...especially since my maman is French."

"Oh. I didn't know that, but that's good," Susan smiled warmly.

Saturday, October 2, 1999

"But Hermione, this skirt would look so cute on you!" Ginny whined, waving a little black skirt.

Hermione raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I doubt that the skirt will pass the fingertip-long rule, and it really isn't a good example for a Head student to wear something so...short...or tight..."

"Exactly! Where's your sense of danger...I mean excitement?!" Ginny exclaimed, wisps of hair escaping her ponytail as she gave up on the skirt and continued hunting for a better replacement. Finally, she settled on a slightly longer skirt and a blouse.

"Is that all?" the cashier asked politely as she rang up their purchases.

"Well, maybe a few more things wouldn't hurt," Ginny murmured, her eyes drifting around the store.

Hermione sighed, visions of sickles flying out of her purse as her close friend perused the shelves for something else to add to the skirt. For the past hour, Ginny had insisted on dragging her around Hogsmeade on a back-to-school shopping spree, which was most-definitely not how Hermione had envisioned spending her time.

"Let's go in there next," Ginny declared, pointing at another clothing store as Hermione payed for the clothes that Ginny had picked out for her.

"No, Ginny, let's not," the brunette groaned. "I need to check out the new Potions bestseller, Two Cauldrons in a Pinch, and see if they have copies of..."

"Yes, yes, yes, but we don't have all day! Only two more stores, and then you can go to your precious little sewn-together-pieces-of-paper! Now, come on!" Ginny exclaimed, latching onto Hermione's wrist and dragging Hermione towards the store.

Much to Hermione's displeasure, Draco was standing outside the store, a knowing smirk on his face as the redhead dragged his dance partner across the street.

"Hello there, Hermione, Weaslette," he greeted, tipping an imaginary hat before opening the door for them; the bookish brunette shot him a venomous look as Ginny dragged her through.

"Good luck," Draco whispered, winking before closing the door behind her.

Later that day, the blonde was awoken from his nap on the Head Dorms' couch by Hermione's loud screech of, "How could you let that banshee drag me into that store?" as she collapsed, letting the bags on her arms slide off.

"Merlin!" Draco exclaimed as he took in all the damage that had been done to her purse, noticeably more in the clothing department than the books department. "I count a whopping total of three...six...nine...twelve, thirteen, fourteen bags!"

"It's not funny," Hermione sniffed, glaring at the amused man. "I only got fifteen minutes in the bookstore!"

"Will you forgive me if I carry them up to your room?" Draco laughed, picking up two bags in each hand.

Hermione sighed, "I suppose."

Saturday, October 9, 1999

"Hermione! Oi, Hermione! Wait up!" Draco called, running down the hall after the Gryffindor.

"What is it this time?" Hermione asked, turning around as he came screeching to a stop.

"Dance," Draco answered, trying to even out his breathing. "Remember how you had trouble with the check? Jacob recommended that we do a little work on that, and maybe do a little more choreography on the song, such as our transitions."

Hermione frowned. "Well, all of my schoolwork is nearly done, so I guess I can spare some time. However, there are some books-"

"Don't worry that not-so-bushy head of yours, Hermione," the blonde chuckled, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Your precious little books will still be here when we're done. Now are you coming, or am I going to have to carry you back to the dorms as you shriek in protest?"

"You wouldn't," Hermione said breezily as she shrugged his arm off.

"Oh? Try me!" Draco smirked before picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder; Hermione, as predicted, began beating her fists on his back and screeching for him to put her down. Draco laughed merrily as nearby students looked at the two eighth years as if they had just grown extra heads. Grinning ear to ear, he set off for the Dorms at a brisk pace, leaving students gaping behind them as he carried Hermione off.

He could hear the whispers that would be circulating through the Great Hall already.

"Draco, this is not funny," Hermione whined, red in the face with embarrassment as she gave up trying to escape.

"But I think it is!" Draco protested as he began climbing the stairs at a terrifyingly fast rate, especially for Hermione, who was scared of heights.

"You think everything is funny," Hermione complained, clutching his shirt as she squeezed her eyes shut in fear.

"I do, Hermione. Haven't you figured that out already? I mean - We Meet Once Again - you have known me for quite a while now," Draco retorted. The password having been said, the door swung open and Draco carried her through.

Hermione shook her head, but nevertheless, there was a smile on her face.

"My, my, my...you two seem to be getting along well," Ginny chirped happily as she and Harry detached their lips from each other. However, unlike Ginny, Harry was not too pleased to see Draco treating Hermione so familiarly, and shot the blonde a disapproving look.

Within seconds, Draco's joyful expression soured, and he set Hermione down, muttering, "Never mind. The check will be fine. I'm going to go study."

Baffled, Hermione watched as Draco took the stairs to the second floor two-at-a-time, and then loudly closed his door. She quickly glanced over at Ginny and Harry, then fled to her room, painfully and utterly confused.

"Harry! What the hell was that for? They were getting along just fine!" the redhead shrieked, jumping to her feet and glaring down at her boyfriend.

"Exactly! Look, Ginny, Malfoy is using her to get his family back into society's good graces. Hermione doesn't deserve to be used like that - she deserves to be happy," Harry protested, standing up and placing his hands on his girlfriend's shoulders.

"Is that what this is all about?" she asked, stunned.

"Yes."

Ginny shot him a look, then spoke softly, "Harry, have you ever watched Malfoy when he's dancing with Hermione?" When her boyfriend shook his head no, Ginny sighed. "Harry, when those two are dancing, he doesn't smirk, leer, or even glare...he smiles at her. He honestly smiles at her." Ginny took a deep breath. "I have no idea how to explain it, Harry, but every time I watch them dance, I get this feeling that something good is really going to come out of this, so please...please let Malfoy have a chance with Hermione?"

Harry, closed his eyes and thought about all the times that Draco had mistreated Hermione. The times he had called her a Mudblood. The times he had tripped her. The times he and his friends had made fun of her. There were too many to count. He had ridiculed, cruelly teased, and mercilessly bullied her.

But for some reason, when he opened his eyes, he knew what his answer was. "He has one chance, Ginny. I am giving him one chance, and only one chance, to make her happy; if he blows that chance, he will not be getting another one."

The second Head Girl breathed a sigh of a relief, then murmured, "Thank you. Now, although I am sure that they will be back to normal by tomorrow, I want you to go make things right with Malfoy while I go talk to Hermione. No Harry, don't give me that look...Harry! I said-mmpf!"

And with that one kiss, all thoughts of apologies disappeared.

When Ginny entered their room later that night, she found Hermione sorting through all of her purchases.

"Ginny, when on earth do you think I'm going to wear these?" she asked, holding up a thigh-length black skirt and a tight white blouse. Many similar articles of clothing were spread on the floor around her; the younger girl barely held back an evil laugh.

"Maybe when you go out to meet some boy in the middle of the night?" Ginny suggested, waggling her eyebrows suggestively, then ducking when Hermione threw them at her.

"And what are these?" Hermione demanded as she waved around a pair of black high heels that she'd probably never wear.

"Amazingness, of course," Ginny answered with a shrug before flicking her wand at all the bags.

"I never should've taught you that spell. In fact, I never should've agreed to go shopping!" Hermione groused.

"Pish-posh! You'll thank me some day," Ginny retorted, smirking an incredibly Malfoy-esque fashion.

"In your dreams..."

Tuesday, October 26, 1999

"Aww, how lovely!" Jacob announced, clapping as Harry and Ginny finished the first part of their routine. "So much...energy! Let's give them a round of applause! Ten points to Gryffindor! Next up, we are going to be letting...Blaise Zabini and Padma Patil take the floor!"

Two months had passed since Dance classes had started and everyone had made progress with their dance numbers. As the dancers worked on their pieces, Anne and Drew continued to edit and improve their singing. However, they still were working on arranging their duets, so Harry, Ginny, Justin, and Susan were still dancing with original tracks.

"They dance really well, though Parvati hasn't danced before," Hermione whispered into Draco's ear.

"That's probably because Blaise is a good lead, and because he's taken five years of dance lessons," Draco replied, watching the two dance.

And then it was their turn.

"We can do it," Draco whispered to Hermione as they positioned themselves in their starting position and waited for the music to start.

"Ma chambre a la forme d'une cage / Le soleil passe son bras par la fenêtre / Les chasseurs à ma porte / Comme les p'tits soldats / Qui veulent me prendre," the recording of Anne singing played as Draco and Hermione began dancing slowly.

However, everything changed when the next little part came on - the upbeat part. The two immediately transitioned into more complex steps and spins. The passion and energy that flowed between them spoke so much of how their rivalry had transitioned to friendship, and the expressions that they wore on their faces clearly showed how much they enjoyed dancing with the other.

With the upbeat song and lyrics, their performance was beautiful, and everyone was disappointed when they stopped and announced that they had only choreographed so much. Jacob immediately jumped to his feet and applauded them; he was quickly followed by many of the other students, and the two flushed under all the praise they received.

"You two look like you've been dancing together for all of your lives," Jacob announced when the clapping finally died down. "I think that you should enter a competition! There is a rather well-known competition called Reina de Corazones that I think would be just perfect for the two of you! It's being held on May 10, 2000, so you two would have plenty of time to prepare for it."

"I don't know about you, but it's been a few years since I've competed. I think it would be rather fun, don't you think?" Draco asked, bumping Hermione in the side.

"But we've only just started dancing together!" Hermione protested.

Ginny, always scheming and matchmaking, immediately started taunting the brunette. "Where's your adventurous Gryffindor Spirit? Don't tell me that a Slytherin is braver than you are! Besides, it's not like you haven't competed before! You told me that-"

"Alright, alright," Hermione sighed. "I agree, but only as long as the two of us are accompanied by other people from Hogwarts. The other condition I have is that we finish choreographing Sympathique and perform it before we even start filling out any paperwork."

"Then it is settled," Draco nodded, holding out his hand.

"Yes! You guys are going to a competition!" Ginny squealed, jumping up and down as they shook hands.

"Weaslette, is it me, or are you more excited than Hermione and Draco are?" Pansy asked, sending the energetic redhead a look, before gasping for air as Ginny gave her a bone-crushing hug, shrieking, "I can't wait!"

Thankfully, Pansy was saved from the terrible fate of suffocation-via-Ginny-Weasley when Jacob looked at the clock, then exclaimed, "I do believe that we are out of time! Please, hurry! I don't want any of you to be late! Out, out, out! Shoo!"