Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will.
A/N: It's the LAST CHAPTER! NOOOOOOOO!
Butterflies flew around Hermione's stomach as she let Ron lead her into the Ballroom. She gazed up at the decorations, briefly wondering if the faeries they were using on their tree were docile. Her thoughts were interrupted when Ginny grabbed her arm and pulled her away from Ron. She picked up a curl in her face and moved it back in place. She had opted for a simple hair do, only pinning it back on one side with a sparkling butterfly pin.
Hermione gave Ginny a curious look.
"They're headed for Ludo Bagman," Ginny warned.
"Oh, thank you for that rescue!"
Ginny just smiled at her friend before turning towards the sound of laughter.
Hermione paled a shade or two when she saw the crowd. Women of varying age and beauty were all surrounding a very stunning looking Lucius Malfoy. Hermione just stared at him for a moment before he looked up and his eyes met hers. She was brought back to reality when he looked back down at the young woman trying to tug on his arm for a dance.
Harry walked back over to Hermione and Ginny after seeing the look on Hermione's face.
"Dance with me?" he asked his best friend as he held out his arm.
His action brought her out of her thoughts and she smiled at him. "Of course," she said, taking his arm.
"I need him back in one piece," Ginny called after them as they made their way onto the dance floor.
"Thank you Harry," Hermione said after they started dancing.
"You looked like you needed a distraction."
Hermione smiled. "I did."
"Is it really that bad he's out?" he asked after a minute.
Hermione sighed. "I don't know."
They danced in silence after that. Hermione froze when she saw Lucius tap Harry on the shoulder.
"Mind if I cut in?"
With a quick check to make sure Hermione was fine, Harry allowed the older Malfoy to take Hermione's hand as the last few notes of music faded away.
To Hermione's dread an unmistakable beat surrounded her. She vaguely noticed everyone moving off the dance floor as she stood there in his arms. It was the wizard's version of the tango. A dance she had begrudgingly learned when she was 20, that Ron and Harry had begged her to learn with them.
The music's beat was fast and strong.
His arms pulled her close, one hand on her lower back, the other behind his back.
Her palm on his chest, the other hand at her side.
The beat stopped briefly. Their eyes met. It started again.
A slow step
Followed by another
The pace quickens
His hand moves to her thigh
Her leg lifts
A slow dip.
Her leg drops
Their faces inches from each other
A twist
A step
A stomp
A turn
Eyes locking
Feet moving
Pushing away
Pulling back
A fast spin
A tight grip.
A pause in the music
Their fast breathing echoing
Eyes locking
Lips moving closer
The beat starts
A push away
A silent pleading
A step forward
His hand on her waist
Her arm around his neck
A small step forward
Spinning across the room
She walks forward
He walks back
Her arm drops
His hand tightens
She bends back
He pulls her up
Her hand on his chest
His breath quickening
A brief gaze
A turn away
A pull back
The music stops.
Hermione looked straight into his eyes, her heart racing and her breathing hard. Her thoughts were only on the man she had been dancing with on the floor. Her mind didn't even register the hundreds of people that were, for lack of a better word, gawking at them. Her hand never moved from his chest, his never moved from her waist.
"Why did you leave me?" she asked quietly.
His grip on her tightened. "You let another man touch you."
Hermione's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "I have never let another man touch me."
"I saw you with Potter's child, don't think me a fool," he spat at her.
Hermione's eyes widened. "That's his child. His and Ginny."
And t was in that moment Lucius noticed his ring still on her finger.
His gaze softened, but his grip did not. "You never?"
"Never, not with anyone else. I only wanted you, I only dreamed every night about you. For the last 6 years, the only person that I needed was you."
Lucius' free hand came up and caressed her cheek. She caught it with her hand and covered it, making his hand stay.
"No one will like this," he said softly.
"I don't care."
"No one will understand."
"I do."
"You'll lose your friends."
"No I won't."
He sighed. "Every day that I sat in that place I only thought about you. My only reason for wanting to get out was you. I knew I would one day. I never lied, I never supported the Dark Lord after my first sentence in Azkaban. It was only a matter of time."
"I missed you."
"I craved you."
Their lips came together in a kiss so full of passion, so full of love they didn't hear the loud talking of everyone around them that immediately started up. They only knew they were in the arms of the one they loved. And that was all that mattered.
"Have I been that much of a Bloody Git?" Harry asked outloud.
"Yes Harry, I think we all were," Ginny replied from his side.
Ron just looked over at him, an unreadable look on his face.
"Ron?" Harry asked.
"I took her out to lunch the weekend after he'd been released. I bloody thought she was upset he had been freed and I sat there and talked about how much I wanted him back in!" Ron looked positively irate with himself.
"Don't worry Ron," Harry comforted. "We both did our share of Malfoy bashing since he was sentenced. Neither of us realized that's when she started acting so...so..." He couldn't seem to find the right word.
"Heartbroken?" Ginny supplied.
Harry and Ron nodded.
"If only she would have told us." Ron said.
"How could she have? We would have thrown it in her face, wouldn't we?"
Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and gave it a squeeze. "You'll know better than that now."
Author Babble:
I think the potential for a sequel is high.