Disclaimer: All Harry Potter related characters, places and themes belong to J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury and Scholastic.

A Simple Course of Action
Chapter 6: The Stuff Dreams are Made on...

As they curled up on the couch together, Draco's hands wrapped around Hermione, they dreamed...

Hermione's Dream

Hermione stood alone a cold dimly lit round room. Around her were four doorways, all going in different directions, to different pathways. She was unsure of which way to go. As each passage was dark, there was no way to know which would lead in the right direction. She was lost and confused. She was scared and alone. Wind blew and the lights went out.

She felt that she had to get out of this place, so she started on one path, feeling her way along the wall of the hall. Suddenly, a warm breath whispered near her ear.

"Hermione?"

She knew that voice, it was Draco.

"Draco?" she answered quietly.

"Do you trust me?"

"I do."

"Then take my hand."

She put her small hand in his and she saw a light go on at the end of the tunnel.

He led her to a large party where people were dancing. He smiled at her and led her to the dance floor, never letting go of her hand, he spun her around eventually put his other arm around her waist. Together they started to dance to the rhythm of the music. A slow waltz at first, then the tempo changed. As the tempo changed Draco spun Hermione out and then brought her back in. She stood before him as Artemisia. Their bodies merged as one as he led her through the tango. The tempo changed again, this time a lively swing number. As Draco brought her in again she changed to Hermione. No matter what the rhythm or tempo, together they moved in sync.

A spotlight was placed on Draco and Hermione.

Dean Thomas announced, "Thank you, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Judges? What did you think of our contestants?"

Hermione was shocked as she spun around to see Blaise Zabini, Molly Weasley, and Minerva McGonagall.

"Mr. Zabini...Since you are the odd man out, let's start with you."

"Well, I think the pair worked well together. They certainly are intelligent enough. I cannot doubt the sincerity of the couple. I must I was surprised by their moves, but in all it works. Whatever makes you happy right?"

"Thank you Mr. Zabini... So that's one for. Mrs. Weasley?"

"I was outraged when I saw the lineup. I thought to myself how can Hermione allow someone like Draco Malfoy to lead her. They look good together, but how can the girl trust him? This is simply a case where the two dancers are so vehemently different, they should not be allowed to compete together. Although, when they started to move, my mind changed. No matter what the music, Draco was able to successfully lead Miss Granger safely to her destination."

"So, I would take that as one for?"

"Definitely."

"Professor McGonagall?"

"Well, I must say I rather surprised at this turn of events. When I saw the two together I have to admit that I was against the partnership. Yet, as they moved together, I could see how well-matched they truly are. They worked as a team to create something beautiful. Pardon my analogy but it was almost magical the way they moved in sync with each other. I daresay I have never seen a couple more well matched couple on every level."

"So I would take that as one for, Professor?"

"Wholeheartedly."

"We've heard from our judges," Dean turned and looked at the audience behind Draco and Hermione. "Now its time for the Love-O-Meter. Audience, should this couple make it to the next level?"

Hermione turned around to see an applause meter in front of her. She was roughly aware that Dean was talking to an audience, but his words seemed to blend together. She really didn't catch anything he was saying until she heard...

"By applause, all those in favor of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger..."

"Stop!" Hermione said. "I don't need to be here. I don't need your approval. I don't need any of your approval. I have chosen my partner."

With that the crowd disappeared and all that remained was Draco and Hermione only now they were in a garden in full bloom.

"Do you mean it? You choose me as your partner?" Draco said touching Hermione's cheek softly.

"I do." Hermione answered as she lowered her eyes.

"You may kiss your bride." Kingsley Shackleford announced.

Draco wrapped his arms around Hermione and kissed her forehead.

xoxoxoxo

With that, Hermione woke up on the couch in the Malfoy's library with Draco's arms wrapped around her. She sighed and thought about how safe she felt in his arms.

She smiled a little as she fell back asleep. Only in my dreams...

Draco's Dream

Draco watched as Hermione stood alone in a well lit foyer. She looked confused. Around her there were 4 doorways, all going different directions, to different pathways. She was going to be late for the ball. A look of panic had set in on her face, when he decided to come up behind her.

"Hermione?" he said gently so as to reduce her anxiety.

"Draco?" she answered quietly.

It was almost as if she couldn't see what was right in front of her. He knew then he would do anything to help her. "Do you trust me?" he asked.

"I do."

"Then take my hand." He took her hand into his and started to guide her to the great hall. The entire room had been made over to look like muggle night club. He smiled at her and led her to the dance floor, never letting go of her hand. They took one short jaunt around the dance floor, then he put his other arm around her waist and brought her close. Their bodies melded together in perfect harmony. At the end of the 1st number, the music changed. Draco spun Hermione out. When she returned to him, she stood before him as Artemisa. No matter what the music or the tempo, they moved in perfect unison.

Before he knew it, the moment he had been waiting for was here. A spotlight was placed on Draco and Hermione.

Dean Thomas announced, "Thank you, Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Judges? What did you think of our contestants?"

Draco couldn't wait to hear what the judges had to say about their performance. He knew how important this was for Hermione.

"Mr. Zabini...Since you are the odd man out, let's start with you."

"Well, I think the pair worked well together. They certainly are intelligent enough. I cannot doubt the sincerity of the couple. I must I was surprised by their moves, but in all it works. Whatever makes you happy right?"

Draco never really thought he would feel like he wanted his friends' approval, but he did value Blaise's friendship. It was nice to get his support.

"Thank you Mr. Zabini... So that's one for. Mrs. Weasley?"

"I was outraged when I saw the lineup. I thought to myself how can my Hermione allow someone like Draco Malfoy to lead her?"

Draco almost growled at this comment, but he bit his tongue and allowed the judgment to continue. He pulled Hermione in a little more protectively closer to his body.

"Sure they look good together, but how can the girl trust him? This is simply a case where the two dancers are so vehemently different, they should not be allowed to compete together. Although when they started to move, my mind changed. No matter what the music, Draco was able to successfully lead Hermione safely to her destination."

"So, I would take that as one for?"

"Definitely."

So far so good at least her family supports us.

"Professor McGonagall?"

Shit. Old Minerva is going to rake us through the coals. Draco cringed as he prepared for his old professor's comments. He didn't care a one whit what she thought, but he knew that any criticism would deeply wound Hermione.

"Well, I must say I am rather surprised at this turn of events. When I saw the two together I have to admit that I was against the partnership. Yet, as they moved together, I could see how well-matched they truly are. They worked as a team to create something beautiful. Pardon my analogy but it was almost magical the way they moved in sync with each other. I daresay I have never seen a more well matched couple on every level."

"So I would take that as one for, Professor?"

"Wholeheartedly," she answered.

Draco could not believe that they had unanimous support. He knew how important it was to Hermione to have everyone's support. She got it.

"We've heard from our judges," Dean turned and looked at the audience behind Draco and Hermione. "Now its time for the Love-O-Meter. Audience, should this couple make it to the next level?"

In front of him there was a huge muggle contraption. It looked like something he had once seen in a book. What was it called? Oh yes, a thermometer. Only this thermometer was about 8 feet tall.

"So what will it be folks? Will this lucky couple make it to Wasting Time? Separate Ways? A Whole Lotta Love? Or The Real Thing? For those of you who don't know how this works, it is really simple. By your applause we will see how far this couple will go. You hold their future in your hands."

"All those in favor of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger..."

"Stop!" Hermione said. "I don't need to be here. I don't need your approval. I don't need any of your approval. I have chosen my partner."

Did she really just say that? That she chose him as her partner? He apparated her away so they could be alone. He took her to a garden where they could be alone.

"Do you mean it? You choose me as your partner?" Draco said touching Hermione's cheek softly. He just couldn't wait to be hers.

"I do," said Hermione.

She said yes! He smiled to himself.

"You may kiss your bride," Kingsley Shackleford announced.

"Yes sir," Draco wrapped his arms around Hermione and kissed her forehead.

xoxoxoxo

Draco woke up on the couch in the library with his arms wrapped around Hermione.

It was a dream. We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.

He sighed. He would have been content to hold her. Just hold her for all eternity.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing. Bananas-r-yellow, Ikatsusiempre, Lya Darkfury, PricessOfTheDevil, Stella77, LoveBananas, BackToLife, Jessierose85, Isadora120, Draco-Fan17, ElNeneo, Kleipoppetie, Ixi-shaj, Xxxxcrazychickxxxx, Jeff Hardy Fan 31.

Thanks to Veronica and Jessica for their thoughts.

So I admit I have been a bad smurf. I dont have a preview as I do not have the next chapter written yet.
Life has gone away with me. Now that school is out I hope to be able to update sooner than once a week.

I hope you enjoy this little mushfest. With all the angsty stories out there we need a little fluff.

Next chapter: we learn what else Lord Ryuu sent, where they are going, what they are after, and they say goodbye. The adventure begins...