----
"Sometimes I wonder what it feels like to love so purely, so intensely, so incessantly, that your whole self aches with the feeling."
~butterflies rising
----

Draco kept glancing in every which way trying to spot Hermione. Had she gone back home? Or was she here and standing in a corner for fear of someone finding out about how she had gotten in?

He and Maria were currently speaking with Mr. and Mrs. Hardingson, who were very impressed with Draco's appearance and manners, for Draco could be charming when he wanted to.

"Maria is always talking about you," Mrs. Hardingson said, laughing. Maria turned a little red.

"Not all the time, I'm not obsessed," she rectified her mother while lacing her arm through Draco's.

"We'll go congratulate young Mister Zabini and Miss Parkinson," Mr. Hardingson said, looking around for the soon-to-be-wed couple.

"Meet us for dinner, darling," Mrs. Hardingson said, placing a little kiss on her daughter's cheek before she flitted away with her husband.

"Say, isn't Miss Granger here?" Maria asked, going on her tiptoes to look around.

"I don't know, I haven't seen her yet," Draco said, glad of the opportunity to look around without having to be discreet.

There she was.

She was wearing what Draco knew to be one of Pansy's dresses. Hermione being Hermione had chosen the simplest thing to wear. But even though her long, green dress was plain, with no additions or embellishments, she somehow managed to look just as good as all those around her. The long but cut sleeves left her arms exposed, and as Draco watched she raised a hand to tuck some hair behind her ear. Her hair was different too. Maybe Pansy had done something with it.

"Oh, I see her, there she is," Maria said, finally spotting Hermione, "Let's go over, come on."

Draco was all but dragged by Maria to where Hermione was.

Harry and Ginny were with her as well.

"Hello everyone," Maria greeted jocundly.

Draco smiled at Hermione first. She smiled back, laughing a little and looking less nervous than she had been before.

"Maria Hardingson, isn't it?" Ginny held her hand out, always the first to break the ice.

"Yes, it's lovely to meet you," Maria said, squeezing Ginny's hand and turning a flustered gaze on Harry, "Excuse me for saying this right now but I am such a huge fan."

Draco frowned when Harry grinned. The problem with dating Maria was that she kind of fangirled over everyone.

The group split some time later, and Maria went off with Ginny and Harry to meet Ron, and Parvati and Padma who had just arrived. That left Draco alone with Hermione, and Draco found himself feeling strangely anxious.

"How are you finding the party?" Hermione asked just for the sake of starting the conversation.

"Oh, I don't know," Draco said, a smirk beginning to form on his face, "I'm pretty sure someone here is gatecrashing."

Hermione clicked her tongue and shook her head, "Keep it down."

"Alright, alright," Draco said. He noticed that there was an untouched glass of champagne in one hand, while the other kept reaching up to frequently tuck her hair back.

"Wait, there's this thing Maria does to her hair," Draco lifted his hands, and taking two strands of her hair he twisted them like he had seen Maria do before, and left it in a sort of half knot near the base of her ear.

He had been right. Pansy had done something. Hermione's hair was unusually soft.

Hermione released a breath she had been holding in, "Thanks."

Draco stuffed his hands into his pockets.

The sound of repeated clinking rang through the air, and everyone turned towards the front of the hall where Pansy and Blaise were standing along with their parents.

"We will now have the first dance," Mrs. Zabini, a tall, dark woman, announced with a wide smile on her face, "Which will be the first as a couple for my son and my daughter-in-law."

The music changed as if it had been waiting for Mrs. Zabini to finish speaking, and Pansy and Blaise moved to the centre of the hall, looking grandaire.

Maria was back looking extremely happy on having met Ron Weasley, "Draco, would you like to dance?"

Draco felt Hermione move a little away from him, and a feeling of loss overcame him. He put on a smile, "Sure."

Glancing back at Hermione, he found that she was still smiling, although it looked a little forced now, "I'll go find Harry and Ginny I think. You two go on."

Draco's smile slipped without his consent as he and Maria made their way to where all the other couples were. But he pushed the smile back in place the moment Maria turned around to face him.

"You don't mind dancing, do you?" Maria asked with a little laugh.

"Not at all, actually," Draco shook his head, "Are you okay with dancing? I remember you telling me you're horrible at it."

"Nobody's going to be looking at me when they can look at you, anyways," Maria said, carefully placing her hand on his shoulder and lifting the other one up to precisely shoulder level.

~~~~

Hermione found it so hard to smile and pretend that she was completely fine while she actually regretted agreeing to come at all. She was standing alone by the window again, and the moon seemed to be looking down at her in pity, while the wind moaned empathetically.

Ginny, Ron and Harry had reluctantly left her to go join the dancing.

Her eyes kept going back to where Draco and Maria were. His movements were precise and elegant, he never faltered or fell back by a step. His arms held Maria close to him when they twirled, and when he dipped her low a wide smile broke out over Maria's face.

"Miss Granger?"

Hermione jumped, a little startled.

Anthony Goldstein was standing beside her, wearing a light blue shirt and an attractive smile while managing not to look like he knew that he looked good. His blond hair had turned darker than it had been at Hogwarts.

"Hello," Hermione knew him well from the prefect meetings and the DA.

"I was wondering if you would like to dance?" Anthony asked in the same modest tone, "I know we haven't spoken at all over the past few years but that doesn't mean we don't know each other."

"Of course," Hermione said, feeling like her arms were much too exposed. She was feeling cold even though the temperature was moderately maintained in the ballroom.

"May I?" Anthony held his arm out, and Hermione placed her hand over it.

They joined the dancing people in the centre of the hall, and Hermione caught Ginny giving her a grin and a wiggle of her eyebrows from where she and Harry were dancing.

Due to where they were standing, Hermione could see the reflection of Draco and Maria on a large green bauble that hung low over their heads. Even when she and Anthony started dancing, Hermione kept her eyes fixed on the reflection.

She was falling. She was falling slowly but surely and she didn't want to. But the powerful clench of her heart when she saw Maria toss her head back in laughter at something Draco had said told her that she was already too far gone. Anthony didn't notice her change in pace of breathing at all, and at that moment Draco's words came back to her in a very different sense, There's nobody to catch you.

The song neared its end. Anthony cleverly kept them away from the mistletoe branches that hung from the ceiling. Hermione was just working on locking away her feelings again when she saw something that made her heart catch in her throat.

It was only the reflection that she saw. Draco and Maria found themselves caught under the mistletoe. It wasn't too long before Draco leaned down to slowly kiss Maria, while she looked like she had stopped functioning entirely.

"You look pale, are you feeling well?" a concerned frown creased Anthony's forehead.

"I think I just need a- a little air," Hermione said. The song finally ended, and Anthony let her hand drop.

"Would you like me to come with you?" Anthony led her away from the crowd. A faster, merrier song had started to play. People clapped and stomped, a traditional jig.

"No, I'm fine," Hermione said with a grateful smile, "Thanks for the dance."

"Thank you," Anthony kissed the back of her hand in a show of what Hermione knew to be ancient custom, and left her.

Seeking relief from the crowds and the noise for a while, Hermione careened towards the glass domed conservatory.

"What happened to you?"

Hermione didn't have to turn to know that Pansy was upset.

"Nothing, I just needed some air," Hermione repeated her lie from before, "It's a great party, by the way."

"All that is fine, but what isn't fine," Pansy came to stand in front of her, "Is that you're here and hiding away this great dress of mine."

Hermione snorted, surprised that she was still able to laugh while such suppressing thoughts were crushing her heart.

"Granger, I'm talking to you."

Hermione shook her head, "I know, go on. What were you saying?"

"I was asking you why you look like you want to jump off a cliff," Pansy crossed her arms across her chest.

"Why are you so dramatic?" Hermione asked, laughing again. How was she still laughing?

"This is about Draco, isn't it?" Pansy demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

"No, why would it be about... Draco?" Hermione said instantly. She hated herself for feeling so strongly for someone who very clearly wanted nothing more than friendship.

"I just thought it would be," Pansy shrugged, "Now go out there before I drag you back."

Hermione had no choice but to consent. She and Pansy went back to the ballroom, where Hermione found that another song was already starting.

"Ah, there you are."

Hermione forced a smile on her face when she saw Draco approaching.

"Maria went to dance with her father," Draco said, pointing to where Maria and Mr. Hardingson were standing, waiting for the song to start.

"Have you seen Blaise?" Pansy asked, "He said he had to go to the bathroom, but that was fifteen minutes ago."

"He's by the doors, I think," Draco said.

Pansy stalked off (she always stalked, never walked), leaving Hermione and Draco alone once more.

"Care to dance, milady?" Draco laughingly asked.

If Hermione would say no, he would get suspicious. So she nodded and took his hand.

She could feel his pulse through his skin, and was surprised to find that it was at an alarmingly fast pace, much like her own. It was probably from all the dancing he had been doing.

"Are you sure Maria won't mind?" Hermione asked, uncertainty ringing in her voice. The only sound she could hear over her own beating heart and the rush of her blood was Draco's breathing.

"No, she won't," Draco assured her, "She knows we're friends."

The first note of the music reverberated through the air, sounding mellow and soothing.

Draco's arms went around Hermione's waist, and the other lifted her free hand up.

"Never thought I'd be doing this, in all honesty," Draco said when they began swaying, "Did you?"

"No," Hermione shook her head slightly, wiling herself not to stutter.

Good Gods, this was too much. Too much. She felt like her chest may as well have exploded with all the things she was feeling.

"Are we still having our study tomorrow?" Draco asked, and it was clear that he was trying to dissolve some of the tension.

"My quiz is ready," Hermione answered, trying to put some effort into being normal.

"Watch the mistletoe," Draco said, moving to the right and taking Hermione with him.

He hadn't cared for the mistletoe when he had been with Maria.

It became a struggle to keep her smile in place. She had never felt it before, but his hands, although rough and full of old cuts, had a softness to them. As always, he smelt of vanilla. The heavy, soothing scent surrounded her, making breathing hard.

The song was much too slow to be able to avoid each other's eye forever. There was something different in them, in his eyes. They seemed to be shining, having a luminescence of their very own; if the moon were to see his eyes, she would be rendered speechless. So intense was his gaze that Hermione had to frequently look away, while fervently wishing she could know what he was thinking behind his mask.

"You know, with the way you're looking right now, I'd say you were in love with someone," Draco said, his head bent a little low.

She would have laughed at the irony had it not been for the pain she was feeling.

"Are you?" Draco asked, turning her around before pulling her back in.

Hermione could only shake her head.

It was a relief when the song ended and Hermione could move away from Draco.

Thankfully, it was the last dance. Round tables appeared around the hall, and everyone went to take their seats.

"Would you like to join me and Maria at a table?" Draco asked, smoothing his shirt down. His manner was uncharacteristically sober and modest.

"I-"

"'Mione, come sit with us!" Ron called from a table a little away to their left. He was seated with Harry, Ginny and Elena, all of whom were looking at Hermione expectantly.

With an apologetic smile at Draco, which he returned with a small nod, Hermione went to sit beside Ginny.

"What was that all about?" Ginny whispered to Hermione as soon as she sat down.

"Nothing," Hermione said while keeping her smile in place.

"You look great, 'Mione," Ron said in his bracing way.

"You too," Hermione returned, "Did you pick your robes out yourself?"

"Elena helped me," Ron said affectionately, and Elena beamed while her cheeks turned a faint pink colour.

~~~~

By the time Hermione got back home she was much more exhausted than she ought to have been. Ginny and Harry had gone off to the park as planned, while Ron and Elena had left to go to the Burrow. Draco had elected to take Narcissa and Lucius home, for they were both tired and didn't seem able enough to apparate.

Pansy had told Hermione that she could return the dress whenever she wanted, because Pansy never wore it anyways, and it looked much better on Hermione.

Hermione gratefully took off her heels. Her hair was regaining its famously bushy state, and the knot Draco had tied had drooped and was only some time away from opening.

With a welcoming meow, Crookshanks came to stand beside Hermione. She picked him up, relishing his warm weight in her arms.

Really, feeling things was such a bother. Sometimes she wished she could just shut her heart down on the emotions part.

~~~~

It was around two in the morning when Hermione was woken by the floo yet again. She was still in her dress from the ball, having been too tired to change or even brush her teeth.

Hermione picked up her wand in an instant, but when Ginny called out, Hermione hurried to the living room.

"Is everything okay?" Hermione asked, looking Ginny all over. Ginny, too, was still in her red dress, and looked just as stunning as she had when Hermione had last seen her, although the hem of her dress was soaked.

"More than okay," Ginny said, rushing forward to embrace Hermione, "He said yes! 'Mione, he said yes!"

Hermione was immediately filled with joy, and she hugged Ginny back with as much affection as she could.

"This is wonderful!" Hermione said sincerely, "Took you both long enough, though!"

Ginny laughed, "It did, didn't it? Although it was worth the wait."

Ginny finally released Hermione from her hold, and her eyes sparkled with happiness and anticipation for the coming future.

"Do you know what's the funniest thing?" Ginny said, still bubbling with excitement, "He had bought a ring for me ages ago, just like I had bought his. That's why he had been acting strange, apart from moving to Grimmauld Place."

Hermione couldn't help but grin at the situation, "Where is he now?"

"Gone to tell Kreacher the good news," Ginny said, "Then we're going back to the Burrow to tell mum and dad. Do you want to come with us?"

Hermione thought about it, then nodded to say yes, "I don't see why not."

It was late, yes, but it was fine. Hermione could use a distraction.

They flooed to the Burrow, where the kitchen was empty save Ron, who was eating some leftover pudding with a joyous and placid smile on his face.

"Oh, there you are," Ron said, looking a little put off on seeing Ginny, "I thought you and Harry were gone off to Grimmauld Place to do-"

"Shut up before I skewer you with a fork," Ginny said, grinning. Ron looked a little panicked then, and looked to Hermione for reassurance. Hermione made a gesture for him to calm down, and he nodded, open mouthed.

"Mum! Dad!" Ginny shouted up the stairs, "George! Percival! Charlie!"

There was a thunderous sound of footsteps down the stairs as everyone barrelled downwards, obviously a little afraid on hearing the urgency in Ginny's voice. George tumbled through the stairs first, and immediately grabbed hold of Ginny's shoulders, "What? Who? What happened to you?"

Ginny threw her arms around George, who looked taken aback at first, but then melted and hugged Ginny back, "It's been a while since you've done this, you know."

"What's the matter? Is everyone alright?" Molly asked frantically, while still tying the knot of her night robe. Arthur had his wand up and looked positively alarmed. Charlie was alert and looking at Ginny carefully.

"Whatzit?" Percy came through last, his hair stuck up every which way and a little crust around his eyes. It seemed he was a heavy sleeper, "Someone called me Percival, I'll kill them."

"Ginny, what's the matter? Why were you screaming your head off?" Charlie asked, still maintaining a calm composure which wasn't betrayed except by the nervous vein twitching in his neck.

At that precise moment, Harry walked in through the back door, looking exalted about something. Of course, Hermione knew what it was, but the confusion on everyone's face only increased.

"What's the matter with both of you?" Ron had finally regained his voice, having been struck speechless by Ginny's sudden actions.

"You've woken them already," Harry said, coming to stand beside Ginny, "Kreacher have me a gong to use to wake everyone up, but never mind."

Harry placed said gong on the table.

"You two!" Arthur said, finally losing his patience, "What's the matter?"

Harry and Ginny raised their hands at the same time, and the rings glinting on each of their ring fingers were unmissable.

All of the sleepy redheads (bar Ginny) blinked.

Then everyone exploded in shouts of joy and cries of congratulations. Molly had gone to smother both Harry and Ginny with kisses. Charlie was standing with a bewildered smile on his face. George was ruffling Ginny and Harry's hair, while saying in a sing-song voice, "Ginny and Harry sitting on a broom..." Ron was standing proudly beside Ginny and Harry, and Hermione didn't miss the way he swiped hastily at his eyes once ("You treat her well, mate. She's still my sister...so grown up...so happy....knew it would happen....better be good....")

"Drinks all around!" George shouted, and Charlie immediately summoned glasses and a large bottle.

"To our little sister and the Chosen One!" Charlie raised his glass and everyone followed suit. So in the dark hours of the night after Christmas, Hermione spent one of the happiest hours of her life.