(A/N: So here are the outfits of the few couples in this ff:

And me and my bestie supervising stuff while being hopelessly single:

Our studies to us when we tell them we'll be busy:

Also our studies when we tell them we were busy:

My crush complimenting me for nothing:(idek if I have one)

Le me:

Le my bestie :

Who and what's actually going on in my mind :

Fictional Men hit different >>>>>

Anyways..back to the story !! )

"Oh god  Hermione, just stay still for a second! You're ruining your mascara!"Ginny scolded the ever-fidgeting Hermione, as she carefully traced a line at the hem of her eyelid.

"Gin, my patience level reaches rock-bottom and you know that,"Hermione groaned, as she fought the urge to rub her eye.

Ginny worked absolute magic with cosmetics .Quite literally .And Hermione couldn't be more glad about it.

Last week, Draco had asked her to be his date to the Annual Christmas Ball at the Malfoy Manor .Sure , the orchestra and the fancy day out was extremely unnecessary ,because she would've said yes anyway.

"After all,"she thought,"he is my boyfriend."

She grew giddy all over again as Ginny visibly smirked.

"Guess we don't have to apply the blush after all ,do we Mrs.Soon-to-be Malfoy?"Ginny wriggled her eyebrows and Hermione hid her face in her palms ,in utter embarrassment.

"Okay done!"Ginny exclaimed with glee as she swirled on some setting mist on Hermione's beautifully made face.

Hermione slowly opened her eyes and gazed at the girl in the mirror.

Oh. My .God.

She had almost started to cry in amazement until Ginny wrapped her arms around Hermione's shoulder. She kissed her lightly on the cheek ,careful not to ruin any of her hard work.

"My baby's all grown up!"Ginny sighed dramatically.Hermione gave her a long side-ways glance.

"You're my best friend ,not my mother..cough cough..Red and technically I'm older than you."It was now Hermione's turn to smirk.

"Yeah yeah whatever.Get lost and find your Prince Charming or whatever ferretty name you call him.I've got to put on my dress."Ginny fumbled with the straps of the gown on her four poster bed."We'll meet you at the Malfoy Manor."

Yes.'We' as in Ginny and Blaise.He had asked her to accompany him to the Ball.Narcissa had personally sent invitation letters to all of Draco's friends as well as most of the War Heroes,wo still tread upon the surface of the Earth.And they happily obliged.

Hermione smiled to herself at all the sudden changes in her life.Good sudden changes definitely.As she turned arounf the corner of the staircase,she bumped into a silver tuxedo.

"Well hello there pretty lady! Prince Charming's downstairs waiting for you at the  Carriages,"Theo beamed at her and she couldn't help but smile brightly at him in return.

"Well hello there to you Mr.Dashing! Sylvia is indeed a very lucky girl!"Hermione grinned at him as he grew as red as Ginny's hair.

"Wa..Wait..h-how did you k-kno-"Theo was cut off mid fumble as Hermione laughed out loud.

"Come on Theo!I am known as the smartest witch of our generation for something you know!"

"Oh well.I-erm.Fine.Fine.I'll admit it.I'm so madly in love with her that I can't even breathe properly,"Theo sighed as his shoulders drooped and his head was downcast.

"Hey,"Hermione smiled softly at him as she hit him lightly on his shoulder.

"Theo ,I'll be dead honest with you .I'm not exactly that good of a friend of Sylvia's .So I don't know whether she likes you back or not. But what I do know Theo,"she paused.

"That love is worth taking a risk."

Theo looked at her and laughed lightly.

"Well, look at you ,all Professor Trelawney Mode."Theo grinned

"For once I try to be totally soft and this happens .This is why boys deserve a smack on their heads to keep their minds and tongue straight."Hermione grumbled and groaned as Theo continued laughing at her.

"Okay okay .Thank you Hermione.I'll..I'll take the risk."Theo gave her a side hug and led her to the landing of the stairs.They were now at the main entrance of Hogwarts,where the intricately adorned carriages were waiting for them to carry them off to the destination.

Hermione turned around and smiled at Theo."No Theo.Thank you"

Theo winked at her and turned back around to fetch his date for the Ball.

Hermione sighed to herself.Well,that's another chapter of her life gone with the wind.

"Good evening m'lady,"a husky voice drawled on behind her.

Her face lit up as she quickly turned around.

"Hey darling,"she giggled as Draco wrapped her in his arms.

"You look so goddamn endearing that I could rip off that-"

"Ehm Ehm..Mr.Malfoy,the carriage is ready sir,"Twinkie the elf squeaked as she scurried off again to join her friends who were mighty busy in the ball preparations.

Draco and Hermione both blushed and took themselves off each other reluctantly .I repeat, reluctantly.

But as soon as they were safely inside the pearl white carriage drawn by two sturdy and might fine Arabian horses, Hermione smacked Draco on his shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?"Draco shrieked as he rubbed the wounded area vigorously.

"You still have house elves working for you?That's simply despiscable Draco!"Hermione almost shouted.

"Hermione,they like to do it.It's not like we're forcing them or anything.We wouldn't do that,"he sighed as he pulled Hermione to his side,on his lap.

"But-"

A chaste kiss quickly shut her up.

Oh fuck her lipgloss.

Their lips attacked each other,with undeniably huge desire,which slowly softened and turned into a soft ballad.Not even the rocking of the carraige could keep them apart for even a minute.

They pulled apart finally as the carraige was slowly coming to a stop.

Draco looked at her warmly,with admiration,with adoration."Ready?"

Hermione glanced at him with all the Gryffindor courage she could pluck up.After all,she was going to meet his mother.

"Ready."

As soon as they stepped out of the carriage,flashing lights blinded their periphery.

Reporters.

Draco groaned as he covered Hermione and tried to keep the press as far way from his girl as possible.

With a little help with the organizers of the Ball ,they were quickly inside the Manor. Inside, the place looked even more spectacular than from plain sight.

"Draco, this place is so spectacular!"Hermione oohed and aahed as she looked incredulously at the sheer splendor of the Manor."My mother redecorated it after the War. To swipe off any mark left by him,"Draco examined the interior wistfully."She did a great job indeed. Definitely no marks left."

Hermione intertwined her fingers into his."Hey honey, it's alright. See ? I'm here. I'm here."

Draco's grip tightened as he closed his eyes shut. Hermione's soothing affirmations quickly brought him back to reality ,breaking his terrorizing trance.

Hermione wondered if they would ever go away ,but alas ,they did fight a war. And after all, his father was who he was.

"Miss Granger I presume?"a cool and soft voice called from behind them.

They both turned around to see Narcissa Malfoy beaming at them."You made it darling!"
Mother and son reunited , loving adorations brimming to their fullest.

Hermione smiled at the two of them. Oh, how she missed her parents at that moments. How she wished she hadn't....

"And Miss Granger ! We finally meet. Oh I can't really tell you how much I've been counting for the two of you to put your silly heads together and figure it out! Honestly I just knew that you two were meant to be from your very first year at Hogwarts .Every day ,I used to get letters from him. And oh lord, most of them were 'Granger this and Granger that'. He was so obse-"

"MOTHER THAT'S ENOUGH! Go off and greet your guests now!"Draco almost screamed in embarrassment .

"Oh god. Fine fine.Boys."She and Hermione laughed sardonically at poor Draco.

A tall ,dark and handsome middle aged man approached Draco ,a glass of white wine clutched in his fingers in a delicately graceful manner.

"Draco ! My boy!How  are you?"the man clapped Draco on the back.

"I've been good Uncle .I just finished this..."

Narcissa abruptly turned to face Hermione."Miss Granger would you mind helping me with the song preparations?I need a young taste at bay in case the audience grows bored of my choices."

Hermione was a bit surprised at the sudden request, but obliged dutifully .She had been nothing but sincere to her and she would definitely return the gesture.

Draco and Hermione's eyes locked .A silent conversation passed between them

It's okay. You can go with her. I love you

I love you too.

The ballroom was lit with a thousand lights .A gigantic chandelier hung from the middle of the ceiling .Hermione felt like a mirrorball .Like she could just sway to the music and the lights in her new dress , just to please him. To please Draco.

The couples were filling into the ballroom minute by minute.'Oh god, how many people had been invited to the Ball?'Hermione wondered to herself.

They were now at the top of the stairs. To a landing from where they could see the whole of the ballroom. In spite of the vast commotion in the room and Narcissa Malfoy's warm welcome earlier, just standing next to her ,alone, as stoic as a statue made her feel like freezing to death.

Several moments of silence between them prevailed.

"Do you love Draco Hermione?"Narcissa Malfoy's straight to the point question broke the ice.

They looked at each other for a moment .Examining.

"I do"

"Good .Because I'd kill you if you played my son like that .And however much of a Death Eater's wife I sound like right now, Hermione. Believe me, I speak as a mother. I speak as a mother who can't help but feel worried that her child is going to sink to the abyss if his heart gets broken yet again.We've..we've already suffered for enough lifetimes now. We deserve to be happy. My son deserves to be happy."

They were both worried that they would start crying any moment now. But they didn't. After all, Malfoy women had to have regal splendor and power bestowed them .And they would live to prove that.

Narcissa blinked away her tears as she looked lovingly at Hermione.

"Now that the crappy part is over dear, tell me over the weekend when we can go shopping,"Narcissa giggled .

Hermione laughed lightly in nothing but wonder and admiration for the older woman.

"Now hurry off and lead your way to the middle of the ballroom. Prince Charming is waiting for you,"Narcissa smiled as she signaled at the patiently waiting Draco Malfoy below.

As Hermione walked down the stairs, the folds of her gown in hand, their eyes met .And sparks seemed to fly.

A soft humming melody filled the room as the two lovers rejoined.