Hermione took a breath before pressing the button Gustav had handed her earlier. For the first several minutes nothing happened.

Draco opened his mouth about to say something when there was a pop and two people apparated into the room.

"You rang." Gustav joked. "Oh dear Merlin." He said when he saw Hermione's backside through the mirror. "What happened?"

"Sadie Rayne is what happened." Blaise piped in.

"Oww." Draco cried as Gemina whacked him over the head.

"It's all your fault." She scowled at him.

"How is it my fault?"

"I told you not to date her. I never liked her in the first place."

Draco just made a face at her.

"Do that again and I'll die your hair green Blondie."

"Who you calling Blondie? Blondie." Draco said looking pointedly at Gemina's pale blonde hair.

"I've known you since you were six. I know the best blackmail stories in the world." She said with a glint in her eye.

Gustav rolled his eyes as he shared a look with Hermione.

Gemina winked at Hermione and it looked to Hermione like she said I'll tell you them later or somewhere along the lines.

Hermione couldn't help the laugh that escaped.

Draco and Gustav both looked at her funny.

"Come on lovie. We should apparate back to the salon. I have the best revenge plan in the world. Gem, can you go home and get the dress. You know which one right?"

"Oh yes."

"You all stay here. We'll take care of Hermione." Gustav said then gave his arm to Hermione. "You ready?"

"Yes." Hermione said tucking her arm into his.

"I'll make Sadie Rayne want to eat dirt." Gustav said grinning quite sardonically.

Then the two disappeared with a pop. Gemina gave Draco one pat on the cheek saying to relax and that Hermione would be back soon.

"That was… entertaining." Luna said then flounced out of the ladies room.

Draco and Blaise shared a look.

"Don't look at me." Blaise said.

"She's your date."

"But she's also Luna Lovegood."

"Your mother is probably rolling in her grave along with your ancestors." Draco said.

"I know right?" Blaise said gleefully. "But I'm not the only one with ancestors rolling and groaning at my choice of date."

"I just love defying tradition don't you?" Draco put his arm over Blaise's.

"Let's toast to that." Blaise said laughing as did Draco.

!

Hermione had changed into a robe and was currently having her hair redone by Gustav who kept muttering something under his breath. It was in some kind of foreign language. Even though she didn't know the language she could tell it wasn't pleasant by the tone of his voice. And it was directed at Sadie Rayne.

Meanwhile Lindsay was redoing her nails a brilliant red. It was even named Scandalous Scarlet. Just by the name alone said everything.

Gustav began to lightly blow dry her hair as Lindsay continued onto her toes.

Gemina had come back of course just as Gustav began to out her hair into large curlers like you saw in the movies. In her hand was a hanger and on it was obviously a dress but Hermione couldn't tell what the dress was because of the protective covering.

!

Draco sat in his seat as people kept coming up to him. Some wanted to talk pleasantly others about business. Some braver persons came to ask about Hermione and where she was; an idiot had asked how had he snagged Hermione Granger and if she was a good lay. Draco had hexed him. The guy currently had a pig tail.

!

"Why did you do that Sadie?" Ron asked again.

"I didn't do anything." Sadie said calmly.

Ron sighed. "Sadie."

"Don't. Please Ron. Everyone's blaming me and it isn't even my fault. You don't even believe me. And you mean more to me than any of them." Sadie said looking at him, tears glistening her eyes.

"Oh Sadie. I'm so sorry. I just."

Sadie leaned herself into him, she put her head on his shoulder and crushed her chest to his body as she sobbed silently.

Ron gulped. "I believe you, its okay."

!

Draco declined the several offers he was given. Ever since he got back, almost every female not seeing Hermione near had decided to try their luck in claiming the Malfoy heir but none succeeded. Some even came away in tears.

"Would you want to dance?" A pretty brunette came up to the table to ask Draco.

Draco looked up bored as he stared at her.

She stood confident in her slinky black dress that revealed more than it hid and done up do with make up making her look like any man's fantasy.

"No, you look like a high class hooker." Draco said.

Blaise nearly choked on his drink as Harry looked at him shocked. Luna looked at the girl. She cocked her head to the side as if studying her. The nodded at Draco as if agreeing with him. This time Blaise really choked on his drink.

The girl stood there absolutely still except her quivering lips.

Draco looked up at her with a bored expression. "You can go now."

The girl's face reddened and she ran away in near tears.

"You do know you just called the Minister's daughter a prostitute right?" Ginny said looking at Draco.

"A high class one." Luna piped in as she tried to help Blaise with his choking.

"I don't care." He said taking another sip of his drink. Draco sighed. "Why can't these women just leave me alone? I do have a date with me even if she's technically not here at the moment." Draco scowled.

Ginny and Harry couldn't help sharing a look. That had never come out of Ron's mouth ever before ever or anything remotely close to that. Ginny paled as she remembered an instance.

Hermione and Ron were on a double date with Ginny and Harry. 

Harry was telling them about a criminal that him and Neville had been trying to catch and how they had lost the person when Neville had seen a plant in a flower shop and wanted to buy it and see if he could cultivate it. Harry hadn't even known what was going on until Neville had already opened the door of the flower shop. Somehow the criminal had been hiding in the flower shop and had startled Neville so much that he's thrown the leaf he'd been looking at, at the criminal. The plant had a side effect that if one was to smell the plant's leaf, they were knocked unconscious for at least 10 minutes. So in the end, Neville had somehow caught the criminal without any of Harry's help by using a leaf.

It caused everyone to smile. But then they were interrupted by a female. A female fan of the Cuddly Cannons no less.

"Um are you Ron Weasley?" She asked.

They all looked up.

Ginny raised her brow at the too tight dress that stretched across her ample chest.

"Yes, that's me." He said giving a big smile.

The girl gave a squeal. A squeal. "Oh my gosh, this is so cool. Can we like get a picture with you? Me and my friends are totally your biggest fans." She pointed to a table behind them.

All four of them craned to see the group.

Harry's eyes went wide at the group of three girls at the table. Each one was in a dress shorter than the next. And all were done up ready to hit a club any minute, infact it quite looked like that was where they were preparing to go next.

"Except Cassie. She thinks that Roger Davies is hotter but we've been like trying to convince her that he's like not at all. But once she meets you in person she'll like totally see the truth. So please take a picture with us pretty please?" Then the girl made a motion where her lips pouted in one of those motions that made both Hermione and Ginny want to ram her head into the table.

"Of course. I'll meet you girls over there in a second." He smiled at her and even added a little wink that made the girl giggle and say that she was counting on him.

"Not again Ron." Hermione groaned. "Can't you let it go just once? Please."

Ron turned to her and his eyes flashed. "Of course I can't they're my fans. I can't do that to them."

"Ron this is the eleventh time this has happened. Why can't we go on one date where a ditz approach us?"

"She's not a ditz."

"Ron, she makes Lavender seem like Professor McGonagall."

"It's okay to be jealous Hermione. But don't insult people like that." He practically chastised her and shook his head like as if he was disappointed in her.

Hermione's jaw dropped. Before she could get in another word though.

"They're my fans; I have a duty to them." He said taking his drink then walked to the group of girls without a look back.

Harry and Ginny had stayed silent during the whole thing but couldn't help but be annoyed with Ron.

Hermione covered her face in her hands and gave a silent scream.

"Mione…"

There was a round of laughter behind them.

They all looked back.

Ron was in the middle of the group of girls and  seemed to be having a good time, he must've been telling a joke as the girls laughed again. One even put her hand on his arm as if admiring him and instead of brushing her off he just leaned closer to the girl and whispered something in her ear.

Hermione couldn't breathe as she turned back to face Harry and Ginny. "I have to go. I have a lot of work tomorrow. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay Mione. Let me take you home." Harry offered.

"No, no. You take Ginny home, she's your wife."

"No he's taking you home. I need to have a word with a certain brother of mine." Ginny said to Hermione.

Ginny's eyes softened as she stared at the agitated blonde.

"Maybe you're good for her. I guess I have to give you a chance at least." Ginny said softly as she sighed.

Draco looked up confused. "Did you say something?"

"No, nothing at all." Ginny replied.

He gave her a weird look but let it go.

There was a bell, a loud bell that signaled time for everyone to get off the dance floor and into their seats as the real banquet was just starting.

Draco looked around one more time to see of Hermione was here yet. She wasn't.

He almost stood up but Blaise stopped him with a look that told him to be patient.

It took several minutes but then everyone was sitting in their seats. As soon as that happened, there was a spotlight on the stage. Next, the Minister of Magic appeared on the stage.

"Hello, hello. Hope everybody's been having a good time despite some of the incidences." He said then chuckled as if he told a joke.

Some others gave a laugh too. No one at the table did however. Not even Luna.

"Well I just wanted to thank you all for coming. And to you party crashers… buy your own food."

There was reluctant laughter.

"Um well yes, uh well today we are all celebrating the Second war after defeating… You Know Who,"

"Dear Merlin can't the guy just say his name." Blaise said.

Harry agreed with him.

"But enough from me. Yes, we have the real hero with us here today. Please welcome Harry Potter on stage please."

A spotlight appeared at their table.

The whole hall broke into an applause one that even drowned out the Minister's voice.

"Harry go." Ginny ushered.

"Me? I don't know what to say." Harry protested.

"You don't, why don't you?" Blaise asked. "This is a gala in your honor you know."

"No it isn't. It's for the war not me!"

"Unfortunately for you Potter, you are the savior." Draco drawled.

"Harry you were the one that finally ended the war." Luna said in her calming voice. "You'll do fine. We know you will." She ushered with a calm smile.

Harry felt like as if it took him hours to walk to the stage when it was only minutes. The whole time the applause never stopped.

When he got there the minister gave him a hug then handed him a voice amplifier.

"Thank you but please…"

The applause stopped as Harry began.

"I do want to thank all of you for coming here today. Hope everyone has been having a good time."

There were murmurs of agreement.

"But the war is why we are here today."

There was silence in the hall.

"I know you all see me as this hero but I'm just me. I couldn't have done anything without the help of everyone. I am just one man. The people we need to really thank are just the ones possibly sitting next to you. And of course those that risked all for us today. We know they are in a better place. So please take this time to give a moment of silence for those."

There was complete utter silence. Not even a drop of water pinged.

"Right now I want to thank those with us right now at this very moment. The people right here in this hall. I would like to thank the professors and the aurors and my classmates and their family that came to help us fight. And me personally I want to thank some specific people. I want to thank Professor Severus Snape, who though I never fully trusted during my school years. Had always looked after me though I never believed it. Professor Dumbledore for all he did to prepare me for the day. Narcissa Malfoy for loving her son so much that she defied Lord Voldemort and declared me dead."

Everyone at that point turned to look at the table where Draco and they were.

"I'm going to kill Potter." Draco muttered.

"To the Weasleys whom are my family in every sense. My beautiful wife, Ginny, for everything. And to my two best friends in the World. I don't know if you all have ever heard of them." Harry joked as he smiled.

There was a round of laughter.

"They stuck with me through thick and thin. Ron Weasley…" Harry trailed off as he stared ahead of them at the grand stair case.

Everyone craned their heads to see what he was staring at.

Then a bright stage light lit upon the lone figure on the stair case.

It was a female. She wore a black cloak over her head and when it slipped, everyone gasped.

"… Hermione." Harry whispered.

Hermione blushed furiously as she realized everyone was literally staring at her. She almost jumped in shock when a waiter came around to ask of he could take her cloak.

Hermione nodded and slipped the cloak off.

Jaws dropped and much more.

Hermione Granger's hair fell in soft cascading waves. She had the kind of hair guys wanted to run their fingers through as they kissed her till the end of the world.

And that was exactly what Draco wanted to do.

Her makeup was very classic yet bold. Smoky eyes and a natural look except her riveting cherry red lips. She wore a pearl choker. The one that Draco had given her. On her ears were pearl studs. But it was the dress and heels that had people speechless. The dress was a violent shade of red that matched her lips and nails. It was fitted like no other dress could fit. Almost like a second skin. It ended at mid thigh showing off her legs and the black four inch heels with crystals embedded on them, that shined with each movement of hers.

Hermione could still feel the stares on her. She gulped.

"Hermione." She heard.

Hermione looked up and saw what looked to be Harry standing on a stage.

"Harry?"

When Hermione got down the stairs she saw him waiting for her on the last step.

Blaise blinked, then looked at the empty seat beside him. "Wait what?" He said not even remembering when Draco had even got up and out of his seat.

Harry and just about everyone gasped as Draco Malfoy kissed Hermione Granger again. But this time all eyes were on them.