Draco was surprised Hermione had managed to keep a Krum a secret. He played up to it though.

"You're joking, Weasley?" Malfoy said loudly as Hermione refused to tell Ron and Harry who she was going with. Her head whipped round, and Hermione gazed at Malfoy with immense dislike. He guessed Granger wanted to act her part too, or maybe, his subconscious thought, she actually didn't like him but refused to believe the latter. After all, he was a Malfoy. Malfoys were adored everywhere. "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"

Hermione waved at someone behind Malfoy. "Hello, Professor Moody!"

Malfoy went pale and looked around quickly. Moody was still up at the staff table, finishing his stew.

"Twitchy little ferret, aren't you, Malfoy?" Hermione said scathingly. Draco glared at her and stormed off. Was Hermione acting, or not?

*

Christmas Day. Malfoy, as usual, had a large pile of presents; a few books, some clothes, sweets, money, but for some reason it didn't quite cheer him up like normal. He wasn't in the festive mood. He didn't have to think hard to remember why he was miserable: going with Pansy to the Yule Ball was a horrific thought; he was quite distracted when opening his gifts.

"What's got into you, Draco?" Pansy asked, quite upset. She'd received frilly robes of pale pink for the ball and had already showed them off to the common room, waltzing to a silent tune. "Aren't you excited? There's the ball later; you love dancing."

"I have... a tormenting headache," Malfoy lied instantly. "I don't think I'll have breakfast. I might just, prepare for later."

"Alright then," said Pansy, rather dismally. Malfoy had no doubt she wanted to enter the Great Hall dramatically, probably arm-in-arm with him. Make a fool of himself before tonight, he thought miserably. How he hated that girl! "Earth to Draco!" Pansy was waving a hand in front of his face, now quite lamentably. "I said see you later."

"Yeah, bye," Malfoy answered irritably and she flounced off with Daphne and Millicent.

Maybe it was that Pansy had immensely strong feelings for him, or maybe she just wanted to impress people, for Pansy was quite cheerful when she greeted him in the common room, to go down to the Great Hall for the ball. Rather than the attractive and dignified navy dress robes his mother had bought him to match his grey eyes, Malfoy had selected black velvet robes with a high collar, like his school robes. Pansy gazed doubtfully at the vicar-like costume.

"I thought you had blue dress robes," Pansy accused. "You said you had!"

"They didn't fit," Malfoy said smoothly. For some reason today, he was finding it remarkably easy to lie. "I had these as back-up instead. Don't they suit your pink dress?"

They looked horrible with her frilly monstrosity, Malfoy thought, but decided not to say so.

"Yes, they look wonderful!" Pansy gushed, flirting outrageously as she smoothed down Malfoy's collar. Draco twitched as she touched him. Pansy removed her hands but let the moment pass. "If we're all set, let's go!"

*

Hermione was flustered. Alright, she was more than flustered. She was devastated. Far from being impressed for getting Krum's invitation, both Parvati, Padma and Ron cold-shouldered her after eventually recognising her and Hermione went to the bar, where Krum had said he'd be, only to find Malfoy there instead. He looked at her.

"Everything alright, Granger?" He asked, taking note of her downturned lips. "I've just abandoned Pansy. She was hinting strongly about going under the mistletoe, and so I slipped away... How did Weasel take it?"

"He didn't," Hermione said sadly. "He saw us dancing and accused me of 'fraternising with the enemy'. I can't bear to go back to Krum, looking like this," she gestured down at her periwinkle dress robes which were glittered with her tears.

"Herm-own-ninny!" Krum appeared beside them. He glared at Draco, who had settled against a pillar, managing to look as if he hadn't been talking to her, and saw Hermione's red eyes. "'As he been accosting you, Herm-own-ninny?"

"No," Hermione said brightly. "Of course not, Viktor. I was coming to find you when I bumped in to Malfoy and he and I briefly talked about our Transfiguration project. It wasn't a long conversation."

"'Ave you been crying, Herm-own-ninny? He wasn't the one, was he?" Krum said aggressively.

"No," Hermione continued in her overly bright voice. "It's the heat. I can tell you Viktor, it isn't often hot in our country," she laughed.

"Draco!" Pansy came hurrying up to them. "What were you doing with her?"

As Hermione ushered Krum away, she heard Draco say scathingly to Pansy,

"I was standing perfectly still, minding my own business. That had nothing to do with the filthy Mudblood."

She turned, shocked. She thought Draco had lost the 'filthy Mudblood' phrase, dropping it down to just 'Mudblood'. Apparently not. The words didn't affect her any more though; maybe it was the two and a half years she'd spent listening to them.

"Good," replied Pansy. "I wouldn't recommend that sort of company. It doesn't wash off well."

And Pansy walked away clutching Draco's arm, Draco looking incredibly miserable. She allowed herself to relax and accepted the Butterbeer Krum offered her.

"Thanks, Viktor. Perhaps I could show you the grounds."