[R: sixty five]

"Nobody is blowing up the party that I poured my blood, sweat and magic to unless they want to be blown up by me."

Pansy looked livid as Harry and Ron hid the little packets of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder under several ornaments in the Great Hall, while Viktor was going over the emergency plans with the three Aurors they'd managed to get for the night.

"Nobody's blowing up anything." Hermione assured her "We're just making sure we have something planned in case it all goes to hell."

"Whoever tries to ruin this ball, I swear—" Pansy groaned "I will send to hell."

"Everyone's aware of their posts for the night." Ginny assured Hermione "I made sure with everyone back in the Gryffindor common room, and yes our Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw members were also there."

"Brilliant, thanks, Gin." Hermione grinned at her

"Now, can we please head back up to the common room so we can start getting ready?" Ginny pleaded "This hair isn't going to be curling itself."

Hermione forced a laugh "Alright, let's go." Ever since she agreed to go to the ball, her friends have done nothing but try to get her to be just as excited as they were. Ginny promised to get ready with her in their room, while Harry and Ron assured her they wont be leaving her side the entire night.

They all headed back up to the seventh floor, with Pansy and Celine rushing ahead, wanting to get ready as fast as they could so they can return to the venue as soon as possible. "Once we have our own children, you're beating Malfoy as school governor and building lifts." Ginny huffed at Harry

"Of course, darling." Harry hummed

Ginny looked back at Hermione, apologetic and wincing at her own words "'Mione, I forgot— I didn't mean to—"

"No harm done, Ginny." Hermione shook her head as they made it to the seventh floor "Don't worry about it." She smiled, though her thoughts were already on whether or not she and Draco would still make it back to each other.

Would they even still have children?

She sighed, perhaps now is not the time to be thinking these thoughts. Hermione wanted to put her mind on the right things tonight. She had a plan: celebrate with her friends, honor the dead, and bid good bye to the love of her life until they finally get the chance to fix him.

She wasn't supposed to give Draco another thought until they've successfully managed the battle.

As they entered the common room, Blaise, in his crisp and stylish dress robes, greeted them with a wide grin "Hermy, look how well I designed your mask!" He held it up for her to see like a proud kindergarten child, making everyone's eyes widen in surprise.

"Blaise, that's gorgeous!" Hermione gasped, coming forward "I never knew you had such a good eye for art."

"I will take that as a compliment." Blaise laughed, handing her the mask "I didn't want you to be in all blue, so I made it gold because silver's boring."

Hermione laughed and took it gratefully "Gold is perfect, thank you, Blaise."

"Anything for my Hermy, of course."

"Yes yes, now come and help me get ready, you doofus." Pansy practically dragged him upstairs "Herms, I might need your help with my hair."

"I'll be there as soon as I can." Hermione assured her with a small smile as her friends slowly slipped into a chaotic mess, buzzing around their dormitory getting ready for the ball.

"Remember, we have a speech." She heard Harry tell Ron as Ginny pulled her up to her quarters "You better be prepared."

"You're telling me?" Ron scoffed

"Perfect. Harry and Ron can stay in my room, while we get ready here in yours." Ginny grinned at Hermione, pointing at her garment bag, which laid next to Hermione's on the bed.

"Now, when did you get all these here?" Hermione laughed at all the make up and hair potions Ginny had on her desk.

"I put them all here before I checked in with the DA." Ginny shrugged "Now, are we getting ready, or not?"

"Yes, just let me get into the shower real quick." Hermione laughed, leaving Ginny to her devices in their room. If anything, she just needed a second to take a breath.

All her friends were in such high spirits that she didn't want her anxiety souring the mood. Hermione wanted to be smiling when she stood next to them. She didn't want to ruin their night.

It was the one night they've allowed themselves to let go of the worries about Rodolphus and focus on how they survived everything that happened a year ago.

They were to celebrate life tonight, not worry about it.

Hermione sighed, allowing herself to release all the frustrations as she showered ever so quickly. She glanced at Draco's Vanilla soap. She'd been using it for weeks— anything to help her remember the way his arms felt around her.

"No, we're saying good bye tonight." She whispered shakily, swatting away the tears that have come as she picked up her own bath soap, the fresh scent of Magnolias filling the shower.

Before Ginny could find her wrecked on the shower floor once again, Hermione quickly stepped out and dried herself before hurrying back into the room where Ginny was already dressed.

"Hair and make up left, of course." Ginny grinned "Help me with my hair, please?" She and Pansy had begged Hermione excessively to have her help them with their hair knowing how well she does hers.

"Just let me slip into this dress." Hermione laughed lightly, taking the dress that Celine had made for her from the garment bag. It was smoky blue in color, so much so that it was almost gray. There were beautiful gems and beads that peppered the torso of the dress, which had a very low v-neckline. The gown itself was made of tulle, giving Hermione a very ethereal look when she put it on.

"Celine outdid herself once again." Ginny whistled lowly "You're going to have boys flocking to your direction tonight, Hermione."

Hermione blushed at the compliment "It's not too revealing, is it? I'd hate for McGonagall to kick me out of the party." . She hoped for McGonagall to kick her out of the party.

"Nonsense. It's perfect!" Ginny shook her head "I doubt even Ron will keep his eyes off of you."

"Please, that ship has sailed and left the dock long ago." Hermione chuckled as she gathered Ginny's hair in her hands gently "Up or down?"

"What looks best with my dress?"

Ginny's dress was a ruby red, which gorgeously matched her brilliant hair, making her look like a phoenix rising from the ashes. Fitting, for what tonight's ball is about. "Down, it'll make you look fiercer."

"You speak my language." Ginny grinned as Hermione began to work, carefully twisting Ginny's hair with her wand, forming large waves with her fiery red hair.

"Are you not sad about tonight?" Hermione asked quietly "Fred will no doubt be mentioned several times." She looked at Ginny through the mirror, their eyes meeting. The youngest Weasley swallowed what seemed to be a lump in her throat, before shaking her head.

"I know he's happy, Hermione." Ginny said quietly, fingers tugging at each other, a habit she developed after the war "I also know he fought valiantly. He died doing everything he loved—protecting his family, fighting, and making a joke. Tonight, I'll be smiling, because my brother is a hero and he's being honored for it."