♕ twenty three

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 Hermione rushed up the marble staircase as fast as her feet could carry her, not able to contain her excitement. Her stomach squirmed and her heart was beating out of her chest. She was so distracted with anticipation that she nearly crashed into Ginny, who was running up the opposite staircase.

"Let's go!" Ginny exclaimed, grabbing her arm and racing down the corridor.

They hurriedly gave the password ("bowtruckle") and dashed upstairs where they immediately set their bags down and stared in awe at their dresses, hanging side-by-side on the wardrobe. Slowly, Hermione turned to Ginny and Ginny did the same. Both girls let out squeals and grabbed each others hands excitedly as they rushed forward and unzipped the dresses.

Hermione had seen her gown a thousand times before, but it never failed to take her breath away. As she waited for Ginny to get finished changing, Lavender and Pavarti rushed through the door, screaming like crazed fangirls.

"Ahh! Hermione! I'm so excited, are you?!"

"Oh, yes I-"

"You'd better be excited!" Lavender exclaimed, "because it's going to be the best night ever!!!"

Hermione couldn't agree more; but Ginny had emerged from the bathroom at that moment, twirling around in her gorgeous dress. "Do you think Harry will like it?" she asked worriedly.

"He'll love it!" Hermione reassured her as she stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, slipping into the dress and carefully pulling it up to her shoulders. She admired it for a few moments in the mirror; goodness, she almost looked like a princess. Even in the dim lighting of the bathroom, the golden flowers shimmered and the fabric sparkled. Every time she twirled it gave the impression that she was surrounded by a golden ring at her feet, as the skirt wound around her ankles. When she stepped out, Pavarti gave a sigh of admiration.

"No matter how many times I see it, Hermione, it never fails to amaze me."

"Draco will fall in love with you the moment he sees you in this dress," Ginny exclaimed. As Pavarti and Lavender changed into their gowns, Ginny and Hermione did each other's hair; Ginny's in gorgeous, full curls and Hermione's in an elegant braided crown. The pair exited the dormitory and made their way down to the common room.

"Ready?" Ginny breathed, as they stood in front of the portrait hole. The moment they exited the common room, everyone would be able to see them. Harry would be waiting right outside the doors of the Great Hall.

Draco would be waiting there too.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Hermione replied rather nervously. She took a deep breath and stepped through the portrait hole, where roughly a dozen students stood and chatted with their dates.

The moment they stepped out, everyone's gaze drifted to the two girls. Hermione tried to avoid the stares but it was hard when the girls were oohing and ahhing. She smiled politely as she passed and made her way down the hall and turned the corner.

At the end of the corridor was the doors of the Great Hall. Hermione saw Draco and Harry chatting cheerfully together. She supressed a grin and walked gracefully toward them.

That's when Draco caught sight of her.

As he searched through the crowded hallway for his date, his eyes landed on Hermione. Draco's mouth dropped open and his eyes lit up. Hermione gave him a smile.

"Oh... my... goodness," Draco breathed as she and Ginny reached their dates. Draco took Hermione's hands in his and looked her straight in the eye.

"Hermione, you are the most exquisite, amazing, breathtaking, beautiful person that I have ever had the pleasure of looking upon in my life."

"You clean up nicely yourself," she teased. Draco shook his head as if in awe and he pulled her in for a kiss.

"Shall we?" Draco asked, as the two pulled away. Hermione nodded and Draco led her into the Great Hall, where the decorations did not disappoint.

From the ceiling hung massive sparkling chandeliers of crystal ice, decked with silver ribbons. The walls were hung with giant wreaths of white holly leaves, and there were roughly fifty round tables that circled an enormous dance floor. Each table had a clean white tablecloth and a bouquet of silver ferns and beautiful, cream white roses. Hermione and Draco entered the hall and made their way to the center of the room, where the couple was met with awestruck stares.

"Why are they all looking at you?" Hermione whispered, slightly taken aback. Hundreds of eyes stared at them.

"Darling, they're all looking at you," Draco said softly. Hermione looked down at her feet and silently wished that she could disappear. She hated all of this attention.

"Hey, hey, look at me," Draco said, slipping a hand around her waist. Hermione  looked up into Draco's calm grey eyes.

"It's you and me," he whispered. "Just you and me."

She nodded and focused on only Draco; the feel of his hand encircling her waist, the feel of his shoulder against hers, the sound of his footsteps over the chatter in the Great Hall.

"Hermione!" she heard her voice in the crowd. Looking up, she saw Ginny waving to her and Draco. The couple made their way over to the table, where Harry, Ginny, Neville, and Luna sat; as well as Seamus and Dean, along with Blaise and Padma. 

"Oh, Hermione!" Padma gushed; for she hadn't yet seen the dress. "You look absolutely stunning."

"And you look amazing!" Hermione exclaimed, smiling warmly. It was true; Padma was dressed in a deep red mermaid dress that accentuated her figure. 

Suddenly, the hall quieted and Hermione turned to see Professor McGonagall step up to a podium, dressed in a simple burgundy dress.

"Good evening, students!" she exclaimed. "And welcome, to the Inter-House Dance. I hope that you all have rounded up your dates, and have found seats at the many tables we have for you. Food is now open to everyone; simply say what you want very clearly, and it will appear on your plate. When you are done, simply wave your hand over the plate."

"That is all I have to say; so without further delay, I am pleased to say that this dance has officially begun!"

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