by Aikan
 
 

Chapter 1
The Blind Dragon
 

Draco's POV

I heard Pansy outside my door whining as I adjusted my collar. That whiny little girl certainly wasn't my
first choice for the Yule ball, but at this point I didn't have a choice. An owl from my father two weeks
ago had decided that pretty fast. He had given me a list of "suitable" dates to choose from. Kathy Draconis,
Emily Crabette, and Millicent Bulstrode were in that list. At least Paansy didn't attempt to snuff jello through
her nose like that tomboy Kathy, or conjure mini-dark marks in the common room like Emily. Millicent
Bulstrode? I told Father that I would prefer not to have my feet amputated from being crushed. Or, told him
that in my head. I didn't want to have to spend another week cradeling a broken arm like my last return to
Hogwarts when I made a badly-placed joke about the Dark Lord. I finished fiddling with my dress robes
and gave myself up to Pansy, a horriffic vision in pink. But I held my head proudly as we walked out of the
dungeons.

Or, I did until I saw Hermione. That was when I tripped.

She was wearing a gorgeous dress of some filmy soft-yellow material that fell straight to the floor. The
straight low neck was held up by slim straps that made the skin underneath look creamy and soft. Her
hair was done in a sort of bun that looked beautiful and showed off a graceful neck. A few planned strands
fell loose. My mind wandered for one second too long, and I lost my footing on the uneven dungeon floors.
I fell with a crash, Pansy shrieking. "Draco, Draco!!!" as if i'd broked my neck and not just fallen. I saw
Hermione turn her head in my direction, see me, then sneer and keep walking.

Nothing hurt, at least nothing but my pride. How could I have done that? Not fallen, but looked at my
arch-enemy like that? Distracted from years of fighting my a bit of skin? I shook my head sharply to get
her picture out of my head. What would father think?
 

Hermione's POV

Colin, my date for the ball, had just run out of conversational topics when I heard a crash to my left. I turned
my head sharply, more than ready for a distraction, any distraction. I saw Draco sprawled out on the floor. I
fought an instinct to laugh hilariously at the scene, until I heard Pansy shrieking as though the world had come
to an end. I sneered at her reaction: she woudl do anything for attention. I saw Draco shake her off, then look
up and around. Our eyes met.

It was like a bolt of electricity went straight throught me. His cold blue eyes gave me goosebumps across my
back. However, they weren't the bad goosebumps I got when I was scared or angry - these were different,
exciting. I turned away quickly. We'd arrived at the Great Hall.

I gasped, like everyone else who had entered through these doors before me. The scene was beautiful:
everything was within a Winter Wonderland theme. Corny, perhaps, for the Muggle world, but the Wizarding
world knew how to do it right. Snow was falling everywhere. I tried to catch some on my tongue, and found
to my delight that it was mint-flavoured! It wasn't cold, either, but instead gave you a warm feeling inside like
hot chocolate on a winter's day. Relaxing music was being played by a band of snowmen, and the few couples
that were dancing were on a dancefloor of non-slippery ice. Icicles hung from the cielings and off the sides of
the tables, and there were many trees to the side, all covered in snow. Beautiful ice-sculptures were dotted
throughout the room. My wondering gaze was interrupted by Colin, who, noticing my goosebumps, asked me
if I wouldn't like to dance to get warmer. I said yes, eager to join Ron and Harry on the dance floor with their
parteners Parvati and Ginny. I suppose Colin and I were rather ackward, but we were having a good time
together.
 

Draco's POV

I entered the great hall, barely noticing all the decorations that Pansy was cooing and exclaming about. I was
too busy trying to loosen her vice-like grip before my arm fell off. I saw Crabbe and Goyle in the corner closest
to the refreshment table. I tried to catch their eyes, but without success. Pigs. I might have been able to drop
Pansy off with them...

*Just because you came with Pansy doesn't mean you have to stay with her*, said a voice in the back of my
head. I was prone to believing it, but remembering my broken arm and other "accidents", I pushed it away and
mustering all the gentlemanly esteem I could manage to treat Pansy with, I asked the pig- I mean girl to dance.
Much to the relief of my feet, Pansy did know how to dance. Much to the horror of hers, I didn't. By the time
a second song had come on, she was attempting to show me how to do it. My pride wouldn't let her, and I
pushed her offers away rudely. I didn't feel bad - I had no emotions to waste on her. Just as I pushed her away,
Dumbledore stood up and anounced that it was time for the group dance. I groaned, along with the rest of the
crowd, in mock dismay. It was a tradition for the school, and though everyone pretended to hate it, everyone
loved it. It always formed new couples, and everyone enjoyed the chance to break away from their dates and
dance with others. I was probably the only one who didn't for a single reason: I couldn't dance!

Hermione's POV

I welcomed the anouncement of the group dance - I soon found that Colin was an ackward dancer. I eagerly
place myself in the girl's circle, snatching up by blindfold from the conjured table eagerly. I put it on, careful not
to mess up my hair, and was pronounced ready and led into the line. Ten feet away, I could hear the guys going
through the same process. I ordered my palms not to sweat, and reviewed what I knew of the group dance.
Founded in 1467, it was a dance for students to know others outside of their own circle. People were lined
up, and put with a random partener that could not be ditched until the dance ended. It was supposed to be a
surprise, and though it was a common thing to peak, I prefered to keep my blindfold on till halfway through the
dance. There's more mystery that way, I guess.

Thirty seconds later, it was my turn. I felt myself gently prodded into the arms of my myster partener. I heard
some giggles from the other people without blindfold. I sighed mentally. I've probably been stuck with Neville
Longbottom - he sure dances like it. Truly, my parrtener didn't have a clue: no sense of music, rythem or dancing.
It made me want to laugh hysterically for the second time tonight. I finally burst, laughing lightly and telling my
partner that I was going to take my blindfold off now. I felt him tense slightly as if at the recognition of my voice,
but he removed his arms from my waist and seemed to take of his as well. I had some trouble taking my blindfold
off because of my hair, but from the sounds of it he had already gotten his off. I laughed again and whispered
Knotagella, a charm to undo the knot at the back. I took it off gently, already sure that it was Neville.

But it wasn't.

I was starting straight into the shockingly blue eyes of Draco Malfoy.
 
 
 

A/N Hi! Thanks for reading this far into the fic...now please review!! This is my first D/H fic, and I'd REALLY
like to know how I'm doing! Thanks,-Aikan =)
 

Chapter 2