by Black-Diamonds and Beck
 
 

Chapter 17
Masquerade : Part II
 

"Draco."

His hand reached up and pulled off the porcelain mask, and a familiar strand of cool silvery
hair fell over one eye.

"Hermione..." Draco breathed in deeply. It was too late to back out. That was the Malfoy
way, taking the easy way out, slinking back into the shadows. But for Hermione, he was
ready to face anything.

"I'm sorry...about everything. It's just, Pansy said she needed help with homework, and then
I couldn't bring myself to face you. I...I'm a total git I know, but it's just that-"

"Shhhhh." Hermione placed a finger against Draco's lips.

"I mean, I know I don't deserve you, and I should be sent away from Hogwarts and-"

"Draco."

"What I mean to say is I'm sorry and I miss you so much and I love you."

"Draco...you what?"

"I love you, Hermione Granger, and I don't care what anyone thinks. I...I'll understand if you
never want to see me again, or if you go running back to Potter and Redhead over there."

"Shut up Malfoy."

Draco's face blanched.

"What..."

"I said shut up and kiss me."

Draco obliged. Over at the teachers' table Snape grinned, before replacing his grin with
a smirk. Dumbledore and McGonagall shared a knowing look. Flitwick fell off his chair,
and Hagrid had generally just had too much to drink. Peeves had to appear at the most
inconvenient time of course. He glided up to Draco and Hermione and began pulling
strange faces at them. Hermione broke away from Draco's kiss gently and glared at Peeves.

"Not now Peeves."

"Ickle Granger and Meanie-Malfoy." He pulled a horrid little face and puckered his lips.
Before he could do any more annyoing things though, he was pulled away by
Nearly-Headless Nick and was given a good scolding.

*

Meanwhile, Ron was gaping in shock.

"Did she...I mean, did he? Did I dance with...but I mean...he..."

Ginny giggled at her brother's reaction.

"Knock it off Ron-ALD. Look at her, she's happy."

"Your sister's right Ron."

"But he's a Malfoy, Harry. Doesn't that just seem unnatural? You didn't exactly trust him
either."

"Well, they're in love, what difference does it make now?"

"It's like you kissing Neville."

"Oh gods, gross example Ronnie."
 
 
 

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Chapter 18