Chapter 16: Ice and Revelations

Harry plopped down next to Hermione at breakfast and immediately reached for the corn flakes, "Hiya" He said, yawning, "Merlin I'm tired, hopefully I'll be all rested up for the ball tonight…maybe I'll take a nap. You should too, but I doubt Ginny will let you, she's been planning your primping routine for weeks"

When Hermione didn't reply he finally looked over at her. She had tied her fly-a-way hair back into a strict braid and was curled up in her Saturday morning sweatshirt, as if trying to make herself as small as possible, while picking at a crumpet.

"Hermione…"

She looked up startled, "oh! Hi Harry, I didn't see you sit down"

"I've just been talking to you for the past 5 minutes?"

"Sorry…I guess I wasn't paying attention"

"You alright? You look a bit pale."

"I'm fine" Hermione replied, sitting up quickly, " So what's new with you…I feel like I haven't seen you in ages"

"we hung out last night…"

"oh." Hermione scrambled to change the subject away from her, "So um… How have your meetings with Dumbledore been?"

"Pretty good, I don't know what he expects of me though… You remember me telling you about the Horcruxes right?"

Hermione nodded, remembering Harry explaining to her that Voldemort had split his soul into 7 and that Harry and Dumbledore were trying to destroy each part so that when Harry finally faced Voldemort he would be mortal, "yes…So what's happened? Found any new ones?"

"I don't know… Dumbledore reckons he has got a good idea where one might be but it needed proper planning, but hopefully in a few months we'll be able to go"

"go where?" Ginny asked, sitting down across from them

"Nowhere" Harry answered and began shoveling cornflakes into his mouth

Ginny eyed them suspiciously but then excitement got the better of her, "Hermione I'm going to come to your room in the hours and you better be there."

"Ginny the ball is not until tonight!"

"Exactly. We haven't got much time."

"I needed to get some studying done…"

Ginny gave her a look, as if to say over her dead body would Hermione get some studying done, "I'll see you at noon"

Hermione took a large swig of tea; it was going to be a long day. She quickly glanced across the hall to the Slytherin table where Draco sat. He met her eyes – he had been watching her.

She blushed and looked down again…there it was the whoop, the stomach flip that she associated with him. Looking back up she saw him wink at her and ever so slightly tilt his head towards the door.

Well… noon was still a few hours away, was there any harm in popping away for a bit with the Slytherin sex god? She jumped up and said goodbye to Harry all the while keeping eye contact with Draco. They both moved towards the exit, oblivious to everything but each other.

And most of the hall was oblivious to them, almost everyone except another young man who had been sitting at the Slytherin table and was now also getting to his feet.

H D H D H D H D H D H D

Blaise hurried along the corridor, which way had they gone? It was all very well that Draco screws around but he had seen that look, seen Grangers face. There was too much at stake.

His entire future rested on the task that he and Draco must perform at the end of the school year and if he let it slip to Granger – Queen of the Harry Potter fan club – they were, in short, toast.

He would keep an eye on them and if it was necessary, take action. If they were as close as he thought he could report him and even though it could get Draco killed at least he would be spared and perhaps even promoted, he smirked, finally dethroning the favorite Malfoys. Maybe the Dark Lord would have time for him then…

But he wouldn't throw Draco under the bus just yet, he would watch them and maybe even try to split them up perhaps he could –

"shhhh!"

Blaise came to a halt and turned around, noticing a tapestry on the wall he had just passed swaying. He crept up to it and leaned against the wall, trying to hear the pair hidden in the concealed corridor.

"Draco!" Hermione hissed, giggling but making little effort to prevent his hands gliding over her

"oh come on, I saw you making eyes at me" he nuzzled her neck, slipping his hand beneath the waistband of her skirt

"stop!" she giggled pulling away but he pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a passionate kiss.

She knew she should tell him…one way or the other, she practiced in her head 'Draco, I am pregnant with Ron Weasley's baby.'

He'd kill him.

Or how about… 'Draco, I am pregnant with your baby but we have to pretend it is Ron's so we won't be murdered.'

Sounded slightly more convincing…

He swept a curl back from her face, she closed her eyes and felt his warm lips kiss her forehead. "What's wrong?" he whispered in her ear

Oh god, she wanted to tell him the truth.

"Draco" she opened her eyes and gazed up at him "Do you love me?"

It was the first time that one of them had brought it up since the Shrieking Shack

He hesitated, taking her in, "I told you I do."

She had wanted to hear him say it… she pulled away from him and reached for the tapestry.

He pulled at her hand, annoyed, "Seriously Hermione, what the fuck is wrong now?"

"I love you, that's what's wrong" She spun around, anger and hormones flaring, "but obviously we can't be together!"

"Don't say that" He whispered, reaching for her…knowing what she said was true.

"Why not? I'm right aren't I? You could never truly love me…you could never marry me or have children with me. After this year, how are we ever going to be with each other again?"

"Calm down, we can figure this out…everything has just happened so fast I-"

"I'll see you tonight." Hermione ripped back the tapestry and stormed off.

Blaise peered out of an empty class room where he had taken refuge, yes… he thought, he would have to keep an eye on them.

H D H D H D H D H D H D H

"Come on Hermione! We're already late"

"Ugh… Ginny I look like a poodle, please tell me I don't have to go"

"you have to go."

"I don't even have a date"

"Who cares? You look hot. I'm sure you'll be swept off your feet before you even walk into the Great Hall…now let's go! Harry's waiting."

Hermione opened the door and even though Ginny had been helping her friend get read all day she couldn't help but let her mouth fall open again.

"Gorgeous" Ginny squealed, adjusting the straps to Hermione's pink and purple gown, "you'll be fighting them off"

There was an awkward pause as both their minds jumped to Ron…when Hermione literally did have to fight him off.

"ok..so lets get going" Hermione said, forcing a smile, which was good enough for Ginny who practically bounced out of the portrait hole.

The hurried down the staircase, clearly later arriving than everyone else thanks to all of Ginny's primping and gossiping. 'We really should have started at 11' she had been saying all day.

Harry was waiting for them at the bottom of the staircase and when they approached him held both arms out, one for Ginny and one for Hermione.

Hermione laughed and turned it down, "this is your night, I don't want to drag the pair of you down"

"Don't be silly Hermione" giggled Ginny but I was clear from the expression on her face that everything else around her had faded away leaving just her and Harry.

Hermione followed them into the hall and faltered a second as they walked into a cascade of ice and light adored with white flowers and glittering sculptures. Normally, she would have been in charge of the decorations but with all the stress in her life the past few months she had handed the task over to Parvarti and Lavender…and she had to admit they had done an amazing job.

Silver clothed tables lined the wall for a light dinner all facing the center of the room. In the middle there was large ice fountain with ice fairies flitting around it, lighting up the room. Garlands of white flowers- roses, lilies and tulips spread out around the room. Music played in a corner where a few couples had begun to dance.

She entered the room completely, overwhelmed by the beauty but feeling a touch of sadness. What she would give to be on the arm of the man she loved, to have his presence be so overpowering to her that this grand spectacle wouldn't even make her blink.

Ginny and Harry had already begun to dance so Hermione began to wander the perimeter of the room, occasionally stopping by the little tables to help herself to a bite size snack. Bull shit this was "dinner" grumbled her pregnant belly.

Every 7th year was expected to be there, with or without a date, and as she walked past a few groups of boys she felt their eyes on her…it was true this dress worked wonders for her.

Sometimes boys just blatantly starred at her so she wasn't much surprised when she felt a hand on her back and a whisper in her ear asking her to dance.

For an instant, she didn't turn around…hoping it was him but knowing it couldn't be. Eventually when she turned and looked up, she was surprised to find Blaise looking down at her.

"I said…would you like to Dance" Blaise smiled, his eyes twinkling

Hermione blushed and let out a little chuckle, "is that wise Blaise? Should you really be caught dancing with a muggle born?"

"tonight my dear, you are no muggle born, tonight you are a beautiful woman who stands out in the crowd like a diamond in sand."

She laughed and accepted his outstretched hand, "that's a bit much don't you think?"

"I try" he whispered in her ear, she could feel his smile in his words

He spun her around and they began to dance, a slow moving waltz. With each turn of the song they were brought back together. She felt people's eyes on her but she didn't care, he spun her and she felt free.

They danced two more pieces together and when they parted Blaise bent down to kiss her hand but she pulled away, suddenly aware of herself.

He chuckled and tucked a stray curl behind her ear, "Until next time then"

She opened her mouth but nothing came out, how bizarre?

Blaise let go of her hand and sauntered to the new doors which lead out into the magically heated garden beyond.

Was she supposed to follow him? She shook her head, what was wrong with her…of course she wasn't. But what had been wrong with him? He had treated her kindly…again…

She looked around for Draco and spotted him underneath an archway next to a distressed looking Pansy.

She was angry, whispering something to him urgently and gesticulating towards…was Pansy pointing at her.

Draco pushed Pansy way and began to walk, indirectly, over to Hermione. Never the less, Pansy noticed and turned pink with rage before stalking off.

Hermione leaned against the pillar and in a few moments felt his hand in the small of her back and his lips brush the back of her neck. He was half concealed behind her and the pillar but Hermione felt a thrilling whoosh and she felt his hands on her skin. If only she could turn around and kiss him, for the entire world to see.

"Meet me outside" he whispered in her ear

She allowed him a bit of a head start and then followed him towards the doors.

Ron hadn't been standing very far away from Hermione and had been trying to get up the courage all night to go over to her. He had turned away for an instant and then saw her following someone out into the gardens, his first reaction was to follow…his second was cowardly and advised him to stay put. He would talk to her when she returned.

He walked over to the food tables for what was probably the 20th time that night and reached for some brie. He wanted to make things right, he knew he had some issues but Hermione should realize that no one was perfect, clearly they had both just over reacted…

He walked towards the next table and leaned over for some sausage rolls catching some conversation of the two girls standing next to him,

"yah that's right, Granger…bushy hair the one who answers everything in class" said Pansy Parkinson

"and your saying she, of all people, is knocked up?" sniggered back the other girl

Ron dropped his sausage roll.

"I know right, who on earth would tap that" Pansy replied

"I wonder who the father is"

"I'm sure I can find that out soon" Pansy grinned evily.

Ron started coughing up his other sausage roll, was he Daddy?

H D H D H D H D H D

Hermione had followed Draco into a hidden garden surrounded by large hedges. She turned in her spot, enjoying the scent of flowers and the magically warm air.

"you look beautiful" whispered Draco from behind her and she spun around, feeling his arms wrap around her .

"So do you" she whispered grinning. It was true, his eyes shone out from his handsome chiseled face and he looked especially dashing in his black dress robes.

They embraced, kissing each other deeply and gently. He ran his hands through her hair and she pressed her body into his, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He trailed kisses along her jawbone and down her neck, running his hands down her body, feeling her curves that he knew so well.

He pulled away, he couldn't do this without knowing, "Hermione… are you, well… Pansy's spreading this rumor that you're pregnant"

Hermione turned pale and stumbled backwards, "wh-what" Her eyes filled with tears, how had she found out?!

Draco went from calm to anxious immediately, "is it true?"

"I ..uh, it might be…" she lied, she knew for sure she was…but didn't think she would ever have to say it, at least not yet. A single precious tear slid down her face and Draco reached out for her again.

"it's alright" he whispered to her, taking her in his arms and looking down at her tear filled eyes, reflecting the stars above them, "you'll be alright"

H D H D H D H D H D

A few yards away, Blaise was crouched behind a convenient shrub and knew full well that if he didn't act soon both he and Draco would defiantly not be alright.

H D H D H D H D

a/n: Alright well, yet again I find myself sorry for taking months to update, all I can say about that is well…life is life and I hope I'll be able to write the next one sooner!

I hope you're all enjoying spring!

xoxox charlito