/an/
So, finally, the actual ball! Eek! I may fangirl (I already did whoops!) As you know, Luna asked Neville to the dance, Harry asked Ginny, and Hermione and Draco were "forced". As for Ron, he is going with Lavender (his Mum arranged it.) Enjoy xx
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-Luna-

I looked at my reflection in the mirror briefly. I didn't really care what he thought, what anyone thought, but nonetheless, it felt necessary. I had on my radish earrings and butter beer cork necklace, to keep away the nargles. My yellow chiffon dress twirled when I walked. I had applied minimal makeup, and I kept my hair down in loose curls before heading off to the Great Hall.

We had easily gotten back to Hogwarts, and the journey was uneventful. We had all crowded into one compartment, except for Draco, who insisted he didn't want to be seen with Hermione. I could tell he was lying, but Harry was relieved and Ron was just glad to be away from Lavender. I could tell Neville had been extremely worried, since he was forced to buy all new supplies on his own, practically emptying out his entire Gringotts vault.

"Hi Luna!" Neville gushed, interrupting my thoughts. I realized that I was just outside the entrance to the Great Hall, where it would be held. The room where the all of the Hogwarts balls were normally held was currently inhabited by Cornish Pixies.

"Hello!" I replied and held out a hand. He accepted it, and we strolled through the open doors.

"Welcome back!" everyone seemed to chorus to each other. I managed a small smile.

The four broad house tables had been removed to create a dance floor, and there were simple gold and white streamers and banners everywhere. The area where the teachers normally sat was replaced by a large refreshment center (a table hovering a few feet in the air); dozens of students were flocked around it, hogging most of the popular things, whereas other trays were completely full. There was an exciting tension in the air. In a far corner, The Weird Sisters were preparing to sing. A podium was set up on the other end, and Dumbledore sat in a chair behind it; perhaps it was for him to speak during the ball. There were games revealed on the other side, and students and teachers alike were noisily betting on who would win and such.

"A bit much for a welcome back, you think?" Neville nervously stated.

I shook my head. "Not at all." I grinned in a childlike manner, still taking in everything. Neville opened his mouth to speak, but he closed it as I rushed to Hermione and Ginny, who were in the center of the dance floor. They were accompanied by Draco and Harry; Draco awkwardly placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Where's Ron?" I asked, though I already knew the answer due to Ginny.

Hermione carelessly motioned to her far right, where Lavender Brown was standing next to a miserable Ron. He was standing far away from her, slouched over and in his horrid lace-trimmed dress robes. Harry and Draco's robes looked more suitable, Draco's were green and dark gray while Harry's were a classy black and white. Neville was decked out in his old ones from the Yule Ball, but they suited him and surprisingly still fit him.

I turned my attention to Ginny and Hermione. Ginny was wearing a stunning dark blue strapless dress with her hair in an elegant bun with earrings and a necklace. Hermione was decked out in also in a strapless dress, but her's was a light lilac color. The purple dress complemented her brown eyes; her hair was in a long braid down her back with a few loose, curly strands hanging in the front. Her simple black earrings and necklace brought everything together. Both of them were wearing simple, yet stylish makeup.

The Weird Sisters started singing "Do The Hippogriff" (also known as "Can You Dance Like A Hippogriff?".)

Move your body like a hairy troll
(Uh Huh)

Learning to rock and roll
Spin around like a crazy elf
Dancin' by himself

(Yeah)

Boogie down like a unicorn
No stoppin' till the break of dawn
Put your hands up in the air
Like an ogre, who just don't care

Oh! Can you dance like a hippogriff?
Na na na ma ma ny na na ny na
Flyin' off from a cliff
Na na na ma ma ny na na ny na
Swooping down to the ground
Na na na ma ma ny na na ny na
Wheel around and around and around and around
Na na na ma ma ny na na

[SINGING CONTINUES]

"Do you think we should save Ron?" Harry shouted over the music, half laughing. Hermione, Ginny and I nodded in harmony. Draco looked amused. Neville was fidgeting quite a bit, and he soon hurried over to the refreshment table.

I turned to look at Lavender. She had on a strange looking vibrant orange dress, and while I liked bright colors, her dress reminded of a fire. Her makeup consisted of red eyeshadow and red lipstick; she had an orange bandana in her loose falling curls. A huge red necklace protruded from her neck. In all honesty, she looked like a forest fire. Ron didn't seem to like it much more than I did.

I turned my attention back to the music.

Can you dance like a hippogriff?
Ma ma ma, ma ma ma, ma ma ma
Flyin' off from a cliff
Ma ma ma, ma ma ma, ma ma ma
Swooping down, to the ground
Ma ma ma, ma ma ma, ma ma ma
Wheel around and around and around and around
Ma ma ma, ma ma ma, ma ma ma

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Ooh, come on
Mmm, you gotta move it
Like a groovy creature,
Creature of the night
In a flight
Ah, a creature of the night
Well, do ya' feel alright?
Do ya' feel alright?

Stop.

Ooooooh

Yeeaaaaaaaah

Can you dance like a hippogriff?
Ma ma ma, ma ma ma, ma ma ma
Flyin' off from a cliff
Ma ma ma, ma ma ma, ma ma ma
Swooping down, to the ground
Ma ma ma, ma ma ma, ma ma ma
Wheel around and around and around and around ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma maaaaaaaaaaah
Come on, ah, come on,
Yeah!
Can dance you like a hippogriff?
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!

The song ended, followed by many claps from everyone. The Weird Sisters took this as a sign to keep playing, and began to belt out the lyrics to Magic Works.

Ron was now angrily staring at us, and Lavender kept nudging him; he still refused to look at her. Neville quickly handed me a plate filled with pumpkin pasties and treacle tarts, which Harry seemed to want. He grabbed a few of mine before laughing along with Ginny. Draco was uncomfortably glancing around, engaging as little as possible in conversation.

Apparently Ron and Lavender had-not surprisingly-had an argument in the past minute I had turned away; Ron was now stomping over towards us.
Hermione was turned away, trying to ignore him.

"It's a bloody wonder I didn't kill her already! I told her I was going to the bathroom," Ron furiously explained. "She tried to kiss me!"

"Well that obviously worked," Harry commented sarcastically and smirked, pointing to where Lavender was staring at them angrily.

Ron lightly hit him in the arm. "Come on mate, help me out here." he pleaded. Harry raised an eyebrow. Ginny yanked Ron next to her and whispered something in his ear. He nodded reluctantly and drifted off towards Lavender, who nearly cried screaming, "Won Won!" for awhile. She quickly realized this didn't work, and forced him onto the dance floor.

Hermione and Draco had set out for a dance upon Dumbledore's rather loud request, while Harry had carelessly taken Ginny's hand as he shoved his face with more treacle tarts. Neville was gesturing to the dance floor; I smiled warmly and took his hand. He danced quite well. Lavender ushered Ron around the dance floor, with him occasionally stopping and telling her something. Lavender would only curtly nod when he did this, but he seemed satisfied and continued to dance with her.

Dumbledore pleasantly stood up, raising his goblet above his head. "Thank you all for coming tonight," he said over the music. "I hope you are having fun with your 'night of frivolity' as Professor McGonagall so kindly put it. I see a lot of couples out there!" He winked, causing many people, including Neville to blush. Then he merrily raised his wand, causing sparks to ignite out of the tip of it. The platters of food suddenly replenished themselves, but with different things.

The ghosts came flooding in, with the Bloody Baron taking the lead and smiling freakishly at the Gryffindors as if they had just signed their death warrant.

Dumbledore simply shooed them away saying, "You have better things to do!" The obeyed him silently, leaving a trail of spilled pumpkin juice and crumbs in their wake as they made their last feeble attempts to eat anything at all.

After a few more songs, most people drifted off to the sidelines and watched.

"Draco," Hermione hissed.

"You just called me by my first name Granger," Draco retorted proudly.

She rolled her eyes. "I have one too, you might as well use it."

"Whatever you say, Hermione." he stated, plastering his infamous smirk on his face. She scowled.

"Can't you dance anything other than the waltz?" she teased. Draco stepped on her foot briefly, then smiled at her.

Besides Neville and I, they were the only ones dancing. "Come on, let's take a break." I whispered to him. We hurried off, leaving Hermione and Draco alone to dance. Many people were staring at them with wide eyes, murmuring their opinions to each other.

Draco, as it turned out, could dance several other dances besides the waltz.

"It must be hard to keep up, Hermione." Draco easily glided by, and Hermione was surprisingly holding her ground. She, too, knew many dances, surprising him greatly. The pace of the music either sped up or slowed down as they danced. Soon, all of the students, even Ron and Lavender, were clapping to a steady beat. The Weird Sisters seemed glad for some action.

By now, both of them were exhausted, but neither dared to give in. Panting heavily, they continued to dance, but lacking the energy that had before been plentiful.

"Give in," they would tell each other. Each time, this seemed to make them go faster and faster, until suddenly Draco stopped.

"Alright, Hermione, I'll let you have it this time," Draco panted. Hermione held up a hand in victory. The students cheered, then proceeded back to the dance floor. The energy was electric-even Dumbledore himself was dancing with Professor McGonagall.

Draco was uneasily staring around him; I couldn't help but wonder what was wrong. Hermione sensed it too. She quickly whispered something in his ear, causing him to nod. Her features became distorted as she stepped back in peril.

What is going on? Are there nargles or something?

All of a sudden, something crashed through the window.

BANG!

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/an/
Well, there ya go! Sorry I put the whole song by the Weird Sisters, but I felt it necessary (who am I kidding I was just feeling lazy!)
Sorry for the cliffhanger!
O. M. G. 197 views guys!!! AHH! You are awesome! xx

~HermioneMalfoy1234