The castle was ready for the party, and teachers, Ministry officials and former students swarmed inside looking around in awe. They all seemed impressed with the ornaments and preparations that had been made. The great hall was unrecognizable, and it appeared bigger than before. Lots of round tables were pushed near the walls, while the middle space was covered with white marble, representing the dance-floor. People were bustling about, greeting each other and waving at friends they haven't seen in years. Others shouted each other's names, happily embracing one another.

Hermione and Draco soon found the others at a table in the corner.

"You look beautiful!" Ginny exclaimed, hugging Hermione tightly.

"You too, Ginny." Hermione smiled widely at her friend.

Ginny was really looking gorgeous in her bright blue dress, that matched Harry's tie.

"And you, Lavender" Hermione turned towards the other girl, you look stunning as well. That mauve color fits you perfectly."

Lavender smiled gratefully and gave Hermione a hug in return.

Both Harry and Ron nodded in agreement, grinning sheepishly. Neither one was good at giving compliments to women, so they learned it was best to keep quiet and smile. They both chose to match their partners' dresses, wearing blue and mauve ties. Blaise and Theo both looked dashing as well. They went for matching outfits with Blaise dressed in a black suit with a white tie, while Theo had a superb white suit on, with a black tie.

After half an hour of people meeting and greeting the music finally started, and Draco suddenly perked up.

"Would you like to dance?" he asked Hermione with a smirk.

"It would be my pleasure." she smiled widely.

They went on the dance floor and started twirling elegantly along the music. Hermione had to admit that Draco was a wonderful dancer. He gracefully lead them between dancing couples, all the while looking down at her with an intense gaze. His grey eyes were boring into hers, making her breath catch in her throat. She felt herself blush under his stare and was just about to tell him to stop when a voice interrupted them.

"Mind if I interrupt?" someone said in a pronounced Scottish accent.

"Yes!" Draco growled at the man.

"No." Hermione said in the same time, giving Draco an admonishing look.

She took the outstretched hand and they started dancing. Draco retreated at the edge of the dance floor, glaring at everyone who was coming anywhere near him.

"What made you look so warm and welcoming, Malfoy?" Harry mocked, stopping next to Draco and shoving a glass of firewiskey in his hand.

"Yeah, you look like someone stole your favorite toy or something." Ron said with a smirk.

Draco took the glass from Harry and only grumbled something that sounded like "bloody prat" and "git", then gestured with his head towards the dance floor. Harry and Ron both turned to look and saw Hermione gracefully gliding on the dancefloor with none other than the redhead Scottish Auror Robert McKinley.

"Ha!" Ron let out a snort, then quickly transformed it into a cough when he saw the deathly look Draco was giving him.

"Don't worry, Malfoy. She doesn't like redheads anymore." Harry said with a grin, then clinked his glass against Malfoy's.

Ron didn't seem to have understood Harry's words, but Draco had. He gave Harry a puzzled look, but before he could say anything, Ginny came and whisked her husband onto the dancefloor. Draco looked after them and noticed Hermione smiling and blushing, while McKinley leaned closer to her. With a low grumble, Draco gulped down his firewiskey, not once taking his eyes off them.

"You look very beautiful tonight, Miss Granger." McKinley was telling her, leaning closer to her ear.

Both the compliment and the gesture made Hermione blush. She had struggled to make herself pretty for the event and was happy to know she had succeeded. She only hoped Draco noticed it too.

"Thank you, Mr. McKinley." She said with a smile. "You don't look bad yourself." She returned the compliment.

McKinley smiled and twirled her around twice, before catching her by the waist and bringing her closer to him.

"If I think about it, I don't recall you attending Hogwarts, Mr. McKinley." Hermione said politely, trying to make conversation.

"That's because I didn't." He replied simply. "Because of certain... personal circumstances, I had to be homeschooled. My family in Scotland made sure I learned everything I needed." He said upon seeing her confused expression.

Hermione simply nodded and remained thoughtful for a short while. Then, decided to approach a different subject.

"How do you find England? Have you gotten used to the new environment?" Hermione asked him rather suddenly, feeling they should make small conversation at this point.

"I like it very much." McKinley said with a pointed smile, earning another small blush from Hermione.

"Your colleagues have called you rather withdrawn and quiet, but now I don't believe it to be so." She said honestly, glancing up at him.

"Oh, really?" he gave a boisterous laugh. "Then what do you make of my character, Miss Granger?" he added looking straight into her eyes.

"It's too early to be saying anything right now. I believe I will need more time in order to give a proper opinion." She said teasingly, ignoring his stare.

McKinley only grinned in response, giving Hermione another twirl and swinging her in the rhythm of the music.

"Would it be too rude of me to ask you where did you get that scar?" he suddenly said, gesturing towards the thin ivory line on her right shoulder.

Hermione shook her head slowly.

"I got this scar three years ago. To be honest, I don't really remember anything about what happened. I only know what my friends told me, that I was caught in the crossfire between Death Eaters right after the Battle of Hogwarts. I somehow managed to get out of that situation with this scar and quite a few missing memories." Hermione smiled sadly.

"Interesting. Very interesting story." Hermione heard McKinley muttering.

"Hm? What did you say?" she inquired, thinking she must have heard him wrong.

"Do you really trust that guy, Miss Granger?" McKinley asked, ignoring her question. He gestured with his head towards Draco, who was now at his second glass of firewiskey and was glaring at them.

"You mean Draco?" Hermione asked in surprise, glancing at the blonde. "Yes, of course I do. Why do you ask that?" she turned her eyes questioningly at the man in front of her.

"Maybe you shouldn't be so trusting. There might be a wolf hiding underneath a sheep's fleece." McKinley said cryptically, giving Hermione a rather strange look. He was still smiling, but there was something different about that smile. It made her skin crawl and a shiver ran down her spine.

"Ah, I guess our time is up." McKinley said in an uplifting voice, snapping Hermione back to reality.

The song had just ended, and they stopped moving. McKinley bent and gracefully kissed her hand before releasing her. He turned around and quitted the dancefloor.

Following that, Draco appeared near her and never left her side the entire night. He stood protectively beside her, watching out for the 'Scottish git', but McKinley never approached Hermione again that night. It appeared as if he had left the party altogether.

***

After several more dances with Draco, Hermione was invited by Harry and Ron. Theo and Blaise also wanted to have the honor of dancing with the Griffindor heroin. Thus, by the time it was almost midnight, Hermione felt so tired she could barely stand.

Thinking she could probably use a break and wanting to keep her away from any other male in search for a dancing partner, Draco took Hermione out of the Great Hall.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked her as soon as they were out in the corridor.

Hermione pondered for a moment then her face suddenly broke into a smile.

"The library!" she exclaimed.

Why am not even surprised? Draco thought.

"Of course it was going to be the library." Draco groaned. "Aren't you tired of all those books? You've seen the damn place for seven years." He huffed, brushing a hand through his hair. Now it looked messy from all that dancing, but Hermione thought it fit him better that way.

"Don't be silly! How can anyone get tired of books?" She said matter-of-factly, turning on the spot and heading for the Hogwarts Library.

Luckily for them, Madam Pince was at the party as well, leaving the library quite deserted. Small flickering lights illuminated the lanes between the racks. They were filled to the brim with books. Hermione and Draco walked slowly between the stacks, stopping from time to time to touch various bookends.

When they finally reached the farthest part of the library they stopped. Hermione turned on the spot, looking around in awe, her eyes wide in amazement.

"It looks even bigger than I remember." she whispered.

"I'm pretty sure it should be the other way around." Draco smirked at her statement. "When you grow up, places you've been to when you were younger should appear smaller."

"Perhaps." She said airily, not really paying attention to what he was saying.

Slightly frustrated by her lack of response, Draco got closer, stopping right behind her. He took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her. Hearing her gasp, made him smile into her hair. Her scent washed over him in waves, and he closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a deep breath.

For a second, Hermione remained frozen inside his grasp, but she slowly started to relaxed. His embrace made her feel flutters inside her stomach and her breathing quickened. She turned swiftly into his arms and gazed up at his face. Through the poor lighting, she saw his eyes opening, gradually revealing their steel grey. But they were not looking at her coldly, on the contrary. At that moment, Draco's eyes shone bright with desire, sending shivers down Hermione's spine and making her body feel hot.

Looking down at her, Draco saw her lips were slightly parted, and her cheeks were flushed. Without thinking what he was doing, Draco brushed a hand across her cheeks, feeling the warmth radiating from her skin. He stared mesmerized as her eyes went wide with surprise, his gentle touch earning him a small gasp.

Before Draco could stop himself, his body moved on its own accord. He raised her chin up with his hand and leaned down, softly placing his lips onto hers. He felt her shudder and his body responded instinctively. His arms wrapped themselves tightly around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

Their lips met and parted rhythmically, intoxicating him with her taste. She raised her arms and pulled him by the neck, bringing him closer to her. She was responding to his kiss feverishly, melting in his touch.

After moments that felt like years, they finally parted, stopping to stare at each other. They were both flushed, eyes gleaming with emotion and desire. They could hear their hearts pounding loudly in their chest, making them breathe heavily.

"I..." Draco began but his words were broken by a sudden noise.

Loud blasts could be heard from outside the library, followed by shrieks and yells. Draco felt his insides turning. The sounds were slightly muffled, but there was no mistaking them. A battle was going on outside.

"Let's go!" he said quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling Hermione out through the lanes and out of the library.

"Draco, we should find Harry." Hermione shouted from behind him, trying hard to keep up with him.

As soon as they were out of the Library they could hear the sounds clearer. There was an uproar coming from the entrance and they could see people running towards the Great Hall. Draco and Hermione pulled out their wands and looked at each other for a moment, then sprinted towards the flow of people.

"Hermione!" a voice cried out and she saw Harry running towards them, wand held high. "I'm so glad to see you're safe." He said breathlessly.

"Harry, we heard noises and people running. Is everyone alright?" Hermione said quickly, pressing a hand on her chest to steady her breathing.

"Potter what's happened?" Draco interviewed but before Harry could answer others came running towards them. Neville, Luna and Ron appeared behind them, panting hard.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" Ron blurted out, breathing heavily.

"We are attacked! That's what's happening." Harry said darkly.

Thank you all for reading this story! I hope you enjoyed Draco and Hermione's intimate moment ;) Curious as to who are the attackers? Stay tuned for the next chapter tomorrow. Until then, have a wonderful day! <3