Romance Americana

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"Kate, they're still together."

"I know."

"Well, shouldn't we be trying to split them up?"

"Whatever will be will be."

"I hate it when you get so calm; it just isn't natural."

"Shannon, shut up unless you want me to screw up your make up. Now close your eyes."

Shannon did as she was told. Having Kate do her make up was a better choice than Dani or Nikki; they would do a good job, but with a lot more mindless chit chat. And all Shannon wanted to think about was her date.

"So, Ron finally asked you?"

Shannon grinned. "Yeah, he did."

Kate rolled her clear blues eyes. "I was wondering how long it would take him. I mean, dear Lord, it's just a dance."

"Hey! Don't say it like that! I think how long he took was sweet!"

"You're a hopeless romantic, Quinn. And how many purple dresses do you have, exactly?" Shannon was in yet another purple dress; she seemed to have no end to her collection.

"I have a lot of purple in my closet. I almost have as much purple as you do black."

"Shaddup, black isn't the only color I wear. I have blue and green and white in my closet too."

"Sure. Fine. Whatever. What's with the accent?"

"I miss home. I really, really do. I miss the window decorations and lights on State Street and Michigan Avenue; and as strange as it sounds, I can't stand the thought of not being able to go to midnight Mass. The accent makes me think of home; it's a comfort thing."

"Oh. Okay. You almost done with me?"

"Yes, just gimme a second and we'll be ready to go."

There was a knock on the door. "Shannon? Kate? You guys in here?"

"Hey, Ron."

Shannon realized that he was blushing. 'He's blushing; how cute is that?' Just then, Kate came barreling around the door.

"Oh, hey, Ron. Did you see Matt down there?"

"No, I didn't see him."

"Thanks. Quinn, I think I'll go down stairs to wait. You two have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"So, we can do just about everything?"

"Shaddup. I'll see you down stairs then, and hurry."

"Okay, bye, Kate."

Shannon waited a second before turning to Ron.

"So..."

"How many purple dresses do you have?" Ron blushed when Shannon laughed at his question. "What's so bloody funny about my question?"

"Nothing, Ron, nothing, it's just that Kate pointed out the same thing right before you came in."

"I'm not complaining, per se..."

"That's good."

"I... I got you flowers."

"Ron, that's sweet! Thank you."

He held out his elbow to her, and Shannon linked her arm through it.

"Shall we?"

Shannon nodded, and they headed down the Great Hall.

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The Hall was decorated in purple and gold. Jon matched the decorations, with his solid purple suit and yellow tie, and peroxide blonde hair. He was already spinning, and Hermione was surprised as she registered the words.

The way we get away

Throw away a whole day

Turn off the pagers and phones,

We in a zone like

Fuck life

We live life

This is our life

Live your life

'Cause see, every time that I'm alone with you (with you)

Shorty be checkin' up on you (on you)

But if baby girl only knew (only knew)

You gotta lotta freak in you ba-byyy...

"Harry, what the hell is this?"

She glanced over and realized that he couldn't hear her over the multiple speakers that were set up. She shook her head; if Dumbledore didn't have a problem with the music, why should she? This was a dance, and she was going to have fun. Harry was now standing behind her.

"Come dance with me, Hermione."

Before she could respond, Hermione found herself being dragged out on to the middle of the dance floor. As she looked around, she saw that none of the Americans had on dress robes. The guys were all in tuxes, and the girls in prom dresses. She smiled as saw Ron dancing with Shannon in his new black dress robes. They looked cute together; at least that was what Hermione thought. And she had warmed to Shannon in a way that she never would have warmed to Kate. She liked Shannon because she wasn't as loud as Kate; she made herself heard, but she wasn't as flippant as the redhead. Hermione thought that Shannon and Ron just FELT right, compared to Kate and Ron. The song had changed, and everyone was moving, faster, and faster, and faster...

Give me just a second and I'll be alright

Surely one more moment couldn't break my heart

Give me 'til tomorrow than I'll be okay

Just another day and then I'll hold you tight...

Hermione felt Harry lead her farther and farther from the dance floor. The pair soon found themselves in an alcove on the far side of the hall, away from prying eyes.

"Harry, aren't we supposed to be chaperoning?"

"Who cares? We're 17, and we're at our Christmas ball. Can't we enjoy it?"

"But..."

"Hermione just shut up for once and act your age."

"What ever you want."

Ron had to drag them out of the Great Hall when the ball ended.

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With nothing on my back,

It's still enough to bring my down.

My mind's about to crack,

'Cause what I thought could not be found.

Matter of in fact,

It's harder still when you're around.

With nothing on my back,

I can't help but drown...

Jon had hit his punk rock, and was nearing the end of him musical selection. Kate watched as other students left the Hall and headed to the dorms, to either make out, or boink, or whatever. Kate grabbed Matt's sleeve.

"C'mon, it's time to get out of here."

"What? Why?"

"The party's winding down; let's get out of here."

"To where?"

"The Astronomy Tower, the South Tower, wherever you wanna go."

"And what would we be doing there?"

"What every other student in this school would be doing."

"Planning the demise of an evil organization?"

"Ha, ha, very funny."

"You had other things in mind?"

"Well, what you said and other things..."

"Works for me; let's get the hell outta here."

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Ginny stared at the ceiling of Draco's dorm in the dungeons. The weight of his arm felt good across her stomach, and she looked at him in the moonlight. Six foot tall, icy blonde hair and the blue gray eyes to match. Dear Lord, he was gorgeous. And Ginny had just had him. They had snuck away from the Ball an hour early, and had ended up in his bed, their clothes on the floor. She knew that she would be sore in the morning.

Draco must have felt her eyes on him; he stirred, looked up at her, closed his eyes again, and spoke.

"What is it, love?"

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"About why you would want to be with me when you could have any girl in this school that you want."

"Because I don't want them, I want you."

"Oh."

"Why, do you regret it?"

"No, not at all."

She was lying through her teeth, and Draco knew that too. Damn him for being so smart.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"You asked for it."

"Fair enough."

"Draco, do you love me? Did you sleep with me because you love me, or did you sleep with me just to do it?"

He sighed, rolled over, and kissed her just to get her to shut up.

"Draco, love, that's wonderful, but you didn't answer my question. Do. You. Love. Me?"

"Ginny, you know you mean more to me than my own life. You are the most important person, my everything. That's why I slept with you."

Satisfied, Ginny kissed him, and then fell asleep next to her love.

Draco sighed. Disaster averted.

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