A.N: So after posting the first chapter I recieved a good review from you all. Thank you for giving me praise for something I was so scared about. I plan on updating as much as possible in short amounts of time because I know what it's like to be reading something good and then having to wait.
Hermione Granger was a girl of simple taste and desires, although, like any other normal girl, she would sometimes want extra, something that made her truly feel like a princess. She usually was given these gifts for Christmas, but this year she decided to let her parents take some time for themselves, what with everything that was happening with the war. In doing this Hermione had had to sacrifice what she truly wanted, this year being a beautiful gold dress she saw in a shop window. The dress cost more than Hermione could afford on her own so she had to let it go with a heavy heart.
It was today that she would get her wish.
As Hermione sat next to Harry in the Great Hall eating their breakfast, listening to the conversation of what Christmas would bring this year, an elegant Black and white Ural owl flew down with a package wrapped up with purple paper and silver ribbon tied to it. Hermione gasped as the owl flew toward her and dropped the package gently on her lap. Everyone in the Hall looked at Hermione as she started to open the mysterious package.
"Who's it from 'Mione?" Ron asked with his mouth full of mashed potatoes. Sometimes it astounded Hermione how Ron could have such manners with a mother like Molly. She began opening the paper carefully as not to tear the beautiful material.
"I don't know there's no name written on it." Hermione keep peeling back the paper with a gentle touch. Whoever had sent it had very elegant taste.
As Hermione removed the last piece of tape from the paper she notice it was a box from the shop she and Ginny had seen the dress in.
"It couldn't be." Hermione whispered as she opened the lid. She gasped as she looked at the same gold dress she had tried on, lying neatly in the box on her lap. Hermione put the lid back on the box and was about to leave the Great Hall when Dumbledore spoke up.
"As many of you prepare for the Christmas break I have decided to hold a ball to help raise spirits as we stare down a very dark path. The Ball will be held two weeks from now to give you all enough time to prepare. The ball will be masquerade to add extra excitement. The ball will start at 6pm. Students from years 1 to 4 will be sent to bed at 8. Enjoy the rest of your day." And with that the Hall erupted with gossip. Hermione left the hall with a very anxious Ginny following her.
As soon as the girls entered Hermione's dorm room Ginny locked the door.
"What did you get and why did you run out of there so quickly." Ginny interrogated Hermione as Hermione sat on her bed. No-one could have known it was just her and Ginny in the store.
"Hermione?" Hermione pulled open the box and pulled out the dress she had tried on at the store in Hogsmead. Ginny gasped as she realised what it was.
"Well, at least you have a dress for the ball." Ginny remarked as she moved over to Hermione. She noticed something still inside the box.
"I saw you standing in the store with this dress on and you looked like a goddess. Something so beautiful should not be denied access to something equal to its beauty." Ginny read aloud the note that was in the bottom of the box. Smiling as she finished, she looked up to see Hermione blushing profusely.
"Looks like someone has a secret admire." Ginny sang as sat next to Hermione on her bed.
"So, any ideas who Mister Prince Charming could be." Ginny asked as she re-read over the note looking for any clues.
"No. I don't know who would send me such an outlandish gift. I mean, I'm very appreciative but Gin, you saw the price tag. Whoever bought this, they must have a lot of money to throw around." Hermione explained as she moved from her spot on her bed and went to put the dress in her trunk for safe keeping. Something of that worth should not be left lying around.
"Well that's a start. That rules out many options, including my knucklehead brother. I can't believe he's dating that no good, whinny, two-faced bint. She drives me bonkers with her bitching." Ginny pulled out a piece of Parchment and quill and set to work on a list of possible admires.
"Well, we know he comes from wealth, and he has to be good-looking..." Ginny began noting down possible suitors.
"Ginny, just because he's wealthy doesn't mean he has to be handsome." Hermione replied as she was carefully placing protective charms on her trunk. Not every rich person had to be attractive.
"Well it helps if he is. I think we've narrowed it down fairly well. There are 6 possible candidates. Ernie Macmillan, Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot, Theodore Nott, Blasie Zabini and Draco Malfoy." Ginny read the list of names most likely to be able to afford the money spent on the lavish gift.
"Well you can cross out the Slytherins. Not one of them would even bother buying me something like this. The other 3 seem most likely, but I really don't know Ginny. Maybe it was just a one off thing." Hermione murmured as she stood from her trunk. It was most likely that someone was being nice and just giving her a gift. Or maybe it was some kind of secret Santa thing that no one knew about. Her having a secret admire was just plain ludicrous.
"Look Ginny, I really appreciate what you're doing but, I really think that this was just a onetime thing. It's no big issues. I'll just wear it to the ball to show my thanks and that will be it. Now I'm sorry but I'm going to the Library to work on my Arithmancy homework." And with that Hermione picked up her book bag and left Ginny still sitting on her bed, looking over the note she had received along with her gift. Whoever had sent it to her was obviously out of their bloody mind. Who would spend that kind of money on a dress that would probably only be worn once. Hermione could only think of one person who would do something like that and they were most likely in the Library.
