Poison

Chapter Four: Underlying Secrets

"Everything's so blurry, everyone's so fake."

Puddle of Mudd / Blurry

"Get up, c'mon! You're going to be late!" Ginny yanked Hermione Granger out of bed by her arm, having the rest of her slide down to the floor. Hermione looked a mess, too!

"Uuh, what?!"

"It's Saturday, girl! Hogsmeade! You and Draco were going to go to make a nice impression weren't you? Oh, and Monday is the night you go into London to get your 'muggle gowns' for that thingy..."

"The Celestial Festival. Uh, thanks for waking me up!" Hermione said sarcastically as she rubbed her eyes. Only Parvati was still asleep, being the monster for rest that she was, she needed it.

"C'mon, I got this great outfit for you to go to Hogsmeade in! I bet Draco will like it!" I wanna kiss you... Hermione shivered.

"Great," Hermione stated as she went off for a quick shower. Lately, her and Draco had been distant, but his acting skills for the crowds had never faultered and no one, besides Ron, Harry, and Ginny suspected a thing.

Hermione returned to find her outfit wating, Ginny doing her own make-up at her vanity. Hermione had to admit the clothing choice was nice, a bit on the skanky side, but none-the-less showy. Just like Ron liked it. Hermione, fixing her towel higher on her chest, reached for it, lifting the dress up before her.

"You like it?" Ginny commented, looking up from her make-up.

"Did it have to be lavender?" Hermione said with a crinkle of her nose. Ginny smiled.

"It's not! It's light purple!" Hermione laughed and brought it back into the bathroom with her, to change into it. She nearly choked when she looked in the mirror.

"Gin-ny!" Hermione reprimanded.

"What?! Come out, I want to see!" Hermione looked horrified.

"You're trying to make me look like a two dollar prostitute, aren't you?"

"Draco will like it!" I don't wanna touch you but you're under my skin...Hermione shuddered.

"Shut up about Draco, will you?" Ginny rose her brows as she glanced at her blind lipgloss job in the vanity mirror.

"Fighting?"

"No, we're just..."

"Just?"

"...Awkward."

"Oh, I see. Come out!" Ginny changed the subject with ease and when Hermione didn't answer, Ginny opened the door with her wand.

"Ginny!" Hermione scolded. The dress was thin-strapped, a low, scoop neck revealing more than Hermione had ever done so (well, except on certain occasions!). It fit snugly and flared at her waist, resting in folds on her upper thighs; strappy shoes of the same color fit her feet perfectly. Ginny whisked her off for make-up and hair routine and then, she'd be finished! Well, they still had two hours, but Ginny was always worried about time like that.

"Hold still!" Ginny snapped as she was putting black eyeliner under Hermione's eyes. Finishing with that, she stepped back to look at what was done, so far. Powder that only made the pale of Hermione's skin even more noticeable was dressed with a pink blush. Her chocolate curls had been taken back into a headband, her bangs only being aloud in her face. "Do you suppose I could French your nails, Hermione?" Ginny asked as she set upon the task of the eye shadow.

"French my nails? What?"

"Give you a French manicure, babe! Magic works wonders," Ginny said as a brush of pale pink was applied all the way up to Hermione's brows. Another, darker color was over that, only going to just below her brow bone. Another, even darker one, more fuscia, over that, stopping at the end of her lids. And a dark purple liner just above her lashes. Ginny smeared all of the colors before she put more of the pale pink on Hermione's brow.

"Um, I suppose?"

"Oh, because I saw this one lady and her nails were French manicured and she had this lavender polish above the white tips and it looked really gorgeous. You can't break them, though, okay?" Ginny said all of this as she was putting Hermione's make-up on. Setting the shadow with powder, then, Ginny moved on to Hermione's lips. "Don't talk." A light, extremely pale set of pinks was applied to Hermione's lips in lipstick before Ginny put the purple lipgloss over it.

"All right, what was the point of that?"

"When the purple lip gloss fades off, the pink will have mixed with it and it'll look just the same." Hermione felt stupid. She always hated these make-up sessions with Ginny. She was getting better, but Ginny was still an expert. "Can I do your nails, now?!" Ginny asked, an excited tone lying in her voice. Hermione sighed.

"Sure..."

***

Hermione and Draco rode to Hogsmeade in silence, and all the while, Hermione couldn't get the song out of her head. You're poison...Poison, running through my veins. She hated it, now. It made of think of what she'd done. If her parents found out, they'd surely kill her alive. Hermione looked down at her nails. Ginny had been so excited. The nails had come out fine...but Ginny had broken two of her own filing Hermione's. Hermione actually thought they looked pretty. They were lavender above the tips, a shimmer in the polish. Hermione looked at Draco and watched him stare out of the window. He wouldn't even sit next to her.

"Aren't they pretty?" Hermione asked shyly, holding out her hand, revealing her nails. Draco glanced at them before he looked back out of the window.

"Pretty." Hermione felt her heart crack. She had looked herself over in the mirror thirty times, hoping to impress him. And all he could say about her nails was, 'pretty'? Hermione's lip trembled. She wished she could get out of the carriage carrying her to Hogsmeade and go back to her dorm and cry. She held her tears down, though. Your cruel, device. Your blood, like ice. One look could kill. My pain, your thrill. It was true. His blood was cold and for him to look at her for real, it'd kill him. And he was just along for the ride. He probably laughed at her on the inside.

–—–

"Hermione, you look really pretty!" Sarah Marshalls, a fifth year girl commented as she passed Hermione and Draco on the street. Hermione smiled at the girl that reminded her of herself.

"Why, thank you, Sarah! You look pretty, too!" Sarah blushed, her curly blonde hair falling down her back, her black shirt and black skirt a nice contrast.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome," Hermione called after her as they parted. As she turned her eyes back to her path, she spotted a sign. It was a cloudy, overcast day, and it reminded Hermione of snow. It was November, but it had been unusually warm at the beginning of the month. It had cooled down a lot, now. Ice skating the sign read. Skate rental; 2 knuts. Hermione grinned, tugging on Draco's arm, her long, white coat bright against the black of his clothing.

"Let's ice skate!" Draco rose a brow as she tugged him closer to the rink. She stopped at the fence that separated the cold ground and the ice that had been put there just for this purpose. It was cold enough to snow, Hermione wondered why it didn't. "Oh, c'mon! It'll be fun!" Hermione said as she turned a smile on Draco. It faded. Her eyes fell to the ground and she felt like it was pointless – like Ron was. "I'm going to the Three Broomsticks." Hermione turned around and, her long coat trailing her like those hospital robes, she walked away. And Draco was reminded of that night...

"Wait!" Hermione kept walking, her steps angry, her heels clicking. "Hermione, c'mon!" Draco jogged up next to her, the wind shoving his bangs into his eyes. "Listen to me!"

"Why? You don't listen to me!" Hermione said with all honesty.

"I do listen to you! I just don't acknowledge it! Now, if you'd like to ice skate, c'mon, let's go." Hermione glared at him, the malice-filled chocolate color coming back to her eyes.

"No." The words sent the lyrics through her head, sent the blue shining in his eyes. He was angered that she'd resist him so; she was angered that he didn't care.

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes, c'mere!"

"No! I will not!"

"Yes, you will!" And Draco pulled her close to him, his lips falling on hers, despite her fighting him. He was stronger and she was in a short skirt and heels. She could not exactly pull away, now, could she? She was just a little bit lost. I wanna love you but I better not touch, don't touch...

"Now, let's go ice skating," Draco's voice was plain and bland as he pulled her along to ice skate.

***

Ron's eyes watched her the entire time, the way that short skirt swished and the way she pulled Malfoy along to look at the ice skaters. He wrinkled his nose in disgust. What did she see in him?

"Oh, Ron! Isn't that one sweet?" Lavender's voice brought him over to a window filled with kittens. Lavender was pointing at an all white one with lavender eyes. "Oh, look at the eyes!" A hand came to her heart, thin fingers spread across nearly bare skin. "Aww!" Ron sighed.

"Now I know what to get you for Christmas, darling!" Ron tugged on Lavender's black coat that concealed a low-cut, knee-length dress of the same black color. Black boots made clicking noises as she walked along with him. "Hey, look, ice skating!" Ron said enthusiastically, eying Lavender. She smiled.

"Aww, honey that's so sweet!" Lavender said and they went over to rent their skates.

Hermione and Draco were already on the rink, skating slowly, hand in hand. Ron remembered something Hermione'd told him a year or so ago; she'd always dreamed of being a professional figure-skater. And he'd said, "How do you become professional at that?" And she'd laughed. "You go to the Olympics and you compete for metals. It's a muggle thing!"

Ron stood up and had to pull Lavender up and balance her; she nearly fell. They made their way out onto the rink just as it began to snow; soft, fluffy snowflakes fluttered down against them.

"Oh, Draco! It's snowing!" Hermione breathed, smiling up at the falling flakes. She turned and skated backwards, to face him. He smiled at her. He was better at this than Hermione had expected. But what wasn't Draco Malfoy good at? Draco nodded to her, but she turned and skated off, quicker than she looked able to in that skirt. Draco skated slowly, watching her. She swung around on one foot, nothing special, but she was obviously experienced.

On the other hand, Lavender was moving too slow for even Ron. He ended up grabbing her hand and just pulling her along behind him. But, after about a half an hour, she complained of being tired and cold and left Ron at the rink to go into Makenna's, where Parvati and Sherrice had just gone. Ron watched Hermione, now. She was good, he had to admit. But, of course, she was always good.

And she came towards him, without realizing she was approaching him from behind, she knocked right into him, her skin burning at the cold ice. Ron quickly sat up and tried to get up. Hermione got up quicker, brushing ice off of her legs and dress. No permanent damage, it seemed, although she was cold. Draco was behind her before Ron could even ask her if she was all right, let alone get off on his feet! Hermione stopped, though, as Draco began to pull her away.

"R– Are you all right?" Hermione asked, concern lining the cinnamon in her eyes. The sun had set, now, and the clouds had gone. Stars were visible in a sapphire blue sky.

"I'm...fine, thanks," Ron answered, as if she were a complete stranger. Hermione felt forlorn to Ron as she skated away, Draco's arm around her shoulder. They were growing apart...This would have to happen soon; at the Celestial Festival, Hermione decided.

"Hey, you're shivering. C'mon, lets go get a butterbeer." Draco's voice cut through the cold night air with an ice all his own as he lead her over to return their skates and recieve their shoes.

***

Harry sat with Ginny, who happened to be blushing when Hermione and Draco stepped through the door. Hermione smiled at the two and Harry motioned for her to come over. Hermione pulled Draco over to the table, weaving through the smoky air and other people.

"Hey, aren't you cold?" Harry asked as she got to their table. Ginny smiled up at her, without saying anything.

"Just a little. But I'm still pretty warm," Hermione told all truth as she leaned back against Draco. Of course, Harry and Ginny figured she was doing it for the fun, or for the crowd. There were a few Ravenclaws laying around the tavern.

"Won't you sit with us?" Ginny asked politely, her eyes more on Draco than Hermione, as if searching him. Hermione shook her head.

"Oh, no, sorry. This is a private party," Hermione chuckled afterward.

"Well, we'll see you later, then, Hermione?"

"Sure." They bid their friends a good eve and made their way to their own table. Hermione sat down and peeled her coat off, it seemed to have soaked up the cold air. Draco removed his as well, although nothing was really noticable. He wore a white shirt underneath with a hunter green vest over it and black slacks. Hermione stared at the table as Rosmerta appeared and Draco ordered their drinks.

"So, who did those nails?" Draco asked, small talking her. Hermione turned her head up to him, watching the fake smile on his face again. She wanted to smack it away. Although they seemed to have grown closer, he still knew how to make her feel unwanted.

"Ginny," Hermione stated blankly as her butterbeer was set down in front of her. She brought it to her lips, letting the warm fluid slide down her throat. Draco left his untouched.

"Hermione, we have to talk." The words startled Hermione and she looked at him with confusion written in her eyes, underlying the fake tone of voice she used.

"What?"

"After this," Draco prompted her with his butterbeer, tipping it back to down nearly the entire thing. Hermione sighed. Jesus, he couldn't back out on her now! No, things were going fine, weren't they? Hermione wanted to believe so. I mean, she'd only slept with the guy and kissed him and liked it! Ouch.

"Aw'right." Hermione downed her butterbeetr quickly, anxious as to what he had to say. They left after paying, moving quickly down the snowy road to a quiet little restuarant that no one from their school would be in. After ordering their dinner, Hermione beckoned for him to speak of what he wished.

"You've got him wrapped around your finger, Hermione. Just ask him if he might still like you and when he says yes, ask him back out. I'm sure he's learned his lesson. You don't need me around anymore. I'm a dead pawn in this game, now." Hermione felt his words were stinging him to speak. I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison...

"Are...Are you saying you think I should stop this, right here, right now?" Draco nodded, curtly. He would be done with this girl soon enough and then things could go back to normal. He could date Pansy...yay. Not that he had a thing for Hermione, the girl was nothing that he was looking for. She didn't listen to him, she was fiery, opinionated, and found being attracted to someone for the way they looked acting shallow. What could anyone see in that?

"Yes, I am."

"But...I had it planned out until the Celestial Festival –"

"And ruin my Festival? Maybe I'd like to go with someone I actually have feelings for?" Hermione felt the prick in his voice and glared at him.

"Like who? Pansy!" Hermione bit. Draco glared right on back.

"Well, why would I love you? You're nothing but morals and problems!" Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"You're superficial, egotistical, and too damn conceited for your own damned good!" The few people that were in the restuarant looked over at Hermione as she stood up. " And I would never love someone who only felt for themselves and used me for sex!"

"Then I don't know why you're going after Ron!" Draco called as she was about to walk through the doors. She whirled on him and narrowed her eyes to slits of angry chocolate.

"Dont you ever insult him like that!" Hermione said, bitter lacing every tone and pitch of her voice.

"What'cha gonna do about it, Hermione? Hit me?" Hermione felt the anger in her heart at him...at herself. She just wanted things to go back to normal. Your cruel device...your blood, like ice...one look could kill; my pain, your thrill...

"Get out of my life!" Hermione turned and ran out of the restuarant, but Draco ran after her, leaving the restaurant ruffled, and their dinner undelivered.

"Wait!"

"Get away from me!"

"Hermione!"

"Leave me alone!" She never stopped running, not until he swept her right off of her heeled feet and against his lips. I wanna love you but I better touch, don't touch, I wanna hold you but my senses tell me to stop, I wanna kiss you but I wanna too much, I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison, poison running through my viens. Poison...I don't wanna break these chains. Poison...

***

Hermione wrapped herself up in her blankets, blocking out the light of the afternoon. She hadn't left bed all day long. Her hair was ruffled, what was left of her make-up, smeared, and her dressing consisted of a long, pale blue night gown.

"Hermione, come out of there!" Ginny rapped on the door. "Hermione!" Hermione sighed and whimpered.

"No! Go away!"

"What's wrong, hun? Did you get into a fight with Draco?" Poison...Hermione shivered.

"Don't say that name!"

"I guess so..." Ginny walked away, Hermione heard her footsteps. She relaxed, her mascara was in lines down her face from crying. She didn't want to be so torn like this! She slept with a guy who probably could care less if she was ran over by a semi-truck and she was 'in love' with a guy who'd cheated on her with some bitch!

A rap on her window caused her to glance beyond her curtains, expecting to see Draco, hoping maybe to smash his fingers in her window. But it was Ron, his red hair blowing back in the wind and snow. She opened the window, the cold air surging in and chilling her skin...just like his breath.

"What is it, Ron?"

"I was wondering...can I come in?" Ron's voice was swept away in the wind and his teeth were chattering; Hermione stepped aside so he might clamber into her dorm. She closed the window and turned to him. He was shivering. She reached out and rubbed her hands on his face, as if they were old friends. His skin was cold and she could feel the slight spasm at her touch.

"Hermione, what is wrong? I know you've been up here all day and I know you and Malfoy argued at Hogsmeade. Did he hurt you?" Hermione was taken aback. Over the time she'd been with Draco, she had gotten used to him and now; she felt that, physically, he'd never really, purposely, hurt her. She shook her head.

"No...we're just having some problems, that's all. I'm fine." Hermione looked up at him, into his eyes. Draco had been right, he was wrapped about her finger. But something was wrong...She couldn't decipher it, but something had changed beyond the social attitudes. She sighed.

"Well, I'm really sorry. I want to work on our relationship...as friends. Is that all right with you?" Hermione nodded. She felt better, much better, now. She sent him through her door into the Common Room, and was standing in her doorway, watching Ron go down the stairs when there was another rap on her window. This time, it was Draco. She glared at him and opened the window.

"What do you want?!" Hermione snapped, trying to act as if he wasn't the reason for the lines of mascara down her cheeks. There was something about the way the wind jostled his hair that made him so much more...appealing than Ron. Hermione cursed that thought away.

"I want to talk to you," Draco stated, as if it were written on his forehead.

"About what?"

"About us."

"What's there to say?!"

"Obviously, there's a lot."

"Like what?"

"Let me in an I'll tell you!"

"So you can seduce me again, I don't think so!"

"Hermione, that was an accident! I'm sorry! Just get over it!" Hermione gasped at him, taken aback that he would say something like that to her.

"You bastard!" Hermione shut the window and drew the curtains, turning her lights on and shutting the door, locking it. Draco opened the window with his wand and stepped through, despite Hermione's glowering face staring at him. "Get out!"

"No."

"Yes."

"Make me!" Draco said, teasing her with the first year comment, a smirk playing his lips.

"No. You're going to trick me into kissing you and then you'll leave me with a sweet comment or a pregnancy kit or something. I don't think so!" Draco laughed.

"I don't trick you into kissing me, Hermione, you do it all by yourself." It was weird to really hear him call her 'Hermione', and, for the first time, she noticed it.

"Then why do I always do it against my will?"

"Because you wanna love me..." Draco whispered the words...having moved close enough to brush his lips across her ear as he said them. The words from the song...I wanna love you but I better not touch...

"No, I don't..."

"Yes, Hermione, you do. You wouldn't have slept with me if you didn't. You're a smart girl, think about it. Until tomorrow, when we go to London. Goodnight, love." And he left her with a sweet comment and a gentle kiss to the lips. Hermione sighed, irritated.

"He always breaks me..."

***

Hermione's heels clicked as she came running down the stairs, five minutes after five. Her hair seemed to cling to her face; it had been curled under, a barrette holding some of it back. Her clothing was simple; a claf-lengthed black skirt, a black blazer over that, and a white blouse beneath. She looked like a lawyer, or so she thought, anyway.

Hermione dashed through the doors and watched as a few of the carriages, carrying seventh and sixth years (after much persuasion from Ginny's friends, he'd allowed the sixth years), rode away. There was one left, it had just started moving. She dashed for it, trying not to crush the heels of her shoes as she ran. She grabbed the handle on the door, stepping up onto the single step, holding on for dear life. She hoped there was someone she knew in there! She banged on the door with her left hand, grasping the handle with her right.

"Let me in! Open up!" Hermione screeched, the wind blinding her. The door came open with a furious motion, sending her feet flying from the step. A long, petrified scream filled the air as she swung around on the door, coming to hit the side of the carriage. She feared she'd fall; that the handle would break. But, lucky for her, a certain red-headed someone pulled the door back to it's natural position and scooped Hermione inside. She panted, being upset at the fact that she'd nearly died. She had to glare at herself and at the people around; she'd chosen the one carruage with Lavender, Parvati, Ron, and Cho inside. She had to squish in the corner, next to Ron, (more like in his lap) while Lavender gave her death glares.

"What're you doing, hanging on our carriage?" Lavender asked, piercingly, her cerulean eyes cold as ice. Hermione grudgingly glared at those eyes; she wished she was that pretty.

"Oh, believe me, I would've chosen any carriage but this one; except this was the only one left. And besides, I'm sure Draco would've been worried if I hadn't shown in London." Hermione nearly smiled, nearly, at the way Ron's nose turned up. That wasn't good for their relationship, now was it?

"I thought you and that git were fighting?"

"Well, when you love someone, fights don't keep you apart for long," Hermione gave Ron a saccharine smile, tossing her hair, so that it might brush his nose. It must have, he turned his head, closing his eyes.

The rest of the ride to the train station was extremely boring for Hermione, considering Lavender, Parvati, and Cho were talking perpetually. Hermione stared out of the window, yellow-brown eyes watching like a hawk's for any sign of them getting near to the station. Finally arriving, she was the first one out of the door.

"Oh, hey Hermione!" Ginny grinned as she stepped down from a carriage not too far away. Harry, Seamus, and Dean followed her. Hermione glanced Ginny over. Gosh, for a pureblooded family, the girl was good with style — muggle or not. A cute flared skirt wound around her lower thighs and a cute little t-shirt with the wording 'Adore Me? Ha, in Your Dreams' was how she dressed. Hermione rolled her eyes. Ginny's hair was wound into a tight bun, bobby pins resting throughout to add twists and such.

"Hi, Ginny! Boy, am I glad to see you!"

"And I'm glad to see you. Where were you?" A frosty tongue interrupted Hermione and she whirled to see her 'boyfriend' behind her. Black slacks and a white dress shirt with a tie. Oh, how nice; they both had the lawyer thing going. He just needed a blazer. Hermione found herself speechless at his sudden appearance.

"Why...I was late. I'm sorry, Draco, really — I am –"

"No need to apologize. After all, you're human." Hermione's eyes narrowed, his charcoal eyes stinging with a certain anger that frightened her. She must've done something wrong. Ginny rose her eyebrows. "C'mon." Draco took her arm as they boarded the train that would use magic to get to London in half of an hour. Hermione felt the fast handhold on her arm tighten even more so as she was lead to an empty compartment. She licked her lips, nervously. God, what'd she done?

Draco closed the compartment door, locking it. It was, notwithstanding, the last compartment. He turned on her, his oculars narrowed with a threat. Hermione scooted as far into the corner of her seat as she could without being too obvious.

"Why were you in that carriage?" Hermione's eyes widened in bewilderment at the question. She just stared at him, not bothering to answer. "Well?"

"I told you! I was late, I had to climb onto that carriage as it was leaving! I – I don't understand why you're getting so conservative about it – I mean –"

"You mean what?! Granger, you're not going to denigrate me in front of the entire school! If you cheat on me – I'm fine with dumping, but Hermione, you had better not –" Hermione stood up while he was talking and, although she only came to his nose in height, she stared at him with the same passion.

"I'm not cheating on you! I won't! If I could've chosen any carriage not to have to riden in, that would've been it! Draco, I – I wouldn't do that! You're helping me; why would I do that to you?" Hermione's voice had gone from a risen anger to a soft, bewildermented whisper. Her eyes were wide and blameless; she had done nothing wrong. Draco cursed himself. He'd made her get upset with herself; he saw it in her eyes. Damnit, he couldn't do anything right with this girl!

"Listen," he started, his voice quiet, taking her wrists. "I didn't mean to accuse you. I just...I'm not one to get mocked in front of the whole school. I can't even imagine you doing something like that; I don't know why I said that. I'm sorry." Draco's eyes were lighter, almost blue...Hermione felt her throat tighten. Why did this happen?! Whenever he was near, she felt so...assailable; so naked and helpless. He stripped her of her shell and held her close...He wasn't supposed to do that. Ron was.

The rest of the ride to London was quiet, neither talking. Draco would sigh, though, his gray eyes lingering on her slight form; on her curvatures; on her face; on her eyes. Why was he telling himself she wasn't anything that he wanted when he knew that she was everything he'd ever dreamt of?

***

Hermione went with Ginny to look through the shops while Draco moved off with Michael Zander, a good-looking boy in the Slytherin House. Hermione didn't seem interested in any of the dresses, while Ginny couldn't even decide what color she wanted!

"Oh, Hermione!" Ginny breathed as she turned a corner in 'Karma's' and saw a long wall of dresses on manicans. She moved along them quickly, her eyes stopping on the very last one – a long dress, the top skirt gathered up to a bundle where it looked like there might be a thigh, the material shining. Another, lighter colored skirt protruded from that, fluffy. The top was of a glossy silk material, fitting snugly, the sleeves low on the shoulders, bigger sleeves protruded from that, stopping at the elbow to reveal long sleeves that would fit down to the wrists. All in a dazzling mixture of rosy, berry colors. Ginny stared at it and her eyes just went over it, a thousand times. Hermione laughed.

"Ginny, it's perfect! Go buy it, c'mon! Or wait – go try it on!" Ginny smiled and called the woman at the register over to get her a dress to try on. Ginny hurried into one of two dressing rooms and Hermione could here her gasp when she saw it; just like she had when she'd laid eyes on for the first time. "Come out, Ginny!"

When Ginny stepped from beyond the door, blushing as Hermione giggled, a few people stopped to watch. It fit perfectly, not an inch too big or small anywhere. Ginny had to mess with the skirt, staring at herself in the mirror, just watching herself. She turned, in many poses, sweeping the full skirt around her as she twirled. Hermione grinned; Ginny turned.

"Hermione, how does it look?"

"Ginny, there is no other dress." Ginny threw herself at Hermione, hugging her tightly.

"Hermione, I'm going with Harry!" Hermione laughed, her eyes bright as she pulled Ginny away to look at her, her hands on her shoulders.

"He asked you?!"

"He asked me!" Hermione laughed excitedly as Ginny giggled wildly. Ginny went to the register, using all of the year's and the previous summer's savings to buy the dress. They walked back out into small flurries, to go down the street, Ginny carrying her dress with her, finally having put her coat on.

Ginny drug Hermione through multiple stores, making her try on the prettiest, most expensive dresses, but Hermione was not impressed with any of them. She just didn't see anything that caught he eye as Ginny's dress had caught hers. And time passed too quickly for Hermione...and she ran out of time.

"Hermione, we can't stay! The train is leaving in five minutes! We have to run to get there as of now! C'mon!" Ginny enticed Hermione through more snowflakes, bigger, more harsh falling. Hermione stared at the shops of London...there just wasn't a dress for her. She felt Ginny's hand on her arm as she was dragged back to the train station. Hermione would cry when she got back to her dorm.

***

( I know, kinda sad little ending. lol. And yes, to those of you who keep asking, this story is still in progress of being written and there should be 1-2 more chapters! So, whoo! I wonder; who do YOU think Hermione should be with? Review and tell me, ya'll, I wanna know what you think. And be honest with me, do you think the characters are OOC? Draco wasn't in this chapter as much as I wanted him to be, but I didn't want him with Hermione when she was looking for a dress, lol!)

NEXT CHAPTER

Hermione goes to the Celestial Festival, with a special surprise, and she has to make the decision of a lifetime...

While Draco is trying to cope with his dreams and Ron realizes he really needs Hermione...