Disclaimer- I don't own it.
A/N- Thank you to:
Candice (You rock! Keep reviewing!)
DeeVee White
Witchhunterlady
Chapter 7- Jealously Unwanted
Hermione twiddled with her thumbs nervously in her lap as the carriage glided along the floor. Yes, a carriage. Draco decided that nothing else would work but a horse-drawn carriage that flew for a Malfoy. And his alleged girlfriend. But mostly for a Malfoy.
"Stop fiddling. You're a pureblood. Purebloods don't fiddle." Draco reprimanded from beside her.
"For once, I thank God I'm not a pureblood. Too many rules." Hermione said.
"Yes you are. For tonight. And you better start acting like one, because here- we- are." Draco said as the carriage bumped to a stop. He stepped out and offered his pale hand to Hermione. "Madam?"
"No thank you." Hermione ignored him and purposefully bumped his shoulder as she exited the carriage.
"You better get your act together because you're my girlfriend."
"Don't remind me. I don't think you want puke on that impeccable suit of yours." Hermione rolled her eyes and began to walk towards the Zabini mansion. It was large, yes, but didn't begin to compare to Malfoy's.
Draco ran to her. "Hey, hey, wait up! A lady does not enter the house without her escort."
"This lady does."
"Yeah, Hermione Granger might, but Cindy Merridew is a very-"
Draco was cut off when Hermione pushed open the doors to the Mansion, revealing an overly-made-up Pansy Zabini. "Draco!" she squealed.
Draco was then pulled into a tight hug that crushed his lungs just enough to stop him breathing.
"Hey- Pan-sy." He panted.
"It's been so long! I- oh." Pansy noticed Hermione. "Who's this?"
"This? Oh! This is… Cindy. Did Blaise tell you about her?" Draco said, slipping an arm around Hermione's waist. She flinched.
"Oh! This is Cindy! Well, it's nice to meet you." Pansy sent her a venomous smile. "You look… nice."
"Thank you. But I look nothing compared to you. I love that dress!" Hermione lied through her teeth.
"Thanks." Pansy said shortly before turning to Draco again. "Well, come on, you're the last to come. Although fashionably late, I see." She stroked Draco's tie, then gave a sick giggle. Draco managed a halfway believeable smile. Pansy led them to the ballroom, where there was slow music playing, and murmurs of people talking quietly.
The room was decorated in green and silver. "After Slytherin, of course," Pansy had told them. There was a crowd of people in the room, most of which were probably Death Eaters. They were drinking and making small talk.
"Are you ready?" Draco whispered as Pansy rushed off to get Blaise.
"Don't very well have a choice, now do I?" Hermione said just as Blaise came up to them.
"Hey mate! Glad you came, you rescued me from them lot." He gestured to a dull-looking group in a corner. They were about their age. Draco cringed when he saw them.
"Bulstrode? Really Blaise?"
"Father's order. Anyway, onto more interesting things," Blaise smiled at Hermione. "Hello there Cindy! Why don't you come over, I'll introduce you to some school… friends of ours."
"That would be wonderful." Hermione allowed herself to be led away, Draco following close behind.
"This is Millicent Bulstrode, Gregory Goyle, Daphne Greengrass, Astoria Greengrass, and, of course, Pansy." Blaise said. "Why don't you guys mingle, and I'll get us some drinks?"
"Hello Cindy." The girl named Astoria gave Hermione a smile that could rip your soul. Hermione could help but stare at Astoria, though. She was beyond beautiful. She had pure, golden-blonde hair that naturally curled in large ringlets that hung perfectly down her back. Her eyes were the color of a beautiful blue sky, and her face was one of those ones that was made perfect. But it was her nasty expression that ruined it all. "So… you're Draco's new girlfriend."
"Yes. Best 1 ½ months of my life!" Hermione refrained from gagging.
"One month, 17 days, and 6 hours," Draco clarified. "I kept track."
"Aww." Hermione cooed. After this, she thought, I really should look into acting.
"Hey Draco," Astoria said, gazing at him with an innocent look. "Dance with me?"
"Oh, um…" he stared at Hermione, eyes silently begging for her to help him. But Hermione was still mad at him for making her come.
"It's alright, Drakey, I'll just talk with Pansy." Hermione gave him a sickly sweet smile as Astoria dragged him off.
"So, Cindy," Pansy said. "Where are you from?"
"Scotland," Hermione said robotically. "But I'm not from from there. I just lived there."
"Ah." Pansy said, but her focus was not on Hermione. She kept flickering her eyes to watch Astoria dancing with Draco.
Great. Now I have two jealous girls competing with me for a man I don't even want. Hermione cursed Draco yet again for making her come.
"So… Draco said that you two were in the same house at Hogwarts." Hermione was trying desperately to make the time go by faster.
"Yea. Slytherin. We weren't exactly considered the nice house, but look where it got us. Better off than those filthy Gryffindors." Pansy said.
Just then, Blaise returned with some wine. "Drinks anyone?"
Hermione politely declined. Alcohol got to her fast, and the last thing she needed tonight was to get drunk.
"Cindy." Goyle grunted.
"Oh. Yes?" Hermione had always been afraid of Malfoy's two talking boulders.
"You. Me. Dance." He managed.
"Oh… okay," she said weakly.
Goyle walked towards the dance floor and Hermione placed her hands as lightly as she could on his shoulders. They danced for about thirty seconds until they reached Astoria and Draco. Upon seeing Hermione's situation, Draco could barely conceal his laughter. Hermione mouthed some colorful words at his face.
"Trade?" Draco offered Goyle. He shrugged and Astoria's face was priceless as Goyle dragged her away.
"Thanks," Hermione said. She began to walk away.
"Hey, hey, hey, Ms. Merridew!" Draco grabbed her shoulder. "You are my date, you know. You can't not dance with me."
"You just want Astoria to stay away."
"That too." He said truthfully.
Hermione grimaced, but agreed to dance. Just her luck, as slow song began to play. "Great."
"Whatever Merridew." Draco placed his hands on her waist, and Hermione blushed when she realized that she had to wrap her hands around his neck.
"Don't be afraid. I don't bite." Draco smiled as they began to dance.
Hermione nearly slapped herself when she began to think of how well she seemed to fit right there, in Draco's arms. Shut up! She thought. I have to distract myself.
"So… what's with Astoria?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing, she's just had a massive crush on me since 4th year. And, as you can see, you made her quite jealous." Draco said, smirking.
"Oh no, I thought that the venomous glares were just ones of love!" Hermione said sarcastically. "What about Pansy?"
"Well, the Zabini marriage was arranged. She still has a thing for me, since we had a fling at Hogwarts." Draco shook himself at this thought.
"I see. Well, I was- "
Hermione was cut short when the music suddenly stopped and the people around her had stopped dancing. The entry doors to the room had swung open, and a couple dozen hooded figures were standing in the threshold, wands raised. Draco's face paled.
The front hooded person stepped into the ballroom. "I heard there was a party," a very feminine voice said. "And we weren't invited." She pulled off her hood, and the sinister face of Bellatrix Lestrange leered at the guests.
A/N- I must say, I am very disappointed in the lack of reviews for the last chapter. I am discouraged. Oh well, if you want to find out what happens next, you have to review… ~evil face~
I have a little deal for you. If you read the last chapter, you heard about my new story. I'll post it if I can get 15 reviews on this story. If you haven't read about my new story, read the author's note at the bottom of the last chapter. Thanks!
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~Potato
