I'm sorry if you guys think my chapters and too short and not frequently updated. I really am. I don't have any excuse. As a make up for my noon frequent updates, I shall post another chapter within next week. As a Christmas Present. Promise.
50 reviews! =D
This is a shout out for irockursocksoff for being the 50TH REVIEWER! *virtual cookies* (I'll update next week, I promise. I can't say much about the length, because I usually write up to 3 max. 5 pages a chapter, but I'll try for a bigger one. Is that okay?)
Disclamier: All recognizable characters belong to J.K.R. Rest all belongs to me.
XXOO
linux-Ginny
Of failed Parenting and mean Guests
Malfoy Manor, same day
"I am about to kill your mother. I needed your blessing to go through my rather diabolical plan, Malfoy," declared a very dressed up Hermione as she walked into their bedroom to hunt for her stilettos. Draco was standing in nothing but his black slacks, going through his cupboard to find something suitable to wear.
"Oh? And pray, do tell, why would that be?" he asked in a bored tone, spying his black t shirt in the mess.
"Because she kidnapped me and I got surrounded by a million people prodding my skin and asking insanely mind boggling questions!" she exclaimed, sitting down on her knees to look under their bed for her shoes. Where had she put them?
"That's a first! Hermione Granger not knowing an answer to a ques...tion," he smirked turning around to see his fiancée on her knees, bent with her head under the bed, muttering curses. Her back was bare. It was shimmering. Literally, like a thousand crushed diamonds had been rubbed onto it.
Triumphant and successful in finding her stilettos, she propped onto the bed and put them on. Walking into the bathroom, she sat down in front of the vanity and selected a pair of ruby earrings to wear.
All this while, Draco stood frozen, his heart beating at a thousand times an hour. Looking up, he saw that his face was flushed in the reflection. Why was this happening? Waving a glass of water into existence out of the wave of his hand, he took a few moments to calm himself. It wasn't good to let go of one's carefully intact emotional barrier, his father had always taught him. Emotions show weakness. It shows the person opposite you the door to exploit your worst fears. Not one person on this earth could be trusted with your emotions.
"Well, what do you think? Do I look like I am about to pass out due to hunger and exhaustion any second?" asked Hermione, emerging out of the bathroom. She didn't know what possessed her to ask such a question; not that the answer would matter anyway. She twirled slowly, cursing herself for asking something like this. Perhaps she had inhaled the hair mousse that that idiot had so liberally sprayed.
Draco looked up from buttoning his t-shirt. His face looked deceptively blank as he hid his surprise at her question. As she twirled experimentally, he felt feverish. The dress was jet black, with the front of the dress up to her throat with three-fourths of a sleeve. It was fitting throughout and fanned at the bottom. Her hair were done up half up and half down. Her back however, was bare till halfway down her back, where it tapered and cloth appeared. The only accessory she had to go along with her dress was hanging teardrop ruby earrings.
"It will do," was the only reply he managed to choke out before turning his back to her to observe her from his mirror. She looked stumped for about a second, before her carefully crafted mask slithered back into place and her stance went rigid with defiance.
"I shall see you downstairs. I have to help Narcissa with some last minute stuff."
"Whatever, Granger."
Ballroom,
The ballroom started to fill up with people as the evening set in. There were noises of fake laughter and squeal (Darling! You look smashing!) and clinks of champagne and wine glasses. Narcissa, the ever gracious host dressed in white like a 60's Hollywood star went from one clique to another, greeting everyone. Lucius stood with the men, all dressed in black to complement Narcissa's outfit, talking.
Hermione accompanied Narcissa in the whole meet and greet, though she said little. She smiled a little, answered some questions and moved on. To her surprise, the talking stilled for a few minutes as Draco descended down the stairs, looking incredible in grey. She frowned slightly; whatever happened to wearing black?
As she occupied herself with thoughts, she didn't realize that she kept staring at him. He strode confidently towards her and smirked, leaning close to whisper, "Do stop staring love. People might actually think you're in love with me." That actually shut her up and caused her to blush scarlet.
As the evening settled into darkness, they both steered clear of each other. Thankfully, Harry and Ginny were invited, as were Ron and Astoria and Neville and Pansy. She stuck with her group of friends throughout, as Astoria and Pansy walked away from their spouses as soon as they entered. So basically, her evening wasn't progressing half as bad.
It was not news anymore that she was to marry Draco. She had received her fair share of stares as she had walked around Diagon Alley and while going to work. Somehow, tonight, at Pureblood Central, the stares had a malicious edge to them. Almost as if these people wanted to see her fail, like it would give them a certain amount of pleasure. And their stares and whispers were getting on her nerves.
When Narcissa called her, she made her way across the ball room to her. On her way, she accidentally bumped into another person.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she said, turning around to see if the person was okay.
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ME, YOU MUDBLOOD FILTH?" screamed a woman, not much older than she.
"I'm sorry, it was an accident," Hermione replied, trying to avert a scene.
"NO IT WASN'T! It has come to this, hasn't it? You filthy excuses for human beings have started palling up with us purebloods! You think that just because you dress like us and can speak like us you're one of us! Get this in your head, girl! You can never be one of us!" she screamed. By then, she had caused enough of a ruckus to draw attention to them.
"Now wait here just a minute! There is no need to say terrible things like that! I didn't mean to bump into you! If you could just calm down, we can talk about this like the civilized people we are!" cried Hermione.
"Don't you dare tell my woman to calm down, you barbarian!" said a man who suddenly appeared. Huh. So this woman was the latest arm candy of Nott Sr.
"Well, she started it!" Hermione replied, getting increasingly frustrated.
"And I am ending it! God alone knows what this world has come to. In my day, you could have been beheaded for even thinking about pushing a pureblooded woman!" he growled, stepping forward.
It was sometime around then that she realized that it was hopeless and futile to continue fighting. This was a crowd completely comprising of purebloods who wanted to rip her arms out. Mildly irritated, she tried to turn around and walk away only to feel a rough hand on her shoulder and be whirled around to see a menacing Nott Sr. standing in her face.
"Theodore, unhand her immediately. You are causing a scene," said an authoritative voice of Narcissa from behind her. He let her go and stepped back.
"Narcissa darling, looking radiating as always," he said, slipping into the smooth façade of a pureblooded man. He pushed Hermione aside and took her hand, dropping a kiss on her knuckles. Narcissa's hard exterior slipped as she exchanged pleasantries with him. Hermione was stumped; what just happened?
Anger boiling and pulsing into her veins she turned around, whirled around Nott Sr. and slapped him. A shocked crowd went completely silent. Even Draco looked up form his friends in mild curiosity.
"You have NO right, to come into MY HOME, in MY PARTY, as MY GUEST and THREATEN ME!" she said, jabbing her finger with each raised word for emphasis. Nott Sr. was shocked, Narcissa looked scandalized. Nott Sr. however, recovered quickly and pushed her, hard causing her to stumble and fall onto the floor. Narcissa immediately unfroze and ran to her side, bending down to see if she was okay.
"What're you talking about, you vile creature? How DARE you man handle my guests?" said Draco, stomping furiously towards where everyone stood.
"See? Even your fiancée wants nothing to do with you, you stupid bitch!" cackled Nott Sr. as someone cleared their throat from behind them.
"Draco, take Hermione upstairs. Narcissa, I believe it is time to announce dinner. Theodore, my friend, I am afraid I cannot tolerate any misbehavior by a guest towards relatives, even if Ms. Granger is related to us by law. You will not come into my home and insult my family. I think it is time for you to leave now. Loopy!" called Lucius, his face a deathly calm and his eyes dancing furious, "Please escort Mr. Nott and his friend out the door."
And that was that. The man of the house had spoken. Nott Sr. looked like he wanted to argue, but the look on Lucius' face put him off. Narcissa straightened herself up and walked off the announce dinner. Draco looked furious, no, downright murderous. Hermione somehow, through all of this, felt grateful.
East Wing,
"How dare you embarrass us in this manner?" shouted Draco as soon as they reached their wing.
"How dare I embarrass you? How could you not see? That man was a scum bag! He literally felt me up! And all those things he said to me?" screamed Hermione, removing her shoes and throwing them aside.
"You did not honestly expect that you would get accepted in my society just because you're my fiancée, did you?" he bit back.
"No, I didn't! I don't want to be a part of your society if these are the kind of people present here!"
"You stupid bint! I think you paid of that rotten Weasley to team you up with me so that you could have all the name and riches to yourself. Poor, weak mudblood! I bet your parents are happy about this! Finally, their daughter will have enough food to eat and water to drink!" he spat out in disgust.
"Well, we'll never know that because THEY'RE DEAD!" she shouted, her determined and stubborn exterior finally shattering. Tears started to flow freely as she saw Draco's expression going from angry to surprise.
"Oh yes Malfoy, didn't see that one coming did you? Now why don't you run downstairs like the pathetic little boy that you are and go gloat to your friends about how finally, finally after all these years, you got the mighty, know it all, mudblood Granger to cry! Just get LOST!" she shouted her voice cracking because of the tears as she stormed into the bathroom and shut the door, hard.
What just happened?
Bathroom,
She finally gave into the tears as she stood under the warm shower, sliding into a sitting position and drawing her knees closer to her chin. As if her eyes were jealous of the water already streaming down, they continued to tear up more. She just couldn't stop. What sin had she committed to be stuck in such a life?
East Wing (meanwhile),
Draco on the other hand sat on the bed, looking at the bath room door every 5 seconds. What had happened that night? He cursed Granger. That idiotic bint was the reason all this was happening. Palming his face and rubbing his eyes, he looked up just in time to see his parents stroll in. Wonderful.
So lets see here, can we get the reviews upto say, 60? Come on, for every milestone created there will be virtual cookies! ;)
R.E.V.I.E.W.
