Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Enjoy!
Fast walking down the corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Ginny Weasley let a huge grin grace her face.
Holding tightly to the white box that was accented by a red ribbon, she sped walked through the lonely corridors.
Most students were at breakfast at this time, like she should be. But as soon as she had received the package she decided to make her way up to the Gryffindor Common room.
The package wasn't hers but the feeling of happiness washed over as she had tiny guesses of what the box held in it.
Ginny sped her pace a little, only slowing down when she expected a professor to turn a corner.
As soon as she made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady, she quickly pronounced the password. The portrait swung open leading her into a big room full of reds and golds. The Gryffindor Common room.
Making her way to the stair case that led to the girl's dormitories, Ginny quickly passed her own and made her way to the 6th years.
Deciding against knocking she kicked open the door, seeing as her arms were full.
When, the door was opened a surprised and shocked brunette sat up. Obviously, she had been lying to Ginny when she told her she was planning on studying. There were no books to be seen and she was buried deep in her bed and hadn't even changed yet.
"Since you refused to go to breakfast, Mione. I brought this up for you," Ginny calmly presented her with the box. Although, calm wouldn't be the correct word she would use for herself at the moment on the inside.
"Ginny," Hermione began her whining. "I told you not to get me anything. I have it all planned out. I can ask Dumbledore if I can go to Hogsmeade tomorrow."
" 'Mione," Ginny smiled at her friends mistake. "That is a terrific plan. The only drawback is that the dance is tomorrow night as well. Which one will you be attending to?"
Hermione's chocolate brown eyes expanded in shock. There was no way tomorrow night was the dance.
"Besides, it isn't from me," Ginny smiled. "It's from your parents." Ginny remembered at the beginning of the week when Hermione told her about asking her parents to buy her a dress, but she didn't want them to feel obligated to do so. Also, she didn't feel like she should have them do that, they were extremely busy nowadays she claimed.
She ended up throwing away the letter she proposed to them and decided to buy one herself in the nearby village of Hogsmeade.
Ginny knew there was absolutely no chance Hermione would have free time to go dress shopping this week so she decided to write to Hermione's parents instead and explain the situation.
"Ginny, why would you do that? I didn't write to them asking for a dress for a reason," Hermione started getting angry.
"Well, they were thrilled when they heard from me. They said you mentioned me quite a bit and that I should come visit them in muggle London." Hermione stared up at her friend waiting for her to continue. "Your father said your mother was thrilled about it. She spend all week going through all kinds of muggle shops to find the perfect dress for you. It gave her something to do. Also, she mentioned that she has always dreamed of doing this for you when you went to prom. Whatever that is."
Hermione ignored Ginny's questioning of the important muggle term many teenage girls dreamed about. "Well in that caseā¦" Hermione's face fell. If going dress shopping was fun for her mother and gave her something to do she wasn't about to argue against it.
Scooting the box closer to Hermione, Ginny smiled hoping that she would accept it.
Hermione pulled the box onto her lap and locked eyes with her best friend. Ginny nodded and smiled, urging her to hurry the pace.
Lifting the lid, Hermione was shocked at the sight that greeted her. It was like something out of her dream. So perfect.
The dress was like something only to be seen in a magazine. It was a blood red color that wasn't too loose. It was tight enough to show off her curves. At mid thigh it become loose and flowed nicely. The bodice had gorgeous rhinestones scattered about. The dress was spectacular but nothing too over the top. It surprised her how much her mother knew her.
Looking up again, Hermione noticed Ginny liked the dress as well. "Oh, Hermione, it's gorgeous. Red is definitely your color."
"Do you have a dress?" Hermione questioned. Ginny lifted her pale face and smiled. Nodding her head she took off to go retrieve it.
She came billowing back holding the dress high above her head in about a minute.
Smiling she presented it to Hermione who held it and appreciated it's beauty.
Ginny's dress was a nice emerald green color and form fitting. It would definitely make her look very slim. They were jewels just below the breast in an orderly fashion and on the straps. The neck line plunged a bit dangerously, for Ginny that is.
"What's Ron going to say?" Hermione gasped. Everyone knew Ron was over protective of his little sister. He had to be. That's what older brothers are for.
"Nothing, mum and dad bought it for me. They approve, his opinion does not matter," Ginny giggled resulting in Hermione joining as well.
"It's so gorgeous, Gin. There is no doubt you will look spectacular," Hermione smiled.
"I know, mum and dad saved up a fortune to get me it. It was very expensive if anything happens to it my world would end."
Hermione nodded in agreement. "Come on, we must go class should be starting soon."
Ginny nodded and picked up her bag as Hermione started to change into her uniform.
The girls met back up in the common room. Hermione had thrown her hair into a high pony and was dressed. She had all her belongings together and the two made their way out of the common room and into the corridors.
Ginny, who had Transfiguration went the opposite way as Hermione, who had Potions.
Sending each other a small wave and a generous smile the two parted ways and turned to their first class of the day.
Here goes nothing.
Hermione arrived in Potions around the same time as the other students did. Seeing as she missed breakfast she was having a hard time paying attention.
She was sitting in the middle of the room next to Neville and in front of Harry and Ron.
They were taking notes about what they were currently learning. Not much really. They were mainly just taking simple notes on ways to be safe when using certain potions and making them.
Suddenly, the door was yanked open and in walked a tall and proud 7th year girl. She was a Ravenclaw. She had gorgeous long blonde hair that reached her back and was in loose curls. An asset that Hermione had a hard time missing were her amazing cobalt blue eyes that had small streaks of silver and matched her uniform quite well.
All the guys who had been in the midst of falling asleep were now wide awake and ready to listen to what she had to say.
Letting her eyes drift Hermione noticed they were all staring. Each and every one of them. Turning around she caught eyes with Ron and Harry who blushed and turned away to catch up on the notes.
Looking to her right there was one person who stood out like a sore thumb. Malfoy. He was watching the girl intensely and she was looking at him as well. They locked eyes and stared for a few moments at each other.
Hermione started to fume. Who did that 7th year Ravenclaw think she was? There had to be a 7th year that she was interested in. Why was she like this with a 6th year. There was no doubt why though. Hermione would be lying if she said that Malfoy wasn't handsome, because he was. There was no doubt that no matter how rude and arrogant he was, every girl had a crush on him.
Hermione shook the thought from her head that the girl and Malfoy could possibly have a thing.
Finally, after a few seconds the girl came back to reality, but not before Malfoy winked at her and she was set in a deep blush.
Hermione recognized the girl from Prefects meetings. She was usually there as Head girl along with the Head boy and Dumbledore.
Looking back over to the general direction the girl was in she met eyes with Malfoy who smirked and winked at her as well.
This angered her. Usually it made her feel beautiful and wanted when he did things like that, but she had just witnessed him doing the exact same thing to the 7th year girl.
The girl's name, she remembered was Jocelyn Hanson. She was a pureblood and absolutely gorgeous as well as smart.
"Professor," Jocelyn interrupted Slughorn.
Professor Slughorn's head shot up. He had been turned and facing the chalkboard to print out the notes the students were supposed to be copying.
"Yes."
"Dumbledore and McGonagall would like it if all the students report to the Great Hall as soon as possible."
All the students eyes lit up and expanded at the thought of getting to miss class today.
Hermione couldn't help but notice how fake and 'innocent' the girls voice sounded. She wanted to tune the girl out or run away from the sight and noise but she couldn't. If she did she would most likely be met with a detention as well as a pile of extra work to do.
"Very well then," Slughorn said and pocketed his chalk. Waving his hands to his students he dismissed them. "Be quite throughout the halls and do not run."
Hermione stood up after putting her books away and grabbed her bag. Looking up she noticed almost every student had already left, even Harry and Ron. There were a few straggling students she hadn't met before but other than that she was alone.
She exited the Potions room and into the hallways. Walking calmly through the corridor she smiled to herself.
She was thinking of tomorrow night and how amazing it would be. How gorgeous Malfoy would most likely look and how surprised the student body would be when they saw them together as dates.
She was sure that Jocelyn would be there, she was Head Girl after all. Thinking of Jocelyn made many thoughts start to flow through Hermione's mind.
What if Malfoy hooked up with her right now and decided that he would rather go to the dance with her. The Head Girl, a girl who wasn't afraid to kiss him. Malfoy and Hermione hadn't even kissed yet, although to Hermione this date was purely for an act of embarrassment. But how was she supposed to get him to stay around if she wouldn't even kiss him. Everyone knows how Malfoy is and if there are plenty of girls out there who would kiss him why would he be with the one who wouldn't? He would loose his interest soon, wouldn't he?
Turning the corner, Hermione jumped and screeched as a figure jumped out to her.
Once she saw the familiar blonde hair she stopped and glared. Malfoy on the other hand was laughing his arse off. "Glad you enjoy my embarrassment," she mumbled and continued walking the long hallway to the Great Hall.
"Granger, come back," Malfoy shouted. "I waited here for awhile. I'm not just letting you walk away."
"You waited?"
"Yes, why else would I be out here and not in the Great Hall?" He asked rolling his eyes at her stupidity.
"I thought maybe you would be waiting for Jocelyn."
Malfoy thought for a minute and then remembered who Jocelyn was. "Why would I wait for her?"
"I saw you two. You guys were all lovey dovey back in the Potions classroom," Hermione bit back the hurt in her voice. Why is this hurting her? It shouldn't.
"Are you jealous?" Malfoy asked in amazement. As if Hermione Granger being jealous was something he never thought he'd witness.
"No," Hermione reacted quickly. "I was just making good observations. That's what you are supposed to do in Potions, am I not correct?" Draco rolled his eyes and stepped forward. Hermione stepped back. She hit the wall with the thud and was met with the thought that she couldn't move back anymore.
Draco smirked and kept walking towards her. For some odd reason, she didn't stop him. She didn't want to. Her head screamed 'Get away as fast as you can.' But her heart urged her to stay.
She watched as he leaned forward and her heart sped up. This wasn't about to happen was it? Something was going to stop them like the time before.
She felt his cold hand caress her check tenderly and she pushed her face further into his hand loving the feeling it gave her. Of being cared for and wanted.
He smiled down at her and closed his eyes. Preparing to give her mouth some attention.
This was all too much for Hermione. If he kissed her she would get attached and fall for him. That was something neither of them needed at the moment. If she kissed him she was sure to be a goner. A lost cause.
This was her last chance. It was now or never. She could kiss him and fall hard. She would have to trust him to not crush her like she was planning on doing to him. She would have to trust him with her heart. Something she has never done before. Or, she could run away.
Away from the pain that would await her. Away from the thoughts she would end up having later on. Away from the possibility of there ever being something more for the both of them. Something more than enemies.
Now, or never.
In one swift movement Hermione found herself one step to the left, away from Malfoy. She couldn't believe it, she had chickened out again.
His eyes were open now as he had felt her body push against him to get out of the way. His face was motionless. He looked shocked, sad, and worried.
But what had he to be worried about? Hermione swallowed and looked up at him straight into his eyes. Warm chocolate met cold silver. Once their eyes locked his seemed to melt. They weren't cold anymore. They held something. Something that made Hermione's heart flutter faster than it already was.
She willed herself to look away and punished her eyes by having them look to the concrete floor instead.
Once she had sorted through her thoughts a few seconds later, she looked up at him once more.
His eyes now held confusion. He was waiting for what she was about to say. What he wanted to hear. He felt like his life was depending on what words came out of her mouth.
"I-I-I," she stuttered. Searching through her brain she formed a new arrangement for her words.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow. Patiently asking her to carry on.
"I-I'm," She looked down at the floor. "Sorry. I can't do this."
With that said and done she took off. Fast. Down the corridor. Without looking back. She felt the fresh tears sting her checks that were by now flushed of color.
She had hurt him. She knew that. But she couldn't let him kiss her and make her fall. It would hurt too bad. Pain was something she didn't want to tolerate, especially not heartbreak. There is no cure for that.
She didn't want to be the helpless and heart broken Hermione. She liked being the strong and independent one instead.
Once she was standing in front of the doors to the Great Hall she looked back. He was standing there in the same position he had been when they were talking. In one swift movement he kicked the wall with his right leg. Turning around the opposite way from Hermione, he walked away. Towards the dungeons where the Slytherin common room was located.
Suddenly, Hermione heard foot steps approaching behind her. Turning around, she hoped it was him.
What she was met with wasn't what she had wanted. Jocelyn. "Hermione," Jocelyn smiled fakely. "That is your name, right?"
"Yes."
"Oh, well listen. I have a question for you," Jocelyn proposed stepping close enough to hear each other. "Isn't Draco Malofy in your year?"
Hermione nodded.
"Do you know by any chance if he is single?"
Hermione glared. This is not what she wanted. She didn't even want to be seen talking with this girl.
Malfoy could do so much better. Someone else would do him good. Jocelyn certainly wasn't his type.
But then again, what is his type?
Hermione shrugged her shoulders and walked into the Great Hall.
Here goes nothing.
I'm sorry if this chapter is a bummer. It took me awhile to write and I apologize. I had the chapter typed up and ready to update this morning but once I read through it I didn't like it anymore and changed my mind. It was boring and I typed this up instead. I have already started on the next chapter and have my ideas so it should be done sooner than this one was.
Thanks!
-Laughter is contagious
