I don't own Harry Potter (war ended in 6th year)
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Chapter 7
Hermione (Hogsmeade trip)
I awoke the next morning to an owl tapping on window. I groaned and opened the window for Pigwidgeon. Ron had given the tiny owl to Ginny for her last birthday. "What does she want now?" I grumbled and untied the letter from Pig's leg.
Hermione,
Today we're going dress shopping for the dance, and discuss more of the details. P.S. somehow the whole house seems to know about Draco's problem. Not that it matters. See you at breakfast. Make sure you're there before they let us leave.
Ginny
I turned the page over and scrawled my answer irritated. It was so early to go dress shopping, but then again I did wonder if we would even have time to do it before the dance with all the details. I sighed and sent Pig back to his mistress.
I looked at my watch on my nightstand and groaned again when I saw the time. We had at least two and a half hours before they let us leave for Hogsmeade. I got up anyways and grabbed some jeans and a nicer t-shirt from my trunk. Then I took my toiletry bag from where I had set it the night before.
I rubbed my eyes and opened my door, but stopped short when I saw Malfoy coming up the wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. I stared at him. Everyone had said he looked good, but I hadn't expected him to look this good. It was obvious he worked out because I could clearly see his abs. I blinked and tried to compose myself. "Like what you see?" he smirked. That shook me out of whatever trance I had been in. I glared at him and entered the bathroom.
After a soothing shower, I used my wand to dry my hair quickly, and put it up halfway. Then I put on my clothes and only a little bit of makeup to cover up the small circles under my eyes. I knew I shouldn't have stayed up talking to Ginny, but I did and I had fun.
I exited feeling more awake and refreshed, and when I looked at my watch I saw we had two hours before Hogsmeade. I figured Ginny would already be down there and I was thankful I didn't have to walk with Draco today.
I met a large group of Gryffindors that consisted of Harry, Ron, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Ginny, and a few others. I greeted them warmly and we entered the Great Hall. A few glanced in the direction of the Slytherin table, and then Ron began laughing hysterically causing the entire hall to erupt in laughter. It wasn't until then that the full impact of Ginny's words affected me. They knew and I was responsible for it. A part of me felt bad for him, and feared what he would do for revenge, but then again he deserved it after all he'd done to me. I smirked in his direction and continued on to the table all the way watching his reaction.
At first he was confused then his face went slack and if possible grew even paler, then disbelief was displayed, and finally rage. I ignored the glares he sent my way and went on eating.
"Did you see his face?" Ron asked excitedly.
"Yeah, I can't believe he read Twilight." Harry laughed.
"Of all the books to read, why that one?" Seamus asked with his mouth full.
"Well I think it's romantic." Lavender said pointedly to Ron.
"Of course you would." I retorted laughing, "I do admit it does give at least a partial insight into a girls mind. It's just mostly a girl book."
"You've seen it though." Ginny said putting down her fork, "Didn't you say that it had Bella and Edward's lines highlighted?"
I laughed, "Yeah it did. He told me it was Pansy's book; I'm not so sure it is though."
The table laughed and soon the announcement that we were allowed to leave for Hogsmeade was made. Ginny and I made our way to the door with Lavender and Parvati and we waited for Padma to emerge so that we could walk together.
On the way we discussed what type of dress that we were looking for. The twins both wanted a pink dress, and Lavender was just looking for something sexy. Ginny wanted something red, as did I, but I wanted it to be a bit more modest than what the others had described as the dress they were looking for.
We entered the small town, and began to search for shops that sold dresses. The first one we entered looked like a small boutique on the outside, but once we entered my breath caught in my throat. The store was huge. It had at least five levels to it. Lavender grabbed my hand and led me towards a rack. "We're sure to find something here." she smiled and held out a small red dress. Then she shook her head and put it back. "That just won't do. At least not for what At least not for what you're looking for."
I laughed, "Lavender, I love you, but I think I'll pick out my own dress with the help of your opinion." Lavender sighed and I tugged her towards a rack with short purple dress on it.
I left her to her work and went up to the next level to see if I could find anything. When I saw nothing there I joined Ginny on the third floor. "Can't find anything either?" she asked pulling out a red dress that went to about her mid thigh.
I sighed, "Nope, I'm guessing you haven't either."
Ginny shook her head and I began to flip through some of the dress on one of the racks. I stopped suddenly and pulled out a beautiful red spaghetti strap dress that went to the floor. It had white swirls with flowers on the bodice and I knew who it would look just perfect on. "Hey Gin, come here." I said holding out the dress.
She came and stood by my side, "It's pretty," she said at last.
I nodded and thrust it at her. "Try it on." I commanded.
Ginny took it confused, "Why? I thought you were going to try it on."
"I think it will look absolutely gorgeous on you. Please, do it for me." I told her beginning to push her towards a dressing room.
"If it doesn't look right on me I'm making you try it on." She called as I shut the door. I laughed and waited for her to come out. She stepped out slowly almost unsure of herself. I had gathered the others girls to get their opinion and they gasped when she stepped into full view.
I grinned at her, "Ron's going to kill us both, but I don't Harry will be able to take his eyes off you, much less any other guy."
Ginny blushed, and went to stand in front of the three sided mirror. I watched as the normally loud and vibrant girl was suddenly transformed into an elegant, graceful wonder. "Do you really think so?" she asked unsure. I nodded coming up behind her.
"I think you just found your dress." Lavender said.
By the time the trip was over with Padma and I were the only ones still without a dress, but we had plenty of time. As we entered the school I noticed that we had not been the only ones who had gone dress shopping, some of the third and forth years were seen carrying up dresses concealed by large bags.
I met Ginny the next morning in front of the Gryffindor tower so we could walk together to the Great Hall for breakfast. "You know we never really decided when to have the next meeting for the dance." She said after we had gone a little ways down the hallway.
"I know, I was thinking that maybe we could have Professor McGonagall announce the next meeting to be after all the classes on Monday or Tuesday, and we would get there about thirty minutes early to discuss our things." I replied.
"That's a good idea; I'll send Pig out later to let the girls know." Ginny said. We walked in a comfortable silence the rest of the way to breakfast.
About ten minutes after we had begun eating we were joined by a tired looking Harry and Ron. "Good morning." I greeted them cheerfully.
Ron glared at me and sat down across from me and Ginny. "Morning," Harry mumbled as he sat down next to his girlfriend. Ginny kissed him on the cheek and went back to her scrambled eggs. "Where were you yesterday?" Harry asked yawning and trying to grab a piece of bacon. I laughed at him and Ginny put some on his plate.
"Oh you know here and there." She said vaguely.
Ron glared at her as well, "So you're not going to tell us?"
"If you must know we went dress shopping." I said smirking at him.
Suddenly Ron was wide awake. He narrowed his eyes and me and his sister, "What did you get Ginny?"
"None of your business now eat your food. It's disgusting to sit here and watch it rest in your wide open mouth." She retorted.
"Aw come on now Gin," Harry said sitting up, "At least tell me what color it is." Ginny shook her head, and took another bite of eggs. "Hermione?" he asked hopefully.
I grinned and shook my head. "Even if I had gotten one, my lips would be sealed."
We ate the rest of breakfast continuing with our playful banter. Unconsciously I noticed that Draco never entered for breakfast. I found myself glancing at the Slytherin table more and more throughout breakfast. As I left to go back to our dorm I kept glancing corridors just see if he was there. I told myself that I was watching out for him because I was afraid of what he would do to me, but a small part of me doubted that was the sole reason.
I muttered the password and entered the common room expecting the irritating Slytherin to be sitting there smugly on the silver couch by the fire reading Twilight. I was slightly surprised, but extremely pleased when I found it empty. I ran quietly upstairs and grabbed my book. I hadn't had much time to read lately and I was determined to fully enjoy the little time I got. Plus it would get thoughts of Draco out my head.
I sat down on the gold couch and began to reread one of my favorite classics. I quickly lost myself in the world of old English customs and the classic love story between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. I didn't even hear Draco come down the stairs from his room. "Morning Granger," I nearly jumped out of my seat from surprise.
I looked up warily, "Morning." I quickly returned to my book and tried to ignore him as he sat down on the silver couch across from me. I tried to concentrate on the words as he ate his granola bar, but it was to no avail.
"What are you reading?" he asked suddenly.
I looked up at him as if he were absolutely stupid. Couldn't he see I was reading a book? "A book." I said quickly and put my eyes back to the page and began to scan over them wishing I could concentrate. I knew what he was doing. He was planning something because he knows I told.
"What book?" I could hear the fake interest in his voice.
"It's one of my favorites. It's called Pride and Prejudice." I said without taking my eyes off the page praying that he would just drop it and leave.
"I've read that." He said confidently. I gave him a strange look. No wonder he's reading Twilight, I thought. "My mother made me read what she considered 'classics' and that was one of them. Even if it is a Muggle book." he explained quickly. I almost laughed but managed to contain it so I just nodded and flipped a page not even seeing the words, "What part are you on?" I quickly took in the words my eyes were scanning over and recognized the part as one of my favorites.
I glanced at him, "The part where Mr. Darcy proposes to her the first time. It makes me laugh though." I felt the corners of my mouth twitch up into a small smile.
"Why? He gets rejected." He said. I noticed him becoming more interested in the conversation and for the moment I quickly forgot my previous thoughts about him trying get back at me.
I thought for a quick moment about my answer, "Because, it's the way he asks her. He expects her to say yes even after all he's done. To put it in wizard terms it's like you asking a Muggle-born to marry you. He's pretty much asking her to marry him saying he's better than her because he's a pureblood, and she's not. Plus he insults her family." I had stuck my finger in my book to mark my place and was starting to get into the conversation. Finally someone I could have a real discussion with about this.
"Still, Elizabeth didn't have to reject him like that. It was a little uncalled for." I rolled my eyes as he sat up.
I pushed my hair behind my ear, "I think she was perfectly in the right to reject him like that. Especially after all he did to her. I wouldn't have said yes either." It was true. That's one reason why I had said no to Ron the second time. He had basically told me, in a drunken stupor I'll admit, that he was the only one who would ever take me. I vowed to show him after that night last year.
"She did end up marrying him though." he pointed out.
"Only because he changed." I countered quickly.
"But she had to see him change."
"Wouldn't you have to see someone change before you believed it? Especially when they've acted the way he has?" I asked him. I could feel myself growing passionate about the subject. I began to remember the almost exact same discussion I had with my mother beforeā¦. I quickly stopped my thoughts from going any further. No, I reprimanded, I can't think about that. Not now.
Draco grew silent and a thoughtful look overcame his features. Then I saw his brow furrow in anger. "I guess I would." I nodded thoughtfully and turned back to my book. A few moments later I looked over at the clock. I noticed he glanced as well, "Good, it's time for lunch." he gave me a half smile. "Shall we?" I gave him the same wary look I had when he had come down from his room, and the same thoughts crossed my mind. He must be planning something, but the question was: what?
"I guess so." I said slowly before placing a real bookmark in my book and setting it on the coffee table in between us. I stood grabbing my jacket and walked towards the portrait door not daring to look behind me. We walked in a slightly awkward silence until we entered the Great Hall and went to our separate tables for lunch. I glanced at him before taking my place beside Ron. He looked up at me and smirked. I glared at him and greeted my friends.
I'll have pictures of the dresses up on my profile the chapter of the dance. I'll make sure to let you know when that is so you can look at them. =) I'm pretty confidant that you'll like the ones I picked out. At least I hope so haha. So tell me what you think. Thanks for reading!
~chocoyum4~
