AN: I want to thank all the reviewers. Y'all rock. Start expecting longer updates for every 10 reviews for a while. Apparently, I'm not to move a muscle, according to my hubby. (This is coming from the man that tackled me into a muddy puddle last month during a football game. Gotta love the crazy man!) the story is going to progress faster now and if anyone is confused or don't like something, tell me in a review and I will answer/fix it. Again, thanks a million trillion.
Hermione looked at herself in the vanity mirror. She kept on biting her lips every time Ginny pulled her curls into place, earning a pinch from Pansy, who was currently sitting across from her, almost straddling her lap with her wand pointed to her face, a look of deep concentration on her face.
"Ow!!" Hermione yelled, putting her hands on her scalp.
"There, all done. You know, if you do your hair nicely more often, your hair would be easier to spell into control." Ginny said with a smile, admiring the pile of delicate curls that she had created. With a few spells here and there and some green and blue rhinestone pins. The result was a messy bun with curls framing her face gracefully.
"Would you please stay still? I'll likely poke you in the eye if you keep moving so much." Pansy said, trying to sound upset. Ginny hid a laugh behind her hand, happy to see Hermione letting them fix her up. She loved her dearly, like a sister, but sometimes the older girl was so serious. Oh well, Pansy and she had an agreement that they made the night before Hermione came to join them. They were to make Hermione more fun. The first step was a new wardrobe and a new look, courtesy of Pansy and Ginny, of course.
"There, perfect! I know you could get away with only some eye and lips spells! I'll teach you to do them some enough, since you don't need much, it wont take you much time to do once you get to school." Pansy explained, grabbing Hermione's chin, turning her face right and left ot examine her finished product.
"Lovely. Good ahead had and have a look in the mirror there."
Hermione stood, going to the closet mirror to see. She frowned, trying to tug the jeans higher, earning herself a small shock from Ginny's wand. She threw the younger girl a dirty look, and turned back to her reflection, frowning. She still didn't like what she saw.The top was an ok color, but exposed more chest than she felt comfortable with. The makeup that Pansy had done was understated, which she liked since someone would need to stare to notice the honey colored eye shadow and the nude lip gloss. Still, when she turned to her friends, she saw the hard look on her friends faces and knew that she wouldn't be able so convince her to change.
Draco grudgingly made his way downstairs, wanting nothing more then just to lay on his bed and wallow in his misery. But of course it wasn't the proper thing to do, what was expected. No, he would be the nice little Malfoy. He drank down his potion, careful making sure that he drank down the last drop. He couldn't afford to embarrass himself in front of anyone if the same thing happened as before when he came close to Hermione.
Merlin. Ever since this morning, he had had her constantly in his thoughts. Every little thing reminded him of her. His behavior was positively Gryffindor, no offense to any of them, but he liked his Slytherin characteristics. And now he was reduced to wallowing away in this infatuation. Tonight he expected some answers. The book was too long winded; he did not have the patience to read word after word on what he was feeling. The first five pages were just discussing what he was feeling in too much detail. No, he would demand answers from Katharina.
"You know, demand is such a harsh word, Lord Malfoy." Katharina said with a smile as she walked up to him.
"I prefer Draco, if you don't mind." He replied, noticing her for the first time.
For the dinner she had dressed in a silver silk flowing robe, with heavy crystal embroidering and green threading at the cuffs and hems. She had jade combs woven into her golden hair. Small crystals formed a sort of diadem across her forehead (AN: Think Amidala from Star Wars). The whole effect was beguiling and lovely, but not enough to tempt Draco much.
"Oh, fine. Now, would you be a gentlemen and escort me to dinner. I know that you will not be to happy with the Order's guest tonight." She said, linking their arms together as they walked down the gloomy hallway leading to the kitchen.
When they arrived, Draco was surprised to see Viktor Krum their, talking with Arthur and Molly. Draco felt something rise up within him, in the pit of him stomach. Katharina tightened her hold on his arm, knowing that if she didn't hold him back, Draco would instinctively attack the older boy.
"Draco, you must behave with decorum. You are a Lord and Slytherin. Act like it." She whispered, slowing them down so that Draco had a chance to collect himself before people noticed them.
"Oh Draco dear." Molly said with a huge smile, coming to Draco's side and giving him a brief hug.
"Ah, Draco. Look who's here for a visit." Arthur said with a grin, hitting Viktor in the back.
The Bulgarian man came up to Draco with his hand extended. Draco wanted to slit his throat, but Katharina dug her nails into his arm, making sure he kept his cool. Draco walked up to him, smiling to himself at the fact that he was a good six inches taller then the foreigner. He shook Viktor's hand, making sure to squeeze a little harder then necessary.
"It's good to see you again, Draco." Viktor said.
Draco frowned, noticing that his English had improved since the last time they saw each other. "Yes, it's a pleasure, of course." Draco replied dryly.
Hermione slowly walked along with her friends, idly listening to there banter. She kept on trying to tug the jeans up, not succeeding thanks to a charm from Pansy that would make her clothes stay put. They were laughing madly as they entered the kitchen. Hermione's head began swimming as before, but she was expecting it this time. She immediately pushed the feelings away, concentrating on the people around he. She mentally patted herself on the back when he eyes connected with Draco's, smiling to herself when all she felt was a slight tingle down her spine, perfectly controllable and easy to ignore. 'Yes, this is much better.' She said.
"Hermione?" Viktor said with a smile, holding his arms out to her.
"Oh, Viktor! How good it is to see you!" She said sincerely, walking up to him and hugging him, happy to see her old friend after so long. They had planned to visit each other but that had fallen through and they just continued their correspondence.
Suddenly, Draco flew across the room, too fast for anyone to even pull out their wands. He knocked the older boy to the floor, away from Hermione. His eyes were a bloody red, all traces of the blue and silver gone. He was snarling, his extended fangs out and long, black talons grasped tightly around Viktor's neck.
Harry and Ron ran to Draco's side, going to pull him off when they were shot back by an invisible barrier. Everyone started yelling at once, trying to get Draco's attention away from Viktor, who was turning a slight blue from lack of oxygen.
Katharina saw all this, thinking that it might be easier just to let Draco destroy the man and have a clear way to Hermione. There could be one denying the fact that she truly was the chosen one, to elicit that type of reaction could lead only to that conclusion. She grabbed Hermione's arm, almost dragging the girl closer to Draco. She placed both hands on Draco's shoulder, struggling to twist Draco's upper body towards Hermione. The girl in question stood there, petrified to move an inch when she saw Draco's face, a vision of pure hate and darkness that left her blood running cold.
"Look at her, Draco. She is safe and still untouched. They were just greeting each other as friends often do after long absences. Let the boy go before you scare her off." Katharina said into his eyes in Russian to make sure their conversation would remain private for now.
Through a foggy gaze, Draco heard the words as if they were far, but clearly saw the look of fear in Hermione's eyes and he was horrified to know that he was the one that caused it. He slowly let go of Krum, rising to his feet, his teeth and eyes returning to normal.
"We need to talk." Dumbledore said, knowing that they had come close, too close, to someone to have gotten seriously hurt. He needed to deal with this development as soon as possible, before the rest of the Order came.
AN: This chapter is a bit short, so sorry, but I promised. Chapter 8 is already done, I'm just checking it over. Next up, the party, Narcissa and Jane Granger come to visit and we find out what's in store for our main characters. Oh, and the boys tell the girls that they cant kick death eater ass, can we say conflict? Until next time dears! Toodles!!
