Fairytales
Chapter 7: The Yule Ball
That night, after Hermione's outburst during the waltzing lessons, Dobby apparated in the Head Boy and Girl's common room doing his nightly routine of cleaning, he saw Hermione's tattered dress in the corner of the room. He was going to use it as a rag but stopped as he heard soft sobs coming from Hermione's room. He crept up to the door and quietly peeked in. He saw Hermione on her bed crying away.
"Pull yourself together Hermione, crying is not going to fix your dress," she said to herself wiping away her tears, "I can't believe I'm letting her get to me."
Dobby closed the door quietly and looked at ruined dress then at Hermione's door. Then his eyes opened widely as a brilliant idea came to him, and with that he disapparated from the Head Dorms with Hermione's dress.
---
"There you are, everyone's been looking for you know," said Lavender, taking a seat in front of Hermione.
"You know, you really turned some heads yesterday with your little outburst with Snape," recalled Pavarti, who took a seat beside Lavender.
Hermione closed her book and looked at her two friends. The library was her sanctuary but often her sanctuary would be disturbed. "Well I didn't do it for show. I don't deserve that detention tonight, it's totally unfair," she said with a frown. "No dress, no ball, and now a detention with Snape. What a way to enjoy my last year."
"Well you can't just waste the rest of your year hiding out in this old library. Now c'mon they're waiting for us," said Lavender pulling on Hermione's arm. She didn't feel like arguing with them so she quietly obeyed Lavender and followed her through the heavy oak doors.
"You have to face the world again, one way or another," added Parvarti from behind. Hermione said nothing.
When they entered the great hall, the air was filled with conversations about the Yule Ball that night. Hermione didn't know why she let them take her here; it was such a bad idea. When they passed the Slytherin table, Pansy quickly started petting Draco's arm. Hermione rolled her eyes but before she could turn away she took one glance at Draco who was watching her every move unaware that Pansy was touching him. Only when they took their seats did he then notice someone annoyingly petting him. He pushed Pansy's hand away and continued with his food.
Harry and Ron looked at each other before one of them spoke. They didn't want to accidentally say something that would upset Hermione further more. "Uh…Hermione are you feeling better? We got worried when you didn't come down for dinner last night," said Ron his eyes showing deep concern.
"It's horrible what Pansy did," said Harry looking over at the Slytherin table, when he did he caught Draco looking over to them, but he quickly looked away. He wasn't sure but he thinks he saw him looking at Hermione. Nah, this is Malfoy we're talking 'bout, thought Harry and brushed the thought away.
"The nerve of that witch, she's destroying my life bit by bit, until I'm left with nothing," whined Hermione, her eyes watering so her vision blurred. "I…I got to go." With that she left the hall.
Harry and Ron stayed silent until Seamus spoke, "Poor 'Mione. I've never seen her so upset, but that lass can get furious, who would've have thought she would talk back to Snape."
"It's nothing to be proud of Seamus," snapped Lavender.
Seamus stared at her with wide eyes, then Neville leaned over to him whispering, "the girl's are sure crabby this year, I've never seen any of them act like this before." Seamus nodded slowly.
---
Hermione walked alone in the open hall lugging around her book bag. In it her favorite book, Hogwarts: A History. She made a left and went into the girl's lavatory. She dropped her bag on the floor and went to the sinks. She washed her face with the cold water, the cold slightly numbing her face. She wiped her face on her sleeve and noticed something. It's quiet…too quiet. And as if reading her mind Moaning Myrtle (A/N: sp?) came swooping at her head moaning loudly than usual.
"Well if it isn't Miss Smarty Pants," she taunted, "I haven't seen you in a while."
Hermione ignored her childish name-calling and settled herself on the cold floor. Using the wall as her support she opened her book and started reading. Myrtle frowned vanished in her cubicle, leaving Hermione with the comfort of privacy in the lavatory.
Hermione didn't know when she fell asleep, until she looked out the window and saw dark skies. She slowly got up using the wall as her support. She brushed the dust off her robes and shoved the book back in her bag. She walked out of the lavatory quietly so Moaning Myrtle wouldn't come at her again.
Right when she arrived at the entrance of her dormitories, she found Pansy waiting outside the door. She was in her gown, a bright, puffy, fuchsia gown. Hermione stared at the pink mess in front of her until Pansy turned around. She moved aside letting Hermione move up to the door. Hermione looked at Pansy who was wearing a sour expression on her face.
"Thank god you're wearing a mask, we wouldn't want what's underneath there loose," Hermione snapped. But before Pansy could answer back the door opened. Draco looked at both girls. He sensed that the girls were at each other again and he had interrupted another one of their brawls.
Hermione was surprised by Draco's sudden outburst that she lost her balanced and almost fell. And she didn't want that to happen especially in front of Pansy. Pansy glared at Hermione but changed her expression once she set her eyes on Draco.
"Oh Draco just look at you!" she squealed with delight, she stepped back and looked at him from head to toe, " Me and you we'll be belles of the ball."
Hermione couldn't watch them anymore; she pushed herself from the wall and went through the doorway. But before she stepped in she glanced back only to catch Draco watching her head off as well. She quickly looked away and cursed herself for getting caught looking at the Slytherin Prince. But he did look quite good tonight, in his crisp, black tuxedo probably made in the finest cashmere, Hermione continued to check Draco out in her mind. When she realized what she was doing she dropped her bag.
"Bloody hell, what am I doing?!" she screamed aloud. She picked up her bag and smoothed out her robes, " I better get a hold of myself, it will be the end of me if Harry and Ron find out I've been gawping at Malfoy."
Hermione opened her door still shaking by the mere fact that she had Malfoy in her head, but stopped short when she heard a voice inside. "…Miss Hermione will be so happy when she sees this…" Hermione rushed inside to find Dobby huddled in a corner mumbling to himself.
"Dobby! What are you doing in here?" asked Hermione
Dobby jumped in alarm, he slowly faced Hermione with fear in his eyes. "Dobby what are doing here? And what do have there?" She asked eyeing the soft pale yellow fabric in his bony hands.
Dobby looked at the down at his work, guilt washing over him, "I thought Miss Granger would be happy to see Dobby help fix your dress," he said, handing over the mass of cloth in Hermione's arms.
"You fixed my dress?" she asked peering over the gown at the disappointed Dobby.
"I thought Miss Granger would be pleased to see her dress," he said, he covered his face with his hands and started sobbing quite loudly.
Hermione ran to his side, laying down the dress on her bed while she tried to calm the upset elf. "Oh c'mon Dobby, of course I'm pleased. In fact I love the dress it's very beautiful. You've outdone yourself Dobby," she said placing her hands on his small shoulders. Dobby looked up into Hermione's deep-set eyes and ran to her bed.
"Then you must go to the ball."
"What? No I can't."
"Hermione Granger must go to the ball tonight. Its for your own good," he said picking up the dress and handing it back to her.
Hermione held the dress in her hands thinking over what Dobby had said. She turned to face him but he was nowhere in sight. She walked over to her mirror and held the gown on her. The dress was truly beautiful; it was better than the original lilac dress that Pansy destroyed. The bodice part of the dress was layered with silk and lace with splashes of glass beads all over. She thought over again if she should go, but then again she wouldn't want to waste the beautiful gown that Dobby worked on.
Hermione sighed, "I'll go."
She dropped the gown on her bed and got ready. She did a quick hair spell and put on a little bit of make up, and lastly she put on the dress. It fit her perfectly, she didn't even recognize herself, and all she needed was her mask. She quickly conjured up a mask that matched with her gown. She stepped in her glass shoes that was made especially just for her feet. The shoes only fit her feet only; no one else could fit in it even if they had the same shoe size. She stepped back from the mirror and looked at herself.
"Well this is it," she said filled with excitement.
---
Draco sat at the table watching the other couples dance along with the soft music playing from the front of the hall. Across the table Pansy sat impatiently as song played after another. They haven't danced to one song that evening and Pansy didn't want to spend her last Yule Ball sitting down and watching other people have fun.
"Listen Draco, we have to dance. You can't just sit there and say you're having fun," she whined
Draco looked up at her, he regretted ever saying yes to her when she first asked if he would take her to the ball. He didn't know what he was thinking when he said yes, but just hearing her talk was giving him a colossal headache.
Draco rubbed his temples and closed his eyes, " look Pansy if you want to dance then go, you don't have to bloody dance with me. There's plenty of blokes out there who's more than happy to dance with you," he opened his eyes again to see her expression, but he only saw her back walking angrily away.
Draco sighed with relief he was glad he didn't have to endure one Pansy's fits. There were squeals and yelps from dance floor, he looked over and spotted Pansy trailing behind Goyle yelling "Just one dance, that's all I'm asking for" Crabbe was the lucky one who managed to get a date with Millicent Bulstrode. Draco chuckled to himself as he settled back in his seat, looks like I will enjoy myself tonight. He was about to take another sip when he saw her. She was by the doors, head looking every which way. The sight took Draco aback, the girl had a certain glow around herself and she looked absolutely incredible. Draco set his goblet down and slowly walked over to her.
Hermione was amazed at how beautiful the Great Hall turned out everything looked like it was ripped out of a fairytale. She walked further inside trying to spot Harry or Ron, but it was difficult since most of boys wore a black tuxedo and everyone was wearing a bloody mask. In fact she probably passed them already and she wouldn't have known it.
She turned to face the tables looking to see if maybe they were there. Whilst looking over there she saw someone sitting down looking straight back at her. She looked behind her to see if maybe he was looking at someone else but there was no one from behind. When she looked back he was already walking towards her. Hermione didn't know what to do so she continued looking for her friends, pretending he wasn't there. She started walking to the opposite direction from him she stopped unexpectedly as she felt a warm hand in her cold ones. She slowly faced the owner's hand. Hermione was speechless, it wasn't the fact the same guy from the table was the one that stopped her, no; it was the fact the guy from the table was Draco.
It was definitely him, she recognized the mask he had when he burst through the door earlier. And who could actually miss the platinum head behind the mask. " May I have this dance?" He asked.
Panic surged through her body, he doesn't know that it's her underneath the mask and he actually talked to her without adding an insult. Hermione looked up to his stormy gray eyes and thought. It won't be bad, guess. It'll only be one dance and no one would know. But then again this is Malfoy, Ron would explode if he finds out that I've been "fraternizing" with the enemy. She looked down and noticed that her hand was still in his, she sighed in defeat and nodded her head. Hermione looked up and saw smile on his face as he led her to the dance floor. She couldn't believe that her, Hermione Mudblood Granger, received a genuine smile from Draco Malfoy.
They positioned themselves, just as they did during the lessons, and began dancing. They were both dodgy at first but they soon picked up after the first three steps. Draco looked at his partner as they danced away; she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He was surprised that he hasn't seen her before. "Have we met before?"
Hermione thought about this and decided that she would have a little fun with him. "You've seen me maybe once or twice," she answered with a smile on her face.
Draco cocked his eyebrow, "So we've seen each other, I'm guessing you know who I am."
"Well who else has platinum blonde hair, Ma..Draco?" she said
"Are you gonna tell me your name then?" he asked as he dipped her.
Hermione eyed him carefully then replied, "It's for me to know and for you to find out." Hermione laughed hysterically inside as his expression turned into confusion, he hasn't a clue to who she was. Draco bought her back up and smirked at her. He chuckled softly, " you're a stubborn one, aren't you?"
Hermione laughed, "You got that right." This time they both laughed together.
The one dance turned into more dances as both enjoyed each other's company. Hermione couldn't believe that it's the same ferret boy that she's known and hated. Here she was laughing and having fun with him. She figured that this must be the real Draco that was hidden away deep inside. All of a sudden she felt sad, she didn't know underneath Draco's hard exterior was a much softer Draco.
Draco was dancing on air; he hasn't felt so natural, so comfortable with anyone before. Yet this girl had made him feel that way. Every time she smiled his heart would beat faster and his stomach would jump. He didn't know that this one girl would have such an affect on him.
At the tables sat the group, Ron beside Lavender and Harry and Ginny across from them. They laughed and talked over good food and butterbeer. Amidst the celebration Ron stopped and stared at the couple in the middle of the floor. He furrowed his brows thinking of where he had scene the girl before, and asking himself why a good little bird like her ended up with Malfoy.
"Oi Harry, look at that couple over there. Doesn't that girl look familiar?" he said pointing at her.
"Ron! It's rude to point," scolded Lavender, Ron frowned and lowered his finger.
"I don't know, I mean she does resemble someone but I can't seem to put a finger on who," Harry wondered.
"Oh c'mon you two, there's lot's of girls in this school who has wavy brown hair," added Ginny
"No, it's just this one. Are you sure it's not someone we know?" asked Ron
"Why would anyone we know dance with Malfoy?" assured Ginny
"I dunno maybe he has them under his imperious spell or somethin'" added Ron
"Well it doesn't matter right. It's just Malfoy and some girl he asked out. Let's not waste our time ogling at the ferret boy and his date, let's dance," said Lavender already dragging Ron back on the dance floor. Ginny also grabbed Harry and joined Lavender and Ron.
Draco twirled Hermione and dipped her until the song ended. They stared into each other's eyes for a while 'till Draco leaned in closer. Hermione stepped back putting a strand of hair behind her ear. " Uh… it'd hot in here do you want to step outside?"
"Yeah, sure," he followed her out the hall, taking off his mask.
"Well that was fun," said Hermione turning to face him, Draco looked at her intensely.
"Yeah, I too enjoyed myself," he said moving closer to her. Hermione looked over the railing smiling to herself. "Well tonight I've seen a whole new side of the Slytherin Prince," said Hermione looking at him, he smirked.
"Well there's many sides of me that people don't know 'bout," Draco replied, there was a momentary silence between them.
Hermione felt her stomach jump as he said those words, and back on the dance floor her cheeks would feel hot whenever his face would come close to hers. "So am I going to see the face behind the mask now," he said with low voice that sent chills down Hemrione's spine. He inched closer so that they were face to face and Hermione could hear his shallow even breaths. Draco caressed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her. She gasped as their lips came in contact, she was surprised at how soft they were and kissed him back. Draco stopped and moved away, he put his hand on her mask and slowly started lifting it off. But before it was off the clock struck twelve o'clock.
"Omigosh," Hermione exclaimed, she stepped back from him shaking her head, "I …I have to go, I'm so sorry." She started running up the stairs. Draco starts running after her.
"Wait, just tell me your name!" he yelled after her. But Hermione didn't answer she kept running but tripped and lost her shoe. "Oh, bugger" she looked back and Draco was still running after her. She left the shoe and kept running. Draco stopped and picked up her shoe and watched her turn the corner until she disappeared from his sights. Draco looked at the glass shoe in his hand and slowly walked back to the ball. With her kiss still lingering in his mind.
A/N: HAHAHA!! YES!!! I'm done I hope u guys like it and I'm sorry for the delay.
