Sixteen Candles
Chapter Seven
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Draco sighed softly; he was feeling so utterly bored. Sure his girlfriend was in his arms, and he was gracefully twirling around the dance floor with her, like any good boyfriend would. Her blond hair was pretty and just the right shade of fair, and even if she was bit loony, everyone adored his girlfriend, and them as a pair. "The Perfect Hogwarts couple", that's what they were, or so he had been told.
But something had been nagging at him for a while now… In the back of his mind all he could see was his older sister's sneer when he brought Luna home to meet the family, and his younger sister's pout when Luna wouldn't get on her knees and play tea party. It was unnerving that the two people who meant most also disapproved the most, their dissatisfaction playing like an annoying Weird Sisters song on repeat in his head.
Was it that the fact that all she was interested in the parties, the fancy outfits… the popularity she received here at Hogwarts? Even though it was a couple years off, what would happen to them once they graduated? Had pretending to listen to all the gossip, cleaning up all the left behind regrets from last night's party, and… Well honestly, he couldn't think of anything much else that he did with her… had that been all for naught? Sure, he was the so-called "Slytherin Sex God", but was partying all he wanted for his life?
He shook his head, an ineffective attempt to clear his mind of such pressing life questions. A boy of his age shouldn't care as much as he does, the blonde figured. The Slytherin would have plenty of time to figure out his life later. Now was not the time.
Luna snuggled closer to his chest, her black dress making her stick out like a sore thumb: the contrast between her complexion and the frock made her absolutely stunning and impossible to ignore, and damn, did she know it. "I think it's time to blow this dance thing off already. We could go back to your common…"
Trying to snap his attention back to the conversation, he choked out a, "Yeah?" not exactly knowing what she had said, or where this topic was headed.
"I told Millicent and Daphne, you know those darling Slytherin girls I met, and some of my Ravenclaw friends, to come back to your common for a real party, okay love?" Luna smiled to herself, not really caring about his input. He had never declined her a party thus far, so why would he start now?
"I told them not to tell anyone. Merlin, I love it that Snape doesn't care what you Slytherins do… Then I get to pretend to be the hostess of the party, and no one has a doubt that we're one of the richest, most popular couple at Hogwarts. I owe all my amazing weekends to you, you know."
Draco just nodded; he was looking out into the crowd, subconsciously searching for the girl that had been his main focus for the night. Unfortunately for his date, it had not been her.
Luna Lovegood's smiling eyes faded into a glare. This lack of interest in her would just not do. She reached up to grab his chin and yanked his face down to look at her, "What's your problem?!"
She watched as he snapped back into attention, the face that was used to tuning in at the most inopportune moments quickly showcasing his trademark smirk; the smirk that had girls leaving puddles of drool in their wake, "What, baby?"
But Luna liked to believe she knew better, and could see behind that smirk. After all, she was his girlfriend. "You've been acting so bizarre all night… Are you seeing someone behind my back?!"
"Me? Are you mental?" Amazement took over Draco's expression. Sure, lately he hadn't been the best boyfriend, tuning her out and the like, but surely she believed that he had more class then to cheat on her!
"I don't know, Draco. The astrology signs are matching up, my horoscope's been getting quite odd lately, and I've been getting mixed signals from—"
"Well, they're not coming from me," he signed, done with this conversation, "Look, everything's fine. Don't start going all mental on me."
"Okay." As with as much evil as she could possess in that tiny frame of hers, Luna smirked; she had him just where she wanted him, "Just remember one thing. I can name twenty guys that would kill to love me."
He almost growled, "Is that a threat?"
She shrugged, "It's a fact, Draco. Come on, let's go back to the dungeons before we get into an embarrassing quarrel…"
As she walked behind her in pursuit of leaving the party, Draco couldn't help scowling. No one threatened a Malfoy.
Hermione frantically paced in front of the giant wooden doors of the Great Hall. Right behind them was the boy who had asked about her, and if she were to approach him, she knew she would have to do this right.
Practicing to herself, she smiled brightly, "Hi Draco, I'm Hermione. What's going on?..."
Her smile promptly faded; that made her sound like she was three. "Draco, this may sound incredibly dumb, but I love you and will do anything to make you love me…" Too clingy.
"I love your shirt…" Dumb.
"Draco, you're not going to believe this, but I had this peculiar dream and you were in it!"
It was perfect. The brunette took a deep breath before she pushed open the doors, putting herself back into the midst of loud music and wild dancers. It was now or never, sink or swim, pass or fail. And Grangers never failed.
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Meanwhile, Ben, a Ravenclaw fifth year stood outside the boys' lavatory.
A shy Hufflepuff boy discreetly made his way over to where Ben was standing.
"What year are you?" Ben said, still blocking the doorway, looking quickly for any teachers patrolling the hallway.
"Fifth."
"Give me a sickle." Once it was handed to him he opened the door, "Get in."
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Draco didn't quite understand the purpose of a shawl. Why must a girl wear a shawl, if her intent was to take it off as soon as they arrived? It wasn't as if the girls were genuinely cold, or that the shawl had the effect of making them look good, so what was the point?
But this was the one time that he was grateful that he had to stand there and wait for one of the teachers to summon Luna's scrap of cloth out of the multiple shawls that lay discarded behind the "coat desk".
It was then, as he was standing there alone, entirely bored, that he had felt someone come up behind him. As he turned, he came face to face with Hermione Granger, the girl he had been thinking instead of his girlfriend the whole night.
So naturally, he smiled. It was a strange sight to behold, really, as Draco Malfoy rarely ever smiled. It made his face light up, or so his mother said, but he never quite had too many reasons to show the world his sparkly white teeth after he had grown out of childhood.
And there he was, smiling away, and her face was, well, expressionless. After a moment or two, the brunette walked away, without a single word.
Draco's perfect brow creased in thought, as he watched her retreating back disappear into the crowd. What the bollocks had just happened?
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Sitting down next to Ginny, Hermione noticed that Daphne had joined their group, obviously to flirt with Jem. Pansy was next to Ginny, probably looking for her next dance partner, and the redhead was too busy blushing every time Harry happened to glance their way.
To herself, Hermione mumbled in disgust, "I can't believe I'm such an idiot. He smiles at me, and I don't say anything… and I can't believe I loaned my knickers to a geek…"
"What was that, Mione?" Ginny inquired.
"Nothing."
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There were probably a few dozen fifth-year boys in that bathroom, willing to view a most precious sight. Most of them stood in groups according to their house, but all looked about the same, antsy and not willing to wait any longer for what brought them here.
After closing the door behind him, Ben looked to the far stall and called out, "Ted?"
Bursting from the stall, the obvious leader of their group stood before them. He took what was behind his back and held it for the entire room to see. The air became silent, the boys utterly fascinated, having clearly never seen a scrap of fabric like this before. Their eyes were transfixed upon the dark blue cotton with an appropriate amount of lace at the edges.
"Bloody hell."
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Author's Note.
First, about Draco having sisters, I've always loved that idea. And since this story is totally AU, I thought I could finally play in my greatest wish for Malfoy… besides him ending up with Hermione of course (:
Second, sorry there hasn't been an update in awhile. July was extremely hectic. But if it means anything, this story is about halfway done! Isn't that exciting? And there was a lot of Draco in this update (I made sure of that, hehe…)
Thanks so so much to my new second beta, blueskyshymoon08! Hil does an amazing job; I'm so lucky to have her when I need her.
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