Chapter Seven: Eric O'Malley
"Lord and Lady Montgomery
Cordially invite
Miss Hermione Granger
To the prestigious event of Lady Montgomery's Summer Ball
To be held on Sunday, 14th of August at 8 pm
The Montgomery holiday mansion
45 Flowerpot Road, Aston"
It was barely 3 o'clock in the afternoon when Hermione received her invitation from Thad. Reading it over once she tried to get excited about it but really all she could think about was how Draco had said 'I don't think these are her type of people'. Leaving the invite on the kitchen bench, she searched around for some comfort food and forgot about it… that is until she was reminded about it later that night.
Ginny was almost beside herself with excitement when she read the invitation, so excited in fact, she had insisted on reading it out loud several times.
"It just sounds so terribly sophisticated doesn't it 'mione?" Ginny squealed after her seventh reading, "A Montgomery Ball! You are so lucky!" she added waving the cream coloured and elaborately decorated invitation around like a mad woman.
Hermione rolled her eyes, throwing an exasperated look at Harry who had just joined them, "Ginny, you know as well as I do that you have gotten an invite from Lady Montgomery personally for every one of her balls and never as a guest of her family friend, so please don't obsess over the stationary," Hermione teased.
Ginny sighed at her flippant attitude. She had just arrived home with Harry from the party in Wales (minus Molly and Arthur who decided to sleep there) and her face was still glowing with party fever.
"Oh you know as well as I do that they only want us to go because of our status," Ginny huffed angrily, as that knowledge had always annoyed her, "But all the same, it is quite an evening you'll have, really Hermione you should be more excited about this."
But before Ginny could really get stuck into it, Harry stepped into Hermione's rescue and lovingly wrapped his arms around Ginny serving to instantly distract her. "Speaking of evenings…" he whispered into her ear, not realising or possibly caring that Hermione could hear, "would you like to come to bed now, or would you rather stay up chatting?" he asked kissing her lightly on her neck. Understandably Ginny issued a hurried good night before letting herself be whisked away by Harry, which would've amused Hermione if she hadn't been feeling rather lonely.
Hermione sighed. Blatant signs of romance always served as a slap in the face for her. Why was the universe constantly trying to make her feel bad for being single? She loved her privacy and independence, but really there was nothing quite like… being in a dysfunctional relationship, with the occasional happy and tender moments. Who was she kidding; she couldn't have even pretended for a moment that it would be a normal loving relationship for her. Because at that moment their was only one person in her mind that she could possibly even consider for getting involved in a relationship with and that was Draco 'I'm a prat' Malfoy.
And even then she wasn't sure. Did he still want to go out with her? Of course not, especially after she had rejected him. Oh and she remembered his stupid comment from that afternoon, which more or less said she wasn't good enough to mix with the people he did. What a disastrous situation the ball was going to be, she didn't need any prophecy to figure that much out. How was she going to survive?
But even more importantly, what was she going to wear?
----
"Lavender, I don't think this dress is quite suitable for a ball!"
Lavender had called round early Friday morning around seven o'clock, declaring that they were going to shop right away, without a moment's hesitation. Hermione had of course been asleep and was slightly grumpy trying to remind her that they both had work to do. But unfortunately for Hermione, Lavender had already gotten that base covered, explaining with a smirk that she had gotten off work for the whole day by lying to her boss again, this time escalating it to the death of her cat. However a lengthy argument ensued over Hermione wanting to do some work, before Ginny woke up and told them both to shut up and that Hermione had five minutes to get dressed before they all went out shopping together. Resigning to the fact that she wasn't going to get another hour or so of sleep, Hermione reluctantly gave in with many curses directed at Lavender.
After a rather slow start to the day they found themselves in a glamorous boutique at around ten o'clock. Holed up in a dressing room, Hermione self consciously pulled down at the hem of the form fitting, powder blue satin gown, Lavender had insisted she try on. Really, Hermione thought disagreeably, this ridiculous number was meant for a stick insect, because no way could Hermione pull off this tight, short look as something formal or dignified with her curves. It was just playing indecent. She stepped out of the dressing room with much trepidation.
Lavender, caught up in checking out her refection in a purple silk dress, waved her hand dismissingly at her words, "Like yar, of course it is appropriate, we are in 'Pixie Dresses' where all the celebrities shop!"
Ginny and Hermione both exchanged looks.
"Ah maybe not," Ginny bit her lip to keep from laughing, "I'm pretty sure you'll give the old snobs that go to balls like these a few heart attacks."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Is there anything for normal people in this shop?"
"I'll just ask," Ginny joked and Lavender frowned.
"Durr of course everything in here is for normal people, you guys just haven't looked properly," Lavender accused, wanting to hear nothing bad about her favourite shop, "anyway what do you think about this, it makes me look very thin does it not?"
Hermione snorted, "Yes, but that's probably just because you are very thin."
"Hermy, seriously don't joke, I'm planning to meet my husband at this ball," Lavender replied, fiddling with the white sash around the waist, "We can't all have Draco Malfoy drool all over us."
"WHAT?" Ginny exclaimed, dropping the dresses she had been holding.
"Trust me I'm as bewildered as you," Hermione said, throwing Lavender a dirty look.
Lavender ignored her, "Well you know how they were working together last year?"
"NO!" Ginny exclaimed louder.
"Well anyway they did and at first it was like they seriously hated each other, but then me and my friend Susan -she's like in the cubicle next to mine, only not really…"
"LAVENDER!" Ginny cried, "Get to the bloody point!"
"Yar I am, anyway we both thought they hated each other but hate is like passion you know? So when they came back from their little fortnight away in Scotland," at this Ginny threw an indignant look at Hermione, she had never heard about this, "We could totally tell that something happened and they were like sneaking looks at each other when they thought the other one wasn't looking." Lavender finished looking very smug indeed.
"You spied on me?" Hermione accused, feeling mortified by the idea.
"No, not really, I just have eyes and ears in most places, office gossip is a hobby of mine," Lavender shrugged unashamed, "but don't worry, we actually kept this one secret because you know, who would believe it?"
"It's not true," Hermione denied, turning around to Ginny.
"Of course it isn't," Ginny replied much to her relief.
Lavender shrugged turning back to her reflection, "Like I said before, who would believe it?"
"Here let me help you into this beautiful green dress," Ginny offered and Hermione allowed herself to be lead back into the dressing room, where one of two things happened.
One, Ginny performed a quick spell to ensure nobody could overhear them and two, Ginny turned into a scary inquisitor.
"Hermione, why is it that you didn't tell me about working with Draco Malfoy?"
Hermione gaped stupidly, not sure what to say, but Ginny had already moved on to the next question anyway. Very Mrs Weasley like.
"Why did you not tell me about going to Scotland with him?"
Hermione was silent again.
"Why did you not tell me that you had sex with him?"
At this Hermione found her voice, "What are you talking about, where did this notion that we had sex come from?"
"Well why else wouldn't you tell me about the trip, I mean if it was just innocent and all, then you would've atleast mentioned it right?"
Hermione opened her mouth to deny it but then she stopped. Why did she have to lie to Ginny? So instead she told her all about it, right up to having coffee with him and Thad yesterday.
"Bastard," Ginny muttered after the tale.
"Yeah tell me about it," Hermione sighed.
"You got a few good insults in yourself," Ginny pointed out, "And you both were a bit harsh on each other on more than one occasion."
Hermione shrugged and happened to look at her watch.
"Shit we've been in here for like half an hour!" Hermione exclaimed, "I think we've left Lavender to her reflection long enough."
"Wait, try on this dress first, it really is nice," Ginny said, stopping her before she left.
"Ok, but I don't really want to go to the ball." Hermione protested.
"Just try it on will you?" Ginny said impatiently and with that she took the spell off the dressing room and went to find Lavender.
Hermione grumbled over lunch. Both Lavender and herself had gotten dresses (Lavender the purple one, and Hermione the green one) but now they were having a major discussion about Draco Malfoy.
Hermione wanted nothing more then to choke and die on her chicken schnitzel.
"Yeah he is much better looking now," Lavender was saying over her salad, "I mean the fact that he was in Slytherin just doesn't matter anymore, he's changed."
Hermione snorted.
"What?" Ginny and Lavender both asked.
"He hasn't changed at all, I mean he is the same arrogant, rude, egotistical, selfish, intimidating git, and did I mention he is a snob?" Hermione said.
"Uh…" Ginny began before laughing.
"What is it now?" Hermione demanded haughtily.
"Nothing."
"Oh shit he isn't behind me is he?" Hermione asked, turning around alarmed. She had enough of him sneaking up on her.
"No, it's just you've got it bad," Lavender explained superiorly, "you mustn't blame yourself, he seduced you."
Hermione went red with indignation, "No he bloody well didn't."
"It's alright."
"Shut up Lavender."
"Ladies, ladies, please a little restraint," Ginny said between her laughter.
"Maybe I'm immune to him, ever think of that?"
"Of course you aren't. Hermy have you seen his smile lately?" Lavender gushed.
"It's nothing compared to when this guy I know smiles," Hermione lied.
"Oh."
Yeah that shut her up, Hermione thought pleased with herself. Ginny shot her a warning look, but too late she had already dug her grave. Instantly Lavender demanded to know all about this guy and Hermione found herself spinning a great web of lies.
His name was Eric O'Malley. He was a medi-wizard. Very wealthy. Studied in Switzerland.
"So how did you two meet?" Lavender asked sceptically.
Hermione threw a pleading look at Ginny.
"I introduced Eric to her," Ginny suddenly declared and Hermione could've hugged her.
"Hm," Lavender said but went on no more. It seemed she thought better of contradicting one of the most esteemed witches of their time.
"Well if we are done with this inquisition, I think it's about time we go look at shoes," Ginny suggested and they both agreed. Hermione leading the way to the shoe stores with more enthusiasm then she felt, just thankful that Lavender had stopped asking her questions. "Eric O'Malley" who the hell was she kidding?
