Chapter 8- Fittings
Hermione cleared the tables in silence, not at all bothered by having to clean up after the ball. Professor Snape kept his eye on her, making sure she didn't miss anything while she cleaned. He was quite suspicious of her when she arrived late at his study. Her robes were in shambles and she was all out of breath. When he asked her why she looked the way she was, she said she fell asleep and that she lost track of time. Fortunately for her, Snape let her off with her excuse but he made sure he won't let her out of his sights.
Hermione drowned herself with thoughts about the ball; she began unfolding the night's events. From putting on the dress that Dobby fixed, to the very last moment on the stairs. She stopped in the middle of folding a table cloth. She lifted her fingers on her lips; she could still feel his burning on hers. As soon as they made contact, a wave of electricity went through her body. It was like he had awoken a whole new feeling inside of her.
Across the room, Snape watched as the little witch halted to a stop. He cleared his throat to get her attention, but she hadn't become aware of it. Irritated, he briskly walked up behind her and tapped her shoulder. Hermione jumped with a start as she was brought back to reality.
"The point of this detention was to clean the Great Hall, not gawp mindlessly at the ceiling," Snape said angrily. Hermione stared at the furious Professor not saying a word. She did not dare say anything that would cross him even more. She just nodded her head and continued folding. He eyed her curiously and slowly walked away. Hermione watched him walk away from the corner of her eye. What just happened? She muttered under her breath.
Draco sat on his four-poster bed, his head his still swimming in his kiss with the mysterious girl. He couldn't get her out of his mind; just the fact that he hasn't got a clue about her was driving him mad. Draco reached into his pocket, pulling out the only thing he got from her other than the kiss. The glass slipper twinkled in the light as he held it up in his hand. He furrowed his brows as he thought. How could he miss her, surely he had met all the girls in Hogwarts. But not one, reminded him of her. He placed the delicate shoe on his night stand and took off his bowtie placing it beside the shoe. He unbuttoned his shirt halfway and laid himself down; he was too tired and deep in thought to bother with changing into his night clothes. But he didn't fall asleep right away. Sleep didn't catch up to him until hours later.
-
"So who is she mate?" said Blaise taking a big bite in his crumpet.
"Huh, wh-what?" he looked at his Slytherin companion as if he didn't know what he was talking about.
"C'mon Draco we clearly saw you dancing with that hot witch," said Blaise eyeing him carefully. Draco looked at both Crabbe and Goyle who nodded in unison. Draco rolled his eyes, there was no use keeping it from them. The whole school probably saw him and his mysterious mistress. "All right you blokes, what do you want to know?"
"Well, who is she? What's her name?" asked Blaise eagerly. "What's she like? Is she like Pansy? What house is she in?" Draco furrowed his brows as he was bombarded with questions.
"Would you stop it with the bloody questions already!" he looked at his friends with annoyance. "If you must know…I didn't her name. She left before I could get it."
Blaise looked at him in disbelief. "You didn't get her name? But you were with her the whole night," then with a smirk added, "is the Slyhterin Prince losing his touch?"
"Please, a Malfoy never loses his touch. She just had to leave that's all." Draco replied but his focus wasn't on Blaise. He was glancing at the girls in the Great Hall, hoping that one of them is her. "And all I have of hers is her ruddy shoe."
"Her what?" asked Blaise as if he didn't hear him the first time.
"I said all I have is her blasted glass slipper. She was in a hurry and she dropped her shoe when she left."
"Right, she'd be wanting her shoe back Draco," he said taking a mouthful of his scone.
"Haven't you been listening to a single word I've said? How do you expect me to give her shoe back if I don't even know who she is?" he scolded
"Are you going to look for her now?" asked Goyle.
"No, no, Goyle. We will do the looking, Draco here will just have sit and choose which one is his lovely lady," Blaise revealed, winking at Draco.
"Really now, and how do you suppose are you going to do that?" Draco asked
"Not to worry mate, me and the boys have it under control. Believe me you'll have your fair maiden before the Christmas holidays," Blaise grabbed a croissant before getting up, "which by the way I still have to pack for. Just don't forget, tomorrow afternoon come back here."
Draco watched Blaise walk out of the hall, munching away on his croissant, wondering how he was going to find him the girl he danced with. It could be any of these girls, Draco thought.
From across the hall, Hermione sat eating her breakfast ever so slowly. She looked up now and then, taking in quick glimpses of Draco before looking back at her friends.
"Hermione, are you listening?" asked Ron
"Huh, oh yeah of course," she quickly replied. Ron and Harry exchanged looks.
"Really, then what did I say a minute ago?" he asked, leaning forward so he could hear her answer.
"Uh…um. You said, you had a good time last night. Yeah that's it," she answered, then adding a small smile.
Ron sighed and sat back down. "That's not what I said. See you weren't listening to me."
"That's ok Ron, she'll listen now, now that we have her full attention again," Harry said
Hermione nodded, "Sorry Ron, I'm just tired from my detention with Snape last night," she said, giving off a tired yawn. It wasn't a full lie; she really was tired from cleaning up after the ball. "So what were you saying again?"
"I said did you see that girl Malfoy was dancing with? I was pretty sure she wasn't Pansy," said Ron
"Yeah, I saw him and Pansy come in together but later on I saw her dancing with Blaise," added Harry
Hermione widened her eyes as her best friends talk about her and Draco. She didn't feel tired then. She was more alert now, being caution about her actions. Hermione tried her best to look surprise, but it was hard when you're feeling edgy as well.
"That bloke thinks he can get any girl he wants," scoffed Ron
"But I have to admit, I do feel sorry for him sometimes. With Pansy clinging onto him every single day," Harry second, and then breaking into laughter.
Hermione laughed along but quickly stopped as her eyes locked with Draco's from across the room. His stormy eyes were so intense that she quickly looked away. But she knows he's still looking at her, she could feel him.
"Uh, so do you guys know the girl that danced with Dr..uh..Malfoy?"Asked Hermione trying not to sound too suspicious.
"No, we don't know who she is," answered Harry. Hermione sighed with relief, she looked up again and saw Draco getting up. Part of her wants to go and talk to him, but the other part wants to stay put and hope everything will go back to normal.
"C'mon 'Mione let's go, you don't want to be late for potions now do you," said Harry handing her, her book bag. Hermione took the bag and nodded. She followed Ron towards the doors but soon stopped.
"Ron, what's wrong? Let's go," said Hermione, she looked around Ron's broad back and spotted the cause of their problems. There Draco stood sneering at Ron.
"Malfoys before Weasleys," he ridiculed. He fixed his eyes on Hermione who looked at him from the corner of her eyes. Hermione's cheeks began to blush slightly when his focus went to her. Ron looked from Draco then to Hermione he frowned vaguely, noticing the interaction between the two.
Draco snickered and walked out, followed by Crabbe and Goyle. Ron watched them go then turned to Hermione. "What was that all about?"
"What are you talking about?" she said walking around Ron. Ron looked at Harry but he only shrugged and followed Hermione out.
"Like you don't know?" he said catching up to her.
"I swear Ron I don't know what you are talking about. Now let's just go," she said hurrying up her pace. Ron wasn't convinced still but dropped it and continued walking in silence beside her.
-
Draco walked down the corridors anxious about Blaise's plans for him that afternoon. He went through the heavy doors of the Great Hall but he wasn't prepared for what he saw inside. He slowly walked forward to his table where a big group of girls stood waiting for his arrival. Among the sea of girls he spotted Blaise talking to a short blonde. Blaise looked up and made his way towards him.
"Well mate, should we get started?" he said sitting Draco down on the bench. "All right ladies, form a line!"
Draco watched as each girl lined up waiting eagerly to convince him that she was the girl that he danced with. All eyes were on him Draco drew out the glass slipper and held it tightly in his hand. He had never been so nervous in his life, and all because of a girl.
"You, come here, you'll be the first," called out Blaise, "All right mate, it's all you." He stood aside as the brunette came forward.
"Right, now take off your shoe and try this on," Draco said, giving the shoe to her. "So what is your name?"
"Uh…my name's Mackenzie..ow," she said as she struggled to fit in her foot. Draco grabbed the shoe before she went any further, fearing she would break it.
"Well it's obvious that the shoe doesn't fit, but thanks for coming," he said gesturing to Crabbe to take her away. Mackenzie frowned and stormed off, shrugging off Crabbe's thick hand off her shoulder.
"Ok, keep it moving. Next!" Blaise yelled.
Pansy shoved her way up next, "Oh Draco," she cooed. She stood before him already taking off her shoe.
Draco grimaced, "Pansy, I don't think the shoe is yours."
"Nonsense, let me just try it on," she said grabbing the shoe from his grasp.
"What are you doing?" he asked trying to seize it back.
"Trying it on silly," she thrust her foot inside the shoe, forcing her way in when it obviously doesn't fit. "I don't understand. This looks like my size but it doesn't fit."
"Well it's quite clear that it doesn't so give it back," he said taking the shoe from her foot.
"This is insane! That shoe can fit me I do not have big feet!" Draco snapped his fingers and Goyle took Pansy away. Draco pulled Blaise's robes towards him, "This is going no where Blaise. I don't want to bloody sit here all day watching girl after girl try on the shoe."
"All right what do you suggest we do?" Blaise said
"We could send off some of these girls, I mean half of them don't even resemble her."
"Fine, you send them off. It is your idea."
Draco rolled his eyes he got up and went towards the girls, "Listen up the girl I am looking for has brown wavy hair, now if you don't have brown, wavy hair then I suggest you leave." He watched as almost all the girls leave for most of them were red heads and blondes. "Next, she has brown eyes and about this tall," he said gesturing around his neck area. And a few more girls left all very upset that it's not them he was looking for.
-
"What do you think Malfoy's up to?" asked Ron watching as each leave Draco upset.
"Word has it that he's looking for this girl he danced with at the ball and he's asking them all these questions to see which one is her," said Seamus
"I heard she left her shoe and Malfoy's making them try that on," added Neville
Hermione almost choked on her pumpkin juice as she heard Neville's words.
"Hermione are you all right?" asked Harry
"Yes I'm fine, I just drank a little too fast," she said wiping her mouth
"Well whatever he's up to I'm not sticking around to watch. I'm going to head off to the common room, wanna come with?" said Ron getting up
"Sure," answered Hermione willingly. She snatched up her things and started walking out. Harry and Ron bid farewell to Seamus and Neville then followed Hermione out.
-
"Blaise this was a total waste of my time," he said putting back the shoe in his pocket.
"Who else went to the ball? I can't believe none of them fit the shoe," he said in a surprised tone.
"I can't either, listen I'm going up to my room. I'll see you later," he got up and slowly made his way towards the doors. It was then he heard the laughter, it was the same laugh as the girl. He hurried his way round a corner but stopped as he saw where the laughter came from.
"Granger?"
