A/N: Today looks like a good writing day for me, so I should get this chapter and at least one more up by the end of it. I hope you all enjoy everything. I think next chapter is going to be the ball, so I'll try to get that up 3
Thanks,
Chaos.
Chapter Nine
Draco
I was at a loss for words after Granger slipped up to her room. I felt… what… sympathy for the Mudblood? How can you sympathize with someone that you despise more than anything else in the entire world?
I tried to shake the thoughts from my head, but they wouldn't leave. I got fed up with trying, drank my tea, and mulled over her words before going to my room. I was getting a headache and decided that sleeping would be the best thing for me. As I stripped and crawled under my covers, I heard a noise from the bathroom. It was only then I realized Granger was still in the shower, and that the increasingly familiar lavender scent was wafting into my room. Instead of her usual relaxed and content moans that seeped into my thoughts, I heard small sobs. I worried that I should see if she was alright, then mentally slapped myself for thinking that. I didn't give a damn about her. Let her cry. She didn't have to answer my question.
I finally had to cast a silencing charm around my room to keep the noise out. That didn't help either. Between the nagging sense of what I could only assume was guilt and the memories of her tears, I couldn't fall asleep anyway.
Time passed by slowly with Granger ignoring me. We only spoke at the prefect meetings or in class, and I could see that her little confession had taken as much of a toll on her as it did on me. As much as I missed our little bouts of bickering, I couldn't help but be grateful for the lack of contact with her. She had begun to get under my skin, and I didn't like that. The distance was better. When Halloween finally came around and it was time for us to decorate, we were somehow able to work as a team and keep the frustrated students in line. The only mishap that happened was when one of the Hufflepuffs knocked over a table containing all of the glass globes for the center of the tables. Granger was quick to repair everything, and I had the sense not to rip out their throats.
Two hours before the dance, Granger spoke up, "There's just some few last minute adjustments to make here, so you all can head back to your dorms. I can finish straightening up and setting the tables."
Everyone mumbled their thanks and made their way back to their dorms as quickly as possible. I held back to see just what Granger was playing at.
"What are you doing, Granger?"
"There really isn't that much left to do, and I don't take that long to get ready. Some of those girls will need the full two hours, and the guys really didn't want to be here in the first place. There was no reason anyone had to stay, and that goes for you too, Malfoy. If you want to go relax or hang out with your friends or get ready… I've got this covered."
I knew she could handle it, and the thought of being able to just relax for more than just a couple of minutes before the ball would be incredible, yet I found myself saying I would stay and help set the tables. She smiled a little and thanked me, then we set about our chores. There was a lot more than just a little to do, and we finished with an hour to spare.
I had gotten a costume from a shop in London that specialized in Victorian styles. It was a simple yet elegant black outfit with a small bit of silver in the trim and on the tie. The mask had the same simplicity, and even I had to admit that I had never seen myself look so good. I made my way down to the common room, and there was only 15 minutes left before we had to make out appearance. As Head Boy and Head Girl, we were required to show up together, another stupid rule implemented by Dumbledore. I think that man had it out for us.
"Granger, hurry up! We're going to be late!" I called up to her.
"I'm almost done, Malfoy! Relax!" she yelled back.
I paced the common room for five minutes before I heard the door to her room open, and I swear, until that moment, I had never seen a more beautiful woman. I knew I was staring, but I couldn't help it. Her dress was a perfect match for her, the delicate silver material- I believe she told me that type of fabric was chiffon- flowing around her, the corset bodice that hugged her body while still looking ethereal… Her mask was the same sheer silver material with the same purple ribbon that laced the back of her dress and lined the top of the bodice. Her curls were tamed into perfect ringlets that framed her face like a halo.
She was a vision, and I thought I'd throw up from how enthralled she had me. A mudblood shouldn't make my blood boil like this. I was almost angry at her for it.
"I'm sorry for making you wait. This dress was so hard to get into, and the shoes… ugh. But I'm ready now, if you want to get going."
I shook my head, cleared my throat, and adjusted my mask before mumbling, "Sure," of all things. I wasn't entirely sure how I would make it through the night with her looking like that. I only hoped that she would disappear with Weasley and Potter once we arrived.
