Hermione smiled and ducked her head under Draco's appraisal. "Do I...look okay?"
"Okay?" Draco breathed. "Hermione, you're stunning."
She blushed. "Thank you. Are you ready to go?"
"I am," Draco said, nodding. He held out his arm for Hermione to take.
"I'll see you two there," Harry said. "I got guard duty. The hospital hired the Order to guard the place."
Draco nodded and Hermione said goodbye, and then they apparated to St. Mungo's.
The two walked in together, arm in arm. The place was decorated beautifully, and it gave off a rather happy vibe for a place where the sick and injured spent their time. It was still as bright as ever in there, but the Walls were decorated with garland and tinsel. A sparkling Christmas tree stood at the centre of the waiting room. The two continued on, headed for the conference centre, where the party was taking place. The lights began to dim as they approached. The decorations were gorgeous. Hermione entered the room first to avoid the dangerous mistletoe hanging in the doorway. She may have agreed to go on a date with Draco, but she was most certainly not ready for kissing him yet.
Yet.
The party was rather slow, and the room was rather small. All of the volunteers were there, and the healers who had the day off, but a large portion of the other healer's were still working. Hospitals didn't really take a break.
The music was loud and slow. Hermione and Draco made their way through the room and to the refreshments table, going for drinks immediately.
"Would you like to dance with me, Hermione?" Draco asked.
Hermione gave him a long look before she smiled. "Of course, Draco."
He led her to the dance floor and held her close. It felt nice. It felt right. Hermione's hands were soft and warm. The hand she had placed on his shoulder was light as a feather and tickled when it occasionally brushed his neck. They danced for several songs before Hermione complained of sore feet and they went off to the side, content to simply watch the other couples and individuals dance happily.
"Hermione, are you doing okay?"
Hermione was a bit taken aback. She looked across their table at him, trying to figure out what he meant by such a question.
"I'm doing fine, thank you," she replied, turning to continue watching the others dance.
"No, I mean..." Draco tried to arrange his thoughts. "Altogether. Not just right here, right now. Are you doing okay?"
"I'm not sure I understand," Hermione replied.
This was so frustrating! Draco obviously didn't want to bring up Ron if it was going to upset her, and he didn't want to let this go, because tonight was going so well and he wanted to ask her out again. But if it would make her feel uncomfortable...
"Are you comfortable with this...with us?"
"Us?"
He sighed. "Hermione, are you over-"
There was a sudden, high pitched scream, cutting off Draco's imperative and risky question. And just like that, the room erupted into screams of pure terror. Spells were flying and people were collapsing. The order rushed into the room from all directions as Draco covered Hermione beneath the table.
"Hello, Miss Granger," came a frighteningly familiar voice from somewhere in the room. "I know you're hear, and I know you can hear me. Why don't you come out and die easily for me? It will end your pain sooner rather than have me draw it out. What do you say? Pain or death?"
Hermione was shivering beneath Draco, who had a death grip on her. He instantly tried to apparate, but should have known better. Of course they would have put up and anti-apparition shield before attacking. The Death Eater's were far from stupid.
Draco knew he needed to get Hermione out of here. It was his job. Plus, he hadn't even kissed her yet! Despite how selfish that was, it most definitely spurred him on.
"Hermione, I'm going to try and sneak you out of here, okay?"
She whimpered in reply. "Okay."
He took a deep breath before helping her out from beneath the table.
"On the count of three, run," he said, grasping her hand tightly in one hand, his wand in the other. Despite Hermione's apparent fear, she had her wand out as well. She'd faced death before, and she'd do it again, it seemed.
"One..." Draco began counting, peering at all of the exits, trying to find the easiest escape. "Two..." He'd found the weakest link and was gauging the distance when Rodolphus Lestrange, the one who had spoken earlier, spotted them. "Three!" He yelled, clearing a path with his wand, setting the tables clear of people on fire around him as extra protection. He darted towards the door that had naive little Pansy guarding it so nervously. He easily pushed past her and into the hallway, still being followed by Rodolphus, who tripped over Pansy as Draco put up a shield behind him. It wasn't very strong, but it would allow the two of them a bit of a head start.
"Going somewhere, Draco?"
Draco stopped cold, feeling as though frigid ice-water was running down his spine.
"Father. I have to go."
"I got your reply to my letter," Lucius continued, once again stopping Draco in his tracks. "I confess this is not what I wanted to hear. You could have been so great, Draco. And if you had only cooperated, this wouldn't be going on right now."
Draco knew that by "this" he meant the attacks on the Order.
"Draco is great."
Draco was shocked as Hermione pulled her hand from his and approached his father, wand pointed directly at his chest. "And you're just too stupid and egotistical too much of a follower to see it. It's not our problem that you're like that. Draco has done the right thing, so screw you!"
Lucius smirked, causing chills to run up and down Hermione's spine. He easily gripped her wrist. "I would love to have you screw me, Miss Granger. You are rather beautiful, and I understand what Draco sees in you. But I'm afraid that business comes first.
Both Lucius and Hermione screamed as Lucius's hand was suddenly severed from his wrist, falling from Hermione's own wrist to the floor. Draco grabbed the shocked Hermione by the arm and pulled her from his father, who was on his knees and trying desperately to repair his own hand.
"I'm so sorry, Hermione," Draco said, pulling her quickly along. Shock on Hermione's part was slowing them down a bit. "My father's a git, and a pervert. I'm so sorry."
Hermione nodded slightly, still trying to comprehend what had just gone on. He'd cut off his own father's hand...
When they escaped the building, they found themselves surrounded by Death Eaters. What they also found, though, was the ability to apparate. And they took advantage of it immediately.
...
Good! Got this done! Now I just have to write a chapter for 2 more stories and I'm allowed to read manga/fanfiction! ^^ But I think the punishment was worth it. I really need to update more often.
Please review if you've got a moment! ^^
