Disclaimer: I don't own any Harry Potter people, places, or things. I just own Brie Stoker, the plot, and a stuffed plush duck holding a carrot. (Which makes no sense.)
A/N: And now the ever-so-waited-on ballroom chapter! Huzzah!
Xoxoxoxo Brie's POV xoxoxoxo
Many an eye fell upon Cho and I as we descended into the ballroom. Pansy, Theo, Blaise, Astoria, Millie, Vince, Greg, and Draco ran up to us as soon as we entered. "Pansy!" Both Cho and I jumped the poor girl and hugged her tight. We then hugged all the others and sat down at one of the giant glass tables. It felt wonderful to have all of us together. Cho took a billion photos of just about everything and everyone.
A lovely slow song began to play and many guests flocked to the dance area. Then I had a brilliant plan. I whispered said plan to Draco, who was sitting next to me. He smirked and agreed. He grabbed Cho and led her to the dance floor. I did the same with Greg. After a moment of waltzing about, we thrust them together. They had no choice but to dance, or they would ruin the crowd's pattern. Draco and I sprung together, and fell right back into the graceful waltz. Real snow began to fall from the ceiling.
I love snow. Me and my dad would play in it for hours when I was little, no matter how cold or wet we got. No wonder my first word was light. Then as I got older, he would take me for walks in the snow at night. He would show me constellations and we would talk about important things and not-so-important things. We would dance around on the sidewalk and skip and scream and laugh. Those were some of the best memories I had. Dad would take pictures and I had my favorites in the scrapbook.
'Merry Christmas Daddy…' I thought as I looked up at the enchanted ceiling. Draco must have noticed my solemn expression, because he ran a hand carefully down my face. I looked at back at him, and he smiled. I smiled too. We just looked at each other for a second. Then I launched onto him, giving him the biggest teddy bear hug in the whole world.
He laughed a little and hugged me back. Then I slid back down and we continued dancing. "Hey?" I asked him. "mmm-hmm?" he said into my hair. "Thanks for letting me come here for Christmas." I felt him smile. "Anytime." "Can I ask you a serious question?" "Shoot." "What the hell are we?" He laughed outright. "I would guess were human, though I'm not too sure about you." He said. I playfully slapped his chest.
"Shit, I don't know what we are Brie." I thought of my next phrase. "What do you want us to be?" I asked as casually as I could. "I really don't know to be honest." He said carefully. I giggled. "Well shit, don't be nervous I don't have a clue either." He sniggered. "Well, we're either dating, friends with benefits, just friends, or not friends at all. What do you want us should be?" he asked seriously.
There was a long confused awkward silence after that. Finally, Draco muttered. "I want to be with you. If we try dating and it works out, then great. If not, we can go back to being just friends or friends with benefits or whatever. So, do you want to try?" I nodded. He kissed me.
Xoxoxoxo Cho's POV xoxoxoxo
'I'm dancing with Greg. OH MERLIN OH MERLIN OH MERLIN! I'm either going to kill Brie or hug her until she's even skinnier than she already is…'
As we strutted about the dance floor, we started our conversation about the relationship between said skinny girl and Draco. "They really do deserve each other." Greg said sweetly. "Yea…they do." "Cho, may I tell you something?" "You just did, did you not?" I smiled. He chuckled. "Cho, I really like you. And I know that you would understand me better than most anyone else in the world. So I cordially ask you to accompany me on 2 dates. The first, this party. The second, a nice dinner tomorrow? At 7? At 'The Biting Tea Kettle?"
Cho sighed. "I accept the second offer, but I'm afraid I already have a date to this dance." "o-oh." Greg stuttered. "Yea." Cho continued dreadfully. "I'm afraid Brie asked me weeks ago." I don't think anyone had ever heard Gregory Goyle laugh harder.
Xoxoxoxo Draco's POV xoxoxoxo
Brie and I both turned our heads at our friend's laughter. "They must have hit it off." Brie stated simply. "Wha? Cho and Greg?" I wondered, confused. Brie just laughed. "Yea. Cho's had a thing for Greg for quite a while now." "Why does no one tell me these things?" I angrily mused. Brie smiled evilly. "'Cause no one likes you." I glared playfully at her. "So you're no one huh?" I said, pulling her under my chin. "Damn right." I sniggered into her hair.
"So, since were dating now, I do have one question…" I thought out loud. Brie looked at me and raised an eyebrow. "About the phrase 'I love you'…" "Don't say it often. It makes it more special that way." Brie answered quickly. I breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I thought you'd do the girly thing and insist on it being said after every other sentence. Brie threw her head back and laughed heartily. "Since when do I ever do 'the girly thing?'"
Xoxoxoxo Brie's POV xoxoxoxo
After my amazing dance with Draco, I went back to the table to talk to Millie and Astoria, who looked rather lonely. I had started talking to Astoria again. She had apologized for the way she acted around Draco (after all she hadn't known I liked him) and she started dating Blaise just last night. "What's wrong, ladies? Why aren't you out there luring poor defenseless men into your seductive black widow boyfriend traps?"
Astoria laughed while Millie just sighed. "Millie dear, what is it?" "Oh please like I, of all people, could get a guy. I mean, look at all you girls, you all have dates!" I nodded my head. "Yes, and what the bloody hell makes you think you couldn't?" I asked, astounded. She gave me the 'Duh' look. "You girls all have guys. And what do you all have in common?" she asked me. "Low I.Q.'s?" I guessed. "no…" she stopped. "you're all skinny." She added woefully.
"Millicent Amanda Bullstrode! What has gotten into you! Now I won't lie and I won't give you the 'beauty comes from within' bullshit, you are a heavy-set girl! But you know what? That doesn't matter! All the people here who love you, absolutely love all of you! Got it?" I attempted to comfort. She released a small grin. "It's those who don't care that are the problem." She mumbled. "Wha?" Then I got the hint."Who said something to you?" I said with a voice filled with spite. "Oh, it's no big deal, I was being childish, don't worry!" Millie tried to reassure me."Millie, you have every right to overreact if someone said something. Now who was it and what did they say?"
Millie sighed. "It was those girls by the dessert table. I went back there to get some punch for myself and Astoria and they made some comments."I looked back to see a group of 5 or 6 girls in nice robes sniggering about something. "Well come now, what did they say?" "Just the usual: 'Should you be here? I mean you don't really need this stuff do you?' and 'don't step over here! The floor might cave!' just stupid stuff like that." I sat back and huffed. "That ticks me off. I mean, you're a guest in someone's home, they had no right to say any of that nonsense to you."
"I know." She muttered. I placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Look, don't let it get to you. Let it get to them." I smirked. "I have a plan. Astoria, you go tell Vince and Greg that when they hear someone yell security, come straight to Narcissa. Hurry!" Astoria dashed off through the crowd. "Oh, Brie, don't throw them out! Their parents don't deserve that!" Millie pleaded. "Relax, I won't. Were just gonna scare a little lesson into them. Ok, now listen up. Here's what were going to do…"
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Millie and I strutted up to the group of girls, Millie pretending to be upset, and me pretending to be really angry. "There they are! Right there!" Millie stated, pointing at the group. "Oh look girls, fatty's back! And she brought a friend…" said a red haired girl in a luxurious purple dress. The girls laughed. "Good one, Cecilia!" 'Oh great, another fucking bitchy ginger.' "Excuse you? Um I'm not sure if you're aware, but this is the pureblood socialite event of the year! It would be a major shame to a family if their ignorant and naïve daughter got them thrown out! So I suggest you apologize to an honored guest of this party immediately." I said superiorly.
Cecilia leaned back and laughed. "Uh, only Mrs. Malfoy can throw you out of this party. You are not her. You're probably the local prostitute." The girls giggled. 'Everything's going to plan…' I stomped my foot. "Ok, that's it! I know I said I wouldn't Millie, but that was the last damn straw. I'll be back!" and with that I stormed away. I then carefully hid to watch Millie in action before I went to accomplish the rest of the plan.
Millie started to pretend to panic. "Oh shit, you guys are so screwed!" she said. Cecilia scoffed. "What the hell you talking about fat ass?" "You do know that Narcissa Malfoy has a son!" "Well duh. He's gorgeous." she sighed dreamily. 'And he's also mine, bitch! hahaha!' "Then I guess you don't realize that you just smarted off to his GIRLFRIEND?" 'Time to go.'
I ran up to Draco. He saw me coming and smiled. "I don't believe you. You're bluffing bitch." I heard Cecilia say. "You think I'm bluffing? Look for yourself!" Millie replied from across the room. Draco greeted me with an obvious kiss which, admittedly, dazed me for a minute, but I got right back on track. "So get this, and go with the flow, and make sure you look surprised and irritated the entire time I tell you. The girls back by the dessert table," I said quickly, pointing them out not-so-inconspicuously, "said some really rude things to Millie." "Like what?" Draco asked curiously, making all the right expressions. "Like calling her fat and stuff. So I made up this plan to go confront them and threaten them with my status with you." He smirked. "Ouch, I think your ego just hit me. Anyway, so naturally they called me whore and a liar. So now I'm talking to you and pretending that I'm telling on them. Now I need you to go with me up to your mum and explain, and then I need her to yell 'security!' and then you'll see what happens." I smiled deviously.
"Ok. I want to see what your evil mind had thought of for these ladies." He teased, kissing me again. We ran up to Narcissa and explained the entire situation to her. She did brilliantly, pretending to be shocked and angry in all the right places. After that, she clearly yelled "SECURITY!" Vince and Greg, easily the biggest men here, strutted up to us. Vince, Greg, Draco, and I then all proceeded to the back where the group of girls and Millie were still standing. Judging by their faces, they had heard everything.
"Do you ladies understand that you have offended not only Miss Bullstrode but the number one guest of the manor this evening?" said Vince in an official tone. "And that we have the right to forcefully remove you from the gathering and arrest you if necessary?" added Greg condescendingly. "And that we would seriously love to do said action?" finished Vince. The girls nodded, looking scared. I was fighting to hold the laughs in, and I could tell that Draco was too.
"Unfortunately for us, Miss Bullstrode has insisted that you all be allowed to stay, if you apologize to herself and Miss Stoker for your unintelligent comments, and to Mr. Malfoy for all the trouble you've caused. And they accept your apologies." Said Greg.
Cecilia approached Millie first. "Miss Bullstrode, I apologize." "For what?" Mille pushed. "For calling you Fat, a bitch, and a bluffer." "Very good." Millie coaxed, "now put all that together." "Miss Bullstrode, I apologize for calling you fat, a bitch, and a bluffer." "Apology accepted." She went to Draco next. "Mr. Malfoy, I apologize for causing you all this trouble." She grinned flirtatiously. "Don't apologize to me you unattractive little skank, apologize to her." He said, stepping behind me and encircling my waist with one arm and running the other down my tummy.
The redhead glared and stepped over to me. I looked straight at her as I slid a hand up to Draco's neck. She opened her mouth to speak. "On your knees." She looked abashed. "Excuse me?" "I said, On. Your. Knees. That is the only way I will accept any apology from you." I snapped. Slowly, with a trembling lip, she sank to her knees. "Miss Stoker, I apologize for accusing you of prostitution and being rude to your friends and boyfriend." I glared down at her. "You are disgusting. That's all I have to say. Apology (barely) accepted."
The rest of the party flowed smoothly. Everyone danced and ate and enjoyed themselves. Millie danced with many young men and said she felt lovely. Astoria and Blaise left early to do who-wants-to-know-what, Pansy and Blaise ate more than anything, Cho and Greg sat at a table and discussed themselves, Vince, meanwhile, looked depressed, looking at all the fine things and expensive outfits. I knew about his family's situation. He had told me months ago-
And then it hit me.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Ok, now this document, written and signed by Brie Stoker, ensures that 50% of all profits from Stoker's Apothecary are placed into the Crabbe family account on the terms that Mr. and Mrs. Crabbe will run and take care of the store." And with a flourish of a quill, the Crabbe family could get back on their feet again.
"Brie, I can't tell you how much this means to me. If you want, I'll work in the store too, over the summer…" negotiated Vince. "No need. The store will be run by your parents all year with weekends off. And that's that." I finalized. Vince grinned and gave me a huge hug. "Well well well. I see my girlfriend drag one of my best friends off from the party, and then I walk in on this? I should have known." Draco teased from the doorway.
I broke away from Vince and thrust my fist at the air. "Rats! We've been caught Vince." We all laughed. "Well, the party's over and all our people are coming over again in a few days." "Alright. See you guys. And Brie?" Said Vince as we walked out to meet his parents. "Thanks a lot" "Consider it fair payment for your security services today." We all laughed at that one.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Later that evening, I was lying in a pair of loose stripy white and orange pajama bottoms and a hot pink tank top when I decided I had been thinking about my dad for way to long. So I pushed out of my bed and walked down the hall to Draco's room. I knocked steadily on the door. A very sleepy looking Draco answered the door, shirtless once again. "Hey." He looked at me oddly. "hi…" he mumbled. I giggled. "So what's up?" "Brie, what the hell do you wa-" "Can I sleep with you? I'm lonely in that big ole room!" He rolled his eyes at me. "I suppose" He smiled.
"Yay!" and with that being said I ran into his room and leapt upon his bed. I began to jump on it. "You *bounce* have *bounce* the *bounce* jumpiest *bounce* bed *bounce* EVER! Draco got a mischievous look on his face. He ran over to the bed and tackled me down. "Oof!" I said into his shoulder when we had landed. He chuckled. "Hey, that was cool. What you did for Millie tonight." I made a fly swatting gesture. "It was nothing. We people have to stick together!"
He smiled. He leaned down at the same time I leaned up. As I kissed him, he played with the hem of my top. I toyed with the ends of his hair, as we fought for overrule. I won. 'hahaha' after we were both thoroughly snogged out, he flipped us over and I got situated. I accidentally brushed myself against him as I did so; he groaned. "Stop that." I laughed. "what THIS?" I said as I rammed our covered bodies together. He had my shirt off before I could count to 3.
As he covered my exposed chest with heated kisses, I slithered a hand down to his sleep pants. I lightly pushed my hand past the elastic band and let my palm slide down past his naval, patch of blonde curls, and around his shaft. He gasped against my pulsing chest and glued his lips to my neck. I stroked and teased unmercifully until he was panting in my ear and my hand was thoroughly soaked. I cleaned off on his sheets and pushed myself up next to him. He flipped on top of me. "You are so going to get it." "Whatever do you mean?" he chuckled darkly and slipped a hand down my pants.
'Ohhhhhhhh fuck…'
A/N: Ok, this is a really long chapter, but it's really important. So leave me a review and tell me what you think! Huzzah!
