Disclaimer
: Okay, if you've even BEEN reading, you probably know I don't own harry potter … or anything like these characters or locations. Heck… I'm lucky to own much of anything anymore…a/n
: okay, sorry it's been forever……. I've been UBER busy, and totally blocked. But now, I have some ideas for this satanic thing. And, lol, as usual…. Here's hoping you enjoy this thing.----------Chapter Nine------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hermione, how did you manage to snag such an INCREDIBLE gown?"
Ginny, having come up from the dispersing luncheon affair downstairs, decided to check in on Hermione. Shocked at having an audience, Hermione spun around from the full-length mirror in front of her, revealing the full effect of the gown in question.
Laughing slightly, Hermione managed to quickly recover from the startling interruption. "Actually, Ginny, I made it myself."
Ginny quickly shut the door behind her. "Those other girls will be up soon, you know. They'll probably have a similar reaction to mine. I mean, that is one beautiful, artistic form of a dress."
Hermione blushed slightly, although she assumed Ginny was simply trying to make her feel more secure. She turned once more, though, and realized how lovely the gown truly was.
The velvety material was of a green, almost black, hue. Hermione had a thin, silver cord tied around the waist. The gown was almost of a Renaissance style, with a squared neckline and flowing sleeves. It was unadorned and simple, but it was all the more flattering because of it.
"I suppose it's alright." Hermione agreed, humbly. "But what on earth am I to do with this mess of hair on my head?"
Ginny laughed. She could tell Hermione had been sleeping, and now her hair looked like someone had literally tried to tie it in knots.
"Well, Mione, we can use some spells to clean it up and detangle it. But, in my opinion, you should just wear it down. I don't believe I've seen you wear it completely down in a few years."
Hermione nodded, smiling. "You're right, Ginny. I'll do it."
She turned to face Ginny. "I'm so glad you're still speaking to me."
Ginny raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What do you mean? Why wouldn't I… Oh, you mean because of Ron?"
Hermione nodded, meekly. "Yes. He's been so upset since he found out about Draco and me." Ginny smirked. "Yeah, I found it rather funny. Oh, and speaking of the Slytherin prince, what kind of mask is he wearing to that gala this evening?"
"Actually, Ginny….I'm not sure. He promised me he'd be able to find me. And then he told me it was mostly black, just to be sure I wouldn't mistake him for someone else."
Hermione grinned. "In all honesty, I wish they'd just let the girls wear masks too. It's only fair."
Ginny walked closer to Hermione, and pulled out her wand. "Well, Ms. Granger, I'm thinking we should get started fixing this mess. Otherwise, no one's going to recognize you down there."
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It was exactly 7:04. Hermione was about thirty minutes late for the gala, but she knew it would be fine. Most of the other girls had gone down at 6:45 or so.
"I'm just hoping I can find Draco." She thought, making her way down a flight of stairs.
Hermione slipped quietly towards the great hall. Peering inside, she noticed it was incredibly full. There was room to mingle and dance, of course, but she knew she'd never be able to find anyone in there.
"Why, Ms. Granger…it's rather nice to see you again." Hermione jumped. She knew that voice. That cold, domineering, unfeeling voice. She turned to face him.
"Mr. Malfoy." Her efforts at keeping her voice calm were rather effective, but Lucius could clearly read how nervous she was.
"Ah, Ms. Granger…you might as well call me Lucius. After all, won't we soon be family?" Hermione cringed. She knew Draco no longer claimed his father, and most definitely wouldn't have been sharing any information about their wedding.
Lucius smirked. "I find it rather odd, actually, that you were able to move on so quickly. After all, haven't you loved my lord for…quite a great deal of time? It's rather sad that you were able to simply cast him aside."
Hermione winced. She knew she hadn't just moved on. She'd struggled with the same loss every day. She knew she couldn't expect Tom to abandon the evil within himself…it would be too much.
"I haven't moved on, Lucius. I just know that…that your lord and I can never be." Hermione wrung her hands, anxiously.
Lucius noticed, and looked down at them. He made an odd face, apparently when he noticed Hermione's engagement ring. "I suppose he thought Draco wouldn't give me anything."
Lucius recovered his composure quickly, smirking at what must have been some private joke. "Indeed, Ms. Granger. I do hope you enjoy your little…party, here. I must take my leave. There aren't many here who would welcome me."
And with that, Lucius Malfoy turned and strode down the hall. Hermione sighed, relieved. "But what was he here for? It couldn't have just been for Draco."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione walked into the great hall. She noticed Ginny was at a table with Ron and Harry, but Hermione knew she couldn't just go over there without feeling awkward.
Scanning the crowd, Hermione noticed several masked men in some form of black, but none were Draco. She slipped over to an empty table in a corner. "I hope he can find me in this mass."
Hermione sat there for what was beginning to feel like an eternity. Suddenly, she felt someone tap her shoulder, ever so lightly. She jumped, and looked up. There was a man clad entirely in black, his gloved hand outstretched to her.
The mask covering half of his face was black, but Hermione could easily see that the man's chocolate hair and dark green eyes meant he clearly wasn't Draco. However, there was something about him that was entirely familiar.
Embarrassed, Hermione realized he still was standing there, waiting for her hand. Slowly, she slipped it into his, rising from her seat. Without a word, they both headed for the center of the room.
A slow, soft melody began just as they began to dance. Hermione found herself lost in this stranger's eyes. "They look so much like…but no, he's gone."
Hermione felt a tear trail down her cheek, and turned her face away slightly. A gloved hand turned her face back to the man before her, who looked pained to see her upset.
The song ended, and a faster, more modern tune began. A throng of people rushed out from the tables and corners of the room to dance.
Hermione winced, but the stranger didn't release her hand. He began to walk through the crowd, pulling Hermione along behind him. Finally, they were both out of the great hall.
The stranger's grip only slightly lessened, as he continued to pull Hermione. They wandered down two corridors, until they finally reached a courtyard on the edge of the castle.
Here, the stranger released Hermione's hand, slowly. He walked into the shadowy edge of the area, hidden from the moon's light. Hermione watched him, still trying to figure out who he was.
"He certainly acts rather reserved, and intelligent. I wonder if he's a Ravenclaw I simply never met."
Hermione crept towards the center of the small courtyard, where she felt the moon's beams fall over her. She closed her eyes. It was almost a moment of escape from reality.
"You always did look so breathtaking in the moonlight." The stranger, still in the shadows, spoke sadly.
Hermione could have sworn she knew the voice, but it sounded like this man wanted to hide it from her. "Maybe he's disguising his voice to see if I can find out who he is otherwise."
"I have a feeling that I know you, but my memory's fuzzy. Were you in Ravenclaw?" Hermione stared into the darkness surrounding the man, able to see his form leaning against the stone wall.
"Slytherin." Hermione was confused, but not utterly surprised.
"I thought I knew most of the people in Draco's house, but maybe I'm just no good at this whole thing with guessing who someone is."
"Really? Are you a friend or acquaintance of Draco's, then?" Hermione heard the man snicker, and it made her shiver.
"Not even remotely."
"Oh, I see." Hermione began to walk towards the stranger. She just had to see who this man was.
"Stop. Don't come any closer." Hermione jumped at the forceful tone, and stopped. The man seemed to regret it immediately, as he apologized.
"I'm sorry, love. I just can't let you see me."
Hermione shivered uncontrollably. "There's something wrong here. I feel drawn to this man, and I must know him. Why am I so frightened?"
The figure stepped to her quickly, embracing her to stop her shaking. "Shh, don't be afraid. I would never harm you."
Hermione pulled away slightly, just enough to look up into his eyes. Those dark, deep, green eyes that seemed to know her soul. The eyes that seemed to know her every secret and thought.
Hermione's eyes went wide, and she jolted out of the man's arms. "You… I can't believe… oh goddess! It can't be…"
The man moved back into the shadows, his back turned to her. "It can be, and it is."
From what she could see, Hermione thought she saw the man pull away his mask. He turned to face her, and even in that darkness, Hermione knew exactly who stood before her.
Moaning softly, she sank to the ground. "Why? Why are you here?"
Tom walked out of the darkness slowly, and stood in front of her. "The question is, why did you betray me?"
The icy tone jarred Hermione, and she looked up at him with tears falling from her eyes. "Betray you? I could never betray you."
Tom swiftly knelt down, grabbing Hermione's hand. Showing her the ring on her finger, he argued. "Then what's this? This ring on your finger…is that not betraying me?"
He looked at the ring for a moment, studying it. "Did you not even notice that this is the ring I gave you over fifty years ago? I don't know how that bastard Malfoy managed to come upon it, but he had no right."
Tom dropped her hand, and rose to look at the moon. "Why did you abandon me, my Mione? Why?"
He turned to look at her, and she noticed a tear forming in his right eye. She rose, moving slowly to him.
"I didn't abandon you. You never came for me. I was being told that you had forsaken your heart, that all that was left of you was the evil within. I assumed you'd forgotten me, and so I began to try and heal myself."
She placed her palm on his shoulder, and he took it in his hand. "But I still am in pain, Tom. I still long to be with you when I wake, and I still dream about you almost every night."
Tom pulled Hermione to him, placing one arm to hold her behind her back. Turning her chin up to face him, he kissed her ardently. For a moment, Hermione felt herself lose all her worry and pain.
"You must come with me, then. Hermione, I cannot live without you. It's true, that I have been turning towards the dark again, but I could control myself if you were with me."
Tom looked at her expectantly, and Hermione nearly found herself kissing him again in reply. But, as much as it hurt her, she knew better than to say yes.
"I cannot, Tom. I have made a promise to Draco, and he's already done so much to help me. I cannot break his heart by doing that to him."
Tom's eyes grew angry, and Hermione noticed the all too familiar red glow. Hermione tried to jump away, but Tom gripped her shoulders tightly.
"So, you would rather break my heart? You'll leave me, just like everyone else?"
Hermione was frightened, but more than that, she was brokenhearted. She knew what she was doing to him, and she couldn't stop it.
"Oh, Tom. You know I'll always love you, no matter what happens."
But Tom was seething with anger and hurt, and Hermione knew he wouldn't listen.
"Oh, really? No matter what happens? We'll see about that. And you'll regret this, Hermione. If you think you've been in pain thus far, you've seen nothing."
Tom released her, and Hermione fell to the ground. "Tom, please…"
He looked her in the eye, and for a mere moment, Hermione thought she saw his eyes flash their dark green color. But, they quickly returned to the flashing red of Tom's angry hurt, and he stalked away from her. He was gone, and Hermione knew the worst was yet to come.
"Oh, Tom." She whispered, sighing.
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Hermione sat for quite a long time. Her tears had stopped, but she was still quaking from the experience.
"I have to find Draco." She forced herself to rise and head back towards the hall.
Rounding a corner, Hermione found herself knocking into someone. A tall someone. A tall someone with steely grey eyes and white blond hair.
"Hermione!" Draco swept her off of her feet. "Where have you been? I was looking all over the castle for you!"
Setting her down, Draco waited for a reply. "Draco…I was just in the courtyard."
Draco raised an eyebrow, and looked concerned. "Then why have you been crying?"
Hermione looked into his eyes, and felt herself break down. She told him everything, and, after much reassurance from Draco that she'd be safe, she fell asleep in his arms.
Draco carried her up to the astrology tower, where he was able to conjure up a small, simple bed. "Sleep well, Mione."
He kissed her lightly on her forehead, and crept over to another corner of the room. He decided he'd watch over her all night. And, in the morning, he knew he'd have to find Dumbledore.
"I won't let him harm her again. The dark lord's death day is fast approaching."
And with that, Draco focused all his thoughts on Hermione, who was sleeping before him. He knew that the next day, as well as those that followed, would leave little time for rest.
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a/n
: okay all you grumpy grumps who are angry with the draco mione pairing….. Guess what! I haven't decided who mione ends up with. Yeah, right now, you're all thinking it's draco. (well haha, I don't think so) anyways, you might want to stop trying to guess…. It might be more fun. Anyhoos… thanks for reading, and I promise to try and update soon . Reviewing is fun….. And friendly and safe. I'd love it if you all reviewed! toodlez…..