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Chapter 10
Hermione woke up early the day before Christmas Eve, with her stomach twisted in a huge knot. Turning her head to glance at the clock on her bedside table, she noticed she had at least an hour before she actually needed to get up for work. Sighing, she also noticed the crisp, stiff parchment glaring down at her from atop the bedside table. Frowning, she sat up in bed and read it again for the billionth time:
Dear Miss H Granger,
We are delighted to invite you to our annual Christmas ball, held at Malfoy Manor this Christmas Eve. Guests are expected to arrive at Seven O'clock, in formal attire.
We greatly anticipate your arrival.
RSVP,
Mr & Mrs L. Malfoy.
She had had no choice but to reply with a 'yes' since Malfoy had already made it clear to his parents that she was going, regardless. He had told his parents about three weeks ago that she was going. As for Harry, she knew he had been fairly willing to accept the invitation and reply with an affirmative. Groaning, she lay back down in bed and tried to sleep. After failing several attempts at trying to find a comfy position, she threw her covers off in frustration and stomped into the shower, where she quickly washed and dried herself.
Hermione made herself a bowl of cereal which she then carried into the bedroom, munching in the process. She opened her cupboard door with one hand, and gazed at the emerald green dress which she was to wear the next night. She couldn't deny the rising feeling of excitement when she saw it hang elegantly next to her other shabby pieces of clothing. Glancing at the bottom of her wardrobe, she spotted her delicate, silver heels she was going to wear with the dress. She bought them the week before with Pansy, insisting that she was at least going to buy something for her outfit. She took another mouthful of her Coco Pops before closing the wooden door and sloping back into the kitchen.
She just sat down when she heard her fireplace hiss into life as Ginny came through.
"Hello, I didn't think you'd be up yet." Ginny said brightly, sitting herself down at the table.
"I didn't think you'd be either," Hermione countered, finishing her cereal. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Just seeing if you were okay," Ginny suddenly seemed interested in the salt cellar.
"Really," Hermione coughed. "I need to brush my teeth and then go."
"Right…" Ginny trailed off as Hermione stood from the table and cleaned her bowl with her wand. "Hermione, do you like Malfoy?"
"As a friend, yeah," She replied quickly, almost running from the room into the bathroom.
She heard Ginny laugh loudly from the kitchen as she fetched her toothbrush. "Whatever, Hermione. Okay, I'll come over tomorrow with Pansy to help you get ready. Deal?"
"Deal!" She called back with difficulty as her toothbrush was in her mouth. "Bye!"
She sighed as she heard Ginny disappear. Why had she asked that question? Scowling, Hermione finished brushing her teeth, checked her watch and then departed for Diagon Alley with fifteen minutes to spare.
To her surprise, Olivia was already standing outside the shop with Blaise Zabini, whose arms were wrapped protectively around her shoulders. It was a very cold morning, and Hermione's breath came out as a white puff as she spoke to two friends. "Hey Olivia, Blaise." She unlocked the shop door and they all hurried in to escape the biting air.
"Hey, Hermione," She was slightly shocked to hear Blaise call her by her first name. "You don't mind me being here? I wanted to buy a book, and then ask you something."
Olivia seemed to busy herself, suddenly, rushing into the coffee room where she hastily began making three cups of coffee.
"What would you like?" Hermione unwound her scarf and placed it on the counter. "Technically, we aren't open, but we'll let you off." She added with a wink.
"Um, it's my mum's birthday, and I was wondering if you had any romance novels." He asked, blushing slightly.
"Muggle or Wizard?" Hermione asked in return, completely unabashed by his question.
"Wizard." Blaise followed Hermione as she gestured him over to a shelf. "Uh, would you mind picking a good one out for me? I don't really know what sort she likes."
Hermione laughed. "No problem, Blaise. This is a bestseller by Marianne Mauver; lots of Witches enjoy her books." She held up a thick book with a couple holding hands on the front. "Or, we also have Adriana Horadicus. I recommend her books as they're very tasteful. Unless you're mother prefers more…erotic books, then I suggest you go for-"
"I'll take that one, thanks Hermione." Blaise grinned shyly, and took the one by Horadicus. "And I have a favour to ask…"
"Go on," Hermione nodded gently.
"Can I take Olivia out for the day? I mean, if you're busy then it's fine, don't worry…"
"Oh, how lovely! Yes, of course – I'll be fine on my own!" Hermione beamed at Blaise. She was so happy for Olivia that she had found such a caring, pleasant guy to date.
"Thank you!" Blaise quickly pressed a couple of Galleons into Hermione's hand. "Keep the change. Olivia, let's go!"
Olivia came bounding out of the coffee room, smiling like crazy. She hadn't even taken off her coat and scarf, and Hermione knew that Olivia had expected her to say yes.
Watching them leave the shop, Hermione put away two mugs and continued to make herself some coffee. She smiled happily as her thoughts, once again, turned to the ball the next evening. She couldn't fathom why her feelings had changed so much in thinking about the party, but she guessed it was because Harry was also going; it wouldn't be too awkward then.
The day wasn't that bad for Hermione. Despite not having Olivia there on a fairly busy day, she coped quite well in managing all her customers. She was surprised when Ron appeared during her lunch break, his ears red from either cold or anger, she couldn't tell. "Hello, Ron. I doubt you're in here to purchase a book." Hermione's eyes twinkled as Ron shifted his footing slightly from in front of the counter.
"No, I was here to ask you a favour." He said quickly and nervously.
"Okay," Hermione was wary when it came to Ron. He was extremely unpredictable.
"Can you…keep an eye on Pansy for me?" He asked imploringly.
"Don't you trust her, Ronald?" Hermione frowned and folded her arms. "You know a good relationship is based on trust, and you-"
He held up a hand to stop her rush of words. "I'm not here for a lecture, Hermione, I'm just asking that you make sure that no man makes a move on her, or she doesn't get too drunk and…you know."
Hermione sighed. "Of course, Ron. I doubt that she would stand for any man who tried to flirt. She really, really likes you Ron. Plus, she knows how angry you can get." She added with a wink.
Ron chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. "I really like her, too. In fact, I may even…never mind."
Hermione was stunned. Was Ron about to confess his love about Pansy? Yeah, they'd been in a relationship for four or five months, but wasn't it a bit rushed to start proclaiming your love for someone. "That's good, Ron. Really good; you should tell her that you really like her. She'd love that."
He beamed. "Serious?"
"I'm serious." Hermione repeated, smiling. "Hey, do you want to go for lunch?"
"What, just me and you? People might get the wrong impression and think I'm cheating on Pansy." He warned her.
"No, silly, we'll invite Pansy, Ginny and Harry. It'll be like old times…with Pansy."
"Okay," he said happily. "Where shall we go? How about the Hog's Head? Business went through the roof after the War. We haven't been in there a while."
"Good idea!" Hermione agreed. "It'll be nice to see Aberforth again. I'll just lock up the shop and then we can go."
Ron waited impatiently outside the shop for Hermione to finish securing her shop. "Hang on, do Ginny and Harry know?"
"Know what?" Hermione asked, confused.
"That they're going for lunch…" Ron said slowly, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, well, no, but they're never busy!" She said brightly and prepared herself to Apparate directly outside Harry and Ginny's house. Ron took hold of her arm just as she turned on the spot, and they both arrived on an icy doorstep with a crack. Hermione knocked loudly on the door and waited patiently for it to open.
"Hey, Ron, Hermione!" Harry said warmly, opening the door wider so they could step inside. "What a surprise."
"We were wondering if you and Ginny would like to come to lunch with us, as well as Pansy, to The Hog's Head." Hermione asked, grinning. She and Ron followed Harry into their cosy living room, and both sat down on a sofa. "We haven't been in there for a while, and I thought it would be nice for us all to have lunch together."
"Pansy's here, actually." Harry chuckled.
"Really?" Ron exclaimed. "She never told me!"
"I don't have to tell you everything, Ronald." Pansy entered the living room and gave him a peck on the lips. "I'm at Harry and Ginny's; is that better?"
"Oh, ha, ha." He said sarcastically, but laughed afterwards. "You know what I mean. Where's Ginny?"
"In the kitchen. I'll get her now." Harry disappeared for a moment but then came back into the living room with Ginny beaming by his side.
"Oh, what a surprise!" She squealed happily. "We were just about to have lunch – why don't you join us?"
"Okay." Ron said immediately and shrugged off his coat. "You don't mind Hermione?" He added quietly to her.
"No, not at all." Hermione joined Ron in hanging up their coats, and then went to sit at the beautifully laid table.
--
Draco Malfoy scowled as his mother once again changed the theme of the decorations in the house. "For Heaven's sake, mother! You've been indecisive for the past hour!"
"I know, Draco, but this has to perfect," She turned to give him a glare. "Now, I think silvery-white and pale blue should do the trick, don't you?"
"Yes," he said stiffly. Folding his arms, he gazed around the huge ballroom which took up half of the west wing of Malfoy Manor. The ceiling was high, with delicate engraved snakes in the corners. Floor to ceiling sash windows occupied one wall of the room, their curtains elegantly pulled back. A huge fireplace sat opposite the grand double doors and currently it was being lit by a house elf. "Mother, do I have to wait around? I could be helping father."
Narcissa didn't answer but called a house elf which appeared with a crack by her side.
"Yes, Mistress?" The house-elf bowed.
"I want you to decorate this room in these colours…" Draco stopped listening to his mother's instructions and carefully slipped out of the doors, into the grand hallway. He hated being in this house. It wasn't that he didn't like his parents, no, he actually loved them. He just hated the memories that haunted him every time he came to this stupid Manor. Sighing, he remembered his father mentioning that he'd be in his study, so quickly stepping up the carpeted stairway, he knocked quietly on the door of his father's office.
"Come in," came a strained voice.
"Hello, father." Draco sat down opposite his father, behind the desk.
"Ah, Draco," Lucius drawled. "What can I do for you?" He placed down the quill he was writing with, and glanced at his frowning son.
"I needed to get away from mother. She was driving me insane." He admitted.
His father smirked. "Yes, she does tend to do that around this time of year. So why are you in my study?"
"I came to see you. Do you need help with anything?" Draco asked hopefully.
"Draco, if I needed help, I would ask a house elf. Now go back to your mother; she needs more help than me." Lucius dismissed his son with a wave and picked up his quill. "I have work to do."
Nodding curtly to his father, Draco angrily got up from his chair and swiftly stepped from the room. Work, his arse. He was probably drawing pictures on that parchment; just an excuse to get away from his crazy, organising mother. He stomped back down the stairs, grumpily, trying to ignore his mother's sudden call.
"Draco! Draco, there you are." She smirked from the doorway of the ballroom. "Look, I've finished decorating!"
Draco forced a smile and unwillingly entered the room. He couldn't help but be impressed when he saw the interior. The swish, silk curtains had been changed from a deep red into a pure white. The walls had been decorated to a pale off-white colour, with hints of pale blue and emerald green in the corners and along the bottom. Large, plush sofas and chairs sat majestically in corners and along walls, with beautiful, dark wooden side tables. In one area of the room towards the ornate, engraved snake fireplace, large round tables which seated twelve sat already laid and ready to be occupied. Three house elves squeaked to each other in hurry to finish decorating the room. One of them almost dropped a vase and Narcissa shot the poor creature a sharp glare.
"Be careful, will you?" She snapped, angrily.
"Sorry, Mistress!" The house elf replied with a bow and resumed carrying the vase to a table.
"It's very well done, mother. I just hope you don't do it all again." Draco sighed.
His mother laughed, and gave her son a hesitant hug. "No, I think this is all done. Now, I want you to have dinner with your father and me, tonight."
Reluctantly, Draco agreed. He'd rather spend it alone or even with Pansy and, unfortunately, Ron. Maybe even Granger. His thoughts turned to the young woman as he turned on his heel, and wandered through the Manor until he reached the library. Once there, he called a house elf to light the fire and he settled down on a dark brown Chesterfield to think. Over the last months he had found himself in the company of Hermione Granger, more than ever before. Willingly. He hadn't actually minded spending time with her in the Three Broomsticks, and when she came back to his apartment, he was rather pleased he had some company. He disregarded the fact that she was a complete cow to him the next morning. Now, he wondered what she would be wearing to the ball. He actually wanted her to go, but as for Potter, he wasn't that fussed. It was really to only get their Malfoy name back into the good books of the Wizarding world, but now…Draco was surprisingly looking forward to seeing Hermione at the ball. He scowled. He wasn't supposed to be feeling that. What would his parents say? It was true, however, that he had stopped taking a sleeping draught ever since Hermione stayed that one night. Heaven forbid if he ever told his parents.
Scowling, he Accio'd a book over from one of the numerous shelves, and attempted to read. After five minutes of reading the same page, he gave up and decided to go for a walk around the grounds. Calling a house elf to fetch his coat, scarf and gloves, he stretched and left the Library. The house elf quickly reappeared with his required pieces of clothing, and he slipped them on gratefully as he stepped out into the cold air. The garden of Malfoy Manor was huge. Grass, trees and beautifully kept flowers stretched over twenty acres of land. However, at that present moment, the trees had lost their leaves, flowers had been removed and the grass was short and a dull green. The ground under his feet was as solid as a rock, and it made his teeth rattle as he did a light jog to keep himself warm. Draco slowly made his way down a slight hill to the bottom of the garden, where a row of tall pine trees obscured the view of the next field. He then walked quickly, his thoughts turning over in his mind, along the perimeter until he came to a break in the trees. Smiling slightly, he crouched down and slipped in so he was surrounded by branches, and the rich smell of pine needles. Twigs snapped under his polished shoes as he leant back against a tree and sat down gently on the floor. This was where he used to go to think as a child; it was his hiding place, his comfort zone. He rubbed his gloved hands together to keep himself warm. After failing miserably, he fished his wand out from beneath his coat and cast a warming charm over himself. He started to feel a little peckish, so he called a house elf and ordered some sandwiches and a flask of Butterbeer. Whilst he was waiting, his thoughts turned to his new…acquaintances. He liked Granger, more than the others. He definitely liked Weasley the least and scowled when he thought of the lanky, freckly, red-head man dating one of his best friends. As for the She-Weasel, he actually found her surprisingly easy to talk to and to get along with…even slightly better than Potter. He was interrupted in his thinking by the house elf bringing him his food.
"Thank you, and don't tell my parents I'm here." He ordered to the bowing house elf. It disappeared with a crack, and Draco was left alone, once again, with his sandwiches and Butterbeer. He sat munching on his sandwiches quite peacefully, but yet there was something nagging at the back of his mind. He couldn't help but feel very lonely for the first time in ages; since sixth year to be precise. He wished he could spend time with friends, instead of always being around his parents, or staying in at his apartment doing work. He wished he the kind of friends Granger had…he sat up immediately from leaning against the bark of a pine tree. Was he, Draco Malfoy, slightly jealous of Potter, Weasel and Granger? He tried to ignore the small voice in the back of his head telling him that he was, but couldn't. Draco stood up angrily and threw the plate of sandwiches. It broke into tiny china pieces, and he quickly vanished the rubbish away. Grabbing the flask of Butterbeer, he stormed out of his little hiding place and marched up the hill towards the Manor, swigging his drink. When he entered through the back door and into the little parlour, he threw off his coat and cloak underneath, ripped his scarf and gloves off and ran into the bathroom where he cast a silencing charm on the room. There, he screamed angrily and punched the beautiful, silver mirror. It cracked around his knuckles and they began to bleed heavily. Why was he so frustrated and angry? It was only the Golden Trio plus their partners…no big deal. He turned on the tap and washed away the blood on his hand. Sighing, he looked up into the broken mirror and repaired it with a quick swish of his wand. The stinging in his hand becoming more pronounced, he also healed his hand, removed the silencing charm and left the bathroom.
He paced around the Manor for a while, careful to avoid his mother, and waited until his anger had subsided. He suddenly felt weary from the stressful day, and Draco yawned and decided he'd tale a nap before heading down to dinner, three hours later.
Dinner was served at exactly seven o'clock in the Malfoy Manor, and Draco smoothly made his way into the dining room, dressed in all black. The table was long enough to seat twelve but the three Malfoy's sat as a close group at one end of the table; Lucius at the head, Narcissa to his right and Draco on his left. Dinner had never been an awkward affair after the War, but that night was an exception. Draco was still musing over his earlier thoughts and Narcissa was trying to make conversation about the ball the next night.
"I have all the food sorted; hot and cold, meats and vegetarian and of course, the favourites from the days at Hogwarts."
Lucius grunted in response and continued to shovel down his beef stew.
"Draco, I have changed the lighting." She turned to her son who gave a forced smile.
"To what?"
"Instead of the room being bright, I have decided to keep it fairly dim. There will also be a few candles on each of the tables."
"Sounds lovely."
The conversation ended and the family continued eating their food without another word.
--
"Hermione, Hermione!" Ginny pounded on her bedroom door. "Wake up! It's Christmas Eve and you know what that means!"
She sat up in bed, hair all in disarray and screamed. "No!"
"Yes!" Ginny opened the door with a bang, and beamed at her shocked friend. "You should be excited."
"No!" Hermione repeated.
"Come on, you need some food and then have a shower. Oh yeah, you're not working today; I sorted it all with Olivia." She added as an afterthought.
"What?" Hermione hissed, turning to face Ginny, just as she was about to be pushed into her bathroom after being pulled reluctantly from her warm bed. "How could you? I was using today as a distraction!"
Ginny laughed nervously. "We'll talk after your shower!"
Hermione let out a frustrated scream before stepping into the hot shower to relax her muscles. Deliberately taking half an hour to infuriate Ginny, Hermione finally hopped out of the shower and dried herself with her wand. Slowly making her way back into her bedroom, she got dressed and then shuffled into the kitchen where Ginny was tapping her foot impatiently.
"You took long enough." She grumbled.
Hermione only smiled sweetly and sat down opposite Ginny. "Now, why have you rudely entered my humble abode, forced me into my shower and given me an unwanted day off?"
"So I can help you get ready."
"Ginevra Molly Weasley. I do not need ten hours to get ready."
"Uh, yeah you do." Ginny answered back, pouting.
Folding her arms, she glared at her supposedly best friend. "And why would I?"
"We need to do you hair; your nails; face mask; clothes; accessories; make up and walking."
"First of all, who's we, and second, what in Merlin's pants do you mean by walking? I know how to walk!" Hermione exclaimed incredulously.
"Pansy, of course. She wouldn't miss this day for the world. Not to mention that she needs to get ready too; we can do it altogether." She beamed at the scowling woman opposite her.
"And when is Pansy arriving?" Hermione arched an eyebrow.
"Ten. She's bringing loads of stuff, too. Oh yeah, let me get mine from your living room." She left the kitchen to fetch two, large leather bags.
"What could possibly be in there?" Hermione's eyes widened.
"Stuff to help you." Ginny shrugged nonchalantly and dumped the bags in Hermione's room. "Oh, I'm so excited for you, Hermione!"
Harrumphing, she got up from the table and made herself some toast. "I would offer you something, but as you've been so rude to me I won't."
Ginny laughed. "Whatever, Hermione. You know you're just as excited as me."
Rolling her eyes, Hermione waited for the toast to pop up and noticed Ginny really wanted to say something. As per usual. "What?"
"Well, it's just…" She squirmed in her seat. "Are you going to use this opportunity to look for a guy? I mean, it's been a year since you last dated…"
Hermione sighed. It was true; she hadn't been on a date for a very long time. "Yeah, I probably will. No harm in trying, right?"
"Right!" Ginny positively beamed with excitement. "Oh, I have to floo Pansy and tell her."
Before Hermione could ask why she didn't just wait until Pansy arrived, Ginny had ran into the living room, grabbed the powder and disappeared. "What charming friends I have."
Hermione grabbed her toast and buttered it slowly before sitting down and munching. She was secretly excited about spending the day pampering herself and Pansy for that night's ball. She was also incredibly nervous; she was going to Malfoy Manor for crying out loud! She wondered how Harry was feeling about that.
Rubbing her hands together to get rid of the crumbs, Hermione finished the last mouthful and decided to take a peek in one of Ginny's bags. What could she have bought which took up so much room? She quickly unzipped it and gasped when she saw the contents. Hundreds of different make hair products; nail varnishes; makeup; accessories – all the things Ginny had said earlier filled the bags to the brim.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure what would go with your skin complexion and all, so I decided to bring the whole lot." Ginny said sheepishly, standing in the doorway with Pansy giggling silently over her shoulder. "And Pansy's here a bit earlier since I went over there anyway."
"Hey ho, ready to get down to business?" Pansy asked with a wink.
"I'm simply raring to go." Hermione made her voice drip with sarcasm.
"Stop being so grumpy, Hermione!" Ginny scolded. "We'll strap you down if we have to."
Hermione scowled but nodded. "Let's begin."
--
Four hours, six different nail polishes, twenty different accessories and a meal later, Hermione lay on the sofa and groaned. "I can't do this."
"Yes, you can, Hermione Jean Granger, and you will." Ginny began to comb through her best friends hair, whilst Pansy whipped out a bottle of Sleek-Easy.
"How long did it take you to apply this stuff again?" Pansy asked, trying to remember the Yule Ball.
"Three hours. I had to use loads." Hermione winced as Ginny pulled at a knot.
"Do you have to wet your hair?"
Hermione nodded. "I'll do that once Ginny's finished. It's literally like shampoo." She waited patiently for Ginny to finally get through her wild hair, before shoving her head under the shower head, and waving her hand about for the Sleek-Easy.
Pansy handed it to her and she watched with interest as Hermione lathered on the amazing substance. After three huge amounts and lots of washing, Hermione eventually turned off the shower, dried her hair with her wand and gazed in the mirror. Although her hair had tamed slightly since her school years, it had now been transformed into soft, honey coloured curls which splayed over her shoulders gracefully.
"Wow, Hermione; you look stunning!" Pansy said amazed. "It feels so soft, too!"
"Thanks," she blushed and headed back into the living room where Ginny beamed.
"Gorgeous girl, as always."
Her colour only seemed to go a darker shade of red. "Now that the hair is done, what's next? We've got my nail colour; clear, we've chosen the accessories; the silver shawl and small flower-"
"Wait! We need to do jewellery! And you hair isn't completely done, it's almost done. We still need to style it." Ginny said smugly, fingering one of her curls.
"Fine," Hermione rolled her eyes and sat on the sofa. "Do your worst."
"With pleasure," Ginny licked her lips and grinned evilly.
Hermione's hair was tugged into so many different positions; she wondered that it hadn't fallen out. "Ouch."
"Sorry!" wailed Ginny. "I have no idea what to do with your hair!"
"Let me do it," Pansy ceased rifling through different shades of eye shadow, and gently pushed Ginny out of the way. She pulled out her wand, flicked it about slightly – muttering words under her breath – and Hermione felt her hair being gently pulled up off her face apart from two strands.
"Wow, Pansy! You so have to teach me those styling skills!" Ginny clapped her hands together and stared in wonder at Hermione's hair. "Oh, Malfoy will absolutely adore-" She clapped a hand to her mouth after she realised what she had just let slip.
Hermione was shocked, irritated, amazed, angry… a mixture of emotions. What the hell did Ginny mean by Malfoy adoring? Herself? Her hair? What was she on about!
"Ginny, what are you talking about?" she asked slowly.
"Nothing, she was just talking about the colour scheme; it's green and silver after all." Pansy said coldly. "Ginny. Don't speak."
Ginny nodded meekly and retreated to the corner of the room where Pansy sent her a stare which could kill.
Hermione let the subject drop. The room had a sudden chill to it and she tried to warm it back up again by changing the subject. "So, er, Pansy? When are you going to get ready?"
"Oh, I have been whilst you were. I've done my hair, see? And my makeup." Hermione gazed in wonder at Pansy's hair; she had curled it and twisted it into a beautiful French bun. "Wow that looks amazing!"
"Thanks," Pansy smiled and finished twirling her wand over Hermione's hair. "Right, take a look in the mirror and tell me what you think. Oh yeah, put the flower in too."
Hermione twisted her neck slightly so she could have a better view in the mirror. Half of her hair had been pulled up into a chignon bun on the top of her head; the rest fell in soft waves beneath. The delicate flower – a small lily – was placed in the side of the bun. Hermione thought that her hair had never looked more beautiful. "Oh, Pansy. This is simply…gorgeous!" She turned around and gave her best friend a hug. "And Ginny, thank you for all your help." She also embraced Ginny who smiled shyly.
"I picked out some jewellery for you," She said and held out a delicate pearl necklace. "There are also earrings to match."
"Aw, thanks Gin'! I don't know what I'd do without you two!" Hermione's heart almost burst with the gratitude and love she felt towards her two best girlfriends.
"You'd be a complete fashion failure, I think." Pansy stared at her nails and then grinned at Hermione. "Jokes."
"Whatever. What's the time?"
Ginny checked a thin watch on her wrist. "Five thirty. Ooh, an hour and a half left!"
Grimacing, Hermione carefully sat down making sure to not ruin her hair.
"Don't sit down!" Pansy pulled her back onto her feet again. You need to practise walking in heels. When was the last time you wore them?"
"Pfft, like…two years ago?" Hermione chuckled. "I really can't wear them. They hurt my feet too much."
"Well, we can put a cushioning charm on the soles so it shouldn't ache…Anyway, put your shoes on and let's start practising!" Pansy handed Hermione her silver shoes and waited patiently whilst she slipped them on.
Hermione grabbed Pansy's outstretched arm and she helped pull herself up from the sofa. Wobbling slightly, she took a couple of steps but then stopped after Ginny's cringe-worthy expression. "What?" She asked affronted.
"You are so stiff. You need to relax, put your shoulders back and stand up straight. Yeah, that's it." Ginny nodded encouragingly as Hermione took heed to her advice.
"Swing your hips, Hermione." Winked Pansy.
Hermione took the next hour learning to walk in the high shoes. She almost fell over one point when Pansy asked her to turn sharply. They both asked her to stand in different positions that she would naturally, to walk in a hurry and they even asked her to practise dancing with one of them.
Hermione glanced at the clock and noticed it was quarter to seven. "Oh my gosh! Pansy! Look at the time!"
Pansy calmly took this news in. "We need to do your makeup."
"Quickly, quickly." Hermione almost bounced up and down on the sofa in anticipation.
Ginny quickly got to work with Hermione's makeup, keeping it light and natural, whilst Pansy kept giving her tips on how to do it in future when neither of her friends were with her. She disappeared for five minutes but then came back wearing her dress; it was a gorgeous midnight blue which brought out the colour of her eyes dramatically.
"You look lovely, Pansy." Hermione said as well as she could as Ginny applied her mascara. "You know, I could do this myself, Ginny."
"No you couldn't!" She argued playfully and put away the mascara. She leant back to take a look at her work. "Perfectumendo."
Hermione hastily grabbed a small mirror and examined her reflection. Her eyeliner had been done lightly and smoothly – a small black line to define the shape. Her mascara was also done to the minimum, not much was applied, but it still made her eyelashes look long and full. There was a light blush on her cheeks and she wore a pale, natural lipstick. "Thanks, Ginny. This is great. What's the time?" She suddenly asked.
"Two minutes to. I guess I better leave. Have a great time, you two." Ginny stood up and waved her wand so all her items zoomed into her two large bags. Hermione quickly hugged her friend and murmured her thanks. Pansy did the same but muttered something in Ginny's ear which made her grin mischievously. With one last goodbye, Ginny disappeared in the floo.
"Right, let's get your dress on." Pansy helped Hermione slip on the beautiful silk dress. It felt wonderful on her skin, and as Pansy placed the shawl around her shoulders, Hermione couldn't help but feel pleased at her appearance. She quickly put the earrings in and did the necklace up with her wand. "Oh my gosh, I don't have a clutch bag!"
"No worries," Pansy winked and pulled one out of a plastic bag. "I knew you didn't have one so I brought one with me."
"Oh, thank you so much!" Hermione said, relieved. She took hold of the small green bag and placed in a few essentials.
"Are you ready?" Pansy asked her, as she stepped up to the fireplace and took a handful of floo powder.
"Not really, but let's just get this over with."
Whoa, what's gonna happen? :O Please review; I love to hear what you think! Thanks!