An actually decent sized chapter! What decent writer has possessed my keyboard? I realize the story doesn't flow very well, I'll fix everything and add more detail and make it cohesive when I finish probably. Maybe. I've never finished a story before, but I really want to finish this one.
"Another party?" Hermione groaned.
"Oh come one, the last one wasn't so bad," Draco said.
"Don't you lot ever work?"
"This is work."
"I don't see how."
Draco sighed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose to fight off a headache. For a clever girl, Granger was stubbornly ignorant about things she didn't care for.
"Come on, it's Pansy's party, would you really deny her?" Draco asked.
"She'll forgive me," Hermione said shortly. Clearly she didn't know Pansy very well yet, because Draco knew she most certainly would not.
"We had a deal," Draco reminded the witch sternly.
The witch sighed, "you could have at least given me some advanced notice," she snapped, "I could have plans."
Draco laughed, which only made Granger angrier.
"Whatever, let's go," Hermione said, grabbing her wand and shoving it in her skirt pocket.
Draco stepped between Hermione and her front door, "not dressed like that," he said, looking disapprovingly at her loose, plain white button-down that was half-tucked in to a deep blue knee-length skirt.
Hermione looked up at him with pursed lips and a stubborn glare, "try and stop me," she challenged.
A hint of devilish mischief flashed in Draco's eyes at the prospect, but he allowed the witch to step around him and out the door. They may be playing at lovers, but he certainly wasn't about to undress her. Besides, Pansy certainly wouldn't allow Granger into her house looking like that.
Sure enough, the moment Pansy saw the pair step into the ballroom, her face became pale. She immediately apparated to their side, and pushed Granger back out the door into the main hallway.
"I'm stealing your date," Pansy called to Draco over her shoulder, and he chuckled as Pansy dragged Granger down the corridor and out of sight.
Draco was mingling with Blaise and a few of Blaise's coworkers when Pansy and Granger returned. Pansy had changed outfits as well, demanding attention as she re-entered wearing a shimmering golden dress that hugged her form and shone nearly as bright as the chandeliers. Still, Draco managed to look past his over-dramatic friend, and his eyes fell on Hermione.
She was wearing a deep blue gown, the same rich hue that her skirt had been, and only a little shorter, reaching just above her knees. However, this gown flowed out, lively and soft while her skirt had been straight and stiff. With each slight movement Granger made, the dress swirled around her like it was made of undying waves, never fully settling. The bodice was simple, with short plain sleeves and a modest, square neckline, but it was tight enough that the witch's slight curves were noticeable.
Draco's thoughts took him back to the Yule ball, when he had seen Granger for the first time with her hair out of her face. When she danced with Vicktor Krum in the center of the room, and all eyes were on her. Now, eight years later, Granger looked like a shadow behind Pansy, who looked like a glittering star. Still, Draco's eyes were on Hermione.
Draco strode forward, his eyes never leaving Hermione as he maneuvered around the other party guests, ignoring those who tried to greet him. Granger didn't even notice him until he was right in front of her, asking her to dance.
Hermione's lips parted in surprise, but Pansy pushed her forward into Malfoy's arms, and Hermione stumbled. It wasn't exactly a promising start, but Malfoy placed his hand firmly on Hermione's back and guided her towards the dance floor confidently. He exaggerated his steps and moved slowly, and Hermione followed along well enough, "don't look at your feet," he told her, "trust me, it will only mess you up more. Just listen to the music and feel where my hands are telling you to go."
Hermione looked at him, lost, and so he stepped backwards and pulled her forward with his right hand that rested on her back. He lead her in a simple box step, gently pushing her in the direction he intended to go. Though she didn't step in time to the music, and moved a few moments after Draco already had rather then moving simultaneously, she managed to understand how he was telling her to move. Then Draco lifted his left hand, and pushed the witch lightly with his right, turning her slowly. The skirt of her dress brushed against his legs like a whisper as she turned.
Hermione was a quick learner, of course, and soon they were gliding around the room in step. Draco twirled Hermione around, and pulled her back to him. The world was spinning around her and all she could focus on was him. When she stepped on his foot, Draco smiled smugly at her, and she glared in response. Malfoy pulled her closer to him, so her chest was nearly touching his and her chin rested on his shoulder. She didn't resist, only because this way she didn't have to look at his face. They swayed together, the music moving them gently like soft wind. But then, over Malfoy's shoulder, Hermione's eyes locked with Ron's. Hermione pulled away from Malfoy.
"I'm sorry," Hermione mumbled, before turning away from Malfoy and rushing out of the room, into the hallway.
Draco looked to where Hermione had been looking, and saw Ron glaring after the fleeing witch. Draco's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fists. He considered going over there and introducing his fists to Weasel's face, but instead he turned and stormed after Hermione.
He entered the hallway, and didn't find Hermione among the few people there. He turned the corner into another hallway, and checked the rooms. No Granger. He turned down another corridor, and another, growing more and more angry as he went. Why the bloody hell does Pansy need a house this fucking large? Draco thought, ignoring the fact that his house was just as large, if not larger.
Finally, he found the witch perched on a window seat in a dark, rarely used hallway. Her wild hair and part of her face shone in the moonlight.
"What the fuck Granger?" he started angrily.
Hermione looked up in surprise, "what?"
"You left me out there alone like a bloody idiot!" he shouted.
"Oh please, I'm sure hardly anyone noticed."
"I bloody well noticed!"
"I needed a moment!" Hermione shouted back, allowing him to rile her up once again, "why are you so angry at me? You're behaving like a child."
"I'm not angry at you! I'm just angry!" Draco yelled, his breath coming hard.
"Why?" Hermione glared, standing up to face him.
"Because you let that fucking Weasel affect you so much! I get it, you broke up, he hates you, get over it!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes. She'd nearly forgotten how much of an absolute git Malfoy could be, "you wouldn't understand."
"Oh, I wouldn't? You were engaged for one fucking month! I was married for three years!"
"It's different!"
"Why? You think I didn't care? That I didn't love her? That seeing her face doesn't hurt? Of course it does! But I never abandoned you!"
Hermione's anger calmed as she processed this. Malfoy was left panting, slowly realizing how vulnerable he had let himself become. He had never been able to think clearly around this damn muggle-born.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said finally, avoiding Malfoy's intense gaze.
There was a pause.
"Prove it. Dance with me." Malfoy said. Hermione looked at him curiously, but his dark features revealed nothing.
"What?"
"I was promised a dance Granger," Draco said, pulling her up from the bench and looping his arm around Hermione's waist. He lifting her right hand to his shoulder, held her other hand, and to the faint sound of the music down the hall, they began to dance.
He held her closer now that they were all alone. Hermione blushed, and continued to avoid Draco's eyes. Now that they were alone, she didn't have to feign confidence and pretend that this didn't feel strange, that she wasn't used to being so close to him.
Then, he pulled her even closer, and moved her left hand that he had been holding up to his other shoulder, and placed his hand on her waist. Now they were much closer, his cheek touching her hair and her small frame pressing against him. Hermione was tense, and it made her tense up even more with the realization that he could feel how tense she was. She was all too aware of his hands on her waist, softly moving her hips along with his as they danced around the hallway. They were both glad the other couldn't see their face.
"Why did you break up?" Hermione asked quietly. Draco could feel Hermione's breath on his neck as she spoke. He sighed, and his breath cause a few of Hermione's stray hairs to quiver.
"We disagreed, about nearly everything; whose parents to spend christmas with, where to live, whether to have children," Draco recounted, still dancing slowly, "it might've been fine, we could have worked through it, but we never really tried. We never fought, with each other or for each other. We simply began coming home from work later and later. I tried once, to argue with her. I don't know why, I suppose I just wanted to see some passion in her, passion she had for her work and for her family, and at one point for me. I told her Cambridge was a terrible place to live, and only pompous muggles lived there. Instead of arguing back, perhaps pointing out that I'm more pompous than any muggle could ever hope to be, Astoria merely told me that we were too different. I told her I liked our differences, and she told me that was because I didn't like myself, and she wanted to be with someone who liked themselves, and was proud of their name."
Malfoy was silent for a long while, but he continued swaying back and forth with Hermione, holding her close.
"She might have even been right," Draco said thoughtfully, "I don't know. All I know is that I want someone who is willing to change with me, not to relax and just be content staying the same. If I'm not proud of my name then I want someone to stand by me as I make a new name for myself. Astoria left me, but I'm glad she did. Well, now I am anyway," Draco had slowed his steps so much they were basically standing still now, leaning on each other. "I think couples are meant to be partners," Malfoy continued, "I watched my parents live separate lives, on opposite sides of a mansion, as if they were nothing more than neighbors. My mother turned around one day and found a man she didn't recognize. If I ever remarry, I know I will never be in a marriage like the one my parents had. I've learned from their mistakes," Malfoy said resolutely.
Hermione racked her brain for a proper response, "I'm glad Astoria left you," she said, and then rushed to explain when she realized how harsh that sounded, "I'm sorry, no, what I mean is… if she wasn't going to be your partner, I'm glad you have a chance now to find someone who will. Someone who might fight with you, but at the end of the day will fight for you as well," she finished awkwardly.
After a moment, Malfoy said softly, "thank you."
Then, Draco pulled away slightly, and kissed Hermione lightly on the cheek, "come on," he said, turning and walking back towards the main hallway, "I'll take you home. We'll beg Pansy's forgiveness tomorrow."