A/N: Hey guys! So this chapter is a bit late. I've been busy with debate training and Student Council duties. I'm practically half asleep as I wrote this chapter so I apologize for typo errors and hazy scenes. I still don't know what plan they would be doing, but I do accept suggestions so review. Without further ado, I give you chapter 8.
Disclaimer: I don't own the wizarding world of Harry Potter. If I did another town other than Hogsmeade will be made.
It's a two days before Valentine's day. Two days to finish their plan. So far, it had been successful, and now, with the help of Edward and Adelaide, it's bound to become foolproof. Theo and Blaise made their way over the secluded booth in a fancy restaurant in Diagon Alley where the two aforementioned Grangers sat, waiting for them. They too will be celebrating a ball in honour of Eros, a well-known wizard so talented with love potions that he was named after the Greek god of love himself.
"I didn't think you two were serious about travelling all the way here." Theo said as he slid in the seat across Edward after Blaise.
"This is the only shot we've got, Theo. We won't waste it by directing you. We will be doing this one ourselves." Adelaide scoffed. "We just need entrance within your school."
"Consider that sorted. Now on to the actual plan." Blaise smirked and they huddled closer to discuss whatever it is they have up their sleeves.
Back at Hogsmeade, everyone, namely all the fourth up to the seventh years were busy looking for dresses and final embellishments on their outfits and dresses. Some were busy buying gifts for their special someone, while others were busy picking out which suits to wear. It was a different kind of party. This time, there would be no dress robes for the gentlemen, rather they would be wearing dashing suits, tailored and magically altered to their taste and size. All Hermione Granger's idea, of course! She feared disagreements and a lot of bashing, but surprisingly, it was greeted with welcome arms. The new notion and way to celebrate a festivity. It was, after all, time for openness and change in their current system. In addition to that, the celebration a formal event, probably one of the last for all seventh years as they only have a few months to go before they graduate. It was also an alternative for what was supposed to be the Yule Ball last winter.
Hermione and Ginny separated from Ron and Harry in search of the perfect dresses. It was rather late considering the fact that the event was two days from now, so they were having trouble because all the good ones have already been gone.
"This is hopeless, Mione! All the good ones are taken!" Ginny cried.
The brunette could only smirk and pull the redhead down the path leading to the outskirts of Hogsmeade. There they found a different set of buildings that seem to glisten in the sunlight. It screamed beauty and elegance. A part of Hogsmeade no one but the highest Pureblood familes in the hierarchy are able to access.
"Wow." She breathed in awe. "This is amazing!" Hermione smiled and led her best friend to one of the shops, Elegance. Couldn't be more straightforward, the name itself.
"Ah! Miss Granger! Welcome back!" The shopkeeper greeted. "I see you brought a friend."
"Yes. You see Fabio, we need dresses for the Valentine's celebration we're having on the 14th."
"Of course you came to the right place, Mademoiselle." He smirked. "We just released a new line of dresses."
"We'll take two from that collection. Please, present it so we may choose." With a wave of his wand, two racks with seven dresses each appeared in front of them.
"Those have not been released to the public because of its price."
"Money is not a problem. You know where to charge us, right?" The shopkeeper only nodded and made his way to the display of shoes to present to the war heroines.
"Mione! I can't have you pay for my dress." Ginny whispered to the older witch as they made their way to survey the dresses.
Hermione only waved her off and smiled. "It's fine, Gin. Consider it a gift since the one I gave you last Christmas were sweets." The redhead smiled thankfully and the pair of them were back to choosing dresses.
For what seemed to be the nth time, Ginny spun on the platform in front of Hermione before stopping to face the mirror as she smoothened down the imaginary creases of the dress. She was in a blue illusion-top racerback floor length dress. The bodice was a banteau top under an sheer illusion-top fabric embellished with iridescent jewels and intricate lace. Fabio handed her a pair of black strappy heels earlier which looked perfectly matched with her gown. Hermione flicked her wand and Ginny's hair was temporarily arranged in an elegant side bun.
"I like it." Ginny breathed in awe as she touched the bodice of the dress, the lace feeling soft in her touch. "What do you think?" She asked Hermione, meeting her gaze through the mirror.
"We'll take it Fabio. As well as the heels. Please do me a favor and floo call to Madame Rousseau and tell her I'll be coming over with a friend. We need her finest collections ready." The shopkeeper nodded and disappeared off to his office to make the call. Only the best for a Granger, and services include that.
"Thank you, Mione! You don't know how much this means to me."
After a few more hours, the pair was done with their shopping and headed back to Hogsmeade to meet with Harry and Ron at Hog's Head for late lunch. The two girls, each with three paper bags in hand, entered the pub and spotted their respective boyfriends on the a corner booth.
"That's a lot of stuff." Harry commented as he eyed the bags before kissing Ginny on the lips and Hermione on the cheek. "Found the perfect dress?"
"More than perfect!" Ginny gushed. Both she and Hermione shared a look and chuckled amongst themselves. "How about you, guys?"
"It turns out, even muggle formal wear has tons of variety. Thank Merlin I have Harry with me or I won't get done until the 14th!" Ron exclaimed as he gestured the two bags on the floor. Each belonging to him and Harry.
The quad continued chatting about the event which soon shifted to a talk about Quidditch. Needless to say, Hermione remained quiet during the heated exchange of ideas.
"We should do the faux pass! It'll distract Slytherin's chasers!" Ginny argued.
"We should focus on the keepers and beaters! They're the ones making points!" Ron argued back. And so it drags on.
"You should keep an eye on that fourth year, Collins. He's Slytherin's new keeper and he sure can guard his goals. Also look out for Theo. That bastard has his own way of charming your own beaters. Oh! And do watch out for Malfoy. He's at the top of his game, now that Voldemort's gone." They visibly shivered, to which the speaker ignored. "He's been training well and he's won every game against Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw."
The three players looked at Hermione gobsmacked. "What?" She asked quietly.
"What are you? Some Quidditch game analyst? I thought you hated the game!" Ron said.
"I never said I hated it. I only dislike it for its barbaric rules. Witches and wizards get injured because of it, you know." She defended. "Besides! My siblings play, Theo plays. I, too, sometimes."
At that last whispered part, the three players beamed mischievously and Hermione knew what it meant. "Oh, no! No, no, no. No. No!" But the three only nodded. She mentally cursed herself for even saying the last part. "You won't be forcing me play on your game next Saturday!"
"We'll see about that, Mione." Harry grinned and changed the topic before Hermione could react. "We're almost done with our term. Wow."
"And you two haven't changed one bit! When will you study for N.E.W.T.S? It's drawing near!" Three guesses who.
"We'll get bloody jobs, Mione. What's the point?" Ron asked, causing Hermione to whack him at the back of his head.
"Just because you'll be bloody aurors mean that you don't need to pass! They might take that into consideration."
"Relax, Mione. You're stressing yourself." Ginny laughed. "They're only messing with you. They obviously know what they should be doing."
After an hour or two, the four Gryffindors made their way back to the castle with their packages shrunk and placed in their pockets. Hermione separated from the three to go to the Great Hall and supervise the decorating committee in their job. When she entered, the sight she first saw was Draco lying on the floor.
"What are you doing?" She removed her scarf and walked towards the blonde. This is the first time she spoke to him these past few days.
He didn't respond for about a minute or two. "The ceiling resembles the night sky. It's... refreshing." Hermione then looked up to see the charmed ceiling which was filled with stars.
"Well you're slacking off. We need to at least get half of the decorations up." She continued, not removing her eyes from the night sky-inspired ceiling. "Come on, Malfoy. Get a move on."
"Do you have a date?" That caught her off guard. "Of course you have. Don't answer that."
"No, I don't. Ron hasn't asked me yet."
"I thought that when you're in a relationship, it's kind of automatic to go on functions together." He chuckled. "I'm sure Weasel will ask you sooner or later."
"Why did you ask?"
"Nothing. Forget I ever asked that." He stood up and walked towards the boxes filled with decorations.
"If you wanted to ask me, you just have to ask." Hermione finally said to put him out of his misery.
"What about the Weasel?" Her words made him froze on the spot. His heart started to slowly race fast. She has that effect on him and she doesn't even know it.
"You afraid of Ron? Come on, Draco! Are you going soft?" She teased. "All you need is ask. I'll be yours for the night, love."
That did it. Draco turned with his eyebrows furrowed. Did she know? "What?"
"Don't you want to try something different before getting tied down? Take a Gryffindor, your best friend, to a ball. I have no intention of whisking you away from Astoria, if that's what you want to hear." She replied, slightly relieving him. "Unless of course you want me to." And he was back to being rigid. She can't keep doing that! Teasing him as if she wants him to herself. He might get his hopes up only to have it crushed by the beautiful witch.
He walked towards her saying, "So all I have to do is ask. And you'll agree?" Hermione nodded. Draco took a deep breath and said, "Hermione Granger, will you be my date to the ball?"
"Of course, Draco. I will." They both smiled and returned to work, the committee piling in the room, oblivious to the exchange that caused the Heads' smile.
Two days later, everyone was given a day off of school work as they began getting ready for the ball. Of course, majority of the girls were panicking and rushing to and from different dorm room in their own towers, in Slytherin's case, dungeons. All the boys were either still asleep or running a quick Quidditch practice outside (Draco and company).
"You know, mate, you're trekking a dangerous line right now." Theo said to the blonde as they hovered in their brooms. "You're getting married and you're practically in love with Granger. Your lovely bride-to-be won't be to happy to learn that."
The blonde smirked as he looked towards one of his best mate. "Are you scared I'll get Granger?"
"No. Of course not. I'm just concerned for her well-being." Theo replied coolly.
"Just let me be happy before I get trapped in a loveless marriage, Theo. Just this one time. I finally have a reason to go and have fun." His best mate nodded, understanding his reasons.
If their plan even has a shot, they have to do it later. It may be the last time they get to do it. "Why didn't you date Mia before?"
"Because there are laws and practices needed to be observed. She's not Pureblood, and that alone makes her unfit to be a Malfoy." Draco explained. "But don't get me wrong. I love her and I would rather be with her than be married to someone I don't love."
"Maybe in time, mate. Maybe soon."
The blonde smiled ruefully and shook his head. "More like in a different lifetime."