Friday 30th October
Hermione was waiting outside the Gryffindor common room waiting for the Fat Lady to call someone to let her in. Finally Ron came to the entrance.
"At last, what took you so long?"
"I was packing,"
"You know I'm still not happy about this weekend."
"I know you aren't Ron, but Pansy's my friend."
"But you're staying the weekend at Malfoy's house! Not Pansy's!"
Hermione sighed, "Ron,"
"I'm sorry 'Mione, I just hate Slytherins,"
"Ron!" He didn't seem to catch onto the insult and continued:
"At least Parvati's going."
"Yeah, where is she?"
"She left already, she was telling Harry and me-"
"Harry and I"
"That she wanted to get the best guest rooms, any ideas what she was quacking on about?"
"The Malfoy Manor consists of four floors, when guest's stay in the Manor the most important is staying on the private floor with the family. On the ground and first floor are the Foyer, Lounge, family dining area, Meeting room, Libraries, Lucius's den-which is now Narcissa's-, two twin ballrooms, another dining room seated for seventy-five or more guests. The second floor is the actual homey with Narcissa and Draco's bedrooms, Draco's personal Library, Study and fifteen guest rooms, although the Manor actually holds over ninty-four guest rooms and three guest houses. The third and last floor has the Swimming pool-magically charmed so to doesn't affect the lower floor's ceiling-, Draco's gym, more guest rooms, all Narcissa's clothes and Draco's quidditch pitch."
"I didn't ask for a bloody essay, how do you know all this? Malfoy has a quidditch pitch upstairs in his house!"
"Draco told me most of it, but I read some of it in 'Rich Wizards and their Surroundings.'"
"Great now tell me about the pitch!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Due to Narcissa's great knowledge of Charms, she was able to charm the room so the inside is much bigger than it actually is on the outside."
"I'm going to kill Harry!"
"Huh, why?"
"He chose me over Malfoy!"
"Ronald that has got to be the most childish yet true thing I've ever had the pleasure of hearing."
"If I didn't know better I'd say you used fancy talk to insult me."
"Pretty much."
"Oh, fair enough." She made small talk until it was finally time for her to leave, she gave Ron a quick hug and made her way down the stair case.
"See you Monday Ron!"
"We has arrived Miss!"
"Thank you Swirgy." Hermione gracefully exited the "horseless" carriage and looked at the Mansion in awe. Ivy covered stone walls, grand doors and-
"Omigosh! Hermione, you're finally here!" squealed Parvati. Why didn't I bring those ear plugs?
"Parvati... hi where's everyone else?"
"They're in the ground floor den, I'll show you the way."
She walked into a huge room and was greeted with the sight of one and half dozen teens and their parents. She locked eyes with Draco, he winked and half smiled in response.
"Ms Snape, how nice of you to join us."
Hermione looked away from the warm yet icy grey eyes that captivated her so easily, and towards the figure that the guests were gathered around. She looked as if she were in her early forties, her hair matched Draco's yet her soft round features didn't.
"I am Narcissa Malfoy, pleasure to meet you at last."
"The pleasure is all mine Ms Malfoy, I apologize for my tardiness, my guardians couldn't make it on time so they'll be coming tomorrow for the party."
"Please call me Narcissa, child. It's a shame Selene and Severus couldn't make it here sooner. I wished to reminisce- as you youngsters put it. Well I'll get one of the house elves to show you your room."
"That's fine mother, but I'd be more than glad to escort Ms Snape." He was wearing black dress trousers and a silky blue shirt. His posture was perfect with one hand dug deep into his pocket, and other holding a glass of wand-vodka.
Narcissa let a small knowing smirk escape her face. 'Very well, thank you Draco."
She only had to wait about thirty seconds before Draco guided her by the small of her back, into the corridor.
"How's the pre-party party going, Draco?"
"Great, everybody nearly now knows who their date is."
"Date?"
"Yeah, you need escorts for every Malfoy gathering." He led her up two flights of stairs and along a hallway filled with portraits, like the one which were at Hogwarts. He took her to a solid mahogany door with patterns dancing along the sides like a banner. "This is your room." He opened the door and signalled for her to enter first. And they say chivalry is dead. The room had an amazing forest grey and black gothic design. In the middle was a four poster, could it be, queen sized bed, with dark green almost black silk sheets. There was also a walk in wardrobe and the usual bedroom facilities. Then she noticed it. It looked a lot like the mirror Harry had found in first year.
"This used to be my parents room. Everything in it was taken away so don't be uncomfortable." Hermione nodded, still looking at the mirror. "The mirror, if you tap the centre of it three times and say 'bathroom' it will become the door to your own bathroom, there's only one other place in the manor where it can take you, is my room-which is next door. When you want the door to vanish you tap again and say 'depulso'. Simple enough, eh?"
She nodded.
"Well I'll let you get on with it then. Dinner's served at seven sharp, it's formal wear only."
"Ok, sure." Malfoy turned and opened the door.
"Malfoy?"
"Yeah?"
"Who's your date?"
"No one yet, that's why mother's a bit uptight."
"Oh… Malfoy?"
"Yes?"
"Will you be my date?"
Silence.
"I mean purely for the terms that I don't have a date and you don't. It would just make sense. I mean if you-"
"Snape?"
"Yes?"
"Wear something green to dinner."
Her brows furrowed. "Why?"
"To match my robes. After all you are my date."
How she hated weekend long parties. They just dragged on and on… and on… and on… and on. She could remember the first time she had been exposed to one…
"Hermione darling, as a high upper-class wizarding lineage, we're… expected to – how do I put it without sounding pompous? Be seen entertaining and socializing with other families of our standards."
"Fundamentally, I'm to be parading around in a two-sizes-too-small frock introducing myself to some eighty-three year old perverts as 'Lady Hermione –Bloody- Gr..Snape?'" Hermione asked sarcastically waiting for her aunt to correct her.
"Precisely dear," Selene said flipping through her diary, a quill in hand. "You have a well needed salon appointment at 7.10am, sharp. Followed by a massage at 9.25, pedicure and manicure at 10.00… no make that 10.35, gown fitting at 12.00, Useful Italian phrase lesson at 3.00, and then etiquette lessons at 5.50 each day."
"All this effort for some meaningless shindig?"
"I don't think you understand Hermione, you have yet to be introduced to the Wizarding world as Hermione Liliana Snape. This is a very big welcoming for you. Signor Fibonacci is to a great extent respected among the wizard and muggle communities and it's an honour that he's allowing you to be introduced at such a grand affair."
"Will anything in this damned party interest me?"
"Well Signor Fibonacci happens to be a direct descendant of Leonardo Pisano one of the great mathematicians of Italy."
"Really?"
"Have you heard of Signor Pisano?"
"Certainly, Leonardo Pisano or nicknamed Fibonacci was born in Italy but was educated in North Africa where his father, Guilielmo, held a diplomatic post. His father's job was to represent the merchants of the Republic of Pisa who were trading in Bugia, later called Bougie and now called Bejaia. Bejaia is a Mediterranean port in north-eastern Algeria. The town lies at the mouth of the Wadi Soummam near Mount Gouraya and Cape Carbon. Fibonacci was taught mathematics in Bugia and travelled widely with his father and recognised the enormous advantages of the mathematical systems used in the countries they visited. Fibonacci writes in his famous book Liber abaci-"
"Avete la vostra madre, i cervelli del Liliana ma il vostro padre e sguardi del mio Sivan del fratello" (You have the brains of your mother Liliana but the looks of my brother Sivan.)
Even though Hermione only caught the names of her deceased parents she gave her aunt a small smile.
"Hermione? Jesus Christ, Hermione are you there?" Hermione was pulled out of her memories by Parvati excitedly calling her name, it was then she remembered she was standing in the grand ballroom, with a glass of champagne, talking to a few other girls, waiting for dinner to commence.
"I'm sorry, I must have spaced out. What were you saying?"
"I was just saying how great everyone looks? Don't you agree?"
"Oh yes, your gowns are all beautiful." Hermione said smiling to each of the girls.
"But you do realize nobody will be paying any attention to us, I mean you're on the arm of the Malfoy heir, you've taken the spotlight tonight." Padma said in a similar fashion to her twin.
"Ok enough of the wonderful Hermione talk." Pansy cut in, sending Hermione a wink. "Our favourite male Professor Snape wishes to see his niece and we all have to be prim and proper, and find our escorts."
The group of girls split up each going in a different direction. Hermione looked around the room to find her guardians speaking with none other than Narcissa and Draco. She just knew this was going to be very awkward but nevertheless she held her head high and sauntered over to the quad.
"Good evening Zia, Uncle Sev."
"Hermione, we've spoken about proper greeting before, do you need resume your etiquette lessons?" Severus asked in a monotone.
"Nonsense Severus, let the young girl be. Can you not remember how we were at such an age?" The three adults started reminiscing leaving the two teenagers standing in a comfortable silence.
"Enjoying the socializing?" the blond asked.
"Honestly? I love parties and things; I just hate pureblood-suck-up dinner parties." Said Hermione with a melodramatic sigh.
"'M not too keen on it either, I'd rather do something more simulating." He impishly replied.
Hermione was cut off by the butler announcing dinner in the Grand Dining Room. She found herself sitting near the head of the table where Narcissa was sitting with Draco on her left and her aunt on her right and Hermione next to the blond heir. There were various conversations going around the huge table however whenever Narcissa would start speaking everybody would lower their voices and listen to their hostess.
"How was the move from Italy, Selene?"
"Oh, Very well, Of course I'm happy here and at Hogwarts. Albus is just the same, is he not?" Narcissa laughed a warm light chuckle than sent waves of calmness through Hermione.
"Indeed he is. Tell me Hermione, how is Slytherin treating you?"
"It's been great – a little awkward at moments- but wonderful, I think I've made a few noble acquaintances."
"You 'think'? Aunt Narcissa, Hermione has fit in very well with everybody, it's hard to believe she was a Gryffindor. In Parvati's case it's difficult to believe that monstrosity of a hat sorted her into Gryffindor." Injected Pansy from next to Selene.
"Son , is this true?"
"Why Of course mother, did u expect differently of a Snape lady? Hermione reigned slytherin just by walking into the common room."
"I did no such thing!"
"Well enough of this chit-chat. Let the food be served." With a wave of her arm, mountains of food appeared in china dishes in front of everybody. The young Snape relaxed at the resemblance between Hogwarts and the first of three parties at the Malfoy Manor.
Hermione raised a goblet full of red wine to her lips, as she took the first sip her eyes widened and choked as the drink went down the wrong pipe.
"Are you ok, darling?" Selene asked.
She replied with a stutter and slapped the pale hand away from her knee. She looked the intruder in the eye and found the Malfoy smirk ever present on his soft looking lips. Stop thinking about his- The hand which had been on her knee traveled up onto her inner thigh, she felt him caress the smooth skin, her nerves were alive dancing with fire, she wanted nothing more to pull him towards her and have her wicked way with him. She grabbed the hand to push it away but he held it, entwining his fingers with hers while rubbing the palm in the most sensual ways. His fingers traveled up the gooseflesh of her wrist and arm, he let silver meet brown, lust evident in both pairs. He mouthed something to her. Toilet. Fear was manifested in the depths of her eyes but she slowly nodded.
Hermione placed her half empty glass on the table and turned to the blond.
"Draco, could you please show me to the bathroom?" Said Hermione, just loud enough for Narcissa and Selene to hear. Draco asked permission from his mother and stood up to 'escort' Hermione to the bathroom.
AN: Ahhhh what a beautiful cliffie. Yeah I know you were all looking forward to the Photoshoot but I had to skip it because it would have been pointless and I'd like to do it as a memory. And I'm REALLY sorry about how long this chapter took to write! Don't sue me! D Review please! Because I'll let you in on a secret... the next chapter is going to be VERY lemony.
To all who can see the horrible Italian: Please just ignore it because I'll contact one of you and ask for help when I start revising this!
Kristina Malfoy: Really Milano's a biscuit? woah. Well when I went to Italy I made "friends" ;D with this italian guy and basically Milano is like slang for Milan. D Thanks for askin a good Question though. x
draco2chexi4u: That's seriously the nicest review I've ever had! (They've all been nice! but this being the most insperational) Thanks for the comment and I hope you enjoy the chapter!
GryffindorGirl14: Willow is in her 1st year as stated in the 4th chapter D
blonde-brain: Hey! Thanks for the review and in total honesty Italy is the most beautiful place EVER! I have sooo many fond memories of skiing for about 9 hours a day, going to hospital with streched ligaments, meeting a hot italian bloke and clubbing! D It's soo amazing. I would write everything down but that would be annoying...maybe I'll email you about it?
Just so you all know I have a new fic out called "Oracles" which is Post Hogwart n still a Draco/Hermione fic, I recommend you guys all check that out because I personally think its better than this one! D Don't worry I won't be giving this one up anytime soon! Oh and I have about 3 one-shot Hermione/Draco fics too, so check all those out! PLEASE!
AND REVIEW!
Over and out
Cocoa xx