Chapter 11: It Takes Two to Tango
Hermione stood outside the room of requirement wondering what to expect and whether she ought to just turn back now and feign sick on the night of the ball. Finally, at 6pm on the dot the doors to the room appeared. She pulled on the handle uncertainly, having never entered the room after someone else before she didn't quite know what was going to happen. She gasped appreciatively at what lay before her, she had worried that the room might not work properly after the awful FiendFyre incident but it's power never ceased to amaze her.
She was standing in a beautiful circular room with, marble pillars, high ceilings, and grand arched windows. The dance floor shimmered elegantly under the candlelight, provided by five ornate floating chandeliers. It was truly like something out of one of the muggle fairy-tales she thought as she twirled in circles excitedly. She had not yet spotted the other figure leaning casually against one of the pillars on the far side of the room and watching her closely. He was dressed in a black-tailed wizarding tuxedo that seemed to fit him almost too well and smiled as he took in the awed look on Hermione's face.
"Welcome to Malfoy Ballroom," he cleared his throat, making her jump. Hermione looked at him wondrously.
"This is yours?" she asked weakly
"More or less" he shrugged "ours also has a 17th Century grand piano, but we won't be needing that," he told her indifferently as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
"I think I'm slightly underdressed" she apologized self-consciously, gazing down at her school attire, but as she spoke she felt the magic of the room sizzling and her robes were replaced by a long red gown.
"Wow, thanks...room," she said uncertainly, stepping forward and almost falling out of the heeled dance shoes she now wore. "You too?" she looked Malfoy up and down appreciatively.
He laughed, "Fraid not, these are mine, I dressed up just for you Granger" he teased. "Though I do commend the rooms taste" he added and she blushed. "Shall we start with a waltz?" he suggested.
"Is that what we'll have to do on the night?" she asked him curiously.
"Most likely, it's the simplest partner dance and is usually the opening number" he explained.
"Ok then," Hermione said hesitantly, not moving an inch.
Draco sighed "You're going to have to come closer than that" he took her hand and yanked her towards him. In the same movement, he placed one of her palms on his shoulder and gripped her waist. Her breath hitched, his face was only centimeters from hers and she had never been this close to a man without kissing him… Focus Hermione!
"In dance, the man always leads," he told her, "a lot of the time, people who struggle with dance are the same people who struggle with surrendering control" he smirked at her. "You have to trust your partner to direct you and anticipate what their next move will be".
"How do you make something that's supposed to be romantic sound so strategic?" Hermione muttered.
"You think romance isn't strategic Granger? Tell me, how do you win someone's heart without a strategy? It doesn't matter if you're courting a potential bride or picking up a hot chick in a bar, there's always a tactical approach" he argued. "Now, place your other hand in mine and on three I'm going to step my right foot forward, when that happens you need to mirror me, ok?"
"Ok," she breathed. You can do this she told herself "one, two, three" she counted with him, stepping her right foot forward. As she shifted her weight, both parties squealed out in pain as they stepped on each other's toes.
"Shit Granger, what did you do?" Draco yelled, hopping around in a very undignified manner.
"You told me to step my right foot forward," said Hermione crossly.
"I did no such thing, I told you to mirror me" he emphasized, "when was the last time you looked in a mirror Granger?"
Hermione faltered as she realized her mistake. "I'm sorry, I was nervous"
Draco took a deep breath "let's just try it again ok?" he said patiently, rubbing his toe and resuming his hold on her.
"one, two, three" he counted, this time Hermione looked down and stepped her left foot back. "Good" Draco breathed in relief "then we step to the side" he led her effortlessly with the slightest amount of pressure "and then I step back, and you step forward to complete the square." He instructed, continuing to count methodically.
"I did it!" Hermione squealed, jumping up and down in delight. Draco struggled to hide his amusement, she looked like a kid in a wand shop.
"Right, well why don't we practice the movement for a minute and then we'll have a look at your rhythm," he told her and so they counted together.
One, two, three four.
Back, side, forward, side.
"Ok, so now you have the basic footwork, you're just slightly out of pace with me," Draco told her. In actual fact, he was flat out lying, Hermione seemed to have a natural rhythm, but she didn't know that and the Slytherin in him did not want to miss this opportunity. Slowly he undid the middle two buttons on his shirt and slipped her dainty hand inside the material.
"Malfoy what are you doing…?" she began to protest.
"Feel my heartbeat Granger," he told her seductively, "close your eyes and feel its rhythm". Cautiously Hermione did as she was told and felt herself relax as Draco moved his right hand back to her waist. He kept his left hand firmly over hers, holding her in place against his heart as he began the footwork once more.
One, two, three, four she felt his heart pounding and took a step with each beat.
"How was that?" she asked nervously when they came to a standstill.
Draco opened his eyes and swallowed the growing lump in his throat. "Perfect," he told her quietly, breaking out of the moment and hastily re-buttoning his shirt.
"Tomorrow we'll try it with some music yeah?" he said casually, running a hand through his hair.
"Thanks, Malfoy" Hermione said genuinely as he made a hasty exit.
Who knew dance lessons could be so intense? She marveled as she headed towards the door and the red gown vanished. Lessons with Malfoy might not be such a bad idea after all.
Authors Note: This chapter was actually inspired by a quote from my other favorite author: Jane Austen:
"To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love"
― Jane Austen, Pride, and Prejudice
I actually think there could be quite a lot of parallels between Draco and Hermione and Mr. Darcy and Lizzy Bennett...what do you think?