Chapter eleven: the difference between my dress and the dress
Hermione sat up with a gasp, covering herself with her arm. She looked up into the eyes of Lucius Malfoy who had a smirk on his face, 'I know I said you could fuck her, but really Draco, does it take a forest to get into her pants? Hermione felt tears prick behind her eyes, he was being so hurtful! Lucius looked down his nose at Hermione, 'You know I believe in romance, Draco, but not with a mudblood. Now stand up Miss Granger.' Hermione stood on two shaky legs, crossing her arms to protect herself. Lucius let out a cruel laugh and pointed to the door, 'The dresser is waiting to fit your wedding dress. She's waiting for you in your chambers.' Hermione quickly ran out of the room without picking up her shirt, leaving it in Draco's possession.
Hermione rushed into her room to see a woman sitting in an armchair with Ruby in her lap. The woman lifted up an eyebrow, 'Really, Miss Granger, you needn't be so eager as to already take off your clothes.' Hermione blushed furiously and picked up her dressing gown, wrapping it around her before facing the woman again. The woman smiled and continued, 'That's better dear. My name is Mrs. Edgar and I shall be your stylist for your wedding. The dress has already been picked out so all we have to do is make sure you fit into it.' Mrs Edgar lifted herself off the chair and walked over to the bed where Hermione realised a box was placed in the middle. Mrs Edgar lifted the lid off the box but Hermione couldn't see what was in it as Mrs Edgar was in the way.
When Mrs Edgar turned around again, Hermione gasped in sheer delight at the dress. It was a simple enough design made out of white silk, of course, and seemed to be backless. Hermione could see glints of green throughout the dress. Mrs Edgar moved around Hermione and started to fuss over Hermione, she whispered a charm and Hermione was standing there with only her underwear on. Hermione let out a shriek of surprise at the sudden lack of clothes but instantly relaxed as she heard Mrs Edgar's kind laugh. Mrs Edgar whispered another charm and Hermione felt silk slide across her skin. Mrs Edgar fussed over Hermione for another five minutes and Hermione learnt that, yes, the dress was backless. When Mrs Edgar finally stopping circling Hermione, she made Hermione face the mirror.
Hermione had never felt beautiful before because everybody thought her of 'just a bookworm'. But at this point in her life, Hermione had never felt this attractive before. The silk hugged her body and clung to every curve. Hermione realised that jade and pearls were inlaid throughout the dress which was where the green glint had come from. Hermione did a small swivel so she could see the dress from the back. The dress was a halter neck and the clasp around her neck was made out of diamonds. There was a rope of diamonds attached to the clasp that went down her back. Hermione didn't want to take the dress off; she couldn't remember ever feeling this way. Mrs Edgar's voice brought her back to the present.
'It feels good on doesn't it?' Hermione nodded silently questioning Mrs Edgar's interpretation, 'Yes, the dress has that effect on people. It makes you feel how your fiancé thinks of you. Do you feel beautiful in it?' Hermione nodded again, trying to figure out what Mrs Edgar was trying to tell her, 'That is strange isn't it, they say that this marriage is just a sham so the Malfoy's can keep their reputation up. But if that were so, you would just feel normal in it. Young Master Malfoy must really care for you.' Mrs Edgar gave a sad smile and whispered a charm and suddenly Hermione was back in her normal clothes and the dress was back in its box. Hermione sat down on her bed and contemplated what Mrs Edgar was saying. The dress was charmed, that much she knew. But it was charmed so that whoever wore it saw themselves as the giver saw them. Hermione's head started to spin, what did that mean?
Ruby jumped onto Hermione's lap and Hermione absent-mindedly stroked her fur. Hermione smiled at the memory of her and Draco in the forest room. Our room I guess. Hermione lost the smile when she thought of how the kiss ended, Lucius might not have sounded it but he was mad. Hermione couldn't understand what was so wrong with her and Draco. She knew why it was wrong for her to get involved seeing as he was her enemy and all that but what was so wrong for him? Yes, she was a mudblood so there would still be prejudices against her but they were the ones who asked her to marry him. It wasn't her fault at all! Hermione lay back on the bed, she was too confused. She wondered what Draco and his father were talking about. Well, it wasn't any of her business so she might as well forget about it.
Hermione looked over at the dress box; she wanted to try it on again. She wanted to feel beautiful again. She wanted Draco. Hermione leapt off the bed and tried to open the door, fate must have been on her side as it was still unlocked. She crept through the hallway, opening every door, until she found Draco's. Hermione pushed the door open and saw Draco sitting at his desk fiddling with something in his fingers. Hermione watched him for a couple of minutes before saying anything. She had lost some of confidence that she had in her room and was unsure of what to say, 'Granger are you just going to stand there? Or do you have something to bug me with?' Hermione was a bit hurt by Draco's aloof manner towards her. Hermione took a step in the room and Draco went ballistic, 'Did I say you could enter my room, mudblood? Get out of here! I only put up with you because being married to you benefits me, but seeing as we're not married yet, get out of my room.'
Draco dismissed her and Hermione left the room quickly. She leant against his door and let the tears fall. Why was he so dismissive of me? Hermione ran back to her room and cuddled up to Ruby, what had gotten into him?
A/N: the dress design is easier to understand if you see the Chanel ad with Nicole Kidman, the black dress at the end.