Chapter 25
"We should head back too", Blaise said as Draco disappeared from view.
"Yes", Hermione agreed, turning back to him, "But what auction was he talking about?"
"Oh, you know", Blaise shrugged, "The traditional one in every pureblood event. The womens auction."
"What?", she said sharply, coming to a screeching halt.
The feminist in her was fuming.
Draco did NOT tell me about that stupid ancient pureblood tradition!
Blaise looked back at her in confusion.
"I will not be auctioned off like some cattle", she said, crossing her arms.
Blaise seemed to recognise the danger and threw his most charming smile in the game.
"Of course you won't", he said soothingly, taking her arm to get her walking again. "It's only five dances. You won't become anyone's slave for the evening or something."
"Oh", she breathed, "Alright."
She didn't think she would actually mind that. Not if it was the right person anyway.
No. NO. Bad Hermione! You're here with your husband for Godric's sake!
When they entered the ballroom again, Narcissa had already begun her welcome speech. Silently she left Blaise and walked over to her family.
"I saved you one", Bill whispered and handed her a glass of sparkling cider.
She smiled when she accepted it and turned back to the stage where Lucius was taking his wife's place.
"Hello and welcome to Malfoy Manor once more", he started, spreading his arms to the crowd. He received a huge applause. Hermione rolled her eyes.
Bloody brown-nosing minions.
"We will begin with the traditional auction", Lucius continued as the noise died down. "After that, you can put your donations in the golden vases which can be found throughout this ballroom."
Another applause erupted.
"I was wondering why a Malfoy would have so many golden ornaments", Bill said, "Shouldn't they be silver?"
Hermione just shrugged and turned back to the stage.
"This hourglass behind me will show when we reach our modest goal of 250.000 galleons", Lucius said, motioning to the giant gold hourglass behind him. "To help matters along, the Malfoy family will now donate the first 25.000 galleons."
She clapped along as Draco emptied his pouch in the nearest vase and sand trickled down the hourglass.
"And now", Lucius spoke again, "Let the auction begin!"
Narcissa stepped up the stage again and biddings started.
"Come on", Ginny whispered, "The women are gathering to the left of the stage."
Hermione followed her, Angelina and Fleur.
"The husband always places the first bid", Ginny told her, "Or the father. If neither are present, it's the host."
She nodded and grimaced when she looked at the next woman on the stage.
Pansy fucking Parkinson.
She was surprised when Lucius opened the biddings.
Well, I guess husband number two is out of the picture...
Fleur was next. Poor Bill opened the biddings, but when she flashed her smile her veela genes came out to play and prizes went up so fast that he couldn't get a single dance with her.
One by one, the women were called on stage until Hermione alone was left.
"Last but not least", Narcissa announced her, "We're very thankful for her presence. Our own Minister of Magic, Hermione Granger-Weasley!"
She conjured up her professional smile and stepped out on the stage. After a polite applause silence came over the room. And it lasted... And lasted...
Why the hell wasn't Ron starting to bid?
She looked for him in the audience and found him... Eating the chicken at the buffet. She fought the urge to roll her eyes and saw the family walk over to him. Harry whispered something in his ear.
"Oh", Ron exclaimed, "A Knut!"
Harry and his brothers looked at Ron in horror. The people erupted into mumbles. Totally oblivious to his error, Ron winked at her and took another bite.
Hermione thought she'd sink through the floor in shame. She felt a blush creep up her cheeks and tried to find Draco.
A Knut, was that what she was worth to him?
She searched the crowd for the Order, but they weren't much help either. Blaise and Theo were each holding Draco's arm, discretely trying to prevent him from either hexing or hitting her husband.
"Ten galleons!", Greg offered when he caught her eye. It still wasn't much, but she knew that it was a considerable amount of money for him and she offered him a genuine smile. Tracey was by his side, nodding encouragingly.
His bid seemed to snap everyone out of it and a bidding war errupted between her family and the Order. Bids were up to standard very quickly until only Draco and Harry were left.
"450 galleons", Harry offered.
"500 galleons", Lucius drawl suddenly piped up.
"600 galleons", Harry offered immediately.
Draco whispered something to his father and he smirked, but stopped bidding.
"850 galleons", Draco offered with his signature drawl. "Come on Potter, we haven't got all day."
Harry turned red in the face and went to make a new offer, but Ginny whispered something to him. He halted and just kept glaring at the smirking Draco until the auction was closed.
When she came down the stairs, Draco was waiting for her, holding out his hand.
"Ready to dance?", he asked her when she took it.
"With you? I don't know...", she teased.
"I could hand this dance over to your husband if you want", he snarked.
"No thank you", she answered primly, placing her hand on his shoulder as the waltz started playing. "I don't want to be near him for a while."
"I can't believe he did that", Draco said hotly, obviously still angry. Maybe she should change the subject. She didn't want to waste any more breath on him.
"I feel stupid for expecting something else from him", she sighed. "What did you tell your father to keep him from bidding more anyway?"
Draco swooped her up and twirled her aroundbefore answering. She laughed as they continued their dance.
"Same thing Potter got from Weaslette I assume", he grinned, "That his wife wouldn't be happy if he offered more galleons on you than he did on his wife."
She laughed loudly and he grinned, insanely happy that he made that happen. It made the fire in her eyes sparkle and he could just watch it forever...
His head shot up as someone cleared their throat behind him. Only then did he realise that they'd been staring into each others eyes the entire dance, lost in their own world.
Potter scowled at him as he finally stepped back and handed her over for the second dance. She blushed and smiled at him over Potter's shoulder until they disappeared into the crowd.
Hermione finished her obligatory dances with Harry, Lucius, Theo and George. She enjoyed every single one of them, but none as much as the first.
After the dances she mingled a bit with the crowd. This fundraiser was to fund her most recent project after all and she was happy to see the hourglass fill as the evening progressed. Even though they didn't have a moment to talk, she felt Draco's eyes on heralmostthe whole time.
As she moved through the crowd, she tried to stay clear of two persons. The first was her husband, which wasn't very hard. His hair was easy to spot and he stayed within a few steps of the buffet anyway.
The second proved to be much harder and seemed to seek her out. Pansy fucking Parkinson. Or whatever her last name was now.
Hermione's feet started to hurt. She excused herself to the French wizard she'd been talking to and stepped outside for some air.
She knew that there was a bench right around the corner, so she headed there. Relieved to find it empty, she sunk down on it and removed her shoes. Quietly she massaged her ankles and closed her eyes. And then she heard them.
"Really Ron, I can't believe you embarrassed her like that!", Harry's voice sounded.
Hermione leaned back and listened closely.
"Why would I pay for something I can do every night if I want to?", Ron asked.
Ha, I knew it!
"It's not about the money", Harry explained, "It's a sign of respect. Of support."
Yes! Thank you Harry, you get it.
"Hermione doesn't need my support", Ron stated, "She's the best and strongest witch ever!"
That's actually... Sweet?
"Just because she can do it alone, doesn't mean she should have to", Harry answered.
True...
"Yeah I guess", Ron mumbled, "But why doesn't she ask me?"
Is he serious?!
"She shouldn't have to ask Ron", Harry tried to get through to him, "But I'm quite sure she tried to. Anyway mate, if you don't want to lose her, I suggest you do something."
"Yeah yeah", Ron waved him off, "Maybe we should call it a night. I'll go find her."
Hermione rubbed her eyes wearily. Thank Merlin for stasis charms on wizarding make-up. Again...
She waited until she was sure that they were gone before she refreshed the cushioning charm on her high heels and went back inside.