A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this chapter has been so late, but between Homework, Transition into year 10, going to Italy, end of year exams and studying, I really haven't had much time to be writing very much. Oh, and I've also been readinf Twilight! I absolutely love it! As you can probably tell from my new penname! Sorry I changed it without telling you! I'm just about to finish Breaking Dawn, which I don't think is all that bad actually. Heaps of people say it sucks, but I'm getting into it heaps. You people must be a tad crazy, or maybe it's just me. Yep, most likely just me.
Oh! I have exciting news! I should be bringing this story to a close and bringing out a sequel very soon, I hope. I'm going to need you guys to give me a title, the best one wins! Maybe you might want to start sending them in when the story comes out, but, hey, it's up to you.
Anyhoo, my band and I are performing at my school tomorrow for Orientation Day! Whooo! Anyone who doesn't know what that is, it's when the new kids for next year come to your school and see what life is going to be like in their new homerooms and such. It'll be so much fun meeting the little newbies! Hehe.
Oh well, I won't bore you any longer. I think this is the longest Author's Note I've ever written! Sorry again for not updating in so long! I hope you enjoy reading the next installment of: A Malfoy's Curse!
Chapter Twenty Seven
The months passed by quickly, with little happening, other than a couple of mishaps in the classroom, people sneaking out after hours to the Room of Requirement, and other such things.
By this time, Hermione had to cast a spell on her stomach, so no one would know that she was pregnant. She was beginning to show quite a bit. She was sleeping more and going to bed earlier than normal. Draco was starting to get a bit worried, so he asked Madame Pomfrey about it during lunch, when Hermione was asleep in her dorm, and she told him that it was quite normal for her to be getting this tired.
It had started gaining on the Christmas holidays when Dumbledore made an announcement over dinner one night after a particularly long and hard day in class.
'Ladies and Gentlemen, can I have you attention please! I would like to make an announcement! Over these Christmas holidays, Hogwarts will be holding a Yule Ball!' Chatter immediately broke out amongst the students as they started to talk about dates, clothes, make-up, hair and all sorts of other things that go with a ball. They were all incredibly excited to say the least. It took Dumbledore five minutes to get them all to shut up again. 'Everyone! Please! Be quiet! Thank you.' He said when everyone had finally regained themselves. 'I would just like to mention that this ball is for fourth years and above,' he heard a collective groan from the younger years at the statement and chuckled to himself about it. 'Thank you! There will be a Hogsmeade trip for the older years this weekend to get everything that they may need. That is all.' Dumbledore said, sitting down and striking up a conversation with McGonagall, who was sitting next to him.
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny all turned towards each other and grinned.
'Yes, this is the perfect opportunity to get Hermione a proper dress.' Ginny teased. Hermione hit the redhead playfully. They all laughed at the two before settling back down again.
'What do you think the Slytherins will say?' Harry asked glancing over at the Slytherin table. He could see all of them talking in whispers to each other as well.
'They should be cool with it. Why wouldn't they?' Hermione asked. She looked up just in time to see Draco shoot her a look. He winked at her, smiled, and only gave her enough time to return the gesture before turning back towards his friends.
'Oh well, we'll soon see.' Harry said, before settling in to eat the remainder of his dinner. The others followed suit, and Hermione and Ginny started talking about dress options.
When dinner was done, they waited by the doors of the Great Hall to catch up with their lovers before making their way outside.
'So, love, are you planning on going to the ball?' Draco asked Hermione once they were out in the Entrance Hall. He kissed her neck gently and turned her around in his arms as they came to a stand still.
Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly on the lips.
'Do you want to?' She asked him. Draco smiled.
'Now what type of question is that? Why wouldn't I want to show off my beautiful girlfriend?' He said, fluttering kisses on her neck all the way up to her lips, which he kissed sweetly. Hermione giggled and hit him playfully on the shoulder.
'So are we going?' He asked her. Hermione pulled away from his ever attacking mouth, which had continued its assault on her neck. Draco pouted slightly and she laughed lightly at his ridiculous face.
'That face really doesn't look that good on you, and yes, I would love to go with you.' She answered. Draco put on a mock look of shock, before turning it into one of his faces that she hadn't seen in a long time. His superiority look, which now merely looked funny to her.
'I look sexy with any look on my face.' He said. Hermione giggled and kissed him sweetly, before hugging him tight.
'I have to go to bed now. I'm really tired. I'll see you tomorrow.' She said softly. Draco smiled down at her kindly and kissed her softly before letting her go.
'See you.' He whispered, before turning and walking down to Slytherin. Hermione walked slowly backwards with a small smile on her face until she couldn't see him anymore and turned to walk up the stairs, but still looked back down at the stairs where he had just disappeared moments before.
-
For the next few days, all anyone could talk about was the Christmas Ball. There was a huge thing for the girls, who all were waiting for the guys they liked to ask them out. Hermione and Ginny watched on with amusement as they saw all the girls in Hogwarts that were going to the ball walk around in huge groups and giggling every time a boy walked past that looked at them or not. Blaise had asked Ginny to go with him that morning at breakfast and Ginny had been smiling all day after.
Whereas Draco hadn't let go of Hermione at all; with four months left until the birth of his child, Draco was becoming even more protective of his girlfriend. He wouldn't let Hermione go anywhere alone, and he was always holding her, as if making sure that she was real and actually carrying his child. He kissed her often and constantly looked for her everywhere. Hermione thought it was endearing when he wasn't being annoying with it. Hermione wanted someone with her at all times anyway, just in case something happened. She didn't like being alone anymore anyway.
The weekend was upon them before they knew it and Ginny, Pansy, Hermione and Sierra all boarded the coaches that took them to Hogsmeade. The boys already had everything they needed, so they decided to spend the day playing Quidditch. Draco hadn't promised Hermione that he wouldn't worry too much; he said that he couldn't, but he'd try. Hermione had rolled her eyes and smiled slightly at his cheeky face before kissing him sweetly and heading off with the girls.
'So, where first?' Pansy asked when they got off the coach. They all looked at each other before Hermione spoke up.
'Why don't we try Gladrag's first? At least it's somewhere.' She said. The girls nodded, linked arms and made their way to the clothing shop laughing and talking loudly.
When they entered, they each went their separate ways and walked all over the shop. Ginny, Pansy and Sierra sometimes let out little squeaks when they found something they liked and Hermione giggled at them.
Ginny tried on a dress that was a very nice shade of light green. It didn't dip very low at the front, but did show a fair amount of cleavage. The back went down a fair way, but not so far that you could see her bum. It came to the middle of her back. It was floor length and flowed gracefully, just like the girl herself. It had green beads sewn just below her bust, going from one side of the dress to the other. All in all it was beautiful.
They all thought it was beautiful and Ginny decided to get it.
Pansy found a beautiful, strapless Royal blue dress that had a corseted bodice with silver detail along the top and winding its way down, thinning out until it stopped in the middle. The skirt of the dress wrapped around her waist and half doubled over, just enough to give the skirt a slit that went half way up her right thigh. It the dress was gorgeous and they all agreed on it.
Sierra and Hermione had a bit of a harder time finding something to wear. Neither of them liked especially what they saw. Sierra let out a couple of squeals at some of the dresses, she'd picked them up, twirled them around, before saying no and putting it back on the rack and moving on. It was really getting quite frustrating for the other three girls.
Hermione though, just didn't like anything she saw. She wanted something that would show her Gryffindor side, but something that Draco would utterly smirk at.
It took another two stores (after they had had lunch at the three broomsticks) before Sierra squealed with a delight they hadn't heard in any of the other shops. They all rushed over to her and looked at her twirl the dress around and look back at them, positively beaming. They all looked at the dress with appreciative eyes.
'Go try it on Sierra! I'm sure it fit like a glove!' Hermione said. The other three looked at her in a tad bit of confusion. Hermione rolled her eyes.
'It's a muggle saying. It means it will fit perfectly.' She explained. She distinctly heard Pansy mutter something like, "well you could have just said that", but she let it go. Instead, she turned Sierra around and pushed her in the direction of the changing rooms. Ginny and Pansy followed the two and stood outside as Sierra got changed and waited for her to come back out.
It took the girl two minutes and already the three outside were getting impatient.
'Hurry up, Sierra! We don't have all day!' Ginny called. They heard the sniggering come out of the room and then the door opened. Sierra walked out and did a bit of a twirl. That girl was not completely modest. She took a couple of poses while the others told her how great it looked.
The dress was emerald green, a colour that would match Harry's eyes perfectly. There was a part of the skirt at the front that was a darker green than the rest. The darker colour came down from a point in the middle of the bottom of the bodice and opened up at the end, looking like an upside down V. It was floor length and had a slit on the right leg that went from the middle of her thigh to the ground and was made of a beautiful satin. The top had a beautiful thick halter neck that held up the top of the dress. It looked like it was made just for her. It looked gorgeous on her.
'You should so get that Sierra! It looks amazing on you! Harry won't know what hit him.' Ginny smirked. Hermione and Pansy nodded enthusiastically. Sierra smiled and blushed slightly, but not enough to be too noticed.
Sierra nodded and walked back into the changing room to get back into her other clothes and they continued to walk around the store for Hermione's dress.
Hermione was about to give up. They didn't have much time left in town and would soon have to go back to the station to get the carriage back up to the school. She sighed and looked out the window. She only flashed a glance to it at first, but had to do a double-take. Draco was wandering the street, obviously looking for something or someone. Hermione furrowed her brow in confusion and walked to the front of the store and out into the cold December air. She took a couple of steps toward him and called out.
'Draco!'
He turned around abruptly and smiled brightly. He rushed up to her and kissed her sweetly before hugging her tightly.
'Hey, there you are. I've been looking for you all over the place.' Draco said, still holding her. Hermione pulled back a tad, but made sure she still had her arms around him and he still had his arms around her.
'What's wrong?' She asked, looking confused. She honestly had no idea why he would be here. A huge smile crossed his face.
'Have you found a dress yet?' He asked. Hermione looked at him in complete bewilderment and shook her head.
'No, I haven't been able to.' She answered slowly, shaking her head. If it was possible, Draco's smile got even bigger. He kissed her passionately and hugged her even tighter than before. Hermione was even more confused than normal.
'What's going on, Draco?' She asked. Draco smiled brilliantly at her.
'My mother sent you a dress just now. It's in my dorm, when you come back up to the school you can look at it. I didn't look, I promise, mother put what it was in a letter, that's how I know.' He said quickly. Hermione smiled and kissed him again.
'Thank you, Narcissa! She just solved my dress problem.' Hermione answered his questioning expression. 'I'm going to go back inside and tell the others; I'll be right back.' She said, before giving him another quick peck on the lips and rushing into the store.
'Hey guys.' She said was she was with them. They turned to her with curious expressions and questioning eyes.
'What's up Hermione? Why's Draco outside?' Sierra asked. Hermione let a smile appear in her face.
'Narcissa sent me a dress in the post just now, there's no need for us to shop for one anymore.' She explained. Pansy jumped up and down and clapped her hands.
'Oh my God, what does it look like? Tell all.' She said, just like it was the freshest piece of gossip.
'I don't know, it's in Draco's room at the moment, I'm going to go back up to the school and see it; do you want to come?' Hermione asked. The three nodded in excitement and Sierra paid for her dress before meeting up with the others outside in the street.
'Come on, let's go. I want to see this dress.' Ginny said as Sierra made it. They nodded excitedly and walked up to the station, where they caught the first carriage there up to the school.
When they were inside the castle, they split their separate ways; Draco and Sierra down to the dungeons to get the dress and Hermione, Ginny and Pansy to the Room of Requirement where they would meet up with the cousins to see what Narcissa had bought Hermione.
'I wonder what it's going to look like.' Pansy gushed as they walked up the stairs.
'I'm betting it will be red, green, or black.' Ginny mused. Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes.
'Whatever colour it is, I'm sure I'll like it anyway. Narcissa has excellent taste, so it should be nice.' She said. Ginny and Pansy rolled their eyes and again started talking about the possibilities of what the dress could look like and what Hermione would look like in it.
They got to the Room of Requirement and Hermione had to open the door because Ginny and Pansy were still talking about the dress possibilities.
They walked inside the room and waited until Draco and Sierra turned up again. This time, they had Ron, Harry and Blaise in tow.
Pansy jumped up when she saw Ron and into his arms, and Ginny made room on the couch for Blaise. Hermione got up and went to Draco, so Harry and Sierra took the seats that she occupied.
Draco was holding the immense, thin, square, white box and set it out on the floor. A couple of people groaned, but they all got up from their chairs and kneeled on the floor in a circle around the box.
Draco kept his arm locked around Hermione's waist and kneeled down in front of the box with everyone else. He gave Hermione a huge smile and gestured to it.
'Well, what are you waiting for, open it up!' Draco cried. The girls all encouraged her and the boys all looked up at her with anticipation lighting up their faces. Hermione grinned at them all before opening, very slowly as to annoy them all (she got a couple of groans of annoyance for it and a couple of hits on the arm and back of the head), the lid of the white box.
As she put the lid behind her, still slowly, but reverently slowly this time, she heard the squeals and the awed gasps come from the crowd sitting around it.
Hermione turned back around quickly and she stared with wide-eyed astonishment at the red satin that stared back at her. She silently and slowly (again) pulled the dress out the box it was confined to and stood up, pressing the cloth to her body.
The dress was made of a red satin, which simply shined in the light of the Room of Requirement. The bodice of the piece had golden sparkles covering it thickly at the top and faded down into none at the bottom. The top of the bodice was strapless and cut straight across, making it modest, like Hermione was looking for. The back of the dress plunged down to her waist, exposing most of her back, but she liked the look of it anyway. The skirt was floor length and simply flowed beautifully to the ground, making the dress look simple, but elegant.
Draco smiled up at her with appreciative eyes, and Hermione grinned back down at him, her eyes full of tears.
'It's beautiful. I can't believe she got this for me.' She whispered. Draco got up and hugged Hermione from behind, kissing her neck softly.
'Because she loves you, that's why she got it for you. She's going to be at the ball, so you better wear it.' He said teasingly. She laughed and Pansy held out her hands for the dress, so Hermione passed it to her before turning around and giving Draco and huge hug and kiss.
'I love it. I'll have to write her a thankyou letter.' She said. Draco laughed.
'The best thankyou you can give her is by wearing it. I reckon she'll start crying.' He said, smiling cheekily and snickering quietly. Then a thought suddenly occurred to Hermione.
'Your mother doesn't know I'm pregnant, does she?' She asked. Draco frowned before shaking his head.
'No, I don't think she does. Lucius,' he spat the name with malice. After what had happened, Draco refused to call him father, 'wouldn't have had the time to tell her, and I certainly haven't. Not that I don't think she should know!' He added hurriedly, seeing Hermione's expression, 'it's just that I think it would be better if we told her together. How about on the night of the ball, just before we leave, or she leaves, either one. I think she would like to hear it from both of us, together.' Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment.
'Yeah, I think that would be nice, both of us telling her. I think she'll be overjoyed.' She said, smiling beautifully. Hermione was amazed at how well she had taken to Narcissa. The two wear practically joined at the hip when together nowadays, yet in the past years, Hermione hated the woman with a passion, just as much as she had for son. Now, she had fallen for Draco Malfoy and had befriended his mother, all in such a short space of time.
Hermione had the thought that they had connected when Narcissa had helped her during her "stay" at Malfoy Manor. Or maybe it was the fact that she was saving her son from a most unfortunate death if he didn't produce an heir before the age of seventeen. She didn't know, but she was entirely grateful that the woman had taken to her.
She was sorry for Draco's failed relationship with his father though. She had never meant to break up his family. She still felt horrible about that. She didn't think that she could ever make it up to him, but she also didn't think that she had ever seen him smile or be so happy before. She loved the way he smiled, and the look he got in his eyes whenever they were alone together, the one of true passion and love, it took her breath away. She loved the way his face would simply light up when he saw her. She loved it all. It was what drew her to him; just those little subtleties that no one else would ever pick up about him but her. He might not notice, but she did.
Draco smiled at the distant look upon Hermione's face as she stared into the distance. He knew she was deep in thought, and he loved that look she got on her face when she wasn't in the world of the living, but in her own universe entirely. He loved when she bit her bottom lip in concentration or nervousness. He had seen her do it often when they had exams the year before, everyday he had seen it. He even loved the way her hair bounced and flowed as she ran, or walked. He loved running his hands through that beautiful mass of chocolate curls she had. He loved that her body and mind fit perfectly with his. It was like they were moulded for each other only. He loved how much she loved him.
'You really love it?' Draco asked her, gesturing to the dress. Hermione looked at it and looked back at him in confused shock.
'Of course I do, it's beautiful. I can't believe she would get me something this beautiful. I love it.' She answered softly. Draco smiled at her and kissed her lovingly until he heard a gasp come from Sierra. They both turned to look at her with confusion and surprise.
'What's going on?' Draco asked her. Sierra stared at Hermione in wonder.
'Aunt Narcissa has given you a Wucci original! Do you know how much they cost?' Ginny and Pansy gasped and went straight over to where Sierra sat with the dress in her hands appraisingly.
Draco groaned.
'That is the last thing you should be telling Hermione.' He muttered. Hermione herself was too shocked by the revelation to even give a reaction.
She knew what the brand was. She hadn't spent six years in the same dormitory as Parviti and Lavender for nothing.
'I can't accept something that expensive.' Hermione whispered. Draco looked at her.
'Mother won't be pleased if you don't. I told you that she gave me a letter with the dress, didn't I?' He asked. Hermione nodded. 'Yeah, well, she said for me to tell you that this is her present to you for saving my life. She obviously thinks my life is only this much to her.' Draco tried joking, but it was lost with the tears that slid down Hermione's cheek. He looked at her concernedly.
'What's wrong, love?'
'She'd do that for me?' Hermione asked in a whisper. Draco still looked a little confused.
'Of course she would. You're like her daughter already.' He told her. The others were still admiring the dress that Narcissa had given her.
Hermione smiled lightly and wrapped herself tighter in Draco's arms, just content watching them all stare and poke and prod the dress.
After a couple of hours admiring it, and getting Hermione to try it on (she looked spectacular, but Draco wouldn't look because he wanted it to be a surprise for him when the day of the dance came), they decided to call it time for dinner. They headed down after going to Gryffindor Tower to drop the dress off, and said goodbye to each other in the Great Hall before heading off to their tables.
'Hey Hermione,' Ginny started to ask as they piled their plates with food.
'Mmmm?' She questioned, raising her eyebrows and flashing a look her way before putting some food in her mouth.
'Well,' she said conspiratorially, 'I think we should mention something about the dress that Narcissa gave you in front of Lavender and Parviti. They'll flip!' Ginny was leaning over the table with that evil glint in her eyes that was never a good sign.
'We could, but that would be kind of rubbing it in their face that I have spectacular contacts, and I don't want to start any sort of feud between our own house.' Hermione began, but then she saw the dejected look on Ginny's face. She sighed and smiled. 'Fine, let's get them back.' Ginny grinned like an idiot for a second before leaning in to talk to Hermione.
'So, Hermione, tell me again about that dress that Narcissa bought for you?' She said, much too loudly than necessary, but they did gain the attention of Lavender and Parviti, who started listening intently to what was being said by the two girls.
'Oh, well, the dress is a very classy red colour, that totally brings out the Gryffindor in me. It's made of satin too. It has gold sparkles all over the bodice, thick at the top and draining to very little at the bottom. It is strapless and the back of it plunges right down to my waist. It's floor-length and is just so simply elegant that it was like it was made for me.' Hermione boasted. Normally she was never one to boast, but extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Ginny looked at her with mock awe and fascination.
'What was that label again, I can't quite remember which one it was, there are so many!' Ginny asked. Hermione rolled her eyes and pretended that it wasn't much of a big deal.
'It's only a Wucci original. Nothing that major.' She said. At this she practically feel Parviti and Lavenders eyes pop out of their sockets, then they turned away and started talking about the possibilities. Hermione and Ginny saw this and slapped the backs of the hands together, then the front, grinning massively and going back to their dinner.
After finishing, Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron met up with Draco, Blaise, Sierra and Pansy outside in the Entrance Hall to saw good night. Just as she was about to turn away and head up the stairs, she felt something in her stomach. She hunched over a bit, but felt nothing afterward. Her friends all turned back towards her with quizzical faces.
'Hermione, are you alright?' Harry asked concernedly. The Slytherins heard him ask and turned around to see Hermione clasping the banister. Draco was at her side in a spilt second.
'What's wrong, love?' He asked. Hermione just shook her head and continued to look down, her quick mind working through everything.
In her spare time, Hermione had read up on parenting and pregnancy as best she could. It turned out that she had skipped over most of the morning sickness, which she was entirely grateful for, and she was pretty certain that she had just felt the baby kick.
'Draco,' she whispered when she got her voice back. 'Draco, I think I just felt the baby kick.' Draco looked at her wide-eyed and put one of his hands on her stomach while the other tilted her face up towards his.
'Are you sure?' He asked back. Suddenly, he couldn't speak above a whisper either.
'I'm pretty damn sure.' She said. As she finished, she felt it again. He looked down at Hermione and he found her crying silent tears of happiness, a huge grin spread across her face.
Draco took the hand that was beneath her chin and wiped the tears off of her face with the pad on his thumb.
The others still gathered around at various distances away. They still had no idea what was going on with the couple.
Ginny approached first and put a small hand on Hermione's shoulder. The older girl looked at the younger and smiled brilliantly.
'The baby kicked.' She explained briefly and Ginny's eyes went as wide as Draco's had. She immediately put her hand on Hermione's stomach. Ginny started beaming and called the others over.
They each stood there in awe as Hermione felt the baby inside of her kick.
A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for reading it! I need you to tell me if I got the pregnancy facts in this chapter right though, because I've never been pregnant, and I don't plan to be for a while. Thank you so much! Anyway, here are your reviewers and such from the last chapter!
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guy (sorry dude, I couldn't fix the problem in chapter eleven to do with Hermion, Krum and Draco because my computer wouldn't let me, trust me, I've tried. It's so stupid. Sorry!)
Thank you to everyone that has reviewed, you all mean the world to me and I hope to hear from you again (hint, hint)! Anyway, thanks Review!
Love, Sarah xo.