A/N okay so after all that drama, I think our 'hopefully' star crossed lovers need a little cool down. However they do have to spend time together so sorry Hermione if you wanted to avoid him, that won't be happening any time soon.
Chapter 9 - The Letter
A month and a bit had passed since Hermione had skipped Charms. She, Ron and Lavender had done well ignoring each other since, so there had been no fights. The head girl hadn't seen much of Draco either, which was rather awkward as they were both standing outside the headmistress' office.
"Ah, Miss Granger, Mr Malfoy. Come in," McGonagall smiled. They both stepped inside their late headmaster's office to see that nothing had changed in his absence. "Sit," the headmistress smiled, gesturing to two seats opposite her desk. She took a seat behind, facing them. Hermione had a knot in her stomach. Was she in trouble? "Let's get straight to it then. As head boy and head girl, the staff and I have decided that you two shall be organising a Halloween ball," McGonagall declared. Hermione's mouth dropped. If possible, the knot in her stomach grew. "I am aware of your homework build up before half term -" she continued.
"Professor! Halloween's in a week and three days!" Hermione cried out in horror. Draco smirked.
"I am aware of that Miss Granger," McGonagall continued, "You may ask the prefects for help." As if that was her final note, the headmistress stood up and walked over to the window, swishing her wand a little to open the door behind her. Both Draco and Hermione stared for a bit before retreating back to their dorm.
"So, now what?" Hermione asked, once they'd both seated themselves in the black, comfy sofas.
"Well, you're the genius, I'll get parchment and you tell me what to write."
"Ok," Hermione half smiled as Draco went into his dorm. He came back a second later with a scroll of parchment, a quill, and a pot of black ink. "So," Hermione said again once he was seated, "We need posters, to tell people when and where, we need decorations, music, food and drinks."
"And lighting," Draco smirked. Hermione nodded. "Where will it be?" He asked.
"Great Hall, seven till midnight."
"We getting music to play live or what?"
"There's a music group in school, they're really good."
"Wouldn't they want to be dancing?"
"Fair point."
"There's a singer I know in Hogsmeade, a girl -"
"Of course you'd know her then," Hermione muttered. Draco smirked.
"She's about eighteen, has a band, sings normal and muggle music. And she's a pureblood," Draco ended with a smirk. Hermione scowled. "Sounds cool. If you know her, why don't you check her out tomorrow to see if she's free?" Hermione smiled, looking outside. It was getting dark. "Yeah alright," Draco grinned.
"Dean's quite an artist, you know, Dean Thomas," Hermione suggested, "He could do the posters?"
"Yeah, cool, Dean, Thomas!" Draco grinned, writing Dean's name on the parchment.
"Hogsmeade has a Halloween store which is open at the moment."
"You and I could go in tomorrow after I've seen the singer."
"You're asking me out to Hogsmeade?" Hermione grinned cheekily.
"WHAT?! No fucking way Granger! You're sick!" Draco retorted angrily.
"I was only joking!" Why had he overreacted that much. Surely he knew she was joking.
"Hmph."
"We could bring a couple others too then," suggested Hermione.
"Yeah, fine we'll bring Pans and Trace."
"What? No not two Slytherins!"
"Panicky Granger?"
"Never!"
"Prove it!"
"Fine!" Hermione yelled. There was a pause.
"So, we can do a few spells for the lighting, and that's about it right?"
"Right."
"House elves can make the food -"
"You treat them like slaves!" Hermione said angrily.
"They are," Draco shrugged. And then remembered Hermione's vendetta.
"No they're not!"
"Fine, whatever!"
"I HATE YOU!"
"I know!" Draco called at Hermione's retreating back.
"I'm going to bed!"
"Cool! We'll get drinks from The Three Broomsticks!" Draco called back. Slam. Her door banged shut. "Mental. She's bloody unbelievable!"
"What the hell is wrong with him?! He can be really nice when he wants but the rest of the time he's a bloody, self absorbed, arrogant, evil cockroach!" Hermione screamed in frustration. Draco heard and stormed angrily up to the door and yelled back, "What the heck did I do?!"
"You're just naturally arrogant and infuriating!"
"Why thank you."
"Shut UP!"
"FINE!" And with that he locked himself up in his room and cast the strongest silencing spell he could. Hermione screamed in frustration, ripping her robes off and flinging herself onto the bed. "I HATE YOU!" She yelled as loud as possible, before breaking down, punching her bed frame and pillows. She had yelled loud enough for people on the floor above and below to hear. Eventually she managed to fall into an uneasy sleep.
.
"GRANGER!" Draco yelled over his shoulder.
"WHAT?!" Hermione yelled back.
"She lives here!" Draco hissed.
"Oh. Right. I still hate you you know," Hermione glared matter of factly.
"I know," Draco sighed.
"What? No unkind remarks?" Hermione spat.
"Actually, no," Draco heaved.
"Sly git," Hermione muttered, "Knock then!" They were in Hogsmeade looking for some woman called Delzma Keyka to sing for them. Lessons had finished half an hour ago. Right behind them stood Pansy Parkinson and Tracey Davis looking rather bored. There was a knock as Draco rapped on the door to Delzma's house. They only had to wait a few moments before the door swung open to reveal a thin woman in a short black skirt, red t-shirt and long, straight brown hair. "Hey Draco! What you doing here?" Delzma asked in a voice very reminiscent to Jessy J, a muggle singer, Hermione thought. "Hi Delzma," Draco smirked. Hermione scowled. So did Pansy. "We were wondering if you'd like to sing up at Hogwarts on Halloween, 7 till midnight?" Draco asked with his trademark smirk. "Well that's one way to go about it," Hermione thought, "Ask her straight out."
"Oh it would be a pleasure! Just any songs? Wizard and Muggle?" Delzma asked.
"Yes that would be great!" Hermione smiled, "Hi I'm Hermione by the way." She said this slightly arrogantly, as it to point out she was there, too. "And I'm Pansy, and this is Tracey," Pansy smiled falsely.
"Yeah, right. Cool. So Draco, I'll be round setting up for six thirty? Maybe I could meet you outside the gates?" Delzma smiled. Hermione, Pansy and even Tracey looked at her with disgust.
"Sure! Thanks!" Draco grinned and she shut the door. As soon as they'd walked in the opposite direction five paces, Hermione asked bitterly, "Does every girl flirt with you?"
"Why of course Granger, everyone who I make an impression on, anyway, as none of you Loserdores seem to take a remote bit of interest in me," Draco grinned. Hermione scowled. And then outrage hit her. "You haven't - you haven't made... Made out with her have you?!" She hissed furiously.
"Of course not Granger, I like to tease my prey before pouncing -" but Hermione had already slapped him. "Ow! Bloody hell Granger!" She faltered. That sounded too much like Ron.
"Come on," she muttered.
"Where now?" Pansy asked in an irritant voice.
"H&B Holiday Decor," Hermione smiled tightly.
"Never heard of it," Tracey stated dully.
"That's probably because it's right at the other end of the village. Come on," Hermione chivied bossily, walking past the post office and over to a dingy little shop in a bad mood. Why? She had no idea. The only thing that had happened was another girl flirting with Malfoy and, well, there was nothing wrong with that. Was there?
"H and B, Holiday Decor. Horrid and boring holiday decor more like," Pansy sneered. Draco nudged her slightly. They walked inside and were instantly greeted by hundreds upon thousands of Halloween decorations from trinkets to banners. "Who works here?" Pansy whispered into the eerie, desolate shop. "Me," said a voice gravely. Pansy screamed in surprise and turned to look at the old man, who was now cracked up laughing. "Works every time! Every time!" He chuckled croakily. Draco and Hermione and even Tracy both suppressed grins as Pansy furiously glared up at him. "Now, what can I do for you?" The old man smiled at Hermione.
"We'd like some Halloween decor please sir!" Hermione beamed.
"Of course of course! Please, take your pick! Be as long as you'd like!" He smiled back.
"Thank you very much," Hermione smiled, nodding her head slightly. They set off in different directions, looking for decor big enough to cover the great hall, which was immensely large. To be completely honest, Hermione felt quite peaceful, more than usual anyway. Funny that, finding peace in a shop fit for the dead.
Half an hour later they were dragging themselves out of the shop laden with everything from black and orange bunting, to magical bats (the sort that don't leave mess). It had summed up to 50 galleons (which, Hermione calculated, was £248.99). The dancing skeletons had been the most expensive, at seven galleons each and they'd bought four. They'd kept the skeletons at the shop, as they would have been slightly awkward to walk into school with.
Draco elbowed her, although he caught her knuckles instead of her side. Hermione tried not to show the twang of pain that shot through her hand, but he saw. "What?" He asked with dislike.
"Nothing," she spat back. He noticed the purple skin around her knuckles and gathered it had occurred in her tantrum the previous day. "Crazy," he muttered, raising his hand in the air for the sake of it. Hermione blanched and sidestepped away from him. God she was so paranoid!
Suddenly, once Draco and Tracey had overtaken them, Pansy wrenched at Hermione's collar and pinned her against the wall. "WH-" Hermione began, but Pansy's hand covered her mouth. "If you dare even think of stealing my boyfriend away from me, I will find you, and kill you personally," Pansy hissed, removing her hand and walking away.
"I'd never even befriend the evil ferret!" Hermione hissed back.
"I saw him Granger, saving your ass," Pansy spat. Hermione felt outraged, and disgusted. "I saw the way you hated Delzma flirting with him too!" Pansy fired back, making Hermione stop in her tracks.
"I hate him!" She half shouted back.
"Yeah, right," Pansy glared back.
.
"Draco," Pansy said sternly. Draco looked around. He was sitting in the Slytherin common room with Blaise and Theo, watching them play wizard chess. The decorations were in the heads' common room since there was no where else to put them and it had now been an hour since they'd got back. "What Pans?" Draco asked, looking round grinning.
"A word, please?" She asked. He gestured for her to get in with it. Blaise and Theo both stopped. "Private, please, Draco," Pansy pleaded. Draco gave her a funny look, then followed her into a more private corner. "Pans is everything alright?" Draco asked, concerned. He might not have liked her the way she wanted him to but he did still care. "No," Pansy said, looking up at him defiantly and continuing, "Do you love me?" Draco nearly choked and looked at her as if she were crazy before asking incredulously, "You pulled me over here just for that?" She didn't move. "Yes of course I like you Pans."
"Love, Draco. I know you like me but do you love me?"
"Pansy give it time just -"
"I have given you time!"
"No Pansy you don't get it!"
"I see," Pansy muttered calmly, "There's someone else isn't there."
"What? No Pansy of course not -"
"It's her isn't it?"
"Who?"
"That frigging mudblood!"
"PANSY?! I would NEVER, EVER like a mudblood. Ever, understood? Merlin what is wrong with you people!?" Draco hissed.
"People? Others suspect - you know never mind! But I'm pretty sure she likes you," Pansy snapped.
"W-What?" Draco stammered, "She fucking hates me Pans! What is your problem?"
"Fine! But if I see ANYTHING between you, you will regret it!" Pansy hissed and stormed off. Draco stood, shocked. He did NOT like Granger. She was nothing to him. Nothing. And she never would be. Why could no one else see that? "Hey Draco!" Blaise called.
"What?" Draco huffed, stalking towards him.
"What's got your wand in a knot?" Blaise smirked.
"It's Pansy," Draco snarled, "She thinks I've got a thing with Granger."
Theo tried not to smirk and asked, "Well, do you?"
"NO!" Draco yelled. Theo looked at him skeptically, Blaise just shook his head in disbelief. "Theo you're in checkmate," he groaned.
.
There was a tap at the window. "Harry!" Ginny called, "Is that for you?" Harry looked round, as did Ron. The three of them and Hermione were sitting in the Gryffindor common room alone, as everyone else had retired to bed. Hermione was sitting as far away from him as possible. About ten minutes ago, she'd just finished talking to Dean Thomas about doing the posters, and he'd agreed. He said he'd do them in his dorm that night. "So you got poster plans sorted?" Ginny smiled, whilst Harry opened the window to let the tawny brown owl in. "Yeah, Dean's gonna have seven ready by tomorrow morning. One for each house common room, one for the notice board outside the great hall, one for the library and one for the staff room.
"Owch alright alright!" Harry yelped in pain as the owl nipped him painfully on the arm as if to say 'hurry up.' He tore open the letter and slouched slightly in his stance, looking worriedly at his girlfriend. "It's from Tonks," Harry sighed.
"What does it say?!" Ginny asked, standing up with Hermione to read over Harry's shoulder.
"Says the Order is in despair. Disasters are happening everywhere, no control over Azkaban, Ministry's nearly fallen, Ron, we need to do it," Harry read and declared.
"I'm coming too!" Hermione pouted angrily.
"No, 'Mione, you are not coming! You're head girl and have a duty to the teachers, and you need to look out for Ginny, and you - you - you just can't come okay?!" Harry retorted.
"RUBBISH!" Hermione cried, "I won't let you do this!"
"Please 'Mione," Harry pleaded. Hermione bowed her head and let stubborn tears slip away from her eyes.
"Harry where do you think you're going?!" Ginny asked angrily.
"I can't tell you Gin, less you know safer you are," Harry declared weakly.
"Com'on mate, we'll go after Halloween yeah?" Ron announced.
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
"YOU CANT GO!" Hermione screamed at him, "Not without permission!" There was a silence. "You are going to tell McGonagall that you're going aren't you?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"You can't tell anyone 'Mione, Ginny, not till we're gone," Harry said sternly.
"HARRY!" Hermione yelled.
"'Mione, leave it," Ginny smiled.
"But -" she tried.
"Com'on, let's go to bed," Ginny smiled. Hermione huffed and walked out her former common room.
Ten minutes later, the head girl was outside her dorm and was murmuring Spero, into the eerie silence. Silently, she crept in, not wanting to wake Draco for it was about eleven and he was surly asleep by now. "Evening Granger," a voice smirked from a shadowy corner of the common room. Jumping out of her skins, Hermione quickly detected the source of the voice and hissed, "You scared the life out of me Malfoy, what the hell are you doing lurking in the shadows?" She shut the portrait with a gentle thud.
"Waiting for you."
"May I ask why?"
"Because I'd like to make something very clear before we go to bed. If we weren't sharing the same dorm, we'd hate each other more than we currently do. Notice how I state that we hate each other currently. I hate you, Granger, and it's staying that way." Draco growled. Hermione stood shocked, as her dorm mate left for his room. Heart rate returning to normal, Hermione slowly walked back to her dorm, replaying what had just happened. This was why she could talk to him though wasn't it? Because she hated him, and had nothing to lose. She hated him too. His words shouldn't have affected her. But they did. She sniffed.
Draco stood inside his dorm, leaning against his door, breathing hard. Why had that been so difficult? He listened to the light footsteps outside his room and the swing of the door and at last, the click. He was sure there had been a sniff too. This was all Weasley's fault.
A/N How difficult had that been? Draco give it up man, just admit you like her. Lol. How was that for a chapter viewers? Please review, your opinion counts. What do you think will happen next? I'll say a ball and a bitch fight. But that's only what I think! Next update on Tuesday!