AN: Hey guys. Here's the first part of the ending. I'm planning to post it in parts, but if you think that's inconvenient, just please tell me. Let me know if you'd rather have it posted in one complete ending, so your reading won't be interrupted and there won't be waiting periods.
Just let me know, so I can adjust. I'd want it easier for my readers. :) Thanks you guys. Tell me what you think!
Enjoy. :)
Friday passed a blur for Draco.
Friday passed like hell for Draco. The heavy tension that surrounded him and Hermione wouldn't go away, and it didn't help that he spent all his classes sitting inches away from her.
The day before the ball and dance was supposed to be a period of excitement, and indeed it was, anxious buzzing filled the air… but not for these two. No, this day was excruciating; it carried the anger and the humility all mixed in one heavy gastric atmosphere. They didn't speak to each other, of course, not unless it was purely business and school related.
Time flew very slowly, until finally it was dinner time and the two hastily made their way away from each other.
"Ah yes, I'm starving!" Ron moaned as he and Harry joined Hermione on the way out.
"Yes, Ron, we all know that." Hermione rolled her eyes as they entered the Great Hall and scrambled in amongst all the Gryffindors.
"So Hermione, what are you wearing tomorrow?" Ginny asked her as they took their seats.
Hermione managed a smile. "Oh, well, I'm wearing something all right. But it's a secret." She winked at her. Ginny smiled and said a smirking, "Okay."
"So, you're not hesitant to go to that ball or dance thing at all?" Harry asked uncomfortably. "I mean… Draco—is gonna… sorta… be there." He finished with an awkward smile.
Hermione looked at him with a certain admiration. "Awww Harry, I know you're concerned and all, but its okay. I won't let him ruin this for me. I won't allow it, I mean, He isn't exactly worth it, is he?" She said, finishing with a smile.
Harry was about to answer, when he was suddenly cut by the voice of Albus Dumbledore.
"Good evening students!" He said cheerfully. "I trust you are all excited about tomorrow--" Excited buzzing suddenly drowned Dumbledore's voice. "—And I must say, you have perfect reason to be excited!" Dumbledore chuckled. Roars of hoorays and cat calls filled the hall. "To Tomorrow." He raised his goblet. "Cheers!" He said, and with a flick of his wand, food appeared.
"To Tomorrow." Harry repeated.
"To Tomorrow." Hermione repeated too, with a slightly forced smile.
Across the hall Draco was looking at her, his expression cold, though within those silver eyes of his, there glistened a part of him that swam in great regret.
"What do you mean you lost it?!" Ginny howled that night in the Girls' Dormitories.
Hermione looked around. "Shhhhh!" She told her. Some of their friends were trying to sleep already. "I don't know…" Hermione trailed. "I was wearing it one time and then the next thing I know, it's not there anymore!"
Ginny's eyes went big. "What happens if someone finds it?" She asked.
Hermione shrugged. "Then they will suspect Draco and I used to be together…?" She asked unsure. "Unless they can't make out the initials DM and HG. Haha." She said.
Ginny suddenly squealed. "EEEEK!" She said. Hermione looked sharply at her. "What if Pansy found it?!" She was excited with sinister delight.
Hermione chuckled. "Ginny, you're mean." She said laughing. "Then it'd probably start a cat fight. I dunno…" She chuckled.
Ginny squealed. "OH! What are you wearing tomorrow?" She asked excitedly.
"Just trust me. I'll look okay I guess." Hermione smiled as she lay down and faced the ceiling.
"Well, whatever it is.." The girl on the bed beside her said. "It better be amazing. Draco better regret everything he did." She said.
"You're mean, Ginny." Hermione said once more. "Goodnight!" She finished, though as she slept, she half-wished what Ginny said would come true.
At seven o'clock on the night of the ball, all the boys were waiting anxiously in their dorms, fixing themselves up, straightening their coat and tie, making sure they made perfect dates.
On the other side of the story, the girls were nowhere to be found, they were saving the element of surprise. They made sure no one could catch even just a glimpse of them, because the best would be saved for later.
"Do I look okay?" Hermione asked Ginny nervously inside their room.
"Hermione, don't sweat. You look fine! Be cool." Ginny scolded her. "How 'bout me?! Do I look pretty?! You think Harry will like it?!" She asked anxiously.
"GUYS!" Parvati suddenly said. "Get a hold of yourselves!" She said boldly. "…We are all nervous." She added, making the room suddenly burst with laughter.
Ginny stepped forward. "For Tonight." She said, and all the girls in the room huddled into a very tight circle. "For Tonight." They all chorused, wrapped in a group hug.
"May this night be ours; the lights and the trinkets put up for display were placed to mimic the glitter in our eyes. We own this night, and let our beauty be not measured by the man we hold beside us, but by the intensity of our smile, the sincerity behind our laughter, and the grace of our stride. This night is for us to keep, girls. Let's make the most of it!" Hermione said, with all confidence, forgetting the rocky road that all led to this ending, and standing up for what she knew was better than a broken heart.
"This night is ours to keep!" They all chorused back, and one by one, they all stood straight, told each other how pretty they looked, and got prepared to go downstairs and meet the boys.
Meanwhile, downstairs, there stood the men, all waiting in the vast space right before the doors that led to the Great Hall. No one knew what lay beyond those large, gigantic wooden doors. The Dance of The Year, some said. Some even suggested Albus Dumbledore himself decorated the spaces of the Hall, not leaving the nitty gritty work to some Charms Teacher.
The space was filled with the scent of male perfume, and the ground was swallowed in handsome, pure leather shoes. Draco straightened his tie, and made himself comfortable.
He was wearing a very slick, stylish coat and tie, in a very rich dark emerald green color. It emphasized his icy, silver eyes. His silk tie was so perfect it looked like it was made of pure silver. It matched his marvelous, piercing eyes. His hair was pulled back neatly, the way his hair used to be when he was younger, way before it grew and fell to his face. It was nostalgic, sophisticated, showing a man, who no longer was a boy.
His entire get up did not make him look too formal, but it was gorgeous, his height was perfect, and as he stood straight it seemed like all the world gravitated towards him. He was the epitome of confidence, of lust, a being of pure class, he was handsome; he was gorgeous,
He was Sexy. The Crème of The Crop.
Suddenly there were busy murmurs here and there, the boys were suddenly loud, and it seemed to be mixed with the voices of… females?
Draco looked around. The girls finally arrived. They were dispersing here and there, finding their dates, gasping at how handsome the men looked, and squealing at how pretty their friends were.
He looked around for Pansy. The girls all looked the same to him, all sporting their prettiest gowns and prettiest hair styles. He squinted. His eyes scanned the sea of familiar faces, looking for his Slytherin Date.
Where is she? He looked around. There were still some girls who were looking for their dates, and some making their way towards their found partners.
"Draco!" A voice suddenly said to his right. Draco immediately turned.
"Pansy!" He said. "There you are!" He gave a smile. Pansy just made her way down the steps.
"I thought you were already here…" Draco trailed, and Pansy explained she got a little caught up in the room, "Trying to look extra pretty for you." She squealed, and batted her eyelashes as she looked at Draco.
Draco gave an uneasy smile. He hated it when girls forced compliments upon him. He wanted it to come out effortless, pure, and honest.
"So, how do I look?" Pansy asked eagerly.
Draco looked at her. "You look…" He started. Suddenly his eyes were caught by something else. His silver eyes traveled towards the staircase, some one else was going down, looking astoundingly perfect.
She was wearing a white silvery dress, it flowed and followed her every step. Draco could not make out the material, it seemed like water and sometimes like air, as though there was this mystifying and enchanting aura about it. Other times it seemed like the thoughts in a Pensieve, strung together to clothe the admirable lady wearing it.
She walked with a certain confidence and grace, as though she caught all the men about her in a trance. She had them all wrapped around her finger. Her hair was wavy, tamed and smooth, flowing like her dress, framing her pretty face. Draco's eyes followed her as she made her way down, he wasn't speaking, nor was he breathing.
It seemed like a déjà vu, as if he had seen that dress and that lady in a dream, or a dream within a dream. He wouldn't know, but all he knew was he wished that girl was the one beside him now, asking him the very question he finally had an answer for..
"…Beautiful." He whispered sincerely.