OMG!!! I cannot even believe the amount of people who haven't forgotten about my little story… sigh… I feel so loved… and I love u all in return of course…
This is the second to last chapter…
I'm taking this time to inform you all of another project that I will release soon… I'm calling it Gossip Witch at the moment, but that may change… it features many one shots taken throughout years 4-7 of the Golden Trio's escapades at Hogwarts. Of course it will be another Dramione… I'm really excited about it, so keep an eye out for it in the next couple of weeks…
Anyhoo…onwards we go…
You Know You Love Me
FirebirdflameCHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
SOMETIMES A PUBLIC BREAK UP IS IN EVERYONE'S BEST INTERESTS…
18:33/ WEDNESDAY 27TH OCTOBER/ HEADS' QUARTERS/ COMMON ROOM
HERMIONE P.O.V
Earlier today, feeling ever so slightly guilty at how ecstatic I was (and still am) at the news of her break up, I invited Ginny over for a 'girly night in'. Of course I was careful to keep a smile off my face as I 'comforted' her, but there's only so much you can do when you feel like shouting 'Yes! YES!!" at the top of your lungs. I think she suspected something, another reason I decided to invite her over.
I plump up the chair cushions, and place the bowls filled with pretzels and sweets on the table. Speaking of her ex boyfriend, I haven't seen him all day. Wonder where he-
KNOCK! KNOCK!
There's Ginny now. I toss the cushion I'm holding onto my chair, walk over to the door and pull it open. She's standing there with – a smile on her face?
"Uh, hey, sweetie," I say, puzzled. I mean, didn't she just break up with her boyfriend? But her smile doesn't fade.
" Hey, honey."
She walks past me and plops herself down on the couch directly in front of the TV. What the Hell just – anyway. I shut the door and sit beside her, pulling the bowl of toffee popcorn towards me.
"How you holding up?" I ask her, removing my gum and placing it in a tissue. She sighs and laughs a little.
" Sweetie, let me be honest with you," she says, her tone so serious I turn to look at her, concerned. " The only reason I went out with the Draco in the first place was to make Harry jealous."
What? My jaw drops. So, all this time –
" Did it work?" I ask. Her smile widens.
" Yep," she grins.
I have no idea what to say right now. I just sit here, shocked. She gazes at me for a few moments, her expression suddenly kind and understanding.
" You're in love with him, aren't you?" she asks.
Oh my God. I feel the blood drain from my face. What now?
"Go after him," she smiles at me. "Now, where are Parvati and Lavender? I wanna watch the movie, already."
19:51/ WEDNESDAY 27TH OCTOBER/ THE FIELDS/ BY THE LAKE
NARRATOR P.O.V
Pansy laughs up at her auburn haired companion, brown eyes twinkling. Ron's arm is wrapped firmly around her shoulders. The expressions on their faces are those of people who adore spending time together. It is purely circumstantial that they happen to be seated by the lake in the exact same place as where they first admitted their feelings for one another. I don't think they've noticed the peeping Toms over in the bushes. Discreet as they have been over the past two weeks, it's now only going to be a matter of days before news of this secret relationship is splashed all over the front pages of every newspaper, and all over school.
" I just hope that they get their act together," Pansy sighs, leaning against him, the laughter still evident in her voice. "Finally."
Ron smiles.
"Yeah," he agrees. " Maybe then we'll be able to come out, when everything dies down."
Pansy laughs.
"Like anything involving our friends is ever stress-free."
"True," he chuckles. "But, still, it'll be nice."
She smiles in response.
"Yeah…"
Their gazes remain on each other as they lean in and share long, lingering, languorous kisses.
"I love you," Ron murmurs into the kiss. Oh. My. God. Did he just say –
Pansy breaks away and looks at him in shock before a smile breaks out across her face.
"I love you too."
Ron grins in relief (as if there was any doubt), blue eyes shining. The two lean in for another kiss.
Aah. How sweet.
08:27/ THURSDAY 28TH OCTOBER/ GREAT HALL/ BREAKFAST
NARRATOR P.O.V
"So, who are 08:27/ THURSDAY 28TH OCTOBER/ GREAT HALL/ BREAKFAST
NARRATOR P.O.V
"So, who are you going to the ball with?"
"Blaise Zabini, you."
"Theodore Nott. Ever since Dramione, every lioness wants a snake of her own"
"OMG. Who do you think the other Platinum Six members are going with?"
"Well, apparently, Harry's going with Ginny."
"No way."
"Yeah, Theo told me. And Draco and Hermione are mean to be going together."
"You're lying! They broke up ages ago!"
"Well, have you noticed how close they've been getting lately? It's only a matter of time?"
"hey, you guys, have you heard the latest? Thalia told Alicia who told Maddie who told Emma who told me that Bell saw Pansy and Ron down by the lake making out."
"NO!"
"Totally! Oh my God, they would make the cutest couple!"
"I bet they're gonna go together!"
"I can't wait!"
15:53/ THURSDAT 28TH OCTOBER/ CLASSROOM 17/ TRANSFIGURATION
NARRATOR P.O.V
FROM: GingernutTO: Pachica
SUBJECT: The Ball
Will you with me? I'd really love it if you did.
Love you,
Ron
After sending the email, Ron puts away his Sidekick, his eyes now on the blonde witch sitting tow tables ahead of him. A few moments pass before we hear a muffled buzzing and she reacts instantly, pulling out her phone. After scanning the email, she turns around and nods, a smile on her face. Ron grins back and leans back in his chair. Harry gives him the thumbs up. He already asked the youngest Weasley last night.
DRACO P.O.V
Well done to Ron. I still haven't got a date – out of choice, of course. I want to ask Hermione to go with me, but I'm scared she may turn me down.
12:43/ FRIDAY 29TH OCTOBER/ HEADS'S QUARTERS/ KITCHEN
DRACO P.O.V
I still haven't gathered up the courage to ask Hermione to go with me to the Ball. I mean, I've been thinking about it and I thought that maybe if I just ask her to go with me as a friend, then – but those annoying flutterings in my stomach that I always get when I'm around her, appear whenever I even think about it.
See? Just like they are now.
Sighing in disgust at myself, I walk into the airy kitchen to find Hermione sitting at the island in the middle, eating ice cream. She smiles at me (there are those damn butterflies again) and I grin back. She's fully dressed and so I think she must be about to go out. Dumbledore's given the entire school the day off to get ready for tomorrow's Ball and 7th Years and above permission to leave the grounds. I pull open the fridge door and examine the contents.
"So," I begin. " What are you going today?"
"I'm gonna go up to King's Road with Pansy and Ginny," she tells me," I still haven't got a dress."
I nod at her explanation, head still buried in the fridge.
"You," she asks. Ah ha! That'll do. Seizing some scotch pancakes, I shut the fridge and turn to face her. What am I doing today? I already bought my tuxedo – had mother go over to some muggle designer's store (Versace, or something, I think it's called) and it was delivered today.
:"Just gonna hang with guys."
She nods. Silence reigns as she searches around in her bag for something. Now is the perfect time. Ask her.
Go on, ask her!
AKS HER, DAMN IT!
I open my mouth to –
KNOCK, KNOCK!!
"That's my call," she jumps up and grabs her bag. What the – she's hugging me! I barely have time to savour the moment before she skips out of the room, caramel locks flying behind her. Damn it!
My mouth snaps shut in disappointment. Oh, well. Maybe next time.
15:57/ FRIDAY 29TH OCTOBER/ LONDON/ HARROD'S/ WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT
HERMIONE P.O.V
Once again, I find myself surprised at how much of a friend I consider someone I used to think of as an EBA (Enemy By Association). And at how much fun I'm having with her. We've been trying on gown after gown after gown for the past two hours in a cordoned off section of the Women's Department In Harrod's. Pansy has converted some of her galleons into muggle money and I've even managed to convince Ginny to let me buy her a dress, under the pretence that it'll be an early Xmas present, even though that's a lie.
"Hey, Mione," Pansy calls, holding up a gorgeous floor length, blood red, Alai gown. "I'm gonna try this one on, 'K?"
I nod at her as I examine the rack of beautiful white dresses in front of me. Today's been so much fun. The only damper is that I still haven't gotten a date for tomorrow, yet…
NARRATOR P.O.V
What she doesn't know is that there are hundreds of guys at school who would be more than willing to take her to the Ball. It's just that they've all been warned off by Blaise, Harry and Ron, who want to give Draco a chance to ask her.
And everyone knows that you do not want to mess with those four.
HERMIONE P.O.V
5 minutes later…
This is it. I've found the dress. I'm so sure about it, I'm not even going to try it on. It's a gorgeous, white, back less, Givenchy gown (A.N. the exact same one as in the Givenchy Ange ou Demon perfume ad… google it if need be! =)). It's absolutely stunning.
I turn to the other two, who have their own final choices now clutched in their hands (Pansy having decided to go with that read number, and Ginny having picked out a emerald green, off-the-shoulder, Dolce and Gabanna gown that looks amazing on her.)
"I've got the dress."
19:16/ FRIDAY 29TH OCTOBER/ THE GREAT HALL
HERMIONE P.O.V
"Stratio!"
With a wave of my wand, an ankle height mist is created accompanying the looming trees Draco just conjured for our Forbidden Forest theme.
"Nice," he congratulates me, sapphire eyes admiring the now spooky scene. I smile, warmed at his approval.
"Thanks."
We've been here for just over twenty minutes and have already added the gloomy tress, bright, full moon and (thanks to me), the light fog. In the center of the room, there is a circular clearing where we will now position the large, circular tables in a round around the stage, with a space in between the two for the dance floor.
This is turning out even better than I thought. I sigh in satisfaction.
"Uh, Miss," I turn at the call from behind me. It is one of the technicians responsible for setting up the stage for the Weyrd Sisters' performance.
"Where should we put these?" he continues, motioning with his head to the drum kit he's hovering with his wand. I direct him over to the stage before heading back to Draco's side. Lord, he smells so good. I'm gonna have to be careful not be caught sniffing him like some kind of mad dog.
"It looks great, " he grins at me, hair shining in the moonlight. I nod, trying not to drool.
"Yeah," I laugh. "They'd better appreciate this!"
The sound of his laughter sends a tingly down my spine.
"Hell, yeah," he chuckles. "After all the work we've put in."
DRACO P.O.V
I can't tear my eyes away as she turns and, with a wave of her wand, begins to lay down grass. God, she's so beautiful. I really need to get my act together. OK, there's no one around. Now's my chance.
Don't screw this up.
HERMIONE P.O.V
"So, you got a date?"
At his words, I freeze. Great. Now, I'm going to appear like such a freak.
"No," I answer. "You?"
Well, of course he does, Hermione. He's Draco fucking Malfoy, for God's sake. Every girl at this damned school worships the ground he walks on.
"No."
What? In my surprise, I turn to look at him to see a slight blush on his cheeks. He glances at the ceiling for a moment, as if deciding something, then his enigmatic gazes is on me once again.
"We could always go together. As friends."
My heart sinks at his words. But, then again, I would rather go with him as 'just friends', than not with him at all.
"Sure," I smile. His own lips quirk into a smile but, just for a moment, I think I see indescribable pain in them.
But I guess that's just imagination, right?
- - * - - * - -
And that's it from me for this week… next week: the Ball, the culmination of that damned bet and the end to my tale…
You Know You Love Me…