Hermione fingered the exquisite dress gently, as if being the slightest bit careless would tear the gown in two. She had never been dressed this finely before, not at the Yule Ball, or even at Bill and Fleur's wedding.
"Twirl for me." Draco said breathlessly, drinking in the amazing sight. Hermione blushed again, and did as she was told. Ginny sighed in happiness, and even Zacharias shut up for once. Even though Hermione agreed the dress was fabulous, she didn't dare look at the price tag. Ginny was too pleased to just be able to try on dresses and pretend to be a runway model that she hadn't even thought about the actual purchasing.
However, as always, Draco seemed to know exactly what Hermione was feeling. Nonchalantly, he got up and pretended to lose interest in the girls, and walked over to the nearest rack of dresses. He picked out two simple black numbers, and handed one each to the girls.
"Now try something simple, so not every guy in the room at Slughorn's party will drool over you two."
Ginny looked disappointed that she finally understood that her dress was far out of her desired price range, but Hermione comforted her, saying, "It's alright, Gin. We don't need to dress up that much for a school party."
As the girls headed back to their changing stalls, Draco called behind them, "Throw out the other dresses you've already discarded and the ones you're wearing right now over the door. We'll put them back for you."
"Alright!" the girls chorused, as Zacharias rolled his eyes. "Why do we have to?" he whined as several dresses started toppling over the stall door. "Aren't there people that do this here?"
"Of course there are, dimwit." Draco replied absentmindedly as he scanned the pile of dresses for the ones the girls were just wearing. "I wouldn't do it either, if I could avoid it." he added. " But you should know me by now. Since when have I been nice without an ulterior motive?"
Finally, the two dresses landed on top of each pile. Draco had his chance now. "Make sure they stay here when they come out." he ordered. Seeing Zacharias's puzzled face, he explained, "Just tell them how nice they look and how each part brings out some aspect of their features."
He went to retrieve the dresses as Zacharias tried to figure out his assignment. When he finally put two and two together, he asked, astonished, "Why are you buying Ginny's dress, too?"
Draco chuckled, and answered breezily, "We're all friends, aren't we? We got each other socks, so I'm getting the girls dresses." Seeing Zacharias's raised eyebrows, he sighed and said, "Fine. I'm getting Ginny a present to thank her for the free entertainment I get everyday by watching her harass you. Happy now?"
Zacharias scowled as Draco chuckled merrily and headed off to the check-out counter, knowing that Zacharias knew he had been outsmarted again, and would do as told. The line was mercifully short, and Draco only had to wait for about thirty seconds before it was his turn.
He gingerly laid down the rustling dresses as a pimply man inspected them to price them. "That'll be ninety-nine Galleons, five Sickles, and five Knuts." he said, turning around to pick up two garment bags from the table behind him.
Draco again produced the pouches of Wizarding currency. Price didn't matter as long as Hermione was happy, and he would even buy things for Ginny just to make sure Hermione would accept his gifts.
"These are masterpieces." said the man, trying to make small talk as he placed the dresses inside the garment bags with extra care. He must have seen the Malfoy crest on the bags, too, for he was suddenly even more polite and attentive. "Are these for your girlfriend?"
Draco gave a rueful smile. "I could only wish." he replied, shaking his head sadly as the pimpled man zipped up both bags and and handed them to the teenager.
Trying to comfort the boy, the cashier said kindly, "Well, she's a lucky girl, whoever she is."
Draco slung the lengthy dresses over his shoulder, shaking his head. "Thanks, but no thanks. I'm the lucky one in this case."
With that, he headed back to the changing area, where he was met by Ginny and Hermione inspecting their shorter, simpler dresses, complete with Zacharias fussing over them as only a mother could.
They all stopped what they were doing when they saw Draco, though. Hermione immediately noticed the luggage on his back and then glanced at the pile of discarded dresses. "What are you carrying?" she asked suspiciously, scrutinizing the garment bags, and not in the least fooled be Draco's innocent expression.
Ginny lunged for them, succeeded in grabbing one, and pulled down the zipper. The noticeable flash of sea-green was not missed by anyone, and Ginny let out her loudest squeal yet, while Hermione gasped in shock.
"Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Draco!" shrieked Ginny, grabbing him about the neck for a quick hug, and then letting go at the speed of light to stroke her treasure. "I don't know how to thank you." she added quietly, nuzzling the silk gently, as if she couldn't quite believe this was happening.
"You can by convincing Hermione to accept her dress with as much, or maybe even more, enthusiasm as you just displayed." he drawled, smirking at Hermione's speechless expression, and also appreciating the admiration on Zacharias's face.
"Drake..." Hermione began, her voice thick with emotion. "I... I- I- really... I just can't accept this generosity." she finished, her voice small, and her heart obviously not agreeing with what she was saying. However, she knew that this really was much too extravagant of a gift.
Draco dropped the garment bag onto the bench that he and Zacharias had previously occupied, and then wrapped Hermione with a chaste hug, whispering for only her to hear, "I WANT you to look your finest at the party tonight, so the only 'compensation' I'll ever need for this is to just see you and Ginny happy and glowing. Harry would agree with me if he were here." he added, trying to win her consent.
Hermione returned the hug, and Draco thought his mission had been a success, until she informed him, "Alright, I'll let you have your way this time, but I WILL find way to pay you back someday."
Hearing the determination in her voice, Draco accepted a partial win. "We'll see." he replied smugly, and released her from their embrace.
Ginny had already flitted over to the shoe section to buy a pair of matching shoes. "Hey guys, what do you think about these?" she asked, dangling a pair of dangerous-looking high heels. They were basically slanted blocks of wood held together with several ribbons that were identical in color to her dress, which was currently lying with Hermione's.
"I think they would be perfect ..." Zacharias started. Ginny started to beam, thinking that, based on his excessive compliments during Draco's absence, he would say something positive. "...for a troll." Her beam transformed into a scowl, and she looked to Draco and Hermione for their opinions instead.
Hermione looked skeptical, but Draco nodded, saying, "Whatever calms your hippogriff." partially because he couldn't care less, partially because he just wanted to prevent another argument, and partially because he was hungry, and wanted to eat lunch already.
"Come on, Mione. It's your turn now." said Draco, steering her to where Ginny was admiring her new-found devilish contraptions. Zacharias picked up the garment bags and joined them as well, excited as he sensed the end of this horrid experience was almost over, which coincidentally meant that he would get to eat again.
Hermione picked out a simple pair of classic black pumps that were the same altitude as Ginny's. "I'm paying for these." she stated clearly, giving Draco a look. Ginny nodded fervently, indicating she was thinking the exact same thing as Hermione.
"All right, all right. No need to get you wand in a knot." Draco chuckled. "Let's just go already. Zach looks like he's going to pass out from hunger at any moment."
So the four friends went to complete the transaction for Hermione and Ginny's shoes, with all being excited, but for different reasons, of course. As Draco gathered up their bags, (he had insisted, saying "Chivalry's not dead yet," and saying that it would make him look bad if Zacharias was carrying things for the girls but he wasn't), the front door of Gladrags Wizardwear burst open, and in swarmed Rita Skeeter and her crew.
"Hurry! Hurry! The world needs to see that Miss Granger is still human and does everything normal, like shopping!" Rita barked at the cameraman standing next to her, as he clicked away feverishly.
Other less blunt reporters were sticking to the classic approach, shouting out questions for Hermione, Draco, and Ginny as they surrounded the group of unprepared students.
"Miss Granger! Miss Granger! We've heard rumors from a source about your relationship with another member of the Golden Trio, Mr. Ronald Weasley. Can you confirm this?"
"Draco Malfoy! Death Eater! Lucius Malfoy's son! How has your family's experience been after rejoining society as tarnished images of your former selves?"
"Miss Weasley! Ginny Weasley! How are you and Harry Potter working out your relationship? We're assuming he's not in the country, unless you can tell us otherwise!"
Surprisingly, it was Zacharias who reacted first. He grabbed Ginny's elbow as she started to draw out her wand, no doubt in an effort to force their way through the exit as she had obviously forgotten the original plan, and Disapparated.
As the crowd converged on Draco and Hermione, Draco bellowed, "FINE! Let's have an interview then! Here's all I'm going to say, so you'd better get ready to write. MY FAMILY AND I ARE DOING JUST FINE. IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, GO ASK MY PARENTS! THEY ARE VERY HAPPY, AND WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THEIR IDYLLIC LIFE! Hermione?"
Hermione was ready. Hearing Draco's outburst had given her a burst of strength and courage. "I'm sorry, but I can't confirm anything at the moment. This is just one of those things you'll have to find out by yourselves, and I'm rather shocked that you haven't confirmed it yourself, Rita." Hermione gave the suddenly pink reporter a wink, and then said. "We have to be getting back to school now. There's a party to be attended."
She wished she hadn't said that last part, for it brought on a whole new round of questions.
"Party? What party? Is it one of the famous Slughorn parties you mean?"
"Is that why you're shopping here, for new dress robes? Which ones?"
"Quick! Ask that man at the counter!" Rita ordered her cameraman, and everyone else followed suite, attacking the pimpled man.
"This is going to set the new trend in Witch Weekly!" another reporter gushed, as Draco and Hermione made their escape.
They landed in the common room, where Ginny was consoling a miserable Zacharias.
"I really, really, REALLY, wanted to go to 'The Bloody Mary.' Oh so much." he wailed, as Ginny patted his back soothingly while still stroking her new dress. Draco thrust her shoes at her, which she caught happily, ceasing to comfort the other boy.
"Thanks, Drake!" she said giddily, and stood up. "I'm going to go put these in my dormitory. Meet you all at lunch?"
As she exited the room, Draco replied, "If Zach's done with his temper tantrum by then." With a laugh, Ginny was gone.
Hermione took Ginny's place next to Zacharias and opened her purse. Fishing out the bag of Pumpkin Pasties, she handed them to him, and they seemed to life his spirit, for he stuffed one into his mouth immediately. "Thanks, Mione." he said, savoring the taste and kindness of his new friend.
"Anytime." she smiled. "Actually, you should thank Draco. He's the one who bought them."
"Don't mention it." Draco smiled too, before Zacharias could thank him. "Let's just get to lunch. It's already late, so unless you want to have only two Pumpkin Pasties for lunch, let's get going before all the food's gone."
"Wait, let me throw these onto my bed." Hermione called, rushing to grab her garment bag and box of shoes. "I'll only be a moment."
She dashed in and out of her room, and then the hungry trio went to rejoin Ginny for the meal, with Zacharias joking, "I'm going to be famous too, you know. Walking around with you three all the time, people will notice me soon."