A/N: ahh what lovely reviews! also thanks for putting my story in your alerts and favourites :D I love you all :) also Hermione dressed up for herself not for Malfoy (although he thinks otherwise) after all, it was Ginny who said it first! Also Dean makes a presence in this chapter... (Ginny/Dean interaction!) also, the date won't be until the next chapter, this is just the part leading up to it!
Chapter 10
Today was the day. Hermione stood completely still as she inspected herself in the floor length mirror in her room. She was sporting a dark bluish-silver halter top - a loan from Ginny - her favourite pair of dark blue skinny jeans, and a pair of silver-strapped heels. (complete with a heating charm as to avoid her toes from getting cold in the cool autumn air). Her hair was half down, half up with a few strands framing her face with her makeup light - just a hint of blush, a light coat of pink lipstick, and eyeshadow was all she wanted - even though Ginny felt she should have more.
"Wow," was all Hermione could say as she admired how snug the halter top was fitting against her torso. Although she was exposing more skin than she expected, Hermione felt rather daring, sexy even.
"See? I knew you would like it," murmured Ginny as she fiddled with the tie on the back, which was proving rather difficult when Hermione kept changing position. "But can you please stay still? I am trying to tie you up so you don't have any accidents!"
Hermione smiled faintly, she had been a little hesitant on not wearing a bra, but Ginny reassured her more than once, that the halter was snug enough, that it would be unnecessary.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just a bit nervous..." Hermione said biting on her lower lip as the reality of what lies ahead set in her mind - Malfoy is going to see her in this outfit. She recalled briefly their conversation from yesterday and knew, he will have far too much ammunition to make her feel even more uncomfortable than she currently was. 'Maybe I won't have to take off my jacket?'
Ginny placed her hands on Hermione's shoulders and shook her head, "I don't blame you! I would be shaking in my boots too, if I were going off on a date with Malfoy, looking like this!" She gave her friend a slow look up and down and whistled. "Hot damn, girl"
"Not helping Ginny!" Hermione hissed as she began to twiddle her fingers, her stomach also twisting around in knots. "Really, not helping,"
"Oh stop, you're going to be just fine!" Ginny said patting Hermione on her bare shoulders, "You are a Gryffindor! You are brave, strong, daring" - she tugged lightly on the halter top, to which Hermione quickly pushed her hand away - Ginny flashed her a small smile, "And will most certainly, give that snake a run for his money for ever saying you should dress more girly!"
Hermione released a long breath, 'If only that was all I had to worry about' she gulped. She still hadn't said a word to Ginny that she and Malfoy were actually going to pretend to act like a couple. She just knew Ginny would freak at the idea of them touching, flirting, maybe even kissing; heck she was getting more and more nervous about it. 'Can I really go through with this?' the knots in her stomach were twisting around more furiously.
She looked at her watch (which Ginny refused to let her wear) resting upon her dresser reading quarter past ten. The carriages were set to leave for the half hour - giving her just fifteen more minutes before it all begins.
"Of course, this could draw some unwanted attention from other boys, but don't you worry, it'll just help with the whole, making Ron jealous thing," Ginny added with a giggle.
Hermione smiled weakly, at the idea of being surrounded by most of the male population of the school. 'Great, if I wasn't nervous enough...'
She swallowed the lump in her throat, "Just...get me my jacket, or we'll be late," her voice was barely a whisper.
Ginny clasped her hands on Hermione's shoulders, causing the young brunette to jump, "Or I could just use the heating charm on your top and then you won't have to worry about wearing a jacket?"
"Ginny" Hermione said in a warnful tone. It was bad enough that she was going to be the centre of everyone's attention, at least with a jacket she could protect herself from revealing to everyone she wasn't wearing a certain under garment.
Ginny shrugged her shoulders dramatically, "Alright fine, no heat charm. But before I give you the jacket, you should wear some accessories! You look rather plain without them" she walked over to where Hermione had her jewellery box.
"Ginny come on, we've wasted enough time as is," she half-groaned, half-whined.
"Oh? Getting anxious are we? Not that I blame you..." Ginny gave her friend another look up and down and grinned. "I'm kinda wondering what everyone will think when they see you, myself!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Oh would you stop?"
Ginny scoffed dramatically, "Oh get over yourself! You need this more than anything!" she hissed before she returned to the jewellery box. "It's good to see you stepping out of your shell, 'Mione"
'That's one way to put it,' she thought as she returned to look at her reflection. She began to adjust with the hem of her halter as an attempt to cover the small portion of skin around her waist but had failed miserably.
"Hey, what's with that face?" Ginny asked, glaring. "You're not offended by what I said, are you? Cause you know, I never meant anything bad I was just...remarking on the change and-"
"It's fine Ginny, you didn't offend me," Hermione turned around and enclosed her hands around Ginny's, deciding to just move along, "Let's see what you picked out for me..."
Ginny studied Hermione's face for a long moment before deciding to open her hand, revealing a pair of silver chandelier earrings with pale blue sapphires, and a braided silver bracelet.
"At first I thought studs for your ears, but because your neck is so long, I went with these ones to compensate. You like?"
Hermione nodded slightly; she usually saved such jewellery for special occasions, like a birthday party, but she knew there was no arguing when it came to the youngest Weasley. She took them without a word and placed them on. The earrings hung just passed her chin, as they swung slowly while Hermione moved her head back and forth. The bracelet hung loosely around her tiny wrist, but it was a nice accent to her pink nail polish.
"Perfect," Hermione whispered softly.
Ginny grinned and gripped on Hermione's shoulders again, as she peered into the mirror, "My sentiments exactly" she whispered and then stepped away from her friend to retrieve the coat and beaded bag.
"Alright now, let's go knock them boys dead!"
Hermione couldn't help but blush from that, as she trotted along behind Ginny.
Meanwhile...
"You know, I never thought I'd see the day, that you, Draco Malfoy would sport Muggle clothing!" Blaise said, twirling his grey fedora in his grasp, (he was wearing an all black outfit with a grey coat) as he watched his house-mate prep for the day. Wearing a black long-sleeved fitted designer shirt with a blue jeans, and a pair of expensive everyday trainers. "Then again that is all you can afford, so I shouldn't be that surprised."
The comment earned him a scowl from the white-blond haired wizard, which Blaise had expected, and just laughed, placing his fedora atop of his head. Yet Blaise was never one to quit while he was ahead, he decided to dig a him a little more.
"But you know," Blaise felt his lips tugging into a broad grin, "Granger might even find it...attractive, a Pureblood wizard tapping into his Muggle side..." he placed a hand atop of his chest, right above his heart, "Aww, isn't that sweet? Draco's trying to impress his lady-love"
Draco smirked like a shark, "I'll be doing much more than just impressing her, today, Blaise"
Blaise raised both his eyebrows, looking at his house-mate with intrigue, "Oh? Do tell, my friend"
"Tell? No. You my friend, will just have to observe" Draco said then proceed to add on his jewellery; two silver chained necklaces and his duel dragon ring on his thumb. He adjusted the hem of his shirt and then raked a comb through the waves of his hair several times. Once he was satisfied with what he saw, he walked over to the side of his room, grabbed his outdoor black coat and shrugged it on. He was about to step away, but Blaise had blocked his path.
"You're gonna try to snog her aren't you?"
Draco shrugged, keeping his face completely set. Blaise just scoffed, folding his arms, "Now this I got to see," Blaise said all to happily, as he stepped aside to wave Draco along. Draco just rolled his eyes and strolled onward.
"There you are!" hummed a syrupy voice. Both Blaise and Draco stopped dead in their tracks, as they watched Pansy saunter her way down the corridor to them. She was dressed in a purple spaghetti strapped dress (that hung just a passed her rear) and heels, her hair was hiked up in a high-pony tail, and very flashy and tacky, gold accessories (necklace and a bracelet).
"I was worried you left without me," she said with a pout, before realizing the wide-eyed expressions of the two wizards before her.
She physically shook and giggled, "Like my dress, Drake?" she did a little twirl on the spot, with her arms out. "Made it myself. Even better, Daphne used this heat charm thing so I don't need to wear a coat, but if you still feel the need I should wear yours anyway...I wouldn't mind,"
Blaise shot Draco a sideways glance and stifled a laugh behind his fist. Draco shot Blaise a nasty look before turning back to Pansy. Pansy, however, had heard the noise and immediately stormed up to Blaise, pushing him lightly in the chest.
"What are you laughing at?!" she spat with her hands on her hips.
Blaise immediately cleared his throat, and tried to regain his cool composure from before, "You, genius. Draco's already got his date, so this little show is really just...annoying and a waste of our time. So shove off,"
Pansy snorted, "Don't you talk to me like that!"
"Well you are in our way, so how else should I say it?!" Blaise said rolling his eyes. He gave a light shove to Draco, "Come on mate, your lady awaits..."
They got a full two steps before Pansy had blocked their way again. "What do you mean, his lady? Draco always goes to Hogsmeade with me"
Blaise just sneered, "Well, not this time. Now move"
But Pansy wasn't listening. Instead she shot her eyes toward Draco, cautiously taking in his choice of attire for the weekend, before meeting with his grey eyes. "He's not being serious, is he Drake? You're not...you...we always go together! Why...what changed?" Pansy hissed, her eyes shifting nervously.
Blaise just smirked, "Hmm, well, she's about your height, has brown hair, doesn't have an irritating voice...oh and just so happens to be a Gyrffindor"
Pansy snapped her head back to Blaise, "You stay out of this!" she swallowed tightly and glanced back to Draco, "Well? Out with it, already!"
Draco took a breath and shrugged lazily. "Blaise already told you all you need to know,"
Pansy studied him with narrowed eyes, scrutinizing his look with a wrinkled nose. "So it's true then? You...you're going with the Mudblood?"
Blaise smirked, "Well they have been spending some time together this week..."
Pansy sneered at Blaise, "Y-You put him up to this, didn't you?" she placed her hands on her hips, "As a lame attempt to get me to go with you, I'd imagine?"
Blaise looked at her incredulously, "You really are dim-witted, aren't you?" he could recall the one time they caught Draco with Granger at lunch, where Pansy gave the idea that Draco would only be with Granger if money was involved. Now she was saying it was because Blaise wanted her to himself. 'Stupid, bint'
"Draco wanted nothing to do with her before, now all of a sudden he's...I mean look at what he's wearing? You've changed him, Blaise!"
"Will you two shut up?! I am standing right here!" hissed Draco, as he glared at the two of them.
"Oh," Pansy purred, "See what you've done, Blaise? Draco's all flustered...I can help calm your nerves you know," she ran a hand down the front of his jacket. Draco, who really was not in the mood to deal with her advances, and just slapped her hand away.
"Not now," Draco said irritably.
Blaise broke out in laugher, at catching Pansy's gaping expression. "Right. I'm the one to blame for this..."
Pansy studied the dark Italian through narrowed eyes, clicked her tongue, than stormed off with her nose in the air. Blaise glanced at Draco curiously.
"Don't. Just don't" was all Draco said as he strolled on down the corridor. Blaise rolled his eyes as he strolled along behind his friend.
All students legible to go to Hogsmeade were awaiting at the front doors of Hogwarts. Headmistress McGonagall was collecting the permission slips from the third-years, and all the other students were able to take one of the awaiting carriages.
Hermione stood rooted on the spot as she glanced around the sea of students before her. Ginny was still beside her, just gave her a reassuring pat on the back, "Just remember what we discussed and you'll do just fine"
Hermione swallowed tightly as she began to descend down the stairs, with her hand in Ginny's. "Yes, no I know...it's just nerves, remember?" she gave a cautious glance around, catching the odd person glance in their direction.
"Well everything will be fine, soon enough! Now, let's-"
"Ginny?!"
Both girls turned around to face no other, than Dean Thomas, Accompanied with Seamus.
"Wow...you look...great" Dean said with a soft smile. (she was in a one piece navy blue asymmetrical dress, with a black coat covering, her hair was also half up and half down)
Ginny tightened her grip on Hermione's arm and held her head high, "How many times are we going to do this, Dean? How many times do I have to keep saying to you the same thing for you to get it?!"
Hermione reached out with her other hand, "Ginny..."
"Let's go Hermione. The air doesn't smell so nice here anymore" and with that, she turned around and stalked off. Hermione frowned slightly as she stared at her fellow Gryffindors. Dean, standing completely chest-fallen, as Seamus kept his head down with his hands in his pockets.
"Look, it's not my place to know what happened, or why it happened, but if you really, truly are sorry you are going to have to make her believe it. Empty apologies are not going to cut it, so..." Hermione trailed off in a shrug.
"I've suggested he used Veritaserum," Seamus began, "I mean sure it'll be ugly stuff, but at least that way Ginny would know why!"
Hermione looked at him as though he were crazy, "That's not going to help...I mean it is the issue of trust here, Seamus." she turned back to Dean, "Just...make Ginny believe she can trust you again. Instead of always bringing up your mistake, make her see past it. Make her see the Dean she knows you are!"
"What are you doing?!" hissed Ginny as she latched onto Hermione's shoulders, "I said let's go"
"Just...think about it, okay?" Hermione hollered as Ginny dragged her off.
"Think about it?" Ginny repeated, stopping dead in her tracks that Hermione collided right into her side, "What were you discussing with Dean? Hermione, I can fight my own battles!"
"I know you can!"
"So...don't intervene! I...I've got this handled!"
Hermione folded her arms and tilted her hips, "By dismissing Dean at every turn when he tries to talk to you?"
Ginny narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at her friend, Hermione held up her hands defensively, "Just calling it like I see it. I mean it's been a few weeks, Ginny, are you ever going to actually talk to him?"
"He cheated on me, Hermione! Come on, it's like you giving my brother another chance!"
"I am not saying for you to ignore what he did. I am only saying for you to listen to him. Try and work it out!"
"And why all of a sudden are we so interested in this huh? Today is supposed to be about you!"
"Because, you miss him!" Hermione nearly shouted as she pointed her finger. "And don't try to convince me otherwise, Ginny. Cheater or not, you miss him. You feel it is right to be angry at him, but you know, deep down in your heart that you want to give him a second chance, because you and I both know one thing. You guys are good together!"
"UGH! I am not listening to this," and with that, Ginny stalked off with her nose in the air.
'Great...' Hermione frowned, shaking her head. She turned on her heel all to come face to face with Ron and Lavender strolling their way over to where she was standing.
"So...I heard The Three Broomsticks' got a new look," Ron said with a smile, as he gazed at Lavender "we can dance and have a bit of fun, what do you say we go there first?"
Lavender bit down on her lip and sighed, "Um..." was all she said before realizing she was being watched, "Oh...hello Hermione"
"Hermione?" Ron croaked, eyeing her up and down incredulously.
Pushing all her thoughts about Ginny to the back of her head, Hermione held her head up high with a newfound confidence, and stalked over to her ex with a walk worthy of a model.
"You...you...what?" Ron sputtered, his face contorted in a typical Ron Weasley expression; wrinkled nose, mouth agape, and a brow raised, as though he were lost. 'She never wore anything like THAT for me!'
'Score one, for me' Hermione thought with a triumphant smile, than straightened her shoulders and nodded at him and then at Lavender. Much like her walk, she had practised many scenarios (by herself) of how to deal with such a situation, without sounding bitter or condescending.
"Hello, Ronald" she whispered before trailing her gaze to Lavender, the look upon her face was a mixture between shock and jealousy. 'Make that two, for me!' "Lavender," she gave the blonde a casual glance, taking note of what she was wearing; a one-piece blue summer-style short-sleeved dress that hugged her figure.
"I love your dress," Hermione continued with her normal voice, "the blue is absolutely stunning on you!"
Lavender, however was not buying this act at all, "I wish I could say the same to you," she sneered acidly. "But I know what this is..." she motioned her finger to Hermione, "just...just a pathetic attempt to trying to win Ron back!"
Hermione smirked at hearing the girl's angered tone. "Actually..." she gave a slow look around, in hopes to spotting Malfoy somewhere in the crowd, but came up short. He was nowhere to be found. 'Odd, he's usually very punctual...'
"I have a date," she finally said keeping on her best smile. Lavender's eyes narrowed, as Ron remained still with the same gaping expression.
"Date?" he muttered, "With who? Not...Not...him is it?"
Lavender scoffed that sounded much like a snort, "Please Ron, she's obviously lying. Just...another pathetic attempt to try to get you back into her life, cause obviously her outfit act backfired!"
Hermione just smiled, giving another casual glance around the courtyard before her eyes caught sight of the very person she was expecting to find. There, standing just atop of the staircase she had been just a few minutes ago along side his Slytherin companion, Blaise Zabini.
Blaise clasped a hand upon Draco's shoulders, "What would you do if she chickens out?" he gave a slow look about the crowd before turning back to Draco.
"As much as you hope for that to happen. It's not" he muttered as he stepped away from Blaise to descend down the stairs. "She's straight ahead,"
Like a deer caught in the headlights, Hermione could only watch as Malfoy strutted his way through the crowd - students had to scurry off in fear of being trampled upon.
She swallowed tightly and shuffled her feet, while her arms instantly pulled her jacket to cover herself. She watched him get closer and closer - her heart increasing its rhythm as her eyes became drawn to the cocky, arrogant sway of his hips and shoulders. 'Holy damn...'
"Ready to go?" he said with a smirk, as he stuck his hand out, ready for her to take.
Hermione nearly jumped from the sudden sound of his voice; which made him grin even wider. She studied his hand for a moment before her eyes drifted over to spot Ron and Lavender sharing the same unflattering, mouth-opened contorted look on their faces. Steeling her nerves, and braving a smile, Hermione returned her focus back to Malfoy then slowly placed her hand within his. Instantly his fingers coiled around her hand, sending pleasant shivers shooting down her spine and to her toes.
'Strange...' she thought, as her stomach somersaulted from the sensation of his thumb grazing across her knuckles. It was a short moment before she dared herself to glance back at Ron and Lavender.
"You were saying, Lavender?" Hermione said, sweetly. However, both Ron or Lavender were too shocked from what they just witnessed to form any response.
Not really wanting to stay much longer, Draco tugged her arm to pull her away from the two of them, "Come on," he muttered.
'Here we go...' Hermione thought as she bit down on her lip once she felt the shivers run through her body for a second time.
"Bye!" she arrogantly whispered to Ron and Lavender with a gentle wave. After turning back around, her eyes immediately locked on their clasped hands - paying no attention to the many eyes upon them as they wormed their way through the crowd.
E/N: his reaction to her outfit will be next chapter, as Hermione covered herself up before he approached her. (Blaise too) :) I really hope it doesn't take me long for the next update... I've got like the first few interactions done.. :P hurray for Hermione the little match-maker :D