Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling.
Chapter 7
Halloween
Ron came down the staircase slowly. I can't believe I let myself be talked
into wearing this thing, he thought savagely only to have his train of thought
derailed by a flash of light. Colin
Creevey was taking pictures again. Great just what I needed. Pictures to immortalize me in this
ridiculous outfit. Who ever decided
that Robin Hood wore tights anyway? They
should be hexed. I feel like a fool, I
probably look like one too.
"Don't you ever stop taking pictures Colin?" Ron bit off savagely.
"No, I've decided that I'm going to be a professional
photographer after I graduate. I need to get all the practice I can get until
then," Colin said then he went off to take another person's picture. Then Ron's eyes fell on Hermione. She looks great though, maybe people will
pay more attention to her than me. Wait! What am I thinking, I
don't WANT people to be looking at her.
Hermione was talking to Lavender Brown. She seemed to be telling her about the inaccuracies in the Muggle version of what happened to Robin Hood and Maid Marian. I should have known, Ron thought, I swear she has to have the entire library memorized by now. As he walked over to her he noticed absently that Ginny was leaving out of the portrait hole.
"Are you ready?" he asked Hermione.
"Oh, don't you look handsome!" Lavender gushed eyeing the green tights and doublet.
"Mumble, mumble," Ron was sure his face was the same color as his hair. Hermione looked him up and down. Lavender was right he did look good enough to eat. After a moment Hermione realized something was missing.
"Ron, where's the hat?" she asked.
Darn, he'd hoped she would forget about that thing. "Do I really have to wear that thing?" he responded, "it looks ridiculous!"
"Well if you hadn't spent so much time looking at Quiddich supplies we might have had more time to choose something to wear, since we didn't you are just going to have to deal with what we got. Now go get that hat. Better yet," she took her wand from her pocket, "Accio hat!"
From the boy's dorm came the hat, complete with a feather stuck in it. Neville yelped as it passed him and almost stumbled on the stairs. Without a word she placed it on Ron's head.
"I thought Maid Marian was supposed to be nice," Ron grumbled.
"I am being nice, I could have made you get that silly jester's outfit with all the bells on it and then had Colin get a picture of that to send to your brothers, I'm sure Fred and George would have loved to see that. Now let's go," Hermione grabbed Ron's arm, said goodbye to Lavender and exited the common room with Ron shuddering at the things his brothers could have said and done if Hermione's threat were a reality.
Hermione gasped as they entered the Great Hall. The teachers had outdone themselves this year. Floating candelabras illuminated the hall where the long tables had been replaced by small round tables that would seat up to six people with a large area in the center for a dancing floor, bats flew from one end of the hall to another, cobwebs floated in a nonexistent breeze elicited shrieks every once in a while from girls when they dipped unexpectedly. Interspersed with the music could be heard groans, creaks and other assorted sounds that gave the feel of a haunted house to the ball, even the ghosts seemed to have gotten into the spirit of things by holding their own party above the heads of the students. Ron and Hermione marveled at it as they walked into the Great Hall and then Neville and Parvati Patil who had chosen to attend the Halloween Ball as Romeo and Juliet diverted their attention. They very quickly got into the festivities and began enjoying themselves.
I could always gnaw my arm off, Harry thought as he and Pansy entered the Great Hall. He was beginning to think that he would never get his arm back. Pansy was oohing and ahing over the decorations as well as making whispered comments in his ear about this person and that. Harry ignored most of what she was saying as he scanned the hall for sight of his two best friends. He figured that if he stayed with them he would be able to last the night without killing Pansy. At least that's what he was hoping. Spotting them at last over by Neville he moved quickly to reach their table before another couple claimed the remaining two seats. He was astonished to discover Neville's date was not Ginny but Pavarati. I wonder where Ginny is then? Harry thought. Since at his side Pansy hadn't stopped her commentary of what was going on, Harry resolved to ignore it.
"Are you ready?" Draco asked as Ginny approached. Ginny halted amazed Wow, she thought, he looks great. He did too, a pair of black slacks encased his legs perfectly, a long sleeved shirt with a stand up collar showed off his broad shoulders without seeming exaggerated, and highly polished black boots were on his feet. From the shoulders up though he looked like an Artic Wolf, his gray eyes resembling a wolf's. When he turned his head you could actually see the wolf in his profile. When he smiled she saw he had also done something to his teeth extending the canines by an inch.
Finally she found her voice, "Yes I'm ready. Draco are you sure about this? I mean Ron and Harry are not going to deal very well with the fact that I'm your date."
"I'm not going to think about the Dream Team tonight Little Red, as far as I am concerned tonight they don't exist, especially since I've got the best looking girl in school for my date." As he said this he reached over and adjusted her cape so it covered her shoulders.
Ginny blushed when he said this even though she was sure he was just saying that because it was polite and for all his faults Draco did seem to have been taught manners by someone.
Draco took Ginny by the arm as they neared the Great Hall. In her other hand was a basket with flowers attached to the handle and small bundles of candy – from Honeydukes – filled it. When he'd given it to her Draco had told her that he'd found out that Muggles gave out candy to kids on Halloween. Since when does he care about things Muggles do? She thought, I thought he hated Muggle things. A voice interrupted her musings.
"Are you sure you don't want to close the cape more?" Draco asked.
Startled Ginny glanced at Draco's face, that's the third time he's asked that, then she spoke out loud, "Draco it's fine really." After a moment he nodded and they entered the Hall. Ginny watched his face for a moment and them realized, he's jealous! That's why he keeps asking me that AND why he kept snarling at Dean. She glanced at his face again then shook her head; no I'm just imagining things…aren't I? What was it the Hermione told me last year?? A leopard cannot change its spots? Maybe he's just doing this to make Ron and Harry angry. Her heart sank inexplicably at that thought. Maybe. She let Draco guide her over to the section the Slytherins were using and help her into a seat. As the Gryffindors were on the other side of the Hall Ginny felt that she didn't need to worry about anyone making a big fuss about who had brought her to the Ball.
A/N: First many thank yous to mlpmama for allowing me to bounce some of the ideas in this chapter off of her. And many, many, many belated thank yous to StrangerWithMyFace for being my beta and bounce board all at the same time. Also I know I posted these really close to each other but the last chapter was so short that I felt bad about it, so you get two chapters. :D Now for the rest of you.
Jenaque : Um…what other story?
Mirror of Erisid~ :
Here's more Draco/Ginny for you.
Thesuprememomo : Well I'm glad I could satisfy you with my
humble offering.
Anakin's Angel : The last chapter was so short that you are getting your wish.
arime setta : You are my favorite repeat offender too. :D
Wouldnt U Like 2 know : Thank you for adding me to your favorites. ::blush::