Meanwhile, Draco had thought of his own story.
"I've already asked Maria Bristol to the dance," he told Pansy Parkinson who had just asked him to attend with her.
"But, Draco, we always go together to these silly little functions," she protested.
"Ah, well this year I'm taking the Gryffindor and there's nothing you can do to stop me," he countered stubbornly.
"But, Potty and Weasley as well as his ghastly brothers will lynch you,"
'that probably isn't far wrong' he thought before replying. "I've got a cunning plan," (AN Blackadderism not mine) he said tapping his freshly shaven chin.
"Ooh, tell me what it is," she replied sweetly.
"I'm going to humiliate her in front of everyone," Pansy laughed evilly and he felt obliged to do the same.
+++++++++++++++++++++
Ron and Harry caught the two girls up on their way to potions. Harry quickly began an animated conversation with Hermione about transfiguration so Ron and Maria hung back.
"Damn shame about the Yule Ball being cancelled." Ron said.
"But I suppose Dumbledore has his reasons, besides there's a Valentines ball to make up for it."
"But, that's not until February."
"Yeah well it gives lots of planning time," she replied.
"I messed up and nearly ended up going on my own last year."
"Oh well, find that girl this time," they entered the classroom and Maria slid into her place next to Ron in the dungeons. Snape stormed in and slammed a pile of papers on his desk. Silence fell over the classroom.
"Right, first off, Gryffindor these papers were a disgrace," the Slytherin's laughed but he banged his hand on the pile and continued, "with a few exceptions." Snape glared at Hermione and Maria, who was doing just as good a job as her friend at irritating him, only in a different way. "Secondly, I know that someone in this room executed the attack on my house," confused murmurs sounded. "SILENCE! Now textbooks out and read page 118."
"What's with him?" Ron asked but was only answered by shrugs.
"That includes you Weasley. Now, set up the equipment listed and begin in the following pairs. Goyle and Parkinson, Weasley and Patil, Crabbe and Bullstrode, Thomas and Longbottom, Potter and Brown, Granger and Zabine, Malfoy and Bristol." Maria and Draco simultaneously began to protest. "Oh, you don't want to? I heard you were going to the Valentines Ball together," they blushed slightly and then she unceremoniously dragged her things to his table glaring. Despite the fact that it was only the ninth of January everyone was excited about the Ball, and now every 5th year Slytherin and Gryffindor was confused about Maria and Draco. They silently set up their equipment and only talked when necessary.
"Oh, have the two love birds fallen out?" Zabine asked getting giggles from all the Slytherins and most Gryffindors. Maria glared at him, as did her partner.
"Shut it Blaise." he snapped. "We are not anything near love birds. For Gods sake she's a rabid dog." Maria's stare went from Zabine to Draco and then back to the potion, she was too mad to verbally castrate him now. Ron and Harry were still stunned by Snape's revelation about the Ball. Hermione really didn't want to be anywhere near them when Maria exploded at him, she was glad that she hadn't done it immediately because Snape would favour Draco rather than the Gryffindor.
Their potion failed miserably as Maria wasn't careful enough with the ingredients; she mashed her roots and added too many causing it to be blood red rather than crimson. Snape naturally deducted points of Gryffindor and told her she was incompetent. Afterwards, she stormed from the room abandoning everyone and rushed to the lake, her blonde tresses streamed behind her. Her mood was reflected in the water, waves were rising high and crashing down. She calmed herself sufficiently as to not snap at the first person she saw and then hurried to Care of Magical Creatures.
"Sorry Hagrid," she said despite the fact that she wasn't the last to arrive. The Ravenclaw's had to leave Trelawney's hideaway so that always made them late. The lesson was slow and dull; they watched a bird known as an Augurey, which cried just before the end on the lesson for no apparent reason (and Hagrid couldn't quite remember)....
Until, the heavens opened just as they were half way back to the castle.
"Sorry, that was what it meant, rain," the teacher yelled at them
"God could have warned us couldn't he?" Ron grumbled as his hair stuck to his scalp. "He must have know,"
"He did, he just forgot what he was warning us about," Hermione resolved. "At least we have lunch to dry off."
"Mmm, food, I'm starved," Ron said as they entered the hallway.
"See you later, I'm going to the common room." Maria dashed away without a glance to the others.
"You think she's alright?" Harry asked Hermione as they entered the great hall.
"Yeah, she's probably just not hungry," the girl replied sitting in her customary place at the Gryffindor table.
"'Moine, you both missed breakfast. She must be hungry, do you think it's something to do with Malfoy?" she looked across the hall at the blonde sat at the Slytherin table. He sat propped up on his elbow looking at her before turning away." I mean why is she going to the ball with him?"
"Why would she be bothered with what he said, Ron, she never cared before." Harry said selecting food.
"I'll go see her when I've eaten something," Hermione said eating a slice of quiche. She ate and then left promptly for the common room. It was deserted so she went to the dorm, abandoned. The bathroom was the only other place she could be. Hermione heard her own footsteps echo on the cold tile floor.
"Maria?" she asked the silence. "You in here?"
"Yeah, hi 'Moine." Maria stepped out and smiled. "Why are you here?"
"Looking for you, the boys are under the impression Malfoy's little comment upset you."
"Oh, Draco," a coldness sounded in her voice.
"Draco? First name terms."
"I'm going to the ball with him after all, aren't I?"
"I can't wait to see what you do to the slime sucker," they grinned, but Hermione suspected that there was hollowness behind Maria's façade.