Ok I know that the last chapter was a short one so I made this one a bit
longer, sorry it took so long but I've actually had it on paper for a while
and I was just trying to add as much as I could without making it sound
stupid, I have to say it gets fluffy from now on, but I think that was the
point from the beginning. Anyway I'll start on the next chapter soon, after
a bit of a break.
The price of education
Chapter 7 Love's little meanings
Hermione's fingers tingles with excitement as she laced her boots. As Headboy and Headgirl, Hermione and Draco had talked the professors into allowing the students to go to a party hosted by a neighbouring farm. Daniela had mentioned it to them one day while she helped them round up the horses. Luckily it wasn't formal; it was a real cowboy, cowgirl square dance, where everyone wore his or her jeans and boots. Pansy, who was sitting across from Hermione in their small tent, hadn't liked the fact that she couldn't dress up. She must have been the only one of the girls to bring a dress on their ranch trip.
"Honestly," she had said when Hermione had told her about the dance. "Why would anyone leave home without an emergency dress?" Hermione had just shrugged and laughed at the disbelieving look on the other girl's face.
She finally stood and looked at herself in Pansy's full length mirror- Hermione didn't comment to pansy about using magic because she didn't want to start a fight between them- and brushed her fingers over the rhinestones on her jacket. It was a black velvet jacket that matched her black velvet pants and her black suede studded boots. She had pulled out her old and very dear black leather cowboy hat, and it was placed on her head. Because of the hat she couldn't have her hair up in a ponytail so she pleated it into two braided pigtails hanging just above her shoulders. Earrings of horses and her large champion buckle were last touches to her outfit.
"Well I'm ready. Are you coming Pansy?" she turned to the girl who had borrowed some clothes from Daniela and was dresses like a real Canadian cowgirl, down to the shiny spurs on her boots and bronze buckle. Pansy stood and smiled at Hermione, she had changed a lot in the last few days, they were on great terms now and Hermione could tell she was trying hard to be nice and not make any rude comments.
"Lets go knock 'em dead." Pansy giggled as she hooked arms with Hermione and they left the tent giggling together about how they thought the guys would look. Hermione had confided in Pansy about her liking Draco, but had left out the fact that the feelings were returned, because she really couldn't tell how Pansy felt about Draco. But now Hermione didn't know if she should hold back with Pansy, who was the only girl there that knew about the feelings she had, and the only girl there who thought Draco might like her back. All the Gryffindor girls had never really treated her like one of the girls, but more like a brain that could help them out with their homework.
At the thought of Draco she searched the crowed of students wondering about waiting for everyone to finish getting ready, and found his silvery hair. He was talking with Chanda, and it looked like he was getting instructions. Hermione told Pansy she had to go see if anyone needed her help and she made her way to where Draco was standing with Chanda on the other side of the fence.
As she got closer to them she could see what Draco was wearing. His outfit was very sexy to say the least; he was wearing a very tight pair of blue jeans that were so dark they almost looked black; he wore a black oxford shirt that stretched tight across his broad shoulders. His boots were like hers. Black and clean, obviously not used while working, and his cowboy hat was tipped slightly to one side.
When she got to standing just behind him she put her hands on his shoulder, his wide shoulder dwarfing her small hand. He turned to see who it was and his handsome face broke into a brilliant smile. She used his shoulder to help her climb over the fence, but she didn't truly need the help. She just liked to touch him, feel his warmth and fell him, solid and strong.
"Hey Chanda, is everything set?" Hermione asked once she was standing next to Draco. They were going to ride out to the farm, which was only a couple miles away, camp there for the night and ride back in the morning. They wanted to keep to the daylight, to keep everyone as safe as possible.
"Almost," Chanda said, starting to walk towards the nearest horse and tighten its tack. "We just need to check the tack and round everyone up. Do you think you two could do the tack as I get your classmates to get to their horses?" they nodded to her; some people weren't looking forward to the long trail and they didn't feel like having to talk anyone into either hurrying up or losing house points.
"Sure thing." Draco said moving to the next horse. Chanda nodded back and turned to jump over the fence and started to yell last call to the direction of the tents.
"Anyone not ready in the next five seconds will be left behind!" Hermione laughed and moved to the next horse that needed to be checked. But before she could tighten any of the tack. She felt strong arms wrap around her and pull her against their owner's chest. She spun around and kissed Draco deeply. They had been doing this secretly for the past two days, and Hermione felt as if they hadn't kissed for weeks instead of just hours, each time. He broke the kiss and pulled away, hearing people coming towards the horses. They had decided to wait to tell everyone else, she had discussed how awkward she would feel around Harry while with him if they made their relationship, what ever it was, public. Harry was her friend and she didn't want to hurt him. She smiled up at Draco now and then laughed, he had shiny lip chap all on his mouth. She whipped it away with her hand then quickly turned back to the horse she was supposed to be checking.
"All right," she heard Chanda say from the other side of the horse. "Remember to check your tack as usual and mount." Hermione quickly moved next to Magenta, a beautiful chestnut mare that was temporarily replacing Draco as he recovered, and Draco followed to Zantar who was right next to her. They checked their tack and in one fluent motion they were both on their horses and they moved to where Chanda was on their mount Honey. They were going to be following the trail as Chanda led it and that meant they had to wait for the whole trail before going themselves.
"All right, now everyone, lets get going, we have a nice trail ahead of us. I hope everyone has what they need!" Chanda clicked her tongue and moved forward on her horse. Cassar and Snape somewhere along the middle and then finally Draco and Hermione bring up the rear.
The trail didn't see to take long for Hermione who chatted to Draco the whole time, they had only two small pit stops and nothing happened out of the ordinary. It was dusk as they arrived at the farm. Large bon fires had been lit all around the entrance to the farm and many smaller ones surrounded the tarp that covered the refreshment bar. The actual party was being held in the very large barn where many colour flags had been set up and where large speakers seemed very out of place. The dancing area had been swept of hay and the Christmas lights lit up the whole place, a display of flashing lights.
After they had all tied up, un-tacked and watered their horses, the students broke off into groups or to mingle with the other local teenagers there. There was dancing laughing and friendly playing. The DJ was another local kid who had not only the newest in country music but also a lot of classic country square dancing music.
The local kids had a great time trying to teach Hogwarts' finest the different steps, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the rather pitiful scene. She knew the steps to many of the dances and it was funny to see her friends messing around on the dance floor with the Muggles.
Hermione was maybe more surprised as anyone when Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the crowd of dancing locals and they started to join in with the dance, it seemed they both knew the dance and the local kids cheered them on as the beat to the music picked up and the dance became faster and faster, eventually everyone ended up messing up and laughing hysterically. The song changed into a slow one by Faith Hill, and Hermione looked up at Draco, he smirked down at her and pulled her to him, they danced closely and Hermione could remember the name of the song, it was Breathe. She could feel herself getting lost in Draco's eyes, they had always been so dark and cold but now they were warm and loving, they were soft and caring.
I can feel the magic floating in the air Being with you gets me that way I watch the sunlight dance across your face And I've never been this swept away
Hermione placed her head against his chest, forgetting, or just not caring that they were in a room of their friends and classmates. Draco's arms tightened around her and she drank in his scent, he smelt like smoke and oranges, the spicy smell mixing with the citric one. She could stay like this forever, living off his scent and in his strong arms.
The song ended and another one started, faster, more upbeat, Hermione started to pull away from their tight embrace, looking up at Draco who looked back at her then around the room, tensing slightly. Hermione looked past the dancing locals to where she could see some of her classmates staring at them, still standing in each other's arms. Then Hermione saw Harry, remembering what she heard three days earlier between him and Ron. She had been avoiding this since that night kissing Draco in the field.
But now she couldn't ignore the look on his face, it was one she had never see on his face, he looked hurt and lost as if he was a three-year old left to find his way home from a packed train station. She looked back at Draco for help, and he nodded understanding maybe, and with a slight squeeze he unfolded his arms from around her, leaving traces of cool places over her back, and she led them back to Harry and Ron, who were looking at them in horror, or at least Ron was.
"What Weasley? Never see anyone dance before?" Another slow dance started and couples paired up again, some closer then others, Hermione noticed a lot of girls looking at their partners resentfully as they were held at near arms length.
Ron sputtered at Draco and turned to the silent Harry for support, Harry just shrugged and moved out towards the barn doors and out into the fresh air by the refreshment bar. Hermione watched him go seeing the trees ahead of him swaying in the wind, realizing how warm it was in the barn with all the students and locals dancing and talking. When Ron answered his voice shook with rage.
"Well I think there is a difference between dancing and groping." Hermione snapped her attention from the heat back on her friend, who seemed to be getting on her nerves more and more easily now a day.
"I'll have you know Ronald, that there was no groping involved, although I'm sure you wouldn't know the difference if it were actually groping, but it was just dancing. Keep your nose out of it and you should know that anything you say has no effect on what I do and don't do." She turned and started towards the other end of the dancing area, but she stopped dead when she heard Ron's response.
"And what about Harry?" Hermione caught Draco's eye as she turned to look at Ron, he seemed to want this answer too. Harry was her friend, like a brother to her; she couldn't feel for him what he felt for her.
"Well of course the same goes for Harry." She turned back to a relieved looking Draco and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the confused Ron. "Come on Draco, lets stand by the doors its too hot by the dancing."
But when they got to the doors they kept going. Out into the night and to where the horses had been let out to graze and sat on the fence looking as the large shadows moved in the near darkness. The breeze cooled Hermione's flushed cheeks and swayed the hairs on the back of her neck, causing her to shiver. Draco pulled a blade of grass between his fingers, looking as if he were thinking intently.
"What am I to you Draco?" Hermione asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence, surprising Draco and herself. He dropped the blade of grass and put his arm around her, holding her close. She leaned into his shoulder and rested her head there.
"You know, I was going to ask about the same thing, and I was hoping to get an answer a long the lines of you being my girlfriend." He smirked and laced his fingers in hers, hugging her closer to him.
"So you wouldn't be ashamed for everyone to know your dating a mudblood?" she asked, he grimaced looking to the sky as if drawing on strength from the leagues of stars. He looked back at her and she looked in his eyes, he looked as if he were desperate.
"Don't say that Hermione, I hate that word more then I hate myself for ever calling you that. I only wish you could forgive me for it." He shook his head at himself and sighed. "An I would never be ashamed of being with you. I would shout it out from the roof tops if you didn't worry so much about Harry finding out." He kissed her lightly on the forehead and she hugged him tight. After this, after what he had just said, she knew how she felt and how she wanted to feel. She took a deep breath and whispered to his ear.
"I want you to shout it Draco, I want you to tell the world." She pulled back and looked up at him, into his searching eyes, into eyes that softened for her. Those eyes lit up as a smile spread across his lips, turning his serious expression into a joyful one. She returned his smile and he kissed her smiling lips, and she slipped her arms around his neck. He held her around the waist, rubbing her back with the tips of his fingers. She shifted her weight forward a bit, and they suddenly felt the plunge of vertigo as they fell off the fence and ended up in a heap on the ground laughing hysterically, Hermione on top of Draco, legs twined and hates thrown off in different directions.
"I love you Draco." Hermione let the words slip from her lips without realizing how important they were, but at the once she knew what she said was true. Draco had made her love him more and more the last few days, telling her about himself, the real Draco, the emotionally scared child Draco. She had been able to open up to his as well, speaking about her past and what she hoped for the future, her secrets where his now.
"Hermione, I love you too." She kissed him, realizing her lips were trembling from anticipation of his. They kissed and then held each other while the music from the dance played in the background, Hermione could hear the music being switched off and suddenly a voice boomed into the silence. Hermione strained to hear the voice past the static of the microphone.
"Good evening everyone!" the male voice said joyfully, " tonight we have a very special treat, a band that will surely one day be famous, will be performing here for a good deal of the night, then Jimmy our wonderful DJ will resume his playing. So now I would like to announce to you the arrival of the Strawberries!" a loud round of applause followed and then the band started to play. Draco started to sit up when the band stuck up a loud song and began to dust himself off.
"Lets go see what the fuss is." Hermione gave him a look, the Strawberries sounded like a girl band. But the agreed to go with him.
"Alright, but I have an idea that its just a bunch of girls in tight clothes, and that probably what the fuss is." He laughed and kissed her before pulling her to her feet, then he gave her that famous smirk, how she dreaded that look.
What," he said slyly "Are you afraid I'll run off with one of them?" Just as the words left his mouth a male singer joined into the music, his voice filling the air around them before there was a loud chorus of cheers heard from the female population of the dance. Draco's smirk fell from his face and this time it was Hermione's turn to laugh.
"Are you?" she asked back and then laughed again as he grabbed at her and caught only air as she playfully ran back towards the barn. She looked back to see him sprinting up to her and when he caught up he engulfed her and they again fell to the ground laughing when they recovered Hermione was in need of water. Once they were finished at the refreshment bar they returned to the barn and Hermione could see she had been right about the girls in the band. There were three girls, a tall blond with a white-pink flower patterned dress that hung low beneath her neck and hovered high above her knees, she help a guitar. The second was a short red head in an off the shoulder crop top and tight jeans that every curve and every bone that stuck out from her slim frame, she help only a microphone. The third was another short girl but she had very high shoes on that made her appear tall. Her skirt was short and her tight tank top was barley there, she had one of those model's faces and straight dirty blond hair that came down to her shoulders in one flat layer, she sat at a set of drums.
And then there was the only male in the band, tall slim but with wide shoulders, his hair shaggy and a dark black, his skin tanned and his clothes tight. His impressive voice filling the barn as the girls played and the red head sand along. Hermione could see that a bunch of girls had left their dates and were pressed closely to the small rise that was the stage. She looked up at Draco to see him looking back at her, grim look in place on his face, she almost laughed.
"Nothing special here I don't think." She said and then did laugh at the look of relief that adorned his face. She pulled him towards the dance floor and they danced to the fast paced song. Hermione coaching Draco bit by bit, this music greatly different then the country music, it was more punk rock, more like what she listened to at home during the summers. Soon the rest of the students and locals were dancing and just having a good time. After the band had played a round of loud music, the beat slowed and the short red head took over in a solo, singing a mournful love song. Her voice sent Goosebumps up Hermione's arms; the only other sound was the soft song of the guitar in the background. Draco pulled Hermione into a hug of an embrace and they danced to the music.
'To love you is something I've tried hard not to do. But how can you Think of remaining as two, When we could be one, One body one soul, one earth Breaking love. How can we not live life, And love like the angels above, I've tried hard, believe me, To halt these feelings, But in that process I Learned love's little meanings.'
The girl lifted her voice and held the last note for a long time, then the drummer joined in and the song became fast and all the slowly dancing couples broke apart and started to dance to the song's new beat.
"When you said you'd rather die Did you know it would Cause me to cry? When you walked away From me Did you know how hurt I Would be? When you laughed with your Friends Did you know I still loved you, To no ends? When you scoffed in my direction Did you know my devastation? When you reached for her Embrace Did you know my heart Doubled its pace?'
As the singer bellowed that last line the drummer and guitar players stopped their instruments, and the crowed started to cheer but the singer continued over them, her voice soft once again.
'When I asked you if you Could love me Did you know then you wanted To hurt me?'
The song ended and the band took their bows and left the stage, turning it back to the DJ, who filled the barn with country music once again. Most of the girls followed the band off to the refreshment bar and a fair number of guys as well. But Hermione didn't feel the urge to meet up with the group. Instead she hung back with Draco and they found themselves standing awkwardly alone with Harry, who didn't look comfortable either. But Harry didn't seem to want to voice what he was feeling; he cleared his throat and began talking to Hermione, ignoring Draco as much as possible.
"So," he said after the DJ started a new song. "This was a good idea, everyone seems to be having fun. No problems so far, Professor Cassar told me to tell you he was going up to the house with the other adults and he wanted to make sure you guys watched out for our group," he took a sip of the drink in his hands and turned, rather business like to Draco.
"Where did you learn all those dances before? I wouldn't think you were one to attend many square dances." His tone was light but Hermione could tell he was trying not to sound condescending. He would have done a good job if it weren't for the fact that Hermione knew Harry better then he knew himself.
"Well actually Potter, most of the Muggle singers aren't only Muggle performers, most just perform to Muggles fore more money, but are in fact witches and wizards." Harry nodded, not having a response, but Draco continued." Also, hard enough as it is to believe, I happen to be a teenager, and I too, sneak out of the house to have fun. I know that hard to believe seeing as though I am Draco Malfoy spawn of the devil." He started laughing and Harry didn't seem to be able to stop himself from doing the same. It was hard for Hermione to understand the effect Draco could have on people if he wanted to be your friend and to enjoy his company, and then he could make you like him, by just cracking a joke or by being sincere.
****
The night ended uneventful, no harm done at all. Except of course Ron's being completely speechless upon returning to find Harry and Draco laughing over some joke, but he softened to at least ignoring Draco instead of throwing nasty comments with him back and forth.
After the DJ ended the dance with another slow song, Hogwarts students said goodbye to the locals and headed to their lodgings. Hermione found Pansy and they walked over to the lodges they were to sleep in. The farm the dance was held at was also the home of a summer camp, where there were log cabins with bunks and even showers. As the head girl and her roommate, Hermione and Pansy received their own two-person cabin, as Draco and Harry did, where everyone else was across the way sharing cabins with 3 other people.
"That was great!" Pansy squealed, still dancing around, pulling leaves off overhead branches and flinging them back up skywards when she had handfuls. " I can't imagine just having a dance because you wanted to, there was no boring government talk, no discussing, no boring adult talk! It was great!" Hermione laughed and pulled the door to their cabin open.
Suddenly a black shape came flying out of the door at them, Hermione and Pansy both shrieked and ran back away from the cabin, Pansy in tears. They ran right into two people running over to investigate their screaming. It was Draco and Harry, Hermione flung her arms around Draco and the two boys tried to calm the girls down. Snape came up behind them.
"What seems to be the matter here?" Snape asked, taking in Pansy's tear streaked face and their shallow breaths.
"Sorry Professor," Draco said releasing his grip on Hermione and stepping towards the professor, a smirk on his face. "It seams the girls were startled by a bat or a bird, coming out of their cabin." Harry started to laugh and let go of Pansy, who had thrown her arms around him and cried into his shoulder
Pansy whipped her tears away and gave the professor a small smile. "Sorry we screamed Professor, caught us off guard. But we're fine now." She turned to Hermione who nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we'll be fine, just, could you guys, you know, check for anything else?" then Snape too was laughing, however shortly, but laughing all the same.
* Thanks to: Couch Potato- thanks, short but sweet, I like that! Dobbie-luvs-sweeties- thanks, schnoogle isn't all that bad, but I will put this story there too, and also continue to write here too.
The song in this fic 'Love's little meanings' was written by me and is under copy write laws, and any using it without permission from myself, consequences under penalty by law.
The price of education
Chapter 7 Love's little meanings
Hermione's fingers tingles with excitement as she laced her boots. As Headboy and Headgirl, Hermione and Draco had talked the professors into allowing the students to go to a party hosted by a neighbouring farm. Daniela had mentioned it to them one day while she helped them round up the horses. Luckily it wasn't formal; it was a real cowboy, cowgirl square dance, where everyone wore his or her jeans and boots. Pansy, who was sitting across from Hermione in their small tent, hadn't liked the fact that she couldn't dress up. She must have been the only one of the girls to bring a dress on their ranch trip.
"Honestly," she had said when Hermione had told her about the dance. "Why would anyone leave home without an emergency dress?" Hermione had just shrugged and laughed at the disbelieving look on the other girl's face.
She finally stood and looked at herself in Pansy's full length mirror- Hermione didn't comment to pansy about using magic because she didn't want to start a fight between them- and brushed her fingers over the rhinestones on her jacket. It was a black velvet jacket that matched her black velvet pants and her black suede studded boots. She had pulled out her old and very dear black leather cowboy hat, and it was placed on her head. Because of the hat she couldn't have her hair up in a ponytail so she pleated it into two braided pigtails hanging just above her shoulders. Earrings of horses and her large champion buckle were last touches to her outfit.
"Well I'm ready. Are you coming Pansy?" she turned to the girl who had borrowed some clothes from Daniela and was dresses like a real Canadian cowgirl, down to the shiny spurs on her boots and bronze buckle. Pansy stood and smiled at Hermione, she had changed a lot in the last few days, they were on great terms now and Hermione could tell she was trying hard to be nice and not make any rude comments.
"Lets go knock 'em dead." Pansy giggled as she hooked arms with Hermione and they left the tent giggling together about how they thought the guys would look. Hermione had confided in Pansy about her liking Draco, but had left out the fact that the feelings were returned, because she really couldn't tell how Pansy felt about Draco. But now Hermione didn't know if she should hold back with Pansy, who was the only girl there that knew about the feelings she had, and the only girl there who thought Draco might like her back. All the Gryffindor girls had never really treated her like one of the girls, but more like a brain that could help them out with their homework.
At the thought of Draco she searched the crowed of students wondering about waiting for everyone to finish getting ready, and found his silvery hair. He was talking with Chanda, and it looked like he was getting instructions. Hermione told Pansy she had to go see if anyone needed her help and she made her way to where Draco was standing with Chanda on the other side of the fence.
As she got closer to them she could see what Draco was wearing. His outfit was very sexy to say the least; he was wearing a very tight pair of blue jeans that were so dark they almost looked black; he wore a black oxford shirt that stretched tight across his broad shoulders. His boots were like hers. Black and clean, obviously not used while working, and his cowboy hat was tipped slightly to one side.
When she got to standing just behind him she put her hands on his shoulder, his wide shoulder dwarfing her small hand. He turned to see who it was and his handsome face broke into a brilliant smile. She used his shoulder to help her climb over the fence, but she didn't truly need the help. She just liked to touch him, feel his warmth and fell him, solid and strong.
"Hey Chanda, is everything set?" Hermione asked once she was standing next to Draco. They were going to ride out to the farm, which was only a couple miles away, camp there for the night and ride back in the morning. They wanted to keep to the daylight, to keep everyone as safe as possible.
"Almost," Chanda said, starting to walk towards the nearest horse and tighten its tack. "We just need to check the tack and round everyone up. Do you think you two could do the tack as I get your classmates to get to their horses?" they nodded to her; some people weren't looking forward to the long trail and they didn't feel like having to talk anyone into either hurrying up or losing house points.
"Sure thing." Draco said moving to the next horse. Chanda nodded back and turned to jump over the fence and started to yell last call to the direction of the tents.
"Anyone not ready in the next five seconds will be left behind!" Hermione laughed and moved to the next horse that needed to be checked. But before she could tighten any of the tack. She felt strong arms wrap around her and pull her against their owner's chest. She spun around and kissed Draco deeply. They had been doing this secretly for the past two days, and Hermione felt as if they hadn't kissed for weeks instead of just hours, each time. He broke the kiss and pulled away, hearing people coming towards the horses. They had decided to wait to tell everyone else, she had discussed how awkward she would feel around Harry while with him if they made their relationship, what ever it was, public. Harry was her friend and she didn't want to hurt him. She smiled up at Draco now and then laughed, he had shiny lip chap all on his mouth. She whipped it away with her hand then quickly turned back to the horse she was supposed to be checking.
"All right," she heard Chanda say from the other side of the horse. "Remember to check your tack as usual and mount." Hermione quickly moved next to Magenta, a beautiful chestnut mare that was temporarily replacing Draco as he recovered, and Draco followed to Zantar who was right next to her. They checked their tack and in one fluent motion they were both on their horses and they moved to where Chanda was on their mount Honey. They were going to be following the trail as Chanda led it and that meant they had to wait for the whole trail before going themselves.
"All right, now everyone, lets get going, we have a nice trail ahead of us. I hope everyone has what they need!" Chanda clicked her tongue and moved forward on her horse. Cassar and Snape somewhere along the middle and then finally Draco and Hermione bring up the rear.
The trail didn't see to take long for Hermione who chatted to Draco the whole time, they had only two small pit stops and nothing happened out of the ordinary. It was dusk as they arrived at the farm. Large bon fires had been lit all around the entrance to the farm and many smaller ones surrounded the tarp that covered the refreshment bar. The actual party was being held in the very large barn where many colour flags had been set up and where large speakers seemed very out of place. The dancing area had been swept of hay and the Christmas lights lit up the whole place, a display of flashing lights.
After they had all tied up, un-tacked and watered their horses, the students broke off into groups or to mingle with the other local teenagers there. There was dancing laughing and friendly playing. The DJ was another local kid who had not only the newest in country music but also a lot of classic country square dancing music.
The local kids had a great time trying to teach Hogwarts' finest the different steps, and Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the rather pitiful scene. She knew the steps to many of the dances and it was funny to see her friends messing around on the dance floor with the Muggles.
Hermione was maybe more surprised as anyone when Draco grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the crowd of dancing locals and they started to join in with the dance, it seemed they both knew the dance and the local kids cheered them on as the beat to the music picked up and the dance became faster and faster, eventually everyone ended up messing up and laughing hysterically. The song changed into a slow one by Faith Hill, and Hermione looked up at Draco, he smirked down at her and pulled her to him, they danced closely and Hermione could remember the name of the song, it was Breathe. She could feel herself getting lost in Draco's eyes, they had always been so dark and cold but now they were warm and loving, they were soft and caring.
I can feel the magic floating in the air Being with you gets me that way I watch the sunlight dance across your face And I've never been this swept away
Hermione placed her head against his chest, forgetting, or just not caring that they were in a room of their friends and classmates. Draco's arms tightened around her and she drank in his scent, he smelt like smoke and oranges, the spicy smell mixing with the citric one. She could stay like this forever, living off his scent and in his strong arms.
The song ended and another one started, faster, more upbeat, Hermione started to pull away from their tight embrace, looking up at Draco who looked back at her then around the room, tensing slightly. Hermione looked past the dancing locals to where she could see some of her classmates staring at them, still standing in each other's arms. Then Hermione saw Harry, remembering what she heard three days earlier between him and Ron. She had been avoiding this since that night kissing Draco in the field.
But now she couldn't ignore the look on his face, it was one she had never see on his face, he looked hurt and lost as if he was a three-year old left to find his way home from a packed train station. She looked back at Draco for help, and he nodded understanding maybe, and with a slight squeeze he unfolded his arms from around her, leaving traces of cool places over her back, and she led them back to Harry and Ron, who were looking at them in horror, or at least Ron was.
"What Weasley? Never see anyone dance before?" Another slow dance started and couples paired up again, some closer then others, Hermione noticed a lot of girls looking at their partners resentfully as they were held at near arms length.
Ron sputtered at Draco and turned to the silent Harry for support, Harry just shrugged and moved out towards the barn doors and out into the fresh air by the refreshment bar. Hermione watched him go seeing the trees ahead of him swaying in the wind, realizing how warm it was in the barn with all the students and locals dancing and talking. When Ron answered his voice shook with rage.
"Well I think there is a difference between dancing and groping." Hermione snapped her attention from the heat back on her friend, who seemed to be getting on her nerves more and more easily now a day.
"I'll have you know Ronald, that there was no groping involved, although I'm sure you wouldn't know the difference if it were actually groping, but it was just dancing. Keep your nose out of it and you should know that anything you say has no effect on what I do and don't do." She turned and started towards the other end of the dancing area, but she stopped dead when she heard Ron's response.
"And what about Harry?" Hermione caught Draco's eye as she turned to look at Ron, he seemed to want this answer too. Harry was her friend, like a brother to her; she couldn't feel for him what he felt for her.
"Well of course the same goes for Harry." She turned back to a relieved looking Draco and grabbed his arm, pulling him away from the confused Ron. "Come on Draco, lets stand by the doors its too hot by the dancing."
But when they got to the doors they kept going. Out into the night and to where the horses had been let out to graze and sat on the fence looking as the large shadows moved in the near darkness. The breeze cooled Hermione's flushed cheeks and swayed the hairs on the back of her neck, causing her to shiver. Draco pulled a blade of grass between his fingers, looking as if he were thinking intently.
"What am I to you Draco?" Hermione asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence, surprising Draco and herself. He dropped the blade of grass and put his arm around her, holding her close. She leaned into his shoulder and rested her head there.
"You know, I was going to ask about the same thing, and I was hoping to get an answer a long the lines of you being my girlfriend." He smirked and laced his fingers in hers, hugging her closer to him.
"So you wouldn't be ashamed for everyone to know your dating a mudblood?" she asked, he grimaced looking to the sky as if drawing on strength from the leagues of stars. He looked back at her and she looked in his eyes, he looked as if he were desperate.
"Don't say that Hermione, I hate that word more then I hate myself for ever calling you that. I only wish you could forgive me for it." He shook his head at himself and sighed. "An I would never be ashamed of being with you. I would shout it out from the roof tops if you didn't worry so much about Harry finding out." He kissed her lightly on the forehead and she hugged him tight. After this, after what he had just said, she knew how she felt and how she wanted to feel. She took a deep breath and whispered to his ear.
"I want you to shout it Draco, I want you to tell the world." She pulled back and looked up at him, into his searching eyes, into eyes that softened for her. Those eyes lit up as a smile spread across his lips, turning his serious expression into a joyful one. She returned his smile and he kissed her smiling lips, and she slipped her arms around his neck. He held her around the waist, rubbing her back with the tips of his fingers. She shifted her weight forward a bit, and they suddenly felt the plunge of vertigo as they fell off the fence and ended up in a heap on the ground laughing hysterically, Hermione on top of Draco, legs twined and hates thrown off in different directions.
"I love you Draco." Hermione let the words slip from her lips without realizing how important they were, but at the once she knew what she said was true. Draco had made her love him more and more the last few days, telling her about himself, the real Draco, the emotionally scared child Draco. She had been able to open up to his as well, speaking about her past and what she hoped for the future, her secrets where his now.
"Hermione, I love you too." She kissed him, realizing her lips were trembling from anticipation of his. They kissed and then held each other while the music from the dance played in the background, Hermione could hear the music being switched off and suddenly a voice boomed into the silence. Hermione strained to hear the voice past the static of the microphone.
"Good evening everyone!" the male voice said joyfully, " tonight we have a very special treat, a band that will surely one day be famous, will be performing here for a good deal of the night, then Jimmy our wonderful DJ will resume his playing. So now I would like to announce to you the arrival of the Strawberries!" a loud round of applause followed and then the band started to play. Draco started to sit up when the band stuck up a loud song and began to dust himself off.
"Lets go see what the fuss is." Hermione gave him a look, the Strawberries sounded like a girl band. But the agreed to go with him.
"Alright, but I have an idea that its just a bunch of girls in tight clothes, and that probably what the fuss is." He laughed and kissed her before pulling her to her feet, then he gave her that famous smirk, how she dreaded that look.
What," he said slyly "Are you afraid I'll run off with one of them?" Just as the words left his mouth a male singer joined into the music, his voice filling the air around them before there was a loud chorus of cheers heard from the female population of the dance. Draco's smirk fell from his face and this time it was Hermione's turn to laugh.
"Are you?" she asked back and then laughed again as he grabbed at her and caught only air as she playfully ran back towards the barn. She looked back to see him sprinting up to her and when he caught up he engulfed her and they again fell to the ground laughing when they recovered Hermione was in need of water. Once they were finished at the refreshment bar they returned to the barn and Hermione could see she had been right about the girls in the band. There were three girls, a tall blond with a white-pink flower patterned dress that hung low beneath her neck and hovered high above her knees, she help a guitar. The second was a short red head in an off the shoulder crop top and tight jeans that every curve and every bone that stuck out from her slim frame, she help only a microphone. The third was another short girl but she had very high shoes on that made her appear tall. Her skirt was short and her tight tank top was barley there, she had one of those model's faces and straight dirty blond hair that came down to her shoulders in one flat layer, she sat at a set of drums.
And then there was the only male in the band, tall slim but with wide shoulders, his hair shaggy and a dark black, his skin tanned and his clothes tight. His impressive voice filling the barn as the girls played and the red head sand along. Hermione could see that a bunch of girls had left their dates and were pressed closely to the small rise that was the stage. She looked up at Draco to see him looking back at her, grim look in place on his face, she almost laughed.
"Nothing special here I don't think." She said and then did laugh at the look of relief that adorned his face. She pulled him towards the dance floor and they danced to the fast paced song. Hermione coaching Draco bit by bit, this music greatly different then the country music, it was more punk rock, more like what she listened to at home during the summers. Soon the rest of the students and locals were dancing and just having a good time. After the band had played a round of loud music, the beat slowed and the short red head took over in a solo, singing a mournful love song. Her voice sent Goosebumps up Hermione's arms; the only other sound was the soft song of the guitar in the background. Draco pulled Hermione into a hug of an embrace and they danced to the music.
'To love you is something I've tried hard not to do. But how can you Think of remaining as two, When we could be one, One body one soul, one earth Breaking love. How can we not live life, And love like the angels above, I've tried hard, believe me, To halt these feelings, But in that process I Learned love's little meanings.'
The girl lifted her voice and held the last note for a long time, then the drummer joined in and the song became fast and all the slowly dancing couples broke apart and started to dance to the song's new beat.
"When you said you'd rather die Did you know it would Cause me to cry? When you walked away From me Did you know how hurt I Would be? When you laughed with your Friends Did you know I still loved you, To no ends? When you scoffed in my direction Did you know my devastation? When you reached for her Embrace Did you know my heart Doubled its pace?'
As the singer bellowed that last line the drummer and guitar players stopped their instruments, and the crowed started to cheer but the singer continued over them, her voice soft once again.
'When I asked you if you Could love me Did you know then you wanted To hurt me?'
The song ended and the band took their bows and left the stage, turning it back to the DJ, who filled the barn with country music once again. Most of the girls followed the band off to the refreshment bar and a fair number of guys as well. But Hermione didn't feel the urge to meet up with the group. Instead she hung back with Draco and they found themselves standing awkwardly alone with Harry, who didn't look comfortable either. But Harry didn't seem to want to voice what he was feeling; he cleared his throat and began talking to Hermione, ignoring Draco as much as possible.
"So," he said after the DJ started a new song. "This was a good idea, everyone seems to be having fun. No problems so far, Professor Cassar told me to tell you he was going up to the house with the other adults and he wanted to make sure you guys watched out for our group," he took a sip of the drink in his hands and turned, rather business like to Draco.
"Where did you learn all those dances before? I wouldn't think you were one to attend many square dances." His tone was light but Hermione could tell he was trying not to sound condescending. He would have done a good job if it weren't for the fact that Hermione knew Harry better then he knew himself.
"Well actually Potter, most of the Muggle singers aren't only Muggle performers, most just perform to Muggles fore more money, but are in fact witches and wizards." Harry nodded, not having a response, but Draco continued." Also, hard enough as it is to believe, I happen to be a teenager, and I too, sneak out of the house to have fun. I know that hard to believe seeing as though I am Draco Malfoy spawn of the devil." He started laughing and Harry didn't seem to be able to stop himself from doing the same. It was hard for Hermione to understand the effect Draco could have on people if he wanted to be your friend and to enjoy his company, and then he could make you like him, by just cracking a joke or by being sincere.
****
The night ended uneventful, no harm done at all. Except of course Ron's being completely speechless upon returning to find Harry and Draco laughing over some joke, but he softened to at least ignoring Draco instead of throwing nasty comments with him back and forth.
After the DJ ended the dance with another slow song, Hogwarts students said goodbye to the locals and headed to their lodgings. Hermione found Pansy and they walked over to the lodges they were to sleep in. The farm the dance was held at was also the home of a summer camp, where there were log cabins with bunks and even showers. As the head girl and her roommate, Hermione and Pansy received their own two-person cabin, as Draco and Harry did, where everyone else was across the way sharing cabins with 3 other people.
"That was great!" Pansy squealed, still dancing around, pulling leaves off overhead branches and flinging them back up skywards when she had handfuls. " I can't imagine just having a dance because you wanted to, there was no boring government talk, no discussing, no boring adult talk! It was great!" Hermione laughed and pulled the door to their cabin open.
Suddenly a black shape came flying out of the door at them, Hermione and Pansy both shrieked and ran back away from the cabin, Pansy in tears. They ran right into two people running over to investigate their screaming. It was Draco and Harry, Hermione flung her arms around Draco and the two boys tried to calm the girls down. Snape came up behind them.
"What seems to be the matter here?" Snape asked, taking in Pansy's tear streaked face and their shallow breaths.
"Sorry Professor," Draco said releasing his grip on Hermione and stepping towards the professor, a smirk on his face. "It seams the girls were startled by a bat or a bird, coming out of their cabin." Harry started to laugh and let go of Pansy, who had thrown her arms around him and cried into his shoulder
Pansy whipped her tears away and gave the professor a small smile. "Sorry we screamed Professor, caught us off guard. But we're fine now." She turned to Hermione who nodded in agreement.
"Yes, we'll be fine, just, could you guys, you know, check for anything else?" then Snape too was laughing, however shortly, but laughing all the same.
* Thanks to: Couch Potato- thanks, short but sweet, I like that! Dobbie-luvs-sweeties- thanks, schnoogle isn't all that bad, but I will put this story there too, and also continue to write here too.
The song in this fic 'Love's little meanings' was written by me and is under copy write laws, and any using it without permission from myself, consequences under penalty by law.