A/N: We're off to a wonderful start, and the plot is moving along
swimmingly. I would, however, appreciate more reviews! Even if you type one
up and all you write is "." I'll still be your very best friend! I feel
like I'm writing this story for no one, and that depresses me! Please,
Please, PLEASE review! I will even love flames, at this point! It makes
writing the story so much more fun! Once again, all things Potter property
of Rowling! Oh, and Falling in the Garden is property of Ray Lynch
Productions! Great album (Deep Breakfast), great song! And now to
business...
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Chapter Three: Falling in the Garden
Hermione was completely in a trance as she got ready for the Ball in her bedroom. She was going to the Ball with Draco! Even though Harry and Ron had told her not to countless times in the past week, she was still going with him. And she was going out with him.
He had asked her just two days ago, and she hadn't told Harry or Ron yet. She wasn't about to deal with their reactions! Hermione laughed at the thought of their enraged faces as she lifted the skirt of her green dress to tighten the laces of her knee-length boots. She was ready to go, and stood to survey herself in Lavender Brown's full-length mirror, as she didn't have one of her own.
She critically scanned herself, top to bottom. She had once again managed to twist her hair up, but not in a simple knot. She had piled it on top of her head in an elaborate series of twists and curls after streaking it with a deep green color, provided by just the right spell. Her eyes, too, had changed due to her own magickal influence. They were now the same deep green as her dress and hair, flecked with a bright gold. Her eyes moved lower to scan her dress. It had a low, square-cut neck and long sleeves with flowing, draping ends. There was a split in the right leg that rose teasingly high-almost to the middle of her thigh-and she looked stunningly beautiful in the deep, dark, shimmery and slinky green cloth. Her deep brown suede boots could be seen peeking out from under the dress and around the slit. She thought something was missing, and it came to her! She wasn't wearing any makeup, at all! She decided to go simple, and put lines of deep green glitter curling around her eyes and curling over her cheeks and temples, and placed upon her lips the same color. Now she was perfect. Or nearly so, at least. She looked the perfect part of a wood nymph, and smiled confidently as she walked out to go meet Draco.
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Meanwhile, in the Slytherin Boys' Tower, Draco was getting ready as well. He had gone through a lot for Hermione, over the past week. Teasing, taunts from his fellow Slytherins. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. As long as he had Hermione. He had on simple long, deep black robes with dark green dragons and flames patterned around the collar, hem, and down the sleeves. He slicked his hair back, and didn't even bother with a mirror as he left to meet Hermione in the Great Hall.
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Hermione found Draco easily amidst the crowds of students in the Great Hall. How could you miss him? He was stunningly handsome in robes of deepest black embellished with majestic green dragons spitting flames the color of her highlights. His richly dark appearance cut through the crowds like a steak knife through butter.
She rushed to his side and slipped her hand into his. He said nothing in response, but loosed her hand and, instead, looped his arm around her waist.
Draco smiled down at her (for she was a bit shorter than him) and asked, "Ready?"
Hermione nodded in response and they proceeded to the ball, ignoring the questioning stares of the people surrounding them.
As they stepped onto the dance floor, they realized the ball had started a while ago. However, they made such an elaborately unexpected appearance that everyone stopped to stare as they walked in. The conversations stopped, couples stopped dancing. The only noise left was that of the music and of the night surrounding them. Then Draco smiled confidently, Hermione mimicking him effortlessly, and they slipped amongst the couples caught in motion on the dance floor. Draco held out one arm, and Hermione laid one arm over his shoulder, the other hand resting in his outstretched hand. They swept up with the new music. Oddly, it was Muggle music; "Falling in the Garden" by Ray Lynch, and they kept to the slow tune easily, matching steps with good rhythm as the crowd around them realized they weren't dreaming and began moving and talking again until the song was over and everything was seemingly back to normal, once more the confused hubbub it had been.
Draco led Hermione off the dance floor, protective arm once more around her waist. They went to sit at a tiny table in a darker, more secluded corner. There were few people here, but Draco glared at the one Slytherin boy that dared to let his eyes linger on Hermione longer than was necessary.
As they sat, Draco seemingly procured two Butterbeers out of nowhere, and they sat chatting, joking and laughing with their drinks for a while, undisturbed by the events around them.
Then Draco leaned over. And he gave her a gentle, innocent kiss. Just to see how she would react. Hermione deepened it, and he almost laughed realizing he was kissing who had been, just two weeks ago, his mortal enemy. But only almost. He caught himself before laughing, and instead kissed her more forcefully, producing a sigh from her and shocked stares from the few onlookers.
And this seems like a wonderful stopping point to leave off at. "But you always skip the good parts!", my alter egos scream in my ear. (I have over thirty). Yes, well, I think the characters appreciate my wisdom of knowing when enough is enough, and it's time to close the curtain. In the next chapter, ALL IS REVEALED!! The love potion wears off, and they realize its influence has pushed them along! Will they break off their blossoming love? Or will they figure that the potion started what they couldn't have on their own and go on loving? I'm not telling you! You have to read the chapter to find out! ;)
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Chapter Three: Falling in the Garden
Hermione was completely in a trance as she got ready for the Ball in her bedroom. She was going to the Ball with Draco! Even though Harry and Ron had told her not to countless times in the past week, she was still going with him. And she was going out with him.
He had asked her just two days ago, and she hadn't told Harry or Ron yet. She wasn't about to deal with their reactions! Hermione laughed at the thought of their enraged faces as she lifted the skirt of her green dress to tighten the laces of her knee-length boots. She was ready to go, and stood to survey herself in Lavender Brown's full-length mirror, as she didn't have one of her own.
She critically scanned herself, top to bottom. She had once again managed to twist her hair up, but not in a simple knot. She had piled it on top of her head in an elaborate series of twists and curls after streaking it with a deep green color, provided by just the right spell. Her eyes, too, had changed due to her own magickal influence. They were now the same deep green as her dress and hair, flecked with a bright gold. Her eyes moved lower to scan her dress. It had a low, square-cut neck and long sleeves with flowing, draping ends. There was a split in the right leg that rose teasingly high-almost to the middle of her thigh-and she looked stunningly beautiful in the deep, dark, shimmery and slinky green cloth. Her deep brown suede boots could be seen peeking out from under the dress and around the slit. She thought something was missing, and it came to her! She wasn't wearing any makeup, at all! She decided to go simple, and put lines of deep green glitter curling around her eyes and curling over her cheeks and temples, and placed upon her lips the same color. Now she was perfect. Or nearly so, at least. She looked the perfect part of a wood nymph, and smiled confidently as she walked out to go meet Draco.
************************************************************************
Meanwhile, in the Slytherin Boys' Tower, Draco was getting ready as well. He had gone through a lot for Hermione, over the past week. Teasing, taunts from his fellow Slytherins. But it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. As long as he had Hermione. He had on simple long, deep black robes with dark green dragons and flames patterned around the collar, hem, and down the sleeves. He slicked his hair back, and didn't even bother with a mirror as he left to meet Hermione in the Great Hall.
************************************************************************
Hermione found Draco easily amidst the crowds of students in the Great Hall. How could you miss him? He was stunningly handsome in robes of deepest black embellished with majestic green dragons spitting flames the color of her highlights. His richly dark appearance cut through the crowds like a steak knife through butter.
She rushed to his side and slipped her hand into his. He said nothing in response, but loosed her hand and, instead, looped his arm around her waist.
Draco smiled down at her (for she was a bit shorter than him) and asked, "Ready?"
Hermione nodded in response and they proceeded to the ball, ignoring the questioning stares of the people surrounding them.
As they stepped onto the dance floor, they realized the ball had started a while ago. However, they made such an elaborately unexpected appearance that everyone stopped to stare as they walked in. The conversations stopped, couples stopped dancing. The only noise left was that of the music and of the night surrounding them. Then Draco smiled confidently, Hermione mimicking him effortlessly, and they slipped amongst the couples caught in motion on the dance floor. Draco held out one arm, and Hermione laid one arm over his shoulder, the other hand resting in his outstretched hand. They swept up with the new music. Oddly, it was Muggle music; "Falling in the Garden" by Ray Lynch, and they kept to the slow tune easily, matching steps with good rhythm as the crowd around them realized they weren't dreaming and began moving and talking again until the song was over and everything was seemingly back to normal, once more the confused hubbub it had been.
Draco led Hermione off the dance floor, protective arm once more around her waist. They went to sit at a tiny table in a darker, more secluded corner. There were few people here, but Draco glared at the one Slytherin boy that dared to let his eyes linger on Hermione longer than was necessary.
As they sat, Draco seemingly procured two Butterbeers out of nowhere, and they sat chatting, joking and laughing with their drinks for a while, undisturbed by the events around them.
Then Draco leaned over. And he gave her a gentle, innocent kiss. Just to see how she would react. Hermione deepened it, and he almost laughed realizing he was kissing who had been, just two weeks ago, his mortal enemy. But only almost. He caught himself before laughing, and instead kissed her more forcefully, producing a sigh from her and shocked stares from the few onlookers.
And this seems like a wonderful stopping point to leave off at. "But you always skip the good parts!", my alter egos scream in my ear. (I have over thirty). Yes, well, I think the characters appreciate my wisdom of knowing when enough is enough, and it's time to close the curtain. In the next chapter, ALL IS REVEALED!! The love potion wears off, and they realize its influence has pushed them along! Will they break off their blossoming love? Or will they figure that the potion started what they couldn't have on their own and go on loving? I'm not telling you! You have to read the chapter to find out! ;)