Chapter 3. Nuff said.
Chapter 3- The Satyr Dance
Hagrid's suit was brown, but it was not hairy. It actually looked like velver. He wore a black vest underneath, and a brown button-up shirt, and his tie was red with black diagonal stripes. "Wow, Hagrid!"
He shot Ron a look as he cleared his throat. "Yes, well, Olympe gave it to me. I say, all you look magnificent. Ah…Hermione, is that you? Blimey, I hardly recognized you."
Hermione smiled. "Where are we going, Hagrid?"
"It's a surprise," he said, moving aside. The four of them gasped with wonder as they saw the glittering black carriage draped in white silk. Four white stallions were hitched to it, all with white tack. They looked like snow
Harry and Ginny started out, the latter with a white cloak draped around her shoulders. Hermione slipped a gloved hand under Ron's arm. "Want to be my date?" she said. Ron grinned nervously and they stepped outside.
Hagrid closed the door behind them. Hermione had expected it to be cold, but it was more cool and crisp. It felt like fall but looked like winter. Maybe she was too excited to be cold.
In the carriage, they talked and laughed, but no matter how much they asked, Hagrid would not say a word about where they were going.
When they arrived, Hagrid climbed down first and helped Ginny and Hermione out. They seemed to be in a clearing in the middle of a forest. Hagrid led them to a pile of boulders and said to one of them, "Golden horns."
Abruptly, a huge rock began to sink into the ground. A long staircase led them to a torch-lit hallway. The hallway opened up into a large, high-ceilinged, round room. The dominant attendance was by satyrs, but there was a variety of other magical creatures, and a surprising number of humans. Hermione gave her cloak to a dwarf in coat and tails. "Hagrid, what is this?" she asked.
"It's the Satyr Dance," he said happily. "On'y held once a century. Anyone can come, but not many people find out. As fer me, Firenze told me. Ah, I dunno, I wanted to thatnk you guys again, for…you know."
"We know, Hagrid. You've more than repaid us. We don't need anything from you except friendship," Harry said.
Hagrid beamed down at them. "Well, go on! The music'll start in a minute." Sure enough, a group of satyrs with string and woodwind instruments were setting up on a dais in the corner.
Waiting for the musicians to start, Hermione slowly surveyed the room. The walls, floor, and even ceiling appeared to be made of reddish brown clay. The walls were painted over with pictures of centaurs pairing off, people dressed in flowing white silk, satyrs prancing as they played pipes or lyres. Some of the figures held goblets with dark wine. The entire scene appeared to be taking place during a rain of red and white rose petals.
The satyrs cheered when the music started, and all danced enthusiastically to the lively tune. Ginny and Harry danced together, imitating the satyrs. Hermione watched them all for a moment.
Grinning, she grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him to the middle of the room. "Hermione, don't! I don't know how to dance like that."
"I don't either, Ron. Just forget about that and go with the music!" Without warning, she grabbed Ron's waist and spun. She ignored his shouting and kept on until he was laughing with her. Then she let go and twirled and moved as she never had before. Ron, apparently, had taken her advice, and he was not doing too badly. This went on for three song changes before they stopped to rest.
"I've never seen humans dance like that," a satyr said to them. They exchanged pleased glances. "It was excellent."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione said. His gaze swept her body before moving on.
"Oh, there's one more thing," Hagrid said. "Never accept a dance with a satyr."
"Why not?" Ginny asked. She actually sounded disappointed.
"Well, they- jus' don't," Hagrid said gruffly. Hermione thought she knew why. Satyrs were creatures of lust. Accepting a dance was as good as- she blushed at what she was thinking. She was already flushed with excitement; she hoped it didn't show up.
Harry yelled as someone grabbed him from behind. "Happy Christmas, all!" a cheerful voice called out.
"Sirius!" Harry turned to embrace his godfather. "Don't *do* that!"
Laughing, Sirius hugged the rest of them, pausing when he saw Hermione in her dress.
"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Well, I was invited. Yes, a lovely female centaur asked me to come. Beautiful ginger coat, white at the base of her tail. Yes, lovely." A few wizards glanced curiously toward them. Pettigrew had been caught last year, but Dumbledore was still trying to convince Fudge of Sirius's innocence. He cleared his throat. "Ah, yes, and here are your presents, girls."
Ginny and Hermione took the boxes he handed them. Each contained a rose, Ginny's red, Hermione's white. The red rose then turned into a cardinal and flew away. Hermione's rose turned into a dove. "That was wonderful!" Ginny laughed. Hermione hugged Sirius again and clapped as another fast tune started.
The group of six danced the night away, having the time of their lives. Hermione danced with Harry, Hagrid, and Sirius each, but mostly she danced with Ron. After about an hour, his dancing had improved considerably. Ginny teased him, but he teased her right back about Harry. They tasted many dishes they had never heard of. Hagrid only let them have two glasses of wine each, and those watered down, though he and Sirius each had four full glasses.
Harry and Ron said they wanted to take a break, but Ginny and Hermione stayed among the dancers. For a while they watched the satyrs. They jumped spun, and wove in and out so vigorously, it was amazing they did not bump into each other.
Ginny looked around. "Hermione, do you like my brother?"
Hermione glanced to where Harry and Ron were talking quietly and glancing at them. She thought about the question. "I don't know." Ginny cracked a silly grin and held her hands out to Hermione, who took them. The girls spun as fast as they could until they fell over and were caught by nearby centaurs. One of them just happened to be Firenze, whom she had met in her first year.
"You beautiful ladies should be careful. You never know what you might fall into." To Hermione's surprise, the centaurs asked them to dance. They agreed, flattered.
Hermione was not sure what dancing with a half-horse would be like, but it was joyfully smooth. She found that she never wanted to stop.
Once during the hours they spent at the Satyr Dance, Ginny called out, "Ron! They're playing a jig!" At that, she lifted her skirts and started to tap out an Irish step dance. Ron followed shortly, and they were soon joined by Sirius. The three of them stepped simultaneously. Hermione, Harry and Hagrid clapped in time with their feet. Even the satyrs backed up to clear a space for them.
When the jig ended, both Ron and Ginny grinned, red-faced, and joined Hermione and the rest. Sirius looked confused. "Was I just jigging?"
After they had rested, Hermione pulled Ron back out onto the floor. This time, he came willingly.
************************************************************************
Hermione nestled against Ron's shoulder. He lifted his arm and settled it around her shoulders. She could not remember ever being so tired, or having a better reason for it. The carriage let a cool breeze play on her face, calming her racing heart. She drifted in and out of sleep, always with the thought that she wanted to sleep this way every night.
Eventually, she heard a soft voice in her ear. It was Ron's. "Hermione, wake up. We're back."
She slowly brought herself awake. Groggily, she looked at Harry and Ginny. Both were struggling not to laugh as their eyes went between Ron and Hermione. She pushed herself to a sitting position using Ron's leg. "Oh, we're here already?" she yawned.
Harry snorted. Ron glowered in his direction and climbed out of the carriage. Defiantly, he offered a hand to Hermione, who held on as she climbed down herself. They walked through the huge front doors without waiting for their friends.
"Don't pay any attention to them," Ron said. "They were whispering and giggling the whole ride home. It's scary when Harry giggles." He shuddered. Hermione laughed.
They held hands all the way up to Gryffindor Tower. Before going to her room, Hermione gazed into Ron's eyes. She hugged him, long and gentle, wondering what she felt about him.
In her room, Hermione put her jewelry back in the boxes, and put her cloak and gloves carefully away. She sat on the bed to take her boots off, sliding her stockings off leisurely. Her wand aided her in letting her hair down. She washed her face clean of cosmetics and sweat from dancing.
Her dress, she really never wanted to take off. She sighed as she slipped out of it and stored it where nothing could happen to it. Standing there in her underclothes, she remembered the love revealer spell. She found the book and whispered the words. This spell would show her someone who loved her, if she could see them.
Getting into bed, she wondered if this spell would tell her anything. Hoping for the best, Hermione drifted into her dreams, dreams of the night past.
************************************************************************
She was not sure how long she had slept. She rubbed her eyes and felt around for her hairbrush. After one hundred strokes, she plodded to the common room.
No one was there but Harry and Ginny. They greeted her sleepily. Ginny was in Harry's lap, her arms around his neck. Ron had gone to get them some food, since breakfast was over in the Great Hall. Hermione wondered where everyone else had gone, then decided she didn't care as she sat in a puffy armchair. She watched Harry's little phoenix burst into flames and poke its newborn head out of the ashes.
"Hullo, Hermione," Ron said as he entered with a very large load of food. He had apparently taken the entire kitchen.
All thought had flown from her mind the moment Ron climbed through the portrait hole. Floating above his head was a glowing red heart.
End Chapter 3
There you have it. Yeah. Some of you may think you know what happens now, but the story is far from over…. Please REVIEW!!!!! :)
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, I appreciate it. In response to some of yours:
Last chapter, silver eyeshadow went on Ginny's *lids*, as in eyelids, not *lips*. Sorry about that, it was a typo.
Yes, Hermione referred to Ginny as a slut, because in this story, she is one. A One-Man Slut. But they are friends.
Last but not least, you have to remember that this is Hermione two years from when she was last seen in a JKR book. She is changed a little, I mean, most people would change. Yes, I admit that Hermione would not "go googly" over a dress, but she was as excited if not more so that Harry and Ron would but something like this for her. (They're finally admitting she's a girl!! Just kidding.) Besides, if you remember, she did take two or three hours to get ready for the Yule Ball. :P
Okay, thanks for sticking around. Here comes the teaser!
Teaser: Snape stood in front of the door, apparently waiting for someone. *Come on, move, you greasy git.* she could pass him easily, but he was not a complete idiot. He would be suspicious if the door opened by itself, though…
Hermione became so impatient, she started fidgeting. She winced when her foot scraped the floor. Snape turned his head, and she cursed his silently. Before he could come to investigate, a knock came on the door. He opened it after doing something she couldn't see with his wand.
"Finally," he whispered. "Hurry up."
Plaidly laughs evilly. Very evilly. "I am evil… EVIL!!!!!!" (by the way, this is not part of the teaser.)
Chapter 3- The Satyr Dance
Hagrid's suit was brown, but it was not hairy. It actually looked like velver. He wore a black vest underneath, and a brown button-up shirt, and his tie was red with black diagonal stripes. "Wow, Hagrid!"
He shot Ron a look as he cleared his throat. "Yes, well, Olympe gave it to me. I say, all you look magnificent. Ah…Hermione, is that you? Blimey, I hardly recognized you."
Hermione smiled. "Where are we going, Hagrid?"
"It's a surprise," he said, moving aside. The four of them gasped with wonder as they saw the glittering black carriage draped in white silk. Four white stallions were hitched to it, all with white tack. They looked like snow
Harry and Ginny started out, the latter with a white cloak draped around her shoulders. Hermione slipped a gloved hand under Ron's arm. "Want to be my date?" she said. Ron grinned nervously and they stepped outside.
Hagrid closed the door behind them. Hermione had expected it to be cold, but it was more cool and crisp. It felt like fall but looked like winter. Maybe she was too excited to be cold.
In the carriage, they talked and laughed, but no matter how much they asked, Hagrid would not say a word about where they were going.
When they arrived, Hagrid climbed down first and helped Ginny and Hermione out. They seemed to be in a clearing in the middle of a forest. Hagrid led them to a pile of boulders and said to one of them, "Golden horns."
Abruptly, a huge rock began to sink into the ground. A long staircase led them to a torch-lit hallway. The hallway opened up into a large, high-ceilinged, round room. The dominant attendance was by satyrs, but there was a variety of other magical creatures, and a surprising number of humans. Hermione gave her cloak to a dwarf in coat and tails. "Hagrid, what is this?" she asked.
"It's the Satyr Dance," he said happily. "On'y held once a century. Anyone can come, but not many people find out. As fer me, Firenze told me. Ah, I dunno, I wanted to thatnk you guys again, for…you know."
"We know, Hagrid. You've more than repaid us. We don't need anything from you except friendship," Harry said.
Hagrid beamed down at them. "Well, go on! The music'll start in a minute." Sure enough, a group of satyrs with string and woodwind instruments were setting up on a dais in the corner.
Waiting for the musicians to start, Hermione slowly surveyed the room. The walls, floor, and even ceiling appeared to be made of reddish brown clay. The walls were painted over with pictures of centaurs pairing off, people dressed in flowing white silk, satyrs prancing as they played pipes or lyres. Some of the figures held goblets with dark wine. The entire scene appeared to be taking place during a rain of red and white rose petals.
The satyrs cheered when the music started, and all danced enthusiastically to the lively tune. Ginny and Harry danced together, imitating the satyrs. Hermione watched them all for a moment.
Grinning, she grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him to the middle of the room. "Hermione, don't! I don't know how to dance like that."
"I don't either, Ron. Just forget about that and go with the music!" Without warning, she grabbed Ron's waist and spun. She ignored his shouting and kept on until he was laughing with her. Then she let go and twirled and moved as she never had before. Ron, apparently, had taken her advice, and he was not doing too badly. This went on for three song changes before they stopped to rest.
"I've never seen humans dance like that," a satyr said to them. They exchanged pleased glances. "It was excellent."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione said. His gaze swept her body before moving on.
"Oh, there's one more thing," Hagrid said. "Never accept a dance with a satyr."
"Why not?" Ginny asked. She actually sounded disappointed.
"Well, they- jus' don't," Hagrid said gruffly. Hermione thought she knew why. Satyrs were creatures of lust. Accepting a dance was as good as- she blushed at what she was thinking. She was already flushed with excitement; she hoped it didn't show up.
Harry yelled as someone grabbed him from behind. "Happy Christmas, all!" a cheerful voice called out.
"Sirius!" Harry turned to embrace his godfather. "Don't *do* that!"
Laughing, Sirius hugged the rest of them, pausing when he saw Hermione in her dress.
"What are you doing here, Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Well, I was invited. Yes, a lovely female centaur asked me to come. Beautiful ginger coat, white at the base of her tail. Yes, lovely." A few wizards glanced curiously toward them. Pettigrew had been caught last year, but Dumbledore was still trying to convince Fudge of Sirius's innocence. He cleared his throat. "Ah, yes, and here are your presents, girls."
Ginny and Hermione took the boxes he handed them. Each contained a rose, Ginny's red, Hermione's white. The red rose then turned into a cardinal and flew away. Hermione's rose turned into a dove. "That was wonderful!" Ginny laughed. Hermione hugged Sirius again and clapped as another fast tune started.
The group of six danced the night away, having the time of their lives. Hermione danced with Harry, Hagrid, and Sirius each, but mostly she danced with Ron. After about an hour, his dancing had improved considerably. Ginny teased him, but he teased her right back about Harry. They tasted many dishes they had never heard of. Hagrid only let them have two glasses of wine each, and those watered down, though he and Sirius each had four full glasses.
Harry and Ron said they wanted to take a break, but Ginny and Hermione stayed among the dancers. For a while they watched the satyrs. They jumped spun, and wove in and out so vigorously, it was amazing they did not bump into each other.
Ginny looked around. "Hermione, do you like my brother?"
Hermione glanced to where Harry and Ron were talking quietly and glancing at them. She thought about the question. "I don't know." Ginny cracked a silly grin and held her hands out to Hermione, who took them. The girls spun as fast as they could until they fell over and were caught by nearby centaurs. One of them just happened to be Firenze, whom she had met in her first year.
"You beautiful ladies should be careful. You never know what you might fall into." To Hermione's surprise, the centaurs asked them to dance. They agreed, flattered.
Hermione was not sure what dancing with a half-horse would be like, but it was joyfully smooth. She found that she never wanted to stop.
Once during the hours they spent at the Satyr Dance, Ginny called out, "Ron! They're playing a jig!" At that, she lifted her skirts and started to tap out an Irish step dance. Ron followed shortly, and they were soon joined by Sirius. The three of them stepped simultaneously. Hermione, Harry and Hagrid clapped in time with their feet. Even the satyrs backed up to clear a space for them.
When the jig ended, both Ron and Ginny grinned, red-faced, and joined Hermione and the rest. Sirius looked confused. "Was I just jigging?"
After they had rested, Hermione pulled Ron back out onto the floor. This time, he came willingly.
************************************************************************
Hermione nestled against Ron's shoulder. He lifted his arm and settled it around her shoulders. She could not remember ever being so tired, or having a better reason for it. The carriage let a cool breeze play on her face, calming her racing heart. She drifted in and out of sleep, always with the thought that she wanted to sleep this way every night.
Eventually, she heard a soft voice in her ear. It was Ron's. "Hermione, wake up. We're back."
She slowly brought herself awake. Groggily, she looked at Harry and Ginny. Both were struggling not to laugh as their eyes went between Ron and Hermione. She pushed herself to a sitting position using Ron's leg. "Oh, we're here already?" she yawned.
Harry snorted. Ron glowered in his direction and climbed out of the carriage. Defiantly, he offered a hand to Hermione, who held on as she climbed down herself. They walked through the huge front doors without waiting for their friends.
"Don't pay any attention to them," Ron said. "They were whispering and giggling the whole ride home. It's scary when Harry giggles." He shuddered. Hermione laughed.
They held hands all the way up to Gryffindor Tower. Before going to her room, Hermione gazed into Ron's eyes. She hugged him, long and gentle, wondering what she felt about him.
In her room, Hermione put her jewelry back in the boxes, and put her cloak and gloves carefully away. She sat on the bed to take her boots off, sliding her stockings off leisurely. Her wand aided her in letting her hair down. She washed her face clean of cosmetics and sweat from dancing.
Her dress, she really never wanted to take off. She sighed as she slipped out of it and stored it where nothing could happen to it. Standing there in her underclothes, she remembered the love revealer spell. She found the book and whispered the words. This spell would show her someone who loved her, if she could see them.
Getting into bed, she wondered if this spell would tell her anything. Hoping for the best, Hermione drifted into her dreams, dreams of the night past.
************************************************************************
She was not sure how long she had slept. She rubbed her eyes and felt around for her hairbrush. After one hundred strokes, she plodded to the common room.
No one was there but Harry and Ginny. They greeted her sleepily. Ginny was in Harry's lap, her arms around his neck. Ron had gone to get them some food, since breakfast was over in the Great Hall. Hermione wondered where everyone else had gone, then decided she didn't care as she sat in a puffy armchair. She watched Harry's little phoenix burst into flames and poke its newborn head out of the ashes.
"Hullo, Hermione," Ron said as he entered with a very large load of food. He had apparently taken the entire kitchen.
All thought had flown from her mind the moment Ron climbed through the portrait hole. Floating above his head was a glowing red heart.
End Chapter 3
There you have it. Yeah. Some of you may think you know what happens now, but the story is far from over…. Please REVIEW!!!!! :)
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, I appreciate it. In response to some of yours:
Last chapter, silver eyeshadow went on Ginny's *lids*, as in eyelids, not *lips*. Sorry about that, it was a typo.
Yes, Hermione referred to Ginny as a slut, because in this story, she is one. A One-Man Slut. But they are friends.
Last but not least, you have to remember that this is Hermione two years from when she was last seen in a JKR book. She is changed a little, I mean, most people would change. Yes, I admit that Hermione would not "go googly" over a dress, but she was as excited if not more so that Harry and Ron would but something like this for her. (They're finally admitting she's a girl!! Just kidding.) Besides, if you remember, she did take two or three hours to get ready for the Yule Ball. :P
Okay, thanks for sticking around. Here comes the teaser!
Teaser: Snape stood in front of the door, apparently waiting for someone. *Come on, move, you greasy git.* she could pass him easily, but he was not a complete idiot. He would be suspicious if the door opened by itself, though…
Hermione became so impatient, she started fidgeting. She winced when her foot scraped the floor. Snape turned his head, and she cursed his silently. Before he could come to investigate, a knock came on the door. He opened it after doing something she couldn't see with his wand.
"Finally," he whispered. "Hurry up."
Plaidly laughs evilly. Very evilly. "I am evil… EVIL!!!!!!" (by the way, this is not part of the teaser.)
