AN: Well we're working our way up to the ball. Just two more chapters to go! Next chapter was really fun to write, or I should say will be, I have about a million ideas swirling about in my head for it. Anyway in this chapter they confirm their ball plans with Dumbledore and go on many a Hogsmeade visits for outfit and Christmas present shopping. It's fun stuff.
Disclaimer~Anything you recognize belongs to JKR and take the pity in claiming all the rest.
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Falling Head Over Heels
The Story of Hermione Granger and
Her relationship with Draco Malfoy
By: Befuzzled
Chapter Sixteen ~ I'll…He'll…Ask "Where are you Christmas?
Why can't I find you?
Why have you gone away?
Where is the laughter;
You used to bring me?
Why can't I hear music play?
My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too?"
~Faith Hill
The prefects spent every spare moment for the next week in the secluded shelter under the trap door to their common room. As agreed, Hannah and Terry had organized all the food preparations. Hermione and Draco were much too opinionated to let the music be chosen without their input. They had all spent countless hours listening and scanning muggle and wizard music successfully finding music they all easily could agree on. There had been little conflict while all the behind the scene efforts took place, and on Monday of the following week they were standing in Dumbledore's office presenting their methodical plans for the upcoming ball.
They all had previous prepared their parts so that all rolled smoothly. This might have been in part to the Head Master quietly watching and nodding along to their ideas. His eyes glittered behind his small-framed glasses, filled with knowledge beyond his years, and the understanding of life that just simply could not be figure out from reading countless text.
"We think, since this dance is supposed to be about building friendships and finding a deeper knowledge about them, all the students should be able to decide whether they want to wear dress robes or muggle gowns and suits. It can be a way of expressing them selves and showing diversity among peers. Also, we have decided not to tell them the color theme so they all don't try and match it. We would end up with about thirty witches all looking alike, and that would not fit with our plan. We want the decorations and outfits to stand out separately not to blend in together for the most part," Hermione was saying, trying no to sound to scripted while being confident and secure.
"To fit in with that sub theme of diversity, we have selected a range of music from the best of both worlds. Most of it is on CDs. So we will need a DJ or a student who has experienced mixing up the music. We have also thought of the possibility of magically doing this task as well so the student body can appreciate the entire dance. This is music we have all agreed on, so we are pretty sure most of the students will be able to tolerate it." This time Hannah was talking, reminding herself to breathe.
Terry started with his favorite topic, "You've got music and you've got clothes, but what kind of party would it be without any food? It wouldn't be one! We have polled a few random students of their favorite snack and beverage items. There is quite a load from muggle morsels and wizarding delights. I personally have sampled all the chosen foods." His stomach made a gurgling noise to alert him he was getting hungry just thinking about it.
"This is Hermione's idea, but she refused to present it. So I got stuck with the job of messing it up," Draco started looking over at a bright red Gryffindor. "We have based the color and decorations themes off muggle sayings that seemed to blend in with your theme of friendship. The first phrase, 'Make new friends, and keep the old; one is silver, the other is gold', is the bases of the color scheme, obviously gold and silver. The strings of chains sparked from the phrase, 'a chain is only as strong as it's strongest link'. We believe that the chain can represent a group of friends or even the individual answers, the links represents the strength of the bonds and unity they have created with friendship."
Hermione gave a small smile to Draco congratulating him on his success. "Also professor, I haven't confirmed this with the rest of the group since it just came to me, but if they don't mind; I was wondering if we could hold the dance in somewhere other than the Great Hall. I know there a many rooms in the castle that are the same if not a larger size than the great hall." Hermione looked at her peers hoping they would agree and was met with sparkling smiles. "If we put them in a maybe not so familiar environment they might mingle more and make new friends."
"You four have certainly put forth a great deal of effort into this," the wise old man stated, watching the anxious and nervous faces of the prefects. "I am very proud and happy to say that I approve of all you ides. I like the idea of the new location of the ball, as well. You all will be given passes to shop in Hogsmeade over the next few weeks. Anything you cannot find there can be magic made or one of the professors could get it from Diagon Ally. Just one more question, have any of you thought about want you want to call the dance? I know it wasn't given to you as an assignment but as you have probably noticed it lacks one."
Panic and worried spread across three of the four faces, then the Slytherin spoke reliving most of the tension. "Yes, Professor, I have thought about the name." His three partners eagerly nodded for him to continue. They were all in a grateful shock since they had neglected to notice that one important detail. "Well this is far from creative or original but it fits, kind of. I was thinking we could call in the 'Concordia Ball.'"
"Very good, Mister Malfoy. The Harmony Ball is a splendid title and very fitting. Well now you must all go eat, I don't believe Mr. Boot's stomach can hold out much longer. I will schedule Hogsmeade visits for every Saturday leading up to the ball."
"Oh thank you professor!" Hannah was excited about all the extra shopping time she would have to find the absolute perfect dress.
"You're welcome Miss Abbot. Now please go take your fill. You will be announcing only the major details to the rest of the school on Friday. Just the basic, the dress code."
They all stood up and began to leave. Hermione hung back for a moment to ask Dumbledore something personally. Once all was settled she quickly caught up with her classmates.
~*~
"Oh I see you've have finally come out of that bloody prefect room." Ron's voice was filled with sarcastic animosity.
"Yep, I guess so. The balls all planned. And before you ask, you'll get all the details on Friday, with everybody else."
"Have you forgotten our deal, Hermione? You promise to tell us what to wear before everyone else." Harry was practically beaming in his reverie of remembering.
"Very well. You'll find out before everyone one on Friday, five minutes before everyone on Friday."
Paul sat down beside Hermione, "Find out what?"
"Nothing." Hermione's tone was short and concise. She shot a look at Ron and Harry simply telling them in her fierce glare to keep-your-big-mouths-shut. They were either to wound up to pay attention, too anxious to annoy Hermione, or just didn't care, to let the direct, cross appearance affect them.
"Our dear friend here was just about to tell us all the details behind the up coming ball. Weren't you?" Ron said pointedly with a wide smirk spreading across his face.
"I was not. I said I would tell you on Friday. How am I supposed to get that through your thick head?" Hermione gritted her teeth to keep herself from yelling at the others around her.
"Good. I like surprises. It just makes them all the better. It's kind of like opening Christmas presents: if you already know what it is inside, your heart isn't filled with the eagerness to explore the depths of the package," Paul comforted.
"Yeah we like surprises too, most of the time. But in the past six years we three have had our shares of the not so pleasant ones. I personally like to know everything that's going on around me. It's along story we'll have to tell you about it sometime," Harry added noted the questioning look on Paul's face.
~Wow that was insightful and maybe that will make Harry and Ron back off. How can I ever thank him? ~ She had completely tuned out Harry's little speech about not liking the kind of surprises he got. "See you guys, I don't want to spoil the surprise. Unless of course that prevents me from having to buy you two Christmas presents." Off to the side Hermione whispered a quiet thanks to Paul before the rebuttals, apologizes, and begging started.
"Hermione, that's not what he said and you know it. We still want our presents."
"Yeah, and it was only what to wear, we don't want to embarrass you by wearing the wrong things."
"Please Hermione! Let us keep our presents, we won't ask more questions about the dance, Promise!"
"Okay, okay. Now stop acting like a bunch of groveling deatheaters at the feet of Voldemort." Ron and Paul grimaced, but that was expected. She had figured out long ago that he really was only a person not something to be feared. Plus there hadn't been any sightings of him since January of their fifth year, when Harry had battled him at the Quidditch pitch.
Switching topics to something more peaceful and seasonal, "So anyway Paul would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend?"
"But there isn't a Hogsmeade trip planned."
"Oh isn't there?"
"Oh wait! What the bloody hell is this? You'll tell this fifth year dolt up coming secrets but not your best friends for six years?" Ron was practically livid.
"He's not a dolt! And as you've failed to notice I told you and Harry at exactly the same time as Paul. I just wasn't looking or speaking directly at you." The color slowly faded from their faces as the calmed down. "Well it has been a great time catching up but I really have to attend to some homework I've pushed aside for the past week."
"Hermione it's not due till next year."
"Oh shut up Harry."
~*~
As promised, Harry and Ron hadn't bothered her about the ball but that had not prevented the other members of her house to overwhelm her with various questions. She had made her escape and returned to the almost forgotten prefect room. It lay empty under the trap door since the meeting with Dumbledore.
She lit the fire and felt instantly at home, a calming peace spread across her. She really couldn't get past the feeling of being trapped. She knew she could leave whenever she wanted, but that would take her right up to the world she was trying to stay away from: the questions, plotting and predicting minds of her house.
She set to work at her desk, completing all her assignments in record time. Without pausing every few minutes to help her best friends, she was able to keep her concentration up through the whole task and didn't have to repeat information. This especially helped in arithmacy and potions.
It was hardly six o'clock when she finished but she wasn't hungry for dinner so she pulled a book off the library shelf curled up on the oversized crimson chair and began reading. Her thoughts soon got lost the entanglement of words and she was trapped in the mysteries and facts the author had supplied.
She was nearly half way through the book before she fell asleep. Her legs curled up under her, head resting on the arm of the chair and book falling gently over her hand marking her spot.
Through the enchanting dreams, she never noticed a tall figure enter her shelter of security and peace; she didn't feel his arms holding her as he moved her location and she didn't feel the soft blankets covering her; she failed to sense the dimming lights; and her ears didn't catch on to the sounds of a scratching quill.
~*~
Hermione awoke feeling freshly rested and renewed. For a split second moment she panicked forgetting where she had fallen asleep. Her stomach growled in a fit of hunger; that's when she noticed a tray of steaming soup and cheese sandwiches at the worktable. She sat down and began nibbling on the sandwiches. She spotted a note that had somehow missed her eye when she sat down:
Sleeping Beauty
I thought you would be hungry when you awoke. You skipped
Dinner so I had the house elves make you this. I charmed the
Tray so the food would stay warm, so it should be perfectly
fine to enjoy.
I hope you don't mind that I moved you from your chair. You
Looked quite peaceful but I didn't want to risk having you wake
up with a painfully annoying crick in your neck. I couldn't find
your blanket so I put mine over you. Don't worry I'm sure it has
been cleaned and I haven't used it that much anyway.
I took the liberty of marking the place in your book. I'm not sure
If it was the right spot but it's where it was opened to when I got
here. Good choice, by the way, it's one of my favorites. The
title is very fitting for you, 'Starlight Beholds You'. It truly does.
You might as well just stay down here. It probably rather late,
And I told McGonagall where you were, so you don't have to
Worry about getting into trouble.
I still have some potions to finish up, if I get really desperate I'll
be borrowing the notes off your desk. Just kidding, I wouldn't
do that, well maybe.
The Dragon
~That was really nice. I'll have to thank him tomorrow.~
Hermione slowly finished the food to her fill and settled back down to finish her book. She fell asleep again a few hours before sunrise.
~*~
~Oh Friday! After dinner tonight hopefully the interrogators will be satisfied and I won't have to go around dodging them. If only I could spend the whole day down here.~
Hermione ran quickly through the portrait of Godric Gryffindor back to her dorm. She got on a clean pair of robes and went back to the prefect common room to collect her books before heading down to breakfast.
It wasn't until potions that Hermione got a chance to thank Draco. They were matched up together making some type of healing potion.
"Thanks," Hermione muttered.
"What are you talking about? I haven't done anything this in this class to deserve thanks."
"No you git. Last night. Thanks for dinner and for talking with McGonagall. It was really nice of you."
"So I go from thanked, to a git, back to being thanked. Girls really are confusing."
"Why do I even bother?"
"Because you care."
"Huh?"
"You care about me."
"Yes, as a friend. Maybe on the same level as Nevil, Lavender, and Parvati."
"Oh, I feel special."
"You should."
"No problem, I'm sure you would have done the same for me."
Over a few tables Ron and Harry kept glancing back at the working Prefects. "They seem to be getting along well."
"Yeah, but maybe they've just put against their differences until this whole ball thing is over. You can't very well work together if you are constantly fighting."
"I suppose you're right Harry. But it is still weird. I haven't heard him call her a mud- that word since he made that deal with Snape about giving her flying lessons."
"Yeah I know. At least he never really made her go to any."
~*~
The students waited patiently that night for the food to appear in front of them. Dumbledore stood to make an announcement. "As you all have probably figured out, our prefects have been planning the winter dance for us. Good news, they've finished and are about to tell you what to expect."
At this the four students stood from the four house tables and stood next to each other in front of the head table. The rattled off sentences in a calculated organized pattern, Draco, Hermione, Hannah, then Terry.
"We would like to invite the students third year to attend, the first of many Concordia Balls. If you are a third year or below you can still attend if invited by another student within the year bracket."
"This dance is about friendship and improving the bonds that hold those relations ships together."
"Dress robes, suits, and gowns are all welcomed attire to partake in these festivities."
"The dance is going to be held in a new location this year, but for now all you need to know is that there are going to be Hogsmeade trips every Saturday leading up to the dance."
They all said their part perfectly and their voices somehow meshed and flowed right into each others'. Draco pressed a noted into the back of Hermione's hand before they went to sit down.
After dinner Hermione read the note:
SB~ Please meet me in our room after dinner, I have something to ask you ~ D
She parted from her group of friends and rushed off to see what was so important. She arrived to a pacing Draco.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, why?"
"You seem kind of nervous."
"UM, okay."
"So what was your question."
"Would you go to the dance with me? I mean Terry and Hannah are going together and if it became a problem we could always say it was a prefect thing and I really don't want to have Pansy hanging on me all night…" he ran out of air, giving Hermione enough time to interject a few words.
"Draco please slow down, I hardly heard any of that."
"Would you go to the dance with me?"
A look of horror and shock mixed with a tad of relief and excitement over took Hermione's face. "I would love to."
"Great!"
"I just have to talk to Paul first. I kind of made a deal with him that I would go on a Hogsmeade trip of to a dance with him."
"The Gryffindor chaser – the fifth year?"
"Yeah."
"Why would you do that?'
"For one thing he is the one that caught us at the pitch during the last flying lesson. For two he's really nice and sweet. After the Beat Off he spent just as much time as Ron and Harry at my bedside. For three, I guess I was caught up in the moment, but I'm sure he'll understand. I already promised to go with him to Hogsmeade tomorrow. Can I go talk to him? I'm sure I'll be back in less than an hour."
"Okay."
"Thanks, you're a doll." She kissed him on the forehead and dashed out through her portrait to find the chaser.
~*~
"Paul can I talk to you a minute?" Hermione's voice was calm and coaxing, exactly the opposite of what she was feeling
"Sure thing. What about?"
"The Concordia."
"Oh?" His voice was deflated fearing the worst. "I suppose somebody has already asked you?"
"Yes. But I'll say no. I kind of asked you by the lake that night…"
"No, go ahead go. Can I ask who?"
"Of course. It's Draco Malfoy. All the Prefects are going together, Terry had already snatched up Hannah so we were left."
"You know you're are too good for him. He doesn't deserve you. Have fun though. Are we still on for tomorrow?"
"Yes and every other Hogsmeade trip if you'd like."
He smiled, ~~So he hadn't completely lost out, his time just postponed because of her prefect duties.
"Very much."
"You are so understanding ~ and I love you for it Paul." She kissed he's cheek and dashed off again to tell Draco the news.
~*~
Everything went smoothly for the next couple of days. Well mostly everything. People kept coming up to Hermione in Hogsmeade, the Great Hall, hall ways, and the library to ask her to the dance.
"Sorry I'm already going with someone else."
"Oh okay. Would at least save me a dance?"
"I'll try, of course."
~My goodness I'll hardly be able to dance with Draco at all. I already have at least twelve promised dances not to mention Harry, Ron, and Paul. What brought all this up? Did they all just realize I was a girl or some thing? It's a good thing we planned a lot of songs~
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Geez I thought this chapter was going to be short and sweet, and then I started writing and my hands took over. You have just read the product. I expect plenty of reviews on this or I will not post.
***Did you all get the Sleeping beauty connection with the name from the train? You know from the Disney movie? Princess Aurora was sleeping beauty! Hehe I just thought of that while it did these revisions. Sorry I'm amused by the little things in life.***
