The next few days for Hermione were just blurs, even when she looked back.
She remembered very little, and what she did remember was far and few.
Draco came to visit her everyday, and quite a few times Harry tried to get in, although he would never be allowed. She was being kept in the Hospital Wing of the Manor, being checked for illnesses and injuries.
Finally it was the day to eliminate five more people, leaving only five. Draco was quite nervous. He was sure everyone would be able to hear his heart pounding in his chest.
Hermione was permitted to leave the Hospital Wing for this event, and after being checked over by Madame Pomfrey one last time, was released from her care unless she showed signs of decreasing health.
The ten girls were seated, each on the edge of their seats. They knew that half of them there would be leaving shortly.
Draco strolled briskly in, Butler Severus at his heels.
Butler Severus broke into a wide grin and said in a sing-song voice, "Hello, my dear friends! For some this will be your last time," he practically sang the word time, "to stay in this manor, but the others will have one more week!"
"That'll be enough, Severus," Draco snapped. He just wanted to get this over with, and the butler was simply increasing his already searing headache.
Butler Severus, not the least bit less cheerful, grinned again and began to call out the names.
"Kara K.
Devony S.
Erika Y.
Hermione G.
Jessica S."
The girls walked up to Draco and accepted their necklaces, while the others stood and said good bye.
Now there were only three of the seven left, along with Kara and Hermione.
But the seven had no doubts.
Narisunell walked up to Devony and whispered, "Tell her tonight."
Devony nodded and hugged her friend.
"C'mon, Hermione, let's go upstairs," Devony said with a meaningful look at Jessica and Erika.
Hermione walked over to them and Kara followed closely behind.
As they approached their Common Room, Devony told Hermione to come with her. Hermione followed without question.
"Hermione," Devony sighed, not knowing where to begin, "we understand we have some explaining to do." She motioned to Erika and Jessica.
"We're spies for Dumbledore. Lucius is simply thick enough to believe us."
Hermione stared in shock. "So, when you all saved me. Lucius thought you were killing me? Won't he realize I'm still alive after he watches the Elimination Ceremony?"
Devony smirked. "No, he won't. He'll still think you're dead!"
Hermione looked at her, utterly confused. Suddenly, comprehension dawned on her face.
"One of you were supposed to drink Polyjuice Potion, change into me, and continue on with this!"
"Right!! But, we saved you, so Nari will go and stay at Kelsey's house. Kelsey will keep in contact with Lucius, and Nari will lie low. We're all safe," Erika informed her. Luckily the T.V. crews were not permitted in the Common Rooms and Bedrooms unless invited in. there were several charms placed on the rooms.
Draco spent much quality time with each of the girls, although the camera crews followed him everywhere so they could never be private.
Two days after the Elimination Ceremony, Butler Severus paid the girls a visit.
"Tonight at eight o' clock, another ball will be held. All of you are invited to come and share what may be your last dance with Master Malfoy, for tomorrow the last Elimination Ceremony before the final decision will be held." For once he was solemn, not bouncy. But that changed as soon as he walked out the door. He was back to singing 'It's a Small World'.
"Shutup," Hermione sighed. Snape was getting very annoying. The other four girls grinned.
They all went to their rooms to change. Hermione obsessed over making sure she looked perfect.
"Haorior Figtigo," she muttered, and her hair twisted itself into many braids, twists, and finally a bun at the back of her head. She put on the dress she had brought and admired herself in the mirror.
She looked perfect.
When she walked out, she saw the other girls were already ready. Kelsey wore a slimming blue gown, Devony wore a sparkling blue dress with belled- out sleeves, Jessica wore a long lavender dress with a lavender flower in her hair, and Kara wore a short black dress that had what looked like stars that sparkled when she moved. Of all, though, Hermione's dress was by far the best.
It was a strapless velvet scarlet dress with a gold neckpiece. The dress also had silver designs of a lion and a snake along the bottom hem. On her neck she had the Vivere Portenderer. It matched perfectly with her dress. The shoes were regular black dress sandals, but on her they seemed to go perfectly with her chocolate brown eyes and deep brown hair.
The girls all gaped at Hermione until she said, "What?" They all complemented her on her dress.
When they arrived at the ball room, Draco was waiting. His expression about Hermione was the same as everyone else's.
~*~
Harry was, once again, watching Mr. Millionaire with Cho and the Weasleys.
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed as he saw Hermione. Harry just gaped.
"Harry!" Cho slapped him playfully, yet forcefully, around the head.
"Sorry, Cho, you know I only have eyes for you, my love, but Hermione is my best friend, and I just realized she can look pretty darn good when she wants to. But I can't understand why she'd want to look good for Malfoy," he said.
"Guys," Cho and Lavender muttered. Ron and Harry kept their eyes glued to the screen.
~*~
Draco finally found time to have a dance with Hermione.
"Would you care to dance, Hermione?" She complied and accepted his hand.
They walked out to the floor, the eyes of half the world on them. They danced and danced through at least two songs, their eyes never straying from each other.
Draco smiled down at her, and realized that she was the only one he could ever imagine being with. But something still nagged at his mind. He pushed that thought aside for now.
He now knew which two he would choose tomorrow, and he knew who he would choose at the end. He was nervous about it, though. And his father probably wouldn't like his decisions.
There was a faint sadness in his eyes when they stopped dancing. Draco leaned down and kissed Hermione quickly, and Hermione wished it had lasted longer.
But it was no more than a mere peck.
"Good night, Draco," she whispered and set off for the stairs.
"Good bye, Hermione," he said to himself. He knew he wouldn't get to say it tomorrow.
~*~*~*~
A/N: SO sorry!!!! I really am!! Please forgive me for taking so long! I hope you liked it this chapter. I did, but it was a royal pain in the arse to write! So, who will Draco choose? And why did he say good bye? I have my story planned out in my mind. hehe. Oh, and there will not be a sequel. Sorry!! Or at least not, not immediately. I'm going to post a new story soon, after I finish this one! Later!!
Thanks to all who reviewed, and please review again!!
Oh, LP Draconis: UPDATE YOUR STORY!!!!! PLEASE!!! Thanks!
Draco came to visit her everyday, and quite a few times Harry tried to get in, although he would never be allowed. She was being kept in the Hospital Wing of the Manor, being checked for illnesses and injuries.
Finally it was the day to eliminate five more people, leaving only five. Draco was quite nervous. He was sure everyone would be able to hear his heart pounding in his chest.
Hermione was permitted to leave the Hospital Wing for this event, and after being checked over by Madame Pomfrey one last time, was released from her care unless she showed signs of decreasing health.
The ten girls were seated, each on the edge of their seats. They knew that half of them there would be leaving shortly.
Draco strolled briskly in, Butler Severus at his heels.
Butler Severus broke into a wide grin and said in a sing-song voice, "Hello, my dear friends! For some this will be your last time," he practically sang the word time, "to stay in this manor, but the others will have one more week!"
"That'll be enough, Severus," Draco snapped. He just wanted to get this over with, and the butler was simply increasing his already searing headache.
Butler Severus, not the least bit less cheerful, grinned again and began to call out the names.
"Kara K.
Devony S.
Erika Y.
Hermione G.
Jessica S."
The girls walked up to Draco and accepted their necklaces, while the others stood and said good bye.
Now there were only three of the seven left, along with Kara and Hermione.
But the seven had no doubts.
Narisunell walked up to Devony and whispered, "Tell her tonight."
Devony nodded and hugged her friend.
"C'mon, Hermione, let's go upstairs," Devony said with a meaningful look at Jessica and Erika.
Hermione walked over to them and Kara followed closely behind.
As they approached their Common Room, Devony told Hermione to come with her. Hermione followed without question.
"Hermione," Devony sighed, not knowing where to begin, "we understand we have some explaining to do." She motioned to Erika and Jessica.
"We're spies for Dumbledore. Lucius is simply thick enough to believe us."
Hermione stared in shock. "So, when you all saved me. Lucius thought you were killing me? Won't he realize I'm still alive after he watches the Elimination Ceremony?"
Devony smirked. "No, he won't. He'll still think you're dead!"
Hermione looked at her, utterly confused. Suddenly, comprehension dawned on her face.
"One of you were supposed to drink Polyjuice Potion, change into me, and continue on with this!"
"Right!! But, we saved you, so Nari will go and stay at Kelsey's house. Kelsey will keep in contact with Lucius, and Nari will lie low. We're all safe," Erika informed her. Luckily the T.V. crews were not permitted in the Common Rooms and Bedrooms unless invited in. there were several charms placed on the rooms.
Draco spent much quality time with each of the girls, although the camera crews followed him everywhere so they could never be private.
Two days after the Elimination Ceremony, Butler Severus paid the girls a visit.
"Tonight at eight o' clock, another ball will be held. All of you are invited to come and share what may be your last dance with Master Malfoy, for tomorrow the last Elimination Ceremony before the final decision will be held." For once he was solemn, not bouncy. But that changed as soon as he walked out the door. He was back to singing 'It's a Small World'.
"Shutup," Hermione sighed. Snape was getting very annoying. The other four girls grinned.
They all went to their rooms to change. Hermione obsessed over making sure she looked perfect.
"Haorior Figtigo," she muttered, and her hair twisted itself into many braids, twists, and finally a bun at the back of her head. She put on the dress she had brought and admired herself in the mirror.
She looked perfect.
When she walked out, she saw the other girls were already ready. Kelsey wore a slimming blue gown, Devony wore a sparkling blue dress with belled- out sleeves, Jessica wore a long lavender dress with a lavender flower in her hair, and Kara wore a short black dress that had what looked like stars that sparkled when she moved. Of all, though, Hermione's dress was by far the best.
It was a strapless velvet scarlet dress with a gold neckpiece. The dress also had silver designs of a lion and a snake along the bottom hem. On her neck she had the Vivere Portenderer. It matched perfectly with her dress. The shoes were regular black dress sandals, but on her they seemed to go perfectly with her chocolate brown eyes and deep brown hair.
The girls all gaped at Hermione until she said, "What?" They all complemented her on her dress.
When they arrived at the ball room, Draco was waiting. His expression about Hermione was the same as everyone else's.
~*~
Harry was, once again, watching Mr. Millionaire with Cho and the Weasleys.
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed as he saw Hermione. Harry just gaped.
"Harry!" Cho slapped him playfully, yet forcefully, around the head.
"Sorry, Cho, you know I only have eyes for you, my love, but Hermione is my best friend, and I just realized she can look pretty darn good when she wants to. But I can't understand why she'd want to look good for Malfoy," he said.
"Guys," Cho and Lavender muttered. Ron and Harry kept their eyes glued to the screen.
~*~
Draco finally found time to have a dance with Hermione.
"Would you care to dance, Hermione?" She complied and accepted his hand.
They walked out to the floor, the eyes of half the world on them. They danced and danced through at least two songs, their eyes never straying from each other.
Draco smiled down at her, and realized that she was the only one he could ever imagine being with. But something still nagged at his mind. He pushed that thought aside for now.
He now knew which two he would choose tomorrow, and he knew who he would choose at the end. He was nervous about it, though. And his father probably wouldn't like his decisions.
There was a faint sadness in his eyes when they stopped dancing. Draco leaned down and kissed Hermione quickly, and Hermione wished it had lasted longer.
But it was no more than a mere peck.
"Good night, Draco," she whispered and set off for the stairs.
"Good bye, Hermione," he said to himself. He knew he wouldn't get to say it tomorrow.
~*~*~*~
A/N: SO sorry!!!! I really am!! Please forgive me for taking so long! I hope you liked it this chapter. I did, but it was a royal pain in the arse to write! So, who will Draco choose? And why did he say good bye? I have my story planned out in my mind. hehe. Oh, and there will not be a sequel. Sorry!! Or at least not, not immediately. I'm going to post a new story soon, after I finish this one! Later!!
Thanks to all who reviewed, and please review again!!
Oh, LP Draconis: UPDATE YOUR STORY!!!!! PLEASE!!! Thanks!