Family for the Dragon:
Chapter 13: Shopping!
♥ Madame Moony
Draco walked out of the castle and towards the lake. Slowly he thought about everything and anything that popped up in his mind. Climbing into one of the boats that were laying on the shore, he rowed out the little island. Unknown to him, Hermione ran after him and watched as he rowed to the island and sat down in the shade of its only tree becoming oblivious to the rest of the world. Jumping into the other boat, she quietly rowed to the island stopping just before she hit into it. Climbing down onto solid land, she sat down slightly behind Draco and just watched him for a minute. Lightly she tiptoed in front of him watching as he realized that she was there.
"Mione!" said Draco truly startled for he had definitely been roaming among the stars.
"Hey," said Hermione quietly and sat down next Draco.
"Um," started Draco uncertainly.
"Draco, I just wanted to tell you that I am here for you if you want to talk. This is somewhat weird isn't it? I should be yelling at you and cursing you while you should be calling me 'mudblood' and 'bitch'," whispered Hermione sadly.
"You know I never meant it?" whispered Draco turning away.
"You know what I think that I always knew in my heart that you never did really mean it. That's why when you were a baby, I loved taking care of you," replied Hermione softly.
"I always hated you three because you were so lucky to have each other, to have that happiness that seemed to roll off you," whispered Draco as if ashamed of being envious of happiness.
"Yeah, you may have seen the happiness, but lucky for you never saw the sadness. Did you know that Harry wakes up with nightmares of Voldemort almost every night and sometimes, his scar burns so much that he needs to be sedated? He never had a childhood, carrying the burden of being the savior of the magical world. Ron doesn't have it much better with his constant worry of his family. Wondering if they can get through the war unscathed? Ginny has nightmares every time just before school starts about the Chamber of Secrets. None of us have it easy, but we are lucky to just have each other," replied Hermione.
"Yes, but at least you have each other," said Draco standing up as if to leave. Hermione caught on lightly to his shirtsleeve and pleaded with him with her chocolate brown eyes to stay. Sighing he sat down looking out over the deep blue lake.
"You know that after this summer, you can always count on me or Severus even Remus and Uncle Albus. You do have us," replied Hermione.
"I gu-" started Draco before being cut off by Hermione who just pressed a finger over his mouth and hugged him. After a long hug, Hermione smiled her sweet loving smile and rowed off back to shore.
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Draco sat on the island musing over his actions and the events of the past few days. Realizing that he had been rude and completely hurtful to one of the only people who even cared about him, he decided to go and apologize to Severus. Searching the rooms and the potions classroom, Draco found Severus in his office.
Opening the door, Draco slipped into the room.
"Who is...?" said Severus sharply before realizing that it was Draco.
"I came here to apologize. I was wrong to say that to you," said Draco unsurely on how to apologize, this being one few time in which he had to give an apology to someone other then his mother or his father.
"I accept your apology," replied Severus surprised.
"Umm...umm," mumbled Draco not knowing what to say.
"What is it, boy?" snapped Severus after a minute of mumbling.
"Never mind," said Draco almost fleeing, but Severus got up and stopped him. Looking at Draco, he could tell that Draco was scared, frightened, and nervous.
"Have you eaten lunch yet?" asked Severus.
"No."
"Come, we can eat together."
"Umm, Severus?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for taking care of me when I was a baby."
"Are you going to take advanced potions this year?" asked Severus steering away from that topic.
The day soon passed and everyone fell into deep sleep.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" screamed Draco caught in the middle of a nightmare. Severus bolted up from his sleep and ran out of his room, wand out. Rushing into Draco's room, he lighted up the lamps. Sprinting over to Draco, Severus tried at first to figure out what was wrong. When Draco started thrashing about, he realized that Draco was caught in a nightmare! Grabbing Draco's shoulders, Severus shook the boy hard, but unfortunately, that didn't help. After trying everything from water to a slap, Severus helplessly stared at the boy. He felt his heart twinge, as he could do nothing. Pulling Draco into his lap, Severus tried whispering soothingly while rocking slightly back and forth. Almost as if it was magic (lol!!) Draco calmed down. An hour went by as Severus stroked Draco's hair and rocked him back and forth. As he was getting up, he heard a soft whisper. "Thank you for being here."
"I will always be here, always."
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"Hermione? Hermione?" called Katrina standing outside the portrait of Severus's rooms. Hermione walked out yawning.
"What's wrong Katrina?" asked Hermione.
"I just remembered that you might need to go shopping for a dress for the ball," asked Katrina smiling.
"Oh! Good point. Hmm...I guess I will just wear the dress that I wore to Yule Ball," said Hermione thoughtfully.
"Is it high class or should I say extremely elegant?" asked Katrina.
"No, kind of. But I don't have the money to buy another dress. I couldn't ask my parents, they would just fuss and what not about me going to a Ball," said Hermione.
"Oh don't worry about the money! It's on me, but now where to go?" said Katrina off-handily.
"But...they are so much mon-"
"Never mind that. I got it! We can go to Nordstrom Dresses for Witches and Muggles," cut in Katrina almost jumping up and down happily.
"Okay. I guess. When do you want to go?" asked Hermione smiling at the excitement of going shopping for once with a fellow girl.
"How about today? I don't have anything to do! Could you have someone take care of Draco today...oh wait he's not a baby anymore! Awesome! Do you have any lessons?" asked Katrina.
"No, we kind of put everything off really. When do you want to go? Right now?" asked Hermione.
"I was thinking if you could get ready, we could go right now! We could have a kind of girls' day out and get to now each other better! Plus I am sure you want some girl company stuck around Remus, Se-Professor Snape, and Draco."
"Okay! Let me tell them, and we can go!"
A half an hour later found them walking to Hogsmeade.
"So how are we going to get there?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Oh we are going to floo there since I don't want to risk tandem apparition. Not many can do it and do it well," said Katrina walking into Three Broomsticks. She pulled out a little pouch of floo powder and Hermione grabbed a handful. Katrina grabbed a handful too and put it away.
"Say "Nordstrom Dresses" really clearly and you will get there. Now you go first," said Katrina. Hermione threw the powder in the fire and stepped in yelling clearly her destination. After a whizzing and whirling ride, Hermione walked out into a huge store full of dresses of every kind. Katrina soon stepped out of the fire brushing soot off her clothes.
"Hello and welcome to Nordstrom Dresses." said a sales clerk stepping up.
"Hello, I would like a dress for this young lady and I will pick my dress, but I am sure that Hermione would like to use the Chooser," said Katrina.
"What's the Chooser?" asked Hermione curiously.
"You see the Chooser is a dress you put on that immediately forms into the dress that would be perfect for you on the occasion that which you are buying for. The Chooser doesn't always work on everyone, so those who it doesn't work on have to hand pick out their dresses. Ah here it is!" said Katrina holding out a gray dress to Hermione shooing her into a changing room. Hermione put on the dress, but weirdly it didn't change.
"Come out, Hermione!" called Katrina.
"Katrina, I don't think it works," said Hermione walking out.
"Oh, yes I see. You are like me and the Chooser refuses to choose for you. I guess that we will just have to do it ourselves. Go change back," said Katrina.
Hermione changed and walked out.
"Excuse me!" called Katrina motioning the sales clerk over.
"Did it not work? By the way, you may call me Eva," said the sales clerk.
"No, we will just have to do it the hard way. I think that green would be a good color for Hermione here. What do you think?" asked Katrina.
"Yes, yes. Green would make her look very elegant and sophisticated," said Eva looking Hermione over.
"Yes, I am thinking perhaps like a muggle new style prom dress?" thought aloud Katrina musing.
"Yes! Yes! That would be lovely. Perhaps a semi-deep neck, but no train I think. A train would be too old-style for her. What about this?" said Eva magically putting a dark Slytherin green dress on Hermione. The shoulders were puff and the neck was deep.
"Hmm...The color is good, but it needs some work," said Katrina.
"Yes, if you could change the neck so that it is higher," asked Hermione.
"I think like that would work," said Eva raising the neck so that it would be perfect to wear a necklace on.
"Get rid of the sleeves and make it a spaghetti strap, if Hermione doesn't mind?" asked Katrina turning to Hermione. She nodded her acceptance and the other witch waved her wand. The dress stayed dark green, the puffs disappeared, and spaghetti straps appeared. Hermione felt completely comfortable in it and she could tell that it was made magically so that nothing fell apart. The dress itself was made of silk felling wonderful against her skin. A long slip of the same color dark green silk appeared in her arms at the wave of a wand. Holding it comfortably, she looked at Katrina and Eva.
"Wow! You are a beauty, my dear girl. A beauty!" said Eva surprised.
"You look wonderful, you will stun everyone!" said Katrina. Hermione looked into a full-length mirror nearby. She gasped; she looked so sophisticated and elegant. She barely looked like herself!
"How much is this?" asked Hermione curiously.
"It is-"
"No, thank you. I will find out later, since I will pay for it! Now that we have your dress," said Katrina cutting off Eva.
"Yes, let me get your clothes," said Eva flicking her wand at Hermione and her clothes disappeared. A dress box appeared at her feet.
"Now what about your dress??" asked Hermione leading the conversation.
"Yes, now what color should I take?" asked Katrina.
Hermione looked at Katrina hard.
"What about red silk with something over it? It must be dark red," said Hermione. Eva waved her wand and Katrina's clothes changed to a red dress. It only went until her knees and was a tank top style.
"Make it longer, and higher neck," instructed Katrina.
The dress grew until it reached her feet and the neck changed from deep to medium. The dress was a deep dark red with a light see through cloth over the silk.
"That is perfect! You look so beautiful," said Hermione smiling.
"Yeah, I like it. Please pack this and get me the bill. You can ship it to Hogwarts in the care of Professor Katrina Louver," said Katrina. She waved her wand and signed the slip. Motioning to Hermione, she held out the bag of floo powder once more.
"Where would you like to go to eat? It is almost three!" said Katrina.
"Why don't we eat in Three Broomsticks?" asked Hermione.
"Yes that would be perfect! You go first!" said Katrina. Soon Hermione and Katrina were eating a nice meal of soup, sandwiches, and butterbeer at Three Broomsticks.
"I had lots of fun today, what about you?" asked Katrina smiling.
"Yes, I usually never go dress shopping! Especially with Ron and Harry, all they want to do is go to Zonkos! They won't even let me go to the bookstore," moaned Hermione.
"Do you want to go right now? I need to buy some books anyway," asked Katrina getting up from her seat.
"Of course! Let's go!" said Hermione and they walked off to Hogsmeade's dusty old bookstore. An half an hour later found Hermione browsing the Agatha Christie section and Katrina looking over some DADA books.
Katrina walked over to Hermione.
"You like Agatha Christie?" asked Katrina.
"Yes, she is wonderful even if she is muggle!" said Hermione smiling.
"Muggle? Agatha Christie is no more muggle then you or me! She is a witch!" said Katrina laughing at Hermione's shocked expression.
"Is she? But all her books don't talk about magic!" said Hermione.
"All her muggle books don't talk about magic, she has two sets of books out! One is muggle, the other is magic, but both are about Piriot and Ms. Marple. I actually like her muggle books better then her magic books!" said Katrina.
"Oh! Oh! Where are her magic books?" asked Hermione eagerly.
"Hmm...Right here" said Katrina looking over the books and pulling out random books.
"Wow! How much are these books any ways?" asked Hermione taking the books up to the counter. She found out they were a galleon. Sighing, she started putting them back, but Katrina stopped her.
"I will take those books and these," said Katrina handing the Agatha Christie books out of Hermione's hands and some other books.
"But Katrina-" started Hermione.
"Oh shush! I am always willing to help a fellow bookworm; anyways didn't I say that I would fund our outing! Come along, Hermione," said Katrina walking out into the sunny afternoon sun.
(A/n: If you haven't read any Agatha Christie mystery novels, go to the library and get them! They are one of the best books ever written!!! ^_^)
At five o'clock, Hermione and Katrina arrived back at Hogwarts. Meanwhile, Severus, Draco, Albus, and Remus were having an interesting day.
"Oh Remus! Remus? Ah, there you are. Good to see you, my boy, good to see you." said Albus walking into Remus' bright rooms.
"Hello, Albus! Did you need something?" asked Remus as he and Albus sat down comfortably in his living room.
"Not really. Now, Remus I thought it would be lovely if everyone at Hogwarts would go as couples. I have asked Minerva to accompany me, while Filius and Marthie have decided to go together. I thought it would be lovely if Draco would go with Hermione, and you see if you have a date then Severus…" started Albus his eyes twinkling happily.
"...can go with Katrina! This will be perfect! They will finally make up! But who to be my date?" wondered Remus.
"How about Miss Figg? If I remember correct, you and her where pretty good friends" said Albus.
"Yes, I could go call on Ara and ask her," replied Remus blushing.
"Good, good. Now to tell Severus and Draco," said Albus.
"You still haven't told either?" laughed Remus.
"No, will you come along? Severus will be less likely to kill both of us, it will take too much energy," said Albus smiling.
"Of course! I wouldn't miss this for the world!" chuckled Remus and so they walked off to Severus' rooms.
"Severus? Draco? Are you in?" called Remus and Albus after walking into Severus's rooms. Severus walked out of his room glaring evilly at Remus and Albus.
"What is it?" snapped the potions master. Albus smiled while Remus chuckled wickedly.
"Is Draco in?" asked Albus sweetly.
"Did somebody mention me?" asked Draco smirking slightly as he walked in and made himself comfortable.
"Good, now that we are all here. We can start explaining," said Albus gesturing at himself and Remus.
"Albus decided to mention to me that we were required to have an escort to the ball. Now I had already decided to invite Arabella Figg to come along with us so...." started Remus.
"...so I thought how nice it would be if the rest of us went together as couples from Hogwarts. I decided that it would be lovely and submitted our names in couples to our host and hostess. The couples are as following," continued Albus.
"Minerva and Albus of course."
"Yes, then I think it was Edward and Marthie."
"Yes, it was Edward and Marthie. They were delighted about it of course."
"Will you just get to your damn point!" roared the potions master getting angry at their side conversations.
"Of course, of course my boy." soothed Albus.
"I and Ara are the next couple."
"Draco, I thought it would be lovely if you took Hermione as your escort. It would show such unity of Hogwarts Student Body," said Albus smiling slightly.
"I am to take HERMIONE!" startled Draco.
"Now Draco, I know that you and she haven't been close until recently, but I think that it would quite enriching for you," replied Albus soothingly.
"Now isn't that the understatement of the year!" whispered Severus to Remus. Remus chuckled at that and at Severus's expression when he heard Albus' next sentence.
"Now, Severus my boy. I think it would be good for you to put your differences aside. I have submitted you and Katrina as the last couple," said Albus closely watching Severus's face. At first, surprise passed over his face, then sadness, only to be quickly replaced by anger.
"No! I refuse!" said Severus standing up only for Albus to stand up and plead with him.
"Please Severus; it isn't good for the faculty to be at ends with each other. It only furthers the students' anger. It has been so long Severus, when will you forgive and forget?" asked Albus softly his eyes pleading with Severus.
"No! I refus-" started Severus only to stop when he looked at Albus. Groaning, Severus sank down into putting his head into his hands.
"Thank you, Severus. I owe you one!" said Albus hugging Severus closely.
"Now, onto happier note, I was wondering if you thought about what we are expected to wear to this ball. Anything will do mostly, preferably formal black suits. Albus suggested a mixture of muggle and magic. Perhaps muggle white formal shirt and muggle pants with an open robe over them?" said Remus moving the conversation onwards. Draco just nodded his agreement, too shocked at the fact that he had to take Hermione to the Ball. Albus smiled and hugged Severus once more before rising and indicating that Remus to do the same.
"Now boys, I am sure you will be alright? By the way, don't forget it is customary that you give your escort a token of appreciation. Don't forget, you have only two days and a half!" said Albus as he walked out.
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"Hello Ladies," greeted Albus as Katrina and Hermione walked back into Hogwarts.
"Hello, Uncle Albus. Did something happen?" asked Hermione curiously.
"No, no. Just wanted to give you wonderful ladies some more details about the ball. Minerva would slaughter me if I forgot to tell you something. But this is not the place for our conversation, how about your rooms, Katrina or if that would be uncomfortable then my office?" asked Albus gently.
"No, it is okay with me," said Katrina and they walked to her rooms chatting amiably about their day out shopping.
"Aw, now that we are all comfortable. I have decided that it would be most lovely if those of us at Hogwarts went as couples. Of course, I asked my lovely lady, Minerva, while Edward asked Marthie. Remus decided to go with Arabella Figg. Now that left Hermione and Draco. Of course, I thought it would wonderfully delightful if Draco took Hermione. He agreed and asked me to ask you," smiled Albus at Hermione.
Hermione stood there shocked at the fact that she would be going to the Ball with of all people, DRACO MALFOY. Katrina smiled at Hermione's expression. She had heard lots about Draco before she came to Hogwarts about how he was a mini Lucius. When she came here, she had a brief summary by Albus on his situation. She knew that Hermione would be good to Draco, just as Draco would be good for Hermione.
"...Severus has agreed to go with you, Katrina," said Albus as she spaced back into the conversation.
"What?" said Katrina astonished.
"I said, my dear, that Severus would like me to ask you if you will accompany him to the Ball. Now, my dear, please do agree! It has come high time for you two to put your differences aside. It has been more then just a long time, my dear," said Albus his eyes dangerously twinkling.
"Oh Albus...if he has agreed then I too will agree to go with him, but what's the point Albus? He won't accept me!" said Katrina sadly.
"Now, now my dear. As long as you have a future, anything is possible. Now I beg my leave of you delightful ladies," said Albus walking out.
As he walked, he thought joyfully, "Now what a summer it has been. First with Draco coming and joining our little family. Severus has finally opened up to Remus and Hermione. Even Voldemort hasn't been very active this summer. With a little pushing, I am sure Katrina and Severus will make up. Draco and Hermione probably are still muddling through their feelings for each other, right now. Ah, those two have so much potential, a little nudge and push here and there and they will do great things. Even Remus seems to have an interest this summer with Arabella Figg. If I remember right, they weren't just friends at school. Ah, with matchmaking, Severus opening up, and this Council of six, this summer has definitely been interesting!"
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And that's it, folks! Wow! I wonder how many chapters it has been since I first mentioned a ball in my author's notes. Well, it is almost here, don't worry! This has definitely been one of my longer chapters! Yeah! After my short 10th, 11th, and 12th I thought you deserved a nice long chapter! So what do ya think? Don't forget, feed the authoress! (With reviews!)
~Madame Moony