AN: here's another chapter, we have two to go, i have already written them and i will post them soon. Thanks to all who reviewed :)
15.Pansy's party
At five minutes to seven, Hermione and Draco were ready to apparate at Parkinson Manor.
Hermione was wearing a lengthy dress and it was pure silk. Draco had chosen the colour which was grey with the belt and the sleeves of a dark green shade.
She had complained a bit for the use of Slytherin's colours but Draco had insisted that her dress had to match his robes and that if she wanted to survive the evening she should try to keep a low profile.
She had snorted, "I wouldn't be surprised if Pansy has organised the party after she met us."
Draco smirked, "Well, this is a possibility. She had never accepted the fact that I didn't want her. And now thinking of the 'most wanted' wizard with a muggle-born must have made her screaming in frustration."
They were almost apparating when Hermione stopped him. She blushed and said, "Draco if someone asks us well, if we …. If we slept together… what … what should I say?"
He frowned, "You should tell them that it's none of their business and don't worry I won't leave your side for any reason."
She felt reassured and put a hand on his arm. They closed their eyes and when they opened they were in front of the door of the Manor.
He took her hand and intertwined their fingers, then he whispered in her ears, "Don't worry Hermione, you look great and I'm here with you."
She beamed at his compliment and when the door opened they made their entry.
The house-elves took their cloaks and then they escorted them to the ballroom. At the entrance a severe-looking wizard shouted "Mister Draco Malfoy and Miss Hermione Granger."
Hermione started to get nervous, there was no chance to escape now and when the entered, everyone looked at them and an eerie silence greeted them.
Pansy with an awful pink dress, at least in both Hermione and Draco's opinions, walked their way and with a fake smile said, "Draco! You came, I'm so happy and you brought your girlfriend. Granger you look 'pretty' in Slytherin colours. Obviously they look a bit odd on you, being a Gryffindor …"
Someone sniggered. Yes they were already attacking her. Draco drawled, "I think Hermione is so beautiful that any colour would suit her. Unfortunately, that cannot be said for every witch."
Pansy's flushed face almost made Hermione laugh but she tried to remain serious for she didn't want anymore insults thrown her way.
Pansy angrily said, "Well I have to welcome others guests, why don't you go around and greet your 'friends' Draco?" and with that she left them there.
Draco turned to look at Hermione, "Shall we dance? I don't think I would like to talk or 'greet' anyone here."
Hermione nodded and they went near the band, Pansy had hired a fantastic jazz band which was very entertaining and the couple spent a long time dancing and chatting.
After a while a bit of commotion was heard and Draco turned his head enough to see Pansy coming their way with Narcissa at her side.
He paled considerably, he hadn't met his mother since the disastrous dinner with Hermione and he was scared of how she would treat her in front of the pureblood community.
Pansy's face said it all, she was just waiting for Hermione to be humiliated.
Draco turned his attention to Hermione and was surprised that she was smiling. He asked her, "Why are you so relaxed? My mother will have you for dinner tonight."
Hermione grinned at him, "I think that your mother will have Pansy for dinner." And then taking Draco's hand she went to meet Narcissa halfway in the ballroom.
When they finally met, the silence around was very obvious, nobody wanted to lose the scene.
Hermione smiled at Mrs Malfoy, "Hello Narcissa. How are you? How do you like Pansy's party?"
Narcissa smiled back, Draco was shocked as well as the majority of the purebloods there, because it seemed a real smile.
Narcissa kissed Hermione's cheeks and said, "Hello my dear daughter. I see you are having fun with Draco. The party is nice but I'm sure that tomorrow's one at my house will be even better. You are going to help me in the preparation, yes? I'm so happy that you will spend the weekend at our house."
Pansy and Draco were following the discussion and for different reasons were annoyed. Pansy had hoped that Narcissa would humiliate Hermione and instead they seemed to get along. Draco was wondering what was going on, maybe he wasn't the only one to have secrets.
Pansy stomped away and Draco was left with the two witches who were grinning at each other. He then whispered, "What's going on here?"
Narcissa replied, "Well Draco I have never liked Pansy Parkinson, so any reason to annoy her it's a pleasure. Beside if Hermione is going to be your wife it's better if any problem remains in the family."
Draco nodded and Hermione added, "Plus Narcissa was very smart. Now I have to accept the invitation at Malfoy Manor and I have to help her with the party. And she knows that I'm not fond of both the manor and the party."
Draco smirked, "You two don't fool me. I'm sure there's more than meet the eyes and I will be watching you."
They both laughed at his antics. And then, they proceed to go around the ballroom with Hermione between two Malfoys. She was introduced to all and by the end of the evening the most advanced pureblood wing was besotted with Hermione.
Draco was smiling smugly. The evening against all odd had been wonderful and Narcissa's approval of Hermione had been 'the cherry on the cake'.
Once they left the party, with a very annoyed and drunk Pansy behind. Hermione and Draco apparated in her flat.
They were sitting on the sofa with Draco's arm around her shoulder. They were discussing the events of the evening and then Draco's said, "So tomorrow and Sunday you will be our guest then."
She smiled, "Yes, and I will try to annoy your mother again. I will be even worse than when I met her on Wednesday."
Draco took her chin in his hand and got closer, "Hermione, you will not do such a thing. I want you to be nice with my mother." And before she could answer he kissed her.
She put her hands around his neck and started to caress his hair. He put his hands on her waist and moved her closer to him.
They kissed each other passionately for a long time, Draco was feeling light-headed and decided to stop the kisses before he could not restrain himself anymore and take the witch to her bed and make love to her.
Hermione opened her dazed eyes and saw Draco's eyes darkened by passion and desire. She blushed and got a bit scared, she had never seen anyone desiring her so much.
She stood up abruptly and took some distance from him. He passed his hand in his hair and said, "I guess I should go. Thank you for the nice evening, I see you tomorrow at the Manor."
Before she could reply, he was gone. Hermione started to worry that maybe he was thinking that she didn't want him. Maybe this was the only chance she would get to show him that she cared.
She sighed, she had wasted her chance and on Sunday he would get rid off her. She had sacrificed Ron and their friendship for Draco and now she had chickened out and wasted this opportunity.
She went to bed feeling quite miserable.
Draco was pacing his bedroom and could not rest, he had left abruptly and maybe she thought that he wanted just to sleep with her.
Well, he indeed wanted to sleep with her but there was much more than that. He liked her and he didn't want to spoil his chance to have a relationship for a moment of weakness.
He wanted first to declare his intention and then, if she liked him back he would do anything with her. But to 'shag' her tonight would have compromised his chances to be taken seriously when he proposed to her.
But maybe she had thought that he left because he was disappointed. He apparate in her flat again.
All the lights were off, he moved toward her bedroom and said, "Hermione are you awake?"
Hermione hearing him calling her, got out of bed and opened the door. He was still fully clothed and she was wearing a pyjama.
He smiled at her, she looked cute with a pj. Then he cleared his throat, "I would like to apologise for my behaviour. I'm sorry I left so abruptly it had nothing to do with our kissing. I guess … I wasn't prepared for that."
She smiled back, "I have to apologise too. It was an unexpected kiss but I didn't mind either." And then she blushed.
He smirked, "Then I wish you a very goodnight and may I have a goodbye kiss?"
She blushed more but nodded anyway. After the kiss they looked at each other and smiled shyly.
He apparated away again and she felt her heart warm. She would get Draco Malfoy this weekend.
Draco was grinning like a love-struck puppy and was thinking along Hermione's thoughts. This weekend he was going to get Hermione Granger.