Chapter 22
"It gives me great pleasure today to announce this year's Halloween court," Professor McGonnagall stood in front of the entire school, gathered in the Great Hall for dinner, two weeks later. The hall fell silent as everyone's eyes were focused on Professor McGonnagall. "From Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Ernie MacMillan," she paused to let the cheering die down. "From Ravenclaw, Cho Chang, Padma Patil, Terry Boot, and Jeffrey Hindley."
Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table wondering who would be chosen from her house. Most likely it would be Lavendar and Parvati for the girls, and Seamus for the boys, but Hermione couldn't be sure who the other boy would be. She eyed the boys at her table warily.
"From Gryffindor," McGonnagall paused for emphasis. "Harry Potter, Seamus Finnegan, Lave-" the professor had to pause until the cheering died down. When she had called Harry's name, the entire table had jumped up in surprise. They were all congratulating him. Hermione leaned across the table to hug her friend as things quieted down. Harry picked for Halloween Court. What a surprise. Hermione wondered how she could have missed that. It made sense when she thought about it. "Lavender Brown, and Hermione Granger," Professor McGonnagall finished. At first, Hermione barely heard McGonnagall. It wasn't until everyone around her was hugging her that she registered what had just happened.
"And finally, from Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson, Breena Turston, Terence Higgs, and Draco Malfoy. Let's have another round of applause for this year's Halloween Court," McGonnagall finished. The entire Great Hall erupted into cheers. Hermione was still stunned with shock. From across the hall, Pansy and Breena ran to hug Hermione. The three girls talked excitedly about what outfits they would buy in London the next weekend as they left the Great Hall.
* * *
Sunday night Draco sat in the Slytherin Common Room, dreading the rest of the night. That night was the going away party for Breena and Sorcha and all weekend Pansy had been driving him crazy with the plans. He just wanted to show up and enjoy the party, he didn't want to go over the details again and again. Finally eight o'clock rolled around and Draco decided to head down to the Great Hall. The party was going full swing. As far as Draco could tell, everything had turned out according to the plans that Hermione and Pansy had been discussing. Everyone was dressed in muggle outfits, which made the atmosphere very casual.
The long tables had been replaced with small square tables and one long buffet full of desserts. An extra wall had been bewitched across the hall to make the space more personal. Little fairy lights decorated the walls.
As soon as Pansy noticed Draco had arrived, she was at his side.
"So, Draco, who are you taking to the Halloween Ball?" she cooed. Draco shrugged.
"I haven't asked anyone yet," he replied. Pansy raised her eyebrows in shock.
"Oh really? You're not taking Hermione?" she asked. Draco shook his head.
"I haven't asked anyone yet," he repeated more firmly. "So don't go spreading any rumours or anything."
"Oh Draco, don't be ridiculous," Breena said, joining the conversation. "Pansy and I were just talking about how it would make Slytherin look really good if the court members went together. Nothing more."
"I'll think about it," Draco said flatly. Breena and Sorcha exchanged glances.
"You do that," Breena replied. "Are you going on the trip to London next weekend?"
"I haven't decided," said Draco, desperately searching for a way to get out of the conversation.
"Hermione's going," Pansy offered. Draco rolled his eyes.
"I know that," he said, looking around the room. For a room that was full of people there certainly didn't seem to be anyone worthwhile there. By worthwhile, of course, he meant Hermione. At any rate, she was nowhere to be found.
Pansy and Breena were still talking to each other, carrying on and on about something or another. They barely seemed to take notice of Draco anymore, so he slipped away. He had to admit, the twins were pretty popular. It seemed like the entire school had shown up, which of course made it more difficult to find anyone in particular. Draco decided rather than hang out by the punch bowl with Neville, he'd rather just head back to his dorm.
* * *
Draco stood in the middle of a crowded London street. He sighed and kicked at the road. Somehow he was as much at a loss for the perfect gift for Hermione here in London as he was back in Hogsmeade. He'd scoured every jewelry shop he'd come across and come up empty handed. Ready to give up, he headed back towards the Leaky Cauldron.
Inside he met up with Professor Snape who was having a drink near Hagrid. Near Hagrid, but not near enough to be considered having a drink with him. When he saw Draco, Snape gestured for him to come join him.
"How's the shopping?" Snape asked. Draco shrugged and ordered a butter beer. "Did you find a Halloween costume?"
"My mother sent me one last week," Draco said. "Honestly, sir, I was looking for someone else."
"Hermione is hard to please?" Snape mused. Draco shook his head.
"Not really, I just want to find the right thing," Draco confessed. Severus looked at him sharply. The boy's feelings were becoming incredibly evident, something that Severus recognized in the Malfoy family. Lucius had met Narcissa at a young age and had been unable to disguise his feelings for her. To see a similar occurrence in Draco was not shocking. Much to Draco's surprise, Severus broke into laughter.
"Well, best of luck, my boy, best of luck," Snape replied. He finished his drink and headed for Diagon Alley. After consulting his watch, Draco decided to try a few more shops.
As he was leaving the Leaky Cauldron, he ran into Hermione, Pansy, and Breena. Hermione was dressed in a knee-length tan skirt with a black shirt. The edges of the shirt were trimmed in the same tan as the skirt. Draco had a feeling that wasn't an accident. Around Hermione's neck was a silver necklace Draco hadn't seen before, but which he had a feeling had been a gift. The girls waved and smiled as they passed him, but didn't stop to chat. Draco watched them leave and then resumed his quest for the perfect gift.
* * *
Hermione sat in Florean Fortesque's with Pansy and Breena eating a chocolate strawberry twist and contemplating her purchases. The girls had slipped robes on over their muggle clothes while they were in Diagon Alley. After hitting most of the London boutiques, the girls had managed to pull together Halloween costumes. They were now taking a break to make sure they had everything they needed while they were in town.
"Draco looked nice today," Breena commented. Pansy nodded enthusiastically. Draco had been wearing nothing special - dark jeans and a black sweater with his thin dark-rimmed glasses.
"Sometimes I wish we didn't have uniforms," Pansy mused. She took another bite of her vanilla ice cream. "Maybe we should dye your hair black and red, Hermione."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"To go with your costume," Breena reminded her. "It would look good," she agreed.
"I'll think about it," Hermione sighed. She didn't think it was such a great idea. But Breena and Pansy usually knew what they were talking about when it came to hair and makeup. Hermione just followed their advice.
"We could use a spell," Pansy offered. "Then it would be gone in the morning."
"That would be fine," Hermione conceded. She finished her ice cream and threw away the container.
"So, Hermione, who are you going to the Halloween Ball with?" Breena asked after a long silence.
"I haven't been asked by anyone yet," Hermione admitted. Breena and Pansy exchanged glances.
"You're not going with Harry or Seamus?" Pansy asked. Hermione shook her head.
"Seamus is going with Parvati and Harry is taking Ginny," Hermione informed them. "Whom are you going with?" she asked them.
"Terence," Pansy replied. Breena got up to throw away her ice cream container. "Breena and I were hoping that the court members from Slytherin could stick together," Pansy added. Hermione smiled briefly, feeling her heart sink. She had hoped that Draco would ask her but he'd been somewhat distant lately. It had been a long time since he'd last met her in the library and torn her away from her books.
Breena rejoined the two girls and they all headed back out to Diagon Alley to finish their shopping.
* * *
Friday morning, Hermione awoke with butterflies in her stomach. It was the day of the Halloween Ball and she still didn't have a date. Somehow she knew it wasn't usually the case that someone who was capable of being elected to court was incapable of procuring a date. Fortunately, there was a gift on her nightstand to cheer her up. More jewelry with the same blood crystals, to match your costume he had written in the note.
"If only I had someone to wear them for," Hermione sighed, as she got out of bed. She got dressed in casual black lounge robes, since Dumbledore had declared uniforms optional today. When she descended to the Common Room, she noticed that it had been decorated for Halloween. The other students gathered making comments on the decorations.
"This is so exciting!" Ginny squealed, coming down behind Hermione. Sorcha was behind Ginny, and the girls headed for breakfast.
When they entered the Great Hall the decorations were incredible. The walls had been transformed into the facades of houses and, for some reason, the hall seemed much longer than usual. All the tables were gone. Everyone came in to the room and just stared.
Dumbledore stood at the opposite end of the Hall, a twinkle in his eye. He motioned for the students to come and stand around him. Once everyone had gathered, he explained what they were going to do.
"On Halloween, muggle children in the United States have a custom. They go around to the houses in their neighborhoods and knock on the doors. When the resident opens the doors, they give the children candy. It is called 'Trick-or-Treating,' and that is what you all will do this morning. Only it seems we have a few problems. They do this at nighttime, so it is far too bright in here," Dumbledore announced. He lifted his wand and brought it down slowly, which made the room dark and the stars come out, just like at night. "Also, none of you are wearing your Halloween costumes," he continued. He made a similar motion with his wand and the students found themselves dressed in costumes, holding pillow cases. "Now split up and don't all start at the same house!" Dumbledore instructed. The students scattered.
Hermione found herself in a crimson-colored old-fashioned gown. Her hair was swept up and accented with a flower. Pansy and Breena grabbed her arms and led her to a door. They were both dressed as fairies, Pansy in pink and Breena in blue. Breena reached up and knocked on the door tentatively. It opened to reveal a woman who looked somewhat like Madam Hooch, holding a bowl of candy.
"Trick-or-treat?" Pansy said, after a minute of uncomfortable silence. The woman smiled and gave each girl a generous handful of candy. The girls said thank you and moved on to the next house. Between houses the girls talked about the ball that night.
"You know, Hermione, my cousin lives near Hogsmeade, I could owl him for you," Breena offered. Hermione shook her head. She'd rather go alone than with someone she didn't know. After the girls had visited each of the houses, they congregated in the middle of the hall, which now resembled a grassy meadow.
"This is fun," Pansy commented. "I wish we did it every year." The other girls nodded in agreement.
* * *
Hermione sat in her room later that day wondering what she was going to do about the Ball that evening. She decided to take a bubble bath and think things over. Taking her bathrobe and a book she was reading, Hermione headed down to the prefect's bathroom.
Her mind was running over every possible situation. There were sure to be plenty of younger-year students who didn't have dates. Ginny might know someone who was going alone. But then she'd have to ask Ginny and admit that Draco hadn't asked her. As far as Ginny and Sorcha were concerned, Hermione had just allowed them to think she was going with Draco. They'd been teasing her about it all week.
The portrait swung open and Hermione went into the bathroom. The air was still heavy like someone had just taken a bath, and full of steam. Hermione hung her robe on a hook and headed to fill the bathtub. As she drew closer, she could faintly make out the outline of a body, leaning against the edge of the pool. She jumped, surprised to see someone there. Her eyes traveled across the figure - soft pale skin stretched smoothly over sumptuous muscles that shimmered as tiny rivulets of water crawled down them. A silvery-blond head rested on arms folded on the edge of the bathtub. The water was covered with a milky froth of soap and oils censoring his body from mid-chest down. Hermione felt her cheeks grow warm as her heart went out to the sleeping boy. He looked so serene and angelic lying there asleep. How could he possibly be the Dark Lord's Heir?
Watching him sleep there, Hermione's thoughts began to wander. What would it feel like to run her hands over those strong shoulders? Would his skin be soft where it rarely saw sunlight? With a sudden burst of courage, Hermione quickly undressed herself and slid into the water. The oils fell gently on her skin like a glove. She moved slowly across the tub not wanting to wake him too soon. Reaching her hands out, she slid them across his back and over his shoulders until she could rest her head between his shoulder blades. His skin was soft, like she'd hoped, and warm. Hermione breathed a sigh of contentment and closed her eyes.
* * *
"I hate these shoes," Pansy remarked, sliding her freshly manicured foot into her silver sandals. She pulled out her wand and adjusted them until she was content. "Better," she decided. A sigh drew her attention from her feet to Breena who was sitting in front of her dressing table staring blankly at her reflection. "You look fantastic."
"I look like a two-dollar whore," came Breena's reply. She stood up and began rummaging through one of her trunks until she found the sheer black overskirt she'd torn off the dress earlier that week. Unzipping the black leather minidress she stepped out of it and sat down on her bed to re- attach the skirt. Pansy shrugged and went back to preparing herself.
"What time is Draco picking you up?" Pansy asked. Breena stopped what she was doing and her eyes met with Pansy's. "Breena? Is Draco picking you up?"
"I don't know," Breena replied. Pansy rolled her eyes and sat down at her own dressing table. "If he wants to win, he will," Breena remarked. She slid the dress back on and stood up to admire her handiwork.
* * *
Draco opened his eyes and looked around. He vaguely remembered deciding to take a bath before getting dressed. The clock on the wall reminded him that it was five o'clock, and that the feast was scheduled to begin at six. Heaving a sigh Draco remembered he still hadn't decided if he was going to the ball with Breena or not. Chances were that Hermione already had a date, and in order to avoid going dateless Breena was his best option. She was, after all, very attractive and he would win the respect of most of his male classmates. What worried Draco was seeing that hurt look in Hermione's eyes. He'd seen it before, too many times, and he resented it.
Taking another breath, Draco realized he was not alone in the bathtub. He could feel someone leaning against his back. Definitely a female someone, as he could feel her soft breasts pressed firmly into him. Grabbing the arms draped around his neck, Draco lifted the girl into his lap so he could see who it was. Expecting Breena or Pansy, he almost dropped her in shock when he saw that it was Hermione.
He cradled her body in his arms, not wanting to wake her because he knew as soon as she awoke she would be embarrassed and want to leave. With the tip of his finger, Draco swept a few strands of stray hair out of her eyes. Her eyes opened and her cheeks flushed, almost simultaneously, but instead of pulling away from him as Draco had predicted, she cuddled closer to him. Draco smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Hermione, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is five o'clock, and-" He was interrupted by Hermione sitting up to look at the clock. She went slightly pale.
"Pansy and Breena must be looking for me," Hermione said, finding her voice. Draco rolled his eyes.
"So I guess you have to be going," He said softly. Hermione nodded. "Well, have fun with, whomever you're going with."
"Thank you, um and you have fun with Breena," Hermione replied, uneasily. Draco scowled.
"Did she tell you I was going with her?" He snapped.
"She said Slytherin was sticking together," Hermione clarified. Draco's eyes flashed.
"Who are you going with, Hermione? Is it Potter?" He asked.
"No, actually, I was going to go alone," Hermione told him quietly. She looked down at her hands, then realized the precariousness of their situation. If someone were to walk into the bathroom, they would both be expelled. "I have to go," she added, slipping off his lap. Draco stood up as she crossed the pool.
"I'm not going with Breena, Hermione," He said to her retreating backside. Hermione wrapped herself in her bathrobe and turned to face him. "And I would be honored if you would allow me the privilege of escorting you to the Halloween Ball."
* * *
Hermione's heart beat faster than she'd ever imagined possible. Her hair and makeup was done. Her nails were done. All that was left was for her to get dressed. She picked out some jewelry from her growing collection and carefully slipped into her dress. It was mostly black, tight to her hips, and then flared at the bottom. The bottom of the dress was made of delicate chiffon and was therefore not only very elegant but also just the slightest bit of see-through. There were red sections scattered across the gown, like it had accidentally fallen in red dye. The high neckline was accentuated with the tiniest diamond chips. Her mask was black satin with three red rhinestones on the left side.
She knew she looked amazing, and she knew Draco didn't really care. What bothered her was the thought of upsetting her classmates by going with Draco. Even though she knew it wasn't a big deal, she was also nervous about whether she would win Halloween Queen or not. Hermione tried to put the thought out of her mind, she wouldn't win if she were the last person on earth. That was a fact she would just have to face; Hermione Granger was not meant to be royalty of any kind.
I beg to differ He intoned. Hermione rolled her eyes. You look ravishing. Draco won't know what to do with himself
"Thank you," Hermione replied. "I just wish I felt as confident as I look."
"Hermione?" Sorcha poked her head into the room. "Who are you talking to?"
"Just myself," Hermione replied quickly. She grabbed her mask and headed for the Common Room with Sorcha.
* * *
The Great Hall looked phenomenal, as usual. Hermione smiled looking at the decorations. Silver Jack-o'lanterns were the centerpieces for the round tables which were draped in black tablecloths. The stars hung low in the sky as usual, and the usual candles hovered above each table. She took her seat next to Draco and tried not to feel as nervous. Her stomach was tied in knots.
Draco put his hand on top of Hermione's to steady her. She looked about as anxious as he felt, but managed a weak smile at him. He returned her smile and kissed her forehead. As he did, a tremor went through Hermione's body and she felt warm and tingly all of a sudden. Draco pulled away and frowned, acknowledging he'd felt the same thing. After a moment he shook it off.
"You look absolutely magnificent," he whispered to her. She smiled for real, unable to stop herself. The feast went smoothly. Soft music played in the background until everyone had finished eating. As the meal ended, a notecard and silver quill popped up on each plate. Hermione picked hers up to look over it. It was the voting ballot for Halloween King and Queen. Before she could even think about it, Hermione circled her own name, and Draco's name as well. The card and quill disappeared with a little pop when she was finished. Looking around the room she could see everyone else's doing the same.
"Will all members of this year's Halloween court please meet outside the Great Hall at this time?" Dumbledore asked, standing up. Hermione and Draco left the room to meet with the others. Draco kissed Hermione's cheek as he handed her off to Harry.
Harry took Hermione's arm, feeling for a second that he wished he'd asked her. She truly looked completely different from the Hermione Granger he'd known two years ago. His mind briefly flashed back to Potions class when he'd seen those pictures of her with Pansy in the hot-tub. He was kicking himself now, realizing that she could have been his.
The doors to the Hall opened, and as each couple entered, Professor Dumbledore announced their names. The tables had disappeared, making room for everyone to dance. As the other students filled in around the court members, Draco made his way back to Hermione. He took her arm and escorted her to an empty spot in the crowd so they could dance. Hermione barely even noticed the others around them.
The night wore on. Hermione danced with Ron, and Harry, and Seamus, and even Terence. She remembered seeing him at Draco's house that past summer and wondered if he remembered her. As the night passed, Hermione found herself calming down. There was really nothing to worry about anyway. The night was almost over and no one had seemed to look twice at her and Draco.
Professor Dumbledore stopped the music just then to announce the King and Queen. The court members made a small semi-circle in front of the rest of the students.
"It is my great honor this lovely evening to announce this year's Halloween King and Queen," Dumbledore announced. "This year's king, from Slytherin House, is Draco Malfoy!" The students erupted into cheers and applause. Draco kissed Hermione's cheek and headed to accept his crown. Hermione felt Pansy grasp her hand. As soon as everyone was quiet, Dumbledore went on. "And this year's Halloween Queen, from Gryffindor House, is Miss Hermione Granger!" Hermione felt faint all of a sudden. She wasn't supposed to win. Hermione Granger was the studious type, not the popular girl.
"Go on, Hermione!" Pansy gave her friend a little shove. Hermione stumbled forward to join Draco. Professor McGonnagall placed a silver tiara on her head and someone took their picture.
"Now, our King and Queen will have their dance," Dumbledore announced. Draco led Hermione out to the middle of the dance floor as the other students formed a ring around them. The music started again and Hermione put her head on Draco's shoulder. She faintly recognized the song from her trip to the United States - Heaven by DJ Sammi. Hermione sighed contentedly, feeling safe in Draco's arms. The song was reflective of her thoughts. She really was in heaven. As the song ended, she looked up at Draco as he looked down at her. When their eyes met, they watched each other's eyes fade to red. Before Hermione could register what she had seen, Draco's mouth had covered hers.
Breena and Pansy watched, turning almost green with envy as Draco kissed Hermione, right in the middle of the room, in front of the whole school.
"I can't watch this," Breena scoffed as the room broke into applause. She turned to leave, and just as she did, there was a flash of bright red light. As soon as their eyes recovered, there was a collective gasp from the teachers and the students. Hermione and Draco had vanished.
"It gives me great pleasure today to announce this year's Halloween court," Professor McGonnagall stood in front of the entire school, gathered in the Great Hall for dinner, two weeks later. The hall fell silent as everyone's eyes were focused on Professor McGonnagall. "From Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Ernie MacMillan," she paused to let the cheering die down. "From Ravenclaw, Cho Chang, Padma Patil, Terry Boot, and Jeffrey Hindley."
Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table wondering who would be chosen from her house. Most likely it would be Lavendar and Parvati for the girls, and Seamus for the boys, but Hermione couldn't be sure who the other boy would be. She eyed the boys at her table warily.
"From Gryffindor," McGonnagall paused for emphasis. "Harry Potter, Seamus Finnegan, Lave-" the professor had to pause until the cheering died down. When she had called Harry's name, the entire table had jumped up in surprise. They were all congratulating him. Hermione leaned across the table to hug her friend as things quieted down. Harry picked for Halloween Court. What a surprise. Hermione wondered how she could have missed that. It made sense when she thought about it. "Lavender Brown, and Hermione Granger," Professor McGonnagall finished. At first, Hermione barely heard McGonnagall. It wasn't until everyone around her was hugging her that she registered what had just happened.
"And finally, from Slytherin, Pansy Parkinson, Breena Turston, Terence Higgs, and Draco Malfoy. Let's have another round of applause for this year's Halloween Court," McGonnagall finished. The entire Great Hall erupted into cheers. Hermione was still stunned with shock. From across the hall, Pansy and Breena ran to hug Hermione. The three girls talked excitedly about what outfits they would buy in London the next weekend as they left the Great Hall.
* * *
Sunday night Draco sat in the Slytherin Common Room, dreading the rest of the night. That night was the going away party for Breena and Sorcha and all weekend Pansy had been driving him crazy with the plans. He just wanted to show up and enjoy the party, he didn't want to go over the details again and again. Finally eight o'clock rolled around and Draco decided to head down to the Great Hall. The party was going full swing. As far as Draco could tell, everything had turned out according to the plans that Hermione and Pansy had been discussing. Everyone was dressed in muggle outfits, which made the atmosphere very casual.
The long tables had been replaced with small square tables and one long buffet full of desserts. An extra wall had been bewitched across the hall to make the space more personal. Little fairy lights decorated the walls.
As soon as Pansy noticed Draco had arrived, she was at his side.
"So, Draco, who are you taking to the Halloween Ball?" she cooed. Draco shrugged.
"I haven't asked anyone yet," he replied. Pansy raised her eyebrows in shock.
"Oh really? You're not taking Hermione?" she asked. Draco shook his head.
"I haven't asked anyone yet," he repeated more firmly. "So don't go spreading any rumours or anything."
"Oh Draco, don't be ridiculous," Breena said, joining the conversation. "Pansy and I were just talking about how it would make Slytherin look really good if the court members went together. Nothing more."
"I'll think about it," Draco said flatly. Breena and Sorcha exchanged glances.
"You do that," Breena replied. "Are you going on the trip to London next weekend?"
"I haven't decided," said Draco, desperately searching for a way to get out of the conversation.
"Hermione's going," Pansy offered. Draco rolled his eyes.
"I know that," he said, looking around the room. For a room that was full of people there certainly didn't seem to be anyone worthwhile there. By worthwhile, of course, he meant Hermione. At any rate, she was nowhere to be found.
Pansy and Breena were still talking to each other, carrying on and on about something or another. They barely seemed to take notice of Draco anymore, so he slipped away. He had to admit, the twins were pretty popular. It seemed like the entire school had shown up, which of course made it more difficult to find anyone in particular. Draco decided rather than hang out by the punch bowl with Neville, he'd rather just head back to his dorm.
* * *
Draco stood in the middle of a crowded London street. He sighed and kicked at the road. Somehow he was as much at a loss for the perfect gift for Hermione here in London as he was back in Hogsmeade. He'd scoured every jewelry shop he'd come across and come up empty handed. Ready to give up, he headed back towards the Leaky Cauldron.
Inside he met up with Professor Snape who was having a drink near Hagrid. Near Hagrid, but not near enough to be considered having a drink with him. When he saw Draco, Snape gestured for him to come join him.
"How's the shopping?" Snape asked. Draco shrugged and ordered a butter beer. "Did you find a Halloween costume?"
"My mother sent me one last week," Draco said. "Honestly, sir, I was looking for someone else."
"Hermione is hard to please?" Snape mused. Draco shook his head.
"Not really, I just want to find the right thing," Draco confessed. Severus looked at him sharply. The boy's feelings were becoming incredibly evident, something that Severus recognized in the Malfoy family. Lucius had met Narcissa at a young age and had been unable to disguise his feelings for her. To see a similar occurrence in Draco was not shocking. Much to Draco's surprise, Severus broke into laughter.
"Well, best of luck, my boy, best of luck," Snape replied. He finished his drink and headed for Diagon Alley. After consulting his watch, Draco decided to try a few more shops.
As he was leaving the Leaky Cauldron, he ran into Hermione, Pansy, and Breena. Hermione was dressed in a knee-length tan skirt with a black shirt. The edges of the shirt were trimmed in the same tan as the skirt. Draco had a feeling that wasn't an accident. Around Hermione's neck was a silver necklace Draco hadn't seen before, but which he had a feeling had been a gift. The girls waved and smiled as they passed him, but didn't stop to chat. Draco watched them leave and then resumed his quest for the perfect gift.
* * *
Hermione sat in Florean Fortesque's with Pansy and Breena eating a chocolate strawberry twist and contemplating her purchases. The girls had slipped robes on over their muggle clothes while they were in Diagon Alley. After hitting most of the London boutiques, the girls had managed to pull together Halloween costumes. They were now taking a break to make sure they had everything they needed while they were in town.
"Draco looked nice today," Breena commented. Pansy nodded enthusiastically. Draco had been wearing nothing special - dark jeans and a black sweater with his thin dark-rimmed glasses.
"Sometimes I wish we didn't have uniforms," Pansy mused. She took another bite of her vanilla ice cream. "Maybe we should dye your hair black and red, Hermione."
"Why?" Hermione asked.
"To go with your costume," Breena reminded her. "It would look good," she agreed.
"I'll think about it," Hermione sighed. She didn't think it was such a great idea. But Breena and Pansy usually knew what they were talking about when it came to hair and makeup. Hermione just followed their advice.
"We could use a spell," Pansy offered. "Then it would be gone in the morning."
"That would be fine," Hermione conceded. She finished her ice cream and threw away the container.
"So, Hermione, who are you going to the Halloween Ball with?" Breena asked after a long silence.
"I haven't been asked by anyone yet," Hermione admitted. Breena and Pansy exchanged glances.
"You're not going with Harry or Seamus?" Pansy asked. Hermione shook her head.
"Seamus is going with Parvati and Harry is taking Ginny," Hermione informed them. "Whom are you going with?" she asked them.
"Terence," Pansy replied. Breena got up to throw away her ice cream container. "Breena and I were hoping that the court members from Slytherin could stick together," Pansy added. Hermione smiled briefly, feeling her heart sink. She had hoped that Draco would ask her but he'd been somewhat distant lately. It had been a long time since he'd last met her in the library and torn her away from her books.
Breena rejoined the two girls and they all headed back out to Diagon Alley to finish their shopping.
* * *
Friday morning, Hermione awoke with butterflies in her stomach. It was the day of the Halloween Ball and she still didn't have a date. Somehow she knew it wasn't usually the case that someone who was capable of being elected to court was incapable of procuring a date. Fortunately, there was a gift on her nightstand to cheer her up. More jewelry with the same blood crystals, to match your costume he had written in the note.
"If only I had someone to wear them for," Hermione sighed, as she got out of bed. She got dressed in casual black lounge robes, since Dumbledore had declared uniforms optional today. When she descended to the Common Room, she noticed that it had been decorated for Halloween. The other students gathered making comments on the decorations.
"This is so exciting!" Ginny squealed, coming down behind Hermione. Sorcha was behind Ginny, and the girls headed for breakfast.
When they entered the Great Hall the decorations were incredible. The walls had been transformed into the facades of houses and, for some reason, the hall seemed much longer than usual. All the tables were gone. Everyone came in to the room and just stared.
Dumbledore stood at the opposite end of the Hall, a twinkle in his eye. He motioned for the students to come and stand around him. Once everyone had gathered, he explained what they were going to do.
"On Halloween, muggle children in the United States have a custom. They go around to the houses in their neighborhoods and knock on the doors. When the resident opens the doors, they give the children candy. It is called 'Trick-or-Treating,' and that is what you all will do this morning. Only it seems we have a few problems. They do this at nighttime, so it is far too bright in here," Dumbledore announced. He lifted his wand and brought it down slowly, which made the room dark and the stars come out, just like at night. "Also, none of you are wearing your Halloween costumes," he continued. He made a similar motion with his wand and the students found themselves dressed in costumes, holding pillow cases. "Now split up and don't all start at the same house!" Dumbledore instructed. The students scattered.
Hermione found herself in a crimson-colored old-fashioned gown. Her hair was swept up and accented with a flower. Pansy and Breena grabbed her arms and led her to a door. They were both dressed as fairies, Pansy in pink and Breena in blue. Breena reached up and knocked on the door tentatively. It opened to reveal a woman who looked somewhat like Madam Hooch, holding a bowl of candy.
"Trick-or-treat?" Pansy said, after a minute of uncomfortable silence. The woman smiled and gave each girl a generous handful of candy. The girls said thank you and moved on to the next house. Between houses the girls talked about the ball that night.
"You know, Hermione, my cousin lives near Hogsmeade, I could owl him for you," Breena offered. Hermione shook her head. She'd rather go alone than with someone she didn't know. After the girls had visited each of the houses, they congregated in the middle of the hall, which now resembled a grassy meadow.
"This is fun," Pansy commented. "I wish we did it every year." The other girls nodded in agreement.
* * *
Hermione sat in her room later that day wondering what she was going to do about the Ball that evening. She decided to take a bubble bath and think things over. Taking her bathrobe and a book she was reading, Hermione headed down to the prefect's bathroom.
Her mind was running over every possible situation. There were sure to be plenty of younger-year students who didn't have dates. Ginny might know someone who was going alone. But then she'd have to ask Ginny and admit that Draco hadn't asked her. As far as Ginny and Sorcha were concerned, Hermione had just allowed them to think she was going with Draco. They'd been teasing her about it all week.
The portrait swung open and Hermione went into the bathroom. The air was still heavy like someone had just taken a bath, and full of steam. Hermione hung her robe on a hook and headed to fill the bathtub. As she drew closer, she could faintly make out the outline of a body, leaning against the edge of the pool. She jumped, surprised to see someone there. Her eyes traveled across the figure - soft pale skin stretched smoothly over sumptuous muscles that shimmered as tiny rivulets of water crawled down them. A silvery-blond head rested on arms folded on the edge of the bathtub. The water was covered with a milky froth of soap and oils censoring his body from mid-chest down. Hermione felt her cheeks grow warm as her heart went out to the sleeping boy. He looked so serene and angelic lying there asleep. How could he possibly be the Dark Lord's Heir?
Watching him sleep there, Hermione's thoughts began to wander. What would it feel like to run her hands over those strong shoulders? Would his skin be soft where it rarely saw sunlight? With a sudden burst of courage, Hermione quickly undressed herself and slid into the water. The oils fell gently on her skin like a glove. She moved slowly across the tub not wanting to wake him too soon. Reaching her hands out, she slid them across his back and over his shoulders until she could rest her head between his shoulder blades. His skin was soft, like she'd hoped, and warm. Hermione breathed a sigh of contentment and closed her eyes.
* * *
"I hate these shoes," Pansy remarked, sliding her freshly manicured foot into her silver sandals. She pulled out her wand and adjusted them until she was content. "Better," she decided. A sigh drew her attention from her feet to Breena who was sitting in front of her dressing table staring blankly at her reflection. "You look fantastic."
"I look like a two-dollar whore," came Breena's reply. She stood up and began rummaging through one of her trunks until she found the sheer black overskirt she'd torn off the dress earlier that week. Unzipping the black leather minidress she stepped out of it and sat down on her bed to re- attach the skirt. Pansy shrugged and went back to preparing herself.
"What time is Draco picking you up?" Pansy asked. Breena stopped what she was doing and her eyes met with Pansy's. "Breena? Is Draco picking you up?"
"I don't know," Breena replied. Pansy rolled her eyes and sat down at her own dressing table. "If he wants to win, he will," Breena remarked. She slid the dress back on and stood up to admire her handiwork.
* * *
Draco opened his eyes and looked around. He vaguely remembered deciding to take a bath before getting dressed. The clock on the wall reminded him that it was five o'clock, and that the feast was scheduled to begin at six. Heaving a sigh Draco remembered he still hadn't decided if he was going to the ball with Breena or not. Chances were that Hermione already had a date, and in order to avoid going dateless Breena was his best option. She was, after all, very attractive and he would win the respect of most of his male classmates. What worried Draco was seeing that hurt look in Hermione's eyes. He'd seen it before, too many times, and he resented it.
Taking another breath, Draco realized he was not alone in the bathtub. He could feel someone leaning against his back. Definitely a female someone, as he could feel her soft breasts pressed firmly into him. Grabbing the arms draped around his neck, Draco lifted the girl into his lap so he could see who it was. Expecting Breena or Pansy, he almost dropped her in shock when he saw that it was Hermione.
He cradled her body in his arms, not wanting to wake her because he knew as soon as she awoke she would be embarrassed and want to leave. With the tip of his finger, Draco swept a few strands of stray hair out of her eyes. Her eyes opened and her cheeks flushed, almost simultaneously, but instead of pulling away from him as Draco had predicted, she cuddled closer to him. Draco smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Hermione, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is five o'clock, and-" He was interrupted by Hermione sitting up to look at the clock. She went slightly pale.
"Pansy and Breena must be looking for me," Hermione said, finding her voice. Draco rolled his eyes.
"So I guess you have to be going," He said softly. Hermione nodded. "Well, have fun with, whomever you're going with."
"Thank you, um and you have fun with Breena," Hermione replied, uneasily. Draco scowled.
"Did she tell you I was going with her?" He snapped.
"She said Slytherin was sticking together," Hermione clarified. Draco's eyes flashed.
"Who are you going with, Hermione? Is it Potter?" He asked.
"No, actually, I was going to go alone," Hermione told him quietly. She looked down at her hands, then realized the precariousness of their situation. If someone were to walk into the bathroom, they would both be expelled. "I have to go," she added, slipping off his lap. Draco stood up as she crossed the pool.
"I'm not going with Breena, Hermione," He said to her retreating backside. Hermione wrapped herself in her bathrobe and turned to face him. "And I would be honored if you would allow me the privilege of escorting you to the Halloween Ball."
* * *
Hermione's heart beat faster than she'd ever imagined possible. Her hair and makeup was done. Her nails were done. All that was left was for her to get dressed. She picked out some jewelry from her growing collection and carefully slipped into her dress. It was mostly black, tight to her hips, and then flared at the bottom. The bottom of the dress was made of delicate chiffon and was therefore not only very elegant but also just the slightest bit of see-through. There were red sections scattered across the gown, like it had accidentally fallen in red dye. The high neckline was accentuated with the tiniest diamond chips. Her mask was black satin with three red rhinestones on the left side.
She knew she looked amazing, and she knew Draco didn't really care. What bothered her was the thought of upsetting her classmates by going with Draco. Even though she knew it wasn't a big deal, she was also nervous about whether she would win Halloween Queen or not. Hermione tried to put the thought out of her mind, she wouldn't win if she were the last person on earth. That was a fact she would just have to face; Hermione Granger was not meant to be royalty of any kind.
I beg to differ He intoned. Hermione rolled her eyes. You look ravishing. Draco won't know what to do with himself
"Thank you," Hermione replied. "I just wish I felt as confident as I look."
"Hermione?" Sorcha poked her head into the room. "Who are you talking to?"
"Just myself," Hermione replied quickly. She grabbed her mask and headed for the Common Room with Sorcha.
* * *
The Great Hall looked phenomenal, as usual. Hermione smiled looking at the decorations. Silver Jack-o'lanterns were the centerpieces for the round tables which were draped in black tablecloths. The stars hung low in the sky as usual, and the usual candles hovered above each table. She took her seat next to Draco and tried not to feel as nervous. Her stomach was tied in knots.
Draco put his hand on top of Hermione's to steady her. She looked about as anxious as he felt, but managed a weak smile at him. He returned her smile and kissed her forehead. As he did, a tremor went through Hermione's body and she felt warm and tingly all of a sudden. Draco pulled away and frowned, acknowledging he'd felt the same thing. After a moment he shook it off.
"You look absolutely magnificent," he whispered to her. She smiled for real, unable to stop herself. The feast went smoothly. Soft music played in the background until everyone had finished eating. As the meal ended, a notecard and silver quill popped up on each plate. Hermione picked hers up to look over it. It was the voting ballot for Halloween King and Queen. Before she could even think about it, Hermione circled her own name, and Draco's name as well. The card and quill disappeared with a little pop when she was finished. Looking around the room she could see everyone else's doing the same.
"Will all members of this year's Halloween court please meet outside the Great Hall at this time?" Dumbledore asked, standing up. Hermione and Draco left the room to meet with the others. Draco kissed Hermione's cheek as he handed her off to Harry.
Harry took Hermione's arm, feeling for a second that he wished he'd asked her. She truly looked completely different from the Hermione Granger he'd known two years ago. His mind briefly flashed back to Potions class when he'd seen those pictures of her with Pansy in the hot-tub. He was kicking himself now, realizing that she could have been his.
The doors to the Hall opened, and as each couple entered, Professor Dumbledore announced their names. The tables had disappeared, making room for everyone to dance. As the other students filled in around the court members, Draco made his way back to Hermione. He took her arm and escorted her to an empty spot in the crowd so they could dance. Hermione barely even noticed the others around them.
The night wore on. Hermione danced with Ron, and Harry, and Seamus, and even Terence. She remembered seeing him at Draco's house that past summer and wondered if he remembered her. As the night passed, Hermione found herself calming down. There was really nothing to worry about anyway. The night was almost over and no one had seemed to look twice at her and Draco.
Professor Dumbledore stopped the music just then to announce the King and Queen. The court members made a small semi-circle in front of the rest of the students.
"It is my great honor this lovely evening to announce this year's Halloween King and Queen," Dumbledore announced. "This year's king, from Slytherin House, is Draco Malfoy!" The students erupted into cheers and applause. Draco kissed Hermione's cheek and headed to accept his crown. Hermione felt Pansy grasp her hand. As soon as everyone was quiet, Dumbledore went on. "And this year's Halloween Queen, from Gryffindor House, is Miss Hermione Granger!" Hermione felt faint all of a sudden. She wasn't supposed to win. Hermione Granger was the studious type, not the popular girl.
"Go on, Hermione!" Pansy gave her friend a little shove. Hermione stumbled forward to join Draco. Professor McGonnagall placed a silver tiara on her head and someone took their picture.
"Now, our King and Queen will have their dance," Dumbledore announced. Draco led Hermione out to the middle of the dance floor as the other students formed a ring around them. The music started again and Hermione put her head on Draco's shoulder. She faintly recognized the song from her trip to the United States - Heaven by DJ Sammi. Hermione sighed contentedly, feeling safe in Draco's arms. The song was reflective of her thoughts. She really was in heaven. As the song ended, she looked up at Draco as he looked down at her. When their eyes met, they watched each other's eyes fade to red. Before Hermione could register what she had seen, Draco's mouth had covered hers.
Breena and Pansy watched, turning almost green with envy as Draco kissed Hermione, right in the middle of the room, in front of the whole school.
"I can't watch this," Breena scoffed as the room broke into applause. She turned to leave, and just as she did, there was a flash of bright red light. As soon as their eyes recovered, there was a collective gasp from the teachers and the students. Hermione and Draco had vanished.