My Heart Belongs to You
Chapter 5
By Serene Riddle
A/N: Standard disclaimer applies.
The morning of the gathering, everyone was allowed to sleep in. The house elves knew what their jobs were, having done this every year. It was one of the biggest gatherings known in wizarding history, and one was considered lucky if they received an invitation.
Hermione woke at close to eleven, and freaked. Never had she slept so late before!
'Oh, wait, maybe the spell is still in slight effect.' She thought, considering it reasonable.
Sliding out of bed, she showered and dressed in a causal denim skirt and a short-sleeve black top. Walking through the hallways she had come to figure out, she slipped into the library. Scattered pictures of the Malfoy family were everywhere. Tears bubbled up in her eyes. Hermione sobbed. It wasn't right.
"Hermione? Why are you crying? What happened?" Nacrissa asked, coming out from a few shelves down, holding a book.
"Oh! Nacrissa, it's not fair and not right!"
Nacrissa ushered the girl to a chair. "Explain."
Hermione sat down obediently, and began to speak in a weak voice. "I'm…I'm a filthy mud blood! I can't love him! He'll never love me in return! It's not fair! I should go hang myself or something! How stupid was I?! No one would miss me!" Hermione exclaimed, getting up and walking over to the window, pacing.
Nacrissa almost shrieked, thinking the girl was going to jump. Running over, she grabbed Hermione and forced her to sit back down.
"Wake up, child! You're obviously in depression! By the gods, no one would miss you?! What about me? What about that Weasely girl? Or Lucius? Do you honestly think we'd just dismiss you as a lost case and go on that easily?"
Hermione sniffled and looked up at her.
"I love him…I really do, Nacrissa. It never really mattered to me what he called me…I wanted to be friends with him when I first met him. But he didn't associate with mud bloods. He was always around…teasing Harry and Ron….Oh….what would I tell them? Just go up to them and say, 'Oh, by the way, I fell in love with you rival'? He'll never love me, Nacrissa, and you know it. In his eyes, I'm still a filthy mud blood."
Draco walked past the library and peeked in when he heard someone talking. Looking in, he heard the last part of Hermione's speech. Furrowing his brow in confusion, he was about to go in and ask when his mother caught his eye. Her eyes narrowed a bit at him.
'Go find your father.' She mouthed, turning back to the crying Hermione. Draco didn't want to, but did as he was told. What was Hermione talking about? Who still tormented her? Who called her a mud blood? In who's eyes? All these thoughts ran through his head, one quicker then the next. He didn't make fun of her anymore…he had no reason to. She wasn't what he'd normally consider a mud blood. Hermione was….different.
Nacrissa and Lucius managed to get Hermione out of her depression after a bit of talking and set about to get her ready for the ball. Both women vanished into Hermione's room, as Lucius went to find his son.
"Draco."
The younger blonde turned to face his father, broom in hand. "Yes Father?"
"Tonight, you are to be Hermione's escort."
Draco gave the expression that he already knew that, but replied politely. "Yes father."
"Good. Now go get ready. We only have an hour."
"Yes father." Draco sighed. There goes his flying time.
The ballroom was filled with various witches and wizards, all awaiting their host and hostess. Most of them were death eaters, but a select few were neutral.
A house elf took it's place at the foot of the stairs, to announce each family member as they came down the stairs.
"Master Lucius and Lady Nacrissa."
The crowd clapped politely as Lucius and Nacrissa made their way down the stairs. Nacrissa had chosen a black velvet dress with silver flowers on the side. Lucius looked smart in his black suit and dress shoes.
"Master Draco."
Draco strolled down the stairs, looking like himself, only better, if that was possible. Wearing a semi-open white shirt and black tailored slacks, he looked like the devil himself. Dead sexy, that is. He noticed Goyle, Crabbe and Parkinson in the crowd and nodded to them, going to the side of the stairs to wait for Hermione.
"And special guest, Miss Hermione Granger."
A collective gasp was heard when Hermione emerged. Draco looked up when he heard the gasp, wondering what it was all about.
Hermione glided down the stairs holding herself like a princess, dressed in a thin strapped forest green dress. The dress squared at the neck, had an empire waist and then flowed like a river to her ankles, a bit longer in the back. Around her pale throat was a silver snake that he recognized as his mother's. Her hair was curled and framed her face. Coming to the bottom of the stairs, she smiled at him.
Draco, in shock, offered her his arm. Hermione stifled a giggle at his expression, and took his arm like a true lady, and walked with him to his parents. After all the introductions of the guests were completed, Pansy, Goyle and Crabbe bombarded them with questions. Or rather, Pansy did.
"What in the world is that mud blood doing here?! Have your parents lost their minds?!"
Draco smirked. Hermione was currently dancing with a gentlemen by the name of O'Neil, so she did not hear the comment. "I don't think Hermione would like to hear you calling her that. She's a death eater. One of the Dark Lord's most powerful."
Pansy's mouth dropped open in shock.
"Didn't your parents tell you? Or are they too ashamed that a muggle-born is more powerful then they are?" He continued.
Hermione smirked, coming alongside Pansy, having finished her dance. "It's not very attractive to go and collect flies, Parkinson."
Pansy shut her mouth and turned to glare at Hermione. "You bitch. Get away from my Draco."
Seeing as Draco was silently seething, Hermione raised an elegant eyebrow. "My dear, dear Parkinson. Draco isn't yours. Nor is he mine. He belongs to no one but himself. Also, if I see you bothering him one more time, whether it be here, or at school, I shall sincerely enjoy killing you." Her eyes narrowed to slits, watching the pug-faced girl.
Pansy gulped visibly and nodded. "Yes, Lady Granger." Even though she wouldn't admit it right out, she was afraid of Hermione. Sliding back into the crowd, she vanished. Crabbe and Goyle had long since gone to the buffet table to gorge themselves. Hermione sighed.
"How do you put up with her?"
"Me? Yelling and threats, but they don't seem to get through her thick skull." Draco commented, shrugging. Catching his mother's look, he turned to Hermione, hand out. "Would you care to dance?"
Hermione smiled and nodded. "I would like that."
He led her out onto the floor, placing on hand on her waist. Swaying to the slow beat, Hermione placed her head on his chest. Unconsciously, he held her closer.
'Mmm….she smells nice…like roses and jasmine…' He thought.
Hermione inhaled the scent she had grown to love- a light mint-like smell.
They danced the entire night together, almost never parting, Nacrissa noticed this and smiled.
"What is it?" Lucius questioned, quirking a brow.
"Oh, nothing really. Just thinking Hermione might get her wish."
Lucius looked over in the teen's direction and smiled. "That would be good for her. She is, indeed, a very powerful woman. But inside, she is very fragile, like glass."
Nacrissa nodded, agreeing with her husband. "I just hope she gets her wish. She's such a sweet girl."
It was almost dawn when the gathering ended. Hermione was swaying in exhaustion. She had eaten next to nothing the entire night and had used all her conserved energy to it's limit. Holding onto the balcony railing for support, Hermione attempted to stay standing. It felt like her legs would give out at any moment. Just as they did, someone scooped her up bridal-style.
"You should have gone upstairs earlier." Draco drawled lazily, holding her. Hermione simply smiled sleepily.
"But I didn't want to leave."- She almost said 'your arms', but refrained herself.
Draco shook his head and carried her up to her room. By the time they got there, Hermione was fast asleep, leaning against him. Draco felt his heartbeat quicken. What in the seven hells what wrong with him?
Carefully placing her on the bed and covering her up, he kissed her forehead.
"Night, Mione…."
With that, he vanished into his own room.
End of Chapter,. 5
