Title: Remember When It Rained
Author: Kathea
Pairing: Draco/Hermione
Rating: Somewhere between PG-13 and R.
Summary: A new and completely different take on how Hermione and Draco could get together.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Harry Potter world and it wouldn't be a good idea to sue me because I just bought a house and therefore have no money.
AN: So basically the whole reason for this story is that I was tired of reading stories where Draco and Hermione fell in love in about a week. It's just not feasible. I'll explain why in the story. I'll probably switch from 1st to 2nd person every now and then because I like change. This will probably be a multichaptered fic so bear with me on the posting.
To my reviewers: Where are you? I'm getting a wee bit lonesome.
Chapter 6: The Moon and the Star
Two Hours Prior to the Yule Ball
Hermione grumbled as she stumbled around the Head bathroom with her dress halfway down her body and her arms stuck inside. She was going to hex Ginny the very second she saw her for convincing her to buy this dress. It had looked pretty enough in the store but no one had explained how to put the damnable thing on by yourself. Not wanting to mess up her hair and makeup which with the aid of a little magic had turned out quite well. She expelled a monstrous sigh and kicked the door with her foot.
"Draco!" Hermione shouted hoping to tear his attention away from whatever he was doing. "Draco, I need some help here." She tried to control her breathing as the dress was starting to constrict her chest. A polite knock sounded on the door and Draco's voice could be heard through the other side.
"What is it?" Draco asked concerned.
"I, um, need some help getting my dress on." Hermione finished lamely. "I swear if you even so much as think about laughing when you open this door I'll feed you to the Whomping Willow." When Draco's head peered around the edge of the door, Hermione watched as his face contorted trying not to laugh. She was sure she looked a sight. Her arms pinned down to her body and her dress stuck around her neck. Her bare feet were visible at the bottom. "I think you need to unlace the back."
"Hermione, I know how to get a girl out of a dress." Draco said with a smug grin.
"I'll just bet you do." Hermione said grumpily.
"Well turn round then." Draco instructed. Hermione obeyed and presented him with her back. She could just feel the brush of his fingers against the back of her neck as he pushed her hair aside to see the top of the dress. He ran his fingers down the wide lacing and found the bow that rested at the small of her back. He quickly untied the bow and started to loosen the lace. His fingers paused when his work revealed the top of a pair of black panties. He shook himself and was glad that Hermione couldn't see his face. He was sure he was blushing like a school girl. When he had loosened the dress enough that it was about to slip off Hermione's slim body he grabbed the top two edges. "Okay," he said in a gruff voice. "I'm going to lift this up over your head, when you can get your arms free stick them up in the air. I'll drop the dress down then." Draco started lifting the dress. When he could almost see the tops of her thighs Hermione's arms shot out the top and Draco breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly pulled the dress back down and Hermione caught the front before it could go too far.
"Thanks, could you lace me up?" Hermione asked sheepishly.
"Sure." And Draco began to pull the fabric through the holes, pulling the dress tightly together. Hermione could feel when Draco was almost finished as his hands were below her waist. Then he was touching her shoulders and turning them towards the large mirror on the wall. Her pale skin almost glowed against the dark blue fabric. Her hair, pulled away from her face was left to curl down her shoulder. She almost dropped her jaw when she saw how much cleavage the dress gave her. I'll wear this everyday, she thought. Only after a moment did she notice Draco standing beside her. The silver of his shirt was picked up in his eyes and the dark tuxedo jacket he wore over it stood out in contrast. "It seems," Draco said quietly, "That we both clean up quiet nicely." Hermione almost choked. Did Draco just compliment her? Nah, it couldn't be.
"Um, do you think we should get down to the Great Hall? You know to make sure everything is alright." Hermione turned quickly and walked out. Picking up her heels as she went, Hermione stumbled as she tried to walk and put on her shoes at the same time. Only Draco's arm around her waist kept her from taking a nasty tumble.
"Well, why don't we take our time, so you don't hurt yourself. I prefer to be elegantly late. It makes a statement."
"What that you can't get ready on time?" Hermione said mischievously.
"No, that I have better things to do."
"Oh yeah, what? Studying?" Hermione scoffed.
"Please. I don't need to study. I was thinking more like opening presents."
"Look we agreed that we would wait until Christmas morning to open gifts."
"I know but I want one now." Draco whined.
"I don't know why I put up with you." Hermione said and rolled her eyes upward.
"Because you love me." Draco said with a grin.
"Oh, yeah that must be it." Hermione quipped. "If you absolutely must open a present then so be it. You'd probably whine all night if you didn't and I actually want to have a good time tonight." Hermione walked over to the little tree they had decorated several weeks ago when the prefects noted that they had no decorations in their room. There were several presents stacked underneath. Hermione grumbled as she reached under and picked up a flat package for Draco. She couldn't suppress a laugh as she saw him bouncing on the couch in apprehension. "Here and I hope you like it. You are incredibly hard person to shop for. I think owning one of everything in the wizarding world has something to do with it." Draco ripped off the paper, scattering it about him. He stopped dead as he stared carefully at the gift in his hands. It was a simple wooden picture frame with only one picture in it. Colin had been taking pictures for the Hogwart's school paper and had come to get a shot of the two Head's working on Yule Ball preparation. Hermione and Draco were seated close together and Hermione was almost leaning in to Draco. They both had pleasant smiles on their faces and looked genuinely happy.
"I had forgotten that we took that picture." Draco said softly. "I really like it. Thank you."
"You are welcome."
"So now you get to open one." Draco said his excitement returning. "Here open this one." Draco reached under the tree and pulled a small slim box from the pile. He thrust it into her hands and looked on excitedly. In contrast to Draco, Hermione carefully undid the wrapping, lying neatly beside her. The box she held in her hands looked suspiciously like a jewelry box. Hermione flipped open the top of the box and gasp at the necklace inside. It had a silver chain and nestled on the soft white velvet was a moonstone. It wasn't large but the swirls of silver and black were captivating. Hermione looked up and Draco was kneeling before her. He lifted the necklace from the box and leaned forward to fasten it around her neck. Hermione shivered as his fingertips brushed her neck and then slid down to settle the charm against her skin. It hung close to her throat drawing all the attention up to her face.
"Thank you Draco. I love it." Hermione said very quietly not quiet sure how to understand all the feelings running madly about in her heart.
"I thought you might. I thought it would match your dress." Draco told her sincerely.
Draco stood up extended a hand to the seated Hermione and pulled her to her feet. "I think it's about time to go to that dance." Draco said gallantly. Hermione pulled on the mask of a half moon that covered the right side of her face and Draco masked the top half of his face with a star.
The Yule Ball was in full swing by the time the Head Boy and Girl arrived. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, even the teachers. Hermione and Draco swept into the room and onto the dance floor. The Whispering Spirits, a relatively unknown band, struck up the agreed upon song to get the dance officially started. In the spirit of the dance they had chosen an old waltz. Draco twirled Hermione about the room, the masked faces going by in a blur. The feel of Draco's arm pressed softly against her back and his warm hand holding hers helped to alleviate her nervousness. Merlin only knew what she was so worked up about. Harry and Ron knew about her deal with Draco, Ginny was convinced that they were having a romantic love affair, and as far as she knew the Headmaster thought everything was much better. Plus, it's not like everybody doesn't know our living arrangements and that we've been working together. I just need to take a deep breath and calm down. I've got no worries tonight, Hermione thought. Just then the song ended and as Draco bowed to her Hermione executed a curtsy. The band broke into a rowdy favorite of the students' and Hermione moved towards the side of the room where she saw Harry and Ron standing.
"Mione, you look beautiful." Harry and Ron said at the same time.
"Thanks boys. Having fun?" Hermione asked with a grin. For some unknown reason Parvati Patel had asked Ron to the dance and as every expected Harry had asked Ginny. Both girls looked stunning and were trying their hardest to get their dates out on the dance floor.
"You've done a great job. Shouldn't you be with your date?" Ron asked.
"Ron, you should know better. Draco is not my date. We had to go together." Hermione said slightly exasperated. "Besides he's probably with Pansy." She finished with a grimace.
"Ay, look it's snowing." Ron said staring out through the window.
"Really?" Hermione asked excitedly. "Let's go have a look." The Golden Trio left the hall and went out the main doors of the school into the softly falling snow.
The last thing Hermione saw before the blackness overcame her was the sight of Draco being struck in the chest by a green beam from his father's wand. Then pain from the crucio curse overcame her and the silence of unconsciousness took her away from Draco and the softly falling snow.
AN: Head's up folks, plot twist. Also about Hermione's dress. I am modeling it off of my wedding dress. If you go to and look for the Julie dress, imagine it in dark blue and silver and you've got Hermione's dress. My wedding dress is white with blue beading and I'm rambling enough about it. Also fifty house points to the first reviewer who can tell me what state flag has a blue background and a half moon on it.