Title: The Beginning of the End (16)
Author: Procella Nox noctis
Category: Mystery
Sub Category: Romance
Keywords: Hermione, Blaise, Greek Gods
Summary: Summer brake had been his favourite time of year. Until he had to spend it with Hermione Granger. And that was just the beginning of the story.
Sneak-peek: "Overheard Hannah telling Susan Bones how she had made an acquaintance with Theo on her vacations in Norway—Theo has a house there—and they had got to know each other better. I heard he calls her 'my Hufflepuff'."
"How romantic." Ginny sighed.
"How disgusting." Millicent chided.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and unfortunately never will. No money is being made out of this story, which is a pity, it's really good. Modesty isn't my forte.
A/N: Well, how are my dearest reviewers today? Good? Splendid. I was thinking about giving you another chapter. For all of you who expect the Death Eaters to kidnap Hermione in this chapter, ha! Too bad for you, isn't going to happen. Moving on, I'm beginning to have writer's block (gasp), and it's only curable with feedback. Mind you, I write nothing before; all chapters come to my mind at the moment. Cool, huh? Constructive criticism is considered double feedback, and a marital proposal will be made to those who comment on what they liked. Very IMPORTANT: from now on, one chapter will cover one month's time, okay? Jolly good then. On to the story, shall we?
Sixteen: Greece's Ball
September passed slowly by, and soon Hogwarts entered the tenth month. Students were looking forward for the Night of the Dead. Teachers were trying their best to make them concentrate on their studies.
Hermione was preaching on the importance of studying before hand for the upcoming N.E.W.T.s. Blaise tried his best to concentrate on his studying as well, but found out just how distractive a person could Hermione Granger be.
Ron and Pansy were seen in each other's company more often, thus leaving Harry alone. However, the Boy-Who-Lived didn't complain as much as it was expected of him. Millicent adventured in saying the reason behind that could very well be Luna Lovegood, seeing as the girl was often found keeping The-Boy-Who-Was-Lonely company.
Partially because they were Potion partners, and partially because, let's face it, opposites attract, Millicent and Neville spent more time with each other. Neville gave Millicent the security and peace she had never experienced, while the girl got Neville to open up to the world, and stop being so self-pitying.
As for the Candy-cane pair (Hermione had called them this because Ginny had red hair and Draco's was nearing silvery white) they still treated each other with sarcasm, and then snogged each other senseless, claiming they were very happy with that, thank you very much.
On the first week of October, the Prefects were all summoned to a meeting with Dumbledore. The Room of Requirement was the meeting room for that night. In the middle of the room a round table was placed, equipped with chairs, parchment and quills. Everyone settled down, Hermione secretly wondered if they were going to do king Arthur's oath of loyalty.
"I don't believe it's necessary to do that, Miss Granger." Dumbledore surprised her, by answering what she thought. The girl couldn't help but smile a little at the old man's knowledge.
"Why exactly are we here professor?" one student asked finally.
"We are here, Mr. McMillan, because I want to hold a ball."
"But that's ludicrous! Many have very important exams, they must study. After all, weren't the teachers complaining we do not study? How do you think a ball" the word was spitted out as if it were poison, "will help them take out their books?" Hermione completed her speech, while Millicent applauded.
"Aye me. And I who was as idiot to think we lost the study-obsessed Hermione, there she blows again." Ron sighed dramatically.
"You were right, Ron. You're an idiot." Hermione smiled, while the redhead threw a quill at her.
"Can you quiet down? Let's hear what the Headmaster has to say." Ginny scolded them impatiently.
"Sorry, mother." Ron, Hermione and Millicent all droned out bored. The youngest Weasley only glared.
Terry Boots was highly considering the option of killing himself with a candle-stick, while Lisa only smiled at her boyfriend's face of despair. Hannah and Ernie, in change, were regretting not having food there, it would have been a great Dinner-and-Show. Luna looked expectantly at Dumbledore, while the other Prefects were chatting with each other. The old Headmaster quieted down the room.
"I agree with Miss Granger. A ball will only postpone all the students study schedules. Which is why I decided to make this a special ball. The costumes must be made by the student himself, and for it he must use all the knowledge he has from: Potions, Charms, Trasfiguration, etcetera. For example, if they choose to go as an animal, they must choose from one of the creatures from COMC. If they wish to go as a famous wizard, they must look for history from HoM, accomplishments from DADA and Transfiguration, for the confection of the costume. Therefore, everybody will be obliged to study, perhaps more than they usually do, in order to have a perfect costume."
"But we need a theme, right? I mean, think about it, it would be disastrous to have Grindewald and a Merlin and next to them a Gryphon." Terry suggested, after a few moments of silence, in which everybody thought.
"Terry is right. And to make it even more fun, the student must act as the character they represent. Therefore, if you're a Cerberus, you must bark, while if you're Grindewald, you must threaten with death." Hermione added.
"But if we'll have someone doing Grindewald and someone going as Dumbledore, chaos will surely ensue. I propose we choose a theme. It's most needed." Blaise finished.
"How about the Middle-Era?" Hannah suggested.
"The wizards and creatures back then were far too dangerous, we'd be ensuing a battlefield, rather than a dance floor." Lisa answered.
"We could try doing the future." Said Ernie, tentatively.
"It's a good idea, but as Dumbledore said, we need information, as much as we can get, about the character we do." Answered Blaise.
"Goblin war?"
"Yes, Ron. And you can go as the goblin in the third line." Millicent answered sarcastically.
"This isn't working. Fifth years, suggest something!" Ginny said desperately.
They spent hour and a half thinking about a theme for the ball. Finally, Luna got out of her stupor.
"Grecian gods!" she said triumphantly. Everybody cheerfully agreed, and Dumbledore promised to give the news the next day. The Holloween Masked Ball: Ancient Greece.
The next week, every book about ancient Greece was gone from the Library. Study groups were formed, because of the restricted number of book. Thus, you could see a table where Slytherins studied with Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclwas helped younger years, of all houses. Dumbledore was really happy about this sudden union of houses, and hoped it could last longer.
The first Quidditch game came and went, Ravenclaw winning over Hufflepuff, thus winning a place in the finals. The next game would be Slytherin vs. Hufflepuff. The 24th of October Hermione, Ginny, Millicent and Pansy all shared a bench, and cheered for Slytherin house, earning a few glares from everybody (they were more than a bit loud).
"To bad Harry is sick, he would've loved seeing that dive." Hermione shouted over to Ginny, who agreed. Two days before, Harry had caught a cold. Madame Pomfrey said it would be gone before the ball, if he stayed in bed.
"He's probably happy, having Luna taking care of him." Millicent laughed.
"I bet a sickle, they're snogging right now. Would you look at that move? Go Zabini!" Pansy cheered as Blaise scored ten for Hufflepuff.
"They're winning Hufflepuff by 20 points. And I'm not sure; Harry is too busy sulking to be able to snog." Hermione added laughing as well.
"I hope Draco catches the darned Snitch soon, I'm going to die freezing in this rain." Ginny said, her teeth clattering.
"Damn, I wish Ron were here." Pansy said shivering.
"You'd be busier kissing him, then cheering for your team." Hermione laughed.
"He just had to get stuck in detention with Filch today." Ginny said smiling.
"It wasn't nice of him, blaming Neville as well." Millicent spat.
"Neville was guilty for that prank as well, Mills. Turning Professor Trelawney's hair green. Can't say the fraud didn't deserve it. Bet she didn't see that coming. Inner Eye, my arse!" Hermione laughed, shouting a "hurray" when Blaise scored another Quaffle Theo Nott had passed him.
"Missing your boyfriend already, Millie?" Pansy sneered.
"Nevile and I are not going out. We are but friends. So there!" she stuck her tongue out, and returned her gaze to the game, while the other girls snickered knowingly.
"Hey, guess what I've heard? Guess who's dating Hannah Abbot." Pansy squealed, taking her attention off the game for a little bit of gossip.
"Who?" Ginny joined her, while Millicent and Hermione rolled their eyes.
"Theo Nott! Can you believe it?"
"No! Really? Odd, I always had him figured out as gay, or so."
"Ginny! Theo isn't gay, he's a loner. I'll have you know he's a great kisser, but don't tell your brother. Anyway, I overheard—"
"Eavesdropped." Hermione corrected.
"Overheard Hannah telling Susan Bones how she had made an acquaintance with Theo on her vacations in Norway—Theo has a house there—and they had got to know each other better. I heard he calls her 'my Hufflepuff'."
"How romantic." Ginny sighed.
"How disgusting." Millicent chided.
"You're just jealous because Neville didn't ask you out to the ball yet." Hermione smirked.
"He didn't? But you look so good together. I even foresaw babies." Pansy joked.
"Oh yes, you could call them Nevicent and Milliville." Hermione started laughing while Millicent glared at her. Ginny couldn't stop a snicker or two.
A few minutes afterwards, Draco caught the Snitch, finally ending the game. That night a celebration was held in the dungeons, where the Slytherin and the Quidditch Player's girlfriends participated. Hermione enjoyed a quiet talk with Theo Nott before Blaise took her away. Later on, they retreated to the Prefect tower, where Luna was waiting with a cheerful expression on her face.
"He asked me out. We ended up snogging on his bed. I think I might have taken his cold, but I don't care really. I'm so happy." She said, her dreamy state gone, and then went to bed.
"You all owe me a sickle!" Pansy shouted, laughing.
Finally, seven days passed, the ball was at last there. No body revealed what they were going as. The day of the ball, decorations were put up, and costumes were made. The Terrific Ten, as the school now called them, had agreed to meet in front of the Prefect tower.
Harry arrived first, greeting his friends. He was going as Zeus, surprising a few who were present. Luna joined them, kissing Harry's cheek while he blushed furiously. The Ravenclaw was going as Europa, one of Zeus's lovers, and the mother of Hercules.
Pansy was Aphrodite, and Ron was Anchises, the mortal the goddess had been infatuated with, and the father of her son, Aeneas. She wore a silvery robe, tied with golden laces, while Ron sported a beige robe, very similar to hers.
Neville had finally asked Millicent to be his date. Neville went as Hephaestus, while Millicent was Pandora, the first female Hephaestus created. They were both dressed in green. Not to mention they looked happy.
Draco was Poseidon, while Ginny was his wife, the sea-nymph Amphitrite. Ginny had a robe made of silk, the flowed around her feet as if it were a mermaid's fin. Draco carried the spear of Poseidon, and a blue robe.
Blaise was dressed in black, he was going as Hades, the lord of the Underworld. Hermione in change had a metallic-blue coloured robe. She was Persephone, the goddess Hades had kidnapped and made his queen.
When they reached the Great Hall, each Pair of students were supposed to tell about the history of their own character, as a show-and-tell. Lavander, Padma and Parvati were going as The Three Graces: Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia. Hannah and Theo were going as Hades and Eris. Lisa and Terry were Psyche and Eros. There were two groups of Muses, three groups of Fates and seven groups of Erinyes. Almost every single boy went as Pan or Morpheus. Many single girls chose sea-nymphs or nymphs as a disguise. All in all, the ball was wonderful, just like something out of a fairy tale.
Draco and Harry were fighting each other, acting like Poseidon and Zeus, while Hannah put discord into their arguments, to the happiness of Theo, or Ares, the God of war. After everybody acted like the Greek Gods for a while, the finally stepped onto the dance floor, and danced for the remaining of the evening.
Hermione and Blaise never separated from each other, every time someone asked Hermione for a dance she refused, telling the one who asked: you wouldn't like Hades to haunt you for the remainder of the evening, now would you?
At the end of the evening the Professors announced that they would give marks for the costumes and the research, much to the charring of those who hadn't tried hard enough. Ron was for the first time happy he had studied more than his usual.
E/N: I really truly hope you've liked the ball and the costumes because mind you, I've done a lot of research for everybody. I began with the gods, and thought, hmmm, who does Hades 'look' like, and I said, Blaise, because death had crossed his way one too many times. And I did the same with every character.
Thank you to:
ShimmeringEvil (thanks for reviewing every single chapter I've written, I love your enthusiasm)
Silly Bandit (did you actually think I'd, I mean Voldemort would let him live after that failure? Course he's dead! Thanks.)
phoenixdreams (I shiver when I'm trying to write fluff. I cannot for the life of me write a good piece of fluff, I go crazy and add a bit of angst or humour or whatever. I never portrayed Blaise and Hermione as the smooch-kiss-love-sigh pair, more like kiss-now-and-shut-up. And just because you think my story is the best, there you have it!!!! Harry/Luna pairing. Luna was one of my favourite characters in OotP, second to Sirius, who JKR had to kill, but I brought him back, that I did!!!)
DragonofGoodFaith(nice pen name, if Draco Malfoy is Dragon of Ill Faith, you'd be Draco Bonfoy? LOL. Anyway, thank you. And here you had the other chapter.)
Sw33t Vi3t (I tend to get confusing, you have to really read between the lines, and very attentive. Hey, the heck, I'm like a JKR! Not really but...)
MissDramatic (I didn't realize this story was so long. 4 ½ hours? Man I'm cool. Like I said, modesty is not my forte! Thank you.)
Two important notices:
1.-Seeing as this story, as you often say, rocks! I believe expecting four reviews isn't bad, is it? So, you will get a chapter after I get five reviews. Promised! Does this make me cocky? I am Dracielle Malfoy, Ph3ar me! [smirks]
2.-If you want me to promote any of your fics, just say so in your review. If you like this fic, go read Shared Heaven by JeanB, and ask her for a happy ending sequel goddarnit!
Ah well, until the next one, my friends. I want opinions! Help this poor writer escape writer's block. And review! Thank you.