Disclaimer: I own nothing except my character and my plot. Really, I don't.
Yay! One more review...by the way, if anyone has any suggestions as to which characters to submit this story under, it would be greatly appreciated. I really don't think anyone frequently types in Draco/Sirius, as my story was the only one listed.
To drop-depp-gorgeous: Thanks for the positive review. Rest assured, Sirius will indeed come back, though it may not be for a prolonged period of time. (shakes head) The veil is a mystery to us all, my dear...haha...
Chapter Six
Brynn looked at the students as they skimmed through the magazines she had just passed out. It definitely seemed that the girls were far more excited than the boys: they were pointing to the long formal dresses and squealing with glee. The males, in contrast, had seen what tuxedos looked like, and, apparently knowing they would have to rent one, were conversing about whom to invite to the dance. These conversations were hushed and also almost as giggly as the girls'.
It had been quite a long time since Brynn had worn a Muggle formal dress. She had gone to her neighbor's high school prom formal when she had been in her sixth year at Hogwarts. The experience had been great, in her opinion, and she couldn't wait to play dress up again, but was reluctant to go without a date. Dumbledore and Snape had both given her offers, but she had politely declined, reasoning that perhaps she should just go alone.
As the bell rang, the students all filed out—except for Draco, who approached her desk for the first time in weeks. He had become distant and standoffish every time she spoke with him, so it surprised her greatly when he nodded and initiated conversation with her.
"Er, Professor Flatley," he said awkwardly, "I was just wondering...er...if you'd like to go to the dance with me on Valentine's Day..."
Brynn stared at his handsome face, amazed. "Well, um, Draco, I...oh my...um...well I hadn't really planned on taking a date."
"Oh."
His slowly registered this reality, and without a goodbye he exited the classroom. Brynn tried assuring herself she'd done the right thing—after all, she had already dated one student previously.
So why did she feel so disturbed?
A few nights later the entire Muggle Studies entourage walked to the edge of the Hogwarts grounds to where the Hogwarts Express usually brought them. Tonight, however, it was to take them to the train station in London, at which point they would all pile onto a large city bus. Brynn had told them through clenched teeth that if they made fools of her, she would have their heads. And they all seemed scared enough, so she felt somewhat safe.
They arrived at their destination: a small catering hall. The students couldn't believe their eyes: there were people smoothing tablecloths, filling water, helping set up the karaoke machine. The buffet tables held steaming chafers full of food.
"Wow," many of them intoned silently: they knew they weren't supposed to say things that might give away their oddness.
"Go ahead and take a seat," she told them, and she herself chose one by the karaoke stage. She was soon joined by Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley. Though the table was set for eight, no one else joined them except Neville, whom Brynn had greatly missed these last few months.
Soon the students were in line at the buffet, taking heaping plates food. Brynn had reminded them that this was in fact a buffet, so they could help themselves to seconds, but they all wanted to get to karaoke it seemed like.
The reception hall workers gave each student a sheet of paper and a regular ink pen. Brynn had planned to show a baby picture of each child with a number on the screen. The papers had numbers on them as well, and the students were to fill in the name of the student whose picture flashed across the screen.
"Draco Malfoy," Hermione hissed to Ginny and Neville, and they laughed. The picture had been of a small baby with white-blond hair, his face seemingly already in his former trademark smirk. Brynn had placed a freezing spell on the pictures so the Muggle workers at the reception would not become suspicious.
After tallying the votes, they found that Pansy Parkinson—of course, the biggest gossip in the classes—had won. Brynn watched in disgust as she leaned over and kissed Draco, who also looked disgusted and pushed her away. Brynn also looked on with further disgust as Pansy's hand reached under the table, and Draco once again pushed her away. Brynn looked away, revulsion overcoming her. What right did Pansy have?
What right do you have? she asked herself. Why do you care so much, Brynn? Why do you?
Mentally smacking herself, she watched as Pansy waddled her way up to the karaoke stage. Great, what song of love and devotion will she be singing to her daaaaaaaaarling Draco? Brynn wondered condescendingly.
Pansy called up one of her girlfriends to the stage, where they gave a screeching rendition of Cindi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" while doing lewd gestures. Hermione dramatically rolled her eyes and slouched back in her chair.
When Pansy and her friend sang "Some boys take a beautiful girl, and hide her away from the rest of the world. I wanna be the one to walk in the sun. Oh girls, they wanna have fun..." Hermione gave a loud snort of laughter, as did most other tables. Finally they finished. Brynn shivered as the strident sound rang in her ears.
Students poured up to the stage, singing everything from "Rainy Day Women" to "I Will Survive." They made interesting dedications to each other, and everyone watched as they humiliated or even complemented themselves.
Everyone watched as Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini grinded with each other to "Gonna Make You Sweat," while periodically grabbing the microphone and screaming "Everybody dance now!" loudly and off-key. Brynn moved around the room, talking to some students while sitting at their tables and avoiding the Slytherins by moving around quite a bit. As she sat chatting with Hannah Abbott and a Hufflepuff named Anna, she noticed silence and stared as Draco Malfoy sauntered up to the stage. A loud alternative song began blaring and Draco looked directly at her. How can he sing an alternative song to me? she wondered. But I just hope this isn't some hate song because I blew him off as my date for the dance.
"When I said
'I love you,'
You blew me off...
it turned me on.
You blew me off—it turned me on!
You blew me off, it turned me ooon!
All or nothing:
More or less.
You assault me ruthlessly:
Oh you're the best!!!
You blew me off...
You don't understand, you see.
You're not supposed to take on me..."
The whole time he sang, he stared straight at her. As the whole room cheered for Draco's lewd song, Brynn felt her cheeks flush. Although she'd considered telling Draco she'd changed her mind, it seemed fitting to play his little game tonight.
But what song to sing? she asked herself as Draco finished with a vehement "You don't understand!"
And just how has Draco seen Cruel Intentions before? she wondered.
As she was one of the few who hadn't sung yet, many people starting cheering for her to go up. She didn't want to play Draco's little Cruel Intentions game, so she chose a song of a different caliber.
"I can't sing, so no judging," she smiled as the music began playing. As she sang, students cat-called and cheered.
"What a wicked game you played to make me feel this way.
What a wicked thing to do to let me dream of you.
What a wicked thing to say you've never felt this way
What a wicked thing to do to make me dream of you..."
A very good connection indeed.