Disclaimer: Yes, I own Draco Malfoy.....wait, I'm daydreaming again! Damn.
CHAPTER 7: Anoouncements Made
The first week of Draco bodyguarding the fiesty Gryffindor goody-goody, he had managed to be slapped four times in the face for insulting her, kicked in the shin once just for the hell of it, and bit once on his shoulder when he had refused to give her the notes from Potion's that she had missed. He had never expected to be dealing with a tiny girl whose bite was definately worse than her bark. The first coversation they managed without fighting was the decision that the next prefect meeting should be held within the week so that plans for October and Halloween could be made. Once the conversation was over, they had resumed to fight again. This time because Hermione had locked him out of the bathroom.
They held the meeting in an empty classroom next to the Hall, so that when they were done they could just leave for lunch. As soon as the last person arrived the day of the meeting, business came to order. Malfoy for the most part decided to man-handle the meeting since she had been absent from school life for three weeks. He gave out the new partolling schedules and had to calculate the house points that everyone had all taken or given so that it could be turned into the Headmaster. Once the subject of a ball for Halloween was brought up, outside the open door Draco saw his peanut butter cookie smelling Gryffindor sweetheart standing in the corridor talking to that old bat Grumbledore. From where she stood, he had a perfect view of her, so he unknowingly let Hermione do all the organizing and talk of decorating just so he could stare at the girl. Since she had some-what recently decided to join the ranks of the female species, she would have no problems. And most girls love to make everything pretty and plan parties. Once the meeting was over, Hermione started to leave without her ferret faced bodyguard when he broke his attention away from the beauty that had captivated him during a school meeting. He growled when he realized what his mudblood protectee was attempting with Dumbledore in the corridor.
As quick as he could he ran behind her. "Mudblood!" and smirked when she stopped in place.
At that moment Hermione smiled to herself, not even paying any attention to his comment about her bloodline. Then she turned to face him with an identical smirk on her face. The look in her eyes made Malfoy take a step back unconsciencely, her look was almost playful. Hermione leaned her head in just a bit and said with the tiniest bit of humor, "You know she doesn't take as much notice of you as you do of her. Poor ittle drakie doesn't even get a response out of her......ummmm......pity." she said innocently.
"You know you piece of filth, it doesn't surprise me that someone wants to knock you off!" he replied just as sweetly with a tilt of his head as they parted in the Great Hall to head to their respective house tables.
When Hermione reached her seat, Ginny was there. After the first day of last week Ginny asked so many questions that Hermione vanished again, only to reappear in the next room. From then on she had only asked afew questions. But that wasn't the only thing she had learned. Ginny took notice that Hermione often went into a trance only for a split second but she wasn't in 'Mione mode' either, then out of nowhere she would be in full swing again. But her physical appearance had changed, too. No matter how much the beautiful brunnette ate, she had lost some weight. Ginny then noticed while Hermione was digging through her bag exactly how tired the girl looked. Finding what she was looking for, she told Ginny that she'd be back in a second, then headed towards Malfoy and together they went to the staff table.
When she came back, Ron and Harry had joined the table. Before she could sit the Headmaster started talking.
"A moment please.....our student Heads and Prefects have made their decisions on our Halloween ball. It is to be a masquerade, that means I expect you all to have masks. All years will be allowed to come however there is a curfew for years three and under.And please, there is to be no dates.....this is a time for inter-house unity so by not knowing who anyone one is you may get to know some of your other peers better." at this Malfoy shot Granger a glare "With that being said speacial Hogmeades trips will be arranged for students to go pick costumes out. Your Head of House will inform you of who will go at certain times so that the masquerade will keep the element of surprise." and with a single clap of his hands food appeared at the tables.
The whole room instantly began to chatter and move about to make their plates. By the end of the feast, Malfoy along with his goones came to collect Hermione. As soon as they were safely inside their dorm Draco began to rant at Hermione about how she so cleverly took his absence of mind in the prefect meeting to her advantage.
"Listen here muddy, just cause you think that this is a riot of laughs doesn't mean you'll get away from me. But if you were normal, I don't see how you wouldn't want to spend time with me. You should feel proud that you get the pleasure of being around someone of pure blood. Many girls would die for your good fortune!" he smirked. "However, you're just nothing compared to me and with the riff-raff you surround yourself with you never will be. But don't worry, I'm sure that someone will take note of that tight little ass of yours and make you a good whore for themselv-" SMACK!
A second later there was a SLAM of a door and our own bad boy couldn't help but be proud of himself as he touched his stinging cheek. How he loved to get a good reaction out of her!
At dinner that night, Dumbledore made an announcement, "As I said earlier today, you will be having special trips to Hogsmeade to buy costumes for the Halloween ball. We have decided that every House will send one student from every year to go at a time. If a student from your year and House comes back early then the next student in line may go." he clapped his hands "Enjoy and good night!"
Ginny immediately turned to Hermione, who Harry and Ron were already questioning furiously about how the shopping decision was made. Ginny knowing that Hermione wasn't allowed out of sight cut off the boys. "Boys, please, Hermione will probably be escorted by a teacher. So quit already!"
Harry looked sheepishly at his girlfriend. Ron still looked concerned until Hermione told them that she would be making her costume. "I will be owling mum tomorrow so that she can send me the things I need. That way I don't have to leave the Castle. Does that make you feel better?"
Everyone around her nodded. "Ok, well I'm abit tired so I'll collect the ferret so that I can go to bed. See you in class tomorrow." she said as she left.
Malfoy noticed her getting ready to leave and got up. Once they were out of the Hall, he grabbed her arm, "Just what are you doing?You may never need to eat but some of us would like to!"
"Ferret, shut up! I'll take you to the Kitchens so that you can get something, then we can go to the Dorm. I have stuff to do." she said as she dragged him along with her.
That night Hermione worked endlessly on her costume with the materials she had brought with her. She had planned to make her own costume this year anyways but she hadn't planned on a masquerade. Thinking of the things that she would need, she made a list to owl her mother, hoping that her dad wasn't home when the owl arrived. After two hours of designing her outfit, she went to sleep.