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books. If I use anything names that belong to anyone else, sorry I didn't know.
Ch. 9 Surprising suggestings
Hermione lead the prefects up to the Room of Requirment. She paced infront of where the door would appear, concentrating on every item that would be needed while she held the meeting. Her emotions were still alittle off-set at the treatment she recieved from Harry and Ron. She figured that she would get whatever it was out of them soon enough. What she needed for the time being was some sort of inteligent interaction. The door appeared, and everyone piled into where a huge conference table was centered in the room with quills, ink, and parchment. A small buffet table was placed along the wall. "Okay," Hermione started.
"Everyone grab some food, we're gonna be here for awhile planning this ball," Malfoy cut in. It was almost as if he knew what was running through her head. "Down to the very last detail. Now let's get to work!"
Once everyone had settled in and had plates in front of them, Hermione, looking forwards to making some production, decided to started talking again. "Okay, how about we try this. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, you are in charge of the food. You have until the week of the ball to deliver me a menu. We," she said motioning between her and Malfoy, "want you to talk to several students from each House so that there is a variety of food available. But we need to decide on weather we will have menus or several buffets. Which one do you all think will hit it off the best?"
The group all said at the same time, "Buffets!" which Draco made a note of. "Ok, that was easy. So Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, you know what you have to work with. Now, as for music, should we go with live bands or a DJ?" A full round of "Live Music!" was made very clear.
"Okay, now the question is muggle music or wizard music?" Hermione asked. The Ravenclaws both shot their hands in the air. "Yes?"
One at a time they spoke. "How about both?" one asked. The other concluded with, "Since we," he motioned between himself and the girl beside him "are of different backgrounds we could come up with a mixture of music."
Hermione looked at Malfoy, who nodded in agreement. "Bring me a list of both popular muggle and wizard music tomorrow and Malfoy and I will see if Dumbledore will let us all go out to some clubs to check out some of the live bands that do mostly covers."
Everyone cheered except for Draco. But he shot her a look that said 'I believe that you will be planning the rest of the balls for the rest of the year', before he went back to making more notes on his parchment, then got up.
"Slytherins prefects, I would like to hear your opinion on weather we should have a carnival outside on the grounds?" Hermione said trying to include them into the activities. She didn't trust any of the Slytherins, but to make the whole event go as a team effort, she tried her best to not exclude them.
The two looked at each other for a minute the the boy looked back at Hermione. "I think it would be good to have a carnival since there will be so many people who will be attending. That way not everyone will be in the same spot. We'll come up with some ideas by tomorrow and let you know."
"As for who does the decorations, we need to decide on a theme. Throw me some suggestions."
"Victorian Ball." Mandy shouted.
"Haunted House." Seamus shouted.
"A Hell Theme." Blaise said with a cocky confidence.
But the most unexpected response was "Nighttime Garden Masquerade?"
Everyone looked to where the voice came from. Standing at the buffet was Slytherin's own Draco Malfoy! "Since we have to wear masks, why not all costumes be allowed," he gave Blaise a look for the 'Hell Theme'. "But since this is mostly just to please you girls, why not make the Hall an outside night garden?"
"Perfect!" all the girls squealed in unison.
"Each set of prefect will take some time to help me decorate. We will be using this room to decorate and the day of the ball, it will magically be sent to the Hall." She looked at her watch, they had been stuffed in the same room for nearly three hours. "Okaytime to go. Don't forget your rounds. It's ten til ten, Ravenclaw, I believe its your turn tonight. See you all tomorrow!"
With that everyone went their own way. Hermione went straight to Dumbledore's office with her bodyguard at her side. Once the Gargoyle sprung aside, they made their way into the Headmasters office. After he conjured them some chairs and offered them both a lemon drop, he took the list of arrangements from Draco, looking them over. Dumbledore smiled as the parchment in his hands. He whipsered to himself which went unheard by Malfoy, who was busy staring at Fawkes and too quiet for Hermione to correctly before he spoke. "Live music, eh? I've always enjoyed live bands. I see that you have accomplished much tonight. When you have figured how much this will cost, let me know and I will give you a key to Hogwarts vault at Gringotts. Is there anything I may be of service to?" he asked, pleased that this group of students had made such progress in one day but being that the preparations had started so late he was still please that they has come up with such wonderful ideas.
Hermione looked slightly hesitant. "Well, yes, there is something. We have decided to have live music from muggle bands as well as wizarding. I was thinking that I know a great band who would love to perform and I know that they are playing in muggle London everynight until Halloween. I was wondering if all or some the prefects could come and check them out." At this request the headmaster looked alittle uneasy but still gave her a knowing smile. "If you are concerned about me needing more protection, maybe Malfoy could bring along Crabbe and Goyle for alittle extra muscle? Just to be on the safe side?" Hermione said almost pleading, knowing that she needed to get back to London even if it was only for afew hours.
"Very well, Miss Granger. I'll open your fireplace to the Floo Network so that you may all go but then I will shut it. However, two prefects will need to stay do to patrolling rounds tomorrow night. And I want it understood that only you and Mr. Malfoy will be allowed to carry wands. At midnight I want you all coming back through that fireplace. Exactly at midnight. Now goodnight to the two of you." he said kindly, as if he was looking into her mind.
Once they left, Malfoy turned to her. "Just how did you get him to let all of us go?"
Hermione smiled, knowing that Dumbledore had to know about her secret talent without ever actually hearing it. "It's nice to have a headmaster with a soft spot for his brightest students. All I have to do is ask."
Draco raised both his eyebrows. "Really? Just like that? Maybe I should try that sometime."
Hermione laughed. "Probably won't work with anything you might ask for! But feel free to ask anyways." She said as she kept walking faster to their shared dorm. Draco stopped in his tracks. "Feel free to ask anyways." he mimicked, before jogging to catch up to her.
The next day, all the prefects had brought Hermione their lists of ideas. Hermione pocketed a copied list of muggle songs to take with her that night when they left for London. All day her body was begging for the stale air and vibrations of speakers that a club provided with no limitations. Her heart pulsed uncontrollably, hammering against her chest. She had to stop and lean against the wall several times when she would get light headed times, most of which Blaise Zambini was behind her. He had just barely caught her each time, helping her up against the wall. "Granger, are you sure that you should be taking us out tonight? I mean you can barely keep on your feet."
"No, Blaise. I'm fine. I'll be fine when I hear the beat." She said as she slipped to the floor. Blaise had no idea what she had meant, but he saw Harry and Ron coming down the corridor and pointed to her, they ran over to her and scooped Hermione up off the floor. They had to drag her into the rest of her classes, half begging her to see Madame Pomfrey. By the time dinner was over, Hermione had seemed to be almost a different person from before. She had livened up and had a beautiful glow about her. She knew that very soon, she would bring herself into enlightenment.
A/N: Thank you to those who are actually reviewing. Would anyone like to make any requests? Next chapter, they go to London!
And Hermione is out of character (HalfBlood, I believe that you will really enjoy this chapter alot!!! Hint-Hint)
A songfic will be
introduced for the next chapter, if anyone has any really good
requests. If not, I'll stick to the one I already have. I'm so sorry
that this was a short chapter, but I will make it up, after I have
updated One More Tragedy.
Hugs from a fruit,
Cherry