Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter…(starts sobbing)…I don't own Ron Weasley…(tears start to fall)…And I don't own Draco Malfoy…(starts crying hysterically; becomes loony and gets sent off to St. Mungo's)…I don't own any of the world renowned J. K. Rowling's amazing skill or characters, places, and events…(Starts grinning madly{remember I was sent to St. Mungo's})…But I do own my own twisted ideas and a few odd characters I choose to add…
Disclaimer afterthought: You know what surprised me? I was reading on fanfic, after I'd already started this one, I saw the exact idea I had! Sigh…People sit there sometimes and gripe about having their ideas stolen and such, but ya know: There are over a freaking billion people on this planet and you aren't going to be the only person to think of something. It's truthfully not possible. Oh, yes, you bring up some famous people who came up with stuff…but how the heck do you know that it was their original thought? Gosh…people just like you and me could be thinking about something and the next day/month/year someone becomes famous for it, just because you didn't share how you thought at the time…You could have been that famous person, but you just didn't get there first or thought that it was impossible for you to do it. Speak up! Have a great thought? Share it for crying out loud!
AN: Hello, all. Sorry I haven't updated in a while…eek(sees death glares from the like so devilserpent and Nelly22)…LoL! The other day I was totally like, 'Oh, yeah! Short chappie! (Easier to type, yay),' but then I actually looked through the thought two chapters, 'Bloody hell!' LoL! I wrote 8 pages on spiral notebook paper(front and back; no skipped lines). Maybe that's just a lot to me though. I was so overwhelmed! See, I leave in a couple of days(I get to go to Florida for 3 weeks) to my great grandmother's. She's the greatest! But back to my author's note: Love my reviewers! (Gets on knees begging) So please don't give me the cold shoulder or whatnot because I haven't updated a lot more often. So sorry! The good thing about my trip is the fact that I will be able to finish the story down there and get it to where I won't want to revise it. Then, when I get back I can just type it all off!! (Looks through scrunched lids in hope of a positive response) Well, anyway…In the next couple of days(I only have 1) I will be trying to get Chapters 13-15 up and done. B'bye now!
I'll shut up now…
Chapter Twelve: Hogsmeade and Costumes
"Draco, how does this one look?" asked Pansy, while turning around for the third time in the black and red ball gown. She was beginning to get ill with the small twirls she had to make constantly because of Draco's lack of interest.
Draco was staring out the window in a daze. He watched a trio walk by the dress store and head towards the Three Broomsticks, his silver eyes were locked onto one member in particular.
"Draco Malfoy!"
"What?" he snapped still not looking at her, but out the window. He didn't turn his head until the girl was out of view.
He looked up at her warily. "I've asked about this dress three times already!" she shrieked in exasperation.
Draco looked the dress over half-heartedly. A lace up front corset bodice and an A-line skirt made up the gown. The bodice was sleeveless and in a deep blood red with black appliquéd lace; the tie strings were black. The dress skirt was black and flowed loosely around her legs.
"Nice, Pans."
"Oh, you're such a dolt! You've said 'nice' about the last four!"
"Because they all are! I suppose this one is the best choice, though; considering you want to be an evil princess?" he said in self-defense.
"No…not evil princess; more along the lines of female vampire. But it's not like you were listening to me the first couple of times I told you that," she huffed moodily. Storming back into the dressing room, he could just here her muttering darkly about 'stupid boys.'
Pansy came out of the room looking slightly ruffled. Her long curls slipped from the tie holding them in place. "Darn it!" she gasped hooking the dress in the front of her blouse. Her fingers twisted her hair up expertly.
A small chuckle came from the seat Draco was occupying. His pale hands hid his smirk but not his bright silver eyes.
Pansy threw him a dirty look, but her expression quickly changed to that of evil ideas. Draco didn't like the way she was looking at him.
"Now, to find you something to wear," she said, a wicked glint was in her pale eyes.
Catching the glimmer, Draco looked at her pleadingly. "Can we at least take a break first?" The eyes got her.
"Oh, I suppose," sighed Pansy. She paid the woman at the counter, and then handed her bag to Draco with a smirk.
He rolled his eyes but didn't complain. Hey, he was getting out of there!
They headed to the Three Broomsticks in silence. Pansy sashayed triumphantly at his side. Entering was proven difficult, the room was packed with Hogwarts students and staff and the usual individuals.
Pansy started winding her way to the table Madame Rosemerta nodded them to, while Draco paid for their butter beers at the bar. He made his way slowly towards Pansy, holding the mugs high to avoid the bumps and elbowing he received.
He sighed, sitting down across from Pansy. She gave him a small smile. Draco scanned the room trying not to look interested.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting at a booth in the far corner. The boys were talking animatedly about something, while Hermione sat there not even looking interested but thoughtful.
"You like her don't you?"
The question brought him out of his daze with a crash. "What?" he asked looking up at Pansy.
"You like Hermione," she stated now, "Don't tell me you don't either. I can see it in your eyes. Plus, every time she comes within your eyesight, you gawk at her like she's a diamond in a pile of pebbles. You've never looked at someone like that before, Draco."
He drank the last of his butter beer in a gulp. When he set the mug down, he looked at her with silent calculation.
"Don't you even think of lying to me, Dray!" she exclaimed at his expression. His jaw slackened but was closed hurriedly with a snap.
"Now, why'd ya say that?" he asked trying to act hurt.
"Because you forget that I can read you like and open book most of the time. Anyway, your ears always prick when you start to fib."
He looked at her questioningly, before asking, "Always?"
"Well, not always. But you do when you're lying about something you actually care about. But then again, you only do it occasionally then," Pansy rambled on not deciding whether he did or not.
He sat watching his friend babble on indecisively. Her blonde brows furrowed slightly.
She looked up at him again. "Well, do you or don't you?"
Draco smirked at her; mischief sparkled in silver pools. "Now, Pans, I thought you were oh so sure a moment ago."
Pansy's electric aqua eyes narrowed in mock anger. "Well, Dray," she said sickly sweet, "I was just trying to give you a chance to get your Hermione fogged brain cleared. But I guess I was right. Mark that I usually am when it comes to you."
Draco sighed and shook his head. Silver blond hair hid his liquid silver eyes. "I really don't know. I've never felt like I was able to trust anyone but you and my mother, but I feel like I can trust her."
"You can," Pansy said bluntly. She and Hermione had taken over the common room on more than one occasion. Draco never stayed amongst their silly giggles, but soon as he left it went to a darker topic. The topics varied nightly, they found it easier to tell each other the goof ups there guy friends made, but darker topics always rode forward concerning the brewing war. The girls had become close friends.
Draco nodded his head. "Well, let's go and get my costume," he said standing up and stretching. He picked up Pansy's bag and headed for the door.
She shook her head with a small smile. Pansy new he never really liked talking about his feelings, but she'd give him plenty of time.
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Hermione was tired of following Harry and Ron around. She was tired of their nonstop chatter on quidditch. To say the least, she was in an ill mood.
"Try-outs are tomorrow Harry!" exclaimed Ron for the third time, happily.
"Yes, I know, Ron. Considering I called it," Harry replied. He was now quidditch captain of Gryffindor and was trying to start practice as soon as possible.
The Gryffindor team consisted of Harry as seeker, Ron had improved at keeper, Ginny and a fourth year girl named Lucine were chasers with an open position, and the beater positions were open. They were a good team getting new players.
"Oh, will you two please talk about something else?" Hermione pleaded exasperatedly.
They both turned around and looked at her surprised. Harry smiled knowingly, but Ron looked at her shocked at the mere mention of there being something besides quidditch to talk about.
"I'm sorry guys, but that's all you've talked about for the past two hours."
"It's alright, Mione. It must get boring having to listen to something you aren't interested in," Harry said consolingly. Ron's red head turned to look sideways at Harry over Harry's shoulder, his mouth opened in mock outrage. Harry looked at him out the corner of his eyes.
A giggle escaped from Hermione. It soon grew to a full laugh; hers was light and bubbly, while her friends both were deep and clear.
Catching her breath, Hermione chocked out, "Okay, now we can go find my costume, boys."
"Yeah, sure. Where are you wanting to find one at?" Ron inquired, glancing around the street randomly. His blue eyes set longingly on the candy shop.
"Well, I was thinking about the new shop, Madame Gillian's Robes and Costumes," Hermione answered slowly.
"Oh, isn't that a new store?" Ron asked absentmindedly. He was staring contently through the sweets shop's window.
Harry and Hermione both looked at him with a strange sideways glance.
"Ron, you all right, mate?" Harry asked slowly.
"The junk food is calling his name, Harry," Hermione whispered behind her hand. That received a smirk from Harry.
Harry walked up behind Ron and grabbed him by the shoulders. He then proceeded to steer the drooling red head away from the now smudged window.
"Do you think with anything but your stomach, mate?" Harry asked with a grin. Ron was putting up a small fight while being pried off the glass.
A small chuckle came from behind Hermione's small hand that was attempting to hide her amusement. Her large amber eyes sparkled with her laughter.
After a while, Ron gave up his fruitless struggle and started walking with Harry and Hermione to the new shop in Hogsmeade. The gleaming sign above its door contrasted with the older, dusty signs of the other town shops. A glance through large windows showed multicolored robes to outrageous costumes.
Harry pushed the door open to let his friends pass. Somewhere amongst the rows and rows of clothes, a chime announced their arrival.
The door swung closed slowly behind the trio.
"Wow!" Ron exclaimed impressed as he took in the room with dark blue eyes.
The walls were a deep royal purple; flecks of gold were scattered all over. Dark hardwood floors were covered with thick eye-catching rugs that had spell colors flashing across them; the one underneath their feet flashed a bright Stupefy red before changing to a eerie Avada Kedavra green flashed only to be quickly replaced. The neat racks of costumes and robes were all arranged in a neat color-coded pattern that Hermione could appreciate any day. On the back wall was a series of arches that were closed off by more of the colored splashed black. In front of the dressing rooms was a large pile of large cushions that were about the size of ottomans in the deep purple, black, and gold. The counter next to the changing rooms was a black marble with more gold flecks. It doubled as a jewelry display. Above the dressing room, a chandelier like hat display showed off its hats that ranged from normal witches hat to the simply outrageous hats.
'Must have been in Hufflepuff,' Hermione noted in mild amusement. Once a Hogwarts student, always a Hogwarts student.
"Hello?" a soft voice called from an aisle.
"Umm…hi?" Ron called back. His friends looked at him skeptically. Sometimes they really doubted his brain's existence.
Hermione rolled her eyes and headed towards the aisle the voice came from. A small woman was crouched on the floor digging through a large box. She pulled out a pastel green and orange dress robe with distaste. The woman put it on a rack with other bad multicolored items.
She caught sight of Hermione and smiled warmly. Her blonde hair was long and framed her heart shaped face. Pale green eyes peeked out from under her long lashes. She definitely didn't look over thirty.
The young woman stood up and her forehead only reached Hermione's nose. "I'm Gillian…Gillian Granger. And your name is?" Gillian asked warmly. Her soft voice seemed to tinkle with a hidden power.
Hermione's eyes shot wide. "Granger?"
Gillian noticed the odd face and looked the younger girl in the eye. Her pale green eyes shot wide also. 'No! She can't be!'
"Yes, Granger. And your name?" she replied in a clipped get to the point tone.
"Hermione Granger," Hermione said slowly. She watched the woman's face contort through a wide range of emotions.
"What is your father's name, dear?" came Gillian's clipped tone again, as if it was practiced to hide emotions.
"Richard Granger," Hermione said uncomfortably, that pale gaze was unnerving.
Suddenly, Hermione found herself in a tight embrace. "Richard!" Gillian exclaimed happily, "I knew he wasn't dead…I knew it. But no one would believe me. Said I was nutters…"
Harry and Ron ran around the corner in a rush. They heard the shout and were never one's to take a chance. Both boys skid to a halt at the odd sight in front of them. A tiny woman was wrapped tightly around Hermione and appeared to be squeezing her with all her might. Hermione looked at them, confusion apparent in her amber eyes.
"Merlin! I'm sorry!" Gillian exclaimed, releasing the stunned girl quickly, "Now, look what I've done…you probably think I'm some Mungo's escapee."
"Umm…no?" Hermione said unsure what to ask or say.
"Let's try this again, shall we?" Gillian said, her brows dropped and her smile brightened the room, "Hi. I'm Gillian Granger, your father's little sister." She offered her hand with a grin.
All Hermione could manage was a feeble smile. She finally met the first person on her father's side. 'Weird, I've never met any of my family on either of my parents' sides,' she thought but shrugged it off figuring it was a spell.
"So how's your dad? I've told everyone for years that he was alive."
"He's fine. Did he not tell anyone that they went into hiding?" asked Hermione slowly.
Gillian had another quick mood swing; this time her face went somber. "No, after your he married your mum they kind of stole away. Everyone believed him dead. But I guess that's better than being caught by You-Know-Who."
The boys watched the woman ramble on with keen interest. Harry looked at her with his mouth slightly open.
Gillian took in Harry and Ron for the first time. "Oh, Hermione, are these your little friends?" she asked before she noticed their obvious stares, "Do I have something on my face?"
"Oh, no. They've never seen a real girl before," Hermione muttered slightly darkly. She was never looked at that way by anyone.
"I see…one of those things were 'lady friends aren't girls' things?" the older woman asked throwing the boys frequent glances from the corner of her eyes.
"It seems that way."
"Costume?"
"Yes, please."
"That's the ticket!" Gillian said beaming. She pulled Hermione off down another aisle, away from the boys. "Any idea as to what you want to be?"
"No, not really. I was just going to try and find something."
"Well, that's where I come in," the older female said with a light laugh, "That's why I'm in this business after all…"
Hermione and her new claimed aunt started rummaging down the color sorted aisles with a flurry. Not long after, Harry and Ron started in the search.
They had made it to a black rack. Ron and Harry were being their funny selves, messing with all sorts of odd outfits and dresses.
"How 'bout this one, Mione?" Harry said holding up a mini skirt and halter set that had matching slippers and hairpins. A smirk proved he wasn't serious.
"Watch this," Gillian mouthed, she pulled her wand out of her back pocket and muttered with a small flick in Harry's direction, "Aestuo."
Suddenly the set burst into flames; surprised Harry dropped it afraid of burns.
Gillian and Hermione both burst out laughing
"No, Harry. I don't think I want anyone dumping a bucket of water over my head."
Gillian sashayed over to the fallen outfit. Picking it up, she sent Harry a playful glare. Both boys' jaws dropped when she preceded the dust the clothing off. Her delicate looking hands passed through the sizzling flames unharmed.
"It's magic," she explained. Another flick of her small wrist put the fire out.
Both boys looked at Gillian with bemused expressions.
Hermione sighed in disgust. "At this rate I'll never get a costume."
Ron looked at the getup in his hands, then back at Hermione. "How bout this one?" he asked raising it up.
A black cat suit hung stiffly form the hanger hooked on Ron's hand.
Noticing Hermione's blush and doubtful look, Gillian whispered in her ear, "Try it on."
A small grin spread on her face. "Alright, then." She plucked the suit from his limp hands. The surprise on his face was priceless.
Hermione stalked off to the archways nervously. 'What am I getting myself into? This so isn't me…'
Outside the curtain, Ron grabbed Harry by the scruff of his neck and practically dragged him to the large cushions.
"She's trying it on, 'Arry."
Gillian watched in apparent glee. 'Such silly little boys…'
Inside the dressing room, Hermione was anxious. She hadn't expected it to fit so…snugly. The black material hugged every curve of her body just right; or just wrong, in Hermione's case.
Heaving a sigh, she pushed open the curtain. 'Just to get this over with,' she assured herself, but a snide voice countered, 'But it was your idea!'
Stepping out was the hard part; acting oblivious to the boys' stares would be easy. Hermione smiled at the two, took a step out, did a small spin, and stood still in front of them again.
"What do you think?" she asked with a fake grin plastered on.
Both were silent for a moment.
"Well, Mione, it suits you," Harry concluded with a smile. Ron just stared at her, mouth agape.
Hermione switched her weight to her other leg, causing her hips to sway. "Ron?" she inquired nervously. The boy's glazed look was making her giddy.
Harry looked over at his best friend and laughed. Leaning over, he pushed Ron's mouth closed with his fingertips.
Ron shook his head vigorously.
"What, Mione?"
"What do you think, Ron?" she asked again, starting to smile genuinely.
"Nice," he said with a sheepish grin, "We're going to have to fight off the entire male populace of Hogwarts with that one."
Harry nodded in agreement and gave Hermione a brotherly wink.
Her skin burned in a blush at their compliments. She turned in a rush and hurried back into the changing room.
Gillian just nodded knowingly from behind her counter.
"You alright, mate?" Harry asked when the girl was out of sight.
"Yeah, Harry," Ron answered running a hand through his fiery hair, "It's just hard not being able to show my feelings for her, ya know? I know she doesn't have those feelings that way for either of us, but I can't help it! I'm trying to get over her, but that bloody suit didn't help any!" Ron looked into Harry's green eyes for understanding.
"We'll find you someone, Ron," Harry said encouragingly, patting him on his back.
Ron sighed, glad that he had Harry for that. He couldn't talk to Hermione about it could he? He couldn't without straining their friendship greatly, at any rate.
Harry was about to say more, when the curtain slid aside again. Throwing Ron a 'later' look, he turned to smile at the Hermione they were used to.
Ron nodded at Harry's glance and smiled weakly at Hermione.
"I don't think that one was what I'm looking for," she said with a small smile. 'No! Definitely not it! Hello, that was the understatement of the century!'
Ron smiled wide at her words.
"Do you mind staying longer?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Mione, you came for a costume, and you shall have a costume," Ron announced in a fake, announcer's voice.
They all laughed.
The small group split up among the many racks. Gillian went to catch up on things with Hermione as they looked.
Turned out that Gillian was just three years younger than Richard, they had been close. She had started up her own business and had finally managed to get her own building where she knew she'd get customers. Gillian asked and answered questions with a comfortable ease. Even though quite humorous, she had a deep serious, intelligent side that Hermione could relate to.
They started down an aisle that was nearly completely white. Hermione began her nearly robotic search again. Gillian was talking animatedly about her childhood with her brother.
With a faint rustle of fabric on her hands, she knew she had found it. The perfect costume for her; something she could do easily without feeling silly or embarrassed.
"Ooo…you've got a good one there," Gillian commented brightly over her shoulder.
'Perfect.'
If you want more updates: Please read my author notes. Purty please! See, I ask questions and stuff so I can know who all has or hasn't reviewed more than once. If you don't read it and I see nothing in my reviews on what I said, I can't put your name in the story. So I repeat: Those who have reviewed me before you had a fanfic id need to inform me of your past review name and your present fanfic member name. It makes things so much easier. I ask this of you for the sake of not leaving anyone out. If you could careless…go on and review or whatever you usually do. TTFN!