Disclaimer: I only own my plot and characters...nothing of J.K. Rowling's is mine. I don't own Conderella either.
A/N: Uhh...this should be a fun chapter to write. Sorry I've been taking a long time, but as it is the holiday season I have been fairly busy. by the way-thanks a million to Gweneth for your support.
Chapter 11: Nervous Wreck
Awaking to the sound of wind whistling against a closed window above my bed, I realized it was the day of the Yule Ball. Being Saturday, I finally arose out of bed around eight a.m. After getting dressed in a black sweatshirt and some jeans, I walked to Hagrid's Hut. I had left my finished dress in there the other night when I finished putting some extra beading on the bottom hem of it.
"Good Mornin' Maranda! I didn't expexct yeh' for another hour or so. Come in, come in.." Hagrid welcomed me into his house and I sat on a rather large couch while he got two coffee mugs out.
"I won't stay too long if you're busy, Hagrid.." I never like imposing.
Hagrid poured hot cocoa into one of the mugs and handed it to me, "It's fine. I thought you'd take advantage of the weekend though, that's why I wasn't expectin' yeh.' Your dress is on a coat hanger behind you. Have yer' cocoa before you leave though. It's getting a bit chilly out there."
"I'm surprised it snowed that night. If only it snowed today too." Making small talk, I took a sip of the hot chocolate, tasting the creamy melted marshmallow.
Sitting across from me in a cozy recliner chair, Hagrid added, "I'm guessing it will snow today. Whenever the Yule Ball takes place, it snows. Either the night of the Ball or during the day of. So, tell me, are you going to really dance with Malfoy?"
Choking on my cocoa, I managed to swallow it and answer, "I don't think I should. Something is obviously wrong with this picture."
"True," Hagrid agreed, "but if any of the teachers see anything suspicious, I'm sure they'll do something."
"Professor Snape won't do anything. He'd let Draco get away with murder."
"Maranda, I know it seems that Snape is always supporting everything the Slytherins do, but he wouldn't let anyone get away with harm unto others."
"Why not?" I questioned.
"Snape's job would be in jeopardy if he let anything too horrible take place. It's true that he doesn't really like teaching potions, and Defense Against The Dark Arts is his passion; Losing place in the school would jeopardize not only his current position as Potions Master, but any future possibility of teaching Defense Class. He wouldn't want that."
Taking the last sip of my cocoa, I placed the mug on a short coffee table in front of me. "Well," I stretched, "I don't know what to do. Maybe one dance will be alright if it's near a Professor's view. Hmm.. When does the Ball start again?"
"I think it starts at eight or nine. You're going to have to ask Hermione or someone else who plans on being there on time."
Smiling, I thanked Hagrid for the cocoa as I stood up.
"Leaving already?" He asked.
"I should..I'm going to put the dress in my trunk until tonight. Meanwhile, I think I'm going to read that book I borrowed from the library. I've had it for a few days and yet I've only been able to read a chapter or so. All because of schoolwork." Taking my dress of of the coat hanger, I folded it over my arms once.
Taking hold of the doorknob, I opened the door and stepped outside after hearing Hagrid wish me good luck. I turned around, waved to him, and left. I paced myself back to the Gryffindor common room, and upstairs to the dormitory. I hid the dress in my trunk and shut it. I went in my backpack and took out the black book with the crimson heart on it, and sat on a couch in the common room.
Page after page I found myself unable to put the book down. It really was an amazing tale.. Wow, Professor Snape has great taste in literature! But he is still an awfully sour man. I wondered if he had ever been in love. If so, how did it turn out? Or did it turn out. Was the woman so wrapped up in her own life to care about him? Or was she oblivious to the fact that Snape liked her? Love in general is such a complex word. There are so many ways of describing it, and still there are ways no one has found. I hope I never fall in love; That way I won't get hurt in the end. As everyone knows, all good things come to an end. I know it makes me seem overly pessimistic, but it's true. How can anyone fall in love, a subject that no one understands? If no one understands it, how can you be sure it is even love? And if you are one-hundred percent sure you are in love, how can you be sure the significant other won't hurt you in the end? From my perspective, love was a waste of time. Then why do I read all of these romance novels?-Because I like to see how each book explains love. I like to read how many pathetic people in stories think they can keep the feeling of love forever. The books amuse me with such nonsense of 'Happily-ever-after.'
Befor I knew it, the clock struck eight. I guessed it was time for the dance because of all the students who piled out of their dormitories in dresses and tuxedos. Hermione asked me why I wasn't ready yet, and I told her I lost track of time reading. She then asked how I never got sick reading so much. Even she didn't read as much as I did...
Placing my hair in an updo, I looked over my attire; My creamy white dress with silver beading on the top and bottom hems, the strings of beads braided into a skinny strap on each side to go over my shoulders, and my white high-heeled sandals...I looked pretty good. I walked cautiously to the Entrance Hall near the Great Hall doors and I inhaled deeply. I was now extremely, deathly nervous about dancing with draco. Not the kind of nervous you get when you fancy someone, but the type of nervous you feel before you get into an accident or trouble. In my stomach was a bubble of nausea growing larger by the minute.
Stepping into the crouded Great Hall, I looked around and intook the festivities. An orchestra of about twelve people were situated in the front, where the professors' table was, and they were playing beautifully. Everyone was in formal dresses and suits. The dresses weren't too long though, which made me feel a little better, forcing the nausea bubble to lessen.
"Maranda!" A happy-go-lucky voice called me. It was Hermione, in her red sleeveless dress, and Ron was following her, in his maroon suit. "You look positively wonderful! Come with us, Harry and Veronica are on the dance floor."
I was hoping Harry was on a date with a different Veronica, but I was wrong. Veronica Watson shot me the dirtiest look I've ever seen on a female as I approached the couple. Hermione introduced us, but we smirked, knowing we had already met.
"Who's your date?" Veronica asked me with her usual snobbiness.
Not wanting to be laughed at, I swallowed my pride an answered, "Draco Malfoy."
As if planned, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all shouted simutaneously, "What?!?"
Grabbing my arm, Hermione pulled me aside from the group. She looked at me with disappointment, "Are you serious?"
I explained to her the predicament; Draco asking me the other day, and my agreeing to one dance with him. Sighing with relief, Hermione then understood why I told Veronica he was my date.
"I don't like Veronica either," Hermione admitted, "but don't ever pull anything like that again!"
Walking back into the croud, Harry and Veronica were dirty dancing, which was a sight I did not want to see. Ron took Hermione away from me, after excusing himself first, and started to dance with her as well. Now left by myself, I decided to get myself a cup of punch on the farther right side of the hall. This attempt to get a drink was a hastle because so many students were in the way. Now at the refreshments, I could see who was chaperoning; Madame Hooch, Professor Freedman-who was falling asleep, Professor Snape, and of course, our Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore.
Feeling a light tap on my bare shoulder, I turned around and felt the bubble of nausea rise again as Draco smiled in front of me. He looked at my dress, my shoes, my hair, and then nodded his head.
"Not bad, Maguire. You look good." He reached in back of me and took a cup of punch. This made him no farther than an inch away from me. Too close for comfort...
Sighing, I walked to the edge of the refreshment table so I was out of everyone's way. Draco decided to follow me like a dog on a mailman. I pushed a strand of hair away from my face and thought of how nice it would be if draco suddenly disappeared.
"So, Maguire, where in the world did you get such a pretty dress?" Draco looked at me again, and I imbibed the last drops of my punch.
"I made it.." The bubble in my stomach gurgled, and not for hunger reasons.
"Whoa!" Draco touched the beaded shoulder strap and then took his finger off, "I'm impressed."
Throwing the empty cup in a trash barrel, I quickly paced back to where Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Veronica were. Ferret Boy didn't follow me this time, but I wish he had so I didn't look like a loser in front of Veronica. She stared with hatred at my dress, my shoes, my hair, and the lonely look on my face. I wasn't longing for Draco, but for someone to dance with me. Maybe it would have been better if I had came to the dance with him. At least I wouldn't be the only one without a date. I wasn't in the mood to be in this Ball anymore..The nausea bubble in my stomach nearly popped as I ran to the first floor bathroom. I shut myself in a stall and sat uncomfortably on the floor.
"Maranda, you in here?" Hermione's kind voice echoed off the tiled walls.
I muttered, "Yeah..."
"Are you ok?" She asked, now standing in front of the stall.
I stood up and opened the stall door, and walked to the porcelain sinks. "I'm..." I inhaled, trying to calm myself down, "I'm nervous..I've never danced with a guy before, and even if it is Ferret Boy-er-Draco, I'm still nervous as all hell. There's a terrible feeling in my stomach that he's going to do something deceitful...I just...I just want to go back to my bed upstairs where no one will bother me."
Patting me on the shoulder, Hermione told me to breathe deeply for a minute as she talked to me. "I know it must be hard to deal with all the crap you've dealt with these past months, but you have to calm down. Draco isn't very trustworthy, but you have to laugh off whatever he may throw. You can't hide away from him though. He will probably ask you for a dance, and whatever he may have planned will take effect. Either that, or...."
"Or what?" I questioned.
"Or...he actually fancies you."
Thanking Hermione for the talk, I told her that I was ready to go back to the Ball and attempt dancing with Draco. I bet Cinderella didn't have this much trouble at her ball...
"The Loser's back!" Yelled Veronica, clearly talking about me.
Ignoring her, I realized my nausea bubble had completely vanished. I spotted Draco and thought to myself, I'd better get it over with. Walking over to him a slow ballad was beginning. I tapped him on the back, interupting his chat with Crabbe and Goyle-two other Slytherins-and cleared my throat. I asked him to dance and a gentle smile glowed from his face. We walked to the croud of dancers, and faced each other. His hands held onto my hips, which didn't feel as slimy as I thought, and my hands went on his shoulders. We rocked back and forth, staying with the tune, and somehow we moved closer to each other. He looked in my paranoid eyes, and I stayed staring at the floor next to us. The world was spinning, my nerves tingled, and my mouth was dry. I was clearly ill from the disgusting experience of dancing with a ferret. However, the nausea bubble stayed away from my stomach, which was a good thing.
As the song went on, I felt a tad dizzy. Draco noticed this and let go of my hips, and watched me close my eyes tightly. Telling me he'd go get me a drink, I waited patiently for his return. The song finally ended, and fast-tempo music came back on. Within two minutes, Draco returned with a large cup of punch. I downed it within thirty seconds, and noticed the taste wasn't as good as the beginning of the Ball. It was a little warm, but at least it quenched my thirst. I thanked Draco, something I never thought I'd do, and he said he'd come back after talking to his buddies.
I suddenly felt a sickness rush over me; Probably that stupid nausea bubble again... I walked over to Hermione and we started to talk about how wonderful the night was. We could see through the windows that clouds were beginning to drop snowflakes gently like feathers to the frost-bitten ground. When we finished talking, Draco rushed over with another cup of fruit punch for me. He said he wanted to make sure I didn't get dizzy again. This happened three or four more times within the next hour, which made me have to run to the bathroom.
As I walked back into the Great Hall, my sight became blurry and my mind went blank. I had no idea what I was doing when I walked to Draco and his pals. I noticed them laughing and talking about some kind of bottle. I couldn't quite see what, but Draco had an empty glass bottle in his grasp. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I doubled over, clutching my stomach. I felt Malfoy's hand pat my back and aske me what was wrong.
"Erm..." I couldn't speak..I needed a breath of fresh air. Walking past the orchestra, I opened a door to a balcony outside of the Great Hall. I sat on a bench as I heard the door open again. I could not see a damned thing!
"Miss Maguire.." Oh, it was Snape..What a funny name!
I giggled, "Snape...hahaha...that's a funny name.."
In a strict tone, Snape ordered me to follow him back to the Ball. Or was that back into the hall?
I had no clue what I was saying, "You can't make me follow you-erm-erm-Professor Snape! Ugh.."
Feeling his strong arms wrap around me as I fell off of the bench, I yelled, "Don't touch me! You can't touch me!" My speech was gurgled and confusing.
"Miss Maguire..." I could no longer understand what Snape said to me. I somehow released myself from his arms, and walked over to the balcony.
"I can fly..." With an instant, I leaned over the balcony's edge and blacked out.