"Well, good morning Ms. Granger."
Hermione stirred, her body sore. Opening her eyes, she saw a very amused Professor Snape looking down at her. Hermione glanced around her, noticing the stone walls that most defenitly did not belong to her dorm room. She had fallen asleep in the middle of the hallway!
"Professor, I-"
"No need." Snape cut her off. "Consider yourself lucky that I wake early to prepare for the day. If the students found you in this comprimising position, there would be talk." Hermione sat up and felt Draco's arm slip off of her body. He was next to her, still sound asleep.
"Thsi isn't what it looks like. He came late last night and I-"
"I said, no need to explain Ms. Granger." Snape pulled out his wand and pointed at the sleeping boy. "I will take him back to his dormitory. You should head to bed."
"Of course sir." Hermione stood and brushed herself off. She watched as Snape cast a levitation charm on Draco.
Snape began to walk down stairs, heading to the Slytherin common room. "Go to bed Ms. Granger. You have Hogsmead today, remember?"
"Of course professor. Goodbye." Hermione made her way to the Gryffindor common room and slept.
"Oh! Oh Hermione, look at this!" Ginny squealed, jumping and pointing in the window of a shop. Hermione jogged over to her excited friend. "Oh 'Mione, aren't they beautiful? We just have to try them on!"
"But Ginny, what do we need formal dresses for?" Hermione asked, smiling.
"Who knows? Isn't here a school dance coming up? Like, Halloween?"
"Ginny, people go in costume to Halloween, not in formal."
"So what? So we go dressed as sex goddesses. Let's just try them on!" Ginny grabbed her friend's wrist and dragged her into the store and up to the nearest dress rack. "Oh my gosh, 'Mione! What about this one! What do you think?"
"Oh Ginny that would look amazing on you!" Hermione smiled as her friend twirled around, holding a dark green dress against her body. "It compleatly brings out your red hair."
"I've got to try it on!" Ginny ran into the dressing room, giggling like mad. Hermione laughed and continued searching through the dresses. The fabric was so silky, it was like water in her fingers. Each dress was ordimented with sparkles, gems, or ribbons of the finest quality. Hermione couldn't even imagine how much they cost.
"I'm ready!!!" Ginny called out.
"Ready for what?" A voice behind her asked. Hermione spun around to see Harry and Ron standing behind her. Their hands were full of bags filled with every kind of candy and toy that the twins' shop had to offer. "What are you guys doing?"
"We're trying on dresses, and Ginny just got done putting one on." Hermione responded. "Did you guys finish your shopping already?"
"Yeah." Ron nodded. "Hey Ginny, come on out. Lets have a look at you."
The door to the dressing room opened slowly to reveal a most spendid beauty. Ginny stepped lightly, coming out a little ways and twirling. Ron looked suprised, and Harry's eyes were wide. Hermione laughed as Harry's jaw dropped a little. Ginny smiled, giggling at Harry's reaction.
"You like?" She asked.
"Wow Ginny." Ron commented. "I'm gunna have to start beating alot of boys off of you from now on."
"Uh-huh." Harry agreed. Ron glaced at him and saw the look on his face.
"Um, Harry? Can I talk to you for a moment?" Ron grabbed his friend's arm and led him the the back of the store. A very energetic conversation followed. The girls could here a word here or there, like "hurt", "warning", "happy", and "castration".
Hermione gushed over Ginny's dress, telling her how beautiful she looked, and joking about Harry's reaction.
"You think he really liked it?" Ginny blushed.
"Did he like it? Ginny, he may as well have drooled all over the floor. He's totally smitten."
"Merlin, I hope so! So, found a dress for you to try on yet?" Ginny began digging through the rack, pausing every once in a while to examine a dress.
"Naw, I can't find any that I think I would look good in."
"Oh hush, you would look fantastic in all of these." Ginny pulled a dress out from the rack. "But this one, now, this one would be drop dead sexy."
Hermione gasped. The dress was black with lace sleeves that flared out at the ends. The bottom of the dress had slits in the sides with the same black lace filling them. The top was strapless. Without a word she grabbed it and dashed into the dressing room. As she slid it onto her body she couldn't belive how smooth it was. She felt like a goddess. Ginny called out for her to come and show it off.
Opening the door and tiptoing out, Hermione spun in glee. She loved the reactions her friends gave her. Ron stared, Harry clapped, and Ginny screamed in joy. But the reaction that really affected her was the face on the other side of the window. She felt her heart skip a beat as the blonde boy outside gazed through the window, his silver eyes filled with desire. He stared for a moment longer before tearing his eyes away and quickly turning the corner.
"Hermione?" Harry asked, having followed her gaze and seen the boy, "Why was Draco staring at you?"
"He was probobly looking at something else in the shop." Ginny answered. She looked directly at Hermione and gave her a look that said 'We need to talk.' Hermione just smiled, her stomach still doing flips.
The four of them shopped for a while longer before Harry and Ron split off to go look at Quidditch supplies, promising to meet up with the girls at Three Broomsticks. Ginny and Hermione found a table and ordered four butterbeers. After the waiter left Ginny faced Hermione and cocked an eyebrow.
"So, what the hell was that?" She demanded.
"What?" Hermone responded.
"You know what. You never told me that anything else happened with him." Ginny crossed her arms and sat back.
"I don't know what you are talking about Ginny." Hermione stared out that window, trying not to look at her friend. "I'm going to go order an ice cream. I'll be right back." Hermione stood up and went to the counter. Leaning against it, she felt a hand brush her arm. Draco leaned up against the counter a little ways away, as not to look suspious. Yet resting against her arm was a folded peice of paper. Hermione picked it up and shoved it in her pocket, hoping Ginny hadn't noticed.
"Can I help you madame?" The bartender asked polietly.
"Yes, um, where is your restroom?"
"Just down that hallway and to the left."
"Thanks." Hermione willed herself to walk a normal pace to the restroom, although her whole body was telling her to run. As soon as she was out of veiw she bolted down the hallway, into the ladies room and into a stall, locking the door behind her. She quickly unfolded the note and watched as the words materialized before her eyes.
Hermione -
I will be leaving tonight and will not return for a week. My mother would like me home until after my 18th birthday. She will be taking over my potion making, don't worry she is very skilled at it. As you know, the Death Eaters usually give the Dark Mark on the recepiant's 18th, and surley they will be looking for me. Even with the Detraferance Potion, they still know that I am at Hogwarts, and with Dumbledore gone they are not afraid to come to Hogwarts to fetch me.
My mother is having a ball to cover for my absence. No one on my father's side will know of it. When the Death Eaters discover that I am not at Hogwarts there will be a bit of an uproar, but by then Hogwarts will know their way of getting in and fixed it, and they will not be able to find the Manor, due to an ingenius cloaking spell my great grandmother created.
I will be perfectly safe, if you care to know. I will return on Sunday next week, at around dinnertime. Tell no one that you know where I am. See you soon.
- Draco Malfoy
Hermione stared at ther letter, watching as the beautifully scripted letters melted away. Finally all that was left was his extensive signiture, which then vanished as well. Suddenly the paper caught fire, and Hermione tossed it aside. Soon all that remained was ashes.
Hermione left the bathroom and walked over to the booth where her three friends sat, since Harry and Ron had come back. Taking a large gulp of butterbeer, she pretended to listen to Harry brag to Ginny about all his heroic Quidditch moves and his battles with Voldemort. As she scaned the room, she noticed that Draco was nowhere to be seen.
Hermione looked up her ceiling. It had been almost a week since Draco had left, and she couldn't concentrate. The night before she fell asleep in the library for the second time this week. The girls in her dorm laughed, and Ginny was worried about her, but she couldn't care less. Her mind was racing.
When she entered the Great Hall that morning she made her way to Harry and Ron when she felt a strong hand on her shoulder.
"Ms. Granger," Snape sneered. Hermione spun to face him. "There is a message waiting for you in the room just off the side of the great hall. Please follow me." Snape turned and walked off, with Hermione on his heels. He opened the door on the side wall of the hall and stepped back, allowing her to pass. As she entered the room the heavy wooden door slamed shut behind her.
A beautiful woman sat in the chair before her. Smiling, she stood and approched Hermione. Her dress swayed slightly, and as she took Hermione's hand, Hermione finally realized who this woman reminded her of.
"Its so nice to meet you, my dear." The woman said kindly. "My name is Narcissa Malfoy."
REVEIW!!!! :)