Hermione and Ginny went shopping not that weekend, or the weekend after. It was the one after that, just into the Christmas holidays, and merely one and a half weeks away from the ball, that they finally got to go shopping. The only reason they got to go at all was Hermione convinced Blaise that she simply had to have a dress. That was all there was to it. And there was no way she was going to appear on that stage without a new dress, and then the entire months work would be completely wasted. He agreed, rather too grudgingly for Hermione's taste. That was yet another thing to add to the reasons why she wanted to dump him. He couldn't cope with her occaisional shopping needs. It wasn't like she went every weekend, after all. She was too busy with fucking band practise to do that.
On the up side, and the down side too, if you thought about it too much, Draco was practising with them. And he was bloody amazing on the drums. Hermione had to work very hard not to show any surprise or indeed notice of him. After all, he was her ex and she hated his guts.
Mostly.
Well, kinda.
In a really-not-she-wanted-to-kiss-him-so-bad sort of way.
She was a good actress, fortunately. It helped that he avoided looking at her and she did the same.
Or God only knows what would have happened.
"Wakey wakey!" Ginny waved her hand in front of Hermione's face and she blinked.
"Sorry."
"Whatcha thinking 'bout?" Ginny asked chirpily, practically skipping as they walked down the road towards Hogsmede.
"That we should go to muggle shopping instead." Hermione said absentmindedly.
"Except that its miles away." Ginny said with a sigh.
Apparate.
Don't be ridiculous, we're not old enough and we haven't got our licences, even if we were.
I am and I have. Tell her. We can go to London. It'll be fun.
What about Voldemort?
If he's got any brains at all he won't blow my cover.
If you say so.
Tell her then.
"Ginny, Amelie says she can take us down to London for shopping there if we want."
"How?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Apparating. She says she has her license."
"Under a different name?" Ginny raised an eyebrow.
Duh.
"She says yeah. So you wanna go?"
"Definitely."
Take her hand and give me control.
Hermione took Ginny's hand and gave control over to Amelie.
"You ready?" Amelie asked. Ginny nodded.
"Yep."
"Let's go then."
There was the familiar tugging of the navel and then the girls appeared with a quiet pop just off Diagon Alley. Amelie gave control back to Hermione, and the two girls headed off to Gringotts to change the wizarding money into pounds, and from there into muggle London.
They went into all the shops they could find, more for the shopping that the aim of finding dresses for the ball. For Ginny, muggle shopping was of course a rarity, especially clothes shopping. Hermione did it often enough, although being at Wizarding School half the year meant that when you got back to the muggle world fashions had changed somewhat.
On that note, Ginny and Hermione bought as many fashion magazines as they could, more for the interest value than the fashion value, and went into every shop they could find.
In the end, they ended up in Monsoon, a muggle shop with very nice clothes and rather high price tags. But still, the girls paid them no heed as they tried just about everything on, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
By the end of their little sojourn into Monsoon, Hermione had found the perfect dress. And she knew exactly where to get the shoes to match it. Hermione's dress was a sage green colour with a plain bodice and a layered chiffon skirt that reached to her shins.
It took a little more time to find Ginny's dress, and Hermione told her sternly it was a christmas present, and that on no account would Ginny pay for it. Ginny agreed before she realised exactly what the significance of the name 'Gucci' was.
Hermione, flicking through a magazine while waiting for Ginny to come out of the changing rooms with yet another dress that didn't fit her quite right, had seen an advert for Gucci, and a model wearing a white dress that would, hopefully, suit Ginny down into the ground.
Ginny dug her heels in when she saw the price tags of the clothes, but Hermione dragged her round the shop before finally grabbing a shop assisstant and making him direct her to the dresses.
Ginny was entranced when Hermione pulled it out and showed it to her. After all, it was a gorgeous dress. Hermione pointedly ignored the price tag, and bullied Ginny into the changing room with the dress, and then sat down to wait, very pleased with herself.
When an assisstant came up to ask if she needed any help, Hermione explained Ginny's problem of finding clothes that fitted her properly. The assisstant stuck around and when Ginny finally came out, wearing the beautiful dress, made a few slight adjustments, and then the dress was perfect.
Ginny stood while Hermione inspected it, after all, she was damned if she was going to spend thousands of pounds on a dress if it didn't fit perfectly. It was a floor length white dress with a slight train. It fit Ginny perfectly, clinging to all her curves. It had a halter neck that tied at her throat, and the fabric followed her curves, disappearing entirely at her left hip, leaving a simple white belt crossing the peaches and cream skin, fastening in a gold belt buckle in the two headed dragon shape that was Gucci's trademark. The dress extended to the floor and drapped beautifully, leaving a small train behind it.
"We'll take it." Hermione said with a smile, and the assistant carried the dress away.
"Hermione! Did you see that price tag?" Ginny hissed. Hermione shrugged.
"No."
"I don't want charity." Ginny said, stopping and folding her arms. Hermione stopped as well and stood facing her, crossing her arms so her posture matched Ginny.
"I'm not giving it." She said flatly. "You're my best friend, I love you to bits, and I think that looks beautiful on you. And I have the money. This is called giving gifts, Ginny, and it neither has to be reciprocated nor equalled. I'm giving it to you because I want to and because I love the way you look in it. So wear it and feel beautiful, sweetheart." Ginny stared in surprise for a minute, before nodding resignedly. Hermione hugged her.
"If you don't want it-"
"No, I love it. I'm just not used to getting presents like that."
"There's a first time for everything." Ginny grinned and hugged Hermione back.
At the counter, Hermione stopped herself gasping at the pricetag.
I've got it. Amelie said with a shrug. Dad knows where I am now, so I might as well use his money.
But Amy, if he comes after us…
Then he's stupid and deserves to lose. Amy said shortly. She took control and paid for the dress without batting an eyelid, before leading Ginny out the shop. They stopped just outside to take stock.
"Right." Hermione said, back in control again. "We have dresses. Now we need shoes."
"Hermione…"
"Don't worry, love. I'll let you pay for the shoes." Hermione said brightly. Ginny rolled her eyes.
Two pairs of shoes, a necklace and bracelet later, Hermione grabbed Ginny's hand, gave control to Amelie, and with a small pop they were back in Hogmede in time to catch the last carriage back.
They were met in the front hall by McGonagall, who gave them a sharp look and swept off. The girls followed resignedly.
In her office, McGonagall sat down and indicated that they should do so as well. They sat, and waited.
"I didn't see you in Hogsmede." She commented. The girls said nothing. "And you have muggle shopping bags. So I'm very curious as to how you got to a muggle shopping precinct and back again before the last carriage left."
"It was my fault, Minerva." Amelie said boldly, snatching control.
Hey!
I'm saving your ass, Head Girl. Amelie said sharply.
"I told them we should go to London and we went. I basically kidnapped them both."
McGonagall raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Did you now. I don't suppose you thought that you'd as good as put up a sign telling Voldemort where you were?"
She said his name! She hasn't before. Hermione commented.
"I'd be surprised if he didn't know. Pansy told Hermione that they've apparently found me, although they arent saying where I am. If he's got any sense he'll believe I'm undercover and leave me alone."
"And if he hasn't?" McGonagall queried.
"Then he'll come after me and get ruined."
"You have a lot of faith in us." McGonagall said softly.
"No, Minerva. All I need to do is hold onto him and let the pheonix take hold. It'll utterly destroy him, because the fire will burn his spirit into nothing. If he comes, I'll defend my friends and family. If he doesn't come, I'll play undercover long enough to figure out his game. And then I'll defend my friends and family."
"What does Hermione feel about all of this?" McGonagall asked. Amelie gave Hermione control.
"I always knew I'd fight in this war against Voldemort. And whether I do it alone or do it with Amelie makes little difference. I'd probably die either way. And if it gets rid of him… I'd rather not die, but if that's the only way. Besides, I'd die defending my friends, and if Voldemort doesn't die, Harry will. So Voldemort has to die."
McGonagall nodded. "Very well. You may go now…but please, try to be more careful."
"Yes, professor." Both girls said dutifully, before leaving and hightailing it up to the Heads common room.
&
&
Draco was lying on the couch, eyes closed when they came in. by mutual agreement, Ginny and Hermione dropped their bags on him, and he jumped, sending the bags to the floor and the girls into hysterical laughter.
"That was not funny." He said flatly. Hermione nodded, clutching her stomach.
"If you say so."
"Where have you been?" he demanded. "There was that big to-do in Hogsmede…I was worried."
"What to-do?" Ginny asked, regaining control over herself.
"Apparently a couple of dementors showed up in Hogsmede and started making people miserable…as they do. So Potter and a bunch of other random Gryffindors and a few others started sending patronus' running everywhere. It looked like a zoo!"
"So that's why McGonagall wanted to know where we were." Hermione mused.
"So where were you?" Draco demanded.
"London." Hermione answered with a shrug, sitting down on the couch and putting her feet up. Draco stared at her blankly for a minute, and Ginny giggled softly.
"London." He repeated, his voice dangerously soft.
"Curfew! Gotta go." Ginny grabbed her bags, kissed Hermione on the cheek and left, the portrait door swinging shut behind her.
"What exactly were you doing in London?" he asked, coming around the coffee table to stand directly in front of her, forcing her to put her feet down.
"Shopping." Hermione answered cheerfully.
Easy, sweetheart. He's fucking furious.
"Shopping. You do realise that while you were gone, dementors came to Hogsmede, most likely looking for you? And no one could find you anywhere?"
"You've explained the dementor bit to me already, and surely it was better that no one could find me anywhere."
"Hermione, you are missing the point entirely."
"Look, Draco." Hermione stood up, so they were face to face. Or rather, face to shoulder, since he was taller than her. "I realise that dementors came to Hogsmede, and you were worried about me. And I appreciate that. But there is no need to get mad because I went to London on a spur of the moment thing with Ginny!"
"Spur of the moment? How the fuck did you get there, a journey which takes more than eight hours by train, shop, which I know takes you about four hours, and back again, all in a five hour time slot?"
"We apparated, or rather, Amelie apparated and took us with her."
"Hermione!" he exclaimed in exasperation. "You told Voldemort where you were! Now he knows and he'll be after you quicker than you can say, 'hey dad'! What the hell is wrong with you?" the volume of his voice rose progressively throughout his rant.
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Hermione shouted back. "For fuck's sakes, Draco. I'm seventeen, not seven! I can take care of myself!"
"But you cant! And you wont fucking see that the people who are coming after you don't have your fucking morals, or ideals, or any of that shit that stops you torturing people for fun! They will capture you, split you and Amelie apart, then kill you! Damn it, why can't you see that you're just a mudblood to them?"
Hermione's face froze. She let a breath out with a small sigh, and looked up at him. "What am I to you, then?"
"Hermione…"
"Don't try and evade me! I like you a lot. And I'm pretty sure you like me too. But we're playing a game where we're swapping friends and enemies and you know what? I'm not sure I want to play anymore! After all, friends come and go, but enemies accumulate. So guess what? Unless you give me a damn good reason for playing, I quit!"
"We're playing for your life, Hermione. Surely that's good enough for you." He said quietly. And then he turned and went into his room, shutting the door firmly behind him.
"Don't go to bed angry, Draco! Stay up and fucking fight!" she shouted at him. There was no answer, and Hermione grabbed her bags and stomped off into her room, her day ruined.
Guys were such shitheads sometimes
&.
