A Song without Words
Disclaimer: Still not mine
Thanks to all my reviewers! I love you guys. Thanks for reading my fanfic. It's nice to know that someone will spend time to read my weird writings! This is a slightly longer chapter... Sorry for the wait. - Kyra
Onto the story!
Chapter Three
"A grand piano?"
Draco was shocked to say the least. Those things were expensive; even a poorly made one. But not only do you need the money to buy it, you need the space to hold it as well.
"Yes. We gave our other one to the museum last year. It was an antique but stopped playing. All of the original parts were still in it. So Mum and Dad asked the nearby museum if they had any place in their 16th century room for a grand piano."
"Si-Six-Sixteenth Century?" Draco was glad that he put the angel on the table. He would have dropped it.
"Of course the piano I bought was recently made. I mean you can't compare a new piano made by Victor Borgar with a piano that Beethoven played on. But you know…" Hermione shrugged.
Draco almost chocked. Victor Borgar was the most talented piano maker for the past who knows how many years. His pianos could easily make a rich family poor. The poor teenager started to sputter.
"You… You... How rich ARE you?" Hermione blinked at him.
"Let's just say I can rival your bank account." She smiled in her mind. 'Of course he thinks I'm poor. I'm Mudblood Granger after all.' "Surprised, Malfoy?" She said out loud.
"Just a little." He looked like he was having problems breathing.
"Well I still don't know what I'm going to do with it. I guess I could send it back, since I don't play myself. But that's such a waste. I don't really want to leave it at home either…"
"Bring it here."
Hermione blinked at the comment. "Here? But that'll get rid of so much space."
"I wouldn't mind. Or you could ask Dumbledore if you could borrow a spare room."
"But why would I want to bring the piano here to begin with?" Hermione asked the blonde boy.
"To learn."
"You say that with such an obvious tone to it. Who will teach me?" She dreaded the answer.
"Me."
Hermione sighed but didn't fight. Draco was doing so much for her; she didn't want to seem ungrateful. "Thanks. I'll talk to Dumbledore in the morning about getting the piano here."
"Good. Now tell me about yourself."
Christmas morning found Hogwarts' Head students asleep on a couch curled around each other. Weird? Definitely, but hey, give them some credit, Hermione hadn't slept for weeks and she felt safe enough with Draco. Scary isn't it? They had spent the night reliving happy and sad and angry stories of their past. Around four forty Hermione laughed so hard she fell over onto Draco. Both were holding each other for support and eventually fell asleep in each others arms.
The sun streamed into the room and Hermione blinked her eyes open. Someone was playing with her hair, and that could only mean…
"Morning Draco."
"Morning Hermione. Sleep well?" Draco knew that she hadn't been sleeping recently. He could hear her breathing at night and he could see the fatigue in her eyes during classes.
"Yup. It's more the fact that I slept at all, I guess." Hermione smiled. She felt refreshed for the first time in the past two months. She didn't know if it was from the talking the previous night or the sleep. But either way she was grateful to Draco. Sitting up, Hermione felt Draco let go of her hair.
Her eyes scanned the room and landed on the small pile of wrapped gifts under the little tree the house elves put up for them.
"Presents!" She jumped up and grabbed Draco's arm.
"Hard to tell that you've been depressed for the past couple of months." Draco smiled at the newly energized girl.
"Oh," she frowned at him as he sat up. "Whatever." She pushed him back into the couch as he went to stand up. Running off she dove into the presents. She grabbed the closest one and checked the name.
"Heads up, Draco!" Tossing it to the couch she head him catch it with his Seeker reflexes.
"Don't throw them!" He laughed at her.
"It was in my way." She kept pushing all the presents behind her as they all read "Draco" or something of the sort. (Anything that said "To my Drakie-poo" was definitely not hers.) "Merlin! Why couldn't they put it all in a bag and label it 'For his Highness.' Good Grief."
"It would be easier with clean up." Draco muttered as he waked to another part of the pile and said, "Oi, Hermione. Set over to your side of the tree." He motioned to another pile, all labeled for the Gryffindor girl.
"Oh. Sorry." Hermione waded her way over to where the boy stood. When she reached her destination, she looked at the packages, threw her arms in the air and yelled, "PRESENTS!"
Promptly sitting down she summoned parchment, quill, and ink to her side. She started her tradition of making a list long ago right after she learned how to write. After getting the list prepared she tore into the wrapping.
Shaking with silent laughter, Draco waded through his packages and pulled four out. He put them on the ground near Hermione and opened his gifts.
Remus Lupin, their third year Defense teacher had sent Hermione a glass bottle of multicolored ink. She let out a squeak of happiness out before writing on her paper then showed Draco.
"Lookie! Isn't it neat? I'm going to have so much fun color coordinating my notes." She let Draco take the bottle out of her hand.
"Wow. Mind if I borrow it sometime?" He grinned slyly.
"Maybe. If you're good. What did you get?" Hermione retrieved her bottle and saw him hold up a book.
"Transfig book. It's from my Dad. He thinks I need to improve." He scowled. Hermione laughed.
"Next!" She ripped open another gift.
And so the morning continued.
A couple hours later found Hermione walking to the Headmaster's office alone. Despite her attitude that morning with Draco, she was struggling hard with herself not to run away and never turn around. Hermione believed that she owed Draco more than her cowardice. Stopping in front of the statue, she paused to take a relaxing breath.
"Raspberry Swirl Truffle."
The statue jumped to life and revealed the staircase. Mounting the steps, Hermione took calming breaths. It would be the first time that she would voluntarily talk to someone, other than Draco. She stepped onto the stone landing, took one last intake of air and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Dumbledore's voice floated through the oak door. Hermione grasped the handle and entered the office. The professor looked up and saw his Head Girl standing in front of his desk. "Miss Granger. A surprise, I must say, to see you here."
A flicker of annoyance flashed in the back of Hermione's head. Her face remained emotionless as she gave a nod of greeting to her Headmaster, "Happy Christmas, Professor Dumbledore."
"Happy Christmas." 'Not really,' Hermione retorted to her teacher in her mind. "Lemon Drop?"
"You know my answer, Professor. My parents do not approve of candy at any time. Least of all in the morning." Hermione blinked, "DID not. My parents did not approve." She corrected herself.
The old man placed his fingertips together and gazed at his top student. "What can I do for you, Miss Granger?" His face was devoid of emotion at her grammar tense correction.
Hermione opened her mouth to quickly explain her request.
Hermione slammed into the common room.
"He said he'll give me a room." Draco sat up in his chair where he was writing a letter. He gave a smile.
"When is it arriving?" He cleaned his quill and stood up.
"It'll be here by noon. I'll go check it after lunch." Hermione walked to her desk and noticed a roll of parchment. Picking it up, she made her way to her couch. "Dumbledore had the gall to wish me a happy Christmas. I can't believe it. He's seen so many deaths and even more pain yet he has no sympathy towards me. Not even an 'I'm sorry for your parent's death.'"
She looked down at the paper. Jumping up she thrust it into Draco's hand before running up to her room. The Head Boy could hear Hermione ripping her wardrobe doors open. Draco followed slowly reading the paper.
Dear Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy,
As a Christmas gift, the faculty is holding a ball this evening. All students are welcome. As our Heads we request you share a dance to open the ball. The ball is formal so please dress accordingly.
The ball will begin at six o'clock and will run until midnight. Because of your station we will allow you to visit Hogsmeade. Please be back before four o'clock and inform either myself or the Headmaster before leaving.
Have a pleasant day.
Professor McGonagall
Draco looked up from the paper and saw Hermione scowling at the clothes in her closet. She let out a groan and sat on the ground.
"Why didn't I pack any formal clothes this year?" She groaned to herself.
"The question should be why did you stray so far from your usual self and not finish reading the letter?" The blonde smirked as Hermione lunged toward him. Well not so much him as the letter.
"Give it to me." Hermione snatched it back and Draco got dizzy from watching her eyes flick back and forth over from one side of the page to the other.
"Let's go." Draco disappeared into his room and came back sticking his wallet into his robe as he donned the garment. Hermione nodded and mechanically got herself ready. She threw on her robe, cloak and a scarf. On her way out she grabbed her gloves and followed Draco out the room.
Thankfully, the pair ran into their Transfiguration teacher on their way out and didn't need to go around finding her.
On the road Draco brought up the piano again. "Which room did Dumbledore lend you?"
"It's Classroom 352 at the end of our hallway." Hermione rubbed her hands together to keep them warm as they made their way into the little town.
After looking unsuccessfully at three dress shops, Hermione stopped in the middle of the road and turned to face the blonde who was walking a few steps behind. She glared up at the man who looked positively lost as to the reason of the glare.
"Why are you following me everywhere? Don't you have some shopping to do yourself?"
"Nope."
Hermione's glare deepened. "Then why are you here at all?"
"I got a free excuse to get off school grounds; you think I'm going to pass that up?" He grinned devilishly. He heard her sigh.
"You are no normal guy. You have gone into all the shops with me and have given your opinion. Any normal guy would be off somewhere getting a hot drink. Not participating in the world's most boring sport." She let out a huff at the end of her speech.
"Man, not talking for the past month really weakened your lung capacity, you know? You used to give speeches twice as long without a hitch." His smirk widened as she spun on her heel. "Do I bother you with my presence?"
"Not really." She grunted under her breath.
"Then I don't see a problem." He spotted a store farther up the lane. He caught up with Hermione, grabbed her arm and steered her straight for the store.
They stepped into the store and Hermione gasped. "No way, Malfoy. This is way out of my league." She made for the door, but found said person in her way.
"Look it can't hurt to look, can it?"
"Are you insane?" She whacked his arm. "Putting a girl in a place with beautiful things she dreams about, which are out of her money pocket, and telling her it won't hurt to look at something she can't have, is the STUPIDEST thing you have ever done!" She glared at him.
"Well I must say this is a plus." Draco placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around.
"What?"
"I'm getting my old Granger back by pissing her off. Too bad you were unresponsive earlier. I would have been easier for you." He sniggered and gave a gentle push, "Look, I'll pay for the dress, but," he stopped her before she could interrupt, "I want to see you smile at least once tonight and talk with your friends. No arguing, I'm not taking a no. Now look."
Hermione was in pure confusion, but Draco left no room for any complaints from her. She disappeared into the folds of the dresses as she continued her hunt for the perfect dress.
Wow. I've got a lot of rambling in this one... Seriously I'm just putting this up as I write... So I really don't know where this is heading... Hopefully I'll get it to end properly... Yay! Onto the ball!
Love ya lots- Kyra