Just a note: I know this is moving slowly, but please be patient! I don't want this to be rush job, I want this story to be somewhat 'realistic' in the sense that not all relationships, especially between two people happen in one week...well, most don't:-) thank again and happy reading. Snogging coming soon.
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Hermione did not see Draco at all the next day. As a matter of fact, she barely saw him except when she went to turn in her preliminary designs for Mr. Machina's new club.
November flew by and soon Hermione found herself strolling the streets of Diagon Alley purchasing Christmas presents and decorations for her home.
She couldn't stop thinking about Draco. She was sure she felt something the night they went to the opera. It was a feeling she couldn't shake, but she wasn't sure what it was.
As she walked down the snow covered streets she happened upon a small shop tucked in-between two large dress shops in the more exclusive part of Diagon Alley. She peered through the windows when something caught her eye.
Slipping inside the small shop, she went right to the item and picked it up. It was perfect.
Making her purchase, Hermione stepped out into the snow. It was time to head home and plan for the holidays.
~*~
Miss Hermione Granger
Requests your presence at Stoneybrooke Manor
On December 18th
For the annual VERSACELF Christmas Ball
8 pm
Dress Robes, Muggle Black Tie Optional
Please RSVP via Owl to Stoneybrooke Manor
~*~
"I can't wear this! What would my employees think Ginny! I don't want to look like some desperate slag waiting to reel some man in! It's the annual Christmas ball! Our former professors will be in attendance for heaven's sake."
Ginny surveyed the woman in front of her. Hermione was wearing a rather tight red dress with the plunging neckline. It was perfect! Hermione rarely dressed in such attire.
"Honestly, I don't know why you want to wear that hideous caramel concoction. You look like a crumpled toffee wrapper. Trust me; this will have Malfoy's head spinning."
Hermione frowned, "I don't give a damn what Malfoy thinks. Come to think of it, why do you care what he thinks?"
"Well, I just thought you had a 'thing' for him. I mean, he is a gigantic waste of space, but there must be something special about him for you to be blushing so badly just at the mention of his name."
Hermione's hands flew to her face. Her cheeks were a bit warm, but they were standing near the fire in her sitting room.
'It's just the heat from the fire, that's it, heat from the fire.'
"It is rather warm in here, you know. And no to the red dress. I won't wear the caramel one either. I do have a lovely set of lavender robes, but-"
"You are not wearing dress robes. You always wear them so loosely fitted these days. I insist on taking a trip to Harrod's in London. They would have something appropriate."
Hermione slipped off the dress and threw it on the growing pile of rejected silks and taffetas. The ball was in four days and the only thing dressed up was her christmas tree.
"I suppose we could venture into London. While we're at it, we can stop by and visit my parents. I want to make sure that they're coming this weekend."
"It's settled then, London's calling!" Hermione rolled her eyes and went into her room to change. It was bound to be a long afternoon.
~*~
"So are you going to the ball this weekend?"
Draco took a sip of his tea and winced as it burned his tongue. He glared at the cup. Looking across the table, he nodded, "I am. I have to. I mean, I'm chairman of the board, i have to."
Ron took a bite of his scone, "So, what's the status on Operation Shag Hermione?"
"I never said my intentions were to shag her. And there is no operation. I'm biding my time until the right moment, that's all."
"Some game plan. According to Ginny, you've barely spoken to her in three weeks. Don't think that you can go throwing Hermione into a slump and live to laugh about it. I think she really likes you!"
Draco stared at his cup of tea. He wanted to think whether the tea had cooled down, but his thoughts were diverted to what Ron had said about Hermione liking him.
"And I sure hope you're not bringing some office tramp to the party. Hermione will act all fine about it, but I can assure you that Harry and I will bear the brunt of her rage afterwards."
"Don't tempt me Weasley. Just so you know, I'm not planning on bringing anyone. What about you?"
"Ah," Ron smiled slyly at Draco, "You know that new bar called 'Last Exit'? Well, there's this waitress there named Gabriella. Absolute looker, i tell you. I invited her last week. She's bloody gorgeous!"
"Good for you. Look, I have to run some errands in London, but I'll catch up with you on Saturday. Say hello to Harry for me."
Draco dropped a few knuts on the table and walked out of the restaurant. Picking up the pace, he made it to an apparition point and apparated to London to pick up his tuxedo.
*~*
Hermione was once again standing in front of a full length mirror, this time at Harrod's Evening Wear department. The dressing room resembled her bedroom at the manor-discarded dresses all over the place. Hermione sighed and slipped off the tenth gown she had tried on. There was nothing in particular that had caught her eye. She put her street clothes back on and stepped out of her fitting room.
"It's useless Ginny, really, I can't find anything in here that even remotely resembles what I want. Let's just head over to my mum's, we can make it for tea."
Ginny frowned. She never knew Hermione to be so indecisive. She was practical, but she never put anything off to the last minute. 'This is all Malfoy's doing. He's rotted her senses.'
"Fine, whatever you say. But don't come running to me when you have nothing to wear."
The two women walked out of Harrod's into the busy streets of London. Hermione found a secluded alley for them to apparate from safely. Just as she raised her wand, something knocked into her and she fell ungracefully to the ground.
"Damn it. What the bloody hell was--oh, hello Malfoy." Hermione stood up and brushed off her clothes. Draco stood in front of her with an amused grin on his face.
"Stop grinning, you look like the Cheshire cat." Judging from his look, Hermione assumed he had no idea what she was talking about.
"Sorry, it's just that it's not everyday that you see the president of a powerful company sprawled all over a London alley like a homeless bum. What brings you out here?"
"I was just doing a bit of shopping. And yourself?"
"Came to pick up my tuxedo for your little soiree this Saturday." Draco looked behind Hermione and saw a rather angry looking Ginny glaring at him. "Nice to see you too Weasley. Granger here giving you tips on how not to look like you swallowed lemons?"
"Shove it Malfoy. We have to go. Come on Hermione." Ginny dragged Hermione by her arm to the end of the alley. Looking back at Draco, Hermione gave him an apologetic look just before she apparated.
'Damn, she looked good,' thought Draco. 'Saturday might not be so terrible after all.'
~*~
Hermione's childhood home was on Oxford Street. It was a rather quaint home, very pristine inside and outside. Hermione always disliked how sterile everything looked. Her parents, being dentists, always kept everything clean and simple.
Hermione rang the doorbell. Irina, their housekeeper answered the door.
"Miss Hermione, what a nice surprise. A good thing your mother did not go into the office today. Come come, " said Irina, ushering the two girls into the house and shutting the door behind them. "Your mother is in the sitting room."
Hermione smiled at Irina as the woman disappeared to the kitchen. Ginny stood in the foyer taking in the simplicity and elegance, as well as the extreme cleanliness of Hermione's parent's home. In all the years Ginny had known Hermione, she had never been to the place where she grew up.
"Blimey, this place is clean enough to eat on the floors. I suppose your mother would have a heart attack if she ever came to visit the burrow."
"My parents just like things.....clean and orderly. Come, let's find mum."
Hermione's mother was still a striking woman in her late fifties. They found her in the sitting room sipping on a cup of tea and reading the newspaper. She saw Hermione and immediately jumped up to embrace her only daughter.
"What brings you back here?" Mrs. Granger hugged Hermione tightly. It had been months since she had last seen her daughter who lived just behind a plain brick wall in the magical world. She let go and took a look at her. 'She looks tired,' she thought.
"You look a bit off dear. Come and sit." Then Mrs. Granger turned and saw Ginny standing by the doorway. "Virginia!" Ginny groaned at the sound of her real name. It had been years since someone had called her Virginia. Come to think of it, it was Mrs. Granger who addressed her that way.
"What a wonderful surprise! How are your parents?"
"Oh, they're fine. Dad is still at the Ministry and mum is still at it in the garden. You have a lovely home Mrs. Granger."
"Thank you, Virginia. Although I'm sure Hermione has expressed her distaste in my decorating skills."
"Mum!" Hermione shook her head at her mother and conjured up some cups for herself and Ginny. After they were all settled with some tea, the women chatted idly about current affairs in and out of the muggle world when finally Mrs. Granger mentioned the ball.
"Your father and I are so excited. We had a grand time last year, Virginia. Shame you weren't there to see us. We were so fascinated by all the magic freely waved about. I mean, after all these years with a witch in the family, you would think that we would be accustomed to it, but it gets us every time!"
Ginny placed her cup on the table and smiled, "Speaking of the ball, did you know that Hermione hasn't picked anything to wear for Saturday."
"Really? That's quite unlike you dear." Mrs. Granger stood up and motioned for the girls to get up as well. "Let's have a look in my closet and see if I have something."
Hermione stood up and groaned. She wasn't too keen on another moment of strewn ball gowns on the floor.
Mrs. Granger led the way to her room. Once inside, she began pulling out dress bags and laying them on the bed.
Hermione began to riffle through her mother's dresses. Eight dresses later Hermione squealed.
" I found it!" Hermione turned around and held up a champagne ball gown. It was strapless with intricate beading on the bodice. It was sexy, but not too revealing. It was perfect.
"Hermione..." Mrs. Granger looked on as Hermione slipped on the dress. It was a vintage Oscar de la Renta that she wore to her debutante ball all those years ago. And now, seeing her daughter in the very same dress, Mrs. Granger was at a loss for words.
Ginny was not. "That is absolutely stunning! 'Mione, you are going to knock someone off their feet whether they like it or not."
Smiling, Hermione twirled around in front of her mother and Ginny. The soft silk of the dress felt light against her skin.
"Mum, where on earth did you get this dress? And one by Oscar none the less!"
Mrs. Granger went up to Hermione and fiddled with the hem of the dress, then stood up and smiled at her daughter. "I wore it on my eighteenth birthday. It was the day I was introduced to society."
"Wow. Oh, can I please please please wear it?" Hermione held on to the sides of her dress, almost afraid that her mother would say no.
"The last time you said please three times in a row was when you wanted to go to Hogwart's. For being twenty-six, you're still such a child at heart. Of course you may wear it. I have to admit, i am a bit jealous that at your age you can fit into the dress I wore when I was eighteen, and never again after that night."
The women laughed and gathered the dresses up that Hermione had previously tried on. Sitting down on her mum's bed, Hermione smiled.
'This ball is going to be perfect.'
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Many thanks to everyone who has reviewed, especially Spaced Out Space Cadet! The next chapter is the ball! And Christmas! Everyone likes a good holiday thrown in. Like I said, snogging coming soon….perhaps under the mistletoe? But I never said it would be between Hermione and Draco…
…Just something to hopefully bring you to read the next part. Ciao!
*****************************************************************************
Hermione did not see Draco at all the next day. As a matter of fact, she barely saw him except when she went to turn in her preliminary designs for Mr. Machina's new club.
November flew by and soon Hermione found herself strolling the streets of Diagon Alley purchasing Christmas presents and decorations for her home.
She couldn't stop thinking about Draco. She was sure she felt something the night they went to the opera. It was a feeling she couldn't shake, but she wasn't sure what it was.
As she walked down the snow covered streets she happened upon a small shop tucked in-between two large dress shops in the more exclusive part of Diagon Alley. She peered through the windows when something caught her eye.
Slipping inside the small shop, she went right to the item and picked it up. It was perfect.
Making her purchase, Hermione stepped out into the snow. It was time to head home and plan for the holidays.
~*~
Miss Hermione Granger
Requests your presence at Stoneybrooke Manor
On December 18th
For the annual VERSACELF Christmas Ball
8 pm
Dress Robes, Muggle Black Tie Optional
Please RSVP via Owl to Stoneybrooke Manor
~*~
"I can't wear this! What would my employees think Ginny! I don't want to look like some desperate slag waiting to reel some man in! It's the annual Christmas ball! Our former professors will be in attendance for heaven's sake."
Ginny surveyed the woman in front of her. Hermione was wearing a rather tight red dress with the plunging neckline. It was perfect! Hermione rarely dressed in such attire.
"Honestly, I don't know why you want to wear that hideous caramel concoction. You look like a crumpled toffee wrapper. Trust me; this will have Malfoy's head spinning."
Hermione frowned, "I don't give a damn what Malfoy thinks. Come to think of it, why do you care what he thinks?"
"Well, I just thought you had a 'thing' for him. I mean, he is a gigantic waste of space, but there must be something special about him for you to be blushing so badly just at the mention of his name."
Hermione's hands flew to her face. Her cheeks were a bit warm, but they were standing near the fire in her sitting room.
'It's just the heat from the fire, that's it, heat from the fire.'
"It is rather warm in here, you know. And no to the red dress. I won't wear the caramel one either. I do have a lovely set of lavender robes, but-"
"You are not wearing dress robes. You always wear them so loosely fitted these days. I insist on taking a trip to Harrod's in London. They would have something appropriate."
Hermione slipped off the dress and threw it on the growing pile of rejected silks and taffetas. The ball was in four days and the only thing dressed up was her christmas tree.
"I suppose we could venture into London. While we're at it, we can stop by and visit my parents. I want to make sure that they're coming this weekend."
"It's settled then, London's calling!" Hermione rolled her eyes and went into her room to change. It was bound to be a long afternoon.
~*~
"So are you going to the ball this weekend?"
Draco took a sip of his tea and winced as it burned his tongue. He glared at the cup. Looking across the table, he nodded, "I am. I have to. I mean, I'm chairman of the board, i have to."
Ron took a bite of his scone, "So, what's the status on Operation Shag Hermione?"
"I never said my intentions were to shag her. And there is no operation. I'm biding my time until the right moment, that's all."
"Some game plan. According to Ginny, you've barely spoken to her in three weeks. Don't think that you can go throwing Hermione into a slump and live to laugh about it. I think she really likes you!"
Draco stared at his cup of tea. He wanted to think whether the tea had cooled down, but his thoughts were diverted to what Ron had said about Hermione liking him.
"And I sure hope you're not bringing some office tramp to the party. Hermione will act all fine about it, but I can assure you that Harry and I will bear the brunt of her rage afterwards."
"Don't tempt me Weasley. Just so you know, I'm not planning on bringing anyone. What about you?"
"Ah," Ron smiled slyly at Draco, "You know that new bar called 'Last Exit'? Well, there's this waitress there named Gabriella. Absolute looker, i tell you. I invited her last week. She's bloody gorgeous!"
"Good for you. Look, I have to run some errands in London, but I'll catch up with you on Saturday. Say hello to Harry for me."
Draco dropped a few knuts on the table and walked out of the restaurant. Picking up the pace, he made it to an apparition point and apparated to London to pick up his tuxedo.
*~*
Hermione was once again standing in front of a full length mirror, this time at Harrod's Evening Wear department. The dressing room resembled her bedroom at the manor-discarded dresses all over the place. Hermione sighed and slipped off the tenth gown she had tried on. There was nothing in particular that had caught her eye. She put her street clothes back on and stepped out of her fitting room.
"It's useless Ginny, really, I can't find anything in here that even remotely resembles what I want. Let's just head over to my mum's, we can make it for tea."
Ginny frowned. She never knew Hermione to be so indecisive. She was practical, but she never put anything off to the last minute. 'This is all Malfoy's doing. He's rotted her senses.'
"Fine, whatever you say. But don't come running to me when you have nothing to wear."
The two women walked out of Harrod's into the busy streets of London. Hermione found a secluded alley for them to apparate from safely. Just as she raised her wand, something knocked into her and she fell ungracefully to the ground.
"Damn it. What the bloody hell was--oh, hello Malfoy." Hermione stood up and brushed off her clothes. Draco stood in front of her with an amused grin on his face.
"Stop grinning, you look like the Cheshire cat." Judging from his look, Hermione assumed he had no idea what she was talking about.
"Sorry, it's just that it's not everyday that you see the president of a powerful company sprawled all over a London alley like a homeless bum. What brings you out here?"
"I was just doing a bit of shopping. And yourself?"
"Came to pick up my tuxedo for your little soiree this Saturday." Draco looked behind Hermione and saw a rather angry looking Ginny glaring at him. "Nice to see you too Weasley. Granger here giving you tips on how not to look like you swallowed lemons?"
"Shove it Malfoy. We have to go. Come on Hermione." Ginny dragged Hermione by her arm to the end of the alley. Looking back at Draco, Hermione gave him an apologetic look just before she apparated.
'Damn, she looked good,' thought Draco. 'Saturday might not be so terrible after all.'
~*~
Hermione's childhood home was on Oxford Street. It was a rather quaint home, very pristine inside and outside. Hermione always disliked how sterile everything looked. Her parents, being dentists, always kept everything clean and simple.
Hermione rang the doorbell. Irina, their housekeeper answered the door.
"Miss Hermione, what a nice surprise. A good thing your mother did not go into the office today. Come come, " said Irina, ushering the two girls into the house and shutting the door behind them. "Your mother is in the sitting room."
Hermione smiled at Irina as the woman disappeared to the kitchen. Ginny stood in the foyer taking in the simplicity and elegance, as well as the extreme cleanliness of Hermione's parent's home. In all the years Ginny had known Hermione, she had never been to the place where she grew up.
"Blimey, this place is clean enough to eat on the floors. I suppose your mother would have a heart attack if she ever came to visit the burrow."
"My parents just like things.....clean and orderly. Come, let's find mum."
Hermione's mother was still a striking woman in her late fifties. They found her in the sitting room sipping on a cup of tea and reading the newspaper. She saw Hermione and immediately jumped up to embrace her only daughter.
"What brings you back here?" Mrs. Granger hugged Hermione tightly. It had been months since she had last seen her daughter who lived just behind a plain brick wall in the magical world. She let go and took a look at her. 'She looks tired,' she thought.
"You look a bit off dear. Come and sit." Then Mrs. Granger turned and saw Ginny standing by the doorway. "Virginia!" Ginny groaned at the sound of her real name. It had been years since someone had called her Virginia. Come to think of it, it was Mrs. Granger who addressed her that way.
"What a wonderful surprise! How are your parents?"
"Oh, they're fine. Dad is still at the Ministry and mum is still at it in the garden. You have a lovely home Mrs. Granger."
"Thank you, Virginia. Although I'm sure Hermione has expressed her distaste in my decorating skills."
"Mum!" Hermione shook her head at her mother and conjured up some cups for herself and Ginny. After they were all settled with some tea, the women chatted idly about current affairs in and out of the muggle world when finally Mrs. Granger mentioned the ball.
"Your father and I are so excited. We had a grand time last year, Virginia. Shame you weren't there to see us. We were so fascinated by all the magic freely waved about. I mean, after all these years with a witch in the family, you would think that we would be accustomed to it, but it gets us every time!"
Ginny placed her cup on the table and smiled, "Speaking of the ball, did you know that Hermione hasn't picked anything to wear for Saturday."
"Really? That's quite unlike you dear." Mrs. Granger stood up and motioned for the girls to get up as well. "Let's have a look in my closet and see if I have something."
Hermione stood up and groaned. She wasn't too keen on another moment of strewn ball gowns on the floor.
Mrs. Granger led the way to her room. Once inside, she began pulling out dress bags and laying them on the bed.
Hermione began to riffle through her mother's dresses. Eight dresses later Hermione squealed.
" I found it!" Hermione turned around and held up a champagne ball gown. It was strapless with intricate beading on the bodice. It was sexy, but not too revealing. It was perfect.
"Hermione..." Mrs. Granger looked on as Hermione slipped on the dress. It was a vintage Oscar de la Renta that she wore to her debutante ball all those years ago. And now, seeing her daughter in the very same dress, Mrs. Granger was at a loss for words.
Ginny was not. "That is absolutely stunning! 'Mione, you are going to knock someone off their feet whether they like it or not."
Smiling, Hermione twirled around in front of her mother and Ginny. The soft silk of the dress felt light against her skin.
"Mum, where on earth did you get this dress? And one by Oscar none the less!"
Mrs. Granger went up to Hermione and fiddled with the hem of the dress, then stood up and smiled at her daughter. "I wore it on my eighteenth birthday. It was the day I was introduced to society."
"Wow. Oh, can I please please please wear it?" Hermione held on to the sides of her dress, almost afraid that her mother would say no.
"The last time you said please three times in a row was when you wanted to go to Hogwart's. For being twenty-six, you're still such a child at heart. Of course you may wear it. I have to admit, i am a bit jealous that at your age you can fit into the dress I wore when I was eighteen, and never again after that night."
The women laughed and gathered the dresses up that Hermione had previously tried on. Sitting down on her mum's bed, Hermione smiled.
'This ball is going to be perfect.'
******************************************************************************************
Many thanks to everyone who has reviewed, especially Spaced Out Space Cadet! The next chapter is the ball! And Christmas! Everyone likes a good holiday thrown in. Like I said, snogging coming soon….perhaps under the mistletoe? But I never said it would be between Hermione and Draco…
…Just something to hopefully bring you to read the next part. Ciao!
