Chapter 14: Road to the World Cup
"England seems to be unstoppable in their quest to the world cup thanks to the spectacular flying of Xavier Lupin and the keeping skills of Oliver Wood. The English National Team has had 5 victories in a row and unless some other country finds a seeker with as much skill as X the team will take it all the way to the finals!" Ginny read out loud at breakfast to everyone sitting around the table. "Then it goes on to talk about all the other players. There is also an article later on that says how cute X is and how all the girls are heartbroken that it looks like Wood is taken."
"I read that Xavier is now the number one sought after person in the country," Gabrielle added as she tossed Hermione a copy of Witch Weekly. "According to the polls in Witch Weekly there has never been a person to upset Harry's number one spot until now. Can you imagine the fans he would have had if he had been able to play for the team, I mean they love X and they didn't even know him until he started playing this season."
"I find it amusing that the two most popular guys in the country are both seekers and related to Remus and friends with us," Hermione said trying to keep a straight face at the fact that the only person more popular than Harry is Harry in disguise. "After these articles it's going to be a zoo at the club tonight."
"I wonder what the boys are up to?" Ginny asked brightly. "They all left really early and said they had errands to run and took off saying they would meet us at the club later... they are definitely planning something."
"They are always planning something," Hermione added and they all laughed. "I just hope it's nothing embarrassing. Well, I'll see you girls later. I have a whole day of research to get done so I can actually enjoy myself tonight!" and she hurried upstairs to the lab.
"So, do you want to go shopping today?" Gabrielle asked Ginny. "I need a new outfit for the club and I don't want to just sit around waiting for the boys all day."
"Sure, besides we might run into them in Diagon Alley and figure out what they are up to." Ginny said with a smile and the girls hurried to get their cloaks before Ginny apparated them to the Leaky Cauldron.
"My sister told me there is a new boutique off one of the side alleys that has a lot of new racy lingerie and club clothes. I think we should check it out and give the boys a run for their money tonight!" Gabrielle said with a wicked smile.
"You truly are a Slytherin, let's go!" Ginny said and they rushed off to try and find the new store.
"Look at this one!" Ginny said with a giggle as she held up a very tight gold t-shirt that said "Lioness" on it in red letters. Gabrielle then handed her red and gold plaid skirt that was way shorter than Hogwarts dress code allows to try on with the shirt. When Ginny got out of the dressing room Gabrielle had found an outfit to try as well. It was a deep green t-shirt with a black dragon on it that said 'I Love My Dragon!" and had a black skirt to match with a green dragon on the back pocket. "That's perfect!" Ginny told her and the girls spent the next two hours looking through clothing.
"So do you think Hermione will like her new outfit?" Gabrielle asked while laughing. Draco had given her access to his vault and so the two girls had done some damage in the store and bought some things for Hermione as well.
"She's going to kill us, but it should be a good show if she's brave enough to wear it." Ginny said as they headed to a small café near the Quidditch supply store for lunch. "I wonder what the boys would think of all our purchases."
"They'd probably wonder if I have any money left in my vault," Draco said from behind them, making both girls jump and pull their wands. "Calm down love, it's just me." He told Gabrielle as he kissed her cheek. The other three boys just chuckled.
"Where did you get all these bags Ginny?" Ron asked his sister, wondering how she could afford three bags full of clothes.
"A new boutique opened up and we decided to become their number one customers," Gabrielle said. "They were more than happy to accommodate the future Mrs. Malfoy and the minister's daughter. They even charged everything to Draco's accounts for me!"
"Ginny! You let he buy you three bags of clothes with Malfoy's money?" Ron asked scandalized.
"Nope, only 2 bags worth, the third is for Hermione." Ginny responded with a wink at her friend. "What do you care anyways, and what are you four up to today?" She asked changing the question and directing it at Neville who was horrible at lying.
"We just needed a day out with the guys," Neville told her calmly. "Can we join you lovely ladies for lunch?"
"Who are you and what have you done with dear sweet Neville?" Gabrielle asked narrowing her eyes at the other three. They had obviously been giving Neville lessons on how to not stutter and act calmly around girls.
"He's still there, just now he's calm, cool and collected as well as sweet and wicked fast with a wand," Draco said as he sat down and put his arm around his fiancé. "We've been giving him pointers."
"As long as you don't listen to a thing my brother tells you," Ginny warned. "He's not exactly the ladies man." She stuck her tongue out at Ron and he turned red.
"I don't want to be a ladies man," Neville told her. "I am very happy with Luna as my girlfriend but I wanted to stop stuttering all over myself whenever a girl talks to me. I'm also trying to be less shy and not as scared of people in general. It's time for a new Neville."
"There was nothing wrong with the old Neville," Ginny told him with a smile and a peck on the cheek. "You know we're your friends and love you however you are."
"Thank you Ginny and I know that. I've been trying to stop being afraid of everything for a while now. I just needed a push." He told them all.
"Tell them what you did this morning!" Ron said excited for his friend.
Neville shrugged and told them, "I actually spoke to Professor Snape without stuttering and without cringing in fear or looking like a gaping fish."
"That's great Neville, I'm happy for you." Gabrielle told him.
"You should have seen Snape's surprised look when Neville actually wished him a good morning," X commented. "He was trying to figure out if Polyjuice potion had been used I think."
Later that night the girls all went downstairs ready to go to the club again. Ginny and Gabrielle had convinced Hermione to wear the outfit they bought her. The top was a t-shirt in bright blue with a picture of a racing broom on it and the words 'Take Me for a Ride' in bold letters that flashed different colors. They complimented the outfit with tight fitting black pants with different Quidditch designs on them in different color threads.
"I still can't believe you talked me into wearing this. I look like some hideous fan girl!" Hermione complained half-heartedly. She had actually found it quite funny but wanted to at least pretend she didn't like it.
"I still say you should wear the snitch hair clip we got for you," Ginny pouted.
"Nah, it looks better on you with your red hair. Besides, it matches your outfit and we all know you have a thing for seekers." Hermione said with a sly grin. "Besides, I like my rose hair pin and wanted to wear it."
"You girls look great," Remus said as they entered the kitchen to say goodnight. "I never pictured you as the Quidditch fan girl Hermione."
"Yeah, but it should confuse the hell out of anyone who knows me and will definitely keep Oliver guessing." She told him with a smirk.
"See you girls later; make sure you're not followed back here." Tonks warned them. As soon as the girls were out of earshot Severus emerged from the dark corner of the room. "Give me a few more seconds and your glamour will be complete." Tonks told him. What the kids didn't know was that an older member of the Order always followed them every time they went to the club, just in case. Tonight was Severus' turn. "See you tomorrow, the glamour will wear off around 3 am but you know the counter charm just in case."
The bouncer at the dance club smiled when he saw the girls appear. "Good evening my fair ladies. Your friends are already inside in the new upstairs VIP lounge."
"Thank Mickey," Hermione said giving the large burly guy a kiss on the cheek as she passed, making him blush.
"My pleasure Miss G, you have a good time tonight," he told her. The group of then that went to the club was always followed a few minuets later by another witch or wizard that was assigned to protect them, he wondered who it would be tonight. They always had different glamours but he was able to tell who they were to a certain extent. "Evening Professor," he called as the man in fashionable all-black club wear walked up. "They're in the upstairs VIP lounge tonight. The boys have something special planned for tonight." Snape nodded to the man and headed upstairs.
Hermione was behind the other two so the boys didn't see her at first. "You look wonderful tonight Gin, Gabrielle." X told them giving them both a kiss on the cheek. "We have most of the whole lounge to ourselves tonight, come on in."
Wood was looking around the room looking for Hermione. All her friends were here already, the twins and their dates, all the EDA members (minus the Creevy's who were all muggle for the summer) and the other Weasley boys and dates. He made his way toward Ginny to find out where Hermione was. "Where's Hermione?" Wood asked the redhead.
"Right here," Hermione purred seductively from behind him making everyone who heard her turn around to take in her outfit. She smiled to herself as she heard his quick intake of breath as he read her shirt and took in her body in the very tight clothes. She also noticed that he wasn't the only one looking like he wanted to take her up on the offer.
Oliver didn't know how to comment on how arousing her outfit was. Just the idea of her riding his 'broom' made his pants quite uncomfortable. He decided on the best course of action and and acted by wrapping his arms around her and kissing her, hard. He was actually surprised that she pushed him away. "What?" He asked her still in shock that his 'girlfriend' didn't seem to want his kisses.
"Hello to you as well Mr. Wood. I would think I deserve a little old fashion courtesy before you get to shove your tongue down my throat." She told him frustrated with his act of ownership. She knew how guys thought after being best friends with two of them. He was trying to state his claim on her to the other alpha males in the area. Well she was NOT the kind of girl you could own and he was going to get to know that very soon.
"I'm sorry," he said not really looking apologetic. "Good evening Hermione you look absolutely ravishing tonight. I am sorry that I couldn't keep my hands off you but your shirt gave me such ideas." He gave her his 'I'm a Quidditch star and you love me' look and was once again surprised that it didn't have any effect on her.
"Oliver Wood!" Hermione said while narrowing her eyes. "What kind of girl do you take me for, I would seriously consider what the next words out of your mouth are or you'll be dancing alone tonight. I am not just some other Quidditch obsessed hussy who has no brains and whose life goal is to bed a star of the English team!"
Wood was spared having to respond, luckily since he would have said the absolute wrong thing, by Charlie heading over to say hello to her. "Hey Hermione," he said flashing her a quick smile. "You look very nice tonight. I like all your girls' outfits tonight, lots of fun."
"Hey Charlie!" Hermione said with a big grin and gave him an extra big, extra long hug just to bother Oliver. "I was hoping you would be in town still. Did you want to dance?" She asked him and drug him over to the dance floor before either he or Oliver could protest, not that Charlie would have.
"I take it you like the rose then," he commented as he noticed it holding her hair back. "I remember you telling me last summer that they were your favorite flower. Did I get it right? I couldn't remember exactly what a fire and ice rose looked like."
"It's perfect, thanks again." She told him with a genuine smile. "So do you always remember odd facts about people like that?"
"Yep, it's a curse. I seem to remember the mundane information that is of no importance but never the other stuff." He chuckled, "For example, I know that not only is Ginny's favorite color purple but she prefers cotton to silk and skirts over pants. My mum actually hates eating a large breakfast yet she forces it down the rest of us. My dad actually is very well versed in muggle studies but likes to pretend he knows nothing; it's one of his favorite things to do. He'll talk with a muggle born about the stupidest things for hours when he new everything they are telling him already."
"Really?" Hermione asked with a laugh, "I'll have to remember that the next time he corners me."
"Well he did work in the misuse of muggle artifacts office for almost 20 years, he had to learn something." Charlie told her laughing. They headed over to the VIP bar after the song to get a drink.
"May I have this dance?" Xavier asked Ginny with a dashing smile. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a red polo shirt. "We match so we might as well dance."
Ginny loved dancing with Harry and hoped no one noticed how much time she spent with Xavier. "Sure, you know I like dancing with you. Since Harry can't come out at least I have one of my friends that pays attention to me. Everyone else is taken, even Neville!"
"Don't worry about me; I'll be here for your dancing partner all night if you'll let me." He said with a lopsided grin that she found endearing since it mirrored the one Remus always gives her. "I don't know if I told you yet or not, but you look great tonight."
"What is Ginny doing dancing with X again?" George asked his twin as they went to fetch their dates' drinks. "That's like the third dance in a row. Doesn't he know she is dating Harry?"
"I think we may have to have a talk with him later on," Fred said. "We'll just keep an eye on them tonight. Ginny may be too young to realize that he fancies her."
"Speaking of fancy, let's get back to our lovely dates." George said as he handed Angelina and Alicia the two drinks he was holding. "Which one of you lovely ladies would like to dance with me?" They both just shook their heads and sat back to enjoy their drinks.
"I think we'll just watch you two dance together from here," Alicia said with a smirk. "I want to see your moves before I take the chance."
The twins then entertained everyone with their original and very inventive dance moves. Everyone was laughing and having a good time.
After an hour at the club dancing with every one of her male friends Hermione decided it was time to see what Oliver was up to. She had seen him at the bar having way too many drinks while he watched her dance with each of her friends. She asked Ginny to help and the two headed down into the main part of the club to find him. He had left the VIP area earlier in the night after she danced with Ron. "I think he might be jealous," Ginny giggled, "He didn't seem to like the fact that you danced with everyone but him."
"Well first of all he was a prat when I got here and secondly he never once asked me to dance. I wasn't going to go to him when he still needs to apologize for thinking I'm another groupie girl. It was fun dancing with all the boys, I think I'm having the most fun yet tonight." Hermione told her with a grin. "Plus, the outfit is a total hit!"
Ginny was about to respond when she spotted Oliver and her eyebrows rose into her hairline. She couldn't even speak she just grabbed her friend and pointed toward the dance floor where Oliver was grinding against some cheap floozy. The girl was barely clothed and had her tongue in his ear and her hands on his butt. He was obviously enjoying himself and doing nothing to discourage the girl. Ginny could see the steam rising from her friend.
"Dancing with other people is one thing but that is not dancing, there is negative space between them and she is trying to devour him! He is so in for it!" Hermione said in the deceptively calm voice that Ginny knew meant trouble.
"Hermione, just stay calm, there are reporters all over the main level here and I'm not sure you want to be front page of the daily prophet." Ginny told her friend who was obviously too mad to care that she was about to make a scene.
Hermione stealthily made her way across the crowded dance floor toward him with a look of loathing on her face. She was right behind him and he hadn't even noticed. She reached out to grab his shoulder when she was distracted by the flash bulb of the cameraman who had appeared next to her. He had obviously recognized Oliver and realized he was not dancing with his girlfriend. "Oh well," Hermione thought. "If it's going to be in the papers anyway I might as well make it good."
She waited two seconds to gather her thoughts and in that time Oliver latched his mouth onto the girl's in his arms, it was the last straw for Hermione who thought he had perhaps just had too much to drink. "Oliver Wood, explain to me what exactly you think you are doing!" Hermione yelled loud enough for half the club to hear her. She was not even amused when he spun around looking like a little kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
"Hermione... I..." He tried to come up with a response knowing there was nothing he could say to fix the situation.
"Back off," the girl in his arms said. "You obviously didn't satisfy him and he came looking for me."
"Listen here Barbie Doll, this doesn't concern you." Hermione said with venom in her voice. "Oliver, I'll give you one chance to dig yourself out of this, so you better have something good to say."
"I'm sorry Hermione. You were dancing with all your friends and were upset with me and didn't want to kiss me and I had too much to drink and decided to come down here and find someone else to dance with." Oliver said quickly, hoping she wouldn't hex him. She was the Hogwarts dueling champion after all.
"I could care less if you danced with every person in here, that was not dancing. That was vertical foreplay. I saw you kiss her, explain that." Hermione said her voice cold as ice making him shiver knowing he had blown it.
The dumb girl he was dancing with decided she didn't want to share her new conquest and tried to draw her wand while insulting Hermione. "I guess you're just not good enough for him. He's better off with a real woman." She had almost gotten her wand out of her sleeve before she realized Hermione's wand was pointed right at her. She laughed, "You think you can use that thing? I doubt you even know which way to point it, besides are you even old enough to use it?"
"Do you want to try me," Hermione said, she had never wanted to hex a complete stranger as much as at that moment. "I don't want to hurt you so I suggest you put down your wand. I have taken out death eaters easily, you'll be no problem. You see, I'm the dueling champion of Hogwarts and I have and Order of Merlin, I wouldn't mess with me." Hermione smirked as the girl quickly lowered her wand as she recognized Hermione's picture from the paper.
"Hermione, please, I'm sorry. Let me try and make it up to you." Oliver pleaded.
"Who are we kidding Oliver, we were never meant for each other. It was fun while it lasted. I promise I'll come to the rest of your games and we can still hang out. But we are better off as friends." Hermione said with a small sigh. "I'm still very angry at you at the moment so I don't think you should come back upstairs. I have the urge to hex the next person that pisses me off," She said in a low growl. "It was fun while it lasted!" She turned on her heal and headed back toward the VIP lounge.
Oliver made to go after her and was held back by Ginny who looked pissed still. "Don't you even think about it. You don't deserve her and you know it. Go home before she never wants to speak to you again. If you're lucky she'll forgive you and still be your friend, but don't push your luck," Ginny then hurried after her friend hoping she was ok.
Severus had followed Hermione and Ginny to make sure they didn't get into trouble and had seen the whole exchange. He was impressed with the speed Hermione got her wand out of her boot and how calm she was in the situation. He had actually hoped the stupid girl would try something so he could watch Hermione hex her. Wood obviously was intoxicated since he didn't listen to Ginny and went to follow Hermione. Severus was glad to see that he didn't have to stop the boy as Mickey the bouncer who had been at the door earlier came over to 'escort' Wood outside.
Hermione was fuming when she got back upstairs and went straight to the bar for a martini and quickly drank it down letting the alcohol clam her nerves and focusing on the calming spell coming from the glass flower in her hair.
"Everything alright?" Charlie asked her, he had seen her down the drink and was curious what would cause her to need alcohol.
"It will be," Hermione said with a sigh and a sad smile. "I just had a bit of a shock and disappointment." She smiled at him and let him wrap his arms around her in a comforting hug.
"You know I'm here if you ever need me," he told her and gave the top of her head a quick kiss. She held him for another few minutes before taking a deep breath and pulling him out to the dance floor.
"Come on, help me forget about my bad date and have a good time." She said and laughed as he spun her around in an imitation of one of Fred and George's dance moves.
Ginny was making her way around the group letting them know about what went on downstairs. She was leaning in close to X to tell him the story and didn't even notice the flash bulb go off or the photographer hurry off. "I can't believe he would be that stupid," X said shaking his head. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the way the guys talk in the locker room it's like they have a scorecard going to see who can get the most girls. Maybe Oliver has decided to join their game."
"If that's the case then he should have had the courtesy to break up with her in private, not go snog some floozy on the dance floor." Ginny said with a glare. "Come on. Let's go dance with her and Charlie to cheer her up. She was having a great time dancing with everyone before. Maybe we can help her forget about it and just relax."
Hermione laughed as she was spun out of the circle of dancers and couldn't catch herself fast enough before she fell into a firm chest covered in a very soft black shirt. She smiled as she looked up. The man was in his early thirties and was wearing black jeans and boots and had short black spiky hair and silver rimmed glasses over his green eyes. "Hi," She said with a smile. "Sorry about that, my friends get a little carried away with their dance moves."
"I'm not sure what your friends are doing could be considered dancing," he told her in a voice that made her shiver it was so soft and velvety.
"I'm Hermione, I haven't seen you here before," She said with a smile, he fit her description of her perfect man exactly.
"I've only been here twice; I know the owner but don't have a chance to get out much." He told her trying to account for why he was in the VIP lounge.
"Why don't you show me if you can dance or not while you tell me your name," She said with a smirk as she pulled him out to the floor.
"Are you always this forward?" He asked her as he showed her that he could in fact dance, and dance quite well. He racked his brain for a name to tell her that wouldn't be a lie but that she still wouldn't guess was him. "You can call me Snake, that's some of my friends call me." It wasn't a lie, that had been one of his nicknames back at Hogwarts, Snape the Snake, it was fitting for a Slytherin and much better than Greasy Git.
"Snake huh? So I'm guessing that makes you a Slytherin." She said with a laugh.
"That a problem for you?" He asked with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. He was enjoying pretending to be someone else. "I overheard that you were a Gryffindor."
"You don't dance too bad," Hermione said with a smirk after he spun her around again. She finished the dance with him and went back to her friends.
"Who was the man in black?" Ginny asked wagging her eyebrows.
"I'm not sure, but boy is he sexy!" Hermione said with a giggle. "He is so my type."
"Hermione, I'm sorry Wood was a jerk tonight, is there anything I can do to make your night better?" X asked concerned for his friend.
"How about a dance?" Hermione asked and made her way though all her friends again.
"Another dance?" Snake asked as she had taken a break for a glass of water.
"Only if you answer a question," She said making sure to smile and flirt. "Which do you value more, intelligence, beauty or social status?"
"Well, I would have to say that I value intelligence the most in relationships but beauty the most in dance partners," he responded seductively.
"Ah, I would have to agree and I find you most enjoyable to look at," she purred wondering what had gotten into her. She never acted like this but she was enjoying herself.
"Well then I'll just have to keep dancing with you then," he said wondering what had gotten into her. She was acting strangely and coming onto him when she didn't have any idea who he was. "May I ask if you are always this trusting with men you just meet?"
"Nope, but as you can see I am surrounded by my friends and I have absolutely no plans on leaving with you, not to mention that I could hex you six ways from Sunday if you tried anything." She said with a smile.
"Feisty little lion cub aren't you," he said with a chuckle.
"I've never told anyone this, but I've always found Slytherins very sexy in a bad boy sort of way." She told him while running her hand along his chest admiring the lean muscles she found.
"Oh, do you really? Are you sure you're not just saying to get on my good side?" He asked with a smirk.
"Yes, you see I'm friend with a few Slytherins and one of the guys I find very appealing and the other I know half the school thinks was gods gift to women," she said pointing over at Draco.
"So you're friends with Mr. Malfoy?" He asked with raised eyebrows. "Who is this other boy you find so appealing?"
"When did I ever say the other was a boy? I don't like boys, I prefer men." She said with her newfound purr. "In fact he looks a lot like you; you two have the same velvety voice that sends chills through me."
"So you like my voice," he said in his most velvety tone in her ear.
"Yes, very much," she said and brushed her lips over his cheek while she answered. "You could make a woman orgasm without ever touching her if you just spoke the right words."
"Quiet vixen or you'll be the first one I try it on," he said not believing what she was saying to him.
"Will I see you here again?" She asked him as she noticed her friends were getting ready to go.
"Perhaps, if you have a smart owl you can send me a letter. Next time I'm going out I'll drop you a line." He told her and gave her a kiss on her cheek.
"I hope so, so far you're my absolute favorite snake." She said and gave him a quick peck on the lips before heading over to X and Ginny and heading out of the club.
"Come on guys lets go home."