A/N: Thank you so much for everyone who reviewed! Especially MIDNIGHT-PIXIE and JewelBlossom. You two keep me inspired! I really did try to get another chapter out Friday, but (alas) I ran out of time. Then, my computer froze and erased about a page of good stuff! sigh
Please feel free to give any suggestions of what you would like to see more or less of or any aspect you would like to see expanded.
Oh, I also realized that I have switched from first person to third person! (Duh!) I have fixed the old chapters now so if you read the complete story it makes more sense.
A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters. If I did, I'd be rich:)
As the carriage drove into the Carney Estate, Hermione and Ginny were able to view the grandeur of Draco's home. The trees around the estate was filled with fairy-flies, a dragonfly that showers sparkling dust has it flies around. As they neared the estate, the sun began to dip below the surface, causing a beautiful red sunset that streaked the sky in colour. Behind the estate, Hermione could see the fog creeping into place to add mood to the night. The closer they got to the estate, the dreamier the scene became. While Hermione knew that this was a spell to captivate the viewer, she had to admit she was caught up in the dream. Thankfully, the spell broke as the carriage entered the final gates before Draco's mansion. While a dream is lovely, Hermione did not want to wake up tomorrow thinking she had dreamt Draco's ball.
Their carriage joined the line dropping Reimashire citizens off and immediately received many stares. As no one could see who was in the carriage, Hermione found it amusing to watch the expressions of those persons looking at them. Several women smiled at the sign of a carriage arriving at the ball, appreciating the act. Others sniffed and turned away to approve their own limos or luxury cars. Finally, their carriage arrived at the grand entrance.
As soon as Blaise stepped from the carriage, many women's expressions changed. Disapproval turned to surprise, which then turned into eager looks of flirtation. Blaise looked around a moment and flashed a bright smile, which only made several women blush and giggled to their girlfriends. He then reached into the carriage. First Ginny stepped out, with the help of Blaise's hand. Her midnight blue gown sparkled and shimmered in the soft light of the estate. As she stepped to the ground, Blaise bowed and brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. Ginny blushed, looked down, and then again at Blaise with a smile. Blaise held her look for a moment before retrieving Hermione. She, of course, received no kiss, but accepted Blaise's arm to be led into the estate. Ginny grasped to his other side.
As their walked up the stairs among whispers of who they were, what they did, and how on earth did they know Blaise?! Hermione could not help but feel like royalty. The women of Reimashire had never been rude to Hermione, but they never invited her into their inner circle of girlish gossip. Not that she cared; to Hermione her life was work and her friends were those around her of like mind (and Ginny). Hermione looked ahead of her when the crowd at the top of the stairs parted with more girlish whispering and giggles. As she watched, Draco appeared before them.
Hermione couldn't help but think that he looked particularly handsome in a tailored tuxedo. It was a very simple coat, pants and shirt, but one could tell that it was worth more than most people's wardrobes. His gaze immediately fell to her and her face grew warm as he looked from her hair to her toes. A bit self-conscious, she drew her cloak closer around her body to distract herself from his inspection. While one does not want to look unpreventable, it is a bit unsettling when an old enemy looks at you like an attractive woman. Draco noticed her unease and turned to Blaise and Ginny and the trio approached.
"Welcome home, Blaise! It took you long enough to arrive. I was afraid that you decided to steal these two lovely ladies for your own design." Draco winked at Ginny. Thankfully, Ginny had blushed enough for the day that she just turned pale at Draco's reference to Blaise and herself. "Please come in! We are beginning with a great meal that my cook designed. I would love for all of you to share my table." Draco's eyes fell upon Hermione's again for a moment. He moved aside to gesture to them, "Please! Come in!"
Hermione, Ginny, and Blaise moved inside (and through the growing crowd) towards the grand dinning hall. Draco touched Hermione's back as she passed, but when she turned around, he was distracted as more guests arrived. Watching him for a moment, she found that he was very gracious and polite to everyone guest, no matter what their status might be. She smiled sadly, thinking of the pain he caused her at Hogwarts. Draco looked up at Hermione. He smiled at her, but Hermione just turned towards the dinning hall again.
Dinner overall was a very pleasant affair. Draco was only able to sit down for a moment as different people kept calling him over for conversations. Hermione, Ginny and Blaise enjoyed their meal immensely and then enjoyed talking about who was there, what they were wearing and with whom they would hook up with. Suddenly Hermione saw Matthew and her mother making their way to their table.
"Hey Hermione! How did you get a seat at the host's table? I didn't realize that you knew Draco so well. Your mum and I were thinking that you didn't come, but then we see you here!"
"Hi Matthew, hi mum." Hermione mentioned to Blaise. "Have you met my friend Blaise yet?" Matthew and her mum shook their heads. "Mum, Matthew Andrews, this is Blaise Zabini." Blaise stood to shake hands. "Blaise was a student from Hogwarts as well and a friend."
"It's very nice to meet you Blaise." Matthew shook hands with him and gave a little wave to Ginny. "Have you moved into town as well?"
"No, I am just visiting Draco. He's the best friend a guy can have." Blaise laughed.
"Yes, when you can visit him in homes like this!" Matthew laughed, agreeing. "But, seriously, it's nice to know that a pure blood with Draco's reputation is really a good guy." Blaise smiled, but didn't say anything. He turned to Hermione's mother.
"So you are Hermione's mum? I can see where she gets her good looks from." He added, winking devilishly.
Hermione's mum giggled. "My, you are the charmer! Now, I see why so many girls fall for the handsome Blaise." She took a seat next to Blaise, between Hermione. "Now, why did you and Hermione never get together?" Hermione moaned, but before she could intervene, Matthew took her attention away as he sat down next to her in Draco's chair.
"So, have you found out anything about the portkeys and secret passages in the Carney Estate? You know how big of a discovery that would be for you to find out how the power has been arranged here and if we should fear the property!" Hermione looked uncomfortable.
"Matthew, of course I want to find out what is going on, but I can't just make any findings public knowledge! What if Draco or his family objects? This is something very secretive and I can't just barge into their personal lives!" Matthew just shrugged and took a bite from Draco's plate. Hermione thought she was going to die of embarrassment at her friend's behaviour.
Thankfully, at that moment, the orchestra began to play. Matthew perked up right away. "All right – music! Aww, they are playing it all wrong!" he ran off to conduct the conductor. Hermione made a mental note not to invite Matthew to any formal parties that she gave in the future to prevent herself from further embarrassment. She turned back to Blaise and her mother. By now, Ginny was dying of surprised laughter at the situation. She knew what Hermione's mother was like and how dedicated she was to the quest to finding Hermione a husband. Seeing that Hermione had tuned into the conversation again, Ginny could no longer help herself (and decided it was time to save Blaise).
"So, Mrs. Granger, what do you think of Draco Malfoy as a possible match for Hermione?" Hermione stared at Ginny, shocked. What was she doing? Watching Ginny laugh, Hermione's shocked look turned into a glare. Blaise just looked relieved and was not willing to say anything to bring Mrs. Granger's attention back to him.
Mrs. Granger looked surprised. "Mr. Malfoy? Draco? Well, I never thought of that. I mean, I remember the nasty stories Hermione would always come home with about him and what he would do to her." Blaise looked at Hermione surprised. Hermione looked ashamed. "Well, maybe he just liked Hermione! Yes, that must be it! Now we see what a lovely gentleman he is and why wouldn't he love my Hermione!" She began to get excited. "Ginny, you are right – Draco is a perfect match for Hermione!"
Ginny started to protest, "No, I didn't mean "
"Where is Draco?" Mrs. Granger stood up, "I must met him and talk with him about you Hermione. Please sit up dear and try to be nice to Draco." Hermione stared stupidly at her mother. "He may have been mean in the past, but he is such a nice gentleman and a very well positioned one as well! Stay here." Mrs. Granger began to walk towards Draco. Hermione began to protest, but all of a sudden felt very weak in her knees.
Thankfully, Draco saw Mrs. Granger coming towards him. As Hermione watched, he looked up at her for a moment. A couple passed between her and Draco and suddenly, he was gone. Mrs. Granger stopped, confused. Hermione watched as well, thankful that he got away, but a bit confused at his disappearance. After a moment, Mrs. Granger chanced direction to retrieve her husband at another table.
Soon, Ginny and Blaise made their way to the ballroom for "a few dances and to socialize." Hermione declined their offer for her to join them and instead finished her coffee while watching the couples around her converse and make their way to the ballroom. Dancing held no interest to her now and she enjoyed just looking at the estate. Her eyes wandered around the room, taking in the architecture and engravings.
Curiously, one of the engravings seemed to be moving. As Hermione watched, an engraving of a mouse walked along the wall. Perplexed, Hermione walked towards the mouse. It looked at the mouse was make of plaster and even seemed to have a very stylized tail that curled up. As she came closer, the mouse froze. Hermione stopped. After a moment, the mouse began to walk again toward the main hall. Hermione let it walk ahead of her and waited until it turned the corner into the hall. Looking around, Hermione saw that no one had noticed the moving plaster. With overwhelming curiosity, Hermione moved into the main hall.
Following the wall, Hermione saw the mouse walking ahead about 50 meters. "Wow, he sure moved quickly." She thought as she followed him. She giggled to herself. All the women in the town were in Draco's ballroom, trying to present themselves to him and he was in his hall, following a mouse! "My mother would die at my priorities," she thought.
Closer and closer Hermione walked towards the mouse. He seemed to have stopped in front of a small door under the main staircase. Hermione looked down at him. He was no longer moving. She waited about five minutes. Still, he did not move. Hermione sighed. "Why did you walk out here?" She wondered aloud. She looked at the mouse. She looked at the door. She looked back towards the party. When she looked again at the mouse, she noticed that his tail was no longer curled. Instead, it was curved to form a sentence.
"Open the door." Hermione read. She looked at the mouse with surprise and wonder. "Why?" The mouse just looked at her.
The tail wrote again: "Draco."
Hermione frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Disappearing Draco delivered downstairs."
"What?" Hermione did not understand. Nevertheless, she was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong with Draco's sudden disappearance. She looked again at the mouse, but stepped back. He was gone from ground. Swirling around, she found him on the door, above the handle. Again, the tail said, "Open the door."
Hermione finally did and disappeared into the darkness beyond.
Several hours later, after Draco's speech to his guests welcoming them for their company, the evening ended and people began to leave. Finally, there was just Ginny, Blaise and Draco remaining. Draco came up to Ginny and Blaise, who were enjoying another glass of wine and laughing.
"Have you guys seen Hermione?" Ginny and Blaise both looked stupidly at Draco.
"What?" Ginny asked, confused. "She isn't here?"
"No, I haven't seen her since dinner."
"Maybe she went home." Ginny said, turning back to Blaise.
"No, her cloak and purse are still here." Draco produced both objects to Ginny and Blaise. They started for a moment at the items and then at Draco.
"Where is she then?"
Ok, I will end it here! I hope that you enjoyed the ball, although Hermione has been a bit distracted from the normal Ball events. Please read and review and offer suggestions or comments or what you like, want to see more of, want to see less of etc.