The Halloween Dance
Finally the Halloween Dance had arrived.
"So who's your date?" Ginny asked as she and Hermione entered the Head Girl's bedroom.
"I don't have one," Hermione replied.
"You mean you turned down every guy who asked?"
"Nobody asked. I told you no one likes me."
"Oh please. I hope you don't really believe that. They're just all too intimidated by you."
"Yeah right…Let's just get this over with."
"Alright," Ginny said excitedly and immediately began conjuring make-up and hair products.
"Whoa—what is all this?"
"Just a few things for your face and hair."
Hermione picked up a bottle. "Ginny, I can't even tell what this one does."
"Oh, that's for body and bounce, but we won't be needing that."
Hermione groaned but said nothing.
"Ok, first your costume," Ginny said, pointing at Hermione, and her clothing changed from a t-shirt and a pair of jeans to a black dress.
"Ginny, what the hell!"
"It's your costume."
"It covers less than a towel would."
"It'll be fine."
"What if the top comes down?"
Ginny pointed at the strapless top and applied a spell. "There you go…" she said approvingly. "Oh, just some advice…if you happen to drop something, you should probably have someone else pick it up. But I suppose you can sit down just fine."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I cannot believe I'm letting you do this to me."
Ginny ignored her and conjured a pair of shoes that laced up to the middle of her calf.
"I look like a prostitute, Ginny."
"No, you look sexy. Now for your hair."
"Let's leave my hair alone."
"No, it has to be perfectly straight," Ginny said as she pointed her wand at Hermione's head.
Hermione touched her head. "That was pointless, Ginny."
"Almost. Now for make-up." Ginny applied heavy mascara and eyeliner. Hermione looked in the mirror when she finished.
"Ginny, now I really look like a prostitute."
"Be quiet." Ginny pointed a paling spell at Hermione's cheeks, and applied dark make-up under her eyes.
"Ok, now I look like a sick, tired prostitute."
"Open your mouth," Ginny ordered. She pointed at Hermione's teeth and two fangs grew quickly into place. "All right!" Ginny exclaimed. "Now go look."
Hermione walked up to the full-length mirror and stared.
"I'm wearing robes over this," she said.
"You can wear a cape if you want. But you're not keeping it on."
"Whatever."
"Ok, I've got to run now and get myself ready. See you at the dance," Ginny said and disappeared from the room.
Grabbing the cape Ginny left on her bed, Hermione slowly made her way downstairs and stopped at the bottom. Standing in the common room was an angel. Or was it just Draco?
"Did I die?" she asked the air.
"And go to heaven? Yes," Draco smirked.
No, it wasn't an angel, just Draco in an angel's costume. Hermione approached for a better view. Draco had opted for the warrior look. His shiny silver armor matched his eyes, and he wore a sword at his side. He extended his arm and Hermione took it cautiously.
"Umm…"
"Well, you are the Head Girl and I'm the Head Boy. It's only appropriate we go together."
"Ok…"
They walked to the exit and quickly walked to the Great Hall, where the dance was already in full swing.
"Care to dance, Hermione?" Draco asked.
"Sure…"
They danced for two songs, and then a male Hufflepuff came over and cut in. Then two Ravenclaws. And then another Hufflepuff. Soon, there seemed to be a line forming to wait for a dance with Hermione.
Finally, Draco pulled her away. Giving an icy glare to any guy who was too close, he led her to the middle of the floor for another dance. Then, Harry and Ron came over.
"Wow, Hermione!" Ron said.
"You look amazing!" Harry agreed.
Draco glared at them. "If you want to dance, you'll have to come back later," he said.
"Is Malfoy your date?" Ron asked, his eyes narrowing.
"The Heads must appear together," Draco simply stated.
"Um, I'll see you guys later," Hermione said as she was whisked away to another part of the floor.
"You know, we actually aren't required to be here together," Draco said.
"Oh…" Hermione looked up into his eyes. "Then thanks. I didn't have a date."
"Yet every guy and his best friend wanted to dance with you."
"I could say the same thing about you and every girl."
"Well, those girls don't matter," Draco said. "Hey, do you want to take a break?" he leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Alright…"
Still holding her hand, Draco led her outside to the gardens, and then they sat down on a stone bench. She raised her eyes to his face; he was giving her that look again.
"Dra—"
"Hermione, I'm really sorry," Draco said, cutting her off. "I know I acted kind of weirdly the last time we-we-"
She said nothing but took back her hand and waited for him to continue.
"You never gave me the chance to apologize."
Hermione frowned. "And why would I do that? So that you'd think it was ok again?"
"Well, no…but I'd think you'd want an apology."
"That would be unnecessary. The fact of the matter is that you said I could trust you," she pointed at his chest, "and you just ran away, like you said I was doing—but I didn't—but you did and then you just expect me to take it and probably come back for more—"
"Ok, hold on there." Draco rose from his seat next to her. "This is a stupid argument that we've already had."
"I agree, so let's not do any repeats."
"Not even the one of our meeting in the library?"
Hermione sighed and looked up at him. She couldn't help but smile at the positively childlike pout on his face. But of course his eyes said something else. His eyes said that he thought he was going to get what he wanted.
"Don't give me that look, Malfoy."
"Ah, but you like this look, don't you?" Hermione said nothing. "Be honest," he said, pulling her into his arms.
"Wait, Draco, just—" She couldn't look at his face so she cast her eyes up to the sky. "Don't."
"Why not?" he whispered into her ear. "Give me one good reason and I'll stop."
"I'll give you plenty."
"Any new ones?"
No response.
"Well, then," he said, turning her to face him, "I guess I win."
Draco pressed her lips to his and guided Hermione back to the bench. She fell onto the seat and he went with her, supporting her head and leaning her back into the wall. Their tongues met and danced until they both could hardly breathe. Draco paused for just a moment, then leaned back in. He licked her lips for reentrance, forcefully pushing his tongue in when she complied. Hermione reached up and grasped his hair, pulling him closer to her.
"So you do like this," he said.
"Of course," Hermione said with a smile, "who could resist Draco Malfoy?"