Chapter 21

Hermione finished her eggnog, bid her parents a happy Christmas, and hurried up the stairs to her bedroom. What was all this about marriage? Her parents had never stressed the importance of it; after all, both of them had been married before, and had always complained about how they had been too young. It just didn't make any sense to her. It wasn't that she didn't want to marry Draco; but she had just never really thought about it.

She sat down at her desk, pulled out a piece of parchment, and her favorite black quill. Her ink sat waiting for her. She hesitated for just a second, and then dipped the quill in, and began writing.

Dear Draco,

How strange these past few days have been. Remember that my brother and Cho Chang were dating last time you were here? Now they're engaged, and to be quite honest, I'm not very happy about it. She hasn't even told him that she's a witch, and who knows how that will go. And my parents are really stressing marriage lately, I can't help but wonder if theirs is under strain, and they want to distract attention from it, by pressuring me about the importance of marriage. It sounds so implausible that I'm tempted to laugh, but people do strange things when they're angry, as you well know.

Cho ate dinner with my family, and my parents positively adore her. I must admit, that I really don't like her. Perhaps it's the afterward of the whole D.A. fiasco, where her best friend tattled on us to Umbridge. Although you did help with that. So it wasn't really all Marietta's fault. But how easy I find it to blame that little rat and Cho Chang! I wish I could like her, for Gaelen's sake, but sympathy for Harry does weigh out my desire for liking Cho Chang.

On another note, I've been thinking about the upcoming upper class ball in May. Since we have a few more days before school begins, would you like to go with me to London next week to shop for a dress? Ginny might come along, I've already spoken about it with her, and with a little disguise, no one would recognize you. Ginny's very excited about being able to attend, and I'm glad it's for both sixth and seventh years. Well, I'll see you later.

Hermione

Hermione finished the letter with a flourish and stuffed it into an envelope. She tied the letter to one of the owls that had stayed on the premises after delivering Christmas presents, giving it a knut for it's worries, and then got ready for bed.


"No," Draco said heatedly. "I absolutely refuse to wear a false moustache, especially a black one. It will look absurd."

"Please," Ginny cajoled as they stood in the front hallway of the house on Knockturn Alley. "It's just a bitty moustache."

"No," Draco repeated staunchly. "What do you take me for, some sort of buffoon?" The others guffawed, and even Draco cracked a smile, which quickly dropped when Ginny waved the false moustache back and forth enticingly.

"Fine," Ginny said disapprovingly, dropping the muggle toy back into the bag she had found it in. "You'll just have to dress as a woman."

"A woman?" Draco exclaimed indignantly. "Now that is a bit extreme, Ginerva."

"Don't call me Ginerva," Ginny snapped. "Draco Malfoy!"

He started a bit, but looked ready to smack Ginny after he came down from where he had levitated too.

"Well, you need to be disguised," Hermione said worryingly, biting her lip. "Isn't there something you'll settle for, Draco?"

Mrs. Weasley furrowed her brow and tapped her wand against the stair balustrade, sending little sparks onto the marble stairs. "Well, you could always do an illusion or an allusion charm."

"What's the difference?" Pan asked grumpily.

"Allusion is imitating someone else, illusion just changes your features slightly," Hermione explained. "We'd best do an illusion, it'll be harder for everyone to recognize him. Can you do those rather well, Mrs. Weasley?"

"Of course," Mrs. Weasley replied, bustling over to Draco. She tapped his cheek lightly, and said, "Illusasy."

His face waved like a rippling pool, and suddenly cleared, and there was a shocked silence.

"Is his nose supposed-" Pan started out.

"Never mind," Mrs. Weasley said hastily. "I'll fix everything."

But it was too late, Draco had already seen himself in the mirror by the door, and he let out a blood-curdling shriek.

Sirius rushed in, wand outstretched, and upon seeing Draco's twisted face, his jaw dropped, and his noble brow went pale.

"That's one horrible illusion spell," Sirius managed.

"You look like a Picasso," Hermione said quietly. "I can't say the nose in the middle of your forehead is really an improvement."

And indeed, the lips on his temple didn't quite help either. His ear was where his mouth had been, and his nostrils were on his chin. It was comical in an almost disgusting way.

"I'll fix that," Mrs. Weasley said irritably. "My wand has been acting up lately, and it's nothing a little spell can't do."

"Would you rather I did it, Molly," Sirius said gently.

"No-"

"Sirius, do it," Draco said, his lips moving on his temple. Hermione winced, and was tempted to back away, but didn't. Mrs. Weasley seemed rather put out by Draco's lack of faith, but backed away to let Sirius do his magic.

"Illusaporate," Sirius said, tapping Draco's face. His face once again blurred like a rippling pool, and then cleared, revealing his normal, handsome face.

"Thank god," Draco breathed, feeling his face.

Ginny giggled loudly and Draco shot her a nasty look.

"Let's try that again," Sirius said, and before Draco could protest, said, "Illusasy." Once again, Draco's face rippled and then cleared. But this time, his face had changed, but to something normal. His nose was more squashed and less aquiline, his mouth was not as generous, and and his eyes had changed color completely. They were now blue as cornflowers.

"That's better," Sirius said, clearly satisfied. "You're not the looker you used to be, but it's only temporary, of course."

"Humph," Draco said, clearly not agreeing with his new face. "I guess it's okay. Better than brewing up a polyjuice potion or something."

"Seriously," Hermione said with a grin. "Imagine if you met who you were imitating on the street. They'd think you'd found one of the time-turners, even though we smashed them all."

"Argh," Draco said with a laugh. "Could you imagine the person's face?" He twisted his face into a horrified expression, and she laughed.

"Let's go," Pan said impatiently. "I want to get a dress for this damn ball, we might as well just do it."


Six teenagers turned around the corner onto Diagon Alley, talking loudly and enjoying the snow that had covered the cobblestones of the once crowded series of shops. But the once cheerful place was now desolate and deserted. Anxious shop keepers peered out of their windows, looking desperately for customers, and hoping not to find trouble.

They reached the wall and one of them tapped their wand against the bricks. They formed an arch, and they passed through and into the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione waved to the tired Tom, and they hurried out onto the London street.

"Where should we go first?" Pan asked, eyeing the muggles fretfully. "I don't know any muggle shops…"

"One of my brother's ex-girlfriends bought her wedding dress at a fancy dress shop down the street," Hermione said, grabbing Draco's hand. "Let's go there first."


A/N: Okay, this is the last time I'm going to update for two weeks, I'm very very sorry, but even writer's need a sabbatical every once in a while. So, please leave a review/comment, and I'll post again in two weeks!