The Price of a World
Chapter Sixteen
A week went by, a week in which Hermione hardly saw her friends. She was so preoccupied with arranging Prefect meetings for the Ball and keeping up with her NEWT studies. Her only form of solace was Draco's presence every night for a few hours after dinner. But at length, the day came; the day of the Hogwarts Ball. The school was in a tumult of ecstasy, girls were gossiping about their dates, their dresses and worrying over how they were going to get ready in the 4 hours they were allotted instead of afternoon classes. The boys on the other hand were boasting about their 'gorgeous' dates and how good they were going to look in their formal muggle attire.
The morning sunshine filtered through the stained glass window above Hermione's desk, splashing the colours of the rainbow on the pallor of her tired face. She blinked slowly, awaiting her proper vision to break through the blur in which she now saw. She rubbed her sore eyes, stretched her over worked muscles and massaged her temples where a headache had been nagging for the last week. Upon opening her eyes and taking in the familiar surroundings of her room, she noticed something in which; wasn't familiar. Sitting on her desk was a silver platter. On which sat the most grandiose breakfast she had ever seen in her life. She leapt out of bed and put on her white lace, wrap around dressing gown. Her feet padded softly on the floor as she went over to the feast in which was all hers. She sat on the desk chair and smiled to herself.
"Trust Draco to go to all of this..." She thought. But it wasn't until she saw the single tulip flower lying on the desk next to the platter that she realised that it wasn't Draco who had made this breakfast for her. A small card was tied to the tulip with a red ribbon. She picked up the card and read it.
'Happy Anniversary Hermione. All my love, Harry.'
She sat for a moment thinking what to do. It was their anniversary. And she had to make it special for Harry. It was going to be so hard to say and do things for their one-year anniversary; when she was in love with some one else. She admired the feast and, not wanting it to go to waste; started to eat it.
Being Head Boy and Head Girl, Hermione and Draco were excused from classes altogether so as to prepare the Great Hall for the Ball that evening. They were joined along with 2 prefects from each house in the year below them. Ginny was one of the Gryffindor Prefects.
Hermione showered and dressed as quickly as possible for she wanted to see Harry before he went to class. She dressed herself in a pair of jeans and a brown tank top, not wanting to wear anything nice since she'd be doing physical work. She flew down the corridors as fast and her feet would allow. But rounding the corner into the main staircase she ran head-on into, no other but Draco Malfoy. The collision stopped her dead in her tracks but it was also unexpected and she toppled backwards landing hard onto the stone floor. Draco sneered down at her.
"Watch where you're going mudblood. Although I could get used to seeing you at my feet." Hermione opened her mouth to enquire of the sudden change in Draco when a familiar voice rang out behind her.
"Get away from her Malfoy." Before she knew it, a firm grip had her under each arm and lifted her to her feet. It was Harry and Ron, on their way to Potions. Hermione then knew why Draco had resorted to his old self. Harry and Ron had been approaching.
"Don't worry Weasel. I was just leaving." Draco pushed past the two Gryffindor boys and stalked down the corridor towards his dorm. Hermione spun around and threw her arms around Harry's neck and hugged him tightly.
"The breakfast was absolutely beautiful." Hermione murmured against Harry's lips as she kissed him feverently.
"Glad you liked it." He said smiling as he put his arm around her. The trio began walking to the dungeons.
"So are you going to give us some inside goss about the Ball?" Ron teased.
"You know I wouldn't Ron." Hermione replied nonchalantly whilst a smirk played on her lips.
"Oh really? So you wouldn't give in to torture?" Harry said whilst poking Hermione's stomach gently. She squirmed slightly being highly ticklish.
"No, I wouldn't give in to torture." She said grinning profoundly and trying her hardest to dodge Harry's poking. Ron laughed heartily before joining in Harry's form of "torture" by tickling Hermione. She immediately let out a scream of laughter and giggles whilst her two oldest friends tickled her. By now they were in the corridor leading to Snape's potions classroom.
"OKAY! Okay, okay." She yelled between giggles. "I'll tell you one thing." Hermione stood in her tiptoes to whisper into Harry's ear. Harry's eyes widened and then his lips drew into a cheeky grin. Hermione gave Harry a quick kiss on the lips before running back towards the Great Hall.
"See you this evening Harry! Bye Ron!" She called back before disappearing around the corner. Ron just watched, completely baffled.
"What… just happened? What did she tell you?" Ron pestered. The grin was wiped from Harry's face and his cheeks immediately flushed a deep red.
"Oh. Uh. Nothing of importance."
"Harry!" Ron whined. But right at that moment the door to Snape's room slammed open and the class had begun.
Hermione walked up to the giant doors in which lead to the Great Hall. The prefects must've already started preparing the hall for the door was wardened off with enchanted barricades. They had even placed a sign on the door: "Hall Closed in preparation for the Grand Ball."
Hermione heaved the door to the hall open and slipped inside. The Ravenclaw prefects were decorating the dining tables at the far end of the hall whilst the Hufflepuff prefects were starting to decorate the walls and entrance. The Gryffindor prefects were setting up the stage and sound equipment but the Slytherin Prefects were nowhere to be seen. Either, Hermione noted; was Draco. She went over to Ginny who was taping the electric cords to the group so as no one would trip over them.
"Where are the Slytherin prefects?" Hermione asked, a slight frown forming between her eyebrows. Ginny stood up from her task on the floor and brushed the hair from her eyes.
"They never showed up. Malfoy waited for them for a while but then he took off aswell." Hermione sighed.
"Oh well. We'll just have to do without them at this stage. Have you heard from the bands yet?" Ginny shook her head slightly.
"You'd have to ask Jas, over there. He was in charge of the music gigs."
"The Hufflepuff Prefect?" Hermione checked.
"Yep." Hermione smiled and nodded to Ginny before going to enquire about the music acts for the night.
"Jas?" A dark haired Hufflepuff 6th year looked up from what he was doing.
"Yeah?"
"Heard anything about the bands coming tonight?"
"Yeah, The Streets will be here as scheduled for 6pm."
"And the complication is..?"
"Well you see." The boy paused. "The Libertines won't be here until 9pm." Hermione's brain was working over time but she kept her cool and thought out the problem.
"Well. We can have The Streets on first at 6pm. Dinner and then The Libertines as soon as they arrive." Jas smiled and nodded, appreciative of Hermione's judgement. "Go change it on the schedule so the other Prefects know what's happening." The 6th year did as he was told and Hermione continued around the hall helping the Prefects complete their chosen tasks. Suddenly the doors burst open and Draco stormed into the Great Hall, slamming the doors shut behind him as loudly as they'd opened. Hermione watched as he stormed halfway into the room, his cheeks flushed with anger. He slowed down and stopped just near the dancefloor and looked up. Draco looked straight at Hermione, her large brown eyes large with wonder and concern. Her presence soothed him; he took a deep breath to calm himself down. Before he knew it Hermione was by his side.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Hermione asked, turning her back on the other Prefects and shielding Draco from their curious stares.
"Those two bloody Slytherin Prefects. That's what's wrong." Hermione turned to face the other Prefects in the room.
"Go back to your duties. We have 2 hours to have this hall ready. And if it isn't done you'll be staying back into your afternoon preparation time." In an instant all of the Prefects went back to what they were doing.
"Come." Hermione led Draco out of the Great Hall and into the Hogwarts Grounds. She followed the walls of the castle around to the left until she stopped at a sandstone bench amongst the flowerbeds. She sat down, and Draco sat beside her. Taking Draco's hands in hers she started kissing them gently.
"What about the Prefects? What is it that they have caused you to be so upset?"
"I'm not upset. I just hate Pureblood superiority. You know those Prefects complained to their parents about being bossed around by a –"
"A mudblood…" Hermione murmured. "So they aren't helping because I am the Head Girl?"
"Pretty much."
"And not even having you as the Head Boy meant anything?"
"It did. But I refused to agree to their terms. But, don't worry about it anymore. You're here with me and that's all that matters." Draco clasped one of his hands with Hermione's and with his other hand he touched her cheek softly. He traced his finger down her cheekbone and jawbone, down her neck and then slowly ran his hand down her arm. Goosebumps exploded over Hermione's skin. She could see Draco's eyes scanning her body, taking every bit of it in hungrily. Draco then placed both of his hands on Hermione's hips, pulling her closer to his body. Eager for the bodily contact Hermione climbed over to Draco, straddling him with one knee on either side of him. Draco's hands ran from Hermione's hips down to her bottom. The touch of Draco's warm hands through Hermione's tight denim jeans was driving her body crazy. It was amazing how the unpredictability of having someone run their hands across your body made your skin crawl with delight. Hermione leant forward and started planting gentle kisses on Draco's neck, occasionally nipping the skin gently with her teeth; making his hips jolt and grind against her own. His hands continued to explore, they ran up and down her thighs, his thumbs tracing the inside of her thighs and sending jolts of pleasure all the way up to the place where the crotch in her jeans met the thin cotton of her underwear.
"I want you so badly Hermione." Draco murmured from the place where his head was nestled in-between Hermione's breasts. Hermione kissed the top of Draco's head, his fingers tracing slow circles across the denim on her bottom.
"You have no idea how much I want you too. But Harry - "
"Yes. I know." Draco leaned back and admired Hermione's figure. "We should get back to the hall. We have less then two hours before we have to start getting ready." Hermione kissed Draco's soft lips gingerly before hopping off his lap. He then stood, fixed his robes and walked back to the Hall whilst holding Hermione's hand.
"Report."
"Master, the Death Eaters are gathered and prepared. I have given them the portkey in which will activate at 21:00 hours. I shall accompany you to the destination along with 2 of your best Death Eaters."
"Their names?"
"Crabbe and Goyle, Master."
"Very well. Carry on with what you were doing. I however, wish to look my best when meeting my old friend… Mr Potter."
It was midday; Hermione was pressed for time, and short-handed by two people. Draco was helping carry the heavy equipment and connect all the wiring system together. Hermione was busy helping the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw prefects to finish decorating the room since the tables at the far end of the hall were already set and decorated. Time passed quickly but the hall looked great. Hermione, Draco and the prefects stood back admiring their work once they were done. They had done pretty well. Their hands were red and sore, they had grey dust and dirt covering the knee patches on their jeans and their hands were equally as dirty. The girls' hair was messed up and the boys wiped their foreheads with their robe sleeves. Everyone's cheeks were flushed from the exertion.
"Okay everyone. Very well done. I'm awarding you each 10 points for your house for your efforts. And we've even finished half an hour earlier then expected." Hermione beamed with pride at the group of Prefects before her.
"You're all dismissed." Draco said with a sigh as he collapsed into a chair. The Prefects bustled out and off to their dorms to get a head start on getting ready for the Ball. Hermione smiled and laughed half-heartedly at Draco whilst walking over and massaging his shoulders gently.
"So uh. How long does it take you to get ready for a ball?" Hermione smiled and leaned forward from behind Draco and kissed his neck.
"Definitely not 4 hours. 3 Maybe." She said trying her hardest not to laugh. Draco jumped up and lifted Hermione in his arms.
"Well we'd better hurry. I've got you all to myself for an hour and a half." Draco said biting gently on Hermione's earlobe. Hermione giggled and clung to Draco as he raced off to his dorm room with Hermione in his arms. Upon reaching the Private Head Boy dorm room Draco lay Hermione onto his couch and he climbed on top of her. Hermione's chest heaved up and down, trying to catch her breath from laughing all the way from the Great Hall. Slowly Draco lifted Hermione's tank top over her head and started planting soft kisses down the valley between her breasts. Whilst Draco was preoccupied Hermione undid the buttons to Draco's shirt with deft fingers. They then spent the next hour and 20 minutes fondling, kissing and teasing each other whilst making good use of chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
Hermione raced into her bedroom, it was 3:45pm. She had an hour and 15 minutes to get ready.
"This is so unfair." She complained as she rushed into the shower. She ended up resorting to using magic to help dry and do her hair all the while she was thinking of how she was going to spend the night with Draco and how she was going to act the perfect girlfriend to Harry, in front of Draco.
Draco stood under the warm running water of his shower thinking about Hermione and how he was going to get through tonight whilst acting as though he hated her. Draco, being the cunning Slytherin that he is. Came up with a plan.
Harry was adjusting his suit jacket in front of the mirror whilst Ron was trying to tame his hair with some hair gel. Harry was determined to make this the best night Hermione ever had. He was eager to see her since she forbade him to see her outfit for the evening. There was also another whom he wished to see in her gown this evening but pushed that thought to the back of his mind convincing himself that the thought meant nothing.
AN: Okay so maybe this chapter isn't the "BIG" chapter that i promised. I had to break it into two chapters, otherwise it'd be one massive long chapter and you'd get bored by the time you read the second word of the first paragraph. I'll post Chapter 17 tomorrow morning. And since it's school holidays and it's pissing down with rain, i'll post a new chapter every day. --Peta