Chapter 17: The Dance (Part I)
Hermione looked at herself in the mirror.
'Okay,' she thought, 'You can do it.'
She picked up a dress lying on her bed and had just turned back to the mirror when the door opened and Ginny stepped in.
"Hey, Hermione," she said cheerfully, "Still getting ready?"
"Just started," Hermione admitted.
"What are you waiting for! You've got an hour left!"
"Oh, really Ginny, it won't take me-"
"It takes time to get ready, Hermione! Come on!" She grabbed Hermione and pushed her into the bathroom, then snapped the door shut. "Get changed, and hurry up!" Ginny called.
Hermione, still startled by Ginny's behaviour, unclasped her robes.
After pulling sparkling material over her thin frame, she looked into the mirror.
"You look lovely, dear." the mirror complimented, making Hermione blush, "You're date wont be able to keep his eyes off you." If mirror's could wink, that's exactly what this mirror would do.
"T-Thanks." Hermione said, still red.
"You done in there yet?" demanded Ginny.
Hermione had barely said yes when Ginny barged through the door. Upon seeing her dressed she proceeded under the sink and grabbed out a few items.
"Ginny! What would you have done if I wasn't changed yet!"
"You look lovely too." Ginny muttered.
"Ginny!" Hermione said as Ginny straitened up, arms laden with bottles and irons.
"The mirror was talking, you had to have been dressed." She said simply.
Hermione decided to approach a different subject, "So…what are all these for?" she turned some bottle fronts toward her, "Curling gel, anti-frizz spray, acne-cream, beano?"
"That's for me!" Ginny said, slapping Hermione's hand away from the container.
Hermione looked in disbelief at Ginny.
"Off topic." Ginny said shortly, "Now, with this hair…"
"What are you doing to my hair?" Hermione asked.
"It's lovely, Hermione. It really is, it's just… a mess." Ginny admitted, sitting her down onto a stool.
"Hey!"
"Okay, so it's less bushy than before but you've got all sorts of complicated curls here. Like a mass of spider webs-"
"Ginny! I will not have you handle my hair if you call it a spider web!"
"Fine, it's an arrangement of a bird's nest."
"GINNY!" whined Hermione.
"I'm joking, it's really more like a cat's hairball. I'm kidding." she said flatly in response to Hermione's astounded face. She began to part Hermione's hair.
"Oh, this is ridiculous." she took out her wand and pointed it at Hermione's head, "Curilisus Arrangus."
Hermione's hair neatly parted into tidy curls.
"Why don't you just use a spell to make my hair perfect?" asked Hermione.
"Because, it looks super better if it's done the muggle way. And I only used the Curilisus charm 'cause it makes the process easier."
"Whatever you say, Ginny."
Ginny chose to ignore that comment and grabbed the nearest bottle. She squirted slightly pink substance into her hand then began rubbing it through Hermione's hair. She added another basis, lavender, and another, periwinkle, and sea green. It wasn't until she spread clear gel into her hair that Hermione spoke up, "Is this all necessary?"
"Of course it is." Ginny replied absently, continuing her task.
Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Are we done yet?" she asked dully.
"No. Not even close. Now stop asking questions." Ginny scolded.
Hermione sighed again and slumped slightly in her seat. She had almost dozed off minutes later when Ginny's ringing voice came into her head. When she tuned it Ginny was somewhere along the lines of:
"…going to love it--can't wait--so much fun--so pretty--remarkable--!"
"Gin, settle down. I highly doubt it's that-" but at that moment Ginny twirled the seat around and Hermione stared at the reflection gaping back at her.
"Amazing." breathed Hermione in astonishment.
"I did quite good, didn't I?" a smug Ginny said.
"You're starting to sound like Ron." Hermione pointed out, though still smiling at her hair.
It had styled to look like something of a magazine. Small loose curls wove in and out of each other. A spare amount of tresses was pulled into an exquisite half pony-tail. And to top it all off, sparkles shone through her hair.
"Excuse me? You're the one that said yes to him."
"Yeah, well you couldn't, because you're his sister."
Ginny stuck out her tongue. "Make up time."
"Oh, Ginny."
"Hermione." she said tensely.
"Fine, fine. Just hurry up." Hermione checked her watch. "We've got twenty minutes."
"It's that late already!" Ginny grabbed some containers nearby filled with every colour under the rainbow and began designing Hermione's face furiously.
Hermione heaved a sigh thinking, 'These dances are so complicated.'
---Downstairs/Entrance Hall
"Where is she?" Ron was practically pulling his hair out.
"Mate, don't worry. She'll show." consoled Harry.
"You're jinxing it!" Yelled Ron, "Don't say she'll show. If you say that, she'll desert me!" Ron started pacing around in frantic circles.
"No, no, she'll be here." Harry said; looking side-tracked he checked his watch.
"See! Even you're worried!"
"Huh? Oh, that's great, Ron." He checked his wrist again.
"She's not gonna show, she's not gonna show, she's not gonna show…" Ron was muttering to himself.
Seamus and Dean wandered over, arm in arm with none other than Haley and Madison.
"What's up mate?" said Dean.
"He's paranoid." Harry said shortly.
"I am not paranoid!" Ron screeched, pausing in his strides.
"Aw, she'll be here soon." said Seamus reassuringly, "Dean's even showed up!"
"Yeah!" said Dean, "Wait… Hey!" He yelled.
Haley laughed as Madison said, "It was either him or Goyle," with a stony face.
Ron rolled his eyes, and, checking his wristwatch, began his steps again.
"Mate-" said Harry, touching Ron's shoulder.
"What?" Ron thundered. But at that moment he saw exactly what.
At the top of the stairs, two girls were flowing down the ivory steps. One, the one that caught Ron's eyes immediately, was wearing a sheer blue dress with a light dust of silvery sparkles over the flowing bottom. Her usual chaotic hair was designed into elaborate curls, also full of sparkles. As she neared with the other girl, he saw sky blue eye-shadow and more faint sparkles adorning her face. What drew the youngest male Weasley in more though, was her lips. Usually thin and a light hue of pink, they were now fuller and glossy.
The other girl was first to speak. "Hello Ron, Harry." said Ginny.
She was ornamented in a slick emerald and black dress. The whole top was emerald with small black lacing up the back. The bottom, coming to her knees, was jade. She wore shoes suitable for ballet, straps winding up to the top of her calves. Her make up was hints of green. Two thin braids framed her lightly freckled face. The bottoms of the rest of her hair was straight until a few inches at the bottom, which were mannered into large round curls.
"Hi, Ron." said Hermione, blushing slightly at Ron's gaze.
Ron quickly closed his mouth, "H-Hi."
Harry tried to restrain himself from laughing at the two, "They're opening the doors soon. We'd better get closer."
He led the other three over to the doors. Almost instantly, they opened, revealing a completely transformed Great Hall.
The four tables were, yet again, absent. To the right and left were small tables for groups of six. They were all decorated with gold roses in sparkling silver vases. Along either side were tables laden with various sweets, including muggle and wizard ones alike, and rows and rows of butterbeers. Directly ahead of them was a large dance floor and a stage where the band would soon be playing. To the far front of the hall was a long table where the teachers could sit. Silvery lanterns hung here and there, casting a radiant glow on everything it touched. The walls were decorated with small silver and gold streamers.
"If everyone will stop staring, Professor Dumbledore would like to make an announcement." called out Professor McGonagall.
Immediately, everyone snapped their heads to the Headmaster, who stood in front of them all.
"Before we begin our little dance, I would like to draw your attention upward-" everyone looked up, "-there you will see are some owls. You can send them across the room for communication if you can not find your friends." He gave a wink. Lots of the students laughed to themselves, thinking the idea was absurd. "But let's not stall any longer, and let the dance begin!" he cried, jumping up with much more enthusiasm than a normal man his age would have.
Suddenly, the curtains on the stage opened up and there, a muggle band stood and waved at the students. Nearly everyone flooded over to them.
The lead singer announced, "We'd just like to say Hey, and well… hope you like our song!"
The students cheered.
"I know them!" cried Hermione.
"Huh?" said Ron.
"They're a muggle band back home! I got tickets to go see them!"
"Would you mind telling us who they are?" Ron asked.
But Ginny had suddenly ran from them and was bursting into the crowd, screaming her head off. "Switchfoot!"
"Now we know." said Harry.
"Supposedly," said Ron. He turned to Hermione, but she was already rushing off after Ginny.
The band began to play as Ron and Harry hurried forward.
"Maybe I've been the problem, maybe I'm the one to blame
But even when I turn it off and play myself, the outcome feels the same
I've been thinking maybe I've been partly cloudy, maybe I'm the chance of rain
Maybe I'm overcast, and maybe all my lucks washed down the drain."
"Where are they?" Ron yelled to Harry.
"Dunno." said Harry, "Try the front?"
"I've been thinking 'bout everyone, everyone you look so lonely
But when I look at the stars,
when I look at the stars,
when I look at the stars I see someone else
When I look at the stars,
the stars, I feel like myself"
Just then Ron found Hermione. He tapped her shoulder. She turned around and smiled at him but then began to sing along with the band.
"Stars looking at our planet watching entropy and pain
And maybe start to wonder how the chaos in our lives could pass as sane
I've been thinking bout the meaning of resistance, of a hope beyond my own
And suddenly the infinite and penitent begin to look like home.
I've been thinking 'bout everyone, everyone you look so empty
But when I look at the stars,
when I look at the stars,
when I look at the stars I see someone else
When I look at the stars,
the stars, I feel like myself"
Harry found Ginny. She was singing as well. In mid lyric she said, "Come on, Harry. The lyrics are easy!"
"Stars. Stars. Everyone, everyone, you feel so lonely
Everyone, yeah everyone, you feel so empty.
when I look at the stars,
when I look at the stars,
when I look at the stars, I see someone else,
When I look at the stars, the stars
I see someone-- yeah!"
Everyone cheered as the band gave a bow and smiled at them all.
"Whoo!" Hermione and Ginny screeched, startling both of the boys.
The band exited from one side and another came in, dressed all in black and red.
"Oh, my god!" screamed Ginny, as everyone else was cheering, "It's-"
"MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE!" Hermione squealed energized.
The band began to play as Ron stared in confusion. Harry seemed to know who they were though, and was staring at them in amazement.
"Long ago
Just like the hearse you die to get in again
We are so far from you
Burning on just like a match you strike to incinerate
The lives of everyone you know
And what's the worst you take (worst you take)
from every heart you break (heart you break)
And like the blade you stain (blade you stain)
Well I've been holding on tonight
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
Came a time
When every star fall brought you to tears again
We are the very hurt you sold
And what's the worst you take (worst you take)
from every heart you break (heart you break)
And like the blade you stain (blade you stain)
Well I've been holding on tonight
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
And if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
Can you hear me?
Are you near me?
Can we pretend to leave and then
We'll meet again
When both our cars collide?
What's the worst that I can say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight
And if you carry on this way
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight
So long and goodnight!"
The hall erupted in cheers again and the band thanked everyone and started up another called "Ghost of You"
"Come on. Let's get a drink." said Ron, who was eying the band still in awe.
Hermione nodded and the four of them drifted of towards a table. Ron and Harry got the girls butterbeer while they chose a shining table.
"Whoa." said Ron, sitting down in his chair.
"I have every single cd of both of those bands." said Hermione. "I could bring them sometime."
"You do?" Ginny nearly screamed, "Oh, I've got to borrow them!"
"CD?" said Ron.
"It's a small silver disk that holds their songs in it. That way, you put it in a cd-player and then when you press play, you can hear them."
"Oh." said Ron.
"Did you understand any of that?" Hermione asked, doubtfully.
"Y-Yes..?"
Harry laughed, choking on his drink.
"Shut up, Harry!"
"I'll just have to show you later." Hermione said.
"You brought one?" said Ron.
"No, but you guys could probably come over for summer vacation."
"Cool!" said Ginny, "I want to see your house so bad!"
"Yeah." agreed Harry, emerging from his bottle, still purple in the face. Ron sniggered.
"Shut up, Ron." Harry said dully.
"Hey! They brought The Click Five too!" Ginny ran over to the stage again.
"Oh boy." Harry got up and ran after her.
Hermione laughed and took another drink.
"We going after them too?" asked Ron.
Hermione pondered for a moment, looking around the hall. "I think I've got a better idea." she grinned and grabbed Ron's arm.
(A/N: I am so evil! Muhahahahahahaha! Hope you liked this one! It's kinda late, but I haven't really been writing too much on it. sheepish grin. But The last chapter will be up at least by tomorrow. Unless you guys don't review. : ( So YOU BETTER REVIEW IF YOU WANT THE LAST CHAPTER:D So, off you go! Remember to check back! ; ) )