Okay, I made this chapter longer than numero eleven, and finally, since HaliJade Snape wanted it in this chapter you'll be getting quite a bit of fluffiness (so they call it) :D Haha. And before I forget… HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Chapter Twelve: Television?
Hermione squealed with excitement, which caused Draco to look at her and gape.
He didn't know she was into these kinds of "parties" that happened every once in a while. It's not that he wasn't fond of these occasions as well. He had attended many during the summers he spent alone with only his mother (his father obviously busy with other "things" of more importance).
Last summer he had traveled with his best mate Blaise to a place they call New York in America. When they had first seen the huge statue of a woman, Blaise grew rather excited thinking that New York was a place where everyone praised women so much as to build a humungous statue of one and crown her. "Yeah… and that torch she's holding is what women used in the old days to scare away perverted men, like you." Draco had said to him.
During their stay in New York they had also wandered into many night clubs. Blaise had had a blast, of course. But Draco preferred sitting on the side and admiring the beautiful women from afar. He had grown slightly weary from girls throwing themselves at him. That's why he took such a liking to Hermione. She wasn't a slut like all the others and he actually had to put some effort in their relationship for it to get as far as it had.
"Why yes Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said, fiddling with his long gray hair.
Only now did she notice Draco's bewildered look and she blushed, embarrassed. Yes, I know what you're thinking. "I thought Hermione didn't like dancing?" But now she's seen what fun it can really be. Especially dancing with Draco! Sadly though, she isn't going to the dance with him. She's going with Ron, remember?
"A Christmas one?" asked Draco. Dumbledore shook his head yes and his eye showed a little twinkle of excitement. "But what about the students that are going away for the holidays?"
"Actually, the ball really won't be taking place around Christmas. We're having it on Saturday, before students pack up their things."
"Are there any plans for New Years?" Hermione said, completely unaware that some wizarding families didn't know what New Years was.
"We can discuss this-" Before Dumbledore could finish his sentence, Draco cut in, obviously confused. "New Years? What's that?"
"You've never heard of New Years before?" She said, looking over at Dumbledore, then back at Draco.
The Headmaster decided that maybe it was best he should tell Draco about this custom. Since, Hermione did not know about these things. "Mr. Malfoy, New Years is a muggle originated tradition that is celebrated every year around the same time as Christmas. On December 31st, New Years Eve, most muggles and quite a bit of wizards stay up past midnight to watch tremendous firework displays and basically have a large party. As you know, at exactly 12:00, a new day begins and January 1st is the first day of the new year."
"Mum took me one year during vacation to see the ball drop in New York. It was brilliant!" Hermione said, remembering the day they rushed over to New York just to see it. "I hope I'm not being rude Professor, but do you think we could put a big screen and connect to a TV station that shows Time Square when the ball drops?"
"What the hell is a TV station?"
Obviously Draco was getting confused again.
Dumbledore chuckled softly and muttered, "What are you all learning in Muggle Studies these days?"
Draco raised and eyebrow and turned to Hermione. She mouthed "tell you later" before turning back and looking expectantly at the headmaster.
"We can discuss the matter of New Years later Ms. Granger. But that's what I wanted to talk about with you two today. Since you're Head Girl and Head Boy, it is part of your school duties to run all these occasions."
Hermione looked slightly shocked for a moment. There was no way only she and Draco could handle the responsibility of planning a whole Ball. "But Professor, isn't that a lot of work to do?"
"Don't you live for work?" Draco asked, grinning. She replied with a playful kick under the desk.
Dumbledore smiled warmly, they were becoming closer. Part of the reason he had wanted them both as Head Boy and Girl was so that they could show the school overcoming differences were really not that hard. "Don't worry. I'm sure you are aware of the student committee that is dedicated to helping you both with these things."
"So we can command them and everything? To do whatever we want?"
"Draco…" Hermione muttered at him under her breath. He shrugged his shoulders and leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"They are not like house elves Mr. Malfoy, but nonetheless, they are there to insure a wonderful Ball by listening to your orders." Dumbledore glanced at the clock on the wall. "You only have a few hours before dinner so I shall tell you two what I would like to accomplish before then. Tour the castle and find a suitable place for us to hold the Ball."
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Hermione and Draco had just finished looking at the ups and downs of using the Great Hall. He had wanted to just finish their job and choose it but she thought different. They always used the Great Hall. For eating three times a day, their dance classes, and the last Ball they had had.
"Where else are we going to have it then? We'll be spending the whole evening adventuring around the school!" he said impatiently.
"It won't take too long Draco," she said encouragingly.
"What's the big deal about this anyways? I mean, it's just a Ball,"
"I know it's just a Ball, but it's important to me. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I want this to be fun."
She blushed, thinking that it was quite childish of her to admit this. He smiled at her innocence and pulled her into a big embrace.
"I'll do it for you, Hermione."
She sighed and sniffed a little as she laid her face against Draco's hard chest. She was thankful that he couldn't see her face because her eyes were beginning to water up. Only now did she realize how much he had changed, and how truly wonderful he could be.
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They had gone through many different locations around the castle, but nothing seemed to fit the occasion. Hermione was just about to give up and tell Dumbledore that they would go with the Great Hall one more time before Draco had an idea.
"This place Blaise told me about. It's supposed to be really brilliant!" he had said, seemingly very excited.
She nodded her head, and then slipped her arm into his, "Let's go then!"
Blaise hadn't been kidding. It was amazing.
A couple of hallways away from the Great Hall stood a small door that looked like only a house elf would be able to fit through it.
Draco winked at Hermione, pulled out his wand and with a flick of his wrist the door began to contort itself into a large rotating door.
They stepped through it and found themselves at the top of a staircase. It took approximately nine steps to get to the bottom where the marble staircase fanned out into the matching marble floor. There were tall French windows running along both sides of the room and a beautiful fountain in the middle.
"I-It's beautiful…" stammered Hermione. She had never seen anything so lovely. But even with its beauty, it was missing something. This place was too, too plain. The marble and everything was pretty of course, but it didn't look like Hogwarts.
Thinking of an idea, Hermione whispered a simple spell she had seen in a book about wizarding gardens and instantly, vines started lacing itself around the banister of the marble staircase. Soon, more began growing around the bottom of the fountain. There were even some vines growing around the outline of the windows.
"Now that's what I call beautiful." She heard Draco say from behind her.
She turned around with a smile on her face after admiring her work. "I know, isn't it?"
"The room's great, Hermione, but that's not what I'm referring to."
She looked at him strangely, trying to figure out what he was trying to say. "I don't get it. What are you referring to?"
Draco shook his head as if she had just asked a very silly question and sauntered over to her. Her muscles tensed up a little, unsure of what he meant to do. His hand slowly rose from his side and began tracing a circle around her cheek with his index finger.
Then ever so slowly, he leaned down and kissed her.
At that moment Hermione's heart felt light and her head began to spin. Her first kiss. It was simple, yet mind blowing. It was beyond anything she could ever have imagined. She couldn't believe it, yet suddenly she found herself kissing back.
"I'm kissing Draco Malfoy, I'm kissing Draco Malfoy," she kept on saying in her head until they broke apart (to her dismay).
"You," Draco finally managed to say after a moment of silence.
How much he had wanted to kiss her since that night down in the kitchens. But he had held back since it wouldn't be proper of him.
Yes, Draco Malfoy new proper, and he knew it well. Once, he had been at a party not too long ago and began snogging some random girl in the room when his mother saw and grew quite furious. They had had a long talk about what is proper and what isn't. He hadn't paid attention to what she was jabbering about since he was still reflecting on his short snogging session with the hot blonde.
Mind you, that was the old Draco Malfoy. Now, he wouldn't even have looked twice at the girl if she had shown her face at Hogwarts. Sometimes he had blamed girls for being such sluts that they lured unsuspecting men like him. They were teases too, but mostly just trying to get into your pants by the end of the night. He had learned that quickly.
But, getting back to our lovely Draco and Hermione relationship…
"…Y-you think I'm beautiful," she stuttered, blushing furiously.
He smirked and continued, "Who wouldn't. And I love it when you blush."
Hermione held back a laugh and blushed even more, if that was possible. "Draco, that's just making me blush even more."
"That's the point, love," he teased, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her towards him.
They spent several moments just embracing each other until Hermione remembered the question she had wanted to ask him just before he kissed her.
"But Why do you like me Draco?"
He tore his gaze from the beauty of the room and looked down at her, his eyes turning blue.
"I mean, not that I'm implying you like me… it's just, well, you just kissed me and usually that would mean that you do like me, but I don't want to be to forward or anything in thinking that you do like me more than a friend but really you-"
"Hermione!" he laughed, placing his hands on her upper arms and shaking her lightly.
She blushed again, making Draco smile. "Oh… sorry. I have a habit of doing that sometimes."
"So I've noticed," he smirked.
Her face became serious again and she proceeded to ask Draco the same question, without embarrassing herself.
"There are so many girls in the school. I'm certainly not as pretty as other girls, I spend my time studying in the library or in my dorm, and I don't think I'm too popular really,"
"Hermione, I just told you that you're beautiful,"
"But-"
He knelt down a little so that their faces were level. His blue eyes twinkled, like Dumbledore's did occasionally.
"Who cares about those other things? I don't. You're beautiful, kind, sweet-I could make a list here, Hermione! What else? Well, you're smart too, respectful, help-"
Her already big eyes grew larger and she realized just what was happening. He was telling her that the self-fish, spoiled old Draco had changed. She had changed him. But he had also changed her in a way. He was showing her just how special she really was.
She smiled and before he could finish his list, she leaned over and kissed him on the lips.
When they broke apart, he added with a smirk, "And a wonderful kisser too."
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The pair traveled happily to the Great Hall for dinner after informing Dumbledore about their decision.
Hermione's mind revolving around what a wonderful time she hoped to have during the ball.
Daco's realizing how many Quidditch practices he had missed with his detentions. He would have to put even more effort in at practice over the next couple of days till vacation. But hopefully some players would stay home for the holidays and they could continue practices.
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"Someone seems to be quite happy," said Ginny as she sat next to Hermione in the Great Hall. Ginny nudged Hermione's side with her elbow and whispered, "So what happened?" Hermione blushed for probably the bazillionth time that day. Ginny grinned and made Hermione promise she'd tell her later when dinner was through.
"I didn't see you at all after classes, Hermione. Where were you?" Harry asked her from across the table.
"Er… meeting with Dumbledore," She tried to make her voice sound steady and believable but it didn't work. Harry could already tell something was going on.
"For two hours?"
She smiled sheepishly. After all, she was telling the truth, just not all of it. "It was about the Ball… planning things takes lots of time. Especially when you have to plan the entire thing,"
Harry raised his eyebrow but said nothing more.
Hermione wondered where Ron was in this conversation. Wasn't he worried? He had asked her to the Ball, she had thought he liked her.
"Boys are so confusing," she thought to herself.
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"Oi! Sarah!" Blaise Zabini yelled, running down the hall to catch up with the pretty blonde. She stopped her quick pace and turned around to face an out of breath Italian.
"Yes?" She said impatiently, having been in a rather pissy mood ever since Pansy had scared her off and Draco had turned down her brother for the Quidditch team.
"You remember my friend Draco, right?"
She raised an eyebrow and looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to finish.
"Still interested in him?"
"I thought he has something for that mudblood… Granger, is it?"
Blaise shook his head and chuckled. "Not exactly. I mean, he thinks she's damn fine but other than that, nothing."
Her green eyes flashed with excitement and narrowed as a wicked smile spread across her face.
"Well then, I'm listening."
Uh oh! Well, finally huh? That was your guys' belated Christmas present: Draco kissing Hermione :D. But now Blaise has gone and made a big mistake… next chapter up soon! Thanks to all you reviewers! You make me smile! ------ See!