Everyone Has A Dark Side
By: Alianne
A/N: Hey! Sorry, I know it's been a while, but my excuses are school, cross-country, getting a BF and then breaking up, homecoming, and various guy problems. I may remove the A/N and comments in the previous chapters to make reading simpler for new people, so I hope no one minds. Anyway, R/R!Chapter 12: The Halloween Ball - the dinner
Ginny Weasley had not attended the DA meeting. She was too busy with homework, Quidditch, and on top of that, trying to plan for the ball. It was October 5th already, and she was wondering how she would be able to get dress robes and shoes for the ball without Harry or her brothers noticing. And she'd have to get out of the common room and down to the Entrance Hall with out being seen or stopped by anyone in her house on the day of the ball. This was a daunting prospect, considering how overly protective her brother was. She resolved to get up early on the next Hogsmeade weekend, which was the Saturday before the ball. She would get all her stuff and be back before anyone was the wiser. As to the day of the Ball, if worst came to worst, she could put the body-bind hex on Harry and Ron.
When Harry, Ron, and a variety of other demoralized Gryffindors entered later on, she pretended to be deeply entrenched in a large book, while she let her mind browse over ways to flout her brother.
Hermione found that she and her friends were considered heros among the Slytherins for the next few days. True, now it was all of the 6th years, not just her and Pansy, however Hermione was not a jealous person and didn't mind. She realized that she had surprised the other Slytherins when, on Saturday, she talked to Draco. They were both doing homework in the common room, when Draco asked, "Hermione, correct me if I'm wrong, but I never expected you'd enjoy breaking rules and fighting in the halls. You were always so perfectly behaved."
Hermione looked thoughtful. "Uh, I really don't know. I kind of surprise myself sometimes. Maybe its what I told you back during the summer - I'm not Hermione Granger any more." Hermione said smiling slightly.
"You really astonish me sometimes," said Draco, shaking his head and grinning back crookedly. Soon, though, the two had to return to their awaiting heap of homework.
Ginny's eyes flicked open. A glance at her clock showed her that it was 8:00 AM, while her calendar dutifully informed her that it was Saturday, the 27th of October. Suddenly, her brain cells kicked in, and Ginny leaped sleepily out of bed. It was the Hogsmeade weekend before the ball, and she had to get her dress and stuff before anyone she knew saw what she was buying in Hogsmeade, and realized that she planned to attend the Malfoy Ball.
"Oh joy," she said sarcastically to herself, not relishing the prospect of evading her brother and his friends. She quietly sipped on some causal clothes and grabbed her purse. Then she tiptoed out of her dormitory, which was still filled with her sleeping friends. It being early on a Saturday morning, the common room was mostly empty. There were people in the halls, but Ginny did not see anyone she knew and hoped she was okay. The other Gryffindors were probably sleeping in, glad not to have to go to classes, or tired from finishing homework.
She grabbed a slice of toast and then was checked out by Filch, who crossed her name off the list of students who had their parent's permission to visit Hogsmeade. She quickly left the grounds and proceeded down the road to the village.
Ginny headed straight for Radical Robes, which, to her relief, was open already. She sadly walked past the shelves of fancy dress robes to those on sale, since she knew she didn't have enough money saved up to afford a fancy, expensive dress. She cheered up though, when two pretty dresses, one pink, and one a shade of deep blue caught her eye. The pink one had cute puffed sleeves, a low neckline, and pretty rhinestone swirls on the front. The strapless one in indigo had a pale blue pattern right at the top and tiny chains of silver beads hanging down, some longer and some shorter. These formed a moving, silvery V.
Ginny wished she could let a friend in on her secret, so she could have help and advice. She felt so naïve as to what one should wear the ball of one of the most influential families in the world, yet she didn't feel she could trust any of her friends not to try to protect her by telling her brother of her plan.
She tried both dress robes on, and eventually settled on the dark blue. She was happy with how it looked and the price was too good to ignore. She hurried to find a pair of silver high heels to match, since she had noticed a younger Hufflepuff entering the store. At least Ginny was not nervous of wearing a sexy dress or four-inch heels, the way Hermione was.
After she had paid (a very reasonable amount, she thought considering how nice the dress robes were) she hurried back to Hogwarts. As she was heading up a third floor staircase, she heard a very familiar voice. She dived behind a large statue of an extremely ugly warlock, just as Harry and her brother appeared. There was no way they could miss the large bag she carried, which had the twirling and flashing Radical robes logo emblazoned on it. Luckily, they were deep in conversation, probably about either Quidditch or the Slytherins and did not notice her.
Ginny was very relived when she finally shut the door to her dormitory with the dress, and locked it deep in her trunk. She walked back down to the Great Hall to get some more to eat, before heading out to Quidditch practice.
When Halloween rolled around, finally, Hermione was happy, excited, and a little nervous. She, Pansy, Blaise, and Sarah spent almost the entire day washing, drying, curling, straightening, exfoliating, manicuring, pedicuring, charming, painting, and powdering. They experimented with every possible hairstyle, did their makeup to look like magazine covergirls, and worried over their dresses, jewelry, and shoes.
By five o'clock, Hermione's hair was curled into hundreds of tiny ringlets. Half was pulled up into an elegant twist, while the rest hung to her shoulder blades and framed her perfect face. With Pansy's eager help, Hermione had applied violet eyeliner, mascara, a shimmering wave of purple eye shadow, blush, and silvery lip gloss over a coat of foundation that made her flawless skin look even better. She loved the way it gave her a spacy, goddess-like look.
The girls put on their dresses, yet again. Hermione wore a short, flirty lilac dress robe with intricate spirals of silver glitter drifting down from the low neckline. It was one of the ones Draco's family had given her in her birthday wardrobe. Pansy had on a green dress that hugged her slim form perfectly. She coupled it with silver makeup and a curtain of blonde hair. Blaise's black robes had tiny mirror chips scattered across it, making both her and those facing her dance with fairy lights. She had done her face in pink shades, and pulled up all of her dark hair, letting her mirror earrings dazzle onlookers. Sarah looked radiant in a gold robe, too tight to be allowed at any school function, while she flipped over her beautiful hair. She put ebony around her eyes and used ruby lipstick, looking more like a twenty year old than a student. Once the girls had put on their towering heels, they carefully proceeded down to the common room.
The place as packed with milling students all dressed up for the party. From the top of a staircase, the crowd looked to Hermione like a swirling pattern of color, like the time she had seen the exotic birds being fed at the Botanical Gardens. The girls spotted Draco and their friends over near the door, with some seventh years and went over to them. They guys all wore solemn black dress robes that contrasted sharply with the girl's colorful and provocative dresses. It was like huge butterflies in a group of penguins.
Then, everyone started heading out of the common room and up toward the Great Hall. Hermione was swept along with the entire Slytherin house, looking forward to the dinner and later, the ball.
Ginny locked the dormitory door with her wand, then pulled her dress robes and shoes from the bottom of her trunk, and lay them on her bed. She carefully slipped on the dress, while at the same time attempting not to ruin her carefully applied makeup and styled hair.
It was shortly before the dinner for the ball was supposed to start, and Ginny had been locked up in her dormitory for hours fixing herself up. Her hair was straightened and twirled up into a pretty updo on her head. She had spread glitter lightly on it, so it shone and glittered. She had also worked hard to make her makeup look perfect, but not too obvious. Matte foundation smoothed her freckled complexion, while shimmery pink shadow accented her eyes and her long, dark lashes.
Glancing at her clock, she noticed in alarm that it was 5:15. The dinner started in less than 15 minutes, and she was planning to take time to avoid anyone in Gryffindor. How was she supposed to manage that?
After strapping on her shoes, she poked her head cautiously into the common room. She noticed with relief that it was empty. Since it was a warm, sunny day, it was likely that most of her house was enjoying Quidditch or swimming with the giant squid. Suddenly, a seventh year girl came down the stairs, wearing dress robes. Ginny realized she must be attending the ball.
The girl, who was wearing dazzling emerald green robes, stared at Ginny. "You're going to the Malfoy Ball, too?" She asked. Ginny nodded. "Gosh, I thought I was the only one from the whole of the Gryffindor house going. My cousin, Sarah Moon, is in Slytherin, you see, so I was invited. Well, we'd best hurry up so we get to the dinner on time."
Ginny followed her out of the portrait hole; "I'm not really sure why I was invited. I don't know any of the Slytherins, except Hermione. I decided to go anyway, just because it's a chance for me to get away from my brother and family, and have fun," she said suddenly.
The older girl looked a little confused. All she said, however, was, "Oh."
They passed many inquisitive students in the halls, mostly Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaw, and one or two Gryffindors. Luckily, Ginny didn't see anyone she knew. Then again, if anyone she knew saw her, would they even recognize her? They would probably think her to be a Slytherin.
The Great Hall was crammed with dressed up students, almost all Slytherin, when the two Gryffindors reached it. Ginny felt terribly self conscious walking down the marble stairs, especially since a number of people watched her, curious as to whom this girl they didn't recognize from Slytherin might be. Ginny swept her eyes over the people, hoping there might be someone she know, but the only non-Slytherin person she recognized was Hermione, who was in conversation with her new friends. They were all dressed in outrageously tight, short, and sexy dresses, and sky-high heels. Ginny wondered who had managed to convince Hermione to put on anything that revealing.
Ginny sighed mentally. She had thought a lot about the confrontation she'd had with Hermione and deeply regretted it. She understood Harry and Ron's feelings, of course. She know what good friends they had been with Hermione and how painful it must be for the boys to see her associating with their sworn enemies. And the Laviniers were notorious. Yet, Ginny also realized that Hermione was a good, smart person. She told herself that Hermione couldn't possibly just change like that. Perhaps, she thought, she ought to go over and apologize to her. She just hoped that the other Slytherins wouldn't try to kill her or do something horrible, since she was a Gryffindor and 'Weasley'.
Hermione chatted with Blaise, Pansy, and Sarah, while observing the first years. She thought they looked terribly mature for eleven-year-olds. She was sure she had not looked so adult at that age. Many of the girls looked down right slutty, too.
Suddenly she noticed a familiar face. Ginny Weasley, who was wearing a set of pretty, deep blue dress robes. "Hermione." Ginny blurted out immediately, "I wanted to say that I am so sorry about everything I said to you before. I don't think you are a bad person, and I understand that although you are in Slytherin you are still the same great person you were before. Can we still be friends?" the younger red head said in a rush.
Hermione blinked. Ginny had just apologized to her. Wow, she hadn't expected that. "Uh, thanks Gin. Its okay, I'll forgive you." The younger girl looked relived, but blushed when she realized all Hermione's friends were staring at her. She glanced at Hermione again, then, still red, she quickly fled out of sight behind a group of third year girls who were comparing their four-inch stilettos. Before Hermione could wonder even why Ginny was at the party, however, the door of the Great Hall was pushed open by a pair of House Elves and the bunch of students headed for the one, extra long table set up in the Hall.
When all the students had found seats, little silver menu cards hissed into existence before each person. Most of the Slytherins knew how this process worked and promptly stated their meal choices to the empty air. The cards then vanished with a slight sizzle and presently, the first courses appeared. Hermione smiled happily at the chicken parmesan before her, while Ginny enjoyed the raspberry soup she had ordered. Draco tucked into medium rare steak, and Blaise and Pansy both ate quiche.
Soon, the students had munched their way though a delicious meal and tasty desert. As if they had heard a silent command, everyone began to get up and head toward the Entrance Hall. Ginny and Hermione did not know what to expect, but Hermione followed her friends and Ginny followed Hermione. It the Entrance Hall, Dumbledore stood next to a long, ornate stair banister. He directed the students to line up on either side of the banister, since it was the portkey that would take them to the Malfoy Manor.
Hermione stood between Blaise and Sarah, her manicured fingers touching the varnished surface of the banister. "Three, two, one," Dumbledore counted off, and then Hermione felt a familiar, jerk-like sensation in her stomach. Ginny, standing behind the older Gryffindor girl, felt her stomach clench nervously, but not because of the portkey. This was it; she couldn't go back now. If her parents or siblings had any idea where she was going… well, thankfully, for now they didn't. She tried to concentrate only on the fun she would have that evening.
Suddenly, all the students were rushing past swirling, colorful landscapes, buffeted by the air. Then they landed hard on the Marble path before the majestic entrance to the Malfoy Manor.
A/N: Hey! Finally, I can write the Ball! The parts beforehand slowed me down terribly, because I didn't know how I would get everything done before Halloween…oh, ignore my musings, please.
Well, I can't do the individual replies right now, but I would like to thank everyone: Miss Morg Malfoy, Lynx-chan (thanks for the reminder :) ), Sly Slytherin Princess(thanx :) ), slyswn28, Jaid Ziaen(I liked your review a lot!), badgrlEm(you to, thanx), Tara-Yo (that's okay), Callie (thanks for reminding me :) ), scarletbabe15 (you'll get your kisses soon), dragonmon trainer 5, I-LOVE-SPENCER, A Perfect Lie (100th!), padfootlover1, ruby the troll(no, I like kittens), nikki (you left a really nice review), artemisgirl (loved the review, and that's a cool idea, hmm), charlotte-lefay (wow, thanks), rock and sarcasm(sorry, I didn't send my story before, I'll do it right now) yeaimcrazy (sure!), anigen, and Remix2002. I love you all so much! And especially, thank you A Perfect Lie for being my 100th reviewer! R&R! Thanx!
Alianne