Chapter 3: The Halloween Ball
It was late afternoon, and the sun shone brightly down on the small town of Hogsmeade as energetic Hogwart students entered and exited the various shops scattered around town. Everybody was caught up in his or her own excitement, and before long Hogwarts students began to trickle back towards the horseless carriages that would bring them back to their school for the preparation of the Halloween Ball. No one paid any attention to the owl flying high above the chattering townsfolk.
The owl hooted softly three times as it flew into a dark alleyway, releasing a scrap of parchment that had been clenched tightly in it's grasp. A pale arm stretched up from the shadows, a ruby ring gleaming darkly as the fluttering paper was seized. A pair of hazel eyes quickly scanned the note before handing it to her companion.
"So they've started," the girl with the hazel eyes' soft melodic voice was tinged with excitement.
"It appears so," light green eyes flashed with satisfaction before bringing a wand up to the parchment, destroying it with a light tap. "Now all we do is wait, and continue fulfilling the responsibilities we have been appointed."
"How long do you suppose it will last?" hazel eyes asked as she fingered her ruby ring. It glowed softly before the two figures cloaked in shadows started moving towards the entrance of the alley.
"Are you talking about the elimination of the targets, or our deception?"
"Our deception."
"As long as it takes." The resonant voice replied before stepping into the daylight.
No one noticed two Ravenclaw girls from Hogwarts stepping out from the depths of a gloomy alleyway before blending into the crowd.
"Silly and naïve?" Hermione stomped around her room, her scheduled study time going to waste seeing as she was too upset to concentrate. She needed time to figure out what in Merlin's name had happened at the entrance of Hogwarts. It had been hours since Malfoy had cornered her, and the image of his face in such close proximity was imprinted in her mind, especially the sight of his eyes. He had seemed so different as he gazed down at her, almost nice, before he ruined it with his unexpected and unnecessary comment. "The nerve of the prat!"
She really had no one but herself to blame, though, Hermione sighed as she flopped onto her bed. She must have had a break in sanity to have allowed him to get the upper hand in that situation. But really, what was he thinking to have put her in that situation in the first place?
Malfoy's sudden effort to be semi-charming threw her equilibrium. It broke all the rules of their current hate-hate relationship, leaving her clueless as how to proceed next. If he had bothered to follow the unspoken rules they both normally followed, she would have just insulted him back. But he didn't! She didn't know whether she should follow up on her earlier threats to strangle him, if she should brush it off as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred, or if she should be nicer to him. And if there was one thing that disturbed Hermione the most, it was not knowing what was going on.
And to make matters worse, there was still the growing rift between herself and her best friends. Her plan to talk to them about it had not worked out at all. It had started out small at the beginning of the school year with Harry and Ron wanting to spend time with their newfound girlfriends, but they seemed to be excluding and forgetting her more and more. Pretty soon, she'd be nothing more than an acquaintance they greeted in passing.
She tried to console herself; it was understandable that they were growing apart. There was no longer the threat of Voldemort hanging over their lives, and they were growing older with changing interests. If she were told a few months ago that her friendship would be disintegrating, she would have laughed in that person's face.
She really did try to get along with Harry and Ron's girlfriends, but they seemed determined to dislike her. Maybe she wasn't making a big enough effort to be pleasant to the two Ravenclaws. She vowed that she would be all pleasantness to them tonight at the Halloween Ball.
Hermione heaved another sigh and began to rub at her temples. A pounding ache had formed behind her eyes, ready to transform into a migraine. She decided the best thing to do at this point was to take a nap so that she would be ready to face tonight's challenges.
Draco relaxed into the tub of hot water. Decorations and setting up for the Halloween Ball had gone better then expected, even with Peeves the Poltergeist causing havoc every which way. He chuckled as he remembered Peeves dumping a tray of chocolate pudding on an irate Hermione. If the Red Baron hadn't shown up at that moment, he would've sworn Hermione was going to either explode, hex that poltergeist into oblivion, or both.
The thought of Hermione sobered him and he sunk deeper into the sandalwood-scented water. What had gotten into him this afternoon? He had been acting completely insane. Sure he was attracted to her, such a beautiful and confident girl would fascinate any seventeen-year-old boy. But he was a Malfoy, and he'd been with girls more beautiful and more confident then that Granger. Maybe all the pressure from his mother to propose to Pansy was giving him a new surge of hormones. It was as if his body knew that his bachelorhood was at a risk of disappearing and it was retaliating by upping the amount of hormones he was used to, resulting in scrawny know-it-alls transforming into alluring sirens. That was it! It was his hormones that made him act as he did.
"But Potter and Weasley don't seem to have a problem with keeping their hands to themselves," a little voice in the back of his head whispered insistently. "That's because they're blundering fools, and wouldn't know the value of a girl like Hermione if she were the last girl in the wizarding world!" he argued adamantly.
He slipped out of the tub and wrapped a towel low around his waist before walking to the fogged mirror. He wiped a spot clear and gazed at his reflection. His face was flushed from the hot bath he had just taken and his body was covered with sheen of moisture. Growing older had added inches to his height and broadened his shoulders, while quidditch kept his body lean and fit.
"Hermione should feel lucky that such a good looking guy like me even thinks about her once in awhile," Draco muttered as he started to dry off, "who does she think she is?"
The Halloween Ball was just starting its first song when Hermione and Draco stepped into the room together. As was requested by Dumbledore, they walked to the middle of the room arm in arm, and started swaying in time to the slow ballad. All eyes were on them as they moved across the dance floor. Before long, other couples joined them.
Draco's eyes narrowed as he glanced down at the top of Hermione's head. They hadn't spoken a word to each other since she had stepped out of her room, looking like a golden angel, complete with two delicate wings sprouting from her back. She had swept past him, totally disregarding his presence. How dare she ignore him? Unconsciously, his arms tightened around her, drawing her nearer.
Hermione glanced up at him with an annoyed expression. Why had he pulled her to him so closely? What was he planning now? He should have come to the ball dressed as a ferret, though she had to admit, he did look quite dashing as Lucifer, all dressed in black with tiny red horns protruding from his forehead. Not that she noticed or cared one bit. Thank goodness the song was ending.
"Thank you for the dance, Malfoy." She smiled sweetly at him before discretely stomping on his foot.
"Mother of Merlin!" he hissed as he jerked back, hopping on his uninjured foot as a loud and fast song came on. Before he could recover from the pain and retaliate, Hermione blew him a kiss and slipped away.
Half an hour later with the Halloween Ball in full swing, Hermione finally found Harry and Ron. They were at the refreshment table waiting for their dates to return from the little lady's room. Harry was dressed as a Gryffendor quidditch player, and Ron was dressed as a one-eyed pirate.
"…nice costume, Harry." Hermione greeted them both with a quick hug.
"I kinda forgot I needed a costume for the Ball." Harry explained, "but you look great, Hermione!"
"Yeah, like an angel." Ron said in one-eyed wonder.
"That's because I am an angel." Hermione shook her head as she grabbed a cup of punch. "Really, Ronald."
"Well, I knew that," Ron started to blush, "it's just that you really do look like an angel, all sweet and…"
"I thought you said I wasn't sweet." Hermione reminded him.
"Look, about that, Hermione," Ron started to explain.
"Ronnie!" arms came around from behind him and pulled him in for a hug, "I can't get over how handsome you are as a pirate!"
"And I can't get over how beautiful you are all the time, Lorelei." Explanation forgotten, he pulled his girlfriend in for a quick kiss. She looked exactly like Little Bo Peep, with every blond curl groomed to perfection.
"Oh." Lorelei caught sight of Hermione, "Hello, Hermione. That's such a lovely gown you have on."
"Why, thank you Lorelei." Hermione was surprised by the compliment. "You look..."
"But you know, I don't think the coloring is quite right for you." Lorelei continued as if Hermione hadn't spoken, "Don't you think so, Vivien?"
"Yes, I do believe you're right, Lorelei," a sultry voice answered from behind Hermione. "It's a little too pale for you, and the cut of the dress isn't as flattering as it could be, either."
Vivien stepped around Hermione and into Harry's arms, "I missed you, darling." She was dressed to kill as a vampire, in a long tight black dress.
"I missed you too, sweetie," Harry gave her a peck on the cheek before pulling back, "But I think Hemione looks great." Ron nodded in agreement.
"Oh, of course she looks good." Lorelei agreed enthusiastically, "On the whole, she looks great."
"But she didn't pay any attention to the details," Vivien pointed out, her light green eyes swept down Hermione's frame in a critical manner, "Look at her hair. It would look so much better and more credible if her hair were down in curls. Angels are natural creatures who never put their hair up. Ever." Her own dark brown locks were swept up in a sleek bun, matching her predatory vampire costume.
"Oh." Hermione wasn't sure how to respond.
"And angels' wings are much larger and longer than that." Lorelei continued, "If you really were an angel, then the length of each wing should at the very least be equal to your height. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to fly."
Hermione stood there, wanting to make a snappy comment, but knowing that whatever she said would upset Harry and Ron. It was a Halloween costume, for Merlin's sake. Not a Potion's assignment.
"I don't think Granger plans on flying anywhere tonight." Draco appeared at Hermione's side, grasping her elbow tightly in his hand, "If you'll excuse us, Dumbledore needs to talk to Granger right away." Before Harry or Ron could protest, he had steered Hermione away.
"Do you always listen in on other people's conversations?" Hermione wrenched her elbow away from Draco. "Or are you always this rude? Oh, wait. I just answered my own question."
"Say what you will, Granger, I just need to deliver Dumbledore's message. He's waiting in his office," Draco sneered before stalking off.
"Self-absorbed prick." Hermione muttered as she picked her way towards the exit.
Hermione made her way quickly through the deserted halls to Dumbledore's office. Professor McGonagall was waiting for her at the base of the statue, her face more somber than usual.
"This way, Miss Granger." She started up the stairs. Hermione's confusion escalated when she saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk. The usual twinkle in his eyes had disappeared.
"Please sit, Miss Granger." Dumbledore instructed, "I'm afraid that what I am about to tell you is of the gravest matter."
Hermione felt Professor McGonagall put a reassuring hand on her shoulder before Dumbledore continued.
"Just an hour ago, there were reports of illegal use of magic in your home. The Ministry of Magic sent someone over to investigate. Your parent's were found dead."