Dancing Shoes
Chapter 2
Hermione rushed home feeling rather harried; it had been a both stressful and bizarre day. If she was honest she was slightly looking forward to Zabini taking her out tonight, but only because it would be fun. Only that.
"The Burrow," Hermione threw a handful of floo powder into her fireplace and stuck her head into the green sparkling flames. She only had an hour. A few seconds of silence and Hermione heard the thumping of feet on floor boards, a second later the face of Ginny Weasley was staring back at her.
"I have nothing to wear," Hermione said hurriedly. Ginny said nothing but gaped at Hermione.
"Right. What do you need?" Ginny asked unsurely, not knowing where this was going. She couldn't honestly say that Hermione had ever said those words before, at least not in her memory.
"A dress," said Hermione hurriedly.
"You have a dress, surely," Ginny frowned, she was becoming more and more confused.
"Of course I do!" Hermione cried, "but not the right sort."
Ginny frowned even more. This was most unlike Hermione. Well maybe it was her perfectionist side coming out.
"Transfigure something then," Ginny replied, bemused. Hermione tutted in the flames, inhaling some ash. A few chokes later Hermione managed to reply.
"That's where I need your help," she seemed slightly embarrassed now, and blinked owlishly at Ginny.
"Right, I'm coming through," Ginny sighed; it wouldn't be the magic Hermione would have a problem with, but rather her fashion sense.
Hermione dashed up to her room and began rifling through her wardrobe. She had two dresses, a long black evening dress and a plain white cotton summer dress. Clearly neither was appropriate, but perhaps Ginny would be able to transfigure one.
A clatter of feet and a few seconds later a sooty Ginny Weasley stepped into Hermione bedroom.
"Right. What's going on? Where are you going? With whom?" Ginny placed her hands on her hips, glaring at Hermione.
"Dancing and I'll tell you later. Just help I only have an hour, I dress to show up."
"You mean to impress?" Ginny arched a brow, she supposed that was Hermione terminology for "a little bit sexy."
"Yes, that," Hermione replied somewhat awkwardly. Ginny didn't pay attention, but rather was extracting her wand from her pocket and flexing her arm, as if warming up for a fight. Hermione frowned.
"I have just the," Ginny said a few words and aimed her wand at the black dress, "idea!" The black dress had several inches abruptly ripped off its bottom, the excess fabric went flying across to land on a lamp. Hermione whimpered.
"Ginny!"
"Trust me Hermione, I'm a fashion victim," somehow that didn't reassure Hermione.
Ten minutes, several tears of fabric and a good neatening charm later Hermione's dress was considerably less ankle length and the straps had now thickened to tie round the neck. Hermione was not impressed.
"I'll look like a… a," Hermione struggled to find the word.
"Scarlet woman? Oh I agree. I know lot's of scarlet women who wear knee length dresses that cover their cleavage. Totally agree," Ginny flumped onto the bed by the dresses with a sarcastic smile. "Try the bloody thing on at least, I'll find some lipstick."
Hermione started doubtfully at the dress. But sighed, picking it up and walking into her ensuite. Stripping her clothes off Hermione stared at the dress for a second before slipping it over her head. To give Ginny her due it fit well, and she was right, it was almost on the knee. Almost.
"Ginny," Hermione poked her head out of the door.
"Yes."
"Problem," Hermione said blushing.
"What?" Ginny frowned and stood up.
"I can't wear a bra with this," Hermione said irritably.
Ginny stepped over to the door to whisper in Hermione's ear. "That's the idea."
Hermione frowned deeply. She could not do that when going out with her boss!
"Oh come on," Ginny complained, "you can't look like a nun forever, Hermione. Better the back than the front."
She slammed the door in Ginny's face and pulled off her bra angrily. Nun. She would show her. A second later Hermione ripped open the door forcefully, highly irritated.
"Excellent," Ginny cried, oblivious to Hermione's snarl. "Time for make up," she sang happily.
Hermione only just restrained the urge to slap her.
"Going to tell me your hot date is yet?" Ginny grinned, attacking her with a red lipstick.
"No."
"Bitch," in retaliation Ginny lined Hermione's lips bright red.
Hermione apparated into The Leaky cauldron with a soft pop, undoing her cardigan as she went, she was fairly aware there was a middle aged wizard at the bar staring at her, but ignored him, going over to Tom.
"Evening, Miss Granger," Tom gave her a toothy grin, "you look lovely tonight."
Hermione grinned affably, Tom was sweet, "Thanks Tom."
"Can I get you a drink this evening?"
"A small cherry tonic, I won't be long," Hermione smiled, not wanting to refuse the kind barman. Tom nodded and went to get her drink.
The wizard a seat down at the bar stood up suddenly and Hermione was aware of him taking a step in her direction before he was suddenly halted. Turning, her eyebrows shot up, to find Zabini, with a hand on the man's arm, looking fairly furious.
"Don't," she heard him mutter, before he released the wizard and stepped over to her, his face carefully blank.
"What was that man doing?" she asked, Zabini did seem angry.
"Probably about to come and feel you up," Zabini said shortly. "You look… nice," he finished awkwardly.
Hermione didn't know weather to caution him for jumping to conclusions or blush at his compliment; he rarely gave them. She went for the latter.
"Thank you, so do you," she smiled, he was, as usual dressed smartly, there was no denying he was a handsome man. Wordlessly he took her arm and steered Hermione to the door.
"Can you save my drink for later Tom?" Hermione called over her shoulder. She saw him give her a wave as Zabini lead her out of the pub.
"So where are we going?" Hermione unhooked her arm from Zabini's to re-do up the buttons on her cardigan. She didn't see his eyes watching every button.
"A place," he replied vaguely, and re-hooked their arms once she was done.
He led her on through the evening.