Title: Half the World Away
Author name: Calbee
Author email: Romance
Sub Category: Humor
Keywords: Snape Hermione psychological
Rating: PG
Spoilers: SS/PS, CoS, PoA, GoF
Summary: Severus Snape and Hermione Granger. A Slytherin and a Gryffindor. Who would have thought that this could happen when the results of a psychological love test are assumed to have gone horribly wrong...
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. This fic is inspired by an idea provided by josette the black pearl.
Author notes: Big thanks for all the reviews!
Chapter 9 Who do you think you are!
Not many people knew, but Hermione was an excellent dancer. Obviously she didn't get the title of 'Gryffindor know-it-all' for nothing, right? Therefore she was not at all worried about dancing with Draco, rather she was worried that Draco couldn't dance at all. She was not being arrogant, but having a dentist mother who had won loads of social dancing competitions during her school years, let's just say Hermione had the genes for dance. On the other hand, she didn't know anything about a dance at the leaving feast, so she could bet that Draco was just bluffing.
However, her assumption was totally overturned when she entered the Hall. The four tables had been moved away from the centre and lined up along the wall. She also saw that her schoolmates were all dressed up, some in muggle style of ball gown and tuxedo, or in wizard style in dress robes. She was still a bit dumbfounded about what was going on, but was interrupted a sneer from none other than Draco Malfoy.
He was leaning on the side of the door, arching an eyebrow at Hermione, "I see you are determined to make me a ridicule."
Hermione turned around and just stared at Draco. Obviously not because she had lost her wit, but because Draco was in a tuxedo. All she could do was point at him and looked up and down at Draco. She was saved by Ginny's timely greeting.
"Why aren't you dressed up, Hermione? You are Head Girl! I mean Draco is even willing to wear a tuxedo so you two would not look strange together for the first dance," exclaimed Ginny, while she couldn't help blushing at the sight of Draco. "C'mon. I'll get you all sorted in no time."
Hermione was sitting in her Head Girl room with Ginny fussing around her. She was literally throwing all the clothes that she had packed and hadn't packed onto the bed, while getting Hermione to hurry with her make-up. It must be something with the red hair. Against better judgment, she had put on quite a bit of make-up on as Ginny insisted, and she looked much older, or rather, more passionate.
"Excellent! Go, put this on," Ginny said, handing her a red dancing gown. Hermione was a bit shocked to see that Ginny had chosen that red dress, but she took it and went into the bathroom and got changed. It was actually her mother's dress, the one that she wore for her last competition before going into dentistry. She put it on and was quite satisfied with the effect. The dress was backless till the waist, and with her up in a French twist, her back was bare to everyone's eyes, which also emphasize her narrow waist. One word would be enough to describe her present look --- sexy. Once she looked into the mirror checking a few times and satisfied, she exited the bathroom and was greeted by Ginny's hilarious expression of dumbfounded.
Hermione was sure that she had her desired effect, and all the people in the Hall tonight wouldn't know what hit them.
Draco was still standing outside the Hall in tuxedo, and Pansy was bothering Draco to the point that he was tempted to stupefy her for a few minutes' quietness.
"Draco, come. Why are you playing nice with that mudblood anyway? You two are going to start the dance, but it doesn't mean that you have to be alone with her1 Come in with me please?" Pansy was doing her best gesture (at least she thought) to charm Draco into going into the Hall with her.
Draco just shot her an annoying look and returned to looking back at the stairs where Hermione and Ginny had disappeared to. Draco snorted to himself for Pansy's tactics. He was a Slytherin, and of course he knew why Pansy was so eager to tear him away from waiting in front of the Hall was because of a bet she stroke with other Slytherins that she could pull him away from Hermione tonight. Like hell he would let this possibly happen. Anyone with any sense would rather spend time with the generally-understated beautiful Hermione. Anyway, not like his eyes were really set on her. His eyes were on someone close to her. Someone that he was sure would get his father all worked up in his grave. It gave him a very delighted mood.
Draco almost rolled his eyes with annoyance at the sight of a new round of whining from Pansy when he noticed someone in red had descended gracefully down the stairs followed by Ginny. He wasn't going to believe his eyes when he finally recognized that the one in red was Hermione Granger in a red sexy dress. He was going to eat his words. Hermione was the most understated beauty in the history of Hogwarts.
Not sure if it was the change of outfit, or that she was in a mood for mischief and further revenge, she gave Draco a sexy smile, "So Draco, ready for the first dance?"
Tango. She couldn't believe that she was tangoing. And most of all she couldn't believe she was wearing her mother's winning costume for Tango, tangoing with Draco.
"Well, it seems that even though we are dancing what muggles claimed to be the most passionate and erotic dance in the world, but your mind is somewhere else totally." Draco swung her out and back, which brought Hermione out of her trance.
"It's none of your business, and keep your hands from going any lower on my back!" said Hermione through her teeth with menace, with her face remaining total neutral. Draco then advanced on a dip which Hermione took the chance to try inflict bodily harm on a certain part, but Draco was clever enough to save his certain part by inches with a swing back.
"Relax, Granger. You are a beauty tonight, and beauty is always begged to be touched." Despite the glare from Hermione, he continued, "I like a challenge, but not a impossible one. You can assume you are relatively safe. I wouldn't want to lose a limb or two from your cronies. Especially, my eyes are not on you obviously," whispered Draco, while he looked for Ginny in the crowd, seeing that she was dancing with Harry, which brought a sudden jealous to Draco.
If Draco thought that his distaste towards Harry and Ginny dancing together had escaped Hermione watchful eyes, he was in grave danger. "If your eyes are on who I think it is, I would more than worry about a limb or two. I think you will have to fear about beheading and quartered by her six overly-protective brothers." Before Draco could come up with a quick threat, the dance was over. Draco kissed Hermione on the hand, and made sure that Hermione heard his words before he left her near the cocktail table, "Stay out of this Granger, or I will make you my shield towards Pansy. I won't worry you couldn't handle her, but I doubt you would want to have your last day in Hogwarts as full of cat fights." He turned and headed towards where Ginny was.
To Be Continued