Quintessence
A/N: The Halloween ball! Some Drama here, and one of the highlights of the story. Stick around for more! Anyways, on with the story.
Much love- - Gypsy
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, movies, songs, or phrases mentioned in this story. But I do own the plot that is going to thicken immensely here!
Ch 10 Nobody is Normal
Hermione was walking down to the Great Hall the day of the dance, looking happier than ever. When she walked in, she saw some weird things. One, Ron was sitting next to Lavender. Harry was with Ginny. And Draco was far away from Pansy.
She sat down, looking flustered, next to Lavender.
"Hey Hermione!" Lavender squealed.
"Hey Lav. Do you and Ron go out?" Hermione asked bluntly.
"Yes, we do Hermione. Something wrong?" Lavender pushed.
"No, nothing. Just surprised actually. Congrats you two!" She said happily, giving Ron a hug.
"Thanks 'Mione." Ron replied, receiving the hug from Hermione.
"Anyways 'Mione. You have to come by my dorm to get ready for the dance. We have to get all dolled up. Ginny is going to be there too." Lavender cried, talking about the dance.
"It's gonna be kind of weird, seeing my best friend with my former best friend. I mean, I loathe Harry, and Ginny goes out with him." Hermione told Lavender.
"And when did this happen?" Lavender asked, appalled.
"Well, some things happened between me and Harry. Then Ginny just dates him. She knows what happened." Hermione explained.
"Well, just tell her. But she's not just gonna dump Harry for your sake. That'd be like dumping Draco for Ron. It just doesn't work like that." Lavender replied matter-of-factly.
"Well, I'll just tell her how I feel. Your gonna be there, right?" She asked Lavender.
"Of course 'Mione. Count on it. Now, you've got to show me your dress. I haven't seen it. You should've brought me to go shopping with you!" Lavender exclaimed.
"I went shopping with Draco. But it didn't go the way we planned, Harry got in the way." She gritted her teeth.
"Well, then today, after classes, we are going to spend the afternoon getting all dressed up. And who are you going to the date with?" Lavender questioned.
"Well...you should know. But don't tell anyone. It's a masquerade ball, no one will notice." Hermione warned.
"Don't worry. If Draco looks hot though, I might let something slip." Lavender whispered, giggling.
"He's mine!" Hermione scolded. "And plus, I know for a fact that he's going to be hot. I overheard him gloating about his dress robes."
"Well, who's the little Slytherin?" Lavender teased.
"Who am I getting it from?" She smirked.
"Who?" Lavender mocked.
"Oh stop it. I've got to go to potions. I'll meet up with you later." Hermione said, getting up and leaving the hall.
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"Draco, keep stirring, don't get lazy!" Hermione scolded.
"You take over then, I had a killer quidditch practice, and I need my rest." He replied.
"I think I will" She huffed, grabbing the mixing stick.
"Thank you, now I will watch you work" He smirked.
"No, you will make observations. And when your done, then you'll continue stirring. Got it?" She repeated for the millionth time.
"Yes mother." Draco mumbled.
"Don't get lazy now, Draco" She teased.
"Hey, I was planning something for later, do you still want to do it?" He raised his eyebrows at her.
She shut up for the rest of the class.
Near the end of class, Draco put his hand on her knee, leaned in, and whispered, "I didn't plan anything. But since you were such a lovely companion, and the fact that you're my girlfriend, I will take you somewhere after the dance as a reward."
"Really?" Hermione exclaimed, as her eyes lit up.
"I promise." He responded, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
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Hermione was sitting in Lavender's dorm, waiting for her turn in the shower.
Lavender came out of a steaming bathroom, with a towel around her body and head.
"Your turn 'Mione!" She squealed.
"I'm coming Lavender. You can take a look at my dress if ya want." Hermione replied, walking into the bathroom.
Hermione came out 20 minutes later, squeaky clean. She walked over to the vanity table, and started to do her hair.
"What should I do to my hair?" Hermione asked Lavender.
"Well...considering your gorgeous dress, you can just let it fall loose. You have lovely curls 'Mione. Let it loose more often!" Lavender suggested.
"That sounds good, should I curl it manually or magically?"
"Oh, for heaven's sakes 'Mione, if you have the luxury of magic, use it!" Lavender stated matter-of-factly.
She waved her wand and Hermione's hair was instantly curled. The curls cascaded down her bare back, tickling her skin.
She started to apply make up. She put on black eyeliner, and black mascara. She applied very light blush and some deep red lip gloss.
Hermione walked over to her dress that was lying on the bed, picked it up, and walked into the bathroom.
She came out a couple minutes later looking gorgeous.
"I'm ready" Hermione announced to Lavender.
"Oh good Hermione! Put on your mask and we'll be off." Lavender reminded her.
Hermione picked up her mask and put it on. She walked out of the dorm with Lavender by her side.
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"Drake, who is your date for the dance?" Pansy asked.
"Nobody, I'm just gonna pick someone up at the dance. And don't even bother asking Pansy, you'll be wasting your time." Draco spat.
"I wouldn't touch you, Draco Malfoy. I'm planning to pick someone up at the dance too." Pansy mumbled.
"Watch it Pansy, any more wrinkles and you can pass as my mother." He smirked.
"What! I have wrinkles?" Pansy wailed.
"Just joking, geeze woman. No wonder nobody likes you. You obsess over your looks." He snapped.
"Well excuse me Mr. I take five hours on my hair." Pansy mocked.
"I do not!" Draco defended himself.
"Oh yes you do Draco" Pansy replied.
"I've had it, I'm leaving."
"Your not going to be missed."
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Hermione walked into the Great Hall early. She wanted to be there to make sure the decorations were fine and the food was in order. She walked into the middle of the dance floor and started swaying to the music, seeing as nobody was there.
Then she heard a fake cough behind her and she whirled around. What she saw made her melt with desire.
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Draco walked into the Great Hall, looking for Hermione. He assumed she would be early. Then he saw someone in a crimson red dress swaying to the music on the dance floor. The minute he saw the chocolate brown eyes and honey colored hair, he knew who it was.
He walked up to her and announced himself with a cough.
Hermione whirled around and he never saw anything more breathtaking in his life.
She was wearing a deep v-neck crimson dress. It had a halter top, and the whole back was bare. Her honey colored hair cascaded in curls down her bare back. Her face glowed in the light, and her lips curled into a smile. Her eyes immediately brightened when she saw him.
Hermione looked at Draco and nearly melted. He had on a black mask, accentuating his eyes, which made it look like blue pools of water. He was wearing a white cape, with a black tuxedo underneath. He had silver cuffs and a silver tie. His hair was messy, which Hermione liked. You wouldn't know it was Draco unless you really knew him like Hermione did.
"Hermione...y-you l-look stunning." Draco stuttered.
"You look handsome." She managed to get out before he engulfed her in a kiss. She kissed back happily, smiling into the kiss.
"Do you think anyone knows who I am?" She asked with bright eyes.
"I don't think anyone does. You don't send out this kind of message to people when you wear your other clothes." He explained.
"Oh. Neither do you. I've never seen you get so dressed up." She complimented dreamily.
"Well, milady, care to dance?" He asked, extending his hand.
Hermione took his hand in his, and he kissed it. Then pulled her to him and they started to salsa as the Spanish tune came on.
They were dancing like professionals. You wouldn't have known it was them if you even tried to guess.
More people were filing into the Great Hall in assortments of colors and designs. Hermione didn't recognize any of them, considering that there masks hid their identity.
Draco scanned the Great Hall and didn't find any sign of Pansy. He sighed with relief.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked with concern.
"Nothing, Pansy isn't here" Draco sighed.
"Well, that's good, isn't it?" Hermione replied confused.
"Of course it is!" Draco exclaimed.
Then the song 'Get Low' came on. "I love this song!" Hermione screamed. She pulled Draco onto the dance floor and started grinding her hips against his. Draco especially liked this and got into the song.
Hermione smirked, "You really do know how to dance."
"All Malfoys do. It's like a necessity." He replied.
Hermione turned around and started grinding her backside into Draco. Draco put his arms on her waist and they swayed together in perfect rhythm.
The song soon ended and they made their way over to the punch bowl.
"Hold on, lemme check if this is spiked, last time it was, well, I don't even want to go there." Draco trailed off.
"Thank you baby." Hermione smirked.
Draco took a swig of the drink. "If you want to get drunk real easily, then go ahead. If not, then I suggest you don't. I don't even think I'm going to drink." Draco noted.
"The last time I got drunk, the hangover lasted a couple of days. It was horrible. No thanks." Hermione replied, turning down the drink.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Draco suggested. He took her hand in his as she replied,
"Sure."
They walked out of the Great Hall and out onto the grounds.
Draco pulled Hermione closer and snaked his arm around her waist. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"Look at the sky. It's so beautiful." Hermione broke the silence.
"Yea, it really is." Draco responded, looking up at the sky.
"Draco, this past month, being with you and all, it's been amazing. I've never been happier. Thank you." Hermione said softly.
"I have never been happier either. I hope we stay like this, forever." Draco replied hesitantly.
"I always want us to be together Draco. It just feels so right." Hermione sighed "But so many people don't want us together. And what if your father finds out, and then everything will be a big mess."
"Well, when the time comes, I think if we do it right, we can take down my father and old Voldemort. We should make up a plan, one way or another, we're gonna have to face them."
"That'd be nice. I just hope we can do it soon. Before the end of the year, or else we'll never see each other again." She whispered.
"I'll make sure we see each other. But we should really do something about my father." He suggested, leaning down and kissing her forehead.
"Well, why don't you go have a talk with your father." Hermione replied, sighing.
They heard a rustle behind them.
"There's no need." Said a deep voice.
Draco gasped, and threw himself in front of Hermione.
"I never knew you could betray me like this. I thought you wanted to be apart of the dark side. And with a mudblood? How dare you disgrace the family name. A name the Malfoy's before you have tried so hard to polish. The Dark Lord won't be pleased. Now if you'll excuse me mudblood, I have some matters to discuss with my son." Lucius drawled.
"GO Hermione, go to the castle, inform Madame Pomfrey that I'll be there in a while. Go!" He whispered into her ear.
Hermione took off faster than lightning, wanting to inform a teacher right away.
"Now, son, I hope you learn a lesson from this little meeting. CRUCIO!" Lucius yelled at the top of his lungs.
Draco fell on the ground, whimpering in pain. He dared not scream, he's learned that it doesn't help.
Lucius bent down and kicked Draco in the side, all the while keeping the crutacious curse on him.
He stopped the curse, and hit his neck with the side of his neck.
"Do not inform your mother of this." Lucius hissed before a loud pop washeard.
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Hermione dashed through the halls, not caring about the stares she was receiving from the students.
She reached Madame Pomfrey's office, and knocked loudly.
Pomfrey opened the door and hastily brought Hermione in.
"What do you want dear?" She asked whilst she felt her forehead.
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Hermione cried. "Draco is hurt, he's out on the grounds, he needs help. Please don't inform any other teacher's of this. And don't draw to much attention. Just please, help!" Hermione pleaded.
"Where is he?"
"He right outside by the lake." Hermione panted.
Madame Pomfrey grabbed Hermione's arm and her wand, and disapparated with a loud pop.
They reached Draco and Hermione started to sob when she saw Draco on the ground, unconscious from the beating.
She ran over to him and started touching him lightly. There was a bone visibly broken, and his hands and neck were bruised. His hair was disheveled, and his white cape was in a tangled mess underneath him.
Madame Pomfrey gasped and ran over to him.
"What happened?" Pomfrey cried, running her wand over his stomach.
"I can't really tell, or the person will come back. I can only inform Professor Dumbledore." Hermione explained.
"Well, we must get him to the Hospital Wing." She cried.
Madame Pomfrey grabbed Hermione and Draco, and disapparated back to the Hospital Wing. She levitated Draco over to a bed, and took of his cape, shirt, and pants. She left him in boxers only. She rubbed Skele-Grow over his stomach. Then ran her wand over the bruises, and they were gone. She then poured a potion down his throat to numb the pain.
Hermione sat at his side the rest of the night, drifting to sleep, then waking up again.
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Dumbledore stepped into the Hospital Wing. He walked over to Hermione and broke the silence.
"Miss Granger, what exactly happened?" Dumbledore asked.
"We have to do something about him. I've never seen a man beat his child!" Hermione cried. "Lucius Malfoy dropped in on me and Draco's evening and told me to leave. I listened, and I went to get Madame Pomfrey. When I came back, Draco had broken ribs and bruises all over his body. Draco told me to leave because he didn't want me to see it."
"Well, we're going to have to inform the Ministry." Dumbledore made a mental note.
"Yes, but before that, Draco and I were talking about ways to confront his father and Voldemort at the same time. You know, kill two birds with one stone." Hermione explained. "Maybe we can use this against him. Or maybe we can do something to get lured into Voldemort's lair. We just need to do something!" Hermione cried.
"You have a point there Miss Granger. But we're going to have to take this a step at a time. Do you know when Draco is scheduled to receive his Dark Mark?" Dumbledore asked.
"No, I don't. When Draco wakes up, I'm gonna have to ask him." Hermione replied. "Why Professor?"
"Well, I was thinking that when Draco goes to receive the mark, you can go with him, use the invisibility cloak, apparate there, and take down Voldemort. I will apparate there when I think the time is right."
"How will you know Professor?"
"The mind works in peculiar ways, Miss Granger. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be off. Please inform me when Mister Malfoy will be receiving his mark. Good Day" Dumbledore said as he left the room.
Hermione turned to Draco. She had felt him stir in his sleep. She saw his eyes flutter open and immediately, they brightened when they saw Hermione.
"Who was that?" Draco asked groggily.
"Professor Dumbledore. He wanted to know when your going to receive your Dark Mark. He suggested we take down Voldemort that day." Hermione explained.
"That sounds fine. But how?" He questioned.
"He told me to apparate with you in the invisibility cloak when your summoned. Then he said 'when the time is right' he'll apparate there and finish him off."
"I'm assuming Potter is going to be coming with him?" Draco accused.
"Probably."
"Well, that's just bloody wonderful. Our night was ruined because of my bastard father. I'll never be able to make it up to you. It was supposed to be a wonderful night. I'm so sorry." Draco apologized.
"It's ok Draco. It's not your fault. And we're going to get him back. We're going to take him down, along with Voldemort." She cooed, stroking his hair.
"Do you ever think we'll lead a normal life." Draco asked, half asleep.
"Nobody's life is normal, baby. Nobody is normal." Hermione whispered soothingly.
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A/N: And there you have it folks. Finally some drama. Sorry about the other boring chapters. After this they wont be as boring. I'll try to update soon. Next time, you'll find out their plans, and some secrets are revealed, again! Stay tuned. And the next chapter, I promise you it will be long!
Much love- - Gypsy♥